2014 NFL Preview: Everything you need to know about the Dallas Cowboys

AFC Previews
BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
HOU | IND | JAX | TEN
DEN | KC | OAK | SD
NFC Previews
DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
CHI | DET | GB | MIN
ATL | CAR | NO | TB
ARI | STL | SF | SEA

Dallas Cowboys

Schedule | Roster

The Cowboys lost a winner-take-all game for the NFC East title on the final Sunday for the third straight season in 2013. Tony Romo missed that contest because of a back injury that required offseason surgery and Dallas once again fell short of lofty expectations. 

The main issue for the Cowboys this time around was on defense. They finished dead last in the category and, with DeMarcus Ware leaving for Denver and Sean Lee done for the year with a torn ACL, there is a chance they could actually get worse on that side of the ball in 2014.

Preseason Power Ranking - #25

After losing DeMarcus Ware to the Broncos and watching Sean Lee and DeMarcus Lawrence go down with injuries, it's hard to imagine how the league's 32nd-ranked defense from a year ago doesn't get worse. More...

Key Additions/Departures

Key Additions: DT Henry Melton, QB Brandon Weeden, DE Jeremy Mincey, LB Rolando McClain

Key Departures: DE DeMarcus Ware, C Phil Costa, WR Miles Austin, DE Jason Hatcher, QB Kyle Orton

Ware and Hatcher combined for 17 sacks last season, and it's going to be hard for Melton and Mincey to replace that production. With the injury to Lee, it's going to be even more paramount for the defensive line to be a major factor in stopping the run, an area that saw Dallas concede nearly 130 yards per game a year ago.

The signing of Weeden seemed to be an afterthought early in the offseason, but with the departure of Kyle Orton it means it could be an important one. Weeden struggled during his time in Cleveland and he could be thrust into the lineup should anything happen to Tony Romo. The Dallas pivot has missed only one game in three seasons, but keep in mind he's coming off back surgery. 

2014 Draft Class 

It's no surprise the Cowboys spent seven of their nine picks on the defensive side of the ball, and some of them may see featured roles quickly. Hitchens figures to get an audition at middle linebacker to replace Lee, while Lawrence (whenever he gets healthy) and Gardner should work themselves into the pass rushing rotation.

Jerry Jones opted to pass on Johnny Manziel and made a sane football decision by drafting Zack Martin, which surprised many. Martin is a versatile talent who can play guard or tackle, and he even took some snaps at center during OTAs. He'll be a key figure in making sure Romo stays upright for the foreseeable future. 

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Jason Garrett
Offensive Coordinator: Bill Callahan
Defensive Coordinator: Rod Marinelli

Marinelli takes over for Monte Kiffin at defensive coordinator after Kiffin's scheme failed miserably in Big D last season. Kiffin's Cover 2 relies on linebackers dropping into coverage to match up with tight ends, something that has become increasingly difficult in today's NFL. The Cowboys didn't have the personnel to execute it and Marinelli's mentality is more hustle than technique. He demands 11 guys racing to the ball on every play, which may be the only way Dallas has a chance to succeed in 2013.

Callahan was retained but Scott Linehan will be calling the plays. At one point last season Callahan called the plays into Garrett, who then relayed them to Romo. That process seemed overly complicated, and adding a fourth person into the mix isn't exactly simplifying things.

Callahan and Garrett have to better utilize DeMarco Murray, who imposed his will on defenses at times in 2013. The majority of the offense continues to flow through Dez Bryant and Jason Witten and while they are great talents, if the Cowboys employed more of a balanced attack, they would be very difficult to stop.

2014 Schedule

The Cowboys have a tough first six weeks that includes games against San Francisco, New Orleans and a trip to Seattle. Ear;y contests against the Titans, Rams and Texans are almost must-wins. 

After the Cowboys take a trip to London in Week 10 to play the Jaguars, they'll get pivotal division games against the Giants and Eagles back-to-back. The results from those contests should set up each team's chances at a division title going into the final month.

Dallas has to be looking at that Week 17 contest against the Redskins and thinking, "not again." The Cowboys have lost the NFC East that week to the Giants, Redskins and Eagles respectively over the past three campaigns. However, with the defense in the shape that it's in, if you offered the Cowboys a-win-and-you're-in scenario right now on the final Sunday, they would probably take it. 

Bold Predictions

DeMarco Murray will run for 1,400 yards. Murray's 5.2 yards per carry average was third in the league last season and first among players with at least 425 snaps. Garrett seemed to almost refuse to feed him the ball at times with the Cowboys ahead, causing some late game collapses. Don't expect him to make the same mistake this year. - Michael Amato

Dez Bryant will catch at least 17 touchdown passes. The Cowboys defense was historically bad in 2013 and they didn’t do much to improve the beleaguered unit in the offseason. That means Dallas will continue to give up a lot of points and in order to stay in games, they will be airing the ball out a lot. That means more catches for Bryant and since his touchdown receptions have risen each year since he entered the league, they will explode to league-leading levels this season. - Mike Dickson

Tony Romo will throw for 5,000 yards. Despite coming off his second back surgery in as many years, Romo is primed for a productive season. The 34-year-old has thrown for over 4,000 yards four times in his career, and with new play-caller Scott Linehan overseeing the Cowboys’ offense, he could hit the 5,000 mark for the first time. - Caitlyn Holroyd