2011 Dallas Cowboys Team Preview | NFL Predictions
Hands down the most disappointing team of the 2010 NFL season was the Dallas Cowboys. Interim head coach Jason Garrett went 5-3 after replacing Wade Phillips midway through the season. Garrett impressed Jerry Jones enough for him to replace the interim tag.
2011 Dallas Cowboys Team Preview/Predictions
2010 Record: 6-10
ATS Record: 7-9
Under Garrett, the Cowboys came a long way since a horrific 1-7 start to a season that began with them having aspirations of becoming the first team to play a Super Bowl in its home city.
In order to solve some of their problems, the Boys drafted offensive tackle Tyron Smith from Southern California with their first pick in the draft. The Dallas offense line is getting quite old, and the organization feels that Smith will be able to help address that problem; however there is still a glaring need in the Cowboys’ secondary.
Dallas is banking that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, the brother of the more famous Rex Ryan, will get more productivity out of his defensive players in 2011. Ryan should at the very minimum get more out of this defense than Phillips ever did.
To add to the team’s nightmare start last year, the Cowboys lost franchise quarterback Tony Romo in week six due to injury, but luckily for the Boys, Jon Kitna was ready to step in and did a solid job to help Big D tread water. Despite having Romo out, the Dallas offense still ranked seventh in both points and yards.
Luckily for the Cowboys, they don’t just have one NFL talented signal caller but two, and that dimension of depth cannot be overstated in terms of its value.
People better not sleep on the Cowboys this year, because they still have Super Bowl-level talent at some positions on the field; that includes one of the best linebackers in the game today in DeMarcus Ware, who finished the year with an impressive 15.5 sacks.
All in all, though, the Dallas defense tough to watch last season. Only the Denver Broncos gave up more points on defense last year than the Cowboys. The team’s pass defense was particularly to blame in 2010, especially the secondary. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Surprisingly, the Big D defense finished the campaign with 20 interceptions which ranked seventh in pro football, but it was also 26th in passing yards allowed. The Cowboys allowed opposing signal callers to throw touchdowns all over the place. They ranked 31st in passing touchdowns allowed and 29th in opposing QB passer rating (92.75).
There are also some questions at the running back position. Marion Barber is now in the Chicago Bears’ backfield, which means that Felix Jones will be asked to shoulder the load. He may end up being able to handle the increased workload but only time will tell.
There is no denying that there is a fair amount of talent in the Dallas Cowboys’ locker room. The Boys should and will improve on their 6-10 finish from last season, but the Eagles and Giants still stand in their way for the NFC East crown.
Dallas will take a small step forward to a nine- or 10-win season and sneak into the NFC wild card spot.
2011 Cowboys Futures
Super Bowl Odds: +1615
Conference Odds: +825
NFC East Odds: +205
2011-2012 NFL Regular Season Wins: Under 9.5
2011 Dallas Predictions
Place they’ll finish in NFC East: 3rd
Place they’ll finish in NFC Conference: 6th
Over/Under Wins Prediction: Under
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