Few teams had a better opportunity to capture a division last year than Dallas in the NFC East. Washington in-depthand the New York Giants fell off the table and Philadelphia, with a new coach and system, got off to a slow start.

But the injury bug hit and a once proud defense put up some of the ugliest numbers in team history, dooming the team to another 8-8 season and keeping the Cowboys out of the playoffs.

This offseason, Owner Jerry Jones has again shaken up the staff of assistant coaches. But hampered by salary cap issues, Dallas has been relatively quiet, staying out of the running in most of the high profile free agency races. So can this team make the necessary fixes to become a contender again in the NFC? Steven Mullenax, editor and head writer for The Landry Hat, shares his thoughts. Here’s what he had to say.

Zoneblitz:  Dallas went 8-8 with a loss the last week of the season eliminating them from the playoffs. What is your assessment of the season?

Mullenax:  The season was a product of injury, player mismanagement, a tough schedule, and the worst defensive effort in franchise history. This, by far, was one of the most disheartening seasons in recent memory. The NFC East was ripe for the picking at the mid-season point and many believed Dallas was the far and away favorite to win the division. But the aforementioned problems raised their ugly heads during the second half of the year and the Philadelphia Eagles went on an incredible run.

Zoneblitz:  After three consecutive 8-8 seasons what did you think of the decision to keep Jason Garrett?

Mullenax:  Personally, I thought Dallas should have gone in a different direction two years ago. But it appears Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will give Garrett every opportunity to earn a contract extension this season. Regardless of what Jones says about how “safe” his head coach is, if the Cowboys tank the season again Garrett should be carried out of AT&T Stadium by rabid fans with torches and pitchforks.

Zoneblitz:  What do you make of keeping but demoting Bill Callahan and keeping but moving Monte Kiffin in order to promote Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli?

Mullenax:  I like the moves on two fronts. What the Cowboys were trying to accomplish last season didn’t work. Defensively, some of the problem was scheme and some of it was simply not having the right players to fit those schemes. Offensively, the Cowboys wanted to run the ball more effectively. They did that. But it still resulted in yet another 8-8 season. A coaching shake-up was very much needed in Big “D”. If another 8-8 season or worse is the end result again this year, don’t expect to see anymore “demotions”. Expect pink slips and a visit from the Turk.

Zoneblitz:  This team defensively was the worst in the league in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed. What went wrong?

Mullenax:  The answer is complex. Injuries would probably be the biggest contributing factor. Starters defensive end Anthony Spencer, defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, defensive end DeMarcus Ware, linebacker Sean Lee, linebacker Justin Durant, cornerback Morris Claiborne and rookie safety J.J. Wilcox all missed significant time due to injuries last season.

Former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin simply didn’t have the proper personnel to implement his new/old schemes, underestimated the player’s ability to make the transition, and didn’t make enough or the right adjustments to accommodate the players he did have.

And finally, losing Pro Bowlers like Jay Ratliff and Anthony Spencer for essentially the entire year with no contingency plan behind them was fatal. Dallas was relegated to finding players literally off-the-streets like defensive end George Selvie and Nick Hayden and making them starters in the NFL. Although they both played beyond expectations, the Cowboys defensive line was a rotating door for bottom basement free agents all season long. Combine that with the defensive secondary struggles of corner Brandon Carr and Claiborne, plus an unsettled safety position filled solely with rookies, and you get the worst defensive effort in Dallas Cowboys history.

Zoneblitz:  Jerry Jones seems to have been less visible this offseason. Has he decreased his role so far?

Mullenax:  Some believe Jerry Jones may be slowly handing the reigns of the franchise to his ultimate successor and son, current executive vice president of the Cowboys, Stephen Jones. Personally, I think Jerry Jones is embarrassed by last season’s outcome and has been forced to swallow a bit of his pride. But I still expect him to be as boisterous as ever as the season nears. It’s simply who he is.

Zoneblitz:  The offense was pretty good in 2013, but a lot would seem to hinge on the health of Tony Romo. What is your assessment of his play at QB and how is his recovery going?

Mullenax:  I thought Romo played well last season. Statically, he nearly matched his output from two years ago, a season many considered his best ever. Obviously, it was a giant disappointment that he was unable to play in the final game of the season against the Eagles for the NFC East division title and a playoff berth due to a back injury. Still, Romo’s age and latest string of injuries are a major red flag going forward.

As for his recent back surgery, all signs point to Romo being ahead of schedule in regard to his rehabilitation. The recent video released of him shooting hoops at Duke University was definitely a good sign. But nothing replaces taking actual hits in football. And I’m sure the Cowboys will hold off on letting Romo take those hits for as long as possible. Knowing him, I’m sure Romo will insist on playing in a couple preseason games. I’m not sure that would be the wisest course of action as he turns 34 before the season starts.

Zoneblitz: Was this team maddeningly unwilling to run the ball in 2013 or was that just a perception born of a couple high-profile games?

Mullenax:  The Cowboys didn’t run the ball more in 2013. They simply ran it better. In 2012, the team attempted to run the ball 355 times for a total of 1,265 rushing yards. Last year, Dallas totaled 1,506 rushing yards in just 336 attempts! This means they gained 249 more yards in 19 fewer attempts in 2013. There are two contributing factor to this increase in efficiency: The improved offensive line and the health of their starting running back. The Cowboys added center Travis Frederick to their O-line in 2013, drafting him with their first round pick. His addition and the improved play of right tackle Doug Free opened up bigger rushing lanes for the Cowboys running backs. Secondly, starting halfback DeMarco Murray played in more games in 2013 (14) than he did in 2012 (10).

Zoneblitz:  With the Cowboys tight against the salary cap most of the team’s acquisitions have been of the lower-profile variety. What do you think of who they’ve added and is it enough to put them over the top?

Mullenax:  The Cowboys have a major problem. They have released three All-Pro players from their defensive line and have replaced them with question marks. Ratliff, Ware and defensive tackle/last year’s defensive MVP Jason Hatcher will all play elsewhere in 2014. To replace them, Dallas has signed a defensive tackle coming off an ACL injury (Henry Melton), a defensive end with a history of concentration problems (Jeremy Mincey) and a young defensive tackle who has never lived up to his potential (Terrell McClain). The Cowboys only saving grace may be the possible return of free agent defensive end Anthony Spencer (coming off of microfracture surgery) and a top-notch level draft in May. As it stands now, don’t be surprised to see a repeat defensive performance by Dallas in 2014.

Zoneblitz:  What are your thoughts on the losses of DeMarcus Ware for the defense and Miles Austin on offense?

Mullenax:  As for Ware, his decline in play was obvious to anyone who watched him last season. And he might blame that on injury, but I heard and saw DeMarcus tell the Dallas media at last year’s training camp that he felt 100 percent and healthier than ever. Then he proceeded to have his worst statistical season of his career. Asking him to play for less was the right move. When he refused, Dallas released him as they should have. As for wideout Miles Austin, Dallas fans have been begging for his release for the last two seasons. The decision to release him was way too late.

Zoneblitz:  In an NFC East where no team is a dominant factor, how far is this team from making a deep run in the playoffs?

Mullenax:  The NFC East title will fall to the team who gets the hottest at the right time. It’s as simple and as wide open as that. As of now, the Eagles have to be considered the favorites. But the Cowboys have as good a chance as any other team in the NFC East of making a deep playoff run. I think that maybe the only reason head coach Jason Garrett is still around.

Zoneblitz:  What else would you like to see Dallas do in free agency and then in the draft?

Mullenax:  In free agency, I’d like to see the Cowboys sign defensive end Anthony Spencer to a low-risk one-year deal. I also wouldn’t mind seeing them add a veteran safety to their defensive backfield, which is full of young, inexperienced players. In the draft, the defensive line must be addressed early and often. I’d also like to see them get a young wide receiver to push for the vacancy left by Miles Austin. And I do think it’s time Dallas start developing an eventual replacement for Tony Romo that is not named Brandon Weeden. So I’d like to see them take a young quarterback in this draft.

Zoneblitz:  Is there anything else you would like to add?

Mullenax:  For you fantasy football lovers out there, here’s something to think about: Will Terrance Williams have a better statistical year than Dez Bryant in 2014? New “passing game coordinator” Scott Linehan is known for airing the ball out to his former players like All-Pro wideout Calvin Johnson. Many fans believe Dez Bryant will benefit the most from his addition to the coaching staff. In fact, I think it could be the second-year receiver getting a ton of deep looks in 2014. The reason being: hype. Bryant demands double-coverage based on his perception as a major receiving threat. And Williams, after a shaky start, finished the season strong in his rookie campaign catching a touchdown pass in every game in the month of October. He proved to be a capable threat off one-on-one coverage and should start alongside Bryant when the season starts. As long as the kid avoids the sophomore wall, the former Baylor Bear could be a semi-sleeper for your fantasy teams.

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