Cowboys Team Report
Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
Coach Wade Phillips insists the Cowboys didn't draft Anthony Spencer to replace current outside linebacker Greg Ellis, but it does appear they're preparing to eventually replace him. The Cowboys say Ellis, coming off a ruptured Achilles' tendon he suffered last October, will remain the starter with Spencer used as a situational pass rusher. Frankly, there's no way they could possibly commit to Ellis as a starter until they see him on the field and see how his body responds to a serious injury. They considered trading him last year before moving him from defensive end to linebacker, but opted to keep him. The prudent move would seem to be keeping him on the roster again this year because he's scheduled to make only $2.5 million, a bargain in today's NFL. Besides, he remains the second best pass rusher on the team, a leader and one of the few proven playmakers on the defense. . . .
Isaiah Stanback, who's being moved from quarterback to receiver, probably won't be ready until training camp at the earliest after suffering a collapsed arch last season. The Cowboys are willing to wait because he has excellent hands and outstanding speed. And when you look at the success former college quarterbacks such as Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El have had in the NFL -- not to mention the Cowboys' own Patrick Crayton, then it's easy to see why they gambled on him in the fourth round. They think he's an athlete with game-breaking potential.
SCOUTING REPORT: Aaron Glenn remains a solid cornerback as he moves into the twilight of his career. He still has excellent hands and instincts, which allows him to compensate for his lack of height -- he's only 5-9 -- and any speed he has lost over the years. He plays outside in nickel situations because he's not strong enough against the run to play in the slot and Terence Newman is versatile enough to play the run and match up against smaller, quicker receivers. Glenn continues to work on his technique at deflecting deep balls because he doesn't always judge the ball properly, which means he doesn't properly time his swipe at the ball, and that can lead to long completions.
HONING THEIR GAME: The Cowboys want Terrell Owens to really understand every facet of the playbook this season so they can utilize all of his skills. That's one of the reasons offensive coordinator Jason Garrett made a trip to see Owens this offseason. Owens struggled with some facets of the offense last year, and it prevented the Cowboys from using him in the slot or putting him in motion as much as they wanted to. The better grasp Owens has of the offense, the more the Cowboys can move him around the formation and get him the ball in position to make more big plays. He must study even more this year because the surgery to repair a torn tendon on his right ring finger will prevent him from getting practice repetitions until training camp.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: B- Jason Ferguson did a solid job at nose tackle last year, demanding a double-team and anchoring the middle of the line so the linebackers could flow to the ball and make tackles. But he's getting older at one of the game's toughest positions, so the Cowboys must establish more depth. Jay Ratliff is a high energy player who prefers defensive end, but he has become a solid backup at nose tackle. He doesn't have the girth or lower body strength of Ferguson, but he's quicker and never quits on a play. Montavious Stanley, a sixth-round pick last year who was released in training camp, returned late in the season after being cut by Jacksonville. He's a project who must show improvement to make the team.
For Sporting News
Coach Wade Phillips insists the Cowboys didn't draft Anthony Spencer to replace current outside linebacker Greg Ellis, but it does appear they're preparing to eventually replace him. The Cowboys say Ellis, coming off a ruptured Achilles' tendon he suffered last October, will remain the starter with Spencer used as a situational pass rusher. Frankly, there's no way they could possibly commit to Ellis as a starter until they see him on the field and see how his body responds to a serious injury. They considered trading him last year before moving him from defensive end to linebacker, but opted to keep him. The prudent move would seem to be keeping him on the roster again this year because he's scheduled to make only $2.5 million, a bargain in today's NFL. Besides, he remains the second best pass rusher on the team, a leader and one of the few proven playmakers on the defense. . . .
Isaiah Stanback, who's being moved from quarterback to receiver, probably won't be ready until training camp at the earliest after suffering a collapsed arch last season. The Cowboys are willing to wait because he has excellent hands and outstanding speed. And when you look at the success former college quarterbacks such as Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El have had in the NFL -- not to mention the Cowboys' own Patrick Crayton, then it's easy to see why they gambled on him in the fourth round. They think he's an athlete with game-breaking potential.
SCOUTING REPORT: Aaron Glenn remains a solid cornerback as he moves into the twilight of his career. He still has excellent hands and instincts, which allows him to compensate for his lack of height -- he's only 5-9 -- and any speed he has lost over the years. He plays outside in nickel situations because he's not strong enough against the run to play in the slot and Terence Newman is versatile enough to play the run and match up against smaller, quicker receivers. Glenn continues to work on his technique at deflecting deep balls because he doesn't always judge the ball properly, which means he doesn't properly time his swipe at the ball, and that can lead to long completions.
HONING THEIR GAME: The Cowboys want Terrell Owens to really understand every facet of the playbook this season so they can utilize all of his skills. That's one of the reasons offensive coordinator Jason Garrett made a trip to see Owens this offseason. Owens struggled with some facets of the offense last year, and it prevented the Cowboys from using him in the slot or putting him in motion as much as they wanted to. The better grasp Owens has of the offense, the more the Cowboys can move him around the formation and get him the ball in position to make more big plays. He must study even more this year because the surgery to repair a torn tendon on his right ring finger will prevent him from getting practice repetitions until training camp.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES ANALYSIS: B- Jason Ferguson did a solid job at nose tackle last year, demanding a double-team and anchoring the middle of the line so the linebackers could flow to the ball and make tackles. But he's getting older at one of the game's toughest positions, so the Cowboys must establish more depth. Jay Ratliff is a high energy player who prefers defensive end, but he has become a solid backup at nose tackle. He doesn't have the girth or lower body strength of Ferguson, but he's quicker and never quits on a play. Montavious Stanley, a sixth-round pick last year who was released in training camp, returned late in the season after being cut by Jacksonville. He's a project who must show improvement to make the team.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:14 AM
<< Home