Tony Romo: Cowboys can be better than 2014

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo believes the newest version of America’s Team can be better than 2014’s team that went 12-4.

If you are the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, you’ll likely be the most optimistic voice when it comes to your team’s chances of future success. At least that’s the Kool-Aid the soon-to-be 36-year old Tony Romo is selling to Cowboys fans this offseason. But will they fans actually drink it is another story.

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Coming off a devastating 4-12 season in Dallas last year, the Cowboys moral is likely at an all-time low. No would can blame Romo for trying to rally the troops. But the 13-year NFL veteran isn’t just blowing smoke. While under center last season, which only occurred four times total thanks to two fractured collarbone injuries, Romo led his team to victory three times out of those four contests as the starter. It’s likely the Cowboys would have won the NFC East crown had their aging gunslinger remained healthy.

Now that Romo is on the mend, the Pro Bowl quarterback is spreading the good word. Here’s what he said when asked if 2016’s version of the Cowboys can be better than they were two years ago, when they went undefeated on the road, ended the season with a 12-4 record, and posted their first playoff victory in five years.

"“I actually think we can be better, and I know that sounds silly coming off a season we had there last year, but 2014’s a long time ago now at this point,” Romo told Mickey Spagnola on The Jason Garrett Show. “That team is gone. It’s time to reestablish our identity and figure out what this team’s gonna be great at. I think we need to look at ourselves really closely, we need to evaluate [the season] objectively and be honest about why things didn’t turn out the way they did this year, and then we have to go out there and trust in whatever it is that we’ve decided needs to be better, and I think that’s what we’re gonna do.”"

Romo posted one of his best seasons in 2014, recording 3,705 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also led the league in completion percentage (69.9%), yards per pass (8.52), and quarterback rating (113.2). Last season, he threw for 884 yards, five scores and seven interceptions in four games.

One player that the Cowboys had in 2014 that they won’t have this season is running back DeMarco Murray. Murray led the league in rushing with 1,845 yards during their 12-4 run. After his exodus to the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason, the Cowboys attempted to fill his void with a running back by committee. Only veteran back Darren McFadden emerged unscathed from that failed experiment.

The Cowboys will likely find a young running back to pair with McFadden this offseason, who did end up rushing for 1,089 yards last year. That was the fourth highest rushing total in the NFL in 2015. The Cowboys will need a similar performance from their offensive backfield this season if they want to exceed the success they had back in 2014. That, and having a healthy Romo under center.

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