1. C3 11-16-2014 Set: 19:41:51
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The Dallas Morning News SportsDayDFW.com M Sunday, November 16, 2014 3C
Cowboys At The Break
T
hrough the first 10 games,
the Cowboys have defied
expectations. A team many
predicted would finish with a los-
ing record and one that owner
Jerry Jones was hesitant to hype
before the season stands at 7-3.
The defense has been better
than anticipated, and the of-
fense has developed a potent
running game that was absent
in the past. Along the way, the
Cowboys have defeated defend-
ing Super Bowl champion Seat-
tle and crushed perennial NFC
contender New Orleans. In four
road games, they’ve gone unde-
feated.
Surprised?
“I’m elated,” Jones said.
The Cowboys, though, aren’t
ready to declare that they’re
contenders.
“We all know we have done
nothing,” receiver Dez Bryant
said. “Seven-and-three is cool,
but it doesn’t win you no cham-
pionship. So it’s nothing to be
excited about.”
But at the very least, it’s
worth looking back at how they
got here:
Follow Rainer Sabin on
Twitter at @RainerSabinDMN.
Looking good ... so far
COWBOYSINSIDER
RAINER SABIN
rsabin@dallasnews.com
Season has been
surprisingly good, but
now Cowboys must finish
OFFENSE
When Scott Linehan was hired as the play-
caller in January, he was charged with fixing an
offense that struggled to sustain drives and was
too dependent on quarterback Tony Romo.
Throughthefirst10games,Linehanhasfixed
both problems, as the Cowboys have formed a
balanced attack able to dictate terms of the
game.
For the first time since Jason Garrett re-
turned to the organization as a coach in 2007,
Dallas has made a strong commitment to its
ground game.
The Cowboys have run the ball 49 percent of
the time, and DeMarco Murray has emerged as
the NFL’s leading rusher, gaining1,233 yards on
244 carries. Murray’s production has trans-
formed Dallas’ offense. The Cowboys are fifth in
the league in average time of possession and
have the highest third-down conversion rate in
the NFL.
They also are less dependent on Romo, who
entered the season under a cloud of uncertainty
after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated
disk last December.
Romo has surpassed expectations despite
missing a game after re-injuring his back Oct.
27, when he suffered two small transverse pro-
cess fractures. Romo has produced the fourth-
highest passer rating in the league, and his yards
per attempt is as high as it’s been since 2006, his
first year as the team’s starter.
Romo has benefited from a versatile receiv-
ing corps. Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams
have made significant contributions. So has
tight end Jason Witten, who has been able to
manage his dual role as dependable pass-catch-
er and expert run-blocker with aplomb.
Of course, the overall success of an offense
ranked sixth in NFL in average yards and sev-
enth in total points can be attributed to its offen-
sive line. That unit has been instrumental in
changing the Cowboys’ identity, helping them
become the balanced outfit they weren’t in sea-
sons past.
Bigturnaround
A look at how the Cowboys’ offense has performed
during the first 10 weeks of the season compared to
the first 10 weeks of last season.
Category 2013 Rk. 2014 Rk.
Yards per game 327.8 19 387.5 6
Rush yards per game 77.0 28 153.2 2
Points per game 27.4 4 26.1 T-8
Third-down percentage 32.8 30 50.8 1
Changeofphilosophy
A look at the Cowboys’ run-pass ratio since Jason
Garrett returned to the organization in 2007 as a
coach:
Season
Rush
Plays
Rush
Yds.
Pass
Plays
Net
Pass
Yds.
Rush
Plays
Pct.
Pass
Plays
Pct.
2014 315 1,532 328 2,343 49.0 51.0
2013 336 1,504 621 3,954 35.1 64.9
2012 355 1,265 694 4,729 33.8 66.2
2011 408 1,807 609 4,201 40.1 59.9
2010 428 1,786 607 4,042 41.4 58.6
2009 436 2,103 584 4,287 42.7 57.3
2008 401 1,723 578 3,789 41.0 59.0
2007 419 1,746 556 4,105 43.0 57.0
DEFENSE
Entering this season, many outsiders
wondered if this Cowboys defense would
deteriorateintooneofthemostdreadfulthe
league has ever seen. After all, it was the
NFL’sworstlastseason,anditnolongerhad
the services of the franchise’s all-time sacks
leader DeMarcus Ware or 2013 Pro Bowler
Jason Hatcher.
Dallas’ best linebacker, Sean Lee, also
was unavailable. He suffered a season-end-
ing knee injury in May. Coordinator Rod
Marinelli, who took over for the demoted
Monte Kiffin, appeared to face an impossi-
ble task.
But Marinelli’s bunch has been pretty
solid so far.
“I think there’s a comfort level everybody
has with what we’re doing,” Cowboys coach
Jason Garrett said. “I think they’re embrac-
ing it.”
The Cowboys are ranked14th in total de-
fense and have allowed the seventh-lowest
offensive points per game average. The re-
sults are astounding. But several factors
have contributed to them. The defense,
which has averaged 63.7 snaps per game,
has been less exposed. Marinelli has also
adapted his scheme to the strengths of his
secondary by mixing in more man coverage.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have received
contributions from unlikely sources. The
unforeseen rise of linebacker Rolando
McClain, who did not play last year, has
been the biggest surprise. Despite not play-
ing in two games because of injuries,
McClain is third on the team in tackles and
tied for the lead in interceptions.
McClain’s impact along with the contri-
butions of cornerback Orlando Scandrick
anddefensivetacklesHenryMeltonandTy-
rone Crawford have made a difference. So
has health. Last season, the Cowboys’ de-
fense was in flux because it used 41 players,
themostintheNFL.Through10games,the
unit has deployed 28 — a figure that has
been exceeded by eight other clubs.
“Sometimes you have a rash of injuries,
and you just have to deal with it,” Garrett
said. “We’ve been more fortunate up to this
point.”
With more stability, the defense has ex-
perienced rapid improvement.
“And we think they’ll continue to get bet-
ter,” executive vice president Stephen Jones
said.
Oncebad,nowgood
A look at how the Cowboys’ defense has per-
formed the first 10 weeks of this season com-
pared to the first 10 weeks of last season.
Category 2013 Rk 2014 Rk.
Yardspergameallowed 439.8 32 348.8 14
Touchdowns allowed* 31 T-30 23 T-15
Turnovers forced 22 T-2 17 T-7
*From scrimmage
SPECIALTEAMS
Last season, the special teams regularly
provided a boost for Dallas. In 2014, they
have compromised the Cowboys at times.
Dallas is one of six teams to commit
multiple special teams turnovers. Dwayne
Harris has lost two fumbles and hasn’t
been nearly as consistent as he was last sea-
son, when he was the only NFL player to
rank in the top five in average kickoff and
puntreturnyardage.Atthispoint,Harrisis
not among the10 best in either category.
Harris has been the face of the Cowboys’
struggles. This season, Dallas has had a
punt blocked and returned for a touch-
down.Breakdownsinprotectionalsoledto
two field goal attempts being denied. In
spite of those mishaps, kicker Dan Bailey
has performed well.
Of the 18 field goal tries that haven’t
been deflected or blocked, Bailey has made
all but one. He has also converted five at-
tempts from 50 yards or farther.
Still, Bailey’s consistency hasn’t been
abletomasktheweaknessesthathavebeen
exposed in the special teams units over the
course of the season.
LOOKINGAHEAD
The Cowboys have positioned themselves
well to make the postseason for the first time
since 2009.
“I think it is set up for us to be successful,”
tight end Jason Witten said.
But getting there still won’t be easy. The final
six games on Dallas’ schedule present challeng-
es.
The Cowboys will hit the road four times be-
tween Sunday and the end of the season, as they
head north to face the New York Giants, Phila-
delphia Eagles, Chicago Bears and Washington
Redskins. Interspersed with those games are
home tests against two division leaders — the
NFC East’s Eagles and AFC South’s Indianapo-
lis Colts.
In recent times, the Cowboys have struggled
in the final weeks of the season. Since winning
their last Super Bowl in January1996, they have
the fifth-lowest winning percentage in Decem-
ber.
But there is reason to believe the Cowboys re-
verse their fortune this season. After all, Dallas is
undefeated outside of AT&T Stadium and has a
strong ground attack capable of carrying the
team anywhere.
“Whatever circumstance, whatever condi-
tions you’re playing in, you want to be able to be
successful,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said.
“And I think the bigger and stronger you’re up
front and the more able you are to run the foot-
ball, it certainly helps you.”
It could make the difference as the Cowboys
aim to finish strong.
Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer
A dynamic
returner
last sea-
son,
Dwayne
Harris’
produc-
tion has
dropped
in 2014.
Michael Ainsworth/Staff Photographer
Acquired in a trade with Baltimore,
linebacker Rolando McClain has be-
come a leader on defense.
G.J. McCarthy/Staff Photographer
Finally with a running game to work with, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo may be even more dangerous. He bounced back from disk
surgery but is now playing with two small transverse process fractures.
Remainingschedule
Date Opponent Comment
Nov. 23 at NY Giants Cowboys look to sweep season series for second straight year.
Nov. 27 Philadelphia Thanksgiving battle against NFC East’s top dog.
Dec. 4 at Chicago Seeking revenge for 45-28 beating they took last December.
Dec. 14 at Philadelphia Could be the game that decides the NFC East.
Dec. 21 Indianapolis Andrew Luck is the best opposing QB left on the schedule.
Dec. 28 at Washington Blitz-happy Redskins upset the Cowboys 20-17 in OT in October.