It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys’ offense is going through a state of metamorphous this offseason.
There have been departures from the coaches room and from the starting offense, alike.
The two key departures from the coaching staff were Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore and QB Coach Doug Nussmeier.
Moving on from two coaches who have worked very closely and been successful with your quarterback is an adjustment for any team.
Moore made a lateral move to the Los Angeles Chargers, taking with him an offense who was near the top of the league points scored and yards gained over the past few seasons.
According to head coach and new play-caller Mike McCarthy, the “Texas Coast” offense is retaining approximately 70% of Moore’s concepts.
Along with new Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, the pair are hoping to install some of the concepts that made Green Bay’s offense so successful during McCarthy’s tenure there.
The coaching and offensive scheme changes are compounded by some key departures from the offense on the field.
Fan favorite Ezekiel Elliott is no longer in the building, leaving the running back room nearly bereft of experience behind Tony Pollard and possibly Ronald Jones.
Interior lineman Connor McGovern, a valuable depth piece who started 15 games at left guard, departed for greener turf in Buffalo.
Long time special teamer turned key 2022 offensive weapon Noah Brown skated down I-35 to the Houston Texans.
Pro Bowl TE Dalton Schultz hitched his wagon to Brown’s and is in Houston as well.
There are several starters that we know exactly what they are going to give the offense.
Others are unclear, but I’ve managed to narrow down the list to three players who absolutely must perform to minimize any offensive drop off from last season.
Michael Gallup
Entering his sixth season, WR Michael Gallup is looking to return to his 2021 form.
After suffering a torn ACL in his left knee at the tail end of that season, last year was a year of recovery and re-acclimation.
Gallup was a shadow of himself through most of the season after spending the first three games on the sideline.
A return in Week 4 at home versus the Washington Commanders saw him play 64% of the snaps with two catches and a touchdown.
He wouldn’t score again until eight weeks later, and reached eight targets just once on the season.
A bizarre stat considering the Cowboys were hurting for a wide receiver to step up and take the WR2 role behind All-Pro CeeDee Lamb.
Gallup has one 1,000 yard season to his name, recording 1,107 yards in just 14 games in 2019.
With Lamb and Brandin Cooks set to lead the charge, the Cowboys don’t need WR1b numbers from Gallup, but solid WR3 production would mean good things for the offense.
If Gallup can’t deliver, it’s slim pickings behind him on the depth chart.
KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, and a scrum of practice squad wide receivers can’t possibly garner enough confidence from the coaching staff for a large role.
Dallas’ best bet is for Gallup to step up and be the player we know him to be, and that will allow this offense to remain above the clouds.
Terence Steele
Terence Steele is another player on this list currently recovering from a torn ACL suffered near the end of the previous season.
Steele was playing at a Pro Bowl level before the ill-fated play in a game versus the Houston Texans that ended his season.
There was a noticeable drop off in rushing efficiency once Steele was replaced by Tyron Smith.
Tyron is in line to start at left tackle in his 13th season.
His play at right tackle last season was underwhelming.
The last thing Dallas needs is another season playing shuffle with the offensive line.
Especially with the threat of Zack Martin holding out for a new contract.
If Steele proves to not be fully recovered from his knee injury, there is no experience behind him.
Josh Ball is definitely not the answer.
He proved that by playing so poorly in Steele’s place versus Houston that he wasn’t even considered for a starting position the following week.
The next logical player is Matt Waletzko, who is coming off of shoulder surgery himself, but has exactly one offensive snap in his NFL career.
Let’s cross our fingers that Steele’s work with the Cowboys’ medical team and offensive line guru Duke Manyweather will have him ready for Week 1.
If not, it could spell trouble for the Dallas offense.
Whoever Wins RB2
I have Malik Davis pictured above, but that’s only because we don’t know who is going to win the backup running back job behind Tony Pollard.
The second player on the depth chart at running back will play a pivotal role in this new Texas Coast offense.
Elliott being released left a huge hole that appears Dallas is attempting to fill with veteran Ronald Jones.
He has issues of his own, and is questionable to even make the final roster after being suspended for the first two games of the season.
The change to McCarthy as the play caller is a sign that Dallas may have more of a running back by committee approach.
We haven’t seen that since Julius Jones and Marion Barber III were splitting carries over a decade ago.
If you look at McCarthy’s history in Green Bay, he likes to employ a one-two punch in the backfield.
Duos like James Starks/Ryan Grant, Eddie Lacy/James Starks, and Aaron Jones/A.J. Dillon come to mind.
Dallas might have learned their lesson with overloading one running back with carries after the decline that Elliott faced over his last couple of years in Dallas.
I doubt they want to do the same to Pollard, whose game relies on explosiveness.
Giving him 20 carries a game is likely out of the question.
To minimize the production drop off after Pollard, one or more of Jones, Davis, or Rico Dowdle will need to make a leap.