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By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com
The Cowboys needed to improve a team that was swept by two divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, and didn't score a touchdown against the other despite beating the Washington Redskins in their first meeting of 2011.
You can bring up the Cowboys' defensive problems all you want, but the offense has issues as well.
Dallas scored only five rushing touchdowns last season, tied for 30th in the NFL. That's a terrible number in a division known for running the football. Philadelphia scored 20 rushing touchdowns and New York 17. Washington, like Dallas, struggled with eight rushing touchdowns.
The Cowboys improved the offensive line by signing veteran linemen Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau in free agency. Despite success with fullback Tony Fiammetta last season, the Cowboys elected not to bring him back and instead picked up Lawrence Vickers in free agency.
"There's definitely excitement, definitely change," tackle Doug Free said. "You never know what you've got until you get out on the field."
Still, the biggest weakness for the Cowboys was the secondary play.
Free-agent Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, the sixth overall pick in the draft, add strength and depth to a cornerback unit that allowed big plays and suffered from too much miscommunication.
A full offseason learning defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's system should ease fans' concerns of more problems in the future. But the NFC East is getting better.
Washington drafted Robert Griffin III with the second pick of the draft and signed wide receivers Josh Morgan and Pierre Garcon in free agency to improve the offense.
Philadelphia sought improvement with its offensive line. The Eagles signed three players in free agency and drafted Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox with the 12th pick of the draft.
The Giants added depth to the tight end position by signing former Cowboy Martellus Bennett to a one-year deal and using a first-round selection on Virginia Tech running back David Wilson.
"This will always be the toughest division in the NFL," Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "The NFC East, we run the ball better than any division. We pass the ball better than any division and usually a team that comes out of the NFC East is a team that usually wins the thing."
The Cowboys needed to improve a team that was swept by two divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, and didn't score a touchdown against the other despite beating the Washington Redskins in their first meeting of 2011.
You can bring up the Cowboys' defensive problems all you want, but the offense has issues as well.
Dallas scored only five rushing touchdowns last season, tied for 30th in the NFL. That's a terrible number in a division known for running the football. Philadelphia scored 20 rushing touchdowns and New York 17. Washington, like Dallas, struggled with eight rushing touchdowns.
The Cowboys improved the offensive line by signing veteran linemen Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau in free agency. Despite success with fullback Tony Fiammetta last season, the Cowboys elected not to bring him back and instead picked up Lawrence Vickers in free agency.
"There's definitely excitement, definitely change," tackle Doug Free said. "You never know what you've got until you get out on the field."
Still, the biggest weakness for the Cowboys was the secondary play.
Free-agent Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, the sixth overall pick in the draft, add strength and depth to a cornerback unit that allowed big plays and suffered from too much miscommunication.
A full offseason learning defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's system should ease fans' concerns of more problems in the future. But the NFC East is getting better.
Washington drafted Robert Griffin III with the second pick of the draft and signed wide receivers Josh Morgan and Pierre Garcon in free agency to improve the offense.
Philadelphia sought improvement with its offensive line. The Eagles signed three players in free agency and drafted Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox with the 12th pick of the draft.
The Giants added depth to the tight end position by signing former Cowboy Martellus Bennett to a one-year deal and using a first-round selection on Virginia Tech running back David Wilson.
"This will always be the toughest division in the NFL," Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "The NFC East, we run the ball better than any division. We pass the ball better than any division and usually a team that comes out of the NFC East is a team that usually wins the thing."
