Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2025 NFL season with hopes of improvement after a disappointing 2024 campaign. The previous season ended with a losing record, the departure of head coach Mike McCarthy, and a poor home performance. A significant issue was the team’s running game, which finished 26th in EPA per rush and relied heavily on passing.
New head coach Brian Schottenheimer, known for his experience as an offensive coordinator and preference for a strong run game, is tasked with addressing this weakness. NFL analyst Denny Carter expressed skepticism about the current backfield rotation of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue, stating, “They have no running attack, let’s just be real about it.” Fellow analyst Kyle Dvorchak also criticized the backfield but acknowledged Dallas’s strong offensive line and receiving talent.
The Cowboys made minimal changes to their ground game in the offseason. They allowed Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott to leave in free agency and signed Williams and Sanders. Both players have struggled to regain past form. In the draft, they selected Jaydon Blue in the fifth round, who is not seen as capable of handling a full workload.
These factors suggest that Dallas may face similar challenges as last year without a reliable run game. Analysts question whether Jerry Jones should have pursued Ashton Jeanty in the draft to address these issues. Until improvements are made, any resurgence for the Cowboys may remain elusive.
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