Romo, Bryant key to Cowboys revival
Pair have suffered injuries, dragging down team’s fortunes
TIRVING, Texas he health of Tony Romo and Dez Bryant gives the Dallas Cowboys reason to believe they can have a turnaround as dramatic as the one that sent them tumbling in the other direction a year ago.
At the same time, executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones isn’t ignoring a defense that couldn’t make game-changing plays and finished last in the NFL in takeaways and turnover margin.
“We’re not sticking our head in the sand right here and saying, ‘Well it’s all about the injuries,’ ” Jones said. “But I still say a lot of teams have a big problem if they don’t have their main signal caller. Should we have won more games? Of course we should have. I do think we can have a major turnaround.”
Romo had a full offseason after missing 12 games in a 4-12 season with a twice-broken left collarbone. The other key component of Dallas going from first to last in the NFC East following a 12-4 run in 2014 was Bryant breaking his right foot in the opener and never getting to full speed coming off an AllPro season. While Bryant was mostly held out of offseason workouts coming off two surgeries on the foot, all signs point to him being ready when training camp opens July 30 in Oxnard, Calif.
And that has Romo and his top receiver getting questions about how good the offense can be after adding Ohio State star running back Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick in the draft, which has produced three first-round picks in the offensive line for Dallas since 2011.
“We’re not ready to talk about the season,” Romo said during offseason practices. “We are trying to figure out how to get better right now. For us, we have a long way to go. Just got to get to work and put your head down right now and work your butt off.”
The defense had trouble rushing the quarterback last season and will be without young projected starters DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory the first four games on substance-abuse suspensions.
Rolando McClain will miss the first 10 games for the same reason, and might even get released before camp because the mercurial linebacker will be out more than half the season anyway.
“Right now on paper I don’t think we’ve got anybody who’s ever had 10 sacks in a season on the roster,” Jones said. “That one sticks out like a sore thumb.”
Things to consider with the Cowboys coming off a two-year run of .500 (12-4 and 4-12 for 16-16) after three straight 8-8 seasons that
ended with losses to division rivals with a playoff berth at stake:
Forget the past: Bryant said it’s not about regaining the form that led him to an NFLhigh 16 touchdowns receiving two years ago. “I’m going to be better than that,” said Bryant, who had career lows in catches, yards and TDs last season. “The way we’ve been working, the way the coaches have been on us, the way we’ve been holding each other accountable, I think that alone is going to make us all be better than what we were in these past years.”
On the run: Darren McFadden, the team’s rushing leader last year, will likely be sidelined into camp with a broken elbow sustained in an accident at home. That could open the door for Elliott to be the lead back as a rookie, although Alfred Morris is in the mix as well. A two-time Pro Bowler in Washington, Morris signed as a free agent before the Cowboys drafted Elliott.
Banged up D-line: Rookie third-round pick Maliek Collins should return during camp after the defensive tackle missed most of the offseason with a broken right foot sustained in practice. End Benson Mayowa, signed away from Oakland on an offer sheet, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee but should be available most of camp.
Raiding the rivals: In addition to Morris, the Cowboys signed former Philadelphia defensive tackle Cedric Thornton in hopes of boosting the pass rush in part through a stronger interior line. Thornton is likely to start alongside Tyrone Crawford.
Witten’s words: Going into his 14th season, tight end Jason Witten has seen everything except a deep playoff run. He was preaching the same “last year doesn’t matter” refrain when the Cowboys were defending division champs a year ago. “I think 2015 is over,” said Witten, one of two tight ends with at least 1,000 catches and 10,000 yards. “There is not really a lingering effect. We’ve been there before, too, so that helps.”
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (9-8)
Open camp: July 28, Richmond, Va. Last year: When QB Kirk Cousins found his groove, Redskins won three consecutive games late in season to clinch NFC East. Cousins threw for 300 yards in all three victories to get Washington to playoffs, where it lost to Green Bay in NFC wild-card round. Important additions: CB Josh Norman, TE Vernon Davis, S David Bruton Jr., rookie WR Josh Doctson, rookie LB Su’a Cravens. Important losses: RB Alfred Morris, DT Terrance Knighton, FS Dashon Goldson, DE Jason Hatcher, QB Robert Griffin III. Camp needs: Without another NFL team coming in for joint practices, Redskins’ new-look defense must come together with Cousins and Co. as main competition. Integrating Norman and Bruton is job on defensive end, while offense needs to figure out whether Matt Jones can be every-down running back. After shoring up passing game, they may look to get Jones some help. Expectations: On paper, Washington is better than last season, when it surprisingly won NFC East, but this season hinges on remade defense and Cousins’ progress. Redskins will face firstplace instead of last-place schedule. Cousins will be motivated to prove he deserves long-term deal while playing on franchise tag.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-9)
Open camp: July 25, Philadelphia Last year: Chip Kelly was fired before final game and team missed playoffs for second straight year. Sam Bradford showed enough in second half to get two-year contract extension, but Eagles traded slew of picks to move up to No. 2 overall to select Carson Wentz. Defensive lineman Fletcher Cox developed into top player and received huge contract. New coach Doug Pederson brings familiarity back to organization; he played behind Donovan McNabb for Andy Reid and was assistant under Reid in Philly and Kansas City. Important additions: QBs Wentz and Chase Daniel, CB Leodis McElvin and Ron Brooks, G Brandon Brooks, S Rodney McLeod, WR Rueben Randle, OL Stefan Wisniewski, Important losses: RB DeMarco Murray, LB DeMeco Ryans, CB Byron Maxwell, LB Kiko Alonso. Camp needs: Determine starters at wide receiver, left guard, two of three cornerback spots, kicker. Get acclimated to Pederson’s offense and new defense under Jim Schwartz. Build chemistry with new faces on both sides of ball. Keep Bradford healthy. Have Wentz adjust to NFL. Expectations: Rebuilding is more realistic than playoff push, but there’s no dominant team in NFC East, so can’t you rule out contention. Giving Bradford $22 million guaranteed on two-year deal means management didn’t want to disregard this season. Defense has potential for success under Schwartz but there could be some growing pains.
NEW YORK GIANTS (6-10)
Open camp: July 27, East Rutherford, N.J. Last year: After missing playoffs for fourth straight year, Tom Coughlin and team agreed to part ways. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo was promoted to head coach and Steve Spagnuolo kept as defensive coordinator. QB Eli Manning and WR Odell Beckham Jr. give offense big-strike capability, but they need help. Front office bought Spagnuolo a defense in offseason, re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul and adding end Olivier Vernon, DT Damon Harrison, linebacker Keenan Robinson and cornerback Janoris Jenkins through free agency. Important additions: DE Vernon, DT Harrison, CB Jenkins, LB Robinson, CB Eli Apple and WR Sterling Shepard. Important losses: CB Prince Amukamara, WR Rueben Randle, DE Robert Ayers, DT Markus Kuhn, S Brandon Meriweather, G Geoff Schwartz, LB Jon Beason. Camp needs: LT Ereck Flowers and offensive line need to establish running game to make offense consistent. Find receiver to play opposite Beckham. Defense needs to mesh all those new pieces, get JPP closer to what he was before fireworks accident in 2015 and find someone to cover players coming out of backfield. Expectations: If all that money spent on defense pays off, Giants might have bought way back into playoffs. Much is expected of Apple and Shepard, Giants’ top two draft picks. Apple is expected to be at least nickel cornerback and Shepard has potential to be another playmaker at wide receiver. Veteran Victor Cruz remains question mark after playing in only six games over past two seasons because of injuries.