New look from old approach
Cowboy Notes
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
OXNARD, Calif. - At first glance, the Cowboys' move to a seemingly conservative two-tight end offense appears to be an old coach reverting to a throw-back approach.
But while Cowboys coach Bill Parcells acknowledged that his interest in the two-tight end set came from watching the Detroit Lions many years ago, he said his interest now is about taking the game forward not backward.
He said it's an innovation necessitated by the increased size of the defensive ends, such as Carolina's Julius Peppers, in today's game and the size and versatility of the tight ends.
In starting rookie Anthony Fasano and two-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten, the Cowboys hope to have two tight ends who can run, block and catch as well as any tandem in the league.
"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."
An extra tight end allows teams to do that because they are usually bigger than fullbacks -- a position being made obsolete by the change.
While Parcells said the second tight end might take some snaps away from the third receiver -- considering the Cowboys plan to use the scheme on running and passing downs -- he said it will not take any explosiveness out of the offense. He said tight ends today are tougher to defend than the third receiver because of their size and versatility and because of the impact they have on the defense.
Players such as Witten and San Diego's Antonio Gates have proven to be mismatches for most safeties and linebackers, especially when defenses are forced to stay in their base scheme.
A third receiver generally doesn't present a big problem, especially to a team such as the Cowboys whose top three cornerbacks are Anthony Henry, Terence Newman and Aaron Glenn. Glenn and Henry play the outside and Newman, the Cowboys cover defender, moves into the slot on third down.
Said Parcells: "If you put your third wide receiver in there, you know who covers him on our team? Terence Newman. So lots of luck."
Just a look
According to a source, free agent receiver Freddie Mitchell had a solid workout with the Cowboys on Sunday.
The Cowboys didn't sign him partly because the situation is not urgent.
The team has no proven receivers behind starters Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens and third man Patrick Crayton. That was most evident on Monday with Glenn and Owens out with injuries and rookie Sam Hurd joining Crayton in the starting lineup.
Mitchell can be added later, if necessary, but the Cowboys want to give the young receivers all the work they can.
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
OXNARD, Calif. - At first glance, the Cowboys' move to a seemingly conservative two-tight end offense appears to be an old coach reverting to a throw-back approach.
But while Cowboys coach Bill Parcells acknowledged that his interest in the two-tight end set came from watching the Detroit Lions many years ago, he said his interest now is about taking the game forward not backward.
He said it's an innovation necessitated by the increased size of the defensive ends, such as Carolina's Julius Peppers, in today's game and the size and versatility of the tight ends.
In starting rookie Anthony Fasano and two-time Pro Bowler Jason Witten, the Cowboys hope to have two tight ends who can run, block and catch as well as any tandem in the league.
"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."
An extra tight end allows teams to do that because they are usually bigger than fullbacks -- a position being made obsolete by the change.
While Parcells said the second tight end might take some snaps away from the third receiver -- considering the Cowboys plan to use the scheme on running and passing downs -- he said it will not take any explosiveness out of the offense. He said tight ends today are tougher to defend than the third receiver because of their size and versatility and because of the impact they have on the defense.
Players such as Witten and San Diego's Antonio Gates have proven to be mismatches for most safeties and linebackers, especially when defenses are forced to stay in their base scheme.
A third receiver generally doesn't present a big problem, especially to a team such as the Cowboys whose top three cornerbacks are Anthony Henry, Terence Newman and Aaron Glenn. Glenn and Henry play the outside and Newman, the Cowboys cover defender, moves into the slot on third down.
Said Parcells: "If you put your third wide receiver in there, you know who covers him on our team? Terence Newman. So lots of luck."
Just a look
According to a source, free agent receiver Freddie Mitchell had a solid workout with the Cowboys on Sunday.
The Cowboys didn't sign him partly because the situation is not urgent.
The team has no proven receivers behind starters Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens and third man Patrick Crayton. That was most evident on Monday with Glenn and Owens out with injuries and rookie Sam Hurd joining Crayton in the starting lineup.
Mitchell can be added later, if necessary, but the Cowboys want to give the young receivers all the work they can.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:35 AM
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