Cowboys Team Report
Cowboys Team Report
Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is trying to get TE Jason Witten even more involved in the offense, especially by having him stretch the defense down the middle of the field. Witten's strength is he has too much speed for linebackers and too much size for safeties, so Garrett wants to take advantage of that by making him a big-play threat -- not just a possession receiver. Besides, Garrett played for the Cowboys when former TE Jay Novacek was one of the team's best players and wants Witten to have just as much of an impact. . .
DE Greg Ellis may not be happy with his contract, but he's spending a lot of time helping his future replacement -- first-round pick Anthony Spencer -- get prepared for the season. They sit next to each other during meetings and Ellis is passing on all of his secrets as a pass-rusher. Many of the tips focus on technique like making sure Spencer has his weight on the proper foot or stutter-stepping during his pass-rush to confuse the tackle. The coaching staff has been impressed with Spencer and his ability to accelerate quickly to take advantage of a lineman.
SCOUTING REPORT: Keith Davis will be frustrated by his return to backup strong safety, but he still has a valuable role on the Cowboys' defense. He's capable of starting should Roy Williams get hurt, and with Ken Hamlin starting at free safety, he likely will return to being an elite member of the Cowboys' special teams. His role was reduced some as a starter because the coaching staff wanted to make sure he wasn't worn down by his special team duties. Davis is a solid player. He's aggressive and a big hitter, but those are the same traits that allow opponents to set him up play-action passes, where his aggressiveness is used against him. He doesn't create many turnovers, which is something the Cowboys want him to improve.
MINICAMP MAYHEM: Most of the Cowboys' linebackers and defensive linemen have lost between 10 and 20 pounds because Wade Phillips' version of the 3-4 defense requires a lot of quickness and athleticism. The players are losing weight so they can handle the demands of the new system. They need to be lighter and quicker because this scheme requires more stunting, blitzing and movement than the scheme Bill Parcells employed. This system demands athleticism and those who don't have it will be exposed. The players like it, at least for now, because it allows them to blitz and run and try to dictate the game to the offense through their aggressiveness. The same is true for the defensive lineman who must also run in this scheme. They will be doing much more stunting and slanting and they need to have the quickness to make their move and exploit the confusion it creates within the offensive line.
Jean-Jacques Taylor is a columnist for the Dallas Morning News.
Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is trying to get TE Jason Witten even more involved in the offense, especially by having him stretch the defense down the middle of the field. Witten's strength is he has too much speed for linebackers and too much size for safeties, so Garrett wants to take advantage of that by making him a big-play threat -- not just a possession receiver. Besides, Garrett played for the Cowboys when former TE Jay Novacek was one of the team's best players and wants Witten to have just as much of an impact. . .
DE Greg Ellis may not be happy with his contract, but he's spending a lot of time helping his future replacement -- first-round pick Anthony Spencer -- get prepared for the season. They sit next to each other during meetings and Ellis is passing on all of his secrets as a pass-rusher. Many of the tips focus on technique like making sure Spencer has his weight on the proper foot or stutter-stepping during his pass-rush to confuse the tackle. The coaching staff has been impressed with Spencer and his ability to accelerate quickly to take advantage of a lineman.
SCOUTING REPORT: Keith Davis will be frustrated by his return to backup strong safety, but he still has a valuable role on the Cowboys' defense. He's capable of starting should Roy Williams get hurt, and with Ken Hamlin starting at free safety, he likely will return to being an elite member of the Cowboys' special teams. His role was reduced some as a starter because the coaching staff wanted to make sure he wasn't worn down by his special team duties. Davis is a solid player. He's aggressive and a big hitter, but those are the same traits that allow opponents to set him up play-action passes, where his aggressiveness is used against him. He doesn't create many turnovers, which is something the Cowboys want him to improve.
MINICAMP MAYHEM: Most of the Cowboys' linebackers and defensive linemen have lost between 10 and 20 pounds because Wade Phillips' version of the 3-4 defense requires a lot of quickness and athleticism. The players are losing weight so they can handle the demands of the new system. They need to be lighter and quicker because this scheme requires more stunting, blitzing and movement than the scheme Bill Parcells employed. This system demands athleticism and those who don't have it will be exposed. The players like it, at least for now, because it allows them to blitz and run and try to dictate the game to the offense through their aggressiveness. The same is true for the defensive lineman who must also run in this scheme. They will be doing much more stunting and slanting and they need to have the quickness to make their move and exploit the confusion it creates within the offensive line.
Jean-Jacques Taylor is a columnist for the Dallas Morning News.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:19 PM
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