DALLAS COWBOYS
2009 RECORD: 11-5-0
(1st in NFC East)
HEAD COACH: Wade Phillips
Key Additions: OT Alex Barron (trade/St. Louis)
Key Losses: LB Bobby Carpenter (trade/St. Louis), OT Flozell Adams (FA), K Nick Folk (FA/ NY Jets), S Ken Hamlin (FA)
Offense: After enjoying his finest regular season as a pro in 2009, quarterback Tony Romo (4,483 yards passing with 26 touchdowns and only nine picks) has a lot to look forward to this season after finally getting the monkey off his back and winning a playoff game.
Romo has a wide range of targets in wide receivers Miles Austin (81 catches, 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns), Roy Williams (38, 596, seven TD), Patrick Crayton (37, 622, five TD) and rookie Dez Bryant. Not to mention Tight End Jason Witten, who led Dallas in '09 with 94 grabs good for 1,030 yards and two touchdowns.
The running game features Marion Barber, who led the Cowboys with 932 yards and scored seven TD in 2009, which included a 4.4 yards per carry average.
Felix Jones showed he is ready to take over the starting duties as he ran for 685 yards (5.9 ypc average) and scored three touchdowns. Tashard Choice also performed when given a chance, rumbling for 349 yards (5.5 average) and scored three times.
The offensive line has center Andre Gurode, tackles Doug Free and Alex Barron (Marco Colombo is battling injuries in training camp and will likely miss some time) and guards Kyle Kosier and Leonard Davis.
Dallas averaged 399 yards per game last season, second only to New Orleans and showed good balance by averaging 131 yards on the ground and 268 through the air.
Defense: While it might not remind Dallas fans of the 'Dooms Day' defense of the past, the Cowboys defense made some strides last season, allowing 316 yards per game, which ranked them ninth in the NFL.
The run defense gave up just 90 yards per game, good for fourth in the league while the pass defense allowed 215 yards a game.
Up front in the Cowboys' 3-4 defense is nose tackle Jay Ratliff along with ends Marcus Spears and Igor Olshanski.
The linebackers are Keith Brooking and Bradie James inside and outside linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. The Cowboys had 42 quarterback sacks last season, which included 11 by Ware, and six each by Ratliff and Spencer.
The secondary struggled at times, getting only 11 interceptions.
The safeties are Alan Ball and Gerald Sensabaugh with cornerbacks Terrence Newman (three interceptions) and Mike Jenkins, who led Dallas with five interceptions last season.
OUTLOOK: With Austin, Williams, Crayton and highly touted rookie Dez Bryant on hand, Romo should put up impressive numbers once again in 2010.
The question is whether that gets the Cowboys to their ultimate goal, which is the Super Bowl.
Head Coach Wade Phillips knows if the running game can compliment the passing game and the defense continues to be steady against both the run and pass, then Dallas may indeed return to glory. They wouldn't have far to travel either as Super Bowl 45 is in Dallas.
That should provide extra incentive for the Cowboys this season.
Come post-season time, will Dallas be able to advance past the divisional round?
The Cowboys should finish at 12-4, win the NFC East and get to the NFC Championship Game. But the tradition will continue as the 'Pokes fall short of the big game, meaning no home field advantage for either team in the Super Bowl.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at Washington
Week 2- vs. Chicago
Week 3- at Houston
Week 4- Bye Week
Week 5- vs. Tennessee
Week 6- at Minnesota
Week 7- vs. NY Giants
Week 8- vs. Jacksonville
Week 9- at Green Bay
Week 10- at NY Giants
Week 11- vs. Detroit
Week 12- vs. New Orleans
Week 13- at Indianapolis
Week 14- vs. Philadelphia
Week 15- vs. Washington
Week 16- at Arizona
Week 17- at Philadelphia
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