For the second consecutive season, the Cowboys, a team widely considered one with Super Bowl potential, let down their fans and fantasy owners down the stretch in 2008. After a 2007 season, in which they lost two of their final three regular-season games and their wild-card playoff game, Dallas didn’t even reach the postseason in 2008, going 6-7 after a 3-0 start.

Injuries were partly to blame. Star quarterback Tony Romo missed three games with a broken finger, starting running back Marion Barber saw his yards-per-carry average dip from 4.8 to 3.7 because of a dislocated toe, backup running back Felix Jones was limited to six games before landing on injured reserve with a torn ligament in his foot and tight end Jason Witten battled a broken rib, though he didn’t miss any game action. Then, of course, there was the drama that always surrounds Terrell Owens, who remained remarkably healthy, not to mention the disaster that was the team’s secondary.

So what was the true reason behind the letdown? Cowboys management, apparently, believed it was distractions like Owens, who was released with safety Roy L. Williams (not to be confused with the receiver with the same name, who remains) after the season. With Owens gone, the Cowboys evidently feel they’re free from controversy, but with Owens went a large chunk of their offensive production. Now the question becomes can the 2009 Cowboys match the 38 touchdowns Owens amassed in 47 games in his three years in Dallas?

Article via ESPN, written by Tristan H. Cockcroft – http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=nfldk2k9cowboyscamppreview

During the off-season, the Cowboys decided enough was enough as they let Terrell Owens walk. There’s no question about it that it was a necessary move to make if Dallas wants to begin to rebuild their team chemistry. On the field, the Cowboys will be without their go-to receiver from a season ago, forcing Roy Williams to step up and be the number one guy. Dallas gave up a lot to bring him in to be the complimentary receiver to Owens last season, but now that things have changed. The Cowboys are going to need Williams to be the work-horse if they are to sustain the same kind of success they had a season ago. Everyone knows what the Dallas ground game is capable of and that should be able to help Romo and company in the passing game. Marion Barber and Felix Jones will perhaps be one of the best one-two punches in the entire league and if they are tearing it up on the ground, Romo and his receivers will have it easier on them.

Defensively, the Cowboys secondary will be put the test. Terrell Owens wasn’t the only guy they let walk this off-season. Safety Roy Williams, not to be confused with wide receiver Roy Williams, was given his walking papers this off-season. While he wasn’t the best cover safety, he was still a play maker. Now Terrance Newman and company must step up and try and limit the big plays in the passing game. The front-seven of the the Cowboys appears to be solid enough, but can they generate enough pressure in the passing game and will stopping the run be easy for them?

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!