Dallas Cowboys: 5 adjustments needed going forward

As the Dallas Cowboys‘ roller coaster of a regular season is coming to an end, there is still room for improvement heading into the final weeks/playoffs.

Just a little over a month ago, the Dallas Cowboys found themselves hopeless and looking for answers when quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans came to AT&T Stadium and ran the Cowboys out of their own building.

Since that night, Dallas has found a way to win five of their last six games. Now they only need to win one of their last two games to capture the NFC East title for the second time in three years.

Having watched America’s Team all season, you can obviously see the improvements made throughout the course of the year. But the Cowboys still need to do quite a few things to finish off the regular season strong and make some noise in the playoffs.

Here are five adjustments I believe the Cowboys need to make going forward to find success.

1. Red zone, not Dead zone

All season long the Cowboys have been awful in the red zone. How awful? Dallas only scores a touchdown in the red zone 44.2 percent of the time. That is 31st in the NFL this season.

In goal-to-go situations, the Cowboys ranked dead last in the league at 47.6 percent. If this team wants to make some noise in the playoffs, they need to find a way to keep kicker Brett Maher off the field and get the ball in the end zone.

2. Measly Beasley

Coming into the 2018 season, Cowboys fans expected wide receiver Cole Beasley to be the go-to receiver. Despite a huge game against the Jacksonville Jaguars where Beasley went for nine catches, 101 yards, and two touchdowns. He’s been very quiet all season long.

In 2016, the Cowboys had much success with former receiver Dez Bryant being the main man and Beasley being the sidekick that gave defenses nightmares. With running back Ezekiel Elliott and wideout Amari Cooper getting all the attention for the offense, the Cowboys need Beasley to get going again.

3. Consistently Hot

As good the Cowboys’ defensive line has been this year, they need to show up every game. In last Sunday’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, the “Hot Boyz” failed to get in the backfield. Dallas struggled big time allowing Colts’ running back Marlon Mack to look like an All-Pro rushing for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

For the defense, it all starts with two-time Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. When “Tank” Lawrence gets to the quarterback, the Cowboys are in good hands.

4. Butter Fingers

Possibly quarterback Dak Prescott‘s biggest flaw of them all is fumbling. In 2018, Prescott has put the ball on the ground 12 different times, losing six. Going into these last two games, and hopefully the playoffs, Dak and the Cowboys’ offense cannot afford to turn the ball over and give extra possessions to the high potent offenses they will see later down the road.

5. Secure the Big Uglies

The offensive line has been the staple of the Dallas Cowboys for the past six years. The front five of the Cowboys offense has played considerably better since the promotion of Marc Colombo. With the injured left knee of starting right guard Zack Martin and the eye injury suffered by left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo, the Cowboys need these two to get healthy and back on the field to open up the lanes for Elliott, which eventually aids the passing attack.