Fans of the Dallas Cowboys are tired of hearing excuses. After 26 years of mediocre returns, they are also tired of the Cowboys not changing their offseason approach.
Dallas hasn’t claimed the Lombardi Trophy since 1995. A little pre-season optimism is natural but a look at the sportsbook markets gives a sobering picture. Fans looking for Cowboys prop bets will find that their team is also rated in the middle of the pack when it comes to winning the Super Bowl.
In recent years, wagering on the Cowboys has been a gamble in every sense of the word. And after the serial disappointments of recent seasons, the Cowboys’ 2022 offseason business was once again underwhelming. They lost Randy Gregory and La’el Collins, along with two of their main receivers, Cedrick Wilson Jr and Amari Cooper. At a time when the LA Rams have shown what can be achieved when a franchise goes for broke, the Cowboys’ approach looks seriously underpowered. So, what can we expect from Dallas, and how will this season play out?
Offensive Problems
After recovering from a compound fracture and ankle dislocation in 2020, Dak Prescott came in second place in the voting for Comeback Player of the Year. He looked back to his best early in the season, but then a calf injury seemed to reduce his impact for the rest of the season. Given his huge salary, Cowboys fans may feel like they should be getting a more consistently elite quarterback.
Prescott’s inconsistency is coupled with the decline of Ezekiel Elliott in the list of serious offensive problems. Although now a senior figure in the team, he has had two poor seasons. This means Tony Pollard is likely to have more chances in 2022, though whether he is in Elliott’s class is debatable.
CeeDee Lamb led the way for the receivers last season, finishing with 79 receptions, but the challenge will be for him to repeat this in the absence of Cooper. Michael Gallup will need a few games to recover from his ACL injury, while free agent James Washington is set to be the third receiver.
Their weakness with receivers isn’t the only issue. At one time, they boasted the strongest offensive line in the league, but they are currently heading through the early stages of a rebuild. Tyron Smith is not the force he once was, there are issues with Center and Draft pick Tyler Smith, originally selected to play left tackle but likely to end up at left guard. The best you can say for the Cowboys’ offense at the moment is that it is a work in progress.
An Improving Defense
There is more room for optimism in defense. Coordinator Dan Quinn was named as NFL Assistant Coach of the Year last time and he has done a good job in turning them around. Last season, they ranked seventh for points allowed and thirteenth for sacks, so retaining DeMarcus Lawrence was a good move.
Of course, the departure of Gregory is a problem, and there will now be more pressure on Dante Fowler, who will be reunited with Quinn, having previously played for him in Atlanta. Sam Williams, Dorance Armstrong, Chauncey Golston, and Tarell Basham give the Cowboys options, while Carlos Watkins and Trysten Hill will start as defensive tackles, with competition from Neville Gallimore, Osa Odighizuwa, and John Ridgeway.
Keeping Micah Parsons was also a good move. He had one of the greatest ever defensive rookie seasons last year and should continue to progress. The talented Trevon Diggs, another pro bowler from last year, is an exciting presence and there are plenty of other options for the Cowboys as they look to step up their pass defense, a critical part of the game in 2022.
Summary
On paper, you could certainly make the case that the Cowboys are poorer than they were this time last season. Given that they crashed out in the Wild Card games, that doesn’t give Cowboys fans much room for optimism for the season ahead in a Conference packed with elite teams.
Yet there are still some things in the Cowboys’ favor. Their passionate fanbase will provide huge support if they can see something in the team. And there’s the NFC East. The Giants, Commanders, and Eagles may all be hoping to improve this time round, but Dallas are still the better team and by a significant distance. Winning the Division is well within the Cowboys’ capabilities and if in the meantime, they can generate some momentum, they could yet give their long-suffering fans something to get excited about.
