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Dallas Cowboys 2010 Season Preview

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08/09/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jerry Jones has never been one to scale back when it comes to his goals. The colorful Dallas Cowboys owner is certainly thinking big in 2010.

Last year Jones unveiled to an awaiting public his longtime grand design, a spectacular 80,000-seat retractable-roof stadium that instantly became the talk of the NFL world for its lavish decorum and state-of-the-art amenities. The Cowboys patriarch now hopes to fulfill the second part of his elaborate vision this season, the one where his team becomes the first ever to play in a Super Bowl on its home turf.

The idea of Dallas taking the field when Super Bowl XLV takes place at the new Cowboys Stadium this February isn't a far-fetched one, either. The Cowboys re- established themselves as one of the NFC's elite with an 11-win regular season in 2009 and most importantly, ended a frustrating 14-year drought without a postseason victory with a 34-14 dismantling of division-rival Philadelphia in the Wild Card Round of the conference playoffs. And with all but two starters back from last season's group, Dallas appears to have the parts in place to advance a few steps further this time around.

Although quiet on the free-agent front during the offseason, the Cowboys made a big splash during April's draft by trading up to land Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant in the first round. The supremely-talented rookie adds another weapon to an already-dangerous offense that contains a wealth of playmakers in Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo, 2009 breakout star Miles Austin, tight end Jason Witten and fleet-footed running back Felix Jones.

The defense, headlined by premier pass rusher DeMarcus Ware and relentless nose tackle Jay Ratliff, is no slouch as well, having yielded the second- fewest points in the league and ranking fourth overall against the run in 2009.

There still are a few questions that need to be answered, such as whether the relatively unproven Doug Free can become a reliable protector for Romo at the all-important left tackle spot and if second-year kicker David Buehler can solidify one of last year's problem areas. But the main challenge the 2010 Cowboys may face is how they're able to handle the immense pressure of sky- high expectations, something similarly-skilled Dallas teams in the recent past have failed to do.

Make no mistake, the Cowboys will be going all-in in their mission to return the storied franchise back to the top of the NFL pack. Only time will tell as to whether they're indeed holding the right cards.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the Dallas Cowboys, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2009 RECORD: 11-5 (t1st, NFC East)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2009, lost to Minnesota, 34-3, in NFC Divisional Playoff

COACH (RECORD): Wade Phillips (33-15 in three seasons with Cowboys, 81-54 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jason Garrett

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Phillips

OFFENSIVE STAR: Tony Romo, QB (4483 passing yards, 26 TD, 9 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: DeMarcus Ware, OLB (57 tackles, 11 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 7th rushing, 6th passing, 14th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 4th rushing, 20th passing, 2nd scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: WR Dez Bryant (1st Round, Oklahoma State), T Alex Barron (from Rams), LB Sean Lee (2nd Round, Penn State)

KEY DEPARTURES: T Flozell Adams (released), OL Cory Procter (to Dolphins), C Duke Preston (retired), LB Bobby Carpenter (to Rams), S Ken Hamlin (to Ravens), K Shaun Suisham (to Browns)

QB: Heavily scrutinized in the past for his celebrity lifestyle and an inability to win big games, Romo (26 TD, 9 INT) answered his critics by putting together the best season of his four-year reign as the Cowboys' triggerman in 2009, establishing club records for passing yards (4,483) and 300-yard games (eight) while dramatically reducing his turnover totals from the previous campaign. The 29-year-old also displayed an improved maturity in the huddle and is now better equipped to deal with the pressure of being the quarterback of the league's most high-profile team. The Cowboys will need Romo to remain healthy, as 38-year-old journeyman Jon Kitna is a capable backup but still a steep drop-off in terms of skill and athleticism. Second-year man Stephen McGee rounds out the quarterback contingent and is the organization's intended No. 2 signal-caller of the future.

RB: The Cowboys certainly don't lack for options when it comes time to run the football. Felix Jones (685 rushing yards, 3 TD, 19 receptions) is a true home- run threat who's averaged 6.5 yards per carry over his first two seasons, veteran Marion Barber (932 rushing yards, 7 TD, 26 receptions) is a proven inside thumper adept at wearing down opposing defenses and third-down specialist Tashard Choice (349 rushing yards, 3 TD, 15 receptions) could probably start for some teams. Jones, the most explosive of the trio, has had difficulty staying healthy in the past, but he bulked up to 220 pounds during the offseason in preparation for an expected increased workload. At fullback, Deon Anderson will reprise his roles as a valued lead blocker for the league's seventh-ranked rushing offense (131.4 ypg) and wedge-buster on special teams.

WR/TE: Perhaps Dallas' greatest area of concern going into 2009, the wide receiver corps received a needed shot in the arm from the surprising emergence of Austin (81 receptions, 1320 yards, 11 TD), a seldom-used returner who averaged over 100 yards per game after claiming a starting job in mid-October and excelled at gaining yards after the catch. The undrafted free agent could have even more room to operate if Bryant can duplicate an early training-camp performance that drew rave reviews from both coaches and on-lookers onto the playing field and supplant the disappointing Roy Williams (38 receptions) as the No. 2 wideout. Even with all that talent on the flanks, Romo's favorite target will likely once again be the dependable Witten (94 receptions, 1030 yards, 2 TD), who's averaged 90 catches and over 1,000 yards over the past three seasons and gained a sixth straight Pro Bowl nod in 2009. Although he hauled in seven Romo passes for touchdowns and averaged nearly 16 yards per grab last year, the enigmatic Williams hasn't lived up to the $54 million mega-contract Jerry Jones bestowed upon the former Texas Longhorn in 2008. He's entering a critical season, as is one-time starter Patrick Crayton (37 receptions, 5 TD), a possible roster casualty with the addition of Bryant and continued development of promising second-year pro Kevin Ogletree (7 receptions). Special-teams stalwart Sam Hurd's (7 receptions, 1 TD) spot seems to be more secure, while the athletic Martellus Bennett (15 receptions) returns as Witten's primary understudy at tight end. Blocking whiz John Phillips' (7 receptions) season may be in jeopardy, however, after sustaining a potentially serious knee injury in the exhibition opener.

OL: The Cowboys will undergo one major change up front this season, with the team releasing longtime left tackle Flozell Adams in April after witnessing a decline in his protection skills. The move was made in part due to Dallas' confidence in Free, who acquitted himself well in a seven-start stint for the injured Marc Colombo on the right side last year. To cover their bases, the Cowboys did trade for Alex Barron, a former first-round pick of the Rams who's made 74 starts over the past five seasons. He's slated to be used as a swing tackle, with Colombo ready to retain his customary post after making a successful recovery from ankle surgery. The rest of the unit remains intact and formidable, as center Andre Gurode and right guard Leonard Davis are among the best at their positions and Kyle Kosier has been one of the club's unsung members at left guard. Further depth is provided by guard Montrae Holland, a seven-year veteran with previous starting experience with New Orleans and Denver.

DL: Dallas held opponents to just 90.5 rushing yards per game last season, in large part due to the work of a stout three-man front that will have the entire two-deep back. The outfit's unquestioned standout is Ratliff (40 tackles, 6 sacks), who earned first team All-Pro honors in 2009 for his exceptional quickness and non-stop motor. Right end Igor Olshansky (40 tackles, 1.5 sacks) is a sound stopper as well and one of the strongest players in the league, while 2005 first-round choice Marcus Spears (25 tackles, 2.5 sacks) was solid but unspectacular on the left side. He's being pushed hard in camp by holdovers Jason Hatcher (13 tackles, 1 sack) and Stephen Bowen (18 sacks, 3 sacks), both of whom are deployed extensively as interior rushers in passing situations. Also returning is Junior Siavii (11 tackles), a 315-pound wide body who will be used to give Ratliff a breather on the nose.

LB: The backbone of Dallas' sturdy defense lies in a seasoned linebacking group that features the disruptive Ware (57 tackles, 11 sacks, 5 forced fumbles), the only player with double-digit sack totals in each of the past four seasons, at one of the outside slots. Counterpart Anthony Spencer (67 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 INT) overcame a slow start in his first year as a starter but was equally as dominant down the stretch, registering six sacks over the final six regular-season games and two more in the playoffs while becoming a force against the run. Ex-Falcon and 13-year veteran Keith Brooking (106 tackles, 3 sacks) supplied fiery leadership in his first season with the club and also proved he's still got plenty left as a player by turning in a strong year on the inside, where the 34-year-old will again team up with the productive Bradie James (113 tackles, 2 sacks). The Cowboys drafted Brooking's future successor with April's selection of Sean Lee in the second round, with the former Penn State star tabbed to take over the nickel role previously held by offseason departure Bobby Carpenter as a rookie. He's one of several youngsters working the second team, along with sophomores Victor Butler (17 tackles, 3 sacks), Jason Williams and Brandon Williams.

DB: The Cowboys enter this season with few worries at cornerback, where returning starters Mike Jenkins (49 tackles, 5 INT, 19 PD) and Terence Newman (57 tackles, 3 INT, 18 PD) were both named Pro Bowl alternates and third-year pro Orlando Scandrick (51 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack) has developed into a trusty cover man in the slot. Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh (66 tackles, 1 INT) is a steady performer as well, particularly against the run, but there's a bit more uncertainty at free safety after Dallas cut ties with 2009 starter Ken Hamlin in the spring. The team has confidence that converted corner Alan Ball (31 tackles) can adequately fill that void, but the future at that position may belong to rookie Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, a freakishly-gifted fourth-round pick out of small-school Indiana of Pennsylvania who's raw but extremely fast. Second-year man Michael Hamlin, who missed most of his debut season with a broken wrist, is also in the mix, with special-teams ace Patrick Watkins (29 tackles) once again backing up Sensabaugh on the strong side. Ex-Charger Cletis Gordon and rookie Jamar Wall (6th round, Texas A&M) will be trying to stick as reserve corners and special-teams contributors.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Dallas endured some real struggles in the kicking department last year, with the tandem of Nick Folk and Shaun Suisham combining to make only 20-of-31 field goal attempts and forcing their way off Jerry Jones' payroll. Buehler, used solely as a kickoff specialist as a rookie, will get first shot at adding placekicking chores to his duties, but it's unknown how the strong-legged 23-year-old will fare in game situations. Bryant and Owusu- Ansah were both electrifying return men in college that will be counted on to add a needed big-play element to that facet, although Crayton (12.1 avg.) did deliver two touchdowns taking back punts last season. The Cowboys are in good hands at punter, where Mat McBriar ranked third in the NFL with 38 kicks inside the 20-yard line while averaging a healthy 45.1 yards per boot, and Buehler is one of the league's best on kickoffs.

PROGNOSIS: With an enviable blend of talent, depth and experience, the Cowboys have to be considered the top threat among an NFC East crop that doesn't seem quite as strong as in years past, and possibly the entire conference. It should be pointed out, however, that this is a team that hasn't handled the favorite's role well in the past. Dallas was the chic pick to capture the NFC title back in 2008 after coming off a 13-win season the previous year, but fell flat on its face down the stretch and missed out on the playoffs altogether. While the current edition is more cohesive than that toxic bunch, last January's 31-point loss to the Vikings in the NFC Divisional Playoffs shows there are some mental hurdles still to overcome. If the Cowboys can successfully deal with having a weekly bulls-eye on their backs and can avoid any devastating injuries, they've got a legitimate shot of making Jerry Jones' Super Bowl dream a reality.