Cowboys: Three reasons to be skeptical about 2023 season
When football is being played, it's fairly easy to think the wheels are falling off your favorite team after any loss or even following an ugly win. But during the thick of the offseason, even Dallas Cowboys fans who have been waiting for another ring for almost three decades can't help getting excited about this […]
When football is being played, it's fairly easy to think the wheels are falling off your favorite team after any loss or even following an ugly win. But during the thick of the offseason, even Dallas Cowboys fans who have been waiting for another ring for almost three decades can't help getting excited about this being, finally, the year.
We wouldn't have it any other way. That's why we love sports. But sometimes, it can get a little bit out of control. Especially in late June when minicamp is over and training camp is still about a month away.
That's why we'll try to dampen expectations in this article. Let's dive into three reasons to be skeptical about the 2023 Cowboys.
1. Cowboys defense potentially regressing
I know, I know. How could the defense regress? It's their biggest strength!
Dan Quinn is a mastermind, Micah Parsons' career is off to a historic start, and now the team added All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
On paper and on film, it's easy to see why the Cowboys defense is bound for yet another leap in 2023. But the numbers don't lie. It's statistically harder to sustain a successful defense than it is a defense. Only four teams finished as a Top 10 defense in 2021 and 2022. Only two repeated within the Top 5.
It's hard. But it also has to do with a defense's quarterback schedule. This year, the Cowboys will face Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, and Tua Tagovailia. They even get Daniel Jones twice, who finished in the Top 15 most efficient quarterbacks last season.
I wouldn't bet against the Cowboys defense after they led the league in takeaways two consecutive years but numbers suggest they could regress in 2023.
2. The Mike McCarthy plan not working out
I've written at length about the changes we can expect from McCarthy's new "Texas Coast" offense, including the positive stuff. But at the end of the day, he'll be calling plays for the first time since 2018. And it will be partly somebody else's offense as the coaching staff is keeping Kellen Moore's foundation.
While I believe the change was needed and the Cowboys made a solid decision moving on from Moore, it was a risky move that could quickly go wrong if we witness the "stale" version of McCarthy that led to his firing in Green Bay.
3. Tyron Smith's health
Let's face it. Tyron is far and away one of the best five offensive linemen the Cowboys can put on the field. And he'd be a better left tackle than Tyler Smith would be. But No. 77 has struggled to stay healthy.
If the coaches indeed plan to start Tyron at left tackle, the short-term benefit could quickly be forgotten if he goes down. Even with position flex across the board, continuity is key as McCarthy pointed out earlier in the offseason.
On paper, this is a Top 10 offensive line in the NFL. How long will it last, though?
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Featured image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
