USA Today Team Report
Inside Slant
The Cowboys' offensive outlook entering training camp:
The Cowboys not only changed players on offense but they have essentially changed offensive schemes.
Coach Bill Parcells announced as much during the draft when the team selected tight end Anthony Fasano in the second round.
Parcells said the Cowboys were going to shift primarily to the two-tight end, one-back offensive set. Fasano is expected to start at tight end opposite Pro Bowler Jason Witten. Also figuring into the mix will be free agent signing Ryan Hannam, who can play H-back and fullback.
The move also means the fullback position has all but been eliminated from offense. Lousaka Polite is practicing at tight end and tailback in hopes of retaining his spot on the roster.
The offensive changes don't end and begin there — not with receiver Terrell Owens signing a five-year, $25 million deal to come over from Philadelphia.
Owens replaces the released Keyshawn Johnson and gets a chance to revive his career under the tutelage of Parcells. What's certain is he is the best receiver the team has had since the days of Michael Irvin. He should open things up in the running game for Julius Jones, give quarterback Drew Bledsoe a go-to receiver and also allow Witten and receiver Terry Glenn to face single coverage.
Another move that should lead to more wins and more scoring was the signing of veteran kicker Mike Vanderjadt.
He is the most accurate kicker in NFL history and a must have for a Cowboys team that lost at least three games last season because of poor kicking. Vanderjadt replaces the blundering threesome of Billy Cundiff, Shaun Suisham and Jose Cortez.
The other offseason moves that are critical to the Cowboys' success are the return of left tackle Flozell Adams from a knee injury and the signings of guard Kyle Kosier and right tackle Jason Fabini. The Cowboys' entire season changed when Adams went down with an injury. He is the key protecting quarterback Drew Bledsoe's blind side. Fabini, although a declining player, is a huge upgrade from Rob Petitti right tackle.
Kosier gives the Cowboys more athletic ability at left guard than the departed Larry Allen.
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Cowboys have 88 players on their roster and will need to make three cuts before the start of training camp in July.
—Cowboys chief college scout Tom Ciskowski interviewed for the vice president of player personnel position with Rams but did not get the job. The Rams chose Tony Softli for the position.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I do think when you realize the game is important, let's just say the perspective of the game is slightly different, and sometimes that does make it a more valuable thing to you. That maybe I haven't accomplished what I want to accomplish in this game. He has some work to do. He has worked very hard, but he has some work to do. I think we're a little better off with the tackle spot. I can't prove that to you, I'm just guessing at it. But we do need him to play well." — Bill Parcells on Flozell Adams' return from injury.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
—WR Tom Crowder was released. Crowder spent the spring with the Frankfurt Galaxy before his season was cut short with a broken jaw. He was on the Cowboys practice squad for the past two NFL seasons. His NFL Europe exemption has been placed on nose tackle Samuel Taulealea, who was signed June 2, 2006. Taulealea recorded eight tackles with the Berlin Thunder this spring.
The Cowboys' offensive outlook entering training camp:
The Cowboys not only changed players on offense but they have essentially changed offensive schemes.
Coach Bill Parcells announced as much during the draft when the team selected tight end Anthony Fasano in the second round.
Parcells said the Cowboys were going to shift primarily to the two-tight end, one-back offensive set. Fasano is expected to start at tight end opposite Pro Bowler Jason Witten. Also figuring into the mix will be free agent signing Ryan Hannam, who can play H-back and fullback.
The move also means the fullback position has all but been eliminated from offense. Lousaka Polite is practicing at tight end and tailback in hopes of retaining his spot on the roster.
The offensive changes don't end and begin there — not with receiver Terrell Owens signing a five-year, $25 million deal to come over from Philadelphia.
Owens replaces the released Keyshawn Johnson and gets a chance to revive his career under the tutelage of Parcells. What's certain is he is the best receiver the team has had since the days of Michael Irvin. He should open things up in the running game for Julius Jones, give quarterback Drew Bledsoe a go-to receiver and also allow Witten and receiver Terry Glenn to face single coverage.
Another move that should lead to more wins and more scoring was the signing of veteran kicker Mike Vanderjadt.
He is the most accurate kicker in NFL history and a must have for a Cowboys team that lost at least three games last season because of poor kicking. Vanderjadt replaces the blundering threesome of Billy Cundiff, Shaun Suisham and Jose Cortez.
The other offseason moves that are critical to the Cowboys' success are the return of left tackle Flozell Adams from a knee injury and the signings of guard Kyle Kosier and right tackle Jason Fabini. The Cowboys' entire season changed when Adams went down with an injury. He is the key protecting quarterback Drew Bledsoe's blind side. Fabini, although a declining player, is a huge upgrade from Rob Petitti right tackle.
Kosier gives the Cowboys more athletic ability at left guard than the departed Larry Allen.
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Cowboys have 88 players on their roster and will need to make three cuts before the start of training camp in July.
—Cowboys chief college scout Tom Ciskowski interviewed for the vice president of player personnel position with Rams but did not get the job. The Rams chose Tony Softli for the position.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I do think when you realize the game is important, let's just say the perspective of the game is slightly different, and sometimes that does make it a more valuable thing to you. That maybe I haven't accomplished what I want to accomplish in this game. He has some work to do. He has worked very hard, but he has some work to do. I think we're a little better off with the tackle spot. I can't prove that to you, I'm just guessing at it. But we do need him to play well." — Bill Parcells on Flozell Adams' return from injury.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
—WR Tom Crowder was released. Crowder spent the spring with the Frankfurt Galaxy before his season was cut short with a broken jaw. He was on the Cowboys practice squad for the past two NFL seasons. His NFL Europe exemption has been placed on nose tackle Samuel Taulealea, who was signed June 2, 2006. Taulealea recorded eight tackles with the Berlin Thunder this spring.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:12 AM
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