Offseason
For all of the accolades that the Dallas Cowboys scouting department had received through out the years, the team had never kept more than nine draft choices and the average number was keeping six. The 1975 draft is considered to be one of the best in league history because 12 picks made the roster, hence the nickname "The Dirty Dozen". This rookie class, didn't even include linebacker Mike Hegman, who was drafted that year but did not enter the NFL until 1976. Neither was included rookie undrafted free agent quarterback Jim Zorn who made the team, but was later cut to make room for running back Preston Pearson, who had been waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The infusion of new talent not only provided an immediate rebuilding process, but also changed the course of the team in a significant way. This group helped the team reached Super Bowl X that season, and moving forward would play a key role in the Cowboys being given the name "America's Team".
The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; however, the Cowboys have their own records and according to their stats, Roger Staubach got sacked a league high 45 times the previous season and 43 the year before that, to revert this trend Tom Landry revived the Shotgun formation which he called "the spread", providing the NFL with another long lasting innovation.
Read more about this topic: 1975 Dallas Cowboys Season