The Dallas Cowboys would seem to have all the pieces in place

The Cowboys  went 11-5 last season and finally won a playoff game, their first since 1996. They were 9-7 ATS and 10-6 to the 'under,' but with additional offensive firepower Dallas should improve on their 22.6 points per game average.

The Cowboys will need to if they hope to keep pace with the likes of the high scoring Saints and Vikings. Both of those teams averaged at least seven points per game more than the Cowboys did in '09.

The 'Boys were one of the better-balanced offensive teams in the NFL. They were second in total yards (399.4), sixth in passing (267.9) and seventh in rushing (131.4). Tony Romo was third in the league in passing yards (4,483), and had 27 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. While he had has best statistical season, there are more than just a few Cowboys fans who still don't view him as one of the elite QB's in the game.

Miles Austin became the big-play weapon in the Cowboys football jerseys arsenal with 81 receptions, 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's also replaced Romo as the team's most publicized player thanks to his relationship with reality television star Kim Kardashian.

Roy Williams, who had 38 catches and seven touchdowns, along with Patrick Crayton who had 37 grabs give Dallas solid options. However Crayton could be traded to open up a spot for rookie Dez Bryant from Oklahoma State. Bryant's got game but he's also got character issues (think Moss and Owens).

Still, owner Jerry Jones loves the guy and what Jerry wants, he gets.

Dallas has the best TE in the game in Jason Witten. The former DeMarcus Ware Tennessee standout had 94 receptions last season for 1,030 yards and two touchdowns.

Marion Barber led the rushing attack with 932 yards and seven touchdowns. Felix Jones had a glossy 5.9 yards per carry while Tashard Choice averaged 5.1 per carry. All three backs are excellent receivers as well and combined for 60 receptions.

It's not just the academics - about a year ago, he spent 30 days in jail for a DUI. So, this is one of those guys where there is some off-field stuff as well. Teams will want to do their due diligence to make sure they're not taking too much of a chance. But he is a talented player - measures in at just a shade under 6-foot-2, 318 pounds at the recent private workout he had for clubs. 18 teams were present at the workout, and several sent their directors of player personnel. He has the size to hold up inside, but he doesn't have great strength - he only had 21 reps at the 225-pound bench press at his private workout, and that would have been the worst of any defensive tackle over 295 pounds that was invited to this year's scouting combine.

    But you see some athletic ability and some "want-to" on the field. He's a productive player - not a superstar, but a guy who makes you think he's coming around to being something special. He's moving up on a lot of charts, because he's an established player in the Big 10, and a lot of teams are starting to warm up to him. He's probably the safest of the four players.

I asked Rob about the tradeoff between strength and speed - if he doesn't have the upper-body strength to hang in as a true nose tackle, and lacks the explosiveness to be a legitimate three-tech, does that make him a one-tech specialist?

    That's the concern I have for him. He's not a natural pass-rusher and he doesn't have the lateral quickness to make it as a three-technique tackle. I see him in a 4-3, but not as a true nose tackle. He's a one-gap player; he just doesn't have the strength to be a two-gap guy at this point. He can contribute even as a rookie as a rotational player, but I don't know if he'll ever be a standout.