Dallas Cowboys: How Close Are They?
By Reid Hanson
How close are the Dallas Cowboys to being a Super Bowl team?
It’s become an annual tradition this time of year to ask the question, “How close are the Dallas Cowboys to being a Super Bowl team?” Coming off a disappointing 4-12 record, it would seem the Dallas Cowboys are light years away from the ultimate prize but (plug your ears Bill Parcells) sometimes you aren’t simply what your record says you are.
This time last year I asked the same question. Not all that surprisingly, the question was met with outrage. After all, the Dallas Cowboys were one questionable call from playing in the Conference Finals against a team they already beat. Of course the Dallas Cowboys are close! It would be preposterous to think otherwise! – This was the common sentiment last year.
What a difference a year makes, right? A 4-12 record in 2015 would be unthinkable to a team seemingly on the verge only a year before. In much the same way, a 12-4 record next season seems absurd given how terribly the Dallas Cowboys did this past season.
All of this is important to keep in mind when looking forward to the possibilities of tomorrow. Fortunes can change in a heartbeat (or collarbone) in this parity-rich NFL. Look no further than the Carolina Panthers. Last season, they were a paltry 7-8-1. For all intents and purposes, they were below average. This year? They were dominant in nearly all phases of the game and look like a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.
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The salary cap and free agency have evened the playing field in today’s NFL. Dominance one year does not guarantee dominance the next. The Dallas Cowboys know that all too well as they slid into last in the NFC East and will be picking #4 in this coming NFL Draft. The good news is, as easily as you slip, you can also rebound, and that’s what should give Dallas Cowboys fans a bit of optimism heading into the offseason.
Injuries obviously derailed the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. The Triplets of 2014 were largely gone in 2015. DeMarco Murray was in Philly, Tony Romo was injured, and Dez Bryant was injured as well and less-than-Dez when he was on the field. It makes perfect sense why the Cowboys crashed and burned in 2015 – their talent was gone.
The good news is all of this is fixable in 2016.
IF Tony Romo and Dez Bryant can stay healthy and IF the Cowboys can add another capable runner to the Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar duo, the Dallas Cowboys could get back to where they once were. If the still-developing offensive line and defensive ends keep improving – the Dallas Cowboys could even be a postseason force. That may sound like a lot of “ifs” but every season is based on “ifs” when it comes down to it.
It’s clear that in order to have success in today’s NFL, you need to have two things:
- A quarterback capably of making the tough plays.
- A pass-rush that can make life miserable for the opposition.
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Tony Romo can make the big plays but the pass-rush has yet to develop into a contender. That’s why I accused the Cowboys of fools gold in last January’s playoffs.
It was then that the Dallas Cowboys learned that they were good enough to compete against the best, but unless they found a pass-rush, they would never be seen as a real contender. I mean, come on, Aaron Rodgers was nearly crippled in that divisional playoff match-up in Green Bay, but the Cowboys couldn’t get to him and he picked them apart.
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The Cowboys have invested big in the pass-rush the past two seasons. They drafted Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory in consecutive drafts. History tells us, it takes time for pass-rushers to develop. Lawrence took a big step in 2015 and Gregory will likely step up as well in his sophomore season.
It’s hard to hide from the fact that the Dallas Cowboys are only a .500 team over the past five years. Because of that, it would be irresponsible to call them Super Bowl contenders next season.
A smart person would say that the success from 2014 was the anomaly and as the clear outlier, it should be ignored. But as a fan (fanatic), that type of logical logic can go kick rocks. Without a dominant team other than Carolina in the NFC, any team with a playmaking QB and a strong pass-rush has a chance.
Think about it…Did the Arizona Cardinals look all that scary in the playoffs this season? Aaron Rodgers is great but did the Packers look like anything special? Seattle looked good again but they have some tough personnel decisions to make that will surely sap their talent.
It’s dangerously optimistic but it’s not completely unrealistic to see the Dallas Cowboys be a Super Bowl contender in 2016. This offseason, remember how quickly fortunes change in the NFL. Remember the role reversals of the Cowboys and Panthers these past two seasons. Remember that the offensive and defensive line have yet to reach their potential. And remember Romo and Dez will be back with something to prove in 2016.
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Since the offseason is all about optimism, I choose to look at 2015 as the anomaly and will set my lofty expectations accordingly.