Dallas Cowboys: 7 Players Who Must Step Up for the Cowboys to Make the Playoffs

For the 2010 Dallas Cowboys, anything that could go wrong did. 

Picked by many "experts" to become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium, the 'Boys fell short.  Well short.

Loaded with talent on both offense and defense, the Cowboys never got on track last season. The 'Boys managed to win only one of their first seven contests and, along the way, lost quarterback Tony Romo to a season-ending shoulder injury. 

But after an embarrassing loss to Green Bay dropped the Cowboys to 1-8, owner/GM Jerry Jones vowed changes and dropped the axe on head coach Wade Phillips.  Jones then promoted offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to head coach and, with Garrett calling the shots, the Cowboys played inspired football, finishing 5-3 the second half of the season. More importantly, Garrett earned the praise of his boss and the respect of his players, an element that was clearly lacking under the leadership of Phillips. 

However, the Cowboys did finish the season 6-10 and, going into 2011, Garrett promised changes in both personnel and culture.

Gone are high-priced veterans WR Roy Williams, OT Leonard Davis, OT Mark Columbo and RB Marion Barber.  Garrett also hired defensive guru Rob Ryan to run a talented, yet underachieving, defense.  Ryan's main focus will be to bring some confidence and swagger back to a unit that was ranked 23rd in the NFL in '10.

No one will doubt that the Cowboys do have the talent to return to the playoffs in 2011.  

But they did have a lot of holes to fill in the offseason and if they are to return to the dance, these seven players will have to step up.

Montrae Holland: Offensive Guard

Montrae Holland will be part of a new, younger offensive line the Cowboys have assembled for 2011.  

He has been a reserve guard since his arrival from Denver in '08, but when the Cowboys decided not to bring back Leonard Davis, Holland was selected to fill his roll.  

He can play either guard position and if the Cowboys hope to return to the playoffs, Holland will have to excel. 

Anthony Spencer: Outside Linebacker

When Jerry and the Cowboys drafted linebacker Anthony Spencer back in '07, they were hoping he would compliment All-Pro DeMarcus Ware and give Dallas another pass-rushing threat.  

Although he has shown flashes of greatness, Spencer has not been very consistent in his five years in a Cowboys uniform.

The coaches in Dallas feel that he still has superstar potential, but so far he has struggled in the 3-4 defense.

Rob Ryan's schemes should benefit Spencer and help him utilize his freakish talent.  

If Spencer can elevate his game and take much-needed pressure off Ware, the Cowboys front seven could be very good in '11. 

Tyron Smith: Offensive Tackle

If anyone wants to know how desperate the Cowboys were for offensive line help, look no further than their first-round selection in the 2011 draft.  

Since Jerry Jones purchased the team in 1989, the 'Boys have never selected an offensive lineman in the first round.  Jerry had to realize that he had to upgrade this unit after Tony Romo went down with a season-ending injury last year.  

Considered to be the best offensive lineman in the draft, the 20-year old All-American tackle from Southern Cal will be inserted into the starting lineup immediately.  

He will play play the right side and, although some consider him raw and a work in progress, he will definitely have to learn fast if the Cowboys are to make it back the playoffs.  No pressure, Tyron...really.  

Sean Lee: Inside Linebacker

Sean Lee picked the perfect time to have his coming-out party during his rookie campaign last year. Lee had two interceptions, including a pick six, against Payton Manning and the Colts helping Dallas defeat Indianapolis in a Week 13 upset win.

The former Penn State All-American linebacker was drafted in the second round of the 2010 draft.  Having played all three LB positions in college, the Cowboys liked Lee's versatility and planned to use him early and often.  He was to share time with with incumbent Keith Brooking at the ILB position, but injuries slowed him the first half of '10.  Now fully healthy and with a year under his belt, Lee will enter 2011 hoping to solidify the ILB position and the Dallas coaching staff will give him every opportunity to do that.   

Mike Jenkins: Cornerback

Will the real Mike Jenkins please stand up?  Coming off a Pro-Bowl season in '09, Jenkins regressed mightily in '10.  

In all fairness to Jenkins, the entire Cowboys secondary was horrible last year, but Jenkins seemed to be lost and out of place at times.  

The Cowboys gave up 27.3 points a game (31st) during the '10 season and the defensive backfield was a big reason why.

The Cowboys pursuit of free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha should serve as plenty of motivation to Jenkins to regain his Pro Bowl form.  

Although the 'Boys did not land Asomugha, it is clear that the coaching staff has lost some confidence in the fourth-year corner.  

The good thing for Jenkins is that last year is over.  The bad thing for Jenkins is that he has to prove himself all over again.  

Dez Bryant: Wide Receiver

When Jerry Jones traded up to draft Dez Bryant last year, he was banking on the young, brash rookie becoming a playmaker as well as a game changer.  I think Jones may be getting a nice return on his investment.

Not since Michael Irvin retired have the Cowboys had a dominant presence at the wide receiver position. Although Bryant was injured for part of his rookie season,  when he was on the field, he provided plenty of excitement and fireworks.

Bryant was not only a threat in the passing game, but the return game as well.  During a Monday Night Football telecast against the New York Giants, Bryant introduced himself to the world by scoring three TDs including a 93-yard punt return.  

Head coach Jason Garrett knows he has something special in Bryant, and now that he is firmly entrenched as the starter, Garrett is ready to turn his prized receiver loose.

Assuming the offensive line can keep Tony Romo upright, Dez could have a breakout year: 80-plus catches, 1,200 receiving yards and 10-plus TDs are real possibilities for the second-year receiver.

Opposing DB's better take notice because, barring injury, this kid is primed for stardom.  

Tony Romo: Quarterback

The expectations may be a little higher when you're the starting quarterback for America's Team.  No one knows this better than Tony Romo.  

He has been criticized for everything from not being vocal enough, to not being a leader, to not knowing how to win the 'big game.'

It's safe to say you have to have thick skin to be the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, so Romo must have very thick epidermis.

Romo missed the final 10 games of the 2010 season with a broken left clavicle.

If the Cowboys are to return to the playoffs, they will need their field general for all 16 games.  Perhaps this is why owner/GM Jerry Jones signed free agent LT Doug Free to stay in Dallas and help protect Romo's blindside.  

Perhaps Romo's injury partially led to the Cowboys spending their first-round draft pick on OT Tyron Smith, something that hadn't been done since 1981.  

But there is no doubting that, when Romo is healthy, he is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Romo has a plethora of weapons on offense so he won't have too many excuses should he have a down year in 2011.  

With a new, makeshift offensive line, Romo may struggle early on because he hasn't seen live action in almost a year.  However, if the offensive line performs as it should, Romo will get a chance to silence his naysayers once and for all.