Sporting News: JJT: Team Report
By Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
March 11, 2007
The Cowboys solidified their offensive line, an important offseason project, by signing RT Marc Colombo to a two-year deal worth $7 million, including a $4 million signing bonus. Bringing Colombo back means the Cowboys will start Leonard Davis, who signed last week, at right guard. Since the end of the season, Dallas has re-signed Colombo and C Andre Gurode and added Davis. The Cowboys like Colombo because he's a hard-working tough guy who did a solid job for them last season. He makes few mental mistakes and competes hard the entire game. He struggles in space but did a solid job against the best pass rushers he faced. The signing of Colombo probably means Marco Rivera's time in Dallas is up. He struggled the past two seasons primarily because of back ailments that limited the power and explosion that once made him one of the NFL's top guards. He had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back for the second time in three years and can't pass a physical right now if he had to. Rivera, a noted worker, is trying to rehab his back and there's a chance he could return this season in a backup role, but he's trying to recover from the same injury -- and play at a collision position -- that drove former safety Darren Woodson into retirement. . . .
Dallas also added backup QB Brad Johnson, who gives them a viable option if starter Tony Romo gets injured. Johnson made it clear he intends to compete for the starting position, but the Cowboys signed him, in part, because they wanted a veteran whom Romo wouldn't feel threatened by but could still help the team if called upon. They also needed a player who understood his role and would willingly accept it. Brad Johnson doesn't have a lot of mobility or arm strength at this point in his career, but he's smart and makes good decisions. He willingly throws to running backs -- almost to a fault -- if he doesn't have an open receiver on his first or second read. Because he's cautious with the ball, Johnson throws few turnovers.
SCOUTING REPORT: TE Jason Witten continues to emerge as one of the game's best tight ends, and if he gets a few more balls thrown his direction -- which is tough with WRs Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn on the roster -- then his numbers could rival those of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Witten has excellent hands and catches the ball well in traffic. He has the speed to outrun linebackers and get down the middle of the field to exploit cover 2, and he has too much size for safeties to handle. He doesn't give you much run-after-the-catch ability because he doesn't make many defenders miss, but he can be difficult for one man to tackle because he's 6-5 and 265 pounds.
For Sporting News
March 11, 2007
The Cowboys solidified their offensive line, an important offseason project, by signing RT Marc Colombo to a two-year deal worth $7 million, including a $4 million signing bonus. Bringing Colombo back means the Cowboys will start Leonard Davis, who signed last week, at right guard. Since the end of the season, Dallas has re-signed Colombo and C Andre Gurode and added Davis. The Cowboys like Colombo because he's a hard-working tough guy who did a solid job for them last season. He makes few mental mistakes and competes hard the entire game. He struggles in space but did a solid job against the best pass rushers he faced. The signing of Colombo probably means Marco Rivera's time in Dallas is up. He struggled the past two seasons primarily because of back ailments that limited the power and explosion that once made him one of the NFL's top guards. He had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back for the second time in three years and can't pass a physical right now if he had to. Rivera, a noted worker, is trying to rehab his back and there's a chance he could return this season in a backup role, but he's trying to recover from the same injury -- and play at a collision position -- that drove former safety Darren Woodson into retirement. . . .
Dallas also added backup QB Brad Johnson, who gives them a viable option if starter Tony Romo gets injured. Johnson made it clear he intends to compete for the starting position, but the Cowboys signed him, in part, because they wanted a veteran whom Romo wouldn't feel threatened by but could still help the team if called upon. They also needed a player who understood his role and would willingly accept it. Brad Johnson doesn't have a lot of mobility or arm strength at this point in his career, but he's smart and makes good decisions. He willingly throws to running backs -- almost to a fault -- if he doesn't have an open receiver on his first or second read. Because he's cautious with the ball, Johnson throws few turnovers.
SCOUTING REPORT: TE Jason Witten continues to emerge as one of the game's best tight ends, and if he gets a few more balls thrown his direction -- which is tough with WRs Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn on the roster -- then his numbers could rival those of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Witten has excellent hands and catches the ball well in traffic. He has the speed to outrun linebackers and get down the middle of the field to exploit cover 2, and he has too much size for safeties to handle. He doesn't give you much run-after-the-catch ability because he doesn't make many defenders miss, but he can be difficult for one man to tackle because he's 6-5 and 265 pounds.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:17 PM
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