IRVING, Texas - By signing arguably the best wide receiver in today's NFL, the Cowboys believe they've improved an already strong position.
IRVING, Texas - By signing arguably the best wide receiver in today's NFL, the Cowboys believe they've improved an already strong position.
If so, an even stronger year has become a distinct possibility.
The Cowboys have struggled to find a consistent identity at wide receiver since Michael Irvin retired in 2000. With the signing of Terrell Owens this past March, the receiving corps gained a flamboyant, gruff and dynamic go-to threat, something fans in Dallas have seen sparingly since No. 88 roamed the Texas Stadium turf.
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Owens will provide a lift for the Cowboys' potent offensive attack. The Cowboys essentially swapped 11th-year veteran Keyshawn Johnson, now with Carolina, for Owens, and most consider the upgrade a sizeable one.
While Johnson was a model of consistency for the Cowboys, often making circus catches and rarely putting a ball on the ground, he lacked Owens' hallmark explosiveness and playmaking ability.
The Cowboys also swapped the players' strong personalities. The coaching staff hopes head coach Bill Parcells' positive influence on Johnson also rubs off on the embattled Owens.
"I approach (Owens) with an open mind," Parcells said. "I've had players before that I've been warned about, 'Why did you do this? Why did you do that?' And some of them that I was warned about turned out to be some of the best guys. You try to be honest with them, and you try to be forthright with them. And you try to work with him to the point where you try to help them succeed."
Helping Owens this season will be incumbent wideout Terry Glenn, who played all 16 games last season for just the third time in his 10-year career. Glenn, who signed a $25 million contract extension in March, caught 62 passes for 1,136 yards in 2005, the second-highest total of his career. And his 18.3 yards-per-catch average, which led the NFL, attests to his dangerous ability to pull away from even the most accomplished defensive backs.
When Glenn exploded for 518 yards and three touchdowns in the first five games of the season, double teams and zone coverages slowly began shifting in his direction. Before long, stopping Terry Glenn was the number one priority.
Glenn surpassed the 100-yard mark only once in the Cowboys' final 11 games - as opposed to three 100-yard receiving efforts in his first five appearances - due in large part to the increased attention he was drawing.
Despite his consistency and brute strength, Johnson often was left in single coverage as a direct result of Glenn's meteoric rise. But without the speed to capitalize on such an advantage, the Cowboys often were left in an uncomfortable position.
Owens is sure to change all that.
Instead of double- and sometimes triple-teaming Glenn, defenses also must respect Owens' speed and explosiveness. The extra attention Owens is likely to garner from opposing defensive coordinators will result in more opportunities for Glenn, two-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten and the rest of the offense.
And as Terry Glenn proved in 2005, leaving him in one-on-one coverage can have explosive results.
"He gives us speed outside," said Parcells of Owens, who has gone over 1,000 yards receiving six times in his career. "He's certainly going to command attention. I think that will be good for Jason Witten and Terry Glenn as well. It's tough to cover them all.
"You can take one guy out of the game if you want to, I think. But it's tough to cover them all."
Third-year running back Julius Jones also stands to benefit from Owens' presence. Teams often stacked eight defenders in the box against the Cowboys in 2005, which frequently limited Jones' ability to establish a viable ground game. With Owens creating havoc on nearly every offensive series, the prospect of a 1,000-yard season for Jones has increased, provided he stays healthy.
While the top two receiver positions already will be cemented when the Cowboys begin training camp later this month, the rest of the receiving corps is a jumbled group, and every spot is seemingly up for grabs.
Patrick Crayton is back after the ankle injury he suffered in Week 6 slowed him considerably last year. Crayton returned to action after missing five weeks, but by his own admonition, he never found the groove of the offense upon his return.
Now that he has an off-season of work behind him and a horde of new receiver hopefuls to fight off, expect Crayton either to have a productive training camp or fall down the depth chart.
Among the new faces at wide receiver is fourth-round pick Skyler Green. Green's expertise on special teams will likely give him a leg up on the competition, as it's no secret head coach Bill Parcells favors players who can play more than just offense or defense. Green returned more punts for touchdowns than any player in LSU history, and he finished his career 11th in school history in total yardage.
Terrance Copper, Ahmad Merritt and Jamaica Rector also return, but only Copper has gotten regular-season playing time with the Cowboys. All three played offense and special teams in preseason last year, but only Copper earned a spot on the 53-man roster.
Much like Green, expect the winner of this group to show a decided proficiency on special teams.
Rounding out the field is J.R. Tolver, who spent the 2005 season on the Cowboys' practice squad, and undrafted rookie free agents Sam Hurd and Miles Austin. All three earned praise during both mini-camps, but barring an injury or an award-worthy performance, they're long shots to make the active roster.
There's little doubt that from Owens and Glenn, on down to Hurd and Austin, this season should be one of the most exciting and groundbreaking for Cowboys receivers in quite a while.
And following up on a solid 2005 campaign won't hurt either.
FITTING IN
Terrell Owens: If he can "fit in," the Cowboys might just have the most explosive offensive weapon in a decade.
Terry Glenn: Had one of the best seasons of his career last year and will only get more opportunities with T.O. on board.
Patrick Crayton: Never was the same after the ankle injury. But if he can return to the form of last season, that makes three playmaking receivers.
Terrance Copper: If it just came down to special teams, he would be cinch to make the team. But he did stand out at WR during the mini-camps.
Skyler Green: The Cowboys know he can help as a return specialist. They're hoping he can do some things at receiver, too.
Jamaica Rector: Other than T.O., might have had the best mini-camp among all the receivers. Needs to keep it up to stick around.
J.R. Tolver: Also had a good camp. But he's been around for two years. So time is definitely running out.
Ahmad Merritt: Would've made the team last year had it not been for an injury. His play on special teams could keep him around this year.
Miles Austin: Flashed some potential during the camps this summer. He has some work to do, but it's possible.
Sam Hurd: Ditto here. While the practice squad might be a logical destination, a strong training camp could change some things.
If so, an even stronger year has become a distinct possibility.
The Cowboys have struggled to find a consistent identity at wide receiver since Michael Irvin retired in 2000. With the signing of Terrell Owens this past March, the receiving corps gained a flamboyant, gruff and dynamic go-to threat, something fans in Dallas have seen sparingly since No. 88 roamed the Texas Stadium turf.
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Owens will provide a lift for the Cowboys' potent offensive attack. The Cowboys essentially swapped 11th-year veteran Keyshawn Johnson, now with Carolina, for Owens, and most consider the upgrade a sizeable one.
While Johnson was a model of consistency for the Cowboys, often making circus catches and rarely putting a ball on the ground, he lacked Owens' hallmark explosiveness and playmaking ability.
The Cowboys also swapped the players' strong personalities. The coaching staff hopes head coach Bill Parcells' positive influence on Johnson also rubs off on the embattled Owens.
"I approach (Owens) with an open mind," Parcells said. "I've had players before that I've been warned about, 'Why did you do this? Why did you do that?' And some of them that I was warned about turned out to be some of the best guys. You try to be honest with them, and you try to be forthright with them. And you try to work with him to the point where you try to help them succeed."
Helping Owens this season will be incumbent wideout Terry Glenn, who played all 16 games last season for just the third time in his 10-year career. Glenn, who signed a $25 million contract extension in March, caught 62 passes for 1,136 yards in 2005, the second-highest total of his career. And his 18.3 yards-per-catch average, which led the NFL, attests to his dangerous ability to pull away from even the most accomplished defensive backs.
When Glenn exploded for 518 yards and three touchdowns in the first five games of the season, double teams and zone coverages slowly began shifting in his direction. Before long, stopping Terry Glenn was the number one priority.
Glenn surpassed the 100-yard mark only once in the Cowboys' final 11 games - as opposed to three 100-yard receiving efforts in his first five appearances - due in large part to the increased attention he was drawing.
Despite his consistency and brute strength, Johnson often was left in single coverage as a direct result of Glenn's meteoric rise. But without the speed to capitalize on such an advantage, the Cowboys often were left in an uncomfortable position.
Owens is sure to change all that.
Instead of double- and sometimes triple-teaming Glenn, defenses also must respect Owens' speed and explosiveness. The extra attention Owens is likely to garner from opposing defensive coordinators will result in more opportunities for Glenn, two-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten and the rest of the offense.
And as Terry Glenn proved in 2005, leaving him in one-on-one coverage can have explosive results.
"He gives us speed outside," said Parcells of Owens, who has gone over 1,000 yards receiving six times in his career. "He's certainly going to command attention. I think that will be good for Jason Witten and Terry Glenn as well. It's tough to cover them all.
"You can take one guy out of the game if you want to, I think. But it's tough to cover them all."
Third-year running back Julius Jones also stands to benefit from Owens' presence. Teams often stacked eight defenders in the box against the Cowboys in 2005, which frequently limited Jones' ability to establish a viable ground game. With Owens creating havoc on nearly every offensive series, the prospect of a 1,000-yard season for Jones has increased, provided he stays healthy.
While the top two receiver positions already will be cemented when the Cowboys begin training camp later this month, the rest of the receiving corps is a jumbled group, and every spot is seemingly up for grabs.
Patrick Crayton is back after the ankle injury he suffered in Week 6 slowed him considerably last year. Crayton returned to action after missing five weeks, but by his own admonition, he never found the groove of the offense upon his return.
Now that he has an off-season of work behind him and a horde of new receiver hopefuls to fight off, expect Crayton either to have a productive training camp or fall down the depth chart.
Among the new faces at wide receiver is fourth-round pick Skyler Green. Green's expertise on special teams will likely give him a leg up on the competition, as it's no secret head coach Bill Parcells favors players who can play more than just offense or defense. Green returned more punts for touchdowns than any player in LSU history, and he finished his career 11th in school history in total yardage.
Terrance Copper, Ahmad Merritt and Jamaica Rector also return, but only Copper has gotten regular-season playing time with the Cowboys. All three played offense and special teams in preseason last year, but only Copper earned a spot on the 53-man roster.
Much like Green, expect the winner of this group to show a decided proficiency on special teams.
Rounding out the field is J.R. Tolver, who spent the 2005 season on the Cowboys' practice squad, and undrafted rookie free agents Sam Hurd and Miles Austin. All three earned praise during both mini-camps, but barring an injury or an award-worthy performance, they're long shots to make the active roster.
There's little doubt that from Owens and Glenn, on down to Hurd and Austin, this season should be one of the most exciting and groundbreaking for Cowboys receivers in quite a while.
And following up on a solid 2005 campaign won't hurt either.
FITTING IN
Terrell Owens: If he can "fit in," the Cowboys might just have the most explosive offensive weapon in a decade.
Terry Glenn: Had one of the best seasons of his career last year and will only get more opportunities with T.O. on board.
Patrick Crayton: Never was the same after the ankle injury. But if he can return to the form of last season, that makes three playmaking receivers.
Terrance Copper: If it just came down to special teams, he would be cinch to make the team. But he did stand out at WR during the mini-camps.
Skyler Green: The Cowboys know he can help as a return specialist. They're hoping he can do some things at receiver, too.
Jamaica Rector: Other than T.O., might have had the best mini-camp among all the receivers. Needs to keep it up to stick around.
J.R. Tolver: Also had a good camp. But he's been around for two years. So time is definitely running out.
Ahmad Merritt: Would've made the team last year had it not been for an injury. His play on special teams could keep him around this year.
Miles Austin: Flashed some potential during the camps this summer. He has some work to do, but it's possible.
Sam Hurd: Ditto here. While the practice squad might be a logical destination, a strong training camp could change some things.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:28 PM
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