Another Test For The Overachieving Dallas Cowboys
By Dink Kearney
Dec 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) is tackled by the Dallas Cowboys defense during the third quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys overachieved last season as they overcame their shortcomings with hard work, dedication and good coaching. The Cowboys put their faith in Rod Marinelli as he improved the Cowboys’ defense from last in the league to a respectful defense that led the Cowboys to a 12-4 record and a playoff victory. But before the season started, the Cowboys waived franchise sack leader DeMarcus Ware, Sean Lee tore his ACL and promising LB DeVonte Holloman had a career ending neck injury. This was putting salt on a wound because the Cowboys had one the worse defenses in league history.
The Cowboys were so desperate for players they signed twice retired and troublesome former first rounder Rolando McClain to replace Sean Lee. On the offensive side of the ball, the Cowboys didn’t know if their young offensive line could protect Tony Romo and his surgically repaired back. Cowboys’ brass were also worried about DeMarco Murray‘s health, whether he could play a full season. There was no silver lining for the Cowboys.
Football experts predicted a last place finish in the NFC East and the firing of Jason Garrett.
More from Dallas Cowboys
- West coast, Texas coast, burnt toast: Cowboys don’t need more runs
- Brandin Cooks will change the way defenses play the Dallas Cowboys
- Why the Dallas Cowboys defensive X-Factor is EDGE Sam Williams
- Dallas Cowboys: 3 head coach options if McCarthy fails in 2023
- Dallas Cowboys: Is CB Jourdan Lewis a tradeable asset?
To the Cowboys’ credit, they fixed their problems immediately by signing players like Justin Durant, Henry Melton, Jeremy Mincey, Sterling Moore and George Selvie. And drafting Demarcus Lawrence, Tyler Patmon and Anthony Hitchens. Although these players weren’t household names, they came in and produced.
They got the job done.
When Morris Claiborne went down with a season ending knee injury, Moore did a hell of a job. No he wasn’t an All-Pro CB but he played extremely well and did way better than Claiborne has ever done.
What’s important is that when it looked like the Cowboys 2014 season was doomed, with all of the injuries and unknowns, the Cowboys didn’t panic. They had a plan in place long before all of the injuries occurred. The Cowboys simply replaced the injured players, allowed injury prone Murray to run the ball 30 times a game, and the massive offensive line protected Romo like the Secret Service. With the run game being so dominant, the Cowboys’ defense wasn’t playing 75 or 80 snaps a game, which allowed the defense to stay fresh and protect its weaknesses.
And that’s why McClain’s suspension is nothing new for the Cowboys.
In fact, the Cowboys knew months ago a suspension was possible. And they acted accordingly, signing LB’s Jasper Brinkley, Andrew Gachkar and Keith Rivers to FA contracts and drafting LB’s Damien Wilson and Mark Nzeocha. The other LB’s are Hitchens, Kyle Wilber and Cameron Lawrence.
So the LB’s corps is talented and deep.
Although the Cowboys will definitely miss McClain’s production and play making abilities, they will rely on other players’ dedication, hard work and the “next man up philosophy”. It worked last season and it’ll work again this season.
The best thing that could’ve happened to the Cowboys last season was losing key players to injuries and facing the unknown. That’s where they came together as a team, a coaching staff and organization. This teamwork allowed the Cowboys to win close games, go 4-0 in the dreaded month of December, win the NFC East, win a playoff game, and come within a catch of making it to the NFC Championship game.
That experience alone has given the Cowboys the ultra confidence it needs to be successful in 2015.
And because of that experience, McClain’s absence will be just another test en route to the Super Bowl.