Four months ago I stated on this blog that I had disapproved of the job that Jerry Jones had done as general manager of the Dallas Cowboys.
Boy, do I look like a dummy now.
As we start the new year heading into wild-card weekend, the NFC East division champion Dallas Cowboys find themselves getting ready to host a playoff game against the Detroit Lions in JerryWorld.
Prior to this 2014-2015 NFL season most analysts, including myself, predicted that the Cowboys would finish close to last in a (supposed) stacked division. But where did these predictions come from? From my perspective I saw a team that just signed their critically under-achieving quarterback, coming off his second back surgery, to a six-year extension worth $100 million. I saw a team that had finished their past three seasons with a record of 8-8. I saw a team that seemed to struggle to find an identity.
In the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cowboys found themselves in position to draft former Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel with the 16th overall pick in the first round. Much to the distaste of some fans, Jerry Jones decided to draft offensive tackle Zach Martin; a move that Jones was later criticized for due to questionable comments made about Manziel.
At the time this was a move that made sense on paper, but not much sense to those questioning the status of long-time quarterback Tony Romo. While Romo had statistically been spectacular in the regular season, he had always seemed to choke in the month of December and in the playoffs. Coming off of his second back surgery, most people were skeptical regarding whether or not Romo could truly deliver leading the Dallas offense.
Jerry Jones fooled us again.
While critics like me questioned the moves that Jerry Jones had made as general manager of the Dallas Cowboys (his job as owner has been one of the best) he quietly had drafted three pro bowl offensive lineman in three of the past four drafts. One of which just happened to be named All-Pro for the 2014 season. His name? Zach Martin.
With the offensive line establishing itself as the best in football this season, the Cowboys offense was able to do something that it had been unable to achieve since the days of Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman: run the football. Running back DeMarco Murray had the best single season of any Dallas Cowboy tailback in franchise history, rushing for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The season that Murray had, paired with the stellar play of the offensive line, allowed Tony Romo to break through all expectations that had been set in front of him prior to this season. As of today, Jan. 2, Romo is one of the top candidates to take home the MVP award after leading the league in total quarterback rating. Without having to carry the offense on his heavily operated back, Romo has taken advantage of the added dimension of a run-game that has been missing in years past.
Because of this, wide receiver Dez Bryant has been able to have an All-Pro season of his own. Bryant also broke a Dallas Cowboys record with touchdown catches in a single season with 15 grabs on his way to making a strong case for being one of the top three receivers in the game today.
So what is there to learn from all of this?
Jerry Jones is, in fact, a good general manager. By manufacturing the offensive line with draft picks, the Cowboys have been able to design a successful strategy that revolves around a balanced offensive attack. Yes, DeMarco Murray will probably not have the same season as he did this year; 393 carries is crazy for any running back over the course of a 16-game season. However, Dallas has reestablished itself as a team not solely dependent on the play of its quarterback and has rather built pieces around him for success.
Although the flashy quarterbacks, running backs and receivers can be very tempting in a draft, they cannot have success without a method of balance in the offense.
This method can run over the course of a few years but the Dallas Cowboys have proven this to be a formula for success.