The Dallas Cowboys have made headlines this offseason since January when the team decided to move on from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Despite being one of the best play-callers in the NFL statistically speaking, the Cowboys believed it was the right time to give Dak Prescott a new voice in his ear and the man for the job was never in question: Head coach Mike McCarthy, Super Bowl winner.

Since the announcement, fans, media, analysts, and probably other franchises have been seeking an obscure answer to a popular question: How much is the offense actually going to change?

Fans have heard from McCarthy, Dak Prescott, and other key players mention one number: 30%. That's the amount of offensive change the organization said it'll go through. But is it going to feel like more than that on gameday with the way it's called? After all, the 30% change could mean nothing but playbook language.

One of the top Cowboys insiders in the game, Michael Gehlken from the Dallas Morning News, believes most fans won't notice much of a change as the devil will be in the details. 

"I think a lot of the changes will require a pretty astute eye," Gehlken said on my nightly show, A to Z Sports Dallas Primetime. 

While that answer may disappoint some fans hoping to hear the Cowboys offense will show some flashy new plays, it doesn't mean there won't be big, helpful changes. In fact, there are going to be some under-the-radar shifts that could be game-changing when the time comes for regular season football to be played.

"I think the cadence is really different this year to help with pre-snap penalties, like, that has been re-imagined," added Gehlken. "So that's radical." 

For those unfamiliar, the cadence is that series of words quarterbacks yell once the offense is all lined up and ready to go. You know, think of Dak's voice and you can almost hear it: "Here we go. White Eighty. Set. Hike!"

This isn't just intended to let the center know it's go-time but actually plays a major role in catching defenses off guard, whether it's getting that offsides call or getting them to tip their hand. A good cadence can force defenses to give away if they're blitzing or not, or if the safeties are rotating post-snap.

The Cowboys finished tenth in the NFL in pre-snap penalties in 2022 after an even worse year in 2021, per Sharp Football. Chances are fans and media won't be talking about Prescott's cadence but these are the nuances of the NFL. Even the tiniest of changes can go a long way.

"Their pass protection has real, real differences there," Gehlken also said about the changes for the Cowboys offense. "You'll see under Mike Solari, the new offensive line coach, he has his own technique that he wants his offensive lineman to have. Namely, you're going to see them more assertive in their pass sets." 

Other nuanced details like quarterback footwork and outside zone blocking are also significant changes we'll see on offense but as Gehlken explains, don't expect it to be anything fans will be pointing out on gameday. 

Check out my full conversation with Gehlken below!

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