1964: The defense steps up, the offense…Bueller? Bueller?

With the dismal 1963 season behind them, the Dallas Cowboys started 1964 off with a bang. The year started off with a good omen, but enough about the year I arrived on this world.

Dallas had a monster draft in 1964. The Cowboys drafted Mel Renfro (2nd round), Bob Hayes (7th), and Roger Staubach (10th) that spring.

Staubach still had a five-year hitch in the Navy to serve and Hayes would not play until 1965. But Renfro would make his mark and help the defense improve mightily.

In his rookie year Renfro would start all 14 games at free safety. He would pick off seven passes, taking one back 39 yards for a touchdown in just his second game.

Renfro also made his mark on special teams. He had 32 punt returns for a 13.1 average. He also averaged 25.4 yards per return on kickoffs.

His special teams highlight came in Week 12 at the Cotton Bowl against the Packers. Down 17-0, Renfro returned a punt 69 yards for a score in what turned out to be a losing effort.

After a four years of ranking at the bottom of the NFL in defense, the Cowboys ranked second in yards and fourth in points allowed in 1964.

Offense Goes MIA

Unfortunately, the offense plummeted to the bottom of the league, averaging less than 18 points a game. Don Meredith took full command after Eddie LeBaron retired.

But Meredith struggled, throwing just nine touchdowns against 16 interceptions in 10 starts. His backup, John Roach, went winless in four starts and tossed one touchdown against six interceptions.

The Cowboys’ running attack of Don Perkins (768 yards, 6 TDs) and Amos Marsh (401-2) provided little relief.

Another Poor Start

As the year before, the Cowboys were slow out of the gate. After a 16-6 loss to St. Louis at home to open the year, Dallas rebounded with a 24-18 win over the Redskins.

Renfro’s 39-yard pick six early in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning points. For the first time since Nov. 11, 1962, the Cowboys were at .500.

But a loss to the Steelers, followed by two losses to the Browns sandwiched around a 13-13 with the Giants, dropped Dallas to 1-4-1 on the season.

Unlike 1963, the Cowboys rebounded with a three game winning streak to get back to .500. Solid wins over the Cardinals, Bears, and Giants had brought back hope.

But two losses to the Eagles and losses to the Redskins and Packers put an end to that hope. Meredith was sacked eight times in the 17-14 loss to the Eagles that snapped the Cowboys’ winning streak.

The Cowboys closed out the season with a 17-14 home win against the Steelers. The odd stat of the game came from Dallas flanker Buddy Dial.

The Trade Both Teams Would Like To Forget

The Cowboys had traded their top pick in the 1964 draft, Scott Appleton (DT-Texas), to the Steelers in exchange for Dial.

Buddy Dial

Considered a top receiver, and needing help at the position, the Cowboys instead got a player for 10 games, making two starts. He caught 11 passes for just 178 yards and no touchdowns.

But in the season finale, against his old team, Dial caught five passes for 100 yards. He would play two more years in Dallas and retire.

Appleton would pass on the Steelers, signing instead with the AFL’s Houston Oilers. He would play three years in Houston and two more in San Diego and be out of pro football before 1969.

Considered a blockbuster trade at the time, it turned out to be a colossal bust for both teams.

Landry Gets 10-Year Extension

Despite a record of 18-46-4 over the franchise’s first five years, the Cowboys extended Tom Landry’s contract 10 years. With one year left on the original contract it gave Landry the longest contract in sports history.

The show of confidence turned out to be prophetic. After going 5-8-1 in 1964 the Cowboys would not suffer another losing season until 1986.