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Dallas Cowboys: 5 offseason needs in 2020

By Russell S. Baxter

FRISCO, TEXAS - JANUARY 08: (L-R) Executive Vice President Stephen Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talk with the media during a press conference at the Ford Center at The Star on January 08, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FRISCO, TEXAS - JANUARY 08: (L-R) Executive Vice President Stephen Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talk with the media during a press conference at the Ford Center at The Star on January 08, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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FRISCO, TEXAS – JANUARY 08: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys talks with the media during a press conference at the Ford Center at The Star on January 08, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
FRISCO, TEXAS – JANUARY 08: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys talks with the media during a press conference at the Ford Center at The Star on January 08, 2020 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

It’s never quiet when it comes to Jerry Jones’ team. So what do the perplexing Dallas Cowboys need to do to get back in the playoffs after a year’s absence?

It’s a franchise that is seemingly never out of the news. It’s also a team that got off to a 3-0 start a year ago and still managed to not make the playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys won division titles in 2014, ’16 and ’18. And following each of those years, the club failed to return to the postseason. In fact, the team has not made consecutive playoff appearances since the 2006 and ’07 seasons under two different head coaches in Bill Parcells and Wade Phillips, respectively.

And speaking of sideline leaders, which seems to be a commonplace with this organization under Jerry Jones, the new boss is Mike McCarthy. Yes, Jason Garrett was actually the longest-tenured head coach under Jones. Now McCarthy begins the eighth different man to lead this club under the current owner/general manager, etc.

But what to do about not reaching the postseason on a consistent basis? What about getting back to the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl for the first time since 1995? Here are five areas needing to be addressed if the Cowboys are to rebound from a disappointing 8-8 showing.

5. Adjust to new head coach Mike McCarthy

The coincidences regarding McCarthy and the Cowboys are somewhat astounding. The former leader of the Green Bay Packers has never lost a game at AT&T Stadium (4-0). And that includes a win over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. That was back in 2010 when the Pack rolled the Cowboys, 45-7, on a Sunday night at Lambeau Field. It proved to be the last game for head coach Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett took over from there.

McCarthy’s career resume is impressive and includes nine postseason appearances. His 10-8 playoff ledger includes wins over the Cowboys at Lambeau Field (2014) and Arlington (2016).

But perhaps the real question here is how will the new boss adapt to the team’s talent? This is a Dallas’ team featuring and impressive offensive line and workhorse runner Ezekiel Elliott. In Green Bay, it was more Aaron Rodgers and less about balance as time wore on. Will there be some growing pains early on?

Next: No. 4

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