Playing under the star is one of the most pressure-filled situations in football. Similar to the pinstripes of the MLB’s Yankees, the Dallas Cowboys’ uniform is one synonymous with victory, at least until the mid-1990’s. Today this five pointed symbol stands for mediocrity and falling short of goals. But a new league year has begun, and it will be months before Dallas has to worry about dropping the ball yet again. It is time for training camp in Texas, and the Cowboys are fixated on stealing that NFC East crown they came so close to wearing just one year ago.
Monte Kiffin’s Tampa-2 was an utter failure in 2013, resulting in 432 points allowed and 6645 yards given up, ranking the team 26th and dead last in those categories. Fixing this gaping hole must be the team’s first priority in training camp, but that may be easier said than done.
Gone are the former titans of Dallas’ defense Jason Hatcher and Demarcus Ware, in their place a hodge-podge of uncertainty that makes France’s military defenses in 1940 look viable. The man the Cowboys’ hope will fill this void is second round selection Demarcus Lawrence who excelled at Boise State rushing the passer and keeping running backs in their lanes by limiting space to the outside. While Lawrence will provide youthful energy to a struggling unit, the absence of Sean Lee will do just the opposite.
Lee’s absence is catastrophic to Dallas’ playoff aspirations, but could someone in the secondary step up and fill this void? Morris Claiborne has yet to look like the top-10 pick used on him thus far in his professional career. However, reports from the team’s minicamp have indicated that Claiborne could be on the verge of a breakout year. Impactful play from Claiborne across from Brandon Carr would do wonders for a Cowboys’ team with a used car lot posing as its starting front seven.
Despite being the man who blocked Sean Lee to the ground tearing his ACL, Cowboy’s first rounder Zach Martin has looked like an NFL-ready product through rookie and minicamps. Martin will fill in on an offensive line that has the potential to be one of the best in football, and will help DeMarco Murray find his spot in the top 10 in rushing. Just one question remains regarding Dallas’ offense, who will step up in the receiving corps beside Dez Bryant?
Terrance Williams appears to be penciled in as the replacement for the oft-injured Miles Austin, but is not a name that has opposing defensive backs shaking in their cleats. Behind Williams will be slot-specialist Cole Beasley who, unfortunately for Dallas, has looked more like Danny Amendola post-dislocated clavicle than Wes Welker. While Jason Witten will surely see his fair share of targets, Dallas must find another receiver to garner opposing defenses attentions or they will be just as predictable on offense as they were in 2013.
One last thing to watch for in camp this year is the health of franchise quarterback Tony Romo. Romo, who had back surgery this offseason, is expected to be fully ready for the start of the season. If not, things could be even worse in Big D this year.
Perhaps Jason Garrett’s last opportunity for success under Jerry Jones, the 2014 Cowboys are a pressure-cooker of mediocrity. While a far more talented roster than the ones in Washington and perhaps New York, Dallas has a long way to go before they will be deemed relevant in terms of Super Bowl contention.