Dallas Cowboys: What the Cowboys Offense Needs Most

The Dallas Cowboys have one of the best offenses in the NFL, but a healthy Dez Bryant makes the offense more than lethal.

Not to long ago, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was considered as either the best wide receiver in the NFL or one of the top three. In 2014, I thought Dez was the best receiver in the league, and his stats supported this argument. Dez led all receivers in the NFL with 16 receiving touchdowns, recorded 88 receptions for 1,320 yards, and averaged 15.0 yards a reception.

If Dez had caught 129 receptions like fellow wide receiver Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dez would’ve shattered Randy Moss single season record for most receiving touchdowns (23).

In 2014, Brown led the league in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698), and recorded 13 touchdowns with a 13.2 receiving average. That same season, Dez helped lead the Cowboys to a 12-4 record, NFC East champs, a playoff victory over the Detroit Lions, and owner and general manager Jerry Jones rewarded his All Pro receiver a lofty contract for his outstanding play.

The only negative for Dez that year was the no-catch touchdown against the hated Green Bay Packers, ultimately ruining the Cowboys chances of advancing to the NFC championship game.

However, Dez can be just as dominant as Brown on any given Sunday when healthy. But after Dez’s career year, the injury bug caught up to him. Since 2014, Dez has been plagued with injuries and hasn’t played a full regular season.

In order for the Cowboys to be successful in 2017, Dez has to remain healthy throughout the season. Missing several games isn’t going to help Dallas as they play a tougher schedule compared to last year.

Besides, Dez is Dallas’ best offensive player not named Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. I’ll give Dak all the praise for spreading the ball around and winning games last season while Dez nursed his knee. But having Dez at maximum strength is what this team needs.

When Dez is healthy, he makes Dallas’ offense more dangerous because opposing defenses have to pick their poison. If defenses decide to double team Dez, it allows Cole Beasley, Jason Witten, and Terrance Williams to beat man coverage, especially Beasley, who is uncoverable.

Dez presence helps the running game, too. When opposing defenses go into dime coverage and bracket Dez, Zeke will get the ball and run all over the place for first downs and touchdowns.

Or if defenses want to play man coverage, expect Dez to obliterate the corner up and down the field and score touchdowns.

Here is an example:

Remember the season finale game against the Washington Redskins in 2014 when Dez brutalized Skins corner David Amerson? If you don’t remember I’ll briefly explain Dez’s dominance. In the first quarter, Dez caught a short pass on the left side from Tony Romo, stiff armed Amerson like a bully, and sprinted 65 yards to the end zone.

Later on in the first quarter, Dez hauled in 23 yard, tip-toe touchdown reception in the corner of the endzone. Once again, poor Amerson was the victim.

That day Dez abused Amerson with four receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Dez was targeted only six times.

Dez schooled and dominated several corners that year, including then Philadelphia Eagles corner Bradley Fletcher. In the second game against the Eagles, Dez caught six passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns.

Dez manhandled Fletcher like he had stole his lunch money.

I guess that beat down was a preview to the one Dez put on Amerson.

But these are the things Dez can do on a regular basis when he’s healthy. The amazing thing about Dez is that he doesn’t need a bunch of receptions to score touchdowns.

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For instance, Dez was targeted 7 times in the game against the Eagles and 6 times against the Skins, but scored a total of five touchdowns on 10 receptions.

Do the math and he scored half of the time he touched the ball. Although that was two years ago, Dez is can do it again. Towards the end of last season, Dez picked up steam and finished the regular season with 8 touchdowns, and 50 receptions for 756 yards with a 15.9 yard average.

Dez did that while missing three games.

In the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers, Dez caught 9 passes for 132 receiving yards and two touchdowns. As much as I love to see Witten, Beasley, and Williams catch the ball, I’d like to see Dez get 8-10 catches a game because the more he has the ball in his hands, the better the chances of him scoring touchdowns.

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So for Dallas to be more than a legit contender next season and make a run at for the Super Bowl, Dez needs to be healthy and stay healthy.

Because its nothing like watching #88 throw up the “X” after scoring a touchdown and destroying a would be defensive back like Amerson and Fletcher.

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