If Sporting News' prediction of the Cowboys winning Super Bowl 54 comes true, you can bet the promotion of Kellen Moore to offensive coordinator in Dallas will have had much to do with it.
When it comes to coordinator of the year candidates in 2019, the Cowboys' 30-year-old elevated quarterbacks coach belongs at the top of the list among new play-callers.
After their scoring offense failed to reach its potential under Scott Linehan, the Cowboys needed to make a change. Dallas finished No. 17 and No. 22 in points scored over the last two seasons, respectively. In 2019, the team should be closer to a top-five unit. That's what it was in 2014 and 2016, seasons in which the Cowboys went a combined 25-7.
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During the Tony Romo era, the Cowboys hit their peak offensively in 2007 with Julius Jones, Marion Barber, Hall of Famer Terrell Owens and future Hall of Famer Jason Witten. That was the first year in which now head coach Jason Garrett served as offensive coordinator.
Now Moore is charged with getting Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and, yes, Witten to that level of scoring prowess. When one factors in Michael Gallup (when healthy), Randall Cobb, Tavon Austin and rookie running back Tony Pollard, the Cowboys have a complete cadre that allows them a myriad of playbook options.
Moore is not blowing up what Linehan did; nor should he. Dallas gives itself a high floor of production simply by handing off to Elliott behind an elite offensive line. At the same time, Moore, who like Garrett is a former Cowboys backup QB, is more of an extension of the head coach in his play-calling.
A signature of Garrett's best work was getting many players involved to diversify the offense. The Cowboys in those years were more versatile and multiple, therefore making them more unpredictable compared to what they were under Linehan.
Another element of that offensive success in Dallas was explosiveness. Owens got it started as a game-breaker for Romo, and then Miles Austin and Dez Bryant carried the torch.
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Both of those characteristics should show up for the 2019 Cowboys.
Elliott is the bread and butter of the backfield, but there is room for exotic spreads. Pollard will change the pace a la Lance Dunbar, and Tavon Austin will change the direction with his backfield touches.
Prescott also will get more chances to throw deep downfield to Cooper and Gallup. Cobb and Witten will be better positioned to use their savvy in the middle of the field.
Linehan tended to get complacent and restrain the volume of personnel. That will be corrected with Moore.
The Cowboys needed a jolt of aggressiveness without straying too far from their ball-control ways. They needed to evolve to get to the explosive level of the NFC's three best teams over the past two years — the Rams, Saints and Eagles.
Thanks to Moore, Dallas will build on the areas in which they already excel while tapping into greater possibilities with their players. The result will be the Cowboys bridging the gap from good to great.
