The Dallas Cowboys suffered a disappointing end to a fantastic 2014 season in the playoffs, but there’s still plenty to be excited about with just a few weeks to go until the 2015 preseason kicks off. Here are three things we learned about them this offseason:
3) Willingness to gamble on troubled talent
Say what you want about Nebraska pass rusher Randy Gregory and LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins, but both guys are true first round talents whose off-the-field struggles proved costly. The Cowboys got great low-risk value on Collins as an undrafted free agent, and while Gregory cost them a second round pick, he's a pure athletic game-changer coming around the edge. If the Cowboys can keep those guys' heads in the game, they'll headline one of the most impressive Dallas draft classes in recent memory.
2) More reliance on Tony Romo
Romo is aging like a fine wine, turning in the best completion percentage (69.9%) and quarterback rating (113.2) of his career in his age-34 season. Yes, he won't have DeMarco Murray anymore as a safety valve and table setter, but if Romo is anywhere near the form he was in 2014, the Cowboys still have a championship-caliber offense to play with. Their lack of a proven running back will likely mean they'll rely more on Romo, which hasn't worked out well for them in the past. We'll see if they continue their commitment to the running game or fall back into their past pass-happy ways.
1) Belief in their offensive line
Dallas is counting on their dominant offensive line to open holes for Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle, turning them into productive backs to keep from putting too much pressure on the aforementioned Romo. The Cowboys had arguably the best offensive line in the league last year, and it only got better when they signed Collins. Losing DeMarco Murray will hurt in some respects, but the line should open up plenty of huge running lanes while keeping the pass rush away from Tony Romo.
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