The Dallas Cowboys are once again being recognized as one of the top teams in the NFC with the potential to make a run in the playoffs. The problem for them, though, is that they are always considered contenders but once they reach the playoffs the team unravels, leaving fans brokenhearted.
We can see that ownership has their talking points memorized. In free agency the player needs to be "the right fit and value." In the draft they typically go "best available player on their board," and in camp "fielding the best players."
While all of those things are great to hear, it feels like they are throwing chum in the waters for fans to take ahead of the season while they continue to build teams that can make the playoffs and continue to be contenders, but not champions.
If this organization really wants to get back to the mountaintop and see owner Jerry Jones hoist that Lombardi Trophy then they are going to need to make a few adjustments to their usual way of thinking. The old model was good if you just want to make the playoffs, but if you want to be the champs you'll need to change a few things, and I have five for you that could better those odds of doing it.
5. Cowboys must figure out best 5 offensive linemen
The clock is ticking for the Cowboys offensive line. Tyron Smith can't stay healthy and rumors are swirling that right guard Zack Martin is thinking about calling it a career. The team has done a nice job of bringing in pieces for depth and players to develop but they need to figure out who they are going to be moving forward with now.
Continuity is everything for an offensive line and in order to have that and hit the ground running these players need to be playing next to each other developing communication habits and figuring out each other's tendencies in order to become a well-oiled machine.
In order to get to that point they need to figure out the answer to these questions, figure them out early in camp and you'll be able to develop a rapport between that starting five that will help the offense going into the season and postseason.
1. Is Tyler Smith better suited to play at left tackle over Tyron Smith?
2. Chuma Edoga or Asim Richards at left guard?
3. Is Tyron Smith at a point in his career where he's a swing tackle?
4. Cowboys must choose one offensive philosophy and stick to it.
On the surface, the Cowboys' offensive game plan seemed to be working last season. The offense had a few hiccups here and there but for the most part was one of the best in the league. Behind closed doors, though, the direction the head coach and offensive coordinator wanted to go seemed to be at odds.
Now that former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has left for greener pastures with the Chargers, head coach Mike McCarthy is now at the helm and promoted Brian Schottenheimer to offensive coordinator. That's all well and good, but they need to settle on one offensive scheme and not try and mold their two visions together the way McCarthy and Moore tried to do.
4. The Air Coryell Offense Scheme
An offense that is a mix of vertical passing and power running.
5. The West Coast Offense Scheme
A ball-control offense that featured short passes and quick slanting pass routes by receivers and running backs.
Both men do like passing plays where their quarterback is able to hit receivers on the move in order to pick up yards after the catch and they both do like running the football to setup the play-action passing game so they have the foundation to build a successful offense. We just have to hope that they are able to agree on what plays to call in certain situations and the personnel that can execute it.
3. Cowboys must add a big-bodied running back
Ever since the release of running back Ezekiel Elliott the Cowboys have been seen as a team that will be looking for another running back to pair with Tony Pollard. They did address the position in free agency by signing Ronald Jones II and re-signing Rico Dowdle, and also in the draft by selecting Duece Vaughn as a change of pace back.
These are nice moves but it doesn't fix the issues left behind with the release of Elliott. The Cowboys need to find themselves a bigger running back that they will feel comfortable with in pass protection and in short-yardage situations.
6. Tony Pollard - 209lbs
7. Malik Davis - 202lbs
8. Ronald Jones II - 208lbs
9. Rico Dowdle - 215lbs
10. Deuce Vaughn - 176lbs
The current group of running backs aren't as big as Elliott, with the closest being Dowdle who hasn't been able to stay healthy throughout his young NFL career.
If Dallas wants to be able to pick up those tough yards in close games they are going to need a bigger back that can come in and move the chains. Luckily for them, a lot of running backs were taken in this draft which should lead to surprise roster cuts and give this front office a plethora of options to choose from. Three players to keep an eye on would be Joe Mixon, Hassan Haskins, and even Ezekiel Elliott.
2. Cowboys must keep offenses guessing about Micah Parsons
One of the true strengths of the Cowboys defense has been defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's ability to move linebacker Micah Parsons around the entire formation. When you have one of the most disruptive players in the NFL across from you who keeps changing alignments, it makes things tougher on the offensive line. The news that Parsons is looking to add weight in order to help in him deal with the physicality involved when he rushes the passer.
Parsons snap counts:
2021: 374 on the defensive end, 498 at linebacker
2022: 738 on the defensive end, 171 at linebacker
While a smart move, the Cowboys have to hope Parsons will be able to keep that sideline-to-sideline speed that has made him one of the best defenders in the league. They can't simply line him up as a pass rusher and expect the defense to have continued success. If the team starts to see a decrease in his overall play speed then they may need to step in so they don't lose the playmaker they've had in Parsons thus far in his career. That's versatility you can't squander by having him settle into one position.
1. Give Dak Prescott every opportunity to succeed
We've already talked about the Cowboys' offensive line and adding a pass-blocking running back, but that isn't the only area where this coaching staff will be able to give Prescott the ability to succeed. They are going to need to make sure that whoever that third receiver is they have the ability to get off the line and create separation.
We know that CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks will be able to do it but having that third receiver would give Prescott more confidence in letting the football go and fans will be able to see that Prescott's interception woes were more based on the passing game scheme and routes over his quarterback play.
If Dallas determines early on in camp that Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert aren't those guys, they need to go out and get him a receiver with separation ability. Just like the running backs in this draft, receivers were also taken a high clip which means that teams will be looking to move receivers they don't believe fit their scheme.
Dallas hasn't been afraid to trade away late-round picks or swap players in order to get help at a position of need and they shouldn't be afraid to do it now if they truly believe in Prescott.