The NFL season came to an end Sunday at the Super Bowl with a sad Nationwide commercial, Katy Perry flying around on what looked like "The More You Know" star, dancing sharks, somewhat sad-looking beach balls, and oh, a football game.
The game itself was one of the best Super Bowls I've probably watched with the Patriots winning, 28-24, thanks in part because of a controversial playcall by the Seahawks at the end of the game where they decided to pass the ball with 26 seconds left on second down from the 1 with a timeout instead of run the ball at least once with Marshawn Lynch. Russell Wilson threw a slant into traffic to Ricardo Lockette and the Patriots' Malcolm Butler broke in front of the ball and made a terrific game-clinching interception.
Of course, Dallas' season ended more than three weeks ago in the divisional playoff round game against the Packers. Green Bay won a very good game, 26-21. I believe there was some kind of controversy surrounding that game, too? Something about a catch-no catch involving Dez Bryant? I digress (but my final thought on that play was it was a spectacular effort, a catch in the backyard, but ultimately not a catch in the rule book because the process of completing the catch wasn't finished since Bryant was falling down the entire time and not necessarily just taking two steps toward the goal line as Cowboy fans were saying).
Dallas surpassed my expectations and lots of people's expectations this season by finishing 12-4 overall in the regular season, winning the NFC East crown, winning a playoff game vs. Detroit, and very nearly pulling out a road victory at Green Bay and reaching the NFC title game in Seattle. The offseason is an important one. The Cowboys need to build on the successes of the 2014 campaign. Obviously, we know every piece of the puzzle won't be back, but the goal will be to not take a big step backward in any one area while hopefully getting better in many areas.
Some key free agents for the Cowboys are Bryant, RB DeMarco Murray, LB Rolando McClain, LB Bruce Carter, LB Justin Durant, OT Doug Free, OT Jeremy Parnell, DE Anthony Spencer, WR Cole Beasley, and OG Ronald Leary.
One of the big questions surrounding the Cowboys involves Murray and Bryant. The most likely scenario is that only one will get a long-term deal. Sure, there are other possibilities but chances appear high that one will go to another team in free agency and one will remain a Cowboy. I love Murray. He set the franchise record for yards rushing in a season in 2014. But as good as he is, he was helped somewhat by the playcalling and his offensive line. If I could only re-sign one player, it would be Bryant, because he is more of a game-changing talent and once-in-a-generation player. With the short careers of running backs, Dallas can probably find another adequate running back wanting to make a splash as the primary ball carrier. Murray is 26 and turning 27 in six days. He is young for an NFL player still but probably headed on the downward slope of his career soon, especially as a running back.
Murray was great, but the main reason the Cowboys had a terrific rushing attack in 2014 was the commitment to the run and the jelling of the offensive line, a culmination of good pickups and draft picks over the past three seasons. I believe that another running back can do almost as well as Murray did this season and Dallas could also move to a more by-committee approach in the backfield. Murray had around 1,800 yards this year and Joseph Randle had around 300. A by-committee approach would be more like 1,400 and 800 yards. This season I think the team would have been just fine running Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar more and Murray less.
A complicating factor is Randle. He was arrested again this week, this time for marijuana possession. Before, it was for shoplifting cologne and underwear. His offenses remain minor, but it is time to begin to question his character. It was also very stupid of him to make another mistake going into an offseason in which he could maybe establish himself as a primary ball carrier should Murray walk in free agency. His arrest might make Dallas think harder about keeping Murray around. Either way, it is looking like there is a good chance that Dallas will either acquire a running back via free agency or the draft, and this year's draft has pretty good depth at running back.
Other key areas Dallas needs to look at in free agency and the draft are the defensive line and the cornerbacks. The Dallas defense was shielded by a possession offense and was better in 2014 than in 2013, but still has a lot of room to improve to become a Super Bowl-caliber defense. The pass rush needs to get better and the Cowboys must decide what to do at cornerback. Is Morris Claiborne going to be in the team's future? Has Brandon Carr been worth his big contract? Dallas has a couple nice pieces here and there in the secondary like Sterling Moore and Tyler Patmon, but are these guys going to be long-term solutions and solid depth behind guys like Orlando Scandrick and Barry Church?
I would also not mind seeing yet another offensive lineman drafted. That has been a great move obviously over the past few years. Might as well continue the trend and solidify the commitment to the run it looks like Dallas will have as long as it has the personnel and Scott Linehan building the offense and calling the plays.
The game itself was one of the best Super Bowls I've probably watched with the Patriots winning, 28-24, thanks in part because of a controversial playcall by the Seahawks at the end of the game where they decided to pass the ball with 26 seconds left on second down from the 1 with a timeout instead of run the ball at least once with Marshawn Lynch. Russell Wilson threw a slant into traffic to Ricardo Lockette and the Patriots' Malcolm Butler broke in front of the ball and made a terrific game-clinching interception.
Of course, Dallas' season ended more than three weeks ago in the divisional playoff round game against the Packers. Green Bay won a very good game, 26-21. I believe there was some kind of controversy surrounding that game, too? Something about a catch-no catch involving Dez Bryant? I digress (but my final thought on that play was it was a spectacular effort, a catch in the backyard, but ultimately not a catch in the rule book because the process of completing the catch wasn't finished since Bryant was falling down the entire time and not necessarily just taking two steps toward the goal line as Cowboy fans were saying).
Dallas surpassed my expectations and lots of people's expectations this season by finishing 12-4 overall in the regular season, winning the NFC East crown, winning a playoff game vs. Detroit, and very nearly pulling out a road victory at Green Bay and reaching the NFC title game in Seattle. The offseason is an important one. The Cowboys need to build on the successes of the 2014 campaign. Obviously, we know every piece of the puzzle won't be back, but the goal will be to not take a big step backward in any one area while hopefully getting better in many areas.
Some key free agents for the Cowboys are Bryant, RB DeMarco Murray, LB Rolando McClain, LB Bruce Carter, LB Justin Durant, OT Doug Free, OT Jeremy Parnell, DE Anthony Spencer, WR Cole Beasley, and OG Ronald Leary.
One of the big questions surrounding the Cowboys involves Murray and Bryant. The most likely scenario is that only one will get a long-term deal. Sure, there are other possibilities but chances appear high that one will go to another team in free agency and one will remain a Cowboy. I love Murray. He set the franchise record for yards rushing in a season in 2014. But as good as he is, he was helped somewhat by the playcalling and his offensive line. If I could only re-sign one player, it would be Bryant, because he is more of a game-changing talent and once-in-a-generation player. With the short careers of running backs, Dallas can probably find another adequate running back wanting to make a splash as the primary ball carrier. Murray is 26 and turning 27 in six days. He is young for an NFL player still but probably headed on the downward slope of his career soon, especially as a running back.
Murray was great, but the main reason the Cowboys had a terrific rushing attack in 2014 was the commitment to the run and the jelling of the offensive line, a culmination of good pickups and draft picks over the past three seasons. I believe that another running back can do almost as well as Murray did this season and Dallas could also move to a more by-committee approach in the backfield. Murray had around 1,800 yards this year and Joseph Randle had around 300. A by-committee approach would be more like 1,400 and 800 yards. This season I think the team would have been just fine running Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar more and Murray less.
A complicating factor is Randle. He was arrested again this week, this time for marijuana possession. Before, it was for shoplifting cologne and underwear. His offenses remain minor, but it is time to begin to question his character. It was also very stupid of him to make another mistake going into an offseason in which he could maybe establish himself as a primary ball carrier should Murray walk in free agency. His arrest might make Dallas think harder about keeping Murray around. Either way, it is looking like there is a good chance that Dallas will either acquire a running back via free agency or the draft, and this year's draft has pretty good depth at running back.
Other key areas Dallas needs to look at in free agency and the draft are the defensive line and the cornerbacks. The Dallas defense was shielded by a possession offense and was better in 2014 than in 2013, but still has a lot of room to improve to become a Super Bowl-caliber defense. The pass rush needs to get better and the Cowboys must decide what to do at cornerback. Is Morris Claiborne going to be in the team's future? Has Brandon Carr been worth his big contract? Dallas has a couple nice pieces here and there in the secondary like Sterling Moore and Tyler Patmon, but are these guys going to be long-term solutions and solid depth behind guys like Orlando Scandrick and Barry Church?
I would also not mind seeing yet another offensive lineman drafted. That has been a great move obviously over the past few years. Might as well continue the trend and solidify the commitment to the run it looks like Dallas will have as long as it has the personnel and Scott Linehan building the offense and calling the plays.
I agree with you that the better move would be to sign Bryant. Another factor is that the NFL is more of a passing-driven league than it's ever been, and an all-world WR is going to add more value to your team than an all-world RB. Especially when said RB had a significant jump in carries this year as opposed to last year. He'll probably still be good, but not as good as last year and not for long, as you say.
ReplyDeleteLet this comment serve as proof that I do, in fact, read your Cowboys posts :P
Nice thanks for the comment haha.
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