Top 10 Questions Heading Into The 2006 Season
By DCFanatic
DCFU Staff
Offense...
1. Is this the year Julius Jones stays healthy?
Over the last two seasons Jones has done things to make you think he could be one of the best running backs in the NFL. Then he gets up from being tackled and you cringe waiting to see if he runs back to the huddle. Is he hurt? C'mon Julius, not again man. There is no one to blame for him missing 12 of his first 32 NFL games due to injury, but the fact that he has been spectacular at times makes it twice as frustrating. Let's keep our fingers crossed that JJ can avoid the injury bug in 2006.
2. Will the offensive line play improve with Kosier and Fabini in the starting lineup?
Poor Drew Bledsoe was sacked 25 times over the last five games of 2005. It's a wonder how the Cowboys even won two of those games. Jason Fabini is better than Rob Petitti. Coach Parcells said it himself, Fabini wouldn't let up 15 sacks if he is facing the wrong way when the ball was snapped. Kosier is younger and more athletic than Larry Allen, but that doesn't mean he's better. I can see Kosier being better at blocking on the move than Allen was so maybe that helps the running game somehow. Let's hope these two guys can team up with Adams, Johnson and Rivera to form a much improved offensive line in 2006.
3. Will Terrell Owens be happy in a Bill Parcells offense?
TO will not have 100 receptions in 2006. So how many will he have? Is that going to be enough to keep him happy and therefore keep his mouth closed. The Cowboys are going to try and win the time of possession battle in every game. This means there are going to be some times where the handoffs will just keep coming as long as the chains keep moving. Why throw it and risk a turnover if you can just keep making first downs running the football. Let's just hope the Cowboys take enough chances down the field to keep TO on good terms with Drew Bledsoe.
4. Hate to even mention it, but is there enough depth if someone goes down?
Petitti, Peterman, Gurode and Columbo should provide decent enough depth for the offensive line. Hannam and Pierce aren't All Pros, but they are solid backups. Crayton, Green and Copper have me a little worried. I know Terry Glenn played every game last year, but he's not the biggest guy in the world. TO is a phenomenal athlete, but even he has missed some games over his career with groin injuries. Romo and Henson? Please stay healthy Drew Bledsoe. Running back is fine with Marion Barber ready to step in if Julius goes down again. Let's hope the Cowboys are one of the lucky teams and no one is seriously injured in 2006.
Defense...
1. Who is the starting Free Safety for the Dallas Cowboys?
Keith Davis, Marcus Coleman or Pat Watkins? Flip a coin, then flip it again. One of these guys is going to win the job. Davis wasn't the worst Free Safety in the NFL last season, but he was far from the best. Coleman is a question mark and has to show the world that he still has something left in the tank. I am pretty sure the Cowboys will know at an early point in training camp if he still has what it takes. Watkins is a rookie. That right there tells me he probably won't win the job, but it doesn't mean he won't get more and more reps as the season progresses. Let's hope whomever wins the battle can do a good enough job to stop those long bombs from being completed.
2. Will the 3-4 continue it's progress and be able to dominate games in 2006?
Coach Parcells wants his defense to be able to attack an offense, hence the 3-4 system. There were some young players learning on the go last year yet the defense was adequate enough to keep games close enough to be able to win. Some times the defense was solid and attacking, but then we all saw a couple of meltdowns here and there. Let's hope the kinks are all worked out in training camp and the 3-4 is running smoothly by September.
3. Is Greg Ellis going to be a Cowboy this year?
Yes, No and Maybe are all solid guesses at this point in time. If he's accepting of his role as a situational player and does what the coaches ask of him then he will be a positive influence on the team. But if he's here and he's disgruntled and telling the media every week how unhappy he is in his role on the team then he will be a negative influence on the team. Let's hope Greg Ellis winds up helping the Dallas Cowboys win football games in 2006.
4. Can this young defense be a force down the stretch?
Bobby Carpenter may be in the starting lineup from day one. If he's on the field with Ware, Spears and Canty then that's four of your front seven who are very inexperienced. James is in his fourth year, but last year was his first full season as a starter. Then if Watkins gets some time at Free Safety that would give you some form of youth at all three levels of the defense. This is where veterans like Roy Williams, Terence Newman, Jason Ferguson, Akin
Ayodele, Anthony Henry and hopefully Greg Ellis step up and take control of the defense. Let's hope there is just the right amount of youthful energy and veteran leadership working in harmony on this defense in 2006.
Special Teams...
1. Did Mike Vanderjagt get over that horrible Field Goal attempt yet?
Kickers are a funny breed you know. They are not like other football players and sometimes they tend to over think things. Vanderjagt was one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL while he was a Colt. Now he's a Cowboy. That in itself has to be a little weird for the guy don't you think. He was a Colt his entire 8 year career and after one bad kick they decided to let him go without a fight. Let's just hope he has a chip on his shoulder and makes every one of his kicks in 2006.
2. Can we finally expect the return game to provide a spark for the Cowboys?
Come on down Skyler Green. Your the next punt/kick return guy for the Dallas Cowboys. I guess Crayton and Thompson were ok last season, but I know they didn't strike the fear of god into any opposing special teams coach. Green can do that, especially on punt returns. Coach Parcells drafted this guy specifically for that reason and we should be very happy that he did. Let's just hope he adjusts to the speed of the NFL real fast and takes at
least one return back for six.
DCFU Staff
Offense...
1. Is this the year Julius Jones stays healthy?
Over the last two seasons Jones has done things to make you think he could be one of the best running backs in the NFL. Then he gets up from being tackled and you cringe waiting to see if he runs back to the huddle. Is he hurt? C'mon Julius, not again man. There is no one to blame for him missing 12 of his first 32 NFL games due to injury, but the fact that he has been spectacular at times makes it twice as frustrating. Let's keep our fingers crossed that JJ can avoid the injury bug in 2006.
2. Will the offensive line play improve with Kosier and Fabini in the starting lineup?
Poor Drew Bledsoe was sacked 25 times over the last five games of 2005. It's a wonder how the Cowboys even won two of those games. Jason Fabini is better than Rob Petitti. Coach Parcells said it himself, Fabini wouldn't let up 15 sacks if he is facing the wrong way when the ball was snapped. Kosier is younger and more athletic than Larry Allen, but that doesn't mean he's better. I can see Kosier being better at blocking on the move than Allen was so maybe that helps the running game somehow. Let's hope these two guys can team up with Adams, Johnson and Rivera to form a much improved offensive line in 2006.
3. Will Terrell Owens be happy in a Bill Parcells offense?
TO will not have 100 receptions in 2006. So how many will he have? Is that going to be enough to keep him happy and therefore keep his mouth closed. The Cowboys are going to try and win the time of possession battle in every game. This means there are going to be some times where the handoffs will just keep coming as long as the chains keep moving. Why throw it and risk a turnover if you can just keep making first downs running the football. Let's just hope the Cowboys take enough chances down the field to keep TO on good terms with Drew Bledsoe.
4. Hate to even mention it, but is there enough depth if someone goes down?
Petitti, Peterman, Gurode and Columbo should provide decent enough depth for the offensive line. Hannam and Pierce aren't All Pros, but they are solid backups. Crayton, Green and Copper have me a little worried. I know Terry Glenn played every game last year, but he's not the biggest guy in the world. TO is a phenomenal athlete, but even he has missed some games over his career with groin injuries. Romo and Henson? Please stay healthy Drew Bledsoe. Running back is fine with Marion Barber ready to step in if Julius goes down again. Let's hope the Cowboys are one of the lucky teams and no one is seriously injured in 2006.
Defense...
1. Who is the starting Free Safety for the Dallas Cowboys?
Keith Davis, Marcus Coleman or Pat Watkins? Flip a coin, then flip it again. One of these guys is going to win the job. Davis wasn't the worst Free Safety in the NFL last season, but he was far from the best. Coleman is a question mark and has to show the world that he still has something left in the tank. I am pretty sure the Cowboys will know at an early point in training camp if he still has what it takes. Watkins is a rookie. That right there tells me he probably won't win the job, but it doesn't mean he won't get more and more reps as the season progresses. Let's hope whomever wins the battle can do a good enough job to stop those long bombs from being completed.
2. Will the 3-4 continue it's progress and be able to dominate games in 2006?
Coach Parcells wants his defense to be able to attack an offense, hence the 3-4 system. There were some young players learning on the go last year yet the defense was adequate enough to keep games close enough to be able to win. Some times the defense was solid and attacking, but then we all saw a couple of meltdowns here and there. Let's hope the kinks are all worked out in training camp and the 3-4 is running smoothly by September.
3. Is Greg Ellis going to be a Cowboy this year?
Yes, No and Maybe are all solid guesses at this point in time. If he's accepting of his role as a situational player and does what the coaches ask of him then he will be a positive influence on the team. But if he's here and he's disgruntled and telling the media every week how unhappy he is in his role on the team then he will be a negative influence on the team. Let's hope Greg Ellis winds up helping the Dallas Cowboys win football games in 2006.
4. Can this young defense be a force down the stretch?
Bobby Carpenter may be in the starting lineup from day one. If he's on the field with Ware, Spears and Canty then that's four of your front seven who are very inexperienced. James is in his fourth year, but last year was his first full season as a starter. Then if Watkins gets some time at Free Safety that would give you some form of youth at all three levels of the defense. This is where veterans like Roy Williams, Terence Newman, Jason Ferguson, Akin
Ayodele, Anthony Henry and hopefully Greg Ellis step up and take control of the defense. Let's hope there is just the right amount of youthful energy and veteran leadership working in harmony on this defense in 2006.
Special Teams...
1. Did Mike Vanderjagt get over that horrible Field Goal attempt yet?
Kickers are a funny breed you know. They are not like other football players and sometimes they tend to over think things. Vanderjagt was one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL while he was a Colt. Now he's a Cowboy. That in itself has to be a little weird for the guy don't you think. He was a Colt his entire 8 year career and after one bad kick they decided to let him go without a fight. Let's just hope he has a chip on his shoulder and makes every one of his kicks in 2006.
2. Can we finally expect the return game to provide a spark for the Cowboys?
Come on down Skyler Green. Your the next punt/kick return guy for the Dallas Cowboys. I guess Crayton and Thompson were ok last season, but I know they didn't strike the fear of god into any opposing special teams coach. Green can do that, especially on punt returns. Coach Parcells drafted this guy specifically for that reason and we should be very happy that he did. Let's just hope he adjusts to the speed of the NFL real fast and takes at
least one return back for six.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:59 AM
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