Dallas Cowboys

The 2016 Dallas Cowboys, For Better or Worse

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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These 53-men make up America’s Team for 2016 and these Dallas Cowboys are ready for the regular season, for better or worse.

The Dallas Cowboys have their 53-man roster and even though it’s subject to change, this is the group you can expect to see against the New York Giants in six days. As Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) said in the classic movie Hoosiers, “this is your team.”

For better or worse, this is your 2016 version of the Cowboys. It’s a flawed group that still needs pass rushing help and is being led by the offensive line. Some the team’s best players won’t be on the field for the entire season, but as head coach Jason Garrett says, next man up.

That means watching rookie quarterback Dak Prescott for at least the first month of the season. There has been plenty of talk about how Prescott will look when the regular season comes along; we’re about to see what the rookie is made of.

Of course the offense was going to flow through the running game regardless of who plays quarterback, so get ready to see a lot of another rookie, running back Ezekiel Elliott. Dallas wants to keep its defense off the field and control the clock with a dominant offensive line.

Sprinkle in some big plays to wide receivers Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams, as well as some timely third down catches by Cole Beasley and Jason Witten, and that’s the Cowboys’ offense.

Nothing that happened in the roster cut downs changed anything the team wants to do on offense.

For better or worse also means living with young guys on the defensive line and having some growing pains. Defensive ends Benson Mayowa, David Irving and Charles Tapper don’t have much of an NFL resume to speak of, but they are being tasked to pressure the quarterback.

Dallas has more experience on the inside with the defensive tackle group, but it’s still an underwhelming position. The same can be said for the linebackers and in the secondary, where the Cowboys made very few surprising cuts.

The Cowboys seem more content than their fans with what they have on defense and are hoping that improvement from young players can make a difference. They’ve told us that all off-season; it’s what their final cuts and inactivity since has told us.

This is your team Dallas Cowboys fans. The coaches and front office believes in them, they’re asking you to do the same.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

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