Dallas Cowboys
2009 Record: 11-5, Division Champions
2009 Playoff Record: 1-1
Key Losses: Flozell Adams, Ken Hamlin, Bobby Carpenter
Key Additions: Alex Barron, Dez Bryant, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
The Cowboys have some high expectations going into this season. After years of early playoff exits and questions of whether Tony Romo and coach Wade Phillips could win in the playoffs, the Cowboys won in dominating fashion in the Wild Card round. Immediately after they were thrashed by the Vikings and the questions returned. As much blame as Phillips and Romo get, though, the Cowboys success lies mostly on the shoulders of others in the organization. Let's start with Romo, he's probably the most underrated quarterback in the league. Tony Romo owns the Cowboys' team records for most 300+ yard games in a season and career, completions in a season, passing yards in a season, passing touchdowns in a season, and is tied with Troy Aikman for most passing touchdowns in a game. Remember, Aikman was the man who held most of these records before Romo. Those are some lofty accomplishments for such a young quarterback, and yet he's lambasted when the Cowboys don't do well. Tony Romo is a big reason the Cowboys are where they are at, and if they want to take the next step it's not Romo who needs improvement.
The Cowboys would've had a good shot to win it all, in fact, if their offensive line had held up. The Vikings decimated the Cowboys, getting to Romo six times in the game. Flozell Adams did what he could against Ray Allen, but after he went down Marc Colombo and Doug Free were getting hammered on both sides of the line. After a showing that displayed, clear as day, just what value Pro-Bowler Adams has to the Cowboys you would think they would have made every effort to re-sign him, instead he was quickly dumped. Simply put, this is a huge hole on offense. It may not affect their chances of getting to the post-season, but without a significant upgrade they could be facing another heavy pass rush and it could cost them playoff wins again. They made some moves to address the protection issues at tackle, signing Alex Barron from the Rams and drafting Sam Young. Young was a sixth rounder, though, and will probably not start right away. Barron has been dependable for the Rams and will be decent enough in one of the tackle slots, but he won't be enough to replace Adams. Furthermore, whoever starts next to him is still a weakness against a good pass rush. Everyone but Flozell got killed against Minnesota, there's no reason to think that facing the same quality of rushers things won't be just as bad.
The rest of the offense is a mixed bag. File the rest of the line under the good news category, the Cowboys were seventh in rushing yards last season. They need to find the right method to implement in their three back system as their backs struggled at times, but given the right situations Choice, Barber, and Jones are a fearsome trio. Not so fearsome is the receiving corps. Roy Williams is no longer looked at as a serious threat in the passing game, and there's talk of the Cowboys dealing him before the season is up. Miles Austin should pick up right where he left off after making the Pro Bowl last season on the strength of a 1,300 yard, eleven touchdown, 81 reception season. Unfortunately he's on a bit of an island out there. Jason Witten is always solid, but the rest of the receiving corps is noticeably thin. Dez Bryant has reportedly looked good so far, but he'll need to step up in order to make this receiving corps as good as it needs to be, especially if they're planning on dumping Roy Williams altogether. An elite tackle would be number one on the list of Cowboys' needs, but another good receiver would be a close second. The Cowboys should be solid during the regular season, Tony Romo is still electric and he has mostly the same weapons he did last season, but another receiver would make things much easier and might even alleviate some of the pressure caused by the loss of Adams.
Defense is another mixed bag for the Boys. They ranked ninth overall last season and played the run exceptionally well, ranking fourth overall in run defense. Against the pass, though, they ranked 20th. They also ranked 26th in interceptions despite ranking second in scoring defense and seventh in sacks. It was an area that cost them in the playoffs as well, despite stopping all-star back Adrian Peterson they got passed on for 234 yards and four touchdown passes. Like most other positions of need, the secondary was largely ignored during the offseason. They didn't draft a corner until the sixth round, and only took a safety in the fourth. Safety is the biggest issue here, as two of their corners were Pro-Bowlers last year. They released their best safety in Ken Hamlin, though, and the position is very thin. Unless a young player steps up, it could be a glaring weakness. Other than that defense is solid. Their D-line, led by Jay Ratliff, is one of the best 3-4 lines in the league. Their linebackers fly to the ball, and they should still be great against the run. Like offense, defense should be good enough to get them into the post-season, but after that there are questions. It's doubtful they've done enough to deter the elite passing offenses that are common in post-season play.
Their schedule isn't easy, but they should be among the best teams their opponents will face. They have a good chance to make teams one-dimensional by shutting down the run game in the NFC North and AFC South, but could also get pummeled by good passing attacks in those games if their secondary isn't shored up. The Cardinals provide an easy swing game, but the Saints figure to be tough, that could be a defining game in week 12. In the division the Eagles and Redskins are good, but Dallas should be better. Their biggest competition could come from New York, where Perry Fewell should have a re-energized pass defense in place. Still, the Cowboys look good enough to repeat as champs. The questions of whether they can win in the post-season continue, though, as problem areas look to be just as problematic. Those areas seem to be most prevalent in the playoffs, and the Cowboys will be hard pressed to make a Superbowl appearance in their hometown. A lot can happen in seventeen weeks, though, and right now things look pretty good for the boys in blue.
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