This offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have lost a number of key pieces off last year’s 12-5 NFC East championship roster.
Dallas traded receiver Amari Cooper to the Browns and lost fellow wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr. to the Dolphins in free agency. Another free agent, defensive end Randy Gregory, opted to sign with the Denver Broncos, while offensive tackle La’El Collins was waived.
Despite the subtractions, Cowboys legend Michael Irvin thinks the pieces are still there to have another good season.
In order to make that happen though, Irvin says the team must improve in one key area–and it isn’t anything that has to do with talent or skill.
“They have lost talent. They are not a better team talent-wise,” Irvin said, via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “This game doesn’t require skill. It requires will. If a team loses a little bit of skill but gains greater will, they call still do great things. If the Cowboys can take the disappointment of that defeat against San Francisco — beating you at home — if they can take that and internalize it in the offseason and come with less skill and more will and have a better season.”
Owner Jerry Jones is also aware of the criticism facing his team after it lost a number of major contributors, but he said at last week’s league meetings that he still has confidence in the Cowboys right now.
“This time last year, we didn’t have Micah Parsons,” Jones told reporters, via The Athletic. “I like where we are right now as well as I did at this time last year. … I would give you that we don’t look as good on paper as we did going into the playoffs (last season). … We are better with our money than we were this time last year.”
Dallas fell to San Francisco in the Wild Card round at home. The franchise has not made the NFC Championship since the 1995 season, which was also the last time it won a Super Bowl.
