Cowboys report: Notes, quotes
Aug. 16, 2006
The Sports Xchange
Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel · Inside slant
--Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said his switch to the two-tight end offense is about adjusting to today's game and taking things forward.
It's an innovation based on keeping up with the increased size of the defensive ends around the league, like Carolina's Julius Peppers. It's also a way to take advantage of the size and versatility of today's tight ends like Dallas' Jason Witten and San Diego's Antonio Gates.
The Cowboys will start rookie second-round draft choice Anthony Fasano opposite the two-time Pro Bowler Witten.
"It's not so much two tight ends," Parcells said. "It's that we like versatile players. We like players who are big enough to block perimeter people (in the running game). You can't get to the perimeter if you don't have guys set the corner for you.
"If you can't get stalemates with those guys, you are not making any yards on the perimeter. If you don't make yards to the perimeter, they are going to squeeze everything down from the outside in, then you are not making any yards."
In addition to improving the run game, the tight end is a tougher matchup than a third receiver in the passing game, Parcells said, because it forces defenses to stay in their base scheme and Witten is too much for most safeties and linebackers to cover.
--Parcells plans to do scouting swap in the near future to help facilitate a trade. Parcells will send a scout or two to another team and have that team send a scout to Cowboys camp to evaluate players for a possible trade.
The Cowboys are heavy at a couple of positions, like tight end, running back, defensive end and linebacker. They want to see if they could use that depth to fill needs at receiver and offensive tackle.
--LB Greg Ellis is no longer disgruntled. He's not yet comfortable but he does see the vision in the team's decision to move him from defensive end to linebacker.
It certainly looked like a solid move against the Seahawks, with Ellis recording a sack and a tackle on a receiver in coverage.
"I'm glad we got it out of the way," Ellis said. "I feel better about the position, but still realizing I've got a lot of things to learn."
Ellis said making plays helps his confidence. He was most pleased with the play on the sideline against receiver Bobby Engram.
"My main deal was just being able to tackle guys in the open field on solo tackles," Ellis said, "because I'm like, 'I'm by myself, I'm going to look bad if I miss him and it's going to hurt the team if I miss him.'
"That's one of the challenging things that you have to do at that position, is make open-field tackles."
--The Cowboys won their preseason opener for the first time since 2002. Parcells had been winless in three previous openers, in which the Cowboys had been outscored 44-11, including two shutouts.
--The Cowboys have been to Seattle four times in the last 21 months, for two preseason and two regular-season games. The Cowboys are 3-1 in those contests.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Well, I just wanted to get a good look at him. You (media) have been dying to see him." -- Bill Parcells on playing Tony Romo the entire game against Seattle.
The Sports Xchange
Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel · Inside slant
--Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said his switch to the two-tight end offense is about adjusting to today's game and taking things forward.
It's an innovation based on keeping up with the increased size of the defensive ends around the league, like Carolina's Julius Peppers. It's also a way to take advantage of the size and versatility of today's tight ends like Dallas' Jason Witten and San Diego's Antonio Gates.
The Cowboys will start rookie second-round draft choice Anthony Fasano opposite the two-time Pro Bowler Witten.
"It's not so much two tight ends," Parcells said. "It's that we like versatile players. We like players who are big enough to block perimeter people (in the running game). You can't get to the perimeter if you don't have guys set the corner for you.
"If you can't get stalemates with those guys, you are not making any yards on the perimeter. If you don't make yards to the perimeter, they are going to squeeze everything down from the outside in, then you are not making any yards."
In addition to improving the run game, the tight end is a tougher matchup than a third receiver in the passing game, Parcells said, because it forces defenses to stay in their base scheme and Witten is too much for most safeties and linebackers to cover.
--Parcells plans to do scouting swap in the near future to help facilitate a trade. Parcells will send a scout or two to another team and have that team send a scout to Cowboys camp to evaluate players for a possible trade.
The Cowboys are heavy at a couple of positions, like tight end, running back, defensive end and linebacker. They want to see if they could use that depth to fill needs at receiver and offensive tackle.
--LB Greg Ellis is no longer disgruntled. He's not yet comfortable but he does see the vision in the team's decision to move him from defensive end to linebacker.
It certainly looked like a solid move against the Seahawks, with Ellis recording a sack and a tackle on a receiver in coverage.
"I'm glad we got it out of the way," Ellis said. "I feel better about the position, but still realizing I've got a lot of things to learn."
Ellis said making plays helps his confidence. He was most pleased with the play on the sideline against receiver Bobby Engram.
"My main deal was just being able to tackle guys in the open field on solo tackles," Ellis said, "because I'm like, 'I'm by myself, I'm going to look bad if I miss him and it's going to hurt the team if I miss him.'
"That's one of the challenging things that you have to do at that position, is make open-field tackles."
--The Cowboys won their preseason opener for the first time since 2002. Parcells had been winless in three previous openers, in which the Cowboys had been outscored 44-11, including two shutouts.
--The Cowboys have been to Seattle four times in the last 21 months, for two preseason and two regular-season games. The Cowboys are 3-1 in those contests.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Well, I just wanted to get a good look at him. You (media) have been dying to see him." -- Bill Parcells on playing Tony Romo the entire game against Seattle.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:27 AM
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