Dallas Cowboys: This team should be as motivated as ever

The Dallas Cowboys come into the season with as much talent on their roster as any other team. They should be one of the more motivated bunches as well.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams that as every year begins, the expectations are as grand as they are for any club around the NFL. Those expectations not only stem from the fans, but it is also something that trickles down from the top.

While the fact that you are expected to be among the elite on a year in and year out basis should be enough to motivate any team or player to the fullest, that isn’t always the case. Often times these lofty expectations cause teams or players to be the exact opposite of motivated, complacent.

That is something that the Cowboys experienced last season, as they had just come off a very good to great season from the defense in the year prior. It was supposed to be the year in which both Dak Prescott and the offense clicked with the defense, only to lead to big things.

Needless to say, that didn’t happen and while the offense had a pretty good year considering the situation, it didn’t happen for the defense at all, meaning the team flailed as a whole. That is the first reason why motivation shouldn’t be an issue for this year’s team though.

After what can only be considered a disappointment last season, this year’s team should be eager to come in a clear that taste out of their mouths. There are a few more reasons as well though.

When you look at the individual players, the most important players on the team to be quite frank, their situations provide for some extra motivation as well.

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to bounce back after a disappointing year last season. That isn’t their only source of motivation though.

Dak Prescott didn’t receive a long term deal before the deadline. While we were all trying to figure out what they were waiting on to do a deal, especially considering Patrick Mahomes’ deal, that day came and passed. Proving the Cowboys wrong, sort of, and only increasing his value if he plays well, Prescott should be extremely motivated this season.

When you look at Ezekiel Elliott, his extra motivation this season has been all over the news recently. Said not to be a top ten back in the league by an anonymous coach, the survey that this particular quote was taken as apart of ranks Zeke third in the league among running backs behind Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley.

That is enough to motivate Elliott to do some huge things this season. This is especially after he took to Twitter to fire back as his critics.

Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix also has a bit to be motivated about, with him only being on a one year deal and having the chance to cash in again next season. Leighton Vander Esch should be eager to get back on the field as well. His motivation should be at an all-time high after missing the last 8 weeks of last season.

Sean Lee is probably tired of hearing how he’s getting old and can’t do it anymore, even though there may be some truth to it. Aldon Smith should be among the most motivated of the bunch, having not played in an NFL game since 2015, where he only played in nine games that season.

The list could go on and on, as there are a ton of guys with quite a few good reasons to be extremely motivated. That goes for position groups as total units too, considering the deficiencies last year and differences in the depth chart to consider, meaning “can the new guys cut the mustard” or “can some of the old guys improve”.

The reasons are there. That is why this Cowboys team should be one of the more motivated we have seen in a few seasons. Hopefully, that translates to winning between the lines.