Dallas Cowboys: To be successful, the Cowboys must avoid this above all

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

One of the main reasons the Dallas Cowboys suffered a dismal 6-10 record in 2020 was because of Dak Prescott going down with a season-ending ankle injury. Injuries plagued the Cowboys before that moment and after, making it the signature qualifier to Dallas’ 2020 season.

If the Cowboys want to avoid a repeat of that disappointing season, they have to find a way to avoid the injury bug. In a physical contact sport like football, injuries are to be expected, but at the end of the day, there is only so much a strength and conditioning coach can do to keep players healthy. The players have  buy in too and avoid risks like a mine field.

Take Dak’s freak injury from a season ago, for example. As Dak has done countless times before, he took off running and fought through a tackle, except this time, his foot got caught in the astroturf, and Dak suffered a dislocated/broken ankle.

In one routine play, a freakish accident happened, and the Cowboys season disappeared faster than gun smoke from a turkey shoot.

The Dallas Cowboys must find a way to avoid the injury bug to be successful this season

Entering training camp, the best news is that Dallas’ entire offensive line is finally healthy, and future Hall of Famer/left tackle Tyron Smith has a clean bill health for the first time probably since his rookie season in 2011. La’el Collins returns after missing the 2020 season recovering from a hip injury, and Zack Martin is back after missing out on the latter part of last season with a calf injury.

In addition to the core offensive linemen, Connor Williams and Tyler Biadasz look good and complete one of the best offensive lines in the league. For Dallas’ offensive line to be formidable, the trio of Smith, Collins, and Martin must remain healthy. When those three are healthy, Dak remains upright and protected.

The injury bug of 2020 affected Dallas’ offensive line so bad that they used several different offensive linemen units because of the injuries, even centers Joe Looney and Biadasz took turns nursing injuries throughout the season. As a result, Ezekiel Elliott had statistically his worse year as a pro, and every backup quarterback struggled mightily.

To see the offensive line intact and ready to go sets the tone and foundation not only for the offense but for the team as a whole. The offensive line is the heartbeat of the team, the engine that drives the momentum. The team goes as the offensive line goes.

And when it comes to momentum, wide receiver Amari Cooper is on the PUP list (physically unable to perform) but is on pace to recover from offseason ankle surgery in time for the season opener against the Tampa Buccaneers. Dallas needs the services of Coop to be the offensive juggernaut it aspires to be.

“War Daddy” and edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence is no longer on the PUP list. That’s a plus for Dallas’ defense because they need all of the help they can get to erase the horrors of last season.

To Dallas’ coaching staff credit, not only will Dak miss the Hall of Fame against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but so will D-Law, Coop, Blake Jarwin, Martin, Jourdan Lewis, C.J. Goodwin, Trysten Hill, Malik Hooker, and Francis Bernard. Hey, it’s better to be safe than sorry for a game that means exactly jack squat.

More from Dallas Cowboys

In conclusion, Dallas is one of the most offensively talented teams in the league-from signal caller to offensive linemen to skill position players. But in order for Dallas to reach their full potential with offense, it has to stay healthy.

Head coach Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore have to call less running plays for Dak and preach to Dak the importance of living to see another play, let alone another game. Yes, I love to see Dak run the ball, too, but after last season’s devastating injury, Dak either needs to slide, run out of bounds or throw the ball away altogether, even taking a sack is too risky.

The only defensive mechanism to fight injuries is having depth at every position-talented depth that is. On the offensive side of the ball, Dallas is decent with its depth, but the same can’t be said for the defense.

light. Must Read. Predictability a potential problem on the Cowboys defense this year

Next. Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame Game: All about depth and youth. dark

Let’s hope the defense can withstand the storm of a 17-game schedule and avoid any major injuries. And let’s hope the Dallas Cowboys beat the injury bug because that’s their toughest opponent this season. BOOM!

  • Published on 08/05/2021 at 12:58 PM
  • Last updated at 08/05/2021 at 12:59 PM