What Do the Dallas Cowboys Need to Change? Here’s My Thoughts
Who you see above is Scooter MaGruder, a Dallas Cowboys fan like many of us. His reaction videos every Monday after a Cowboys game pretty much nail what any Cowboys fan is thinking and saying during a game. His reaction to Saturday night's game was exactly how I was reacting.
I have been a fan of the Dallas Cowboys for as long as I can remember. I'm even old enough to have watched the Cowboys most recent Superbowl wins. I'll be it, I was a teenager and it was the 90's, but I got to see them.
After those first two wins with Jimmy Johnson as head coach, you can see the effect that owner Jerry Jones ego has played in the downfall of the Cowboys. And that's where I'll start with what changes the Cowboys need to make to be a team to fear again.
1. Jerry Jones Must Put His Ego Aside
There is no doubt that Jerry Jones is a great owner. He has taken the Dallas Cowboys and turned them into a team worth $4 billion through his excellent marketing and sponsorship deals. But Jerry, you don't know football the way you think you do. Please, please, please, I'm begging you, hire a proper general manager with actual football knowledge and let he or she run the team and you just enjoy that new $250 million yacht. It will add another Lombardi trophy to that case faster than you think.
2. Fire Scott Linehan
Scott Linehan is supposed to be some kind of offensive guru. He's not. His offense has been stale and boring for three seasons now. It's pretty damn predictable, too. Bring in someone else that can build an offense around Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amare Cooper. The first name to came to mind that would have been an awesome OC in the NFL was Kliff Kingsbury. But the Cardinals made the odd choice to make him head coach. John DeFilippo may be a decent choice. I would love it if Tony Romo could come in as offensive coordinator. I think he really loves his job in the booth on CBS, though.
3. Promote Kris Richard to Defensive Coordinator
Rod Marinelli has been a great defensive coordinator in the NFL. He's been pretty good in Dallas, too. But his defensive philosophy and scheme is getting outdated. Kris Richard came in from Seattle and brought a toughness and attitude this defense has been missing for a while. Marinelli even turned defensive play calling over to Richard during the season. I really believe he should be promoted and run this defense.
4. Get One More Good Receiver
Dallas needs to keep Amare Cooper. He's been an awesome addition and the team loves him. The Cowboys need one more good receiver to compliment him, though. Keep Beasley, keep Michael Gallup, really keep all of them, I don't have a problem with any of the receiving core, really. Dallas just needs that second threat to expand the passing game even more.
5. Keep Jason Garret, Fire Jason Garret, I Don't Care
I'm just "whatever" when it comes to Jason Garret. He's not as awful of a coach has everyone makes him out to be. But he's not a great coach, either. In other words, he's not the problem. He can work with anyone on the coaching staff and with any player. Plus, there's really no one to replace him right now.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys. This was a year they could have made it to the Superbowl just based on the defense, alone. Los Angeles just had their number this game.
As we Cowboys fans have been saying for 25 seasons, "Here's to next year." I will always be a Cowboys fan. I'm not one of those delusional fans, though. I will only say "the Cowboys are going to the Superbowl" when they finally win the NFC Championship again. It may be a few years but I'll root 'em on for those years. Go Cowboys!