Cowboys finding some new stars?

by Todd Archer

SAN ANTONIO – Training camp is a little more than a week old and several players have impressed.

Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Terrell Owens, Leonard Davis, DeMarcus Ware and Chris Canty have had dominating moments, which is good because the Cowboys will need those players to succeed.

But what makes a team go from good to great is the below-the-radar players.

Here's a look at some, in no particular order.

Anthony Fasano

The second-year tight end has caught everything. He didn't have the rookie year he wanted in 2006 even though the Cowboys were running largely the same offense he had at Notre Dame. He was used more off the line and at fullback and never got comfortable. This off-season was interrupted by a shoulder injury that did not require surgery but did keep him off the field.

So far at the Alamodome, he has caught everything. And his blocking has gotten better. If he can play on the line, that will allow the Cowboys to move Jason Witten around more. The Cowboys may not employ as much two tight-end sets as last year, but Fasano will see plenty of playing time. He could end up being a nice security blanket for Romo.

Bobby Carpenter

Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter has elevated his game in San Antonio.

When the Cowboys took Anthony Spencer in the first round, Carpenter was perplexed. He didn't know where he fit. Was he still an outside linebacker? Would he move inside?

In the last week, Carpenter's play has picked up. He has seen time as an outside pass rusher in the nickel defense. He has played inside linebacker in the base defense, bringing pressure up the middle.

He has dropped some weight and is moving around much better than he did last year. And his confidence is up. At times he can be bullied, but he is doing a better job at the point of attack and not trying to run around blocks.

Keith Davis

He is hitting everything. And he's also making plays. The chances of him starting over Ken Hamlin are not very good, and he is not in the nickel defense either. But Davis could be a good insurance policy to have. He was seen by the previous staff as just a special teamer. Now playing his more natural strong safety spot, Davis is much more comfortable.

I asked him about his big hits:

"If you're going to pad up, use them," Davis said. "I'm not in pads for looks. I don't like carrying them if you're not going to use them, so I'm going to use them. They're my teammates, but right now it's training camp. Once we break camp then they become real teammates."

Joey Thomas

This guy is intriguing. He's pushing for the fourth corner spot and he has a ton of speed. He's probably one of the fastest guys on the team. The Cowboys had him in before the 2004 draft, but he was picked by Green Bay in the third round. Things didn't work out for him with the Packers or in a brief stay last year in New Orleans. The Cowboys decided to take a chance. It was a low-risk move for a guy with ability.

Twice last week he made plays on deep balls, but he did not use the proper technique, going with his inside arm to knock passes away instead of the outside arm. The fact that he was in position was a good thing because technique can be taught. But if you use improper technique, you can be subject to flags. Coach Wade Phillips said Thomas' aggressiveness at the line is a good thing, but not so good as he goes down the field. He wants Thomas to play smarter.

Can he beat out Jacques Reeves or Nate Jones or Alan Ball or Quincy Butler? He's at least put himself in the equation.