Dallas Cowboys: With Zeke out, Garrett must learn from 2015

In 2015, the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t overcome the loss of Romo. Can Garrett learn from that and overcome the loss of Zeke?

The 2015 season was probably one of the most disappointing season for the Dallas Cowboys because of high expectations.

The Cowboys were coming off of a successful 2014 season as defending NFC East champs, a 12-4 record, and a playoff victory over the Detroit Lions.

Entering the 2015 season, the Cowboys were Super Bowl favorites until former quarterback Tony Romo broke his collarbone twice, along with wide receiver Dez Bryant missing several games with a leg injury.

Now that Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott will be suspended the first six games of the season, Garrett must do all the things he didn’t in 2015.

The only contingency plan head coach Jason Garrett had was to play backup quarterbacks Kellen Moore, Brandon Weeden and Matt Cassel, ultimately winning only 1 game.

As pathetic as they were playing the quarterback position, I placed the majority of the blame on Garrett for not finding a way to win more than four games in a weak NFC East division.

Garrett lacked creativity, a game plan, and most importantly, he lacked in-game adjustments. He couldn’t revise his offense to fit the new players playing QB and the team imploded because of it.

We can blame Weeden and Cassel all day for their lackluster efforts, but the Cowboys were capable of winning more than four games.

Now that Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott will be suspended the first six games of the season, Garrett must do all the things he didn’t in 2015. He must overcome this loss and coach the Cowboys to victory.

It’s that’s simple. Period.

The loss of Zeke for six games will be a huge blow to the Cowboys offense, but it’s a loss the Cowboys are more than capable of overcoming. This team has running backs that can get the job done and then some. But they can’t be asked to all the things Zeke was, or they’ll fail just like the replacements failed in 2015.

Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, and Rod Smith can keep the running game intact and continue to make Dallas’ offense one of the best in the NFL.

While Zeke serves his suspension (whether it’s 6 games or reduced), Garrett cannot afford to lose games and attribute the losses to not having Zeke in the lineup.

And Garrett cannot blame it on the suspensions of other players either, like defensive linemen David Irving and Damontre Moore.

When Dallas faces the evil New York Giants in their season opener, Garrett must utilize every offensive weapon to defeat their nemesis, keeping defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on his toes and creating mismatches in the process.

For example, Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan should have packages where slot receivers Cole Beasley and Ryan Switzer are on the field at the same time. It’s beyond difficult to cover Beasley, let alone Switzer. Imagine defensive backs and linebackers covering those two jack rabbits at the same time?

As site expert Reid Hanson pointed out so eloquently, Dallas could use the 01 personnel package.

Normally, this package includes four wide receivers and an empty backfield. However, one of those receivers or the tight end could line up in the backfield, like Switzer or tight end Rico Gathers.

An offensive package of this nature will pose a threat to the Giants’ defense, at least keeping them guessing in the process. The key is to make opposing defenses adjust to your offensive schemes, not the other way around.

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The New England Patriots are the masters of deception with their offensive schemes and weapons. As great as Tom Brady is, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels uses wide outs Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, and Chris Hogan in packages that create chaos for opposing defenses and allows the Pats to score points in bunches.

If the Pats can do it with those players, Dallas can definitely do it with its talented receiving corps.