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| Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys come back from a 12-4 season missing some key players and higher expectations. |
The 2015 Dallas Cowboys start the regular season much different than last season. They expectations weigh heavier coming back from a 12-4 season, NFC East title, and playoff win. Unlike most teams that are chasing recent success, the Cowboys return with new personnel and a new mission.
by +Rodney Fisher"It Was A Catch!"
The only to end a dream season for the Cowboys was with a nightmare. A hall-of-fame highlight catch from Dez Bryant on 4th and 2 was ruled no catch to give the Green Bay Packers the win. The NFL rule that prohibited the catch was later reviewed, changed, and more difficult for fan's to interpret. The Packers would go on to lose in the last seconds of the NFC Championship game on the road to the Seattle Seahawks. The Cowboys were the only team to beat the Seahawks on the road that season.We were all left to ponder the "what if"...
To say the Boys overachieved last season is an understatement. Most predicted them to finish with a losing record and Jerry Jones being forced to replace head coach Jason Garrett or himself. Tony Romo started training camp unable to practice consecutive days. The defense was coming off the worst statiscal season in Cowboys history and missing Sean Lee for entire season.
But...Garret's decision to remove himself from play-calling duties and bring in Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli proved to be a master stroke. A healthy DeMarco Murray ran for a club record 1,845 yards becoming NFL Offensive Player of the Year and proving the offensive line built from the draft was one of the best in the league. A feared run attack allowed Romo to throw from a clean pocket and connect with Dez Bryant for a league-leading 16 touchdowns.
A rejuvenated Rolando McClain took up middle linebacker duties and saftey Barry Church led the team 87 tackles,
A New Day, A New Roster
Everyone knows the season starts at the NFL Draft. The Cowboys were able to bring in three first-round talents in one draft for both sides of the ball. During the offseason, the Boys picked up sack artist Greg Hardy, coming off a season-ending ban for outside activities. Dez Bryant was rewarded with a $70 million dollar contract to be a Cowboy for the foreseeable future.The news is not the additions made, but the loses...
Gone is DeMarco Murray. The catalyst for the offense, the workhorse, the one reason the Cowboys could become a two-dimension offensive threat is wearing a Phildelphia Eagles uni. Just typing it doesn't sound right.
Replacing the league-leading rusher is a hjodge-podge of running backs that have not been able to be starters in the last few seasons. Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar will split carries with former #1 pick Darren McFadden. A name that has never been able to match his production in the NFL.
The philosophy is that the offensive line is the real MVP. If the Cowboys can get the line to block like it did last season then a group of guys can accomplish the same thing as DeMarco.
The defense suffered it's own setbacks as well. Orlando Scandrick is lost for the season due to knee injury. Both Hardy and McClain will miss the start of the season due to suspension. McClain has yet to even practice this offseason. This means familiar names like Justin Durant, Brandon Carr, Anthony Hitchens, and Morris Claiborne will have to set-up.
Stars On The Rise
This season will bring the emergence of Terrence Williams as a legitmate scoring threat. The focus on Dez Bryant and slot reciever Cole Beasley will continue to help Williams get more favorable matchups.New defensive stars in Jack Crawford and rookie Randy Gregory will have big seasons. The defensive line for the Cowboys will be rotated constantly, a style that Rod Marinelli made famous. Both players have big play capability and the attention on Demarcus Lawrence and Greg Hardy will help them get in the back field.
Rookie Byron Jones and Barry Church will be standouts in the secondary. With a better pass rush, the ball-hawking can began, Both Jones and Church are unbelievable athletes they are at their best when they can roam.
Tony Romo
If you read any of my work since 2009, then you know that my relationship with Tony Romo is bittersweet. I still feel that in a moment of truth he could throw an interception or have a sack-fumble. It's Romo's Law...My concern for Romo is still his health. Every quarterback is one-hit away from missing the season, but with the back surgeries that he has had over the years compiled with missing Murray concern me. Murray is one of the best running backs in the NFL with blitz pickup, a comfort that many seem to overlook.
Romo only attempted 435 passes last year. The lowest attempts in his entire career, yet the offense ranked 5th in the NFL averaging 29.2 points per game. If the have to regress back to the pass-happy Cowboys of old, then you have to be alarmed at 35-year old Romo dropping back 500+ times to pass.
Jason Witten
The 33-year old TE from Tennessee, Jason Witten, has become so much of safe bet year-after-year that we tend not to appreciate him. This year Cowboy fans need to cherish his reliability more than ever.Jerry Jones vs Stephen Jones
It is finally time to put this family rivalry rumor to bad. Sure Stephen Jones is gaining more experience in the organization, but this is still Jerry's team. The argument that somehow Stephen is making roster decisions or overruling Jerry is totally ludicrous.Schedule
Predictions
10-6, NFC Title Game
As a Cowboy fan, I can not allow myself to be a victim of the moment. Nobody wants a Super Bowl victory for the Cowboys more than me and Jerry Jones. The truth is I believe the team has taken a step back on offense, namely with the running attack, Until I can see this three-back rotation win in the NFL, I will be content with making it one step further than last year. That would be the NFC championship game.
6 Losses
I have them splitting with both the Eagles and New York Giants. I also have them losing to Seattle, Green Bay, Carolina, and Miami.
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