Cowboys Team Report
by Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
The Cowboys decided to go with rookie K Nick Folk, a sixth-round draft choice, instead of veteran Martin Gramatica. Folk has a strong leg and was perfect in the preseason--6-of-6 PATs and 3-of- 3 field goals, including a 52-yarder that provided the momentum he needed to win the job. His kickoffs are solid, but the Cowboys think they can be more consistent with additional practice. There has to be some trepidation when a team that expects to compete for a championship decides to use a rookie kicker, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he wanted to go with the player he thought was the best whether he was a rookie or not. Gramatica, hampered by a strained hamstring, was placed on injured reserve. ...
The only real surprise among the players the Cowboys released on their final cut was CB Aaron Glenn, who will receive $500,000 of the $1.7 million he was supposed to earn this season. Glenn, a former first-round pick in his 14th season, struggled in camp and never found a rhythm. ...
Glenn's release is significant because Terence Newman has a heel injury that forced him to miss the final three preseason games. The Cowboys and Newman believe he can play through it, but he will probably need medical assistance to do it. That puts pressure on Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves to play well . One of them, probably Reeves, will become the nickel corner and replace Glenn.
NEWCOMER REPORT: Anthony Spencer didn't do much in the preseason, though the Cowboys continue to expect him to have a significant role in their season, especially with Greg Ellis still recovering from a ruptured Achilles he suffered last October. Spencer, transitioning from defensive end to linebacker, has struggled at times because he's thinking too much instead of reacting on the field. The Cowboys love his explosive first step and he has showed he can get to the quarterback on occasion, but with Ellis out, Dallas needs him to be a significant contributor.
SCOUTING REPORT: Terrell Owens is still one of the NFL's best receivers, especially when he's motivated and excited about the start of a season. The Cowboys are going to move him all over their formations and put him in position to catch the ball on the run, which is when he's at his best. Owens has worked hard in the offseason and vowed not to lead the league in drops again. He has the speed to get deep and his combination of size and speed is one of the reasons he's so hard to bring down in the open field. Too often last season Owens was a non-factor, something he has vowed to change.
For Sporting News
The Cowboys decided to go with rookie K Nick Folk, a sixth-round draft choice, instead of veteran Martin Gramatica. Folk has a strong leg and was perfect in the preseason--6-of-6 PATs and 3-of- 3 field goals, including a 52-yarder that provided the momentum he needed to win the job. His kickoffs are solid, but the Cowboys think they can be more consistent with additional practice. There has to be some trepidation when a team that expects to compete for a championship decides to use a rookie kicker, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he wanted to go with the player he thought was the best whether he was a rookie or not. Gramatica, hampered by a strained hamstring, was placed on injured reserve. ...
The only real surprise among the players the Cowboys released on their final cut was CB Aaron Glenn, who will receive $500,000 of the $1.7 million he was supposed to earn this season. Glenn, a former first-round pick in his 14th season, struggled in camp and never found a rhythm. ...
Glenn's release is significant because Terence Newman has a heel injury that forced him to miss the final three preseason games. The Cowboys and Newman believe he can play through it, but he will probably need medical assistance to do it. That puts pressure on Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves to play well . One of them, probably Reeves, will become the nickel corner and replace Glenn.
NEWCOMER REPORT: Anthony Spencer didn't do much in the preseason, though the Cowboys continue to expect him to have a significant role in their season, especially with Greg Ellis still recovering from a ruptured Achilles he suffered last October. Spencer, transitioning from defensive end to linebacker, has struggled at times because he's thinking too much instead of reacting on the field. The Cowboys love his explosive first step and he has showed he can get to the quarterback on occasion, but with Ellis out, Dallas needs him to be a significant contributor.
SCOUTING REPORT: Terrell Owens is still one of the NFL's best receivers, especially when he's motivated and excited about the start of a season. The Cowboys are going to move him all over their formations and put him in position to catch the ball on the run, which is when he's at his best. Owens has worked hard in the offseason and vowed not to lead the league in drops again. He has the speed to get deep and his combination of size and speed is one of the reasons he's so hard to bring down in the open field. Too often last season Owens was a non-factor, something he has vowed to change.
posted by The Gryphon at 2:34 PM
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