Conquering The Division

Lack of Leadership, Stronger Rivals

Hard Knocks to Overcome in SB run

The 2009 version of the Dallas Cowboys began organized team activities this week with a few questions relating to the dispatched Terrell Owens and how that may affect a questionable receiving core. But it is unquestionable that this team, despite missing the playoffs last season entirely, expects to compete for a Super Bowl title.

Accomplishing that feat will take them being able to handle the competition within the division. Many experts feel this squad has fallen behind both the Eagles and the Giants – mainly because they made a bigger splash in the draft (Eagles) and free agency (Giants) – in divisional strength. But it’s the strength of the Cowboys that will enable them to compete very well for NFC East supremacy.

The Cowboys offensive line, though aging, is built for power running, thus creating an offensive balance this team needs to see for success. Dallas comes into the season with enough playmakers in the backfield, plus the best tight end in the business, that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has plenty of firepower to scheme around when Marion Barber III, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice share the load. Wearing teams down and pounding the ball in the fourth quarter is how every team in the division other than the Eagles has won a Super Bowl or two in the past, including the 1992 and 1993 championship teams from Dallas.

The difference between those teams and this version is Emmitt Smith and his big O-line took over games with him being the only carrier. This team has a three-headed backfield that brings power (Barber), big-play ability (Jones), and versatility (Choice), but there lies a challenge for Garrett and his play-calling ability to use each one and his strength. Or maybe he just plays to the strengths of his play-making quarterback Tony Romo and put him in the best position to spread the wealth.

Regardless, the departure of Owens will create healthy competition among the wideouts, including Texas-native Roy Williams, who came to Dallas mid-season last year for a king’s ransom, and has high expectations to fill. A relieved Romo also has arguably the best tight end in the game with Jason Witten, who should lead the team in receptions. Add TE Martellus Bennett, who showed promise last season as an early-round draft pick, and with the stable of running backs, each proven in the passing game, Romo should have an arsenal of weapons to choose from when moving the ball through the air.

On the other side of the ball, Dallas is pretty please with its front seven, led by three-time Pro Bowl LB DeMarcus Ware. The loss of DE Chris Canty to a divisional foe shouldn’t hurt after the signing of Igor Olshansky, who played for coach Wade Phillips in San Diego and comes at a much cheaper price. But the bigger question marks fall into the defensive backfield where Dallas is hoping to address its needs through the draft. If they can find one starter at safety and add playmakers on special teams, this team will be very solid in all positions and phases of the game.

Hopefully being skilled all over the field, while ridding itself of problematic players who thought leadership was always being in the spotlight, will lead to a couple of players in 2009 becoming leaders inside that locker room and prevent another December meltdown. Dallas has made the playoffs three times in the past six years, missing the other three times because they played poorly down the stretch. Last year’s team was a glaring example of that, failing to make the playoffs after losing the last home game at Texas Stadium on two long touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to the Ravens, or being blasted off the field in a virtual playoff game the last day of the regular season by a divisional opponent. In 2007, Dallas lost two of its final four games – after going 11-1 – and went into the playoffs with home-field advantage and not much momentum. The result: an early exit.

Dallas has all of the physical tools to compete for a Super Bowl title, but the mental anguish of how the past few seasons have ended will be a lot to overcome. Coaching will be instrumental, but this team’s head coach has never had the personality or professional success to prove he is the right choice. Besides, he’s too busy being the team’s defensive coordinator.

The connection between OC Garrett and star-in-the-making Romo should translate to success on the field with early wins, but for the season to be a complete success, Romo will need to take that natural maturation and raise his game to the next level. Plus, it would be nice if he also became vocal in that locker room. More balance coming from the running game will help reduce turnovers, but Romo must take care of the football better. It may be a bit more boring brand of football, but it is a proven winning elixir – control the line of scrimmage on both sides and take care of the ball – when it comes to winning the division, as well as hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.