Aug 13-
Can the Cowboys reverse the Hard Knocks curse? – Dallas Cowboys 2021 Season Preview
Coach: Mike McCarthy
General Manager: Jerry Jones
2020 Regular Season Record: 6-10
2020 Result: Missed Playoffs
Super Bowls: 5
In the previous 15 seasons of the NFL training camp show, Hard Knocks, not one of the teams have gone on to win the Super Bowl. Here the Cowboys are again, their third time being the featured franchise on the show, and they are trying to reverse the curse. We love the show, as we feel as fans that we get a deeper insight into the team, and the players that we love, but there are also takeaways about how the team is run that we can look into.
It has been 26 years since America’s Team hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, and the NFL’s most valuable franchise is looking to return to glory. Jerry Jones, has assembled a good young core of players ready for the team to jump to the top of the wide open NFC East. Dak Prescott returns after an ankle injury ended his 2020 campaign, at the time he was on pace to break the single season passing yards record, and Ezekiel Elliott hopes to bounce back from a turnover happy year, in much better shape. Add in the electric route running and catchability from receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb, and this Offense should be well on their way to another successful season.
Some of the concerns with the makeup of this 2021 Cowboys roster is the coaching staff. In 2020, the Cowboys had the 14th ranked offense and 23rd ranked defense. Insert Dan Quinn to lead the defensive unit. An aggressive edge to a defense that could use the help in 2021.
Projected Record
11-6
The second easiest schedule in the NFL this season, the Cowboys should have a great chance to win the NFC East. As long as the core stays healthy and the Defense is serviceable this should be a big year at Jerry’s World.
Biggest Question: The Coaching Staff
Mike McCarthy rode the success of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay for years, and hasn’t been all that impressive since winning a Super Bowl. I could see a coaching change at the end of this season if the team happens to underperform. Kellen Moore leads an Offense where he is mostly unproven but had a lot of success in the short time Dak Prescott was healthy in 2020. A bright young mind, Moore should see more success at the helm this season, and his chances of a head coaching job could skyrocket these next few seasons. The 19 years of experience from Dan Quinn should help a very bad defense improve, as well as coaching Micah Parsons to be a top tier LB in the league can only help this Cowboys unit. Expect them to be much improved.
The Cowboys are ready to put their recent playoff failures behind them, and make a push for the Lombardi in 2021. Is this the season the Hard Knocks curse is broken? We’ll have to see.
If you enjoyed this article check out our full season preview guide. Also, we are launching our new Weekly Tournament game for NFL this season so be sure to look out for that. We will be doing free-rolls and large prize pools all season! Download the OwnersBox Fantasy Sports app today!
