DMN JJT: Defense can be something special (Q&A)
04:57 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Coach Bill Parcells was disappointed after the Cowboys' preseason win over New Orleans because his defense didn't play enough.
That's a new one even for Parcells. He's mad because his defense is too good.
While it has only played a handful of series in a couple of meaningless preseason games, the Cowboys' defense has a special feel to it.
It practices with a swagger, talking trash to the offense with regularity. Roy Williams and Terence Newman and others have teed off on their teammates at times in practice, drawing Parcells' ire.
The reality, though, is the defense is filled with alpha males who feel the need to exert their dominance from time to time, especially when they haven't had much opportunity to hit opponents wearing different colored jerseys.
This defense has speed and size. It has a quality defensive coordinator and several quality assistant coaches.
It has a unit with pedigree – four No.1 picks will be starting in September and linebacker Bobby Carpenter will probably make it five before the end of the season – and owner Jerry Jones has spent big money to fill in any holes.
The Cowboys will win games with defense this season. They have experience and camaraderie. They have been forged by disappointments and unfulfilled expectations the past three seasons and now they're ready to take it out on someone else.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: I think Terrell Owens is playing a mind game with everyone. He has shown nothing since his contract signing. Your thoughts?
Shorty Pettit, Minot N.D.
TAYLOR: I'm not sure what you expected to see two weeks into training camp. The problem here is that T.O. has such a bad reputation that no one gives him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his strained hamstring. The key is that he's ready for the regular season. If he has to miss some time right now, it's aggravating, but it's not really that big of a deal. He will have had three days off by the time the Cowboys practice Wednesday, which means he should be good to go against San Francisco on Saturday.
• • •
Q: I have always wondered, is it possible Parcells has been negative about Henson and higher on Romo since day one because Ron Wolf, arguably one of the best quarterback scouts of all time, is a friend of Parcells' and told the coach he preferred Romo to Henson?
Elenita Ravicz, San Antonio
TAYLOR: I don't know why everyone has a conspiracy theory regarding Drew Henson and Parcells. The Cowboys have needed a quarterback since Troy Aikman left, and I don't really think he cared whether it was Henson or Romo. Romo developed faster, and I think you can look at the preseason and see that it's not favoritism but reality.
• • •
Q: Are you starting to see any improvement out of the two guard positions?
Paul Ebersold, Greenacres, Fla.
TAYLOR: Marco Rivera has probably been the best lineman during training camp. Now that his back and hamstrings are healthy, he is playing with power and explosion again. Kyle Kosier is a bigger question mark if for no other reason than he's with his third team in three seasons, an indication he hasn't inspired his previous two teams to ante up and keep him. Kosier doesn't have to be a star, but he must be an adequate player this year for Dallas to have success offensively because so many teams pressure Bledsoe up the middle.
• • •
Q: Do the players like T.O?
Bob Morikuni, Honolulu
TAYLOR: T.O. is like any other office employee. There are people who like him and people who don't. There are a handful of players who seemingly shake their heads at all of the attention he receives, but there is another group, like Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd, who would call him a friend. Everyone on the team, though, is clear that a strong season by T.O. is conducive to winning football games this season.
• • •
Q: What do you think about working Pat Watkins into certain offensive plays as a third receiver? He seems to have good hands and would pose a serious matchup problem for defenses with his 6-5 height.
TAYLOR: It's too early for that. Watkins will have enough problems playing safety and handling all of his duties at that position. Maybe in a couple of years when he has mastered safety, you can think about using him at receiver. For now, as grandma would say, "He has enough to say grace over."
• • •
Q: Watching this training camp unfold, I've begun to wonder about the Cowboys' ability to evaluate and develop offensive line talent. What do you think?
Charles Bankhead
TAYLOR: That's a perfectly legitimate question, and one that has owner Jerry Jones scratching his head. Trust me, he is asking the same question. Some of it, though, is his fault. I think he underestimated Hudson Houck, a superior offensive line coach, when he let him go to San Diego a few years ago. Houck is one of the best in the league and he excels at developing young players, especially those without a lot of pedigree.
• • •
Q: A trade for Deion Branch sounds too good to be true. Is there any way this happens?
Kyle Lang, Crown Point, N.Y.
TAYLOR: I don't think so. I don't see New England dealing him, and I don't know that Dallas has what it takes to get him. Scott Shanle won't get it done. The Cowboys seem pleased with the progress of Sam Hurd, Terrance Copper and Jamaica Rector. They'd like another receiver, but they aren't going to give up a bushel of stuff for Branch and then turn around and pay him a bunch of money, considering they already have quite a bit invested in Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn.
• • •
Q: Can the Cowboys receive anything of value for a package of Kenyon Coleman and Scott Shanle?
Steven Ortiz
TAYLOR: I don't see either bringing more than a conditional sixth- or seventh-round draft pick. After all, if teams think Dallas is going to cut either player, they certainly aren't going to give up much to acquire something they could get for free a few days later.
• • •
Q: I caught Peter King on TV, and he thinks Tony Romo is the quarterback in September. What do you think?
Craig Redziniak
TAYLOR: I can't see it happening and neither can anyone else that I've spoken to in the organization. If the Cowboys were 2-4 or 3-5 at some point, then I could see a change. But Romo has never thrown a regular-season pass and I can't see entrusting what should be a legitimate playoff contender on the blind faith of an unproven quarterback.
• • •
Q: Why can't we use the receivers that we have? Haven't the receivers that we have shown enough flashes of talent to have a spot on the team, other than potential. Trading a draft choice for a receiver seems unnecessary.
George Bohler
TAYLOR: The question is whether you would trust Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd or Jamaica Rector to make big plays in a big game with the season on the line. The answer is probably no. The problem is the Cowboys aren't going to spend a lot to acquire another receiver. They spent a sixth-round pick last week in a deal that was eventually voided. I don't think they want to spend more than that.
Coach Bill Parcells was disappointed after the Cowboys' preseason win over New Orleans because his defense didn't play enough.
That's a new one even for Parcells. He's mad because his defense is too good.
While it has only played a handful of series in a couple of meaningless preseason games, the Cowboys' defense has a special feel to it.
It practices with a swagger, talking trash to the offense with regularity. Roy Williams and Terence Newman and others have teed off on their teammates at times in practice, drawing Parcells' ire.
The reality, though, is the defense is filled with alpha males who feel the need to exert their dominance from time to time, especially when they haven't had much opportunity to hit opponents wearing different colored jerseys.
This defense has speed and size. It has a quality defensive coordinator and several quality assistant coaches.
It has a unit with pedigree – four No.1 picks will be starting in September and linebacker Bobby Carpenter will probably make it five before the end of the season – and owner Jerry Jones has spent big money to fill in any holes.
The Cowboys will win games with defense this season. They have experience and camaraderie. They have been forged by disappointments and unfulfilled expectations the past three seasons and now they're ready to take it out on someone else.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: I think Terrell Owens is playing a mind game with everyone. He has shown nothing since his contract signing. Your thoughts?
Shorty Pettit, Minot N.D.
TAYLOR: I'm not sure what you expected to see two weeks into training camp. The problem here is that T.O. has such a bad reputation that no one gives him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his strained hamstring. The key is that he's ready for the regular season. If he has to miss some time right now, it's aggravating, but it's not really that big of a deal. He will have had three days off by the time the Cowboys practice Wednesday, which means he should be good to go against San Francisco on Saturday.
• • •
Q: I have always wondered, is it possible Parcells has been negative about Henson and higher on Romo since day one because Ron Wolf, arguably one of the best quarterback scouts of all time, is a friend of Parcells' and told the coach he preferred Romo to Henson?
Elenita Ravicz, San Antonio
TAYLOR: I don't know why everyone has a conspiracy theory regarding Drew Henson and Parcells. The Cowboys have needed a quarterback since Troy Aikman left, and I don't really think he cared whether it was Henson or Romo. Romo developed faster, and I think you can look at the preseason and see that it's not favoritism but reality.
• • •
Q: Are you starting to see any improvement out of the two guard positions?
Paul Ebersold, Greenacres, Fla.
TAYLOR: Marco Rivera has probably been the best lineman during training camp. Now that his back and hamstrings are healthy, he is playing with power and explosion again. Kyle Kosier is a bigger question mark if for no other reason than he's with his third team in three seasons, an indication he hasn't inspired his previous two teams to ante up and keep him. Kosier doesn't have to be a star, but he must be an adequate player this year for Dallas to have success offensively because so many teams pressure Bledsoe up the middle.
• • •
Q: Do the players like T.O?
Bob Morikuni, Honolulu
TAYLOR: T.O. is like any other office employee. There are people who like him and people who don't. There are a handful of players who seemingly shake their heads at all of the attention he receives, but there is another group, like Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd, who would call him a friend. Everyone on the team, though, is clear that a strong season by T.O. is conducive to winning football games this season.
• • •
Q: What do you think about working Pat Watkins into certain offensive plays as a third receiver? He seems to have good hands and would pose a serious matchup problem for defenses with his 6-5 height.
TAYLOR: It's too early for that. Watkins will have enough problems playing safety and handling all of his duties at that position. Maybe in a couple of years when he has mastered safety, you can think about using him at receiver. For now, as grandma would say, "He has enough to say grace over."
• • •
Q: Watching this training camp unfold, I've begun to wonder about the Cowboys' ability to evaluate and develop offensive line talent. What do you think?
Charles Bankhead
TAYLOR: That's a perfectly legitimate question, and one that has owner Jerry Jones scratching his head. Trust me, he is asking the same question. Some of it, though, is his fault. I think he underestimated Hudson Houck, a superior offensive line coach, when he let him go to San Diego a few years ago. Houck is one of the best in the league and he excels at developing young players, especially those without a lot of pedigree.
• • •
Q: A trade for Deion Branch sounds too good to be true. Is there any way this happens?
Kyle Lang, Crown Point, N.Y.
TAYLOR: I don't think so. I don't see New England dealing him, and I don't know that Dallas has what it takes to get him. Scott Shanle won't get it done. The Cowboys seem pleased with the progress of Sam Hurd, Terrance Copper and Jamaica Rector. They'd like another receiver, but they aren't going to give up a bushel of stuff for Branch and then turn around and pay him a bunch of money, considering they already have quite a bit invested in Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn.
• • •
Q: Can the Cowboys receive anything of value for a package of Kenyon Coleman and Scott Shanle?
Steven Ortiz
TAYLOR: I don't see either bringing more than a conditional sixth- or seventh-round draft pick. After all, if teams think Dallas is going to cut either player, they certainly aren't going to give up much to acquire something they could get for free a few days later.
• • •
Q: I caught Peter King on TV, and he thinks Tony Romo is the quarterback in September. What do you think?
Craig Redziniak
TAYLOR: I can't see it happening and neither can anyone else that I've spoken to in the organization. If the Cowboys were 2-4 or 3-5 at some point, then I could see a change. But Romo has never thrown a regular-season pass and I can't see entrusting what should be a legitimate playoff contender on the blind faith of an unproven quarterback.
• • •
Q: Why can't we use the receivers that we have? Haven't the receivers that we have shown enough flashes of talent to have a spot on the team, other than potential. Trading a draft choice for a receiver seems unnecessary.
George Bohler
TAYLOR: The question is whether you would trust Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd or Jamaica Rector to make big plays in a big game with the season on the line. The answer is probably no. The problem is the Cowboys aren't going to spend a lot to acquire another receiver. They spent a sixth-round pick last week in a deal that was eventually voided. I don't think they want to spend more than that.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:48 AM
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