It’s clear that the Dallas Cowboys need to play better football to win on Sunday for the first time since Week 2. Obviously, the return of Tony Romo will do wonders for this team’s chances of winning, but Romo can’t do it all on his own. For the Cowboys to go on the road and beat the Miami Dolphins, these three players will need to improve.
- Tyrone Crawford
Whatever it’s been this year, we haven’t seen Tyrone Crawford shooting the gap in the interior part of the defensive line as we’ve become accustomed to seeing over the past few years. Crawford is without a doubt a key cog on this defensive line, and if the Cowboys are to get consistent pressure, he’ll be a guy that will need to be counted on.
2. Demarcus Lawrence
Besides Greg Hardy, no Cowboy has really gotten much pressure on the quarterback. Heading into his second year, there was a thought that ‘Tank’ Lawrence would have a breakout year. But that has actually been the exact opposite. Lawrence has struggled against stronger right tackles. He’s a guy that wins with his speed and his arm length, but he’s taken a step back since last season. Ryan Tannehill throws errant passes if he feels pressure. Lawrence and Crawford will need to step up this week.
3. Dez Bryant
I understand that Dez Bryant has been playing with Matt Cassel as his quarterback, but the fact of the matter is that Bryant had a chance to put the game away this weekend on a 3rd down pass. Instead, Bryant dropped the football and forced the Cowboys to punt. He also failed to go up for a football in the endzone towards the end of the game. With Romo returning, the passing game will expand and Bryant will get his opportunities, but I’d like to see much more fight out of Bryant going forward.
