After a disappointing 2019 campaign that left a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone associated with the Dallas Cowboys, it’s important to remember that not everything was a total loss. The true bright spot came from the offensive side of the ball with first-year coordinator Kellen Moore flashing his skill as a play-caller.
Heading into 2020, the entirety of the staff has been shaken up in some way, save for Moore, who was retained by head coach Mike McCarthy. The decision to continue along that path is one of the best decisions the Cowboys brain trust could have made. In the 2019 Football Outsiders Awards, Moore was voted as the second best offensive coordinator in the league, behind only Greg Roman of the Baltimore Ravens.
The offense wasn’t perfect last season. There were times where the group stalled out at the worst times, but one would be hard pressed to find a more promising start to a play-caller’s career. With most of the core pieces expected to return in 2020, despite their current contract status, the staff at Football Outsiders is bullish on the Dallas offense maintaining their excellence. Regression to the mean is a very real thing, but the Cowboys’ offense ranked No. 4 in units predicted to avoid the year-after swoon. The units above them are Baltimore offense and both the offensive and defensive units for the San Francisco 49ers.
Other awards of note:
- Former head coach Jason Garrett was left off the most ineffective coach list. Of the six coaches listed, only three of them lost their job.
- Running back Ezekiel Elliott came in at No. 7 for the non-QB version of 2019 Offensive Player of the Year.
- Guard Zack Martin tied for the ninth best offensive lineman in the league, but No. 4 among guards.
- The Dallas offensive line was the eighth best unit in the league last year, though they garnered 0.0% of the votes.
- Kicker Brett Maher was conspicuously missing from the “Keep Choppin’ Wood Award” that’s awarded to the player who hurt his team the most.
- Elliott’s “Dak Dance” celebration was the staff’s fourth best touchdown celebration of the year.
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