Inside Slant - Dallas Cowboys
from:USAToday.com
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACK: Starter — Tony Romo. Backups — Brad Johnson, Matt Moore.
The Cowboys believe they have finally found a long-term answer at quarterback in Tony Romo. Romo was the surprise of the NFL last year when he came out of nowhere to start the final 10 games, earning a Pro Bowl nod and leading the Cowboys to the playoffs. However, he must continue to improve and be better in 2007 if the Cowboys hope to be a Super Bowl contender in 2007. He must cut down on his mistakes and learn how to make the safe play. He must be calmer in the pocket than he was last season. Johnson gives the Cowboys an experienced alternative in case of injury. He can also help teach Romo how to be a better game manager.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — RB Julius Jones, FB Oliver Hoyte. Backups — RB Marion Barber III, RB Tyson Thompson, FB Lousaka Polite, FB Deon Anderson.
The Cowboys like their running back by committee approach. Jones and Barber were as good as any tandem in the league last year when they combined for more than 1,700 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. The Cowboys will continue the running back by committee again in 2007. The only difference is that instead of being just the third down and short-yardage back, Barber may get a bigger load on first and second down. The rookie Anderson is the future at fullback, though Hoyte might still be the starter to open the season.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Jason Witten. Backups — Anthony Fasano, Tony Curtis.
Jason Witten has already established himself as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. He might be the best tight end in Cowboys history, already with three Pro Bowls and at least 60 receptions each of the last three years. He just has to find his way into the end zone. He caught only one touchdown pass in 2006. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett wants to make him factor in the red zone and get him making more big plays downfield against linebackers and safeties. Fasano had a good camp and seems ready to live top expectations in second year.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Terry Glenn, Terrell Owens. Backups — Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Jamaica Rector, Isaiah Stanback, Miles Austin.
Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn remain one of the league's most productive receiver tandems, despite their age. The Cowboys plan to be smart in how they use them in practice so they don't wear down and continue be productive on game day. Owens could be in line for a monster season. He is motivated to make up for what he felt was a sub-par campaign in 2006. He had 85 catches and a league-high 13 touchdowns but he also had 18 dropped passes. Don't sleep on Crayton. He is a solid third receiver who has the best hands on the team.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters — RT Marc Colombo, RG Leonard Davis, C Andre Gurode, LG Kyle Kosier, LT Flozell Adams. Backups — T Pat McQuistan, T James Marten, T Doug Free, G Joe Berger, G Cory Proctor, G Matt Tarullo.
The Cowboys have $45 million tied up in signing bonuses to the five starters. No wonder owner Jerry Jones said it is the team's best offensive line in more than a decade. Colombo, Gurode, Kosier and Adams all returned from last year. Davis joined the mix with a club-record $16 million signing bonus to replace the injured Marc Colombo. The Cowboys believe he is ready to live to his enormous potential. He has already been compared to a young Larry Allen.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters — LE Marcus Spears, NT Jason Ferguson, RE Chris Canty. Backups — E Jason Hatcher, E Stephen Bowen, E Jay Ratliff, NT Remy Ayodele, NT Montavious Stanley.
The Cowboys have no concerns about Jason Ferguson. He is solid at nose guard. They have no depth behind him however, which could be problem because of his age. They don't want him playing more than 40 plays a game. And that could be too many. The Cowboys need more production out of Spears and Canty, who combined for two sacks last season. Both players felt stagnated in Bill Parcells conservative scheme. They will get a chance to attack the quarterback in 2007. Canty could be the one to break out.
LINEBACKERS: Starters —OLB Greg Ellis, ILB Akin Ayodele, ILB Bradie James, OLB DeMarcus Ware. Backups —OLB Anthony Spencer, ILB Bobby Carpenter, ILB Kevin Burnett, OLB Junior Glymph.
They key to the linebackers is Ellis. If he returns to health, this could be a special and productive group. If not, the pressure is on Ware to carry to team in quarterback sacks. He could get 17 or more this year. But will it be enough in Phillips' pressure defense which requires at least two or three quality linebackers to get to the quarterback? Spencer will start for Ellis and is not quite ready.
James has lost weight and could be a factor as a three-down linebacker again. Burnett is pushing Ayodele for the starting job, if he can stay healthy. He will start in the dime package.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Terence Newman, RCB Anthony Henry, SS Roy Williams, FS Ken Hamlin. Backups — CB Jacques Reeves, CB Nate Jones, CB Aaron Glenn, S Keith Davis, S Abram Elam.
The Cowboys got Henry back healthy after an injury plagued 2006. Now Newman is hobbled. He has a tear in his plantar fascia on his right heel and could be hobbled all season. That is crucial because of the Cowboys' blitz happy scheme and Newman's skills as the only true man-to-man cornerback on the team. The Cowboys have no one they can count to replace him. Glenn is just a situational cornerback at this stage in his career. The others are unproven. What the Cowboys are most excited about is the addition of Hamlin at safety. He will give the Cowboys a true center fielder at the free safety, which will allow Roy Williams to do what he does best — play close to the line of scrimmage and disarm the run. The result should be more impact plays from Williams.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Starters — PK Nick Folk, LS L.P. Ladouceur, P Mat McBriar, KR Tyson Thompson, PR Terence Newman.
The Cowboys are giving rookie Nick Folk every opportunity to unseat the veteran Martin Gramatica. He kicked better in the preseason and would have won the job even if Gramatica hadn't suffered a hamstring injury. The question is whether a team with Super Bowl aspirations can head into the season with an unproven rookie kicker. McBriar has finally reached his potential as the best punter in the NFL. He is a bona fide weapon who flips the field position. A healthy Thompson is back returning kickoffs, though he will be pushed by Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback on kickoff returns. Newman will be the punt returner when the Cowboys are looking to make a big play. Pat Crayton will handle it the punts the other times.
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACK: Starter — Tony Romo. Backups — Brad Johnson, Matt Moore.
The Cowboys believe they have finally found a long-term answer at quarterback in Tony Romo. Romo was the surprise of the NFL last year when he came out of nowhere to start the final 10 games, earning a Pro Bowl nod and leading the Cowboys to the playoffs. However, he must continue to improve and be better in 2007 if the Cowboys hope to be a Super Bowl contender in 2007. He must cut down on his mistakes and learn how to make the safe play. He must be calmer in the pocket than he was last season. Johnson gives the Cowboys an experienced alternative in case of injury. He can also help teach Romo how to be a better game manager.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — RB Julius Jones, FB Oliver Hoyte. Backups — RB Marion Barber III, RB Tyson Thompson, FB Lousaka Polite, FB Deon Anderson.
The Cowboys like their running back by committee approach. Jones and Barber were as good as any tandem in the league last year when they combined for more than 1,700 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. The Cowboys will continue the running back by committee again in 2007. The only difference is that instead of being just the third down and short-yardage back, Barber may get a bigger load on first and second down. The rookie Anderson is the future at fullback, though Hoyte might still be the starter to open the season.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Jason Witten. Backups — Anthony Fasano, Tony Curtis.
Jason Witten has already established himself as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. He might be the best tight end in Cowboys history, already with three Pro Bowls and at least 60 receptions each of the last three years. He just has to find his way into the end zone. He caught only one touchdown pass in 2006. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett wants to make him factor in the red zone and get him making more big plays downfield against linebackers and safeties. Fasano had a good camp and seems ready to live top expectations in second year.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Terry Glenn, Terrell Owens. Backups — Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Jamaica Rector, Isaiah Stanback, Miles Austin.
Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn remain one of the league's most productive receiver tandems, despite their age. The Cowboys plan to be smart in how they use them in practice so they don't wear down and continue be productive on game day. Owens could be in line for a monster season. He is motivated to make up for what he felt was a sub-par campaign in 2006. He had 85 catches and a league-high 13 touchdowns but he also had 18 dropped passes. Don't sleep on Crayton. He is a solid third receiver who has the best hands on the team.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters — RT Marc Colombo, RG Leonard Davis, C Andre Gurode, LG Kyle Kosier, LT Flozell Adams. Backups — T Pat McQuistan, T James Marten, T Doug Free, G Joe Berger, G Cory Proctor, G Matt Tarullo.
The Cowboys have $45 million tied up in signing bonuses to the five starters. No wonder owner Jerry Jones said it is the team's best offensive line in more than a decade. Colombo, Gurode, Kosier and Adams all returned from last year. Davis joined the mix with a club-record $16 million signing bonus to replace the injured Marc Colombo. The Cowboys believe he is ready to live to his enormous potential. He has already been compared to a young Larry Allen.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters — LE Marcus Spears, NT Jason Ferguson, RE Chris Canty. Backups — E Jason Hatcher, E Stephen Bowen, E Jay Ratliff, NT Remy Ayodele, NT Montavious Stanley.
The Cowboys have no concerns about Jason Ferguson. He is solid at nose guard. They have no depth behind him however, which could be problem because of his age. They don't want him playing more than 40 plays a game. And that could be too many. The Cowboys need more production out of Spears and Canty, who combined for two sacks last season. Both players felt stagnated in Bill Parcells conservative scheme. They will get a chance to attack the quarterback in 2007. Canty could be the one to break out.
LINEBACKERS: Starters —OLB Greg Ellis, ILB Akin Ayodele, ILB Bradie James, OLB DeMarcus Ware. Backups —OLB Anthony Spencer, ILB Bobby Carpenter, ILB Kevin Burnett, OLB Junior Glymph.
They key to the linebackers is Ellis. If he returns to health, this could be a special and productive group. If not, the pressure is on Ware to carry to team in quarterback sacks. He could get 17 or more this year. But will it be enough in Phillips' pressure defense which requires at least two or three quality linebackers to get to the quarterback? Spencer will start for Ellis and is not quite ready.
James has lost weight and could be a factor as a three-down linebacker again. Burnett is pushing Ayodele for the starting job, if he can stay healthy. He will start in the dime package.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Terence Newman, RCB Anthony Henry, SS Roy Williams, FS Ken Hamlin. Backups — CB Jacques Reeves, CB Nate Jones, CB Aaron Glenn, S Keith Davis, S Abram Elam.
The Cowboys got Henry back healthy after an injury plagued 2006. Now Newman is hobbled. He has a tear in his plantar fascia on his right heel and could be hobbled all season. That is crucial because of the Cowboys' blitz happy scheme and Newman's skills as the only true man-to-man cornerback on the team. The Cowboys have no one they can count to replace him. Glenn is just a situational cornerback at this stage in his career. The others are unproven. What the Cowboys are most excited about is the addition of Hamlin at safety. He will give the Cowboys a true center fielder at the free safety, which will allow Roy Williams to do what he does best — play close to the line of scrimmage and disarm the run. The result should be more impact plays from Williams.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Starters — PK Nick Folk, LS L.P. Ladouceur, P Mat McBriar, KR Tyson Thompson, PR Terence Newman.
The Cowboys are giving rookie Nick Folk every opportunity to unseat the veteran Martin Gramatica. He kicked better in the preseason and would have won the job even if Gramatica hadn't suffered a hamstring injury. The question is whether a team with Super Bowl aspirations can head into the season with an unproven rookie kicker. McBriar has finally reached his potential as the best punter in the NFL. He is a bona fide weapon who flips the field position. A healthy Thompson is back returning kickoffs, though he will be pushed by Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback on kickoff returns. Newman will be the punt returner when the Cowboys are looking to make a big play. Pat Crayton will handle it the punts the other times.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:06 AM
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