Roman Empire Without The Etruscans?

I was viewing a dvd about the Roman Empire, when it comes to a section on Rome's origin, and early years, for which it attributes much to the Etruscans. (Btw wondering about the symbolism of the she wolf and a possible connection with the Etruscans) The question here from me is what is your thoughts about the chances of the Roman Empire even getting off of the ground had it not been for the Etruscans? What way forward could they have taken, at the time, had there not been Etruscan help, which might have allowed a Roman Empire to develop another way?