2011 Dallas Cowboys NFL Expert Predictions, Picks, 2012 Vegas Super Bowl Odds and Schedule – Dallas Cowboys NFL Football Season Preview: Whenever a team changes coaches in the middle of the season, things generally aren’t going well. That was the case for the Dallas Cowboys last season when owner Jerry Jones made the switch from Wade Phillips to Jason Garrett. Although the Cowboys finished the year with a disappointing 6-10 record, the team did go 5-3 with Garrett at the helm. Throw in the fact that quarterback Tony Romo will be back under center after missing most of last season with an injury, and Dallas fans have a few reasons to be optimistic despite winning just a single playoff game since 1997. Playing in the loaded NFC East, it won’t take long to figure out whether or not Garrett is the man that will restore the Cowboys franchise to its former glory.
Even without Romo, the Cowboys still finished with the sixth-best passing attack in the NFL and the eighth-best scoring offense. With Romo back in the mix, those numbers should be even better. After all, he is one of just six QBs to have thrown 35 or more touchdowns in a season during the past decade. He has no shortage of weapons in the passing game, starting with receiver Miles Austin. Tight end Jason Witten is as reliable as any player at the position and is coming off a year when he led all tight ends in receptions.
The X-factor for the passing game is going to be receiver Dez Bryant. Before being sidelined with an injury, Bryant displayed immense potential as a rookie last year. With Roy Williams out of the picture this season, he could easily emerge as the next star at the position. Bryant has had his share of issues off the field, but with his combination of size and speed makes him a handful for defensive backs on it. He could easily top 1,000 yards and grab double digit scores.
One change for the offense will be the offensive line. Three starters are gone from last year’s unit, including center Andre Gurode. First-round pick Tyson Smith will play immediately at the tackle position, and the line as a whole will be a faster group than in seasons past. With the speedy Felix Jones taking over as the full-time running back, the offensive line has been adapted to stretch the field. It is a change from the power running game featured by the Cowboys in recent seasons, but Jones’ ability to break long runs could be the added wrinkle the offense needs to become truly elite.
Defensively, the biggest acquisition wasn’t a player, but a coach. Rob Ryan was brought in as defensive coordinator to overhaul a unit that ranked outside the top 10 against the run and the pass. Ryan will bring a more aggressive blitz package, and Dallas will need to get some heat on opposing QBs in order to protect its questionable secondary. The unit ranked 26th in the NFL last season, and with an injury to cornerback Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins is really the only big name left. Fortunately for Ryan, he has outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware to build around. Ware is one of the best in football at rushing the passer, and Ryan will take full advantage of him this season.
While the offense should be a high-powered scoring machine in 2011-12, the secondary could be an issue in a division with Mike Vick and Eli Manning. In terms of talent, the Cowboys have more than enough to compete for the NFC East title. However, a lot of things have to fall in place. Jones has to emerge as a true lead back, and that requires the retooled offensive line to gel quickly. More than anything, Romo has to make the leap from a dominant QB on the stat sheet to a leader on the field. Dallas will likely climb back over the .500 mark this season, but the playoffs aren’t a sure thing.
2011 Dallas Cowboys NFL Football Schedule
1 Sunday Sep. 11 8:20 PM at Jets – – –
2 Sunday Sep. 18 4:05 PM at 49ers – – –
3 Monday Sep. 26 8:30 PM Redskins – – –
4 Sunday Oct. 2 1:00 PM Lions – – –
5 Bye Week
6 Sunday Oct. 16 4:15 PM at Patriots – – –
7 Sunday Oct. 23 4:15 PM Rams – – –
8 Sunday Oct. 30 8:20 PM at Eagles – – –
9 Sunday Nov. 6 1:00 PM Seahawks – – –
10 Sunday Nov. 13 1:00 PM Bills – – –
11 Sunday Nov. 20 1:00 PM at Redskins – – –
12 Thursday Nov. 24 4:15 PM Dolphins – – –
13 Sunday Dec. 4 4:15 PM at Cardinals – – –
14 Sunday Dec. 11 8:20 PM Giants – – –
15 Saturday Dec. 17 8:20 PM at Buccaneers – – –
16 Saturday Dec. 24 4:15 PM Eagles – – –
17 Sunday Jan. 1 1:00 PM at Giants – – –
Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2011 NFL Over Under Team Wins Odds and Predictions and 2011 NFC East Odds and Predictions articles.
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