COWBOYZ95
Prospect
Last year’s record: 12-4
Head coach: Jason Garrett
Core players: Tony Romo (QB), Dez Bryant (RB), Tyron Smith (LT), Travis Frederick (C), Zack Martin (RG), Jason Witten (TE), Greg Hardy (DE), Sean Lee (LB)
2015 is about… Forgetting “The (Non)Catch” and building off what was otherwise an expectation-exceeding 2014 season. The Cowboys were knocked out of the post-season in controversial fashion, but it’s time to forget that. Tony Romo is coming off arguably his best season as a pro and Dallas still boasts one of the league’s best offensive lines along with one of its top playmakers in Dez Bryant. With question marks all throughout the NFC East, the division should be considered the Cowboys’ to lose.
They lost… The league’s leading rusher in 2014. Seeing DeMarco Murray in the uniform of a bitter division rival is going to sting, and the Cowboys haven’t made any significant moves to replace the nearly 400 carries No. 29 had last season. A less high-profile, but still significant, loss is that of offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who ironically also left for an NFC East opponent, making the move to Washington. Callahan played a big part in turning the Cowboys’ offensive line into the juggernaut that took the field last season.
Yeah, but they got… Darren McFadden…? Like I said above, the biggest question mark as the 2015 season draws nearer is who will make up for the huge hole Murray has left behind. Since being selected fourth overall in 2008, McFadden has been ravaged by injury and has barely made a dent when healthy. On the other side of the ball, controversial defensive end Greg Hardy was signed in May after being released by the Carolina Panthers following domestic violence charges (which were later dismissed). Hardy will miss the first four games of the season, but could make a big difference along the defensive line when he returns, as he was a game-changing presence two seasons ago when he recorded 15 sacks.
Growing from within: The core of the Cowboys offensive line — Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin — is expected to take another step in the right direction in 2015 after they were nothing short of dominant last season. With all three yet to reach the age of 25, the future is bright. Also look out for a couple of rookie lineman the Cowboys could be rewarded for taking a chance on. First is Randy Gregory, a second-round pick (60th overall) who had top-10 talent at defensive end but plummeted in the draft due to off-field issues. So far in training camp, Gregory has lived up to his on-field potential.
Second is offensive lineman La’el Collins, another projected first-rounder who dropped out of the draft after he was questioned regarding the shooting death of a former girlfriend (he was never considered a suspect). Not long after the draft, the Cowboys signed Collins and it looks like he’ll fit right in along that vaunted offensive line.
Other young, Cowboys-grown talent to watch: DeMarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones, Damien Wilson, Ryan Russell.
Head coach: Jason Garrett
Core players: Tony Romo (QB), Dez Bryant (RB), Tyron Smith (LT), Travis Frederick (C), Zack Martin (RG), Jason Witten (TE), Greg Hardy (DE), Sean Lee (LB)
2015 is about… Forgetting “The (Non)Catch” and building off what was otherwise an expectation-exceeding 2014 season. The Cowboys were knocked out of the post-season in controversial fashion, but it’s time to forget that. Tony Romo is coming off arguably his best season as a pro and Dallas still boasts one of the league’s best offensive lines along with one of its top playmakers in Dez Bryant. With question marks all throughout the NFC East, the division should be considered the Cowboys’ to lose.
They lost… The league’s leading rusher in 2014. Seeing DeMarco Murray in the uniform of a bitter division rival is going to sting, and the Cowboys haven’t made any significant moves to replace the nearly 400 carries No. 29 had last season. A less high-profile, but still significant, loss is that of offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who ironically also left for an NFC East opponent, making the move to Washington. Callahan played a big part in turning the Cowboys’ offensive line into the juggernaut that took the field last season.
Yeah, but they got… Darren McFadden…? Like I said above, the biggest question mark as the 2015 season draws nearer is who will make up for the huge hole Murray has left behind. Since being selected fourth overall in 2008, McFadden has been ravaged by injury and has barely made a dent when healthy. On the other side of the ball, controversial defensive end Greg Hardy was signed in May after being released by the Carolina Panthers following domestic violence charges (which were later dismissed). Hardy will miss the first four games of the season, but could make a big difference along the defensive line when he returns, as he was a game-changing presence two seasons ago when he recorded 15 sacks.
Growing from within: The core of the Cowboys offensive line — Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin — is expected to take another step in the right direction in 2015 after they were nothing short of dominant last season. With all three yet to reach the age of 25, the future is bright. Also look out for a couple of rookie lineman the Cowboys could be rewarded for taking a chance on. First is Randy Gregory, a second-round pick (60th overall) who had top-10 talent at defensive end but plummeted in the draft due to off-field issues. So far in training camp, Gregory has lived up to his on-field potential.
Second is offensive lineman La’el Collins, another projected first-rounder who dropped out of the draft after he was questioned regarding the shooting death of a former girlfriend (he was never considered a suspect). Not long after the draft, the Cowboys signed Collins and it looks like he’ll fit right in along that vaunted offensive line.
Other young, Cowboys-grown talent to watch: DeMarcus Lawrence, Byron Jones, Damien Wilson, Ryan Russell.