I will not be building a museum list for this offense. This will be a football team first and a tribute to the past greats second or maybe not at all.
An official All-Time Dallas Cowboys offense would be loaded with names, and they all deserve respect, but respect doesn’t get everyone on the field.
I will be picking starters, backups, and the players who barely miss the cut.
A few of the decisions I make on my list will inevitably make some Cowboys fans mad, and that’s OK. If an All-Time list doesn’t start some type of debate, it probably wasn’t honest enough.
Quarterback: Roger Staubach
I went with Roger Staubach as the starting quarterback on this list.
Troy Aikman has the three Super Bowl rings. Tony Romo was a magician and much better than several fans would like to admit. Dak Prescott owns most of the production argument.
But, if I need one Cowboys’ quarterback to lead a team, I want Staubach.
I want the leadership, toughness, mobility, and a quarterback who can command the entire huddle with his presence alone. “Captain America” has all of these traits.
Troy Aikman will be my backup. If Staubach had to come out, I would have a three-time Super Bowl champion walking into the game. That’s a luxury not many other franchises can touch.
- Starter: Roger Staubach
- Backup: Troy Aikman
- Toughest Miss: Tony Romo
- Modern Argument: Dak Prescott
Running Back: Emmitt Smith
This may have been the easiest pick in the entire article.
I’m taking Emmitt Smith, and I’m not going to pretend there is a real debate about RB1.
People can bring up the offensive line all they want, I don’t care about that. Emmitt was the engine that kept a dynasty running. He ran with physicality, protected the football, finished drives, picked up the blitz, and wore down defenses.
Tony Dorsett belongs on the team because of his speed and home-run ability. Ezekiel Elliott’s peak gave Dallas a physical identity the second he arrived.
But Emmitt Smith is the unquestioned starter. No need to overthink this one.
- Starter: Emmitt Smith
- Change-of-pace back: Tony Dorsett
- Power Back: Ezekiel Elliott
- Toughest miss: Hershel Walker
Wide Receivers: Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, CeeDee Lamb
This might be the position where I get the loudest debate on the offense.
Michael Irvin is my WR1 because he was the attitude of the 90s Cowboys offense. He blocked, battled, worked the middle, and wanted the ball when the game got tight.
How can you not have Drew Pearson as WR2? He is one of the most clutch players of all time and his competitiveness matched Irvin’s.
The third spot is where this could get interesting, because the Cowboys have a deep history of great wide receivers.
I love Dez Bryant and at his peak, Dez was a bully. He was emotional, physical, and one of the most dangerous receivers of all-time near the goal line. But I’m taking CeeDee Lamb as the third receiver.
CeeDee gives the All-Time offense more flexibility. He can be moved inside, outside, be motioned, and he can be force-fed the ball. He fits any version of an offense because he is so adaptable.
Dez is still my red-zone weapon, but Lamb is one of my three starters.
- Starters: Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, CeeDee Lamb
- Red-zone weapon: Dez Bryant
- Toughest miss: Bob Hayes
Tight End: Jason Witten
Jason Witten is my starting tight end.
I don’t need to make this position on offense complicated. Witten wasn’t the flashiest tight end, but he seemed to always be open. Third-and-6, I know where the ball is going. Jason Witten always found the soft spot, caught the ball, took the hit, and moved the chains.
What more could you ask for from a tight end?
Jay Novacek belongs on the team because of what he meant to the 90s dynasty, but Jason Witten is the starter because of the intangibles.
- Starter: Jason Witten
- Backup: Jay Novacek
- Toughest miss: Billy Joe DuPree
Offensive Line: Dallas Takes Over
This is where I get to flex the Dallas Cowboys because the offensive line will be unmatched.
My starting five:
All-Time Offensive Line
That line is ridiculous.
Tyron Smith protects the blind side with the strongest man in NFL history next to him in Larry Allen. The middle of the line is anchored by Travis Frederick with the best left guard to play the game in Zack Martin. We will finish with some nastiness from “Big Cat” Rayfield Wright at right tackle.
Nate Newton, Erik Williams, Mark Stepnoski, and Ralph Neely all deserve respect, but I only have five starters.
An All-Time Offense Built to Take On Any Team
This offense has everything I want.
Staubach gives me command, Emmitt gives toughness, Irvin gives me fire, Pearson gives me clutch plays, CeeDee gives modern flexibility, Witten is trustworthy, and the offensive line will punch any defense in the mouth and then take their lunch money.
That’s what I want from Cowboys football.
Next up, I’m building the All-Time Dallas Cowboys defense, and if the offensive cuts were hard, the defensive side might be worse.
Was this helpful?
Comments