Cowboys Team Report
Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
With Julius Jones as the featured back last season, the Cowboys used zone blocking on many of their running plays to take advantage of his vision and quick feet. That could change this season because the Cowboys have significantly increased the size of their offensive line by committing to C Andre Gurode, RG Leonard Davis and RT Marc Colombo. The additional size means the Cowboys will use a power-blocking scheme this season, which really doesn't fit Jones' style. He's more of a finesse runner than a slasher -- like Marion Barber -- so the Cowboys are going to have to adapt their offense when he's in the game. . . .
Tony Romo, whose botched hold cost the Cowboys an apparent playoff win over Seattle last season, will not hold on extra points and field goals this season. But the decision has more to do with Romo's status as the starting quarterback than any leftover issues from his mistake in the playoffs. The primary candidates to hold this season are backup Brad Johnson and receiver Patrick Crayton, a former college quarterback. . . .
The battle for backup free safety should be pretty intense between Pat Watkins, a fifth-round pick last season, and veteran Keith Davis. At 6-4, 212 pounds, Watkins has unique size and range that intrigues the coaching staff. He can cover a lot of ground and has a knack for making plays. But he also struggled in coverage last season and was responsible for way too many big plays. The Cowboys hope he will learn from that experience. Davis, the Cowboys' best special teams performer, is more of a strong safety than a free safety and can be a liability in coverage at times because he's such a committed run defender. He has a good understanding of the defense and is more equipped to get the rest of the secondary lined up than Watkins is at this point.
SCOUTING REPORT: ILB Bradie James must be a more productive player this season, and the Cowboys are probably going to take him off the nickel defense to make sure it happens. James wore down late in the season, in part because he was a significant contributor to the Cowboys' nickel defense. Dallas wants him to be a two-down player this year, which they hope will make him better against the run and keep him strong in December, when the games become more important. James is good at engaging blockers as a 3-4 linebacker, but the coaching staff wants him to do a better job of shedding those blockers and making plays near the line of scrimmage instead of downfield.
OFFSEASON STAR: The Cowboys like RB Tyson Thompson's approach in the offseason, especially considering he missed the final portion of 2006 with a broken leg. He's a speed back, and the Cowboys want him to compete for playing time with Julius Jones and Marion Barber this season. The only way he can do that is by getting stronger -- so he can run through arm tackles, something he didn't do often in the preseason. The Cowboys would like him to add a little more muscle without losing speed so they can try to get him 5-6 carries a game next season, but they don't want to have to give him the ball on the perimeter every time. With a little more bulk, he might be more effective at running between the tackles, which would make him more versatile.
Jean-Jacques Taylor is a columnist for the Dallas Morning News.
For Sporting News
With Julius Jones as the featured back last season, the Cowboys used zone blocking on many of their running plays to take advantage of his vision and quick feet. That could change this season because the Cowboys have significantly increased the size of their offensive line by committing to C Andre Gurode, RG Leonard Davis and RT Marc Colombo. The additional size means the Cowboys will use a power-blocking scheme this season, which really doesn't fit Jones' style. He's more of a finesse runner than a slasher -- like Marion Barber -- so the Cowboys are going to have to adapt their offense when he's in the game. . . .
Tony Romo, whose botched hold cost the Cowboys an apparent playoff win over Seattle last season, will not hold on extra points and field goals this season. But the decision has more to do with Romo's status as the starting quarterback than any leftover issues from his mistake in the playoffs. The primary candidates to hold this season are backup Brad Johnson and receiver Patrick Crayton, a former college quarterback. . . .
The battle for backup free safety should be pretty intense between Pat Watkins, a fifth-round pick last season, and veteran Keith Davis. At 6-4, 212 pounds, Watkins has unique size and range that intrigues the coaching staff. He can cover a lot of ground and has a knack for making plays. But he also struggled in coverage last season and was responsible for way too many big plays. The Cowboys hope he will learn from that experience. Davis, the Cowboys' best special teams performer, is more of a strong safety than a free safety and can be a liability in coverage at times because he's such a committed run defender. He has a good understanding of the defense and is more equipped to get the rest of the secondary lined up than Watkins is at this point.
SCOUTING REPORT: ILB Bradie James must be a more productive player this season, and the Cowboys are probably going to take him off the nickel defense to make sure it happens. James wore down late in the season, in part because he was a significant contributor to the Cowboys' nickel defense. Dallas wants him to be a two-down player this year, which they hope will make him better against the run and keep him strong in December, when the games become more important. James is good at engaging blockers as a 3-4 linebacker, but the coaching staff wants him to do a better job of shedding those blockers and making plays near the line of scrimmage instead of downfield.
OFFSEASON STAR: The Cowboys like RB Tyson Thompson's approach in the offseason, especially considering he missed the final portion of 2006 with a broken leg. He's a speed back, and the Cowboys want him to compete for playing time with Julius Jones and Marion Barber this season. The only way he can do that is by getting stronger -- so he can run through arm tackles, something he didn't do often in the preseason. The Cowboys would like him to add a little more muscle without losing speed so they can try to get him 5-6 carries a game next season, but they don't want to have to give him the ball on the perimeter every time. With a little more bulk, he might be more effective at running between the tackles, which would make him more versatile.
Jean-Jacques Taylor is a columnist for the Dallas Morning News.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:09 PM
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