Some things should change, others will hopefully not in 2009

It would be nice to be able to pick the successful facets of the 2008 Dallas Cowboys team and carry them over to the 2009 season.  As the 2008 edition of team proved, however, it is difficult for a team to repeat the successes of a previous season.  Here are some things that should change and others that hopefully will not based on 2008.

Should Dallas start Felix Jones and return Marion Barber III to the closer role that made him a star in 2007?

I have heard this question posed several times during the off-season.  In 2008, with Marion Barber III and Tony Romo starting, the Dallas Cowboys led the NFL in scoring on opening drives. Of course, the Cowboys did not continue to score at their blistering pace once Romo went out with his finger injury, and Barber III subsequently missed the end of the season also due to injury.  Dallas was 6-2 with Romo and Barber III starting, and registered their only win over a successful playoff team during the 2008 season.

Can Romo be an elite quarterback in the NFL?

Until Tony wins a Super Bowl this will be Romo’s personal albatross.  In 2008, Romo led the most effective two-minute offense until he broke his finger.  The Cowboys scored more points in the last two-minutes of the first half than any other team in the NFL.  Before getting injured, Tony also had the highest quarterback rating in the NFL during the fourth quarter and the second highest on third down (Eli Manning had the highest: a plethora of 3rd and 3 or less will do that).  Romo also had the highest quarterback rating in the league on third and less than 7 yards to go.

Will this be Romo’s team?

Based upon past performance, there is a really good chance that not one receiver, tight end, nor running back has over 1,000 yards receiving or rushing.  Roy Williams may be the closest to gain 1,000 yards receiving, but Bennett will probably take receptions from both Witten and Williams.  Unless Felix Jones gets over 13 carries a game, it is doubtful that he will break 1,000 yards rushing.  This type of generic, well-balanced attack will help Romo become the focal point of the offense: kind of like a point guard in basketball.  If Tony responds well to this type of responsibility, the Cowboys will be a formidable team.

Can the Cowboys win in December?

I do not know.  There is insufficient data to make a determination.  The Cowboys have had major injury problems to finish 2007 and 2008 that makes it difficult to compare their performance to earlier in the season.  The other variable from last season that makes comparisons to earlier in the season difficult is the schedule: Dallas played two playoff teams in their first six games, going 1-1.  The Cowboys finished the season by playing four playoff teams, only winning one and losing three.

How will the schedule affect Dallas in 2009?

Five of the last seven NFC champions have come from pathetic divisions.  The only exceptions were the 2007 Giants, and the 2002 Buccaneers (the rest of the division had about a .500 winning percentage), which coincidently were the only NFC teams to win the Super Bowl since the divisions realigned.  So if the Cowboys can survive a grueling division and schedule to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, their chances to beat the AFC representative is quite good.  The fact that some NFC teams get 4-6 “easy” wins from poor division opponents, however, places the Cowboys at a distinct disadvantage.

Was Wade the difference in the defense in 2008?

The statistics would suggest that a healthy Terrence Newman was really the difference in the defensive turnaround last season.  When Newman returned from injury last season, the Dallas pass defense skyrocketed to second in the NFL over that span of time.  Now some credit must be given to Wade Phillips, as he utilized Newman’s skills to help disguise a woefully inadequate strong safety position for most of the second half of the season.

What is the biggest area of improvement necessary for a successful 2009 campaign?

Penalties must be reduced and turnovers must be created.  It is imperative that the Dallas defense reduce the number of penalties committed in 2008.  Opponents scored over 60% of the time when the Dallas defense committed a penalty.  In addition, the Cowboys were near the bottom in collecting interceptions last season despite leading the NFL in sacks.  Most playoff teams in 2008 had very good turnover statistics.

Should people cheer for the Cowboys this season?

Besides diehard Cowboys fans?  Of course, here’s why…

The Cowboys parted ways with almost all the selfish, self-destructive players on the roster present in 2008.  If Dallas has success this year, it will provide a blueprint for success that spells doom for those jerks around the NFL that think themselves more important than the team, or the game.  In addition, teams and fans will notice that the circus atmosphere that existed in Valley Ranch the last few years was abolished during the off-season.  Any success this 2009 edition of the Dallas Cowboys experiences will further the belief that a focus on football is necessary for teams to win.

What can the Cowboys hopefully carry over to the 2009 season?

The pressure the Dallas defense exerted on opposing quarterbacks was awesome last season.  Wade has shown that this is a consistent by-product of his system, so hopefully the Cowboys will be able to continue this trend.  In addition, the Dallas defense forced opponents into an inordinate amount of field goals last season.  The Cowboys offense will hopefully still execute as many big plays at it had last season.

Better special teams should top the list.  The Cowboys went out of their way to address this during the off-season.

Turnovers must be near the top.  A more balanced offense should help reduce the number of interceptions and fumbles the offense gave up last season.

The development of a run-stuffing nose tackle to permit Jay Ratliff to rest from time to time throughout the season would be nice since last season’s defense was not particularly stout against the run (below the NFL average regarding average yards per carry), especially late in the season.

The Cowboys will need a back-up offensive lineman to step-up at some point in the season.  This has to rank as the biggest off-season priority heading into the 2010 NFL draft.  There is nobody on the roster that has shown the ability to be an effective starter over the course of several games.

Hand in hand with the offensive line performance goes a consistent running game.  Better consistency in the running game will lead to favorable third down conversion possibilities.

Feel free to add your own areas of improvement.  It helps me to become aware of more going into the season.

Thanks.