Dallas Cowboys 2015 Season Preview

Dallas Cowboys

2014 Record 12-4

2015 O/U 10

Off Season Overview

In losing DeMarco Murray the Cowboys are losing the producer of 37% of their total yards on offense. The Cowboys are going with the approach that their offensive line can have anyone run behind it but it will be put to the test, because between Murrays’ skill set, and the rest on the Cowboys roster there is no comparison. A few other notables left like, Anthony Spencer, Geoge Selvie, and Bruce Carter. None are nearly as significant as Murray, and superior talent has replaced most of the losses in the off-season. This Cowboy team potentially found three first round picks in 2015. Character concerns slid two out of the first, and one of the two, La’El Collins’ problems were just a precautionary reason and now cleared up. Character concerns didn’t stop them from drafting Randy Gregory, and it didn’t stop them from signing Greg Hardy, who will miss four games due to an off field suspension, and serve as a mentor for Gregory. Hopefully these two can learn from their past and play together, because it could give this defense a huge turn around. It could also find this team on TMZ. Other notable additions are Darren McFadden, Jasper Brinkley, and Keith Rivers. All are depth names that can help improve in areas of need. The big question is Murray as we head into the Dallas season, but they have a good look on paper.

Offensive Strength

The good look is in this offensive line. As mentioned Murray was able to churn in 2014, and amounted more rushing yards than his previous two seasons combined. Also while Murray was able to rip off a career high 4.7 yards per carry, Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle were able to churn out 5.5 yards in their combined touches last year. It is tough to compare because of the small sample size of 90 combined carries for those two, but it is safe to say that a group of running backs can sustain success due to this offensive line. Collins was a potential top ten pick and fell out of the draft in a weird turn of events. He was going to be a starter for plenty of teams in the NFL, but now he is the swing lineman in Dallas. That’s how set they are right now.

Any offense is set with Dez Bryant catching passes for you. Bryant is one of only a couple of guys you can consider as the best wide receiver in the game. He led the league in touchdowns, and in a run first offense, he had 1,300 yards and had 24 more catches than the next guy on his team. Bryant is a super star and can turn a quick slant into a 90-yard touchdown. It makes life easy for Romo to have that escape. A lot of people see Romo as the weakness, but he is an above average quarterback by all standards. He doesn’t have the playoff win to show for it, but he is better than most teams can say they have. Romo completed 69.9% of his passes in this new and improved run first offense, and if the run can sustain, this offense still has the makings of a top five unit.

Offensive Weakness

While Randle and Dunbar were able to have a strong average, they only had 22% of the carries in which Murray ran. 392 rushing attempts are now missing from the offense, and neither back has seen 100 in one season in their NFL career. One thing Darren McFadden can say is that he has touched the ball 100 times in every year of his seven-year career. He is just inconsistent and never healthy. Besides that I am looking to hear a name like Knowshown Moreno, or Steven Jackson come up, but right now a run first team is looking to a flurry of inconsistent runners to find production behind the great offensive line. Aside from the backs, is the receiving core really that great outside of Dez Bryant? Cole Beasley is a nice slot option, but the team appears ready to step up his usage and he may eventually be the second target in the offense behind Dez. I am unsure how that will go, but I think it mainly talks more to Terrance Williams’ development. Williams seems to be a hit or miss deep threat, and not exactly a talented one at that. The team may be ready move on from Williams, but the only other outside option now is Devin Street. Street was never an elite athlete at Pitt, and I don’t trust him being a strong second option. Romo still has tight end Jason Witten, and the Cowboys seem to be emerging Gavin Escobar into the scene, but Witten is now a step slower, and Escobar has his flaws. Overall this offense is looking on this line to carry the run, find magic from Dez and Tony, and if the rest can do anything they will take it. Bold strategy, but it may work.

Defensive Strength

What would really help this offense is if the defense got a little better. The boys finished 22nd in efficiency and didn’t get many stats across the board, but the defensive line is going to be this teams strength. They clearly addressed it in the off-season and they addressed it in the 2014 draft as well. Demarcus Lawrence was drafted in round two to succeed Demarucs Ware and Lawrence is the clear starter on the left side. He has a lot of upside, but just limited experience. Across from him will be Hardy eventually, but will feature Gregory, as well as Jeremy Mincey a decent rotational name. Throwing away character, Hardy is a stud on the football field and should lead this team in sacks without the four games. Their interior defensive line has some talent as well and the line should be better this year than last. If Gregory and Lawrence step forward, then this defense can really be something to look at, until then there is a lot to prove on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive Weakness

The linebacker core and secondary have questions and holes all over it and most just do not have answers. Sean Lee can be an answer, but is on the list as questionable due to injury. Lee has only started in 32 games in his five year career, and now at 29 years of age and on a knew ACL, he cannot be a lock to put in a full season in 2015. If he doesn’t, this line backer unit is going to be a stretch to be formidable. Rolondo McClain will miss four games, but does he even matter any more? The rest of the group is a couple younger guys, and the veterans added in the offseason, and I honestly don’t know if anyone can stick as long-term starters here. It is as brutal a group of players as you can see. The secondary isn’t that bad, and that is mainly because of Brandon Carr and Barry Church. Neither are game breakers, but neither are complete train wrecks either. With Orlando Scandrick now sidelined due to injury the secondary will rely on former top ten pick Mo Claiborne to step in across from Carr. Claiborne has had bust potential in past performances and is now currently in his make it or break it season. Byron Jones is another guy who can contribute on the outside, but like a fellow prospect, Kevin Johnson I thought a rookie season in the slot would be good for his development. If he is pushed up the depth chart he may be okay, but I would have preferred to ease him in. You can tell why this team wants to run the ball and control the clock. Keeping the defense off the field is going to be what is going to win the Cowboys games, a similar strategy to 2014.

Where do they rank? O/U 10?

I liked what this team did to attempt to improve the defense in the off-season. Hardy, Jones, and Gregory should all make year one impacts on the Cowboys defense, and the offensive line should remain impactful in 2015. The Cowboys were a reminder why running the ball is still so efficient and I think if the group of backs can hit some holes they should find a way to replace most of the yards lost. 9 seems like the low for wins for this team, and I see them peaking back at 12. I lean to the over, and think the Cowboys are here to stay and will repeat in the NFC East in 2015. I picked them to finish last in 2014, so lets see how this one goes now that they have won me over.

Parkers Picks: 1st in the NFC East, No play

Logans Pick: 1st in the NFC East, No play