How Have the Dallas Cowboys Addressed Biggest Weaknesses from 2014?

Even though the Dallas Cowboys went 12-4 last year, they were not without significant weaknesses. The goal of every team during the offseason is to shore up their weaknesses so that the team is stronger and more well rounded entering the new season. 

Going into this offseason, the Cowboys had a couple of glaring holes on their team. With DeMarco Murray's departure, running back was the biggest glaring hole on an otherwise stellar offense. The Cowboys also needed to significantly improve their pass rush, as it was abysmal for much of last year. The last glaring weakness the Cowboys had was in the secondary, which was up and down for the majority of the season. 

With the being said, let's take a look at how the Cowboys filled each of their glaring holes during the offseason. 

Running Back

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

The one weakness that the Cowboys haven't allocated significant resources to fill is at running back. When DeMarco Murray left, many thought the Cowboys would use significant draft capital to fill that hole. 

Instead, the Cowboys signed Darren McFadden and didn't draft a single running back in the 2015 NFL draft. This means that the Cowboys will likely have Ryan Williams, Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar battle it out for the three running back spots on the final roster. 

Williams is the most talented of the bunch, but you can't trust him to stay healthy. McFadden is the most well-rounded, but he's not a great scheme fit and has a long injury history. Dunbar is much more of a complementary back than a starter and Randle has the talent to start, but he is a hard player to trust. 

Just because the Cowboys haven't really addressed this need doesn't mean they won't. Don't rule out the Cowboys trading for a veteran running back, like Lamar Miller, at some point in training camp.

Pass Rush

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

One spot where the Cowboys have allocated a ton of resources to strengthen is the pass rush. Dallas had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL last year and it showed when they played the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. 

The first move the Cowboys made was to sign the controversial star Greg Hardy. Say what you want about his off-field issues, but Hardy is one of the premier pass-rushers in the NFL. Hardy can win with speed or power, and he always keeps opposing offensive tackles on their toes. 

The next move that the Cowboys made was to draft another controversial pass-rusher in the second round with Randy Gregory. A top-10 talent, Gregory fell because of off-field concerns. In college, Gregory was the premier pass-rusher in the nation as he won in a variety of ways, and he has the innate ability to get around the corner against offensive tackles. 

Those two moves, coupled with the development of Demarcus Lawrence, should lead to a much-improved pass rush for the Cowboys in 2015. 

Secondary

LM Otero/Associated Press

The Cowboys have been looking to improve their secondary for several years now. However, they have yet to find a player who could significantly improve the play of the back half of the defense. This year, the Cowboys hope to have found that player with first-round pick Byron Jones. 

Jones is a unique talent who can play cornerback or free safety. He is an athletic freak who is incredibly intelligent as well. He is long with great ball skills, which project well to either spot. 

Most players with Jones' athleticism rely on their athletic traits to get by in the NFL; however, Jones is one of the few that really focuses on his technique. It gets thrown around a lot, but Jones has the talent to become a shutdown cornerback or a fantastic free safety. It just depends on how the Cowboys choose to use him.