3 Dallas Cowboys Who Could Lose Ground in 2012

Jun 7, 2018

I've tried to remain upbeat about all four NFC East teams since taking over this blog last month, mainly because there's quite a lot of be upbeat about. However, not everything will be flowers and sunshine and ice cream and lollipops for the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles and Redskins.

Let's attempt to project who might fall off this year for each of the division's four talented teams, starting with a trio of 30-year-olds in Dallas.

Jay Ratliff

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Jay Ratliff is still one of the best all-around nose tackles in the game, but he showed some signs of fatigue in 2011. He'll be 31 before the season starts, which has some thinking that the four-time Pro Bowler might be better suited to spend more time at defensive end on passing downs.

The team is ready to give him some relief on early downs, and they have the personnel and depth to do so, but they also continue to insist that Ratliff will spend his eighth season lining up as a zero or one technique.

He struggled with strained rib muscles last year, so maybe that was why he seemed to wear down faster than in years past. We'll find out whether or not he's fully healthy again after having an entire offseason to recuperate.

Regardless, Ratliff's best days are likely behind him.

Jason Witten

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Jason Witten is still one of the best tight ends in the game, but his numbers have dropped slightly in each of the last two years. Last season marked only the second time he's dropped below the 1,000-yard mark since 2007.

He also missed out on the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams this past year for the first time since 2006.

At 30 and entering his 10th season, Witten has probably seen his best days. Dez Bryant is only getting better and Miles Austin should become a more prominent part of the offense again in 2012, leaving the seven-time Pro Bowler with only so many opportunities.

Plus, it wouldn't be shocking to see him run out of luck in the health department. You never want to predict injuries, but the dude hasn't missed a game since 2003. How's his body feeling at this point?

DeMarcus Ware

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Everyone keeps telling me that I'm certifiably insane for worrying about DeMarcus Ware's neck, but the soon-to-be-30-year-old has been dealing with lingering issues in that area for far too long.

I realize that he had 19.5 sacks last season, but he might have broken Mike Strahan's record had he not been hassled by stingers again.

He hasn't missed a game in his seven-year career, but that has to make you wonder if Ware's getting worn down a little. While the Cowboys would probably love to give him more opportunities to rest, Ware is simply too important to sit on the majority of downs. Over the last two years, the man has accounted for 46 percent of the team's sacks.