DMN: JJT: Q&A: Rookie Cowboys kicker would be nail-biter
It looks like Nick Folk has a good chance to win the kicking competition, because Martin Gramatica is going to miss the final preseason game with a strained hamstring.
That should make fans nervous.
It's not really about Folk's talent, but his lack of experience. He simply hasn't done it. It doesn't mean he can't do it.
But when you line up for a kick to win the NFC East during a December road game, it's a little more comforting when the kicker has made some big kicks in his career.
Gramatica has done that.
He was the kicker for a Super Bowl champion in Tampa Bay and won a game on the road against the Giants last season at the buzzer.
You know he can do it.
But he suffered a hamstring injury in pregame warm-ups against Houston last week and missed an extra point and struggled with his kickoffs.
That's what opened the door of opportunity Folk is about to run through.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: With all that has happened recently in the NFL with players' conduct, and with what has happened to the Cowboys in the past, can you say that the program instituted by Jerry Jones and Calvin Hill has been a great success?
Earl Robertson, Dalhart, Texas
TAYLOR: I think you have to say without a doubt it has been a success, because the number of incidents involving the Cowboys has definitely decreased over the last few years. But you also have to give the organization credit for trying to sign guys with better character, because you can have all the programs you want, but if a guy is a knucklehead, he's going to screw up sooner or later no matter how many wonderful programs you have in place.
• • • Q: Any chance of big-name NFL cornerbacks getting cut whom the Cowboys can sign?
Bill Fensterone, N.J.
TAYLOR: There's a good news/bad news answer to that question. There may be a big name or two who gets cut, but the odds of that player being a significant help is not very good. Cornerbacks are a valuable commodity. No one who can play is going to get released, although the Cowboys might be able to find someone who is better than Aaron Glenn or Jacques Reeves.
• • • Q: The Cowboys are in need of a good cornerback. The injury to Terence Newman is devastating to say the least; there actually is no one on the roster who can take up the slack. What's going to be done prior to the opening of the season?
John Hazel, Glen Allen, Va.
TAYLOR: The best thing you can hope for is that Aaron Glenn hasn't lost it. He has struggled in training camp, but the Cowboys will be OK if he regains the form that made him a pretty good player the last couple of years. Bill Parcells used to say he needed to see "it" from his veterans at least once during training camp to know they could still do the job. Glenn hasn't shown "it" just yet.
• • • Q: I think the key for the Cowboys this year on defense will be Ken Hamlin. Your thoughts?
David Runyon, Dallas
TAYLOR: I wouldn't say he's one of the top two keys, but he's among the top five. Everyone in the organization has been pleasantly surprised with how well he's done in training camp. He's been a vocal leader, an outstanding student of the game and a physical presence. He's probably the best value on the roster.
• • • Q: I've been suffering over the Cowboys' latest move of shuffling Bobby Carpenter back to the outside. and then it suddenly hit me ... the Cowboys want him to start. What do you think?
Jerry Benavides, Miami
TAYLOR: I think you're headed the right direction. Anthony Spencer will be the better player down the road, I think, but Carpenter is probably the better player right now. Spencer is most comfortable rushing the passer, while Carpenter is probably better against the run right now. Look for Spencer to be a nickel pass rusher the first month or so, then he'll join the starting lineup, unless Greg Ellis returns or Carpenter is playing lights-out.
• • • Q: Can this defense without Greg Ellis take us to the big game this year?
Rick Hayes, Atlanta
TAYLOR: The simple answer is yes. The more complicated answer is no, if you're going to take Ellis and Terence Newman away. Entering training camp, they were two of the top five defensive players on the roster. Ellis hasn't even practiced yet, and Newman has a plantar fascia injury that's going to hobble him all season. This is still a good team, but it has serious problems if it must play a significant amount of time without Ellis and Newman this season.
• • • Q: Why are you so convinced Julius Jones will be gone next year?
Matthew Fuller, Dallas
TAYLOR: There's one reason and only one reason I think Julius Jones will be gone at the end of the season: The Cowboys don't think he's special. Think back over the last couple of years. The Cowboys worked out deals with Jason Witten, Bradie James and Roy Williams before or during the final year of their contracts. They're doing the same thing with Tony Romo. There has not been a peep about giving Jones a new deal. The Cowboys think Jones is a good player, but not worth the millions of upfront cash it will take to keep him.
• • • Q: Do you feel, from your vantage point, there is a decline in discipline and behavioral patterns of players with the Cowboys?
N. T. Umamaheswaran, Washington, D.C.
TAYLOR: It's pretty obvious Wade Phillips has a much different approach than Bill Parcells. I don't think there has been any type of decline in discipline. Guys were late with Parcells, and they got fined. It just seems to be more public with Wade – at least for now.
• • • Q: Does Martin Gramatica still have the leg to be the Cowboys' kicker for the entire season or are they hoping rookie Nick Folk emerges as the long-term solution? Does he have a stronger leg than Gramatica?
Brett James, Commack, N.Y.
TAYLOR: I think Folk has a stronger leg. Gramatica had a slight edge because of his veteran status, but his strained hamstring has taken that away. Folk is going to get all of the kicks during the final preseason game, which could give him the edge he needs to win the job.
• • • Q: How about a new name for Romo to match T.O.? How about T.O and T. Ro? Catchy, huh?
Jennifer Wachter, Fort Worth
TAYLOR: I really put this question in the newsletter because no one would believe me if I'd just told them. I don't think Tony cares what you call him as long as the team is winning and he's playing well.
• • • Q: With T.O. and Terry Glenn probably getting near the end of their highly productive years, and Julius Jones' contract running out after this season, don't you think we're headed for still more rebuilding after this season?
James Reynolds, Asheville, N.C.
TAYLOR: I really think you run into trouble trying to predict the future, because there are so many variables. If Romo is the real deal – I think he is – then Dallas will be a good team for several years. If Romo can't duplicate his success from last year, then the Cowboys will have big problems.
That should make fans nervous.
It's not really about Folk's talent, but his lack of experience. He simply hasn't done it. It doesn't mean he can't do it.
But when you line up for a kick to win the NFC East during a December road game, it's a little more comforting when the kicker has made some big kicks in his career.
Gramatica has done that.
He was the kicker for a Super Bowl champion in Tampa Bay and won a game on the road against the Giants last season at the buzzer.
You know he can do it.
But he suffered a hamstring injury in pregame warm-ups against Houston last week and missed an extra point and struggled with his kickoffs.
That's what opened the door of opportunity Folk is about to run through.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: With all that has happened recently in the NFL with players' conduct, and with what has happened to the Cowboys in the past, can you say that the program instituted by Jerry Jones and Calvin Hill has been a great success?
Earl Robertson, Dalhart, Texas
TAYLOR: I think you have to say without a doubt it has been a success, because the number of incidents involving the Cowboys has definitely decreased over the last few years. But you also have to give the organization credit for trying to sign guys with better character, because you can have all the programs you want, but if a guy is a knucklehead, he's going to screw up sooner or later no matter how many wonderful programs you have in place.
• • • Q: Any chance of big-name NFL cornerbacks getting cut whom the Cowboys can sign?
Bill Fensterone, N.J.
TAYLOR: There's a good news/bad news answer to that question. There may be a big name or two who gets cut, but the odds of that player being a significant help is not very good. Cornerbacks are a valuable commodity. No one who can play is going to get released, although the Cowboys might be able to find someone who is better than Aaron Glenn or Jacques Reeves.
• • • Q: The Cowboys are in need of a good cornerback. The injury to Terence Newman is devastating to say the least; there actually is no one on the roster who can take up the slack. What's going to be done prior to the opening of the season?
John Hazel, Glen Allen, Va.
TAYLOR: The best thing you can hope for is that Aaron Glenn hasn't lost it. He has struggled in training camp, but the Cowboys will be OK if he regains the form that made him a pretty good player the last couple of years. Bill Parcells used to say he needed to see "it" from his veterans at least once during training camp to know they could still do the job. Glenn hasn't shown "it" just yet.
• • • Q: I think the key for the Cowboys this year on defense will be Ken Hamlin. Your thoughts?
David Runyon, Dallas
TAYLOR: I wouldn't say he's one of the top two keys, but he's among the top five. Everyone in the organization has been pleasantly surprised with how well he's done in training camp. He's been a vocal leader, an outstanding student of the game and a physical presence. He's probably the best value on the roster.
• • • Q: I've been suffering over the Cowboys' latest move of shuffling Bobby Carpenter back to the outside. and then it suddenly hit me ... the Cowboys want him to start. What do you think?
Jerry Benavides, Miami
TAYLOR: I think you're headed the right direction. Anthony Spencer will be the better player down the road, I think, but Carpenter is probably the better player right now. Spencer is most comfortable rushing the passer, while Carpenter is probably better against the run right now. Look for Spencer to be a nickel pass rusher the first month or so, then he'll join the starting lineup, unless Greg Ellis returns or Carpenter is playing lights-out.
• • • Q: Can this defense without Greg Ellis take us to the big game this year?
Rick Hayes, Atlanta
TAYLOR: The simple answer is yes. The more complicated answer is no, if you're going to take Ellis and Terence Newman away. Entering training camp, they were two of the top five defensive players on the roster. Ellis hasn't even practiced yet, and Newman has a plantar fascia injury that's going to hobble him all season. This is still a good team, but it has serious problems if it must play a significant amount of time without Ellis and Newman this season.
• • • Q: Why are you so convinced Julius Jones will be gone next year?
Matthew Fuller, Dallas
TAYLOR: There's one reason and only one reason I think Julius Jones will be gone at the end of the season: The Cowboys don't think he's special. Think back over the last couple of years. The Cowboys worked out deals with Jason Witten, Bradie James and Roy Williams before or during the final year of their contracts. They're doing the same thing with Tony Romo. There has not been a peep about giving Jones a new deal. The Cowboys think Jones is a good player, but not worth the millions of upfront cash it will take to keep him.
• • • Q: Do you feel, from your vantage point, there is a decline in discipline and behavioral patterns of players with the Cowboys?
N. T. Umamaheswaran, Washington, D.C.
TAYLOR: It's pretty obvious Wade Phillips has a much different approach than Bill Parcells. I don't think there has been any type of decline in discipline. Guys were late with Parcells, and they got fined. It just seems to be more public with Wade – at least for now.
• • • Q: Does Martin Gramatica still have the leg to be the Cowboys' kicker for the entire season or are they hoping rookie Nick Folk emerges as the long-term solution? Does he have a stronger leg than Gramatica?
Brett James, Commack, N.Y.
TAYLOR: I think Folk has a stronger leg. Gramatica had a slight edge because of his veteran status, but his strained hamstring has taken that away. Folk is going to get all of the kicks during the final preseason game, which could give him the edge he needs to win the job.
• • • Q: How about a new name for Romo to match T.O.? How about T.O and T. Ro? Catchy, huh?
Jennifer Wachter, Fort Worth
TAYLOR: I really put this question in the newsletter because no one would believe me if I'd just told them. I don't think Tony cares what you call him as long as the team is winning and he's playing well.
• • • Q: With T.O. and Terry Glenn probably getting near the end of their highly productive years, and Julius Jones' contract running out after this season, don't you think we're headed for still more rebuilding after this season?
James Reynolds, Asheville, N.C.
TAYLOR: I really think you run into trouble trying to predict the future, because there are so many variables. If Romo is the real deal – I think he is – then Dallas will be a good team for several years. If Romo can't duplicate his success from last year, then the Cowboys will have big problems.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:14 PM
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