Warnings Grow of a Dallas Cowboys Regression in 2017
By Erik Lambert
The Dallas Cowboys fancy themselves a team that’s ready for a Super Bowl push. Several experts though aren’t convinced. In fact they expect the opposite.
That’s hard to believe. After all the Cowboys did post a 13-3 record in 2016 with two rookies leading the way. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott both went to the Pro Bowl. They didn’t look overwhelmed in the playoff loss to Green Bay either. By rights this team should be a heavy favorite. So why is optimism in short supply among many outside Dallas?
Much of it has to do with the painful loss they suffered. It really was a gut punch to many who saw that Cowboys team as a true Super Bowl threat. Since then they’ve lost a lot of their veteran talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Rookies are taking their place and matters are made worse by a slew of off-the-field problems.
Can’t seem to get out of their own way
Adam Schein of NFL.com elaborated further with why it’s getting hard to buy in on them.
"“From Elliott to Lucky Whitehead to David Irving to Damien Wilson to Nolan Carroll, there’s a ton of “stuff” around the Cowboys. An Elliott suspension would be a killer early in the season, given that the Cowboys open up at home against a tough Giants team and then travel to Denver and Arizona. And Dallas won’t sneak up on anyone this year. Can these ‘Boys handle the pressure of lofty expectations in the Big D? The defense is mediocre overall, and Irving’s four-game suspension doesn’t help. The secondary’s a huge concern, following the offseason losses of four key players (cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, as well as safeties Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox). The offensive line remains stout with three first-team All-Pros, but Dallas must break in new starters at right tackle and left guard.My gut feeling: Nobody loves Zeke as a player more than I do, but I don’t think Dallas is a playoff lock. The NFC East is great and the Giants have the best defense in the division. I have the Cowboys winning about nine games. I acknowledge the upside, but the postseason’s hardly a foregone conclusion.”"
Much of the hope this team has is built around their offense. Specfically the offensive line which remains arguably the best in the NFL. As long as this group of Pro Bowlers remain intact, this team can win some football games. Of course losing Ronald Leary and Doug Free in the same offseason didn’t help matters. Now they’re trying La’El Collins at a new position in right tackle while former 1st round bust Jonathan Cooper fills the void at left guard.
They need a lot of guys to step up. That puts a ton of pressure on the coaching staff to bring them along fast. Not exactly an ideal situation for a team to win the division, much less challenge for a Super Bowl. Maybe we’re wrong, but it doesn’t feel that way.