If QB Tony Romo and WR Dez Bryant can return to health for the entire 2016 season, the Dallas Cowboys will be ready to return to the playoffs and pick-up where they left off after 2014.

By Greg DePalma, PSN Executive Producer

Dallas Cowboys (4-12)

SB Futures: 20-1

FORMER

The Cowboys endured an excruciatingly difficult season in ’15. A healthy Tony Romo at the controls would have made all the difference as the Cowboys lost seven games when they lead or were tied in the 4th quarter. They also lost twice when they were down by one score with less than five minutes to play. In all, the Cowboys won just 1 of 12 games without their leader.

It didn’t help matters offensively that star receiver Dez Bryant missed significant time that eventually required foot surgery as the season ended. After setting a career mark with 16 TDs in 2014, Bryant’s chronic injury as well as the loss of Romo caused his numbers (9 games/3 TDs) and the overall offense to nosedive beyond repair.

Circumstances weren’t much better on defense as Dallas accumulated a franchise low 11 takeaways, 20 less than the previous season. DE Greg Hardy, who registered 26 sacks over his final two seasons in Carolina, never regained his pre-suspension form after he was reinstated in Week 5. It didn’t help the secondary or the defense for that matter to have one of their key players, CB Orlando Scandrick, sidelined all season with a knee injury sustained in the pre-season.

CURRENT

Besides the obvious return to health of Romo and Bryant, Dallas will be relying on rookie runner Ezekiel Elliott to pound the rock behind one of the league’s top offensive lines.

While there’s hope the offense can come together for a big bounce back season, it’s the defense that will concern Dallas fans the most. But if anyone can coach-up a young group of talented yet unproven defenders, it’s coordinator Rod Marinelli.

CONCLUSION

It’s not even August as injuries and suspensions continue to run amok in Big D, and following a painful four-win season that’s not the kind of news Cowboys fans can stand to hear for much longer. But there is hope.

With the exception of some great all-time defenses like we witnessed in Denver last year, this is still a quarterback driven league. So if their luck does a complete 180 starting with a healthy Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys could return to the playoffs and shoot for even more.

BUY/PASS ON SUPER BOWL FUTURES

-BUY

Key Veteran Additions…

-FA RB Alfred Morris…Former Redskin is coming off the worst season of his four-year career with lows in attempts (202), yards (751), yards per carry (3.7) and TDs (1).

-FA DL Cedric Thornton…Former Eagle is a solid interior run defender.

Key Veteran Subtractions…

-DE Greg Hardy…Played 610 snaps in ‘15/solid all-around player.

-DE Jeremy Mincey…Played 386 snaps in ‘15/good run defender.

Top Sleeper…

-RB Lance Dunbar…An undersized do-it-all player who was on his way to a breakout season for the Cowboys last year when he tore his ACL Week 4 against New Orleans. Dunbar made 21 receptions to that point and was also solid on special teams. If the knee holds up after rehab he could be a key role player and mean possibly more for Dallas.

Also keep an eye on…

-DT David Irving…Second-year player who registered 16 QB hurries in limited action last season.

-DE Ryan Russell…2015 fifth-round pick was placed on IR in December due to an abdomen injury.

-DE Benson Mayowa…24-year old RFA from Oakland who the Cowboys signed to provide depth along the line. Mayowa had knee surgery in June, but is expected to return during training camp.

-DE Charles Tapper…Rookie fourth-round pick.

-DT Rodney Coe…FA rookie from Akron.

Key injuries/suspensions…

-QB Tony Romo…Returning from broken collarbone injury.

-RB Lance Dunbar…Returning from knee injury.

-WR Dez Bryant…Returning from foot injury.

-CB Orlando Scandrick…Returning from knee injury.

-DT Maliek Collins…Rookie third-round pick broke his foot during OTAs in late May and might return for the start of the regular season.

-DE Demarcus Lawrence…Suspended first four games.

-DE Randy Gregory…Suspended first four games.

-LB Rolando McClain…Suspended first ten games.

-LB Jaylon Smith…Knee injury will sideline the second-round pick for the entire season.