Dallas Cowboys: Three New Year's Resolutions For 2014

Good players should be rewarded, but only after two to three years of healthy, solid service.
The fact that a player is in a contract year and puts up career high stats should first raise a red flag. The question must be asked: is he only playing hard for the big contract and will the performance drop off after the new contract is signed.  Players must demonstrate consistency, and more importantly, stay healthy in order to warrant a big money contract.
A franchise tag should ONLY be used on a franchise player. A franchise player is a dominant player who management couldn’t come to a contract agreement on but, after yet another dominant year (the year said player was tagged) should be rewarded with a long term contract. A franchise player should spend the majority of his career with the team that franchised him.
Anthony Spencer is a good player. He is not a franchise player. The fact that Dallas used the franchise tag on Spencer two years in a row shows ineptness beyond words. This mind boggling decision was made even worse when Spencer went on IR this past September, due to a pre-existing injury.
He played sparingly in only three games. Robbery. And the Cowboys let it happen. They deserved to be robbed. The Cowboy front office must re-evaluate how they go about determining who to sign and how much each player is actually worth on the field. Until they learn how to do that they will be doomed to mediocrity.
Dallas has exclusive rights punter Chris Jones and kicker Dan Bailey is a restricted free agent.  Both, especially Bailey, who is as close to automatic as a field goal kicker could get, should be re-signed immediately. Letting Bailey hit the open market would be a huge mistake. The fact that he is a restricted free agent will make it easier for Dallas to resign as they can match any offer he may get.
The good news for the Cowboys is only one playmaker is not under contract for 2014: Defensive end Jason Hatcher. Hatcher is coming off of a career year with 9 sacks and 37 tackles with 1 forced fumble. He will sign a big contract, but not with Dallas. The Cowboys cap problems will prevent them from signing Hatcher and any other big name free agent.
Miles Austin and Demarcus ware carry a $26M combined cap number for 2014. The Cowboys must rework Ware’s contract and should consider parting ways with the former Pro Bowler if they can save over $4 million toward the cap.
The fact that Ware cannot stay healthy is a concern. Speaking of injuries, Miles Austin has played only two full seasons since signing his huge contract extension following the 2009 season. Even when on the field a nagging hamstring hampers his performance. The Cowboy front office should ask Austin to take a pay cut and if he refuses consider parting ways.
When owner/GM/coach/bonehead Jerry Jones decided to make changes on the defense side of the ball he doomed the Dallas Cowboys for the 2013 season. The problem with the team in 2012 was the porous offensive line. It was the worst offensive line I’ve ever seen. Tony Romo was running for his life. It was a miracle he made it through the season. The Cowboys defense was average but they were significant improvements made over time. That defense did not require a total system overhaul
Enter the Tamp Two Defense. The Dallas Cowboys sunk over $70M into their starting and nickel DB’s who specialize in MAN COVERAGE. The Tampa Two defense success relies on DB’s and LB’s who excel in zone coverage and one or two big defensive linemen who can really get after the QB.
The defensive roster consisted of cover corners and smaller defensive lineman. The Cowboys simply did not have the players to fit the new scheme. Yet the change was made. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, who may have flourished in this defense, didn’t see the field for Dallas in 2013. Was it because Ratliff was truly injured or was it because Ratliff and Jerry Jones had a falling out the previous season? We’ll never know. Another mistake.
The result of the new defense: Among the worst in the history of the NFL. Dead last in total defense, 30^th in passing, 27^th in rushing and 26^th in scoring.
Dallas must go back to a defensive scheme that fits with what their players do best. The Cowboy defense is not without talent. Linebacker Sean Lee is among the best in the game (when healthy), cornerback Brandon Carr is solid (in man coverage), safety Barry Church is a good player as is nickel back Orlando Scandrick whose performance on the field has improved over time.
Demarcus Ware isn’t getting any younger and injuries have slowed him down. But when healthy, he can be a dominant force. Cornerback Morris Claiborne has one more year to prove he was worth the first round pick the Cowboys spent on him. Often injured, he has shown flashes of being a good defender. But as it stands now, Claiborne is a bust.
The Cowboys must to have at least two, maybe even three of their 2014 draft choices to start on the defensive side of the ball. They need the majority of their draft class to contribute immediately. Defensive tackle is where the Cowboys need the most help.
A disruptive pass rusher playing in the middle and possibly another on the end is a must. Linebacker is another need. Bruce Carter seems to play better with Sean Lee on the field but has made his share of mistakes. A smart rookie linebacker can learn a lot from Lee just like Carter has.
The Cowboys haven’t had a dominant safety since the days of Darren Woodson (and no, Roy Williams was not a dominant safety). They need an aggressive player who is also fast and can keep up with the bigger psysical NFL receivers.