The Cowboys have gone all-in on this "new era" approach.

Their decision to release the best kicker in franchise history Saturday was just another indication that coach Jason Garrett's job is on the line in 2018 more than it ever has been.

The release of Dan Bailey capped sweeping changes this offseason for the Cowboys that included cutting receiver Dez Bryant and the retirement of tight end Jason Witten.

A team that releases the best kicker in franchise history who is second all-time in career field goal percentage for an unproven player in Brett Maher who has never made an NFL field goal, you better be right.

A team that releases your No. 1 receiver in Bryant who holds the franchise record for touchdown catches and pushes the notion that it's OK to go without a true No. 1 receiver, you better be right.

A team that doesn't make it a priority to replace a future Hall-of-Famer in Witten other than to just go with the next-man-up philosophy at tight end, you better be right.

A team that chooses not to close the deal for Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas when he wants to be in Dallas and chased down Garrett to tell him so when the Cowboys have little depth on the back end of their defense, you better be right.

If not, the 2018 season could be one big firestorm of an end to Garrett's tenure in Dallas.

Cowboys coaches during training camp boasted about the depth of this year's team, but that didn't translate to wins in August as Dallas finished 0-4 in the preseason. Also, not one of the Cowboys' 36 players who were among the club's final cuts Saturday was claimed on waivers Sunday by another team.

What's for certain is this year's Cowboys are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, with an average age of 25.4 years old. They have only two players older than 30 on the roster (linebacker Sean Lee and long snapper L.P. Ladouceur).

Garrett believes he has enough locker room leaders to keep the train on the tracks, however. And that might prove right over time.

But the personnel decisions this offseason combined with what little the club did to boost the roster puts Garrett walking a thin line.

If the Cowboys lose close games because of missed Maher field goals, if they struggle to find red zone threats with Bryant and Witten now gone, if they get beat over the top on defense because of thin depth at safety, Garrett won't have much wiggle room.

The Cowboys also made extensive changes to their coaching staff in the offseason, but kept things the same at the top with Garrett, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli still in place.

That also increases the pressure for Garrett to get this right.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has remained patient with Garrett, not wanting to start over after investing so much in a coach. Garrett is entering his eighth full season with a 68-55 record but only one playoff win to show for it.

Even if it is the Jones family behind any personnel decision - or all of them, for that matter - Garrett has to know it's his job on the line when the dust settles in December. The Joneses aren't going anywhere.

Garrett has to make this work regardless of whether he put it all in motion or not.

Twitter: @DMN_George