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Over the next few weeks, “Shutdown Corner” will pay homage to “Office Space” (TPS reports) as we take a quick look back at each team’s 2012 season and a look at what lies ahead for the 2013 offseason. We now head to the NFC and begin in the NFC East and the Dallas Cowboys. 2012 record : 8-8 What went wrong : After a 3-5 start to the season, the Cowboys won five of six games and were on the cusp of making the playoffs before suffering back-to-back losses to the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins that dashed their playoff hopes. Dallas’ running game was a problem as No. 1 running back DeMarco Murray missed six games in the middle of the season due to a foot injury. The Cowboys had 50 yards or less on the ground in seven of their 16 games and averaged 79.1 rushing yards per game, which ranked 31st in the NFL last season. The Cowboys offense was 20th in the red zone and 27th in goal-to-go situations, resulting in them tying for the league lead in field goals. The Cowboys lost inside linebacker Sean Lee, the heart and soul of the unit, to a toe injury midway through the season and ranked 19th in total defense and were 23rd according to Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted defensive DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) metric. For a team that spent big money on Brandon Carr (five-year, $50.1 million) and moved up in the first round to select LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, the Cowboys recorded just seven interceptions on the season. Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware had a team-high 11.5 sacks and was named to his seventh Pro Bowl, but the usually dominant pass-rusher was slowed late in the season by a shoulder injury that required surgery after the season. What went right : Perhaps the best aspect of the Cowboys’ 2012 season was the development of Dez Bryant into a legitimate No. 1 receiver. Dogged by questions about his maturity continued into training camp as owner Jerry Jones created a set of rules for the 2010 first-round pick to follow in order to remain a Cowboy. Bryant may always push the envelope with his decision-making away from the field, but 2012 was his statement season between the white lines. Bryant caught 92 passes and led the Cowboys with 1,382 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns, scoring 10 of his touchdowns during a seven-game stretch in the second half of the season. Tight end Jason Witten set an NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end (110) and went over 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his career. Witten was named to his eighth Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro. Aiding the great seasons by Bryant and Witten was quarterback Tony Romo, who completed 65.6 percent of 648 pass attempts for 4,903 yards with 28 touchdowns, though “Bad Romo” did toss 19 interceptions. Romo ranked sixth in Football Outsiders’ DYAR metric. Coaching/front office changes : The Cowboys made several coaching changes this offseason. The most notable move was to part ways with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and hiring the legendary Monte Kiffin to run the defense. Joining Kiffin is Rod Marinelli, one of the best defensive line coaches in the business, who will aide in the Cowboys’ transition to a 4-3 defense. Head coach Jason Garrett replaced special teams coach Joe DeCamillis with Rich Bisaccia. Estimated 2013 cap space : $20.19 million over their adjusted cap number

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‘Shutdown Corner’ offseason TPS report: Dallas Cowboys (Shutdown Corner)

Over the next few weeks, “Shutdown Corner” will pay homage to “Office Space” (TPS reports) as we take a quick look back at each team’s 2012 season and a look at what lies ahead for the 2013 offseason. We now head to the NFC and begin in the NFC East and the Philadelphia Eagles. 2012 record : 4-12 What went wrong : The Eagles opened the 2012 season by winning three of their first four games – by four points combined – before losing 11 of their next 12 games, going the entire months of October and November without wins to finish 4-12 and missing out on the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Andy Reid was clearly on his way out, quarterback Michael Vick accounted for more turnovers (15) than touchdowns (13) and concussed then benched for rookie Nick Foles, who Reid had hoped to hitch his wagon to get another year in Philly. Running back LeSean McCoy signed a big-money extension, but missed a month with a concussion and was kept out of the end zone for the final two months of the season. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson was also signed to a large extension and a so-so season – Jackson ranked 70th among NFL wide receivers in Football Outsiders’ receiving DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) metric – before landing on injured reserve in November with fractured ribs. Injuries also decimated an Eagles offensive line that would play the entire season without Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters (two torn Achilles), most of the season without center Jason Kelce (torn ACL) in Week 2) and lose right tackle Todd Herremans to a foot injury midway through the season. Despite the injuries and inconsistency at the skill positions, the Eagles ranked 15th in total offense, but struggled in the red zone, ranking 28th in red zone efficiency and were dead last in goal-to-go percentage, leading to an effort that produced just 17.5 points per game, which ranked 29th, one spot behind the New York Jets’ juggernaut offense. Philadelphia’s defense also ranked in the middle of the pack (15th), but when you adjust for opponent, which Football Outsiders does, the Eagles ranked 26th in defensive DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). That’s what happens when you move a solid offensive line coach (Juan Castillo) to the defensive side of the ball. According to FO, the Eagles were 32nd against the pass, which speaks more to the touchdowns (33) than yards per game (216.9) that unit allowed. What went right : Very little went right for the Eagles, but there were a few bright spots. For starters, third-round quarterback Nick Foles did not look out of place when he took over for Michael Vick late in the season. In seven games, Foles completed over 60 percent of his pass attempts for 1,699 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions (three of which came in his first two games) for a 79.1 passer rating. At the very least, the Eagles have a quality backup who could be a valuable commodity on future trade markets. The Eagles’ 2012 draft also produced seventh-round running back Bryce Brown, who ran for 367 yards and four touchdowns in his first two starts for a concussed LeSean McCoy. The 6-foot, 223-pound Brown will be a very good complementary piece to McCoy moving forward. Defensively, first-round defensive lineman Fletcher Cox tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks, picking up at least one sack in four of the final six games. Second-round linebacker Mychal Kendricks was third on the team in tackles (75) and passes defensed (10) and should be a natural fit in a 3-4 defense. Coaching/front office changes : Andy Reid was fired after the Eagles missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year, posting a 4-12 record, the franchise’s worst mark since a 3-13 effort under Ray Rhodes in 1998, the year before Reid was hired. After initially turning down the Eagles, Oregon head coach Chip Kelly changed his mind and signed a five-year contract worth a reported $32.5 million . Kelly continued the Philadelphia-Cleveland pipeline, hiring former Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur to be his offensive coordinator and former Browns linebackers coach Bill Davis is the defensive coordinator, which indicates that the Eagles will be moving to a 3-4 defense. The Eagles beefed up their front office by naming Tom Gamble their vice president of player personnel. Estimated 2013 cap space : $24.672 million

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‘Shutdown Corner’ offseason TPS report: Philadelphia Eagles (Shutdown Corner)