The Dallas Cowboys put together an impressive 12-4 campaign that included an NFC East title and a playoff win. The Cowboys have only a few seasons left with Tony Romo under center, so the window to capture the club’s sixth Super Bowl is small. If those Super Bowl dreams are to become reality, these players must step up and have breakout seasons:
RB Darren McFadden/Joseph Randle
Somebody has to replace DeMarco Murray and McFadden and Randle are the two likeliest options. McFadden has the talent, but has battled injuries throughout his time in the NFL. Randle flashed promise as Murray’s backup last season. Randle only had 51 carries, but averaged 6.7 yards per touch. Lance Dunbar and Ryan Williams will get a chance as well, but McFadden and/or Randle should shoulder most of the burden. Whoever gets the bulk of the carries will benefit from running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
WR Terrance Williams
The No. 2 wide receiver across from Dez Bryant, Williams caught 37 passes for 621 yards and eight TDs last season. Williams flashed potential to at least take advantage of the double teams Bryant faces. The next step for Williams is to develop some consistency and not disappear for stretches at a time. If Williams does that, the Cowboys passing attack becomes even more threatening.
DT Tyrone Crawford
Crawford missed all of 2013 when he tore his Achilles on the first day of training camp. He recorded 33 tackles and three sacks last season. Despite his underwhelming stats, Crawford graded out as the eighth best pass rusher among defensive tackles according to ProFootballFocus.com (subscription required). As the three-technique in Rod Marinelli’s Tampa 2 defense, Crawford will be expected to get to the quarterback. A full offseason of health and more snaps should mean increased sack totals for Crawford. If he needs any added motivation, he also happens to be in a contract year.
DE Demarcus Lawrence
Lawrence was nonexistent in the regular season, starting the year on injured reserve en route to recording nine tackles and zero sacks. However, he started to flash the potential that made him a second round pick in the playoffs. He had a sack in each game, including the game-clinching sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery against the Detroit Lions. Dallas needs more of that from Lawrence in 2015. The team recorded just 27 sacks last year and the newcomers have question marks. How much Greg Hardy gets to play is still unclear and Randy Gregory, although talented, is a rookie who fell to the second round. If Lawrence can match or eclipse Jeremy Mincey’s sack total of six from last year, the Cowboys should feel better about their pass rush.
CB Morris Claiborne
Consider this more of a fingers-crossed breakout. Dallas gave up a first and a second round pick to move up and get Claiborne in 2012. The Cowboys’ scouts gave him their highest grade since Deion Sanders. But Claiborne hasn’t come close to matching the play of Neon Deion. Injuries have been a huge factor in that, but Claiborne has been inconsistent in coverage when he's been on the field. It’s Claiborne’s contract year and if he doesn’t get it going this season, he might never.
Follow our Dallas Cowboys team page for all the latest Cowboys news and rumors.
Back to the Dallas Cowboys Newsfeed