Dallas Cowboys: What are the keys to success in 2019?

After an up and down 2018 season, how can the Dallas Cowboys repeat and surpass the success they achieved last year in 2019?

After being the NFC East champs for the third time in five years, and reaching the divisional round of the NFL playoffs the arrow is only pointing up for the Dallas Cowboys and their young core. After making some noise in the second wave of free agency, it is fair to say that the Cowboys, on paper, are better than they were in early January when they played their last game.

With all this being said, let us look at some at what it will take for the Cowboys to keep the success going in 2019. On the offensive side of the ball, it is mandatory for quarterback Dak Prescott to take the next step. In 2018 the streaky play of Prescott held the Cowboys offense, and in some cases, the team hostage of reaching their maximum potential.

With the return of tight end Jason Witten and the signing of Randall Cobb, Prescott now has his best-receiving core to date and the room for excuses for Dak will be at an all-time low.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott must maintain the production he has shown throughout his first three years. Elliott will get his touches, we know that, but Zeke is only getting older and the constant beating he takes can take a toll on a player, even players of his caliber. This team will go as Zeke goes, so he will need to be feasting once again in 2019.

Flipping over to the defensive side of the ball, first thing first: Demarcus Lawrence must be re-signed. The defensive end has been the heart and soul of the Dallas defense now for two years, and if D-Law does not re-sign and decides to hold out, the Cowboys are in big trouble.

Staying with the defensive line, it is critical another Dallas pass rusher can get to the quarterback on a consistent basis. Whether it is newly acquired Robert Quinn or someone else, the Cowboys defense needs to not be a “one trick pony” when getting to the opposing quarterback.

In the Dallas secondary, a major key to success in 2019 is creating interceptions. The Cowboys secondary combined for a grand total of six interceptions in 2018. The potential new safety George Iloka is not your typical ballhawk safety, so getting interceptions will be up to the entire Cowboys secondary.