BY MARK HALPERN
So here we are just a week away from the beginning of the NFL season, and this Dallas team is something special (Dallas fans have been saying this for 30 straight years) with the additions that were made to help out the offense and the defense that the Cowboys could have a top five Offense and Defense this year.
Dak is back at the helm, and we all wonder what this season will bring. Dak has had troubles over the past two seasons, especially losing to the 49ers in the Divisional round back-to-back years. Dak has a fantastic offense to work with this year. Ezekiel Elliot was released due to his significant decline in production and health. He is still one of the top short-yardage backs in the game, and I am sure Belichick has great plans for him. I wish him the best. That being said, Tony Pollard is now the #1 running back in Dallas and proved so last season with him going over 1000 yards and becoming one of the most reliable backs in the game. Pollard’s season ended in the playoffs when he suffered an injury similar to Dak’s against the Giants a few years ago. Still, he is back in top health and ready to lead the charge with rookie Deuce Vaughn, the Kansas State Speedster, and James Connor will now be the third running back on the depth chart to give the Cowboys some wiggle room to get Pollard a rest now and again.
The Wide Receiver core of Cee Dee Lamb, Brandin Cooks (signed this year), and Michael Gallup rank as a top 5 core. The Cowboys had struggled last year moving the ball in the air, and a lot of that had to do with the fact that there was no solid number #2 wide receiver last year with Gallup returning from an ACL Tear. So, when you have one main guy, defenses tend to see that and compensate. Now, the addition of Cooks and his speed and route running should open up lanes not only for Lamb and Gallup but also rookie 2nd-year Jalen Tolbert. He has made tremendous strides in the offseason, OTA, and Training camp and locked up the 4th wide receiver spot. I expect to see a lot of him
this season, as his size and speed will be used. As for the Tight end position, Dalton Schultz left the Cowboys but stayed in Texas to play for the Texans with rookie C.J. Stroud. That leaves Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot as the first two on the chart. Both were rookies last year and were mainly blocking Tight Ends, but Ferguson did catch 20 passes last year, making him the starting tight end. His size and abilities remind me a lot of Jay Novacheck from the 90’s Cowboys. The offensive line is still one of the more dominant lines in Football but is getting up there in age. This line has to give Dak at least 3 seconds to throw the ball, and if you give Dak time, he can hurt you through the air or with his legs. So, the more time this line can give Dak, the better and opening holes for Pollard to recreate last year’s production and then some.
No team in the NFL can survive without a great defense, and that is what Dallas has. Micah Parsons is on a mission this year to get one sack in each NFL game. If there was anyone in Football who could attain this feat, he should be immortalized. With Tank Larence on one side and Maz Smith on the other, we will get good pressure on QBs. The Line backing Crew of Parsons Vander Esch and Clark is a force to be reckoned with and will help keep the run game in check. The secondary Dan Quinn has put together deserves its name, “The No-Fly Zone.” The Cowboys said that the Conor back position would be upgraded, and they did just that by signing former Pats CB Stephon Gilmore. He gives Dallas two of the top 10 corners in the game. His addition will slow down the passing attack and give the Cowboy’s defense the time it needs to get to the QB or at least hurry the QB and cause turnovers. Dallas has two great safeties in Donovan Wilson (who hits and plays like Darren Woodson) and Veteran Malik Hooker, who had a great year last year.
As long as the Cowboys can execute on offense, The Cowboys should win the NFC East with a record of 12-5 and meet the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl (however, it won’t be a third time is the charm for the Bills.) and that is how the old man sees it.
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