Biggest issues going into this season are the following

[CowboyRoy]

In no particular order:

1. Penalties
2. Interior Oline
3. Running game
4. Run defense

3 out of the 4 looked good on Saturday.

1. Penalties was obviously horrid and so no progress there.

2. Tyler Smith was the most important pick and the key to helping improve both 2 and 3. He looked amazing in his first appearance. Dominating, especially in the run game.

3. Cowboys were at least able to run the ball and again, Smith looked great with the middle of the line getting a big push.

4. Its early, but the DT's looked good in there stuffing the runs.

And although everything else pretty much looked bad, at least the 3 of the big things we needed to make progress showed it.

 

[nalam]

Even though it was not against 1st teamer s , I was happy with running and run defense . Hope that improves this year which will be the difference maker for playoffs.

 

[big dog cowboy]

4. Its early, but the DT's looked good in there stuffing the runs.

Because the offense struggled so much and it was penalty fest game this is a very overlooked part of the game. Denver couldn't run the ball at all.

 

[Zman5]

5. Kicker.

 

[maryquality]

5. Kicker.

Agree. Hallelujah missed a FG, and Maher BARELY made an XP!!

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Big issues going into this season are the following...

1)GM
2)OC
3)HC

Some things never change.

 

[ShortRound]

Kicker
Playcalling

 

[stiletto]

I'd say Swing tackle is my biggest worry (next to kicker) because if Tyron goes down, the current guys will eliminate any success the Offense will have in the games he is out.

 

[JBS]

Tyron Smith is a major health concern. Backup LT is a major concern.

Zeke Elliott is a concern

WRs are a concern / Gallup is a concern once he starts playing again

kickers for sure

the defense gave up loads of big plays last year. Probably amongst the most in the nfl. That’s a concern.

can they take the football away at the same frequency? I think so but to some a regression is expected

 

[G2]

OT's

 

[Majic]

It starts and ends with the Offensive Line, not only the depth put the play of the starters. What if Martin starts to drop off? Can Tyron play a full season?

 

[jazzcat22]

Tyron Smith is a major health concern. Backup LT is a major concern.
Zeke Elliott is a concern
WRs are a concern / Gallup is a concern once he starts playing again

kickers for sure
the defense gave up loads of big plays last year. Probably amongst the most in the nfl. That’s a concern.
can they take the football away at the same frequency? I think so but to some a regression is expected

We have not seen any of them yet and probably won't until real game 1.
So how can they be a concern. I do understand about Tyron staying healthy for a full season. But let's see them play first.

K's, yes, a huge concern.
Giving up big plays has been a problem for 25 years, also the stupid penalties at the worse times.
Yes, don't expect as many TO's, but it could happen, but not counting on it. This is where play in other areas need to be better. Pass rush and sacks and pressures, as well, as we all know the run defense.

 

[links18]

Penalties just don't happen in a vacuum. That's on coaching and team culture.

 

[plasticman]

I anticipated that the Cowboys run defense would improve, especially in the middle.

For the past three years the Cowboys have added talent to the DT position. They spent a 2nd rounder and two 3rd rounders to get Hill, Osa, and Gallimore. The reason we didn't see much improvement was due to persistent injuries at that position over the past three seasons.

Although Hill has been with the team for three seasons, he has only participated in 18 games, five of them as a starter. Gallimore has been here for two seasons. He has participated in 19 of 33 possible games, starting 13 of them. Having played in 16 games as a rookie last season, Osa has just about as much game experience as the other two.

When we look at these three and add them to the big body guys, Ridgeway and Bohanna, we look at a very promising young group of interior defensive linemen so long as they manage to avoid their annual epidemic of injuries.

I also believe that the Cowboys running game problems last season was directly related to three issues, Zeke's early season injury, penalty issues and the decline of production by Collins.

Before his injury, Zeke's first four games combined for an average of 5.3 yards per carry. The constant penalties created too many long yardage situations that took away their opportunity to impose their will on the ground. Collin's physical conditioning prior to the start of the season and also his suspension indicated a lack of commitment and motivation..

Tyler Smith is a great run blocker and that will help. Certainly, Zeke and Pollard being healthy is a major factor.

I reserve judgement on the penalties. I believe it is totally unfair to measure progress in that area by the performance of 2nd and 3rd teamers, many in the first preseason game. Tendencies cannot be measured by a single game.

Also, I have this suspicion that some players were affected by the accusation that they lacked "physicality" and this caused some pushback that resulted in some penalties.

 

[nate dizzle]

5. Kicker.

This looks like the #1 issue going into the season. Followed by penalties.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Agree with this, but I would add ol ad a whole, not just interior. Still think Steele is JAG and if Smith ends up missing time we have big questions with depth.

 

[Tussinman]

This looks like the #1 issue going into the season. Followed by penalties.

Yeah kicker has to be #1 for sure.

The amount of cowboy games last year that either 1. went to overtime or 2. was decided by 4 or less points was 6 games total

Below average kicking can realistically be the difference between winning 8 games or winning 11.

Swing tackle isn't far behind. If Josh Ball has to play signifant amount of snaps then you literally have to 100% count on your defense carrying you

Agree. Hallelujah missed a FG, and Maher BARELY made an XP!!

Kicking is extremely under-rated. Most playoff teams have 5 or 6 games per year that are decided by a few points. Below average kicking can easily swing your total wins by 2 or 3 games in the opposite direction

 

[ItzKelz]

1. Penalties
2. Penalties
3. Penalties
and oh yea 4........Penalties

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

1) LT / Tyron Smith. It's just silly at this point to expect him to remain healthy for the season. He'll miss a lot of games. How many?

2) Penalties. Never was a MM fan, but the continuing penalty problem makes me very concerned. Cowboys were worst in the league last year, and now worst in the pre-season. Apparently little was done to fix this. Penalties are costing the Cowboys wins.

3) Kicker. Such an important position. It's a shame so few resources have been allocated here.

4) Backup QB. We got nothing behind Dak.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I'd say Swing tackle is my biggest worry (next to kicker) because if Tyron goes down, the current guys will eliminate any success the Offense will have in the games he is out.

Swing Tackle and Kicker are definitely the two biggest current issues.