Cowboys: How Far Have They Come In One Year?

The Dallas Cowboys have gone from a team not expected to compete in 2014 to a team that many feel could win Super Bowl L early next year.

A year ago at this time, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was not his typically optimistic self as the 2014 preseason wound down. It’s generally pretty easy to place blame on Jones for something, but in this case nobody could have expected much more.

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Entering their second full season committed, once again, to the 4-3 defensive alignment, the Cowboys would be without franchise defensive end DeMarcus Ware, none other than the franchise’s all-time sack leader. They would also be without defensive tackle Jason Hatcher, the sack leader for 2013. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff had written himself out of the team’s plans as well.

Bargain-priced replacements included the likes of defensive end Jeremy Mincey and defensive tackle Terrell McClain.

Yes, it was hard to get excited about a defense that was already pretty lame even with those previous Dallas stars mentioned above, let alone the previously unheard of replacements.

Quarterback Tony Romo, coming off multiple back surgeries over the previous year-plus, was essentially a no show during training camp and there was next to nothing to suggest that he’d be anything close to mid-season form in time for the disappointing season-opener at AT&T Stadium against the San Francisco 49ers.

Well, aside from that opening contest, which looked more like a preseason contest on the part of the Dallas offense, last season was a smashing success.

How did this team go from three consecutive seasons of 8-8 football all the way to a 12-4 record, an NFC East divisional championship and a victory in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs?

Well, SportDFW’s very own Dink Kearney details some of those factors in this week’s pages, but cutting dead weight played a huge role as well.

Beyond that, drafting with a new philosophy and apparently the primary voice of Will McClay in the War Room at Valley Ranch have played the greatest roles.

With this year’s unexpected draft haul of not one, or two – but three players with first-round talent, perhaps there’s a bit of luck involved.

Hence the reason there’s a very different atmosphere surrounding the Cowboys just prior to the franchise’s 55th season.

According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, this year’s annual Cowboys Kickoff Luncheon had a very different feel from last year’s event, which always takes place for a good cause, but might not necessarily exude a bunch of optimism.

Moore quotes former Cowboys defensive tackle Chad Hennings with the following, which pretty much some up the feeling of this year’s event:

"The vibe is here, Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl. Sorry, no pressure Jerry, Jason."

Factor in the emotional speech given by injured cornerback Orlando Scandrick, and there’s also an inspired sense of urgency surrounding the Cowboys and their world-wide fan base that stretches abundantly across the United States.

No, it’s just the eyes of Texas that are watching these Cowboys. During times like this, those who positively hate the Cowboys are also at a state of attention regarding the daily happenings of America’s Team.

The fact is this: You either love the Cowboys or you hate them. There’s just no middle ground there.

This could be why NFL-types from all around the league start doing things like this.

It’s also why NFL fans from around the nation do things like this.

So, with the New York Giants clearly visible on the horizon following Thursday’s preseason finale against the Houston Texans, get set for what proves to be the most anticipated season for the Cowboys in more than 20 years.

Next: Cowboys: Darren McFadden, Designated Pass Protector

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