Is it big time in Big D?
Cowboys have designs on playoff success, Super Bowl run.
By Scott Ferrell
Bill Parcells is gone. Terrell Owens is back.
Through much of the final month of a soap opera Dallas Cowboys season last year, the fate of Parcells and Owens was an overriding story.
With the 2007 season just days away, neither has stolen headlines this year.
The retiring Parcells has been replaced as the Cowboys' head coach by Wade Phillips. Owens has been, with an exception here and there, rather quiet this preseason.
The focus for the Cowboys has been on the field, where the team is still looking for its first playoff win since 1996.
Perhaps the area where Phillips can help a Cowboys team that was 9-7 last year is on defense. The Cowboys defense gave up 152 points in the final five games of last season.
Phillips was hired away from San Diego as the Chargers' defensive coordinator, in part, because of his usage of the 3-4 defense. That's the same defensive alignment Parcells used with the Cowboys.
The difference is Phillips wants to be more attacking with the 3-4.
"We'll put pressure on the quarterback," Phillips said Monday during his weekly news conference. "We've got to stop the running game first, then put pressure (on the quarterback).
"If you can stop them from running, you can put pressure on the quarterback."
Dallas should be able to do both.
The hope from the Cowboys' front office is Phillips' scheme will bring out the best in former LSU star Marcus Spears at defensive end after a disappointing season last year.
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware was a Pro Bowler last season and is another player who figures to blossom under Phillips.
The Cowboys turned to the free-agent market to upgrade their secondary. They signed Ken Hamlin and put him at free safety with Roy Williams manning the safety position.
"I feel good about the safeties," Phillips said. "I think Hamlin was a great addition. Roy is a Pro Bowler. We expect a lot out of Roy."
The biggest concern at the moment is the health of cornerback Terence Newman. If Newman can't play Sunday against the New York Giants, backup Jacques Reeves will get the start.
While Phillips is expected to have a positive impact on the defense, the Cowboys are hoping for similar things from Jason Garrett and the offense.
Garrett has weapons to work with including Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo.
A year ago, Romo earned the starting job after Drew Bledsoe washed out as starting quarterback. Romo finished the season with 19 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions and 2,903 yards passing.
The Cowboys also have a 1,000-yard rusher in Julius Jones (1,084 yards) and a perennial Pro Bowl receiver in Owens to go along with emerging star Jason Witten at tight end.
Dallas also tried to improve itself on the offensive line with the addition of free-agent guard Leonard Davis. And the kicking game will be in the hands of rookie Nick Folk.
Phillips would like for his team to get off to a good start this season.
He also realizes that a good start doesn't guarantee a good season.
"It's not the team that starts out great," Phillips said, "it's the team that ends great.'
By Scott Ferrell
Bill Parcells is gone. Terrell Owens is back.
Through much of the final month of a soap opera Dallas Cowboys season last year, the fate of Parcells and Owens was an overriding story.
With the 2007 season just days away, neither has stolen headlines this year.
The retiring Parcells has been replaced as the Cowboys' head coach by Wade Phillips. Owens has been, with an exception here and there, rather quiet this preseason.
The focus for the Cowboys has been on the field, where the team is still looking for its first playoff win since 1996.
Perhaps the area where Phillips can help a Cowboys team that was 9-7 last year is on defense. The Cowboys defense gave up 152 points in the final five games of last season.
Phillips was hired away from San Diego as the Chargers' defensive coordinator, in part, because of his usage of the 3-4 defense. That's the same defensive alignment Parcells used with the Cowboys.
The difference is Phillips wants to be more attacking with the 3-4.
"We'll put pressure on the quarterback," Phillips said Monday during his weekly news conference. "We've got to stop the running game first, then put pressure (on the quarterback).
"If you can stop them from running, you can put pressure on the quarterback."
Dallas should be able to do both.
The hope from the Cowboys' front office is Phillips' scheme will bring out the best in former LSU star Marcus Spears at defensive end after a disappointing season last year.
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware was a Pro Bowler last season and is another player who figures to blossom under Phillips.
The Cowboys turned to the free-agent market to upgrade their secondary. They signed Ken Hamlin and put him at free safety with Roy Williams manning the safety position.
"I feel good about the safeties," Phillips said. "I think Hamlin was a great addition. Roy is a Pro Bowler. We expect a lot out of Roy."
The biggest concern at the moment is the health of cornerback Terence Newman. If Newman can't play Sunday against the New York Giants, backup Jacques Reeves will get the start.
While Phillips is expected to have a positive impact on the defense, the Cowboys are hoping for similar things from Jason Garrett and the offense.
Garrett has weapons to work with including Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo.
A year ago, Romo earned the starting job after Drew Bledsoe washed out as starting quarterback. Romo finished the season with 19 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions and 2,903 yards passing.
The Cowboys also have a 1,000-yard rusher in Julius Jones (1,084 yards) and a perennial Pro Bowl receiver in Owens to go along with emerging star Jason Witten at tight end.
Dallas also tried to improve itself on the offensive line with the addition of free-agent guard Leonard Davis. And the kicking game will be in the hands of rookie Nick Folk.
Phillips would like for his team to get off to a good start this season.
He also realizes that a good start doesn't guarantee a good season.
"It's not the team that starts out great," Phillips said, "it's the team that ends great.'
posted by The Gryphon at 8:21 AM
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