It is no Secret that Cowboys Fans are Frustrated

The Dallas Cowboys are playing uninspired offensive football right now. While Cowboys nation cries out for reformation, there seems to be no help in sight. No Martin Luther to nail a list of 95 grievances to the office doors of Jerry and Stephen Jones. It has been 22 years since the Dallas Cowboys last appeared in a Super Bowl, and every (other) year since 2014, Cowboys fans have had reason to believe “this is our year”.  A great 2014 campaign, followed by a disappointing 2015 season. 2016 rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott set the league ablaze in ’16 to win the always difficult NFC. Coming into the 2018 season, Cowboys fans were just happy to have the 2017 suspension drama firmly in the rear view mirror. Surely the Elliott suspension is what kept Dallas from making that elusive playoff run to the Lombardi trophy. Right?

Why This Disappointment Feels Different

Wrong, and 2018 Cowboys fans know it. It isn’t necessarily the fact that Dallas is playing poorly which has this fan base crumbled over in depressive agony. It is the fact that they know what needs to be done, but are forced to listen to an apathetic front office explaining there hasn’t been enough time to “gel”. The culmination of 4 years of excellent drafts, stealing defensive talent from the Chiefs practice squad, and in-house player development seems to be on the verge of collapse.

Ezekiel Elliot has been putting on a clinic at the running back position this season. His pass protection for quarterback Dak Prescott has been nothing short of marvelous. Elliot’s lateral quickness has been terrific as well as his pad level when initiating contact with defenders. These could very well be the best years of Elliot’s career, will they be in vain?

Jaylon Smith is proving to be worth the second round pick Dallas spent on the horrifically injured college prospect. His play in combination with rookie Leighton Vander Esch could prove to be a great 1-2 punch; if they weren’t constantly on the field due to offensive three-and-outs.

Byron Jones has shined in his premier season at cornerback, seeing the first three seasons of his career wasted at the safety position. His sudden emergence as an upper-echelon cornerback. With the Cowboys likely backing up the money truck for DE Demarcus Lawrence this off-season, can Dallas keep Jones past the team’s 5th-year option?

Consider that the offensive line is under contract until 2024 and you have the ingredients for a new Dallas dynasty.

If the Cowboys didn’t have a complacent head coach and shell-shocked quaterback. But don’t blame Dak, he has more than surpassed the expectations of a fourth-round pick. Prescott has carried this team further than anyone initially anticipated or could have ever asked of him. Dallas has patiently forged a promising team. Cowboys Nation is waiting to see it will sink or swim, desperately desiring to throw it a life preserver.