Cowboys not going to make playoffs but here's why they will next year.

Gameplan is set, win 3 games and you make the playoffs.  It sounds simple but we know its not going to be easy and we all should know this team does not have the mental strength nor the defense to make that a reality.

I sure as hell hope I'm wrong but a lifelong cowboy fan and a football realist I don't see it happening.  But, that doesn't mean this season was a waste.  Actually this season was far from it, I argue some significant building blocks were established this year for a contender.

Dallas now have 3 high level players on defense up from 2 in 2010.  Sean Lee showed signs of becoming a solid contributor in his rookie season but he increased his game to a pro-bowl level early on in 2011. Of course the knock that continues to plague Lee is durability, it struck again this season with the broken wrist. However when he is on the field, there is little doubt to his impact. A inside force capable of shedding blocks to make plays in the run game and shoot the gaps for tackles behind the line. He is average in coverage but is good in zone coverage, making plays on the ball especially interceptions can offset giving up a few catches. (you hear that Terrence Newman)

Jerry Jones finally guessed right in the draft, Tyron Smith at least. His improvement in one season is tremendous, the footwork and toughness especially. The plan was for Doug Free to man the left side and allow Smith to grow at his more comfortable right tackle position. However with Free's below average performance, that plan could get accelerated for 2012 and switch Free & Smith. Tyron still has a ways to go but he's shown a lot for Jones and Tony Romo to be excited about for the next few years.

They have found a kicker...aslong as you don't ice him with a timeout. Dan Bailey made 26 consecutive field goals during most of the season including 3 game winning kicks. Jerry & Co. tried to committ another awful GM move by keeping David Buehler for just kickoffs even with the 5 yard bump up for kickoffs, unfortunately for Buehler he's on injured reserve. Bailey has secured the job and proved to be a consistent kicker as long as you don't call a timeout right before he lines up for one.

Struck gold in the 3rd round with Demarco Murray, another in a long line of Cowboy runningbacks who begin their career with tremendous stats but rarely carry over. Julius Jones in 2004 (averaging 102 yards over 8 games), Marion Barber in 2006 & 2007 with 24 TDs & Felix Jones in 2008 & 2009 with big plays over 20 yards. Murray looks the part of a full-time back with a burst, vision, and physical runner who can break tackles, then throw in that he's a comfortable receiver too.

Factor in the goldmine steal of Laurent Robinson on the waiver wire who seems to have settled in nicely as the teams 3rd receiver, an area of weakness prior to the season that Kevin Oglretree failed miserably at. You can argue at this point Robinson has moved ahead of Dez Bryant in terms of receivers Romo looks to.

You have a young stud inside linebacker you can build around, an offensive tackle who should move to left tackle to solidify blindside pass protection, a kicker you can trust when the game is on the line (no timeouts), a top young runningback and a young wide receiver as a security blanket.