2019 Record - 8-8-0
Head Coach - Mike McCarthy
New Players in 2020 - Aldon Smith (DL), Everson Griffen (DL), Andy Dalton (QB), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (DB), Gerald McCoy (DL), Dontari Poe (DL), Daryl Worley (DB), Greg Zuerlein (K), Blake Bell (TE)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - Jamize Olawale (RB), Maurice Canady (DB), Stephen Guidry (WR)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Dak Prescott is coming off his best statistical season in 2019 as he had 4,902 passing yards with 30 touchdowns and eleven interceptions. He also rushed for three more scores and averaged 5.3 yards per carry rushing the football. Nine-year veteran Andy Dalton (3,494 yards, 16 TD, 14 INT) comes over from Cincinnati and will be the backup.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott ran for 1,357 yards last season, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and scored twelve touchdowns while also making 54 receptions for 420 yards for two touchdowns. Tony Pollard added 455 rushing yards (5.3 ypc) and scored two rushing touchdowns.
The wide receiving corps has Amari Cooper (79 receptions, 1,189 yards, eight TD) and Michael Gallup, who had 66 catches for 1,107 yards and six scores. Add to that top draft pick CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) along with tight end Blake Jarwin (31, 365, three TD), giving Prescott endless possibilities in the passing game, which was second best in the NFL for Dallas last season, averaging 297 yards per game.
The Cowboys had the top offense in pro football a year ago, averaging 432 yards per game while the running game averaged 135 yards a game (5th in NFL). Dallas averaged 27.1 points per game, which was sixth in the NFL.
DEFENSE - DeMarcus Lawrence (five QB sacks) and Aldon Smith, who hasn't played since the 2017 season, will be the defensive ends. Smith was a force with the 49ers several years ago and last played with the Raiders three years ago.
Dontari Poe (four sacks with Carolina) is on board this year at defensive tackle and rookie Neville Gallimore may start at the other tackle spot since free agent Gerald McCoy (five sacks with Carolina) was lost for the season in training camp with a severe leg injury. Others in the mix include Everson Griffen (eight sacks last year with Minnesota) who plays the end spot, and Trysten Hill and Joe Jackson.
Leighton Vander Esch and veteran Sean Lee are the outside linebackers and Jaylon Smith (2 1/2 sacks) mans the middle. Also on hand will be Joe Thomas, Justin March and Luke Gifford. The secondary features Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis (two interceptions) at cornerback. The safeties are Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (two picks with one for TD with Chicago) and Xavier Woods. Rookies Trevon Diggs (Alabama) and Reggie Robinson (Tulsa), Darian Thompson, Daryl Worley and Donovan Wilson provide depth.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - After finishing .500 in 2019, the Cowboys fired Jason Garrett and now Head Coach Mike McCarthy, who spent 13 seasons in Green Bay and won a Super Bowl, takes over for the 2020 season.
Dallas has tons of talent on offense and Prescott is playing under the franchise tag this year so he will be looking to prove his worth. The Cowboys should light up the scoreboard this season with a balanced attack featuring All-Pro players at all the skill positions except for tight end.
The defense brought in at least four new faces to start, but lost DT Gerald McCoy to injury for the entire season already. The Cowboys had the ninth best defense in the NFL last season, giving up 327 yards per game. The run defense (104 ypg allowed) was tenth and the pass defense finished eleventh, allowing 223 yards per game. Dallas allowed 20.1 PPG and had 39 sacks, but just seven interceptions.
As long as the COVID-19 virus doesn't impede the team and they can avoid numerous injuries, the Cowboys should challenge the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East division title. They have been a playoff team in two of the past four seasons, so they would like to get back there again and the odds are good they will do just that in the 2020 season. How far they can go will depend on limiting mistakes and coming up big in crunch time, which cost them numerous times a year ago.
Stay tuned.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at L.A. Rams
Week Two - vs. Atlanta
Week Three - at Seattle
Week Four - vs. Cleveland
Week Five - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Six - vs. Arizona
Week Seven - at Washington
Week Eight - at Philadelphia
Week Nine - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Ten - BYE
Week Eleven - at Minnesota
Week Twelve - vs. Washington
Week Thirteen - at Baltimore
Week Fourteen - at Cincinnati
Week Fifteen - vs. San Francisco
Week Sixteen - vs. Philadelphia
Week Seventeen - at N.Y. Giants
No comments:
Post a Comment