There are a lot of things that the Dallas Cowboys hope to happen this season -- none more than getting to and winning the Super Bowl -- something that owner Jerry Jones and this fanbase has been clamoring for over two decades.
With all of the changes that have happened this season, there is reason for optimism but also some doubt. New offensive coordinator with a new scheme, players returning from injury, and cutting Ezekiel Elliott. These are all reasons to be hopeful and a bit cautious about what will happen this season for the Cowboys.
One thing is for certain, though, and that is every team needs a little luck to reach the big game, and that applies to the Cowboys going into a season where they are viewed with only a handful of other NFC squads as teams capable of making the Super Bowl.
With that in mind, here are a few dream scenarios that would greatly benefit Dallas in their quest to reach the SB for the first time in nearly 30 years.
1. The Eagles struggle under new management
It's a bit surprising that the Philadelphia Eagles are still being looked at as the top team in the NFC and the one with the best chance of reaching the Super Bowl again. Not because of the talent on their roster, but more so because of the loss of their offensive and defensive coordinators.
Losing Jonathan Gannon will hurt Philly's defense at times this season, with new players coming in and possibly a new defensive scheme and game plans being used it's only natural for players to make mistakes. But the real issue will be how new defensive coordinator Sean Desai overcomes adversity during the season if star players get hurt or teams find weaknesses in his defense. He's a well-respected coach but with the weight of the Philly media on you and a rabid fan base, everything could easily come crashing down around him.
The same goes for new offensive coordinator Brian Johnson who's replacing Shane Steichen this season. Going from a quarterback coach to an offensive coordinator may not seem like that big of a jump but when your main focus goes from helping a group of 3-4 players to now overseeing how an entire scheme is installed and run, that's a lot. Johnson will most likely use a lot of what Steichen installed to make things easier in his first season but just like Desai, Johnson will need to figure out quickly how to handle defenses that know how to attack this offense. His inexperience could well be the biggest weakness and reason that the Eagles struggle in 2023.
2. The 49ers D crumbles without Demeco Ryans
It seems like the San Fransisco 49ers never miss a beat on defense regardless of who they have calling the plays.
In the time that it's taken Kyle Shanahan to turn this team into a powerhouse he's had to switch defensive coordinators twice. First, it was Robert Saleh who left to coach the Jets and now DeMeco Ryans who left for the Texans. You would think that Shanahan has caught another break with the team hiring Steve Wilks as their new defensive coordinator and for good reason, everywhere he goes the defense gets better.
Well, not this time around, this time things finally catch up to the 49ers. Saleh and Ryans were young coordinators that infused new ideas and concepts into their play calling which helped their defenses succeed, Wilks on the other hand likes to run a different scheme than Salah and Ryans did. His predecessors utilized a wide-9 defensive front whereas Wilks prefers a 4-2-5 with three cornerbacks and two safeties in the secondary with his defensive line in more of a normal formation. Given the personnel that they have things could work out for the 49ers' defense but it's more likely than not that they take a step back as Wilks implements the scheme, he's more comfortable with.
3. Dak Prescott improves under McCarthy's tutelage
If you think about this one there's one thing that really stands out about McCarthy taking over play calling in Dallas and it's that this will be the first time Dak Prescott is learning a new offense, in this case, the offense being the Texas Coast offense and terminology since coming to Dallas. Kellen Moore learned under Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan and used what he learned to develop an office similar to theirs and used a lot of their terminology as well. So this is a new experience will be new for Prescott, but not for McCarthy who has been able to develop quarterbacks during his time in the NFL.
That experience and hands-on work with Prescott are going to do wonders for Prescott's ability to grasp the new offense. It also sounds like Prescott will be given more input into how the offense is run with McCarthy saying that he's asked Prescott what he likes and doesn't like in the playbook and to get rid of what he isn't comfortable with. You can believe that he will want less tight window throws and getting himself out on the move more will boost his confidence tenfold.
4. Sam Williams breaks out in year two.
Ever since the Cowboys released DeMarcus Ware in 2013, they've been trying to find a player that can disrupt the passing game on the right side of the defensive line. So far, they had eight players start at right defensive end with the most notable being Randy Gregory, Robert Quinn, Aldon Smith, Tyrone Crawford, and controversial Greg Hardy. But whether it be due to off-the-field issues, injuries, or lack of production Dallas hasn't been able to find someone they believe can hold that position down in the future.
Now with Williams coming in and showing flashes of his ability to be a disruptor opposite DeMarcus Lawrence the Cowboys are hoping his second-year leap is a big one. Williams for his part is not going to disappoint, his combination of strength and freakish athletic ability give Dallas a player that has the potential to dominate far greater than the rest of the players they currently have rotating in and out at right defensive end.
5. The Cowboys pry Derrick Henry away from the Titans
The biggest dream scenario that we can see for the Cowboys would be finding a dominant running back that can command the respect of opposing defenses, forcing them to stack the box in order to stop him. Much like the Cowboys had with Ezekiel Elliott earlier in his career, a player like that would do far more for this offense than the changing of their offensive coordinator. That player would be Derrick Henry, his presence on this already talented Dallas roster would make this offense impossible to defend.
Stack the box to stop Henry and you leave CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cook with one-on-one coverage and with their ability to win off the line of scrimmage you'd allow Dak Prescott to pick any secondary apart. Keep the box light and see Henry break off runs for big chunks of yards, either way you look at it this move would make this offense probably the most dangerous in the NFL and give this dominant defense even more rest that would help them on a run in the playoffs with the ultimate goal of being in and winning the Super Bowl.