'Real' season gets close, and lineup reflects it
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
Star-Telegram staff writer
IRVING -- After getting up close and personal with a pair of two-a-day practices Wednesday and Thursday at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys and Denver Broncos play for real tonight at Texas Stadium. At least as real as a second preseason game can get. For the Cowboys, that means an extended look at the starters and the preseason debuts for tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo, free safety Ken Hamlin and rookie receiver Isaiah Stanback.
Starters will play a half
Quarterback Tony Romo and the first-team offense will get at least two quarters of work against the Broncos. Coach Wade Phillips said he might consider bringing them back to start the third quarter. Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo will be in the lineup after sitting out the preseason opener last week. It's the first time the starting offensive line will play a game together.
More defensive pressure
The Cowboys have touted the aggressive philosophy of Wade Phillips' 3-4 since he was hired in February. It's time to stop talking about it and prove it. Phillips was very vanilla in the preseason opener against Indianapolis. He plans to do more attacking and blitzing against the Broncos. The results the fans want to see are sacks from linebacker DeMarcus Ware and company.
T.O. vs. Champ
The most intriguing aspect of the Cowboys' joint practices with the Broncos were the individual matchups, including Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens vs. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. The last time they met in a game was in 2005 when Owens caught a short pass and ran 91 yards for a touchdown. Bailey, who led the league in takeaways with 11 in 2006, will remember that tonight.
Ken Hamlin makes his debut
Free safety Ken Hamlin missed the preseason opener with a concussion and will make his debut against the Broncos. Hamlin is the true center fielder the Cowboys were looking for to play alongside strong safety Roy Williams. Because he can hit and cover, Hamlin will make Williams better by allowing him to play closer to the line of scrimmage. Hamlin makes all the calls in the secondary.
Kicking battle continues
Rookie Nick Folk was the rave of training camp with a perfect performance. If he hopes to take the kicking job away from veteran Martin Gramatica, he will have to do it when it counts. Folk was perfect in the preseason opener on field goals, but his kickoffs left something to be desired. That was the area where he was supposed to have a decided edge over Gramatica.
Star-Telegram staff writer
IRVING -- After getting up close and personal with a pair of two-a-day practices Wednesday and Thursday at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys and Denver Broncos play for real tonight at Texas Stadium. At least as real as a second preseason game can get. For the Cowboys, that means an extended look at the starters and the preseason debuts for tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo, free safety Ken Hamlin and rookie receiver Isaiah Stanback.
Starters will play a half
Quarterback Tony Romo and the first-team offense will get at least two quarters of work against the Broncos. Coach Wade Phillips said he might consider bringing them back to start the third quarter. Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo will be in the lineup after sitting out the preseason opener last week. It's the first time the starting offensive line will play a game together.
More defensive pressure
The Cowboys have touted the aggressive philosophy of Wade Phillips' 3-4 since he was hired in February. It's time to stop talking about it and prove it. Phillips was very vanilla in the preseason opener against Indianapolis. He plans to do more attacking and blitzing against the Broncos. The results the fans want to see are sacks from linebacker DeMarcus Ware and company.
T.O. vs. Champ
The most intriguing aspect of the Cowboys' joint practices with the Broncos were the individual matchups, including Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens vs. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey. The last time they met in a game was in 2005 when Owens caught a short pass and ran 91 yards for a touchdown. Bailey, who led the league in takeaways with 11 in 2006, will remember that tonight.
Ken Hamlin makes his debut
Free safety Ken Hamlin missed the preseason opener with a concussion and will make his debut against the Broncos. Hamlin is the true center fielder the Cowboys were looking for to play alongside strong safety Roy Williams. Because he can hit and cover, Hamlin will make Williams better by allowing him to play closer to the line of scrimmage. Hamlin makes all the calls in the secondary.
Kicking battle continues
Rookie Nick Folk was the rave of training camp with a perfect performance. If he hopes to take the kicking job away from veteran Martin Gramatica, he will have to do it when it counts. Folk was perfect in the preseason opener on field goals, but his kickoffs left something to be desired. That was the area where he was supposed to have a decided edge over Gramatica.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:27 AM
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