Dallas Cowboys: 10 Changes That Must Be Made To Ensure Success in 2011
The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2010 season as a team considered a favorite in the NFC, capable of becoming the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home season. They had weapons galore all across their roster, and were expected to be a supremely talented team with the perfect mix and built to march through the playoffs and towards the promised land.
Instead, all the lofty expectations went totally unfulfilled as Dallas fell flat on their faces by starting their season in putrid fashion, posting a brutal record of 1-7 through their first eight games. They lost their quarterback to a broken clavicle, were humiliated in games by the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars, and ultimately their coach, Wade Phillips, was fired after their dispiriting loss at Green Bay on national television.
All that sounds extremely negative, and it was largely a negative campaign for a team with great expectations and an owner that expects nothing short of excellence. But things have gotten better for the Cowboys in recent weeks, thanks to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett stepping in as head coach. They've won three of Garrett's four games as coach, including surprising wins over the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts, and have looked like a far different team.
But at 4-8, their chances of making the playoffs are basically non-existent, so it's important to look ahead to 2011 with an eye on improving a team that was two wins away from the Super Bowl a year ago. Here we'll go over ten things that need to happen for the Cowboys to reclaim a spot as a top NFC team and once again challenge for a Super Bowl championship.
Ignore the Big-Name Coaches, Stick With Jason Garrett
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Jerry Jones is the type of owner that loves to make a big splash, a flashy showman that likes having the biggest names possible on or affiliated with his team.
Wade Phillips always seemed to be on borrowed time as a coach because he wasn't a marquee name, and now that he's been axed, the whispers have begun about Double J chasing down a name like Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher or someone of that ilk. It makes sense, as great coaches are a desirable commodity and can make a big impact on the sidelines of the NFL.
But this is an instance where Jerry Jones needs to reject his usual inclinations to chase a big name and instead stick with the guy who has resurrected his team's season and will keep them from being a complete embarrassment in 2010.
Jason Garrett deserves to continue as head coach and that constitutes a change in operating procedure in Dallas, as it would mean Jerry Jones must forgo someone like Gruden or Cowher. Garrett has the Dallas offense clicking and seems to have gotten through to the players in a way Phillips couldn't, and he deserves a few years to try and make it work in Big D.
Build an Almost Entirely New Offensive Line
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The offensive line has been a disaster for the Cowboys in 2010, and it needs a large overhaul thanks to a high number of older players whose bodies are breaking down and seeing their effectiveness drop.
The line needs to be rebuilt through free agency, the draft and any other necessary means. One rock on the line appears to be Doug Free, a player who has emerged as a steady force capable of anchoring the line. Players like Andre Gurode, Marc Colombo and Leonard Davis are getting up in age and are not the future along the line for the Cowboys.
It may be impossible to replace all three, but Colombo will certainly be gone and if Dallas is ever going to start over, now would be the time to do it.
Say Goodbye to Terence Newman and Gerald Sensabaugh
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Plugging two openings in a secondary in one offseason is tough to do, but it's an area that needs to be addressed for the Cowboys.
Terence Newman has been solid for the Cowboys for years, but age is catching up to him and his price tag is a steep one. Sensabaugh has been mediocre at best in the secondary this year for the Cowboys, and he represents another player that the team could potentially replace with a younger, cheaper and potentially more effective player.
It may not be likely that both Newman and Sensabaugh will be gone, but it would be a bold step that could help improve what has been a weak link in the Cowboys' defense.
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Find a Run-Stuffing Defensive End
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Defensive ends Igor Olshansky and Marcus Spears have both struggled against the run, their biggest tasks coming in the 3-4 defense. Jay Ratliff is entrenched at nose tackle, but the edges of the 3-4 front need to be addressed.
Spears is a free agent and I would say he's as good as gone from Dallas' roster once the season ends. The first round could have some serious talent on the defensive line, so it may be through the draft that Dallas can upgrade their defensive end talent pool. Either way, this position definitely needs to be addressed if the Cowboys are going to improve on a down year.
Is Stephen Bowen the answer?
He hasn't looked like one, but he also hasn't received a chunk of playing time. I think they must look outside if they're going to improve on the line.
Say Goodbye to Marion Barber
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The Cowboys running game improved as soon as Jason Garrett took over as head coach, and part of the reason seemed to be the de-emphasizing of Marion Barber as the primary running back.
Felix Jones and Tashard Choice have recently outperformed the injured Barber. He seems to be past his prime, unable to break big runs and less of a physical force than he was a few years ago. The numbers bear this out, as Barber averaged a minuscule 3.1 yards per carry with his longest run going for 24 yards.
He shouldn't have a place on the 2011 Cowboys, and it seems like Jones and Choice are a better pairing in the backfield as the primary rushing options.
Keep The Balance In the Offense
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Whether it was Tony Romo or Jon Kitna throwing passes, the Cowboys often fell out of balance and became extremely pass-happy on offense. And who can blame them when they have weapons like Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Roy Williams at their disposal?
But it's a problem to rely so heavily on the pass when the offensive line is a work in progress.
Since it seems far-fetched to expect personnel change on the defensive line to occur overnight (it is probably unrealistic to rebuild an entire offensive line in one offseason), it will become vital for Dallas to remain a balanced offense if they're to succeed in 2011.
Even if Romo comes back fully healthy and ready to strike up a dynamic partnership with future star Dez Bryant, the Cowboys must avoid becoming a gunslinging offense.
David Buehler's Day Off (The Team)
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The headline might be a little harsh, as kicker David Buehler has not been a complete disaster: he's got a very strong leg and is quite the asset on kick offs. But as a place kicker called upon to make clutch kicks? Not so much. He's young and is still breaking into the league, but I think the Cowboys need to bring in a veteran, seasoned kicker capable of making a high percentage of kicks. Going 16 for 22 on field goal tries is not an acceptable percentage for a competitive NFL team. I think Buehler has a future in the league, but he seems to not be ready for prime time as of yet.
Part Ways With Keith Brooking, Start Sean Lee
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Keith Brooking has been an iron man in the NFL, playing in 156 straight games and being a solid inside linebacker for years. But I think it's time for he and the Cowboys to part ways, as his replacement is in place on the roster in the form of Sean Lee, who has been impressive in his increased playing time filling in for the injured Brooking and Bradie James. It makes fiscal sense and practical game sense, as Lee is younger and cheaper and seems like he could replicate Brooking's production in the middle of the defense. Brooking is undoubtedly a bigger name, but his best days of football are behind him.
Draw Plays Up Centered Around Dez Bryant
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Dez Bryant is on a roster with talented wide receivers like Miles Austin and Roy Williams, but Bryant is the most physically gifted of the trifecta, and the one receiver capable of consistently making huge plays. His size, speed and playmaking abilities are unrivaled by any of his fellow Cowboys receivers. He took some time to ease his way into the league early in the year, which is understandable, but once he hit his rhythm he was an absolute monster in the passing game. At times he complained of not getting the ball enough, and I had to agree with him even without approving of his approach. He deserves the ball as much as possible on offense, and the offense needs to put some plays in that are designed solely to get the ball into Dez's hands.
Trust In Tony Romo
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He's always a lightning rod for attention and dissection, but Tony Romo is also a great quarterback when healthy and with time to pick apart defenses. The Cowboys absolutely have to give him a shot at reclaiming his previous glory in the pocket next year, presumably with some new pieces around him designed to improve his game. There doesn't need to be any quarterback controversies, or any question of who the top dog in Dallas is on offense. It should be Romo, and he should get a shot at resurrecting the Cowboys' chances in the NFC East in 2011. He will no doubt be highly motivated, and there will still be talent there for him to cultivate. He just needs the opportunity to do so, and I think he will.
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