Goose: How many games I think the Cowboys can win

[Irving Cowboy]

Gosselin: How many games I think the Cowboys can win; what would need to happen for the DBs to be more competitive
By Rick Gosselin

Columnist Rick Gosselin recently held a chat to talk all things D-FW sports. Here are some highlights:

Question: How many games do you think the Cowboys can win this year?

Gosselin: I think Dallas, New York and Washington all are capable of winning 10 games this season. But only one will do it. 9-7 might even win the division again. The Cowboys need to survive the first month with a 3-1 or 2-2 record. But I do think all three of those teams will be in the divisional hunt deep into December.

Question: Hi Goose. I think the Cowboys have the worst DBs in the division. Am I wrong or right?

Gosselin: The Giants ranked 32nd in the NFL in pass defense and just gave Janoris Jenkins a $62 million contract. Your pass defense is only as good as your pass rush. The Cowboys have an invisible pass rush. I think you'd find this defensive backfield could be competitive -- more competitive than you think -- if there was a pass rush.

Question: Do you think it's better for the Cowboys to trade Ronald Leary and keep team morale up or to keep a sulking Ronald Leary who could possibly be more trouble than he's worth but have OL depth?

Gosselin: Keep him. He's an asset. You're likely going to need him at some point in the season and he was a starter on an offensive line in 2014 that was considered the best blocking front in the NFL.

 

[NoMoRedJ]

9 or 10 wins for the Giants of Skins? Im not so sure.

For the Cowboys? Who knows.

 

[TheZoneSucks]

He is still stuck on that "DBs would be better with better pass rush" nonsense. Um, no. Our guys stink in the defensive backfield. We could break records for sacks, but that won't make Claiborne instantly know how to tackle, make a play on the ball, or intercept a pass that hits him in the hands. Same for Carr, and the stiffs at safety who's names all seem to merge together since they are all, with the exception of Jones, basically the same worthless scrub.

You need good players to get a pass rush going. You need good players to play in the secondary. When you have shitty players you will get shit results. To win Super Bowls you need good players in both areas at the same time. Now I know that I am not a career football guy, but this is just what I have been able to glean from watching how successful teams achieve Lombardi Trophies.

 

[Doomsday]

He is still stuck on that "DBs would be better with better pass rush" nonsense. Um, no. Our guys stink in the defensive backfield. We could break records for sacks, but that won't make Claiborne instantly know how to tackle, make a play on the ball, or intercept a pass that hits him in the hands. Same for Carr, and the stiffs at safety who's names all seem to merge together since they are all, with the exception of Jones, basically the same worthless scrub.

Statistically he is correct - but only because a good pass rush makes for less passes leaving the arm of the QB, errant throws, hurried throws, and so on. What he's really trying to say is a good pass rush typically makes a horrid secondary LOOK better on paper. It's just a fact of the game.