The Dallas Cowboys have reasons for optimism in 2016

The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of reasons for optimism heading into the 2016 season.

Last week in this space we wondered if the Dallas Cowboys have improved enough in the offseason to compete for the NFC East title, and hopefully, a Super Bowl. There were fair questions asked about the makeup of the 2016 team.

There seems to be too many of those negative nancies out there who only see the glass as half empty. However, there is a cup full of optimism sitting on the Cowboys’ counter that should be drank.

It starts with the return of quarterback Tony Romo, wide receiver Dez Bryant and cornerback Orlando Scandrick. The Cowboys won’t go through the season perfectly healthy, but getting those big three back cannot be overstated.

Conversely, the exodus of Greg Hardy is a bonus. As the offseason has gone on, the stories about Hardy’s divisive nature inside the locker room have come to light and the team is much better off without him. Hardy’s play was not worth the headache for head coach Jason Garrett and this is addition by subtraction.

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Losing one of your best pass rushers might be seen as a bad thing, but the Cowboys have the youth and more potential on the edge than they’ve had in the past few years. Dallas may not have that dominant pass rusher, but when everyone gets healthy and get back from suspension, it’s going to be an underrated group; mark it down now!

The Cowboys also added in a huge piece in run stuffing defensive tackle Cedric Thornton. The defense has had issues stopping the run in the last few years and Thornton will prove to be a great addition.

Dallas also finally got one of their biggest needs solved by moving Byron Jones to safety fulltime. Former starter safety J.J. Wilcox will now be a role player and the position now has better complimentary pieces with Jones and free safety and Barry Church at strong safety. This makes for a much improved duo at safety.

Of course, the pass rush and defense will be aided by the offense. The Cowboys should score more points this year with their All-Pro quarterback in the lineup, with his full compliment of weapons. A healthy Bryant is a big help, as does bringing in running back Ezekiel Elliott.

In 2014, the Cowboys won with a physical running game behind one of NFL’s best offensive lines. Elliott is a better back than DeMarco Murray and the line is more dominant with La’el Collins coming into his second season. Collins should be much better this year, after an offseason of weight and film room work.

Think about how scary that will be for opposing defenses. A healthy quarterback, a dominant wide receiver, coupled with an unstoppable running game, one of the all-time great tight ends and a slot receiver in Cole Beasley that is open on 99.9 percent of his routes will result in one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

The Cowboys also get a last place schedule that shouldn’t be difficult to navigate.

It all adds up to a glass that should be more full than some would like to admit. Recently, the offseason for the Cowboys has been a time to bash the team.

In reality, the Dallas Cowboys have plenty of positives heading into 2016.

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