The Cowboys were a team loaded with a wealth of talent that everyone expected to do well in 2008. Some "foot in mouth" comments, poor attitude and poor decisions down the stretch led to their demise. Coach Wade Phillips and owner/GM/everything Jerry Jones think they've solved the issues this offseason.

Their new stadium is enormous and extravagant. It's important to establish homefield advantage and it can't hurt if the other team is oggling all the new stadium has to offer.

At quarterback, the Cowboys have Tony Romo, Jon Kitna and rookie Stephen McGee. McGee probably won't play in 2009 and will learn on the sidelines. Romo was mentored by Drew Bledsoe and has curiously adopted his big game struggles. Kitna is a far better backup than Brad Johnson was last year. He can come in at anytime and be effective. What he can't do is come in at any time and throw for 3-400 yards and wow everyone in the stadium. So long as Romo keeps his cool under tough conditions, Kitna should not be a threat to start. If Romo struggles, Kitna's dependability will gnaw at Phillips' subconcious despite Romo being a star. This could be Phillips' last year as head coach in Dallas and he can't let any one player seal his fate. It's time to root for a more mature Romo.

The Cowboys gave up "an arm and a leg" for receiver Roy Williams. He was terrible last year with Dallas and the team has brushed it off as him being out of sync with a new team. The offseason has been all about getting he and Romo on the same page. Williams can be a big time player. He was when Kitna was throwing to him in Detroit. Early on in camp, Romo has struggled to develop a repoire with him. Miles Austin is a talented deep threat. Sam Hurd is a scrappy type that'll fight for the ball. Patrick Crayton has excellent lateral speed and is probably best using that in the slot. Austin and Hurd will battle it out in camp to play opposite Williams. Should neither excel, Crayton will fill that role. A few days into camp, Sam Hurd has already excelled. Isaah Stanbeck is a former college quarterback(as is Crayton) that is making the conversion to wide receiver. Stanback is entering his third year and must start to show substantial progress. If the Cowboys employ a wildcat offense in 2009, as many teams are, Crayton and Stanback could sure make it interesting. Former Sooner, Travis Wilson, is getting one last chance to resurrect a once promising career. He has always been talented yet that has never translated onto the field. Wilson finally hitting his potential would be enormous for this team. Seventh round pick, Manuel Johnson, (also from Oklahoma) is not likely to make the team. Johnson could land on the practice squad.

The best receiver is tight end Jason Witten. Witten is likely to lead the NFL in catches. Martellus Bennett is a talented second year tight end that the Cowboys expect to have on the field often in 2009. This move would limit the reps of their second wide receiver. Bennett was terrific in the red zone last year using his 6-6 265 frame to score four touchdowns on just 20 receptions. The Cowboys drafted John Phillips from Virginia to round out their tight ends. Each Witten and Bennett are fine blockers so John is only expect to play a relief role and maybe be in for goalline packages.

Generally NFL teams are stronger left to right along the offensive line. The Cowboys are backwards in this regard. Marc Columbo is a solid right tackle that plays next to mammoth pro bowl right guard Leonard Davis who plays next to pro bowl center Andre Gurode. It is quite possible the Cowboys could run every single play behind those three and win most of their games. They're that good. On the left side, Flozell Adams has seen better days and as he enters his twelfth season he just isn't his old self. Numerous penalties and sacks allowed just can't happen. Adams makes too much to be cut and there isn't a replacement on the roster. Revered offensive line coach Hudson Houck has been in the NFL 24 years and Adams is likely his biggest offseason project. He'll have to improve. Kyle Kosler is a fine guard when he's healthy, but not much help when he's out on injured reserve. This was a major problem for the Cowboys last year and they solved it by signing....by drafting.....they didn't address it at all. The Cowboys have zero depth on the offensive line. 325 pound rookie Robert Brewster was drafted in the third round. Jones may be putting too much faith in Houck trying to make something out of nothing giving him Doug Free, Corey Procter, Pat McQuistan and Montrae Holland to coach up as backups.

The Cowboys have fantastic runningbacks in hard hitting Marion Barber, fleet footed Felix Jones and multi-purpose back Tashard Choice. The Giants led the NFL in rushing by pounding big Brandon Jacobs, then big Derrick Ward to tire a defense out. After that, the Giants brought in speedy Ahmad Bradshaw to run all over a tired defense. The Cowboys are likely to start Felix Jones (as they did last year) and then bring Maron Barber in to lay some big hits against a tired defense in the second quarter. It's backwards. If the defense is fresh, they can match Felix's speed. Professional football players are well conditioned and are nowhere near worn out in the second quarter. Also, the Cowboys three runningbacks only have a difference of 17 pounds between them. There's hardly a bigger heavier back. What needs to happen is a dedication to the run.

There has never been a super bowl champion that didn't have a signature run play including all the Dallas Cowboy super bowl winners. A championship team can run it right where the defense is expecting it and still succeed. It's the ultimate powertrip in the NFL's game of big burly men overpowering each other. Not only did the Cowboys not have a signature run play in 2008, but they often got cute and threw on first down or threw a pass deep on 3rd and short. Offensive cooridinator Jason Garrett was with the Giants when Sean Payton was fired for being too cute with his offense. Payton currently has one of the best offenses in the NFL in New Orleans. Garrett has had great mentors and needs to step it up with his play calls this year. It's absolutely crucial to the team's confidence.

The defense is just "OK" except for the phenomenal linebacker DeMarcus Ware. He makes everyone around him so much better. Ware can't do everything but he sure will try. He should lead the NFL in sacks again and may even break the record. Along the defensive line, tackle Jay Ratliff made the pro bowl and is a stout interior defender. The Cowboys added Igor Olshansky this offseason and he is an extremely strong man that will be hard to move. The Cowboys currently list him at defensive end. While probably a defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense, Olshansky will seem like an inside tackle once Ware is lined up next to him.Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen provide great depth and each could possibly steal a starting job in training camp. Hatcher almost had a number of sacks last year and simply must get it done. Almost doesn't cut it. He could have a big year, though, if he improves. Marcus Spears is the other starting defensive end and the former first round pick is in a contract year.

The Cowboys drafted outside linebacker Anthony Spencer in the first round of the 2007 draft and inside linebacker Bobby Carpenter in the first round of the 2006 draft. Neither has amounted to too much. Spencer has a very difficult job as teams run away from Ware and right at him. The Cowboys drafted Victor Butler, Jason and Brandon Williams in case Spencer doesn't cut it. Brandon led the Big 12 in sacks and may be the perfect compliment to Ware. The key signing of the offseason was replacing step-slow Zach Thomas with 12 year veteran Keith Brooking. Brooking played in Phillip's defense in Atlanta and is a perennial pro bowl player. Bradie James is a sure tackler that plays the other inside linebacker spot. Carpenter, son of former Giants runningback Rob Carpenter, should have been traded a long time ago. The Cowboys show no signs of using his first round talent for anything other than special teams. He is likely to be a free agent that does well elsewhere like numerous other Cowboy linebackers have lately.

The Cowboys intercepted eight balls last year, just eight. Last year's draft picks Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins combined for just one interception so the Cowboys went at it again in the NFL draft. This year they drafted another Hamlin in safety Michael Hamlin, cornerback Mike Mickens and also safety DeAngelo Smith. After safety Roy Williams left in free agency, they signed Gerald Sensabaugh from Jacksonville. Terrence Newman is a terrific cornerback that misses too much time due to injury. Again, almost doesn't cut it and Phillips is sure to play defensive backs that can make plays. There is a ton of quality young depth here, but which will make a game changing play? It shouldn't be that hard with Ware pressuring the opposing quarterback. The Cowboys have two secondary coaches to hash this all out.

Mat McBriar and Nick Folk have two of the better legs in the NFL solidifying the Cowboys special teams.

Phillips was assigned the defensive cooridinator position to go along with his head coaching duties. Houck is also the team's assistant head coach. The Cowboys have three former coordinators as positional coaches in Dave Campo, Ray Sherman and Todd Grantham. Joe Decamillis is an outstanding special team's coach. There is plenty of good coaching on the Cowboys staff. Phillips needs to set a plan and the others need to adhere to it and get it done. This should be a very good team this year.

The Cowboys finish with 7 of 8 tough games and must get off to a fast start.