Where Mr. Fix-It Needs to Fix It: Problems with the Dallas Cowboys

When it comes down to it, the Dallas Cowboys have one major obstacle to overcome: themselves.

For a team that hasn’t won a playoff game in nearly 13 years, they have a lot to prove this season.

In an offseason filled with less-than-perfect publicity regarding player and staff relations, the March 5 cut of wide receiver Terrell Owens and more recently, the collapse of their practice facility, the team will need to work hard in summer training camp to show the NFL that they are more than just the 9-7 team from 2008.

One concern the team must acknowledge is whether they will be able to avoid an injury-riddled season.

Tight end Jason Witten has played through broken ribs, but how long will he be able to maintain dominance on the field with reoccurring physically intense injuries? Running back Felix Jones started off his rookie season strong, only to find himself on the bench with hamstring and toe injuries.

Tony Romo’s four-game absence after a pinky injury only did further damage to the already afflicted Dallas roster. In order to avoid the mishaps of last season, the entire team will need to step up and give the starters in each position some competition for their jobs as proof that any player can keep the positive momentum of the game going should a starter face an injury.

Should Romo face another injury, who will head coach Wade Phillips send onto the field? Last season, it was veteran quarterback Brad Johnson but after an off-season roster change, the ‘Boys will have former Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna waiting on the sidelines.

The real question is whether Kitna will prove himself worthy of the backup job or if he will turn out to be another veteran at the end of his career, much like his predecessor. The addition of Kitna to the Dallas roster surprised quite a few fans, given his past comments about the Cowboys while he played in Detroit.

Finally, the Cowboys need to bring a little heart back into their game. After all of the stories that filed out of Valley Ranch and onto the Sunday sports pages, the locker room needed a few changes beginning with the departure of Terrell Owens.

Whether or not he was the culprit of the off-field problems remains to be seen, but will quickly be determined once the 2009 season is underway. Everyone in the Cowboys organization, from general manager to rookie player needs to be on the same page, and not just the same page of the playbook.

Communication is key on and off the field, and better team communication will carry into their games as they work together to win rather than argue over which receiver is being given the ball.

If they can fix all of these problems and keep a winning record going into December, this team might have a shot at a Super Bowl. The operative word here is "might."

As the old cowboy movie line goes, "this town ain’t big enough for the both of us." The Cowboys could use a little more of that confidence to show their competitors they are a playoff-worthy team. Maybe then, they could keep those shiny new stadium doors open for a long-overdue Texas winter.