'D' could stand tall for Dallas in 2006
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
Keith Davis (29) has three interceptions so far in camp and cornerback Terence Newman (right) is a cornerstone in the secondary.
OXNARD, Calif. – It's a yearly saying at training camps across the country: The defense is ahead of the offense. It's the same as in baseball when hitters are ahead of pitchers in spring training.
But for the better part of a week now, the Cowboys' defense has been way ahead of the offense, so much that the thoughts have turned to just how good this defense could be in 2006.
After a goal-line play was shut down by the defense Thursday, passing game coordinator Todd Haley was flummoxed.
"We can't beat you 4-1," Haley yelled across the field.
Four-one is No. 41, cornerback Terence Newman, who shut down the primary option that led to nose tackle Jason Ferguson knocking down Drew Bledsoe's check-down pass.
Ask the defenders how good they can be, and they all have the same answer: We'll see.
Bill Parcells has concerns, as every head coach does. He worries about the backup nose tackle, Marcus Spears losing practice time recovering from knee surgery, safety Justin Beriault missing time with a concussion and probably even more minutiae the coach hasn't spoken about publicly.
If the defense is healthy – and that's one of his concerns, too – then Parcells believes the unit could be the best defense he has had in Dallas. Better than even the group that finished 2003 as the top-ranked defense in the NFL when the Cowboys made the playoffs.
"That's just numbers," Parcells said. "That doesn't mean anything. You've got to create, too, these days on defense. You've to create. You've got to score. We didn't create turnovers."
Much of the belief in a defensive improvement comes from being in the 3-4 scheme a second year, even for coordinator Mike Zimmer, who had to learn the defense for the first time in his career.
"I don't know if I ever got it, but I feel like I don't see things in a 4-3 mode anymore," Zimmer said. "There were times last year we'd put stuff in and I'd see it in a 4-3 and convert it to a 3-4."
The on-field communication between players has improved, because the knowledge base has grown. Last summer's practices were quiet compared with the buzz created from the pointing and screaming going on in this camp.
"There's a confidence in what we're doing," cornerback Aaron Glenn said.
There's also ability.
In the last two seasons, the Cowboys have rebuilt the defense via the draft (DeMarcus Ware, Spears, Chris Canty, Jay Ratliff, Bobby Carpenter, Jason Hatcher) and free agency (Ferguson, Anthony Henry, Glenn, Akin Ayodele).
The poster child for the improvement appears to be Ware, who finished his rookie season tied for the team lead with eight sacks. Last season, Ware made the move from college pass rusher to outside linebacker and found himself thinking instead of reacting.
This year, the Cowboys hope some of the 19 quarterback hurries he had last year turn into sacks. Ware has added muscle to his 6-4 frame while appearing to keep his explosiveness.
"He's ready to rock," Parcells said.
Ware's ability to create pressure helps the cornerbacks cover, and the corners' ability to cover helps the pass rushers. At one practice, Bledsoe was sacked on three of four plays, because of either the coverage or the speed of the pass rush.
Newman did not allow a touchdown pass last season, according to Parcells, and Henry was having a Pro Bowl-type season before an abdominal injury slowed him down in the second half. Glenn gives the Cowboys an option as the third corner, and Jacques Reeves has been among the most improved players, according to Parcells.
At safety, Roy Williams just signed a five-year deal worth $25.2 million, and Keith Davis has three interceptions in camp. Rookie Pat Watkins has opened eyes, and Marcus Coleman also could push Davis for the free safety job.
"We've got guys who can pressure, and we've got guys who can cover," Zimmer said.
It's a pretty good combination, but it's only July. The real tests come when the games start, and the players seem to know it.
"It's up to us to put it all together," James said. "We don't want to be average."
Keith Davis (29) has three interceptions so far in camp and cornerback Terence Newman (right) is a cornerstone in the secondary.
OXNARD, Calif. – It's a yearly saying at training camps across the country: The defense is ahead of the offense. It's the same as in baseball when hitters are ahead of pitchers in spring training.
But for the better part of a week now, the Cowboys' defense has been way ahead of the offense, so much that the thoughts have turned to just how good this defense could be in 2006.
After a goal-line play was shut down by the defense Thursday, passing game coordinator Todd Haley was flummoxed.
"We can't beat you 4-1," Haley yelled across the field.
Four-one is No. 41, cornerback Terence Newman, who shut down the primary option that led to nose tackle Jason Ferguson knocking down Drew Bledsoe's check-down pass.
Ask the defenders how good they can be, and they all have the same answer: We'll see.
Bill Parcells has concerns, as every head coach does. He worries about the backup nose tackle, Marcus Spears losing practice time recovering from knee surgery, safety Justin Beriault missing time with a concussion and probably even more minutiae the coach hasn't spoken about publicly.
If the defense is healthy – and that's one of his concerns, too – then Parcells believes the unit could be the best defense he has had in Dallas. Better than even the group that finished 2003 as the top-ranked defense in the NFL when the Cowboys made the playoffs.
"That's just numbers," Parcells said. "That doesn't mean anything. You've got to create, too, these days on defense. You've to create. You've got to score. We didn't create turnovers."
Much of the belief in a defensive improvement comes from being in the 3-4 scheme a second year, even for coordinator Mike Zimmer, who had to learn the defense for the first time in his career.
"I don't know if I ever got it, but I feel like I don't see things in a 4-3 mode anymore," Zimmer said. "There were times last year we'd put stuff in and I'd see it in a 4-3 and convert it to a 3-4."
The on-field communication between players has improved, because the knowledge base has grown. Last summer's practices were quiet compared with the buzz created from the pointing and screaming going on in this camp.
"There's a confidence in what we're doing," cornerback Aaron Glenn said.
There's also ability.
In the last two seasons, the Cowboys have rebuilt the defense via the draft (DeMarcus Ware, Spears, Chris Canty, Jay Ratliff, Bobby Carpenter, Jason Hatcher) and free agency (Ferguson, Anthony Henry, Glenn, Akin Ayodele).
The poster child for the improvement appears to be Ware, who finished his rookie season tied for the team lead with eight sacks. Last season, Ware made the move from college pass rusher to outside linebacker and found himself thinking instead of reacting.
This year, the Cowboys hope some of the 19 quarterback hurries he had last year turn into sacks. Ware has added muscle to his 6-4 frame while appearing to keep his explosiveness.
"He's ready to rock," Parcells said.
Ware's ability to create pressure helps the cornerbacks cover, and the corners' ability to cover helps the pass rushers. At one practice, Bledsoe was sacked on three of four plays, because of either the coverage or the speed of the pass rush.
Newman did not allow a touchdown pass last season, according to Parcells, and Henry was having a Pro Bowl-type season before an abdominal injury slowed him down in the second half. Glenn gives the Cowboys an option as the third corner, and Jacques Reeves has been among the most improved players, according to Parcells.
At safety, Roy Williams just signed a five-year deal worth $25.2 million, and Keith Davis has three interceptions in camp. Rookie Pat Watkins has opened eyes, and Marcus Coleman also could push Davis for the free safety job.
"We've got guys who can pressure, and we've got guys who can cover," Zimmer said.
It's a pretty good combination, but it's only July. The real tests come when the games start, and the players seem to know it.
"It's up to us to put it all together," James said. "We don't want to be average."
posted by The Gryphon at 11:14 AM
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