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Cowboys roster rank: Tony Romo at the top spot
By Todd Archer
IRVING, Texas -- Today marks the end of the ranking of the Dallas Cowboys' roster with their most important pieces.
This ranking is not only about the best player; importance to the roster is also a major part of it. I do not have mysterious formulas to go along with some alphabet soup abbreviations like the analytic types but I don't know how Tony Romo can't be No. 1.
If the Cowboys lose him for a number of games or the season, then their hopes take a gigantic hit. I don't know if he can play better than he did last season, when he threw 34 touchdown passes, was intercepted nine times and completed nearly 70 percent of his passes. Maybe he could avoid a game like the season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers (three interceptions) but he was at his best late last season.
Is he their best player? Personnel types would go with Tyron Smith and/or Dez Bryant, but I don't think there is any question Romo is the Cowboys' most important player. Take him out of the equation and the Cowboys just aren't the same. As much as the Cowboys took pressure off Romo last year with such an effective running game, he was their most valuable player and made the key plays down the stretch.
Spots 10-1:
1 -- Tony Romo
2 -- Dez Bryant
3 -- Tyron Smith
4 -- Jason Witten
5 -- Orlando Scandrick
6 -- Tyrone Crawford
7 -- Zack Martin
8 -- Travis Frederick
9 -- Sean Lee
10 -- Greg Hardy
Analysis: Hardy will miss the first four games, so the Cowboys will only have to know what life is like without him for a month. Heck, they don't know what life is like with him, but they signed him because he was the best pass rusher in free agency. They need him to make an impact. They also need Lee to return to the form he had in 2013 and overcome his second torn anterior cruciate ligament. The Cowboys unfortunately know what life is like without Lee, but desperately want to see what it is like with him and a solid supporting cast. Three of the top 10 spots go to offensive linemen, which tells you how the Cowboys have built their team. Even though he has only three career sacks, Crawford might be too low. The Cowboys would have to go to a committee to replace him as the under tackle if he gets hurt. He will be one of the biggest keys to success for the defense, as will Scandrick. You want more interceptions from him, but he can play all over the field and has a toughness to him that can permeate a defense. Witten is at No. 4 because the Cowboys would need three players to do what he can do. We have seen Romo operate at different times without an ace receiver and still thrive. A big part of that reason is Witten. He does so much for the offense that we don't know about, like helping with protection calls. Bryant and Smith are two of the best in the league at their positions. Just having Bryant on the outside should help the Cowboys' running game. Having Smith protect the blindside certainly makes Romo feel comfortable. At spots 1-10, the Cowboys should be considered one of the most talented teams in the NFL.
By Todd Archer
IRVING, Texas -- Today marks the end of the ranking of the Dallas Cowboys' roster with their most important pieces.
This ranking is not only about the best player; importance to the roster is also a major part of it. I do not have mysterious formulas to go along with some alphabet soup abbreviations like the analytic types but I don't know how Tony Romo can't be No. 1.
If the Cowboys lose him for a number of games or the season, then their hopes take a gigantic hit. I don't know if he can play better than he did last season, when he threw 34 touchdown passes, was intercepted nine times and completed nearly 70 percent of his passes. Maybe he could avoid a game like the season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers (three interceptions) but he was at his best late last season.
Is he their best player? Personnel types would go with Tyron Smith and/or Dez Bryant, but I don't think there is any question Romo is the Cowboys' most important player. Take him out of the equation and the Cowboys just aren't the same. As much as the Cowboys took pressure off Romo last year with such an effective running game, he was their most valuable player and made the key plays down the stretch.
Spots 10-1:
1 -- Tony Romo
2 -- Dez Bryant
3 -- Tyron Smith
4 -- Jason Witten
5 -- Orlando Scandrick
6 -- Tyrone Crawford
7 -- Zack Martin
8 -- Travis Frederick
9 -- Sean Lee
10 -- Greg Hardy
Analysis: Hardy will miss the first four games, so the Cowboys will only have to know what life is like without him for a month. Heck, they don't know what life is like with him, but they signed him because he was the best pass rusher in free agency. They need him to make an impact. They also need Lee to return to the form he had in 2013 and overcome his second torn anterior cruciate ligament. The Cowboys unfortunately know what life is like without Lee, but desperately want to see what it is like with him and a solid supporting cast. Three of the top 10 spots go to offensive linemen, which tells you how the Cowboys have built their team. Even though he has only three career sacks, Crawford might be too low. The Cowboys would have to go to a committee to replace him as the under tackle if he gets hurt. He will be one of the biggest keys to success for the defense, as will Scandrick. You want more interceptions from him, but he can play all over the field and has a toughness to him that can permeate a defense. Witten is at No. 4 because the Cowboys would need three players to do what he can do. We have seen Romo operate at different times without an ace receiver and still thrive. A big part of that reason is Witten. He does so much for the offense that we don't know about, like helping with protection calls. Bryant and Smith are two of the best in the league at their positions. Just having Bryant on the outside should help the Cowboys' running game. Having Smith protect the blindside certainly makes Romo feel comfortable. At spots 1-10, the Cowboys should be considered one of the most talented teams in the NFL.