Star Mag: Ten Keys for Cowboys in New Season
Health Issues with Newman, Ellis Are Concern
by Ken Sins
The Cowboys are a trendy preseason pick to climb deep into the playoffs and perhaps even appear in their first Super Bowl since after the 1995 season.
That's not just a pipe dream. Top-end talent is evident throughout the roster, with Pro Bowl-caliber playmakers on both sides of the ball. But talk is cheap. For a team to reach the big game, a lot has to go right, from injuries to coaching to locker room chemistry.
With the opener at hand, here's a rundown of 10 keys to the Cowboys' season:
Newman Must Be Healthy
The Cowboys insist they're going to blitz, and that's an exciting prospect for a team that didn't generate enough pressure on the pocket last season. Wade Phillips' teams get after the quarterback, and last season his San Diego defense led the league in sacks.
But to do so, you need at least one corner capable of single coverage. If you don't dump the quarterback, at least one corner is hung out to dry. Terence Newman is Dallas' top cover corner, the guy who'd be counted on to handle single coverage while a safety blitzes. Along with DeMarcus Ware, he's one of the Cowboys' two indispensible players on defense.
But Newman sat out the last few weeks of the offseason with a painful foot condition that's especially hard on a cornerback whose feet take such a pounding. Phillips still thinks Newman will be ready to play against the Giants, but nobody can be sure.
The other starting corner, Anthony Henry, struggled at times last season and has been plagued by injuries in his two seasons with the Cowboys. He insists he's healthy again, and he'd better be if Newman is out for an extended period.
Veteran Aaron Glenn is better suited to the Nickel corner role, and none of the younger candidates distinguished himself in the preseason. This could be a position of strength, or it could be a vulnerable spot for the Cowboys if Newman is hobbled.
When Will Ellis Play?
The Cowboy' pass rush suffered a meltdown last season when strong-side linebacker Greg Ellis was lost in mid-November to a torn Achilles' tendon.
From that point, opponents double-teamed Ware, and Dallas' heat on the pocket became tepid.
Ellis' recovery has been slower than he'd like, and it's unknown when he'll be back. Ellis was Dallas' second-best pass rusher after Ware last season, and if he can't perform, he'll be missed. First-round pick Anthony Spencer has filled in for Ellis during the preseason, but Spencer is making a tough transition from college defensive end. Maybe 2006 first-round pick Bobby Carpenter would be called upon to start the opener in Ellis' spot after he was switched back to outside linebacker from the reserve inside position he'd manned during the offseason.
For the Cowboys to be at their best on defense, they'll need a healthy and productive Ellis, and as of last week, Phillips was hopeful Ellis would be available at least by the second regular-season game.
Romo: Stay Sharp, Healthy
Tony Romo looked like a world-beater when he took over as the man under center last season, becoming the first quarterback in team history to go over 220 yards passing in his first eight starts. That production earned him a Pro Bowl berth even though he started only 10 games. But Romo looked a lot more human down the stretch, losing four of his last five starts (including the playoff game at Seattle) with a passer rating of under 60 in three of those games. Romo was on target through the first three games of the preseason, looking comfortable in the new offense. Now he needs to get off to a fast start when the games count. That would be the best way to put the late-season swoon and botched snap in the playoff game behind him.
The Cowboys signed one-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson as the backup, but he turns 39 later this month and it would be unrealistic to think he'd be capable of leading a playoff run should Romo be lost for an extended period.
No Crowd in the Trainer's Room
Last season the Cowboys had incredible injury luck, with Ellis the only starter to miss any significant time. That must continue for the Cowboys to be serious Super Bowl contenders, and the status of Ellis, Newman and kicker Martin Gramatica will be closely monitored as game day approaches.
Starting wide receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are also concerns. Both are heading toward their mid-30s, a stage when an NFL player's body starts to break down. Glenn missed camp with a knee injury but was scheduled to return to practice last week.
The Cowboys must cross their fingers that Owens and Glenn are big producers in 2007, Owens in particular. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett likes to throw the ball and that will mean plenty of opportuities for Owens, Glenn, third wideout Patrick Crayton and tight ends Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano.
Kicking Must be Consistent
Gramatica was having a good camp before he missed an extra point and injured a hamstring in the third preseason game. Rookie Nick Folk was supposed to be only a kickoff candidate, but the 52-yard field goal he nailed against Denver earned some attention.
Do they keep two kickers because they can't be sure of Gramatica's status for the opener?
O-Line Must Hold Up
Jerry Jones invested $30 million in bonuses to shore up the front five, re-signing right tackle Marc Colombo and center Andre Gurode and bringing aboard free agent Leonard Davis to plug the hole at right guard.
All five starting jobs were decided long before the start of camp, and on paper the unit appears to be formidable. Davis' performance in the first two preseason games was particularly impressive. He appears much more comfortable at an inside position than he did at tackle for the Arizona Cardinals.
The group needs to stay healthy because there's no proven depth. Rookie tackle Doug Free looked good in limited exposure before sustaining a knee injury. Cory Procter and Pat McQuistan are versatile and appear to be the front-runners for game-day backup duty, with rookie tackle James Marten and guard/center Joe Berger also getting long looks.
Roy Must Be a Factor
The addition of free safety Ken Hamlin is expected to free up Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams to be more of a playmaker.
If Hamlin can provide the deep help that was lacking for the Cowboys last season, Williams should have more chances to blitz and set up closer to the line of scrimmage.
But if Williams has extensive coverage duties (if Newman is hampered by his foot?), that could spell trouble for the defense.
Who's the Backup Nose Tackle?
Montavious Stanley and Ola Dagunduro tried to win the job behind starter Jason Ferguson, but both were among the first wave of cuts.
Jay Ratliff is better suited to defensive end, but with Jason Hatcher set as the Nickel pass-rusher, Ratliff will get on the field over the nose of the ball on passing downs.
Pick Up the Pace on Special Teams
The Cowboys finished second in the league in kickoff coverage last year, but they struggled covering punts. A mixed group looked lost when it was burned for a 91-yard touchdown return against the Houston Texans in the third preseason game. Last season's top special-teams performer, Ryan Fowler, departed via free agency during the offseason, and it appears the Cowboys miss him.
Another special teams issue: Who returns punts if Newman can't go?
What About the Schedule?
All road games are in the Central or Eastern Time Zones, certainly a positive thing. And the Cowboys draw three back-to-back road situations, but no three-game trips.
There are six night games, a fact of life for a marquee team expected to contend. But only one is on a Monday, another plus since Monday night contests upset a team's routine.
The Cowboys catch seven games against playoff teams, including four against division foes Philadelphia and the Giants. But only five contests are against opponents that ended 2006 with better than .500 records.
by Ken Sins
The Cowboys are a trendy preseason pick to climb deep into the playoffs and perhaps even appear in their first Super Bowl since after the 1995 season.
That's not just a pipe dream. Top-end talent is evident throughout the roster, with Pro Bowl-caliber playmakers on both sides of the ball. But talk is cheap. For a team to reach the big game, a lot has to go right, from injuries to coaching to locker room chemistry.
With the opener at hand, here's a rundown of 10 keys to the Cowboys' season:
Newman Must Be Healthy
The Cowboys insist they're going to blitz, and that's an exciting prospect for a team that didn't generate enough pressure on the pocket last season. Wade Phillips' teams get after the quarterback, and last season his San Diego defense led the league in sacks.
But to do so, you need at least one corner capable of single coverage. If you don't dump the quarterback, at least one corner is hung out to dry. Terence Newman is Dallas' top cover corner, the guy who'd be counted on to handle single coverage while a safety blitzes. Along with DeMarcus Ware, he's one of the Cowboys' two indispensible players on defense.
But Newman sat out the last few weeks of the offseason with a painful foot condition that's especially hard on a cornerback whose feet take such a pounding. Phillips still thinks Newman will be ready to play against the Giants, but nobody can be sure.
The other starting corner, Anthony Henry, struggled at times last season and has been plagued by injuries in his two seasons with the Cowboys. He insists he's healthy again, and he'd better be if Newman is out for an extended period.
Veteran Aaron Glenn is better suited to the Nickel corner role, and none of the younger candidates distinguished himself in the preseason. This could be a position of strength, or it could be a vulnerable spot for the Cowboys if Newman is hobbled.
When Will Ellis Play?
The Cowboy' pass rush suffered a meltdown last season when strong-side linebacker Greg Ellis was lost in mid-November to a torn Achilles' tendon.
From that point, opponents double-teamed Ware, and Dallas' heat on the pocket became tepid.
Ellis' recovery has been slower than he'd like, and it's unknown when he'll be back. Ellis was Dallas' second-best pass rusher after Ware last season, and if he can't perform, he'll be missed. First-round pick Anthony Spencer has filled in for Ellis during the preseason, but Spencer is making a tough transition from college defensive end. Maybe 2006 first-round pick Bobby Carpenter would be called upon to start the opener in Ellis' spot after he was switched back to outside linebacker from the reserve inside position he'd manned during the offseason.
For the Cowboys to be at their best on defense, they'll need a healthy and productive Ellis, and as of last week, Phillips was hopeful Ellis would be available at least by the second regular-season game.
Romo: Stay Sharp, Healthy
Tony Romo looked like a world-beater when he took over as the man under center last season, becoming the first quarterback in team history to go over 220 yards passing in his first eight starts. That production earned him a Pro Bowl berth even though he started only 10 games. But Romo looked a lot more human down the stretch, losing four of his last five starts (including the playoff game at Seattle) with a passer rating of under 60 in three of those games. Romo was on target through the first three games of the preseason, looking comfortable in the new offense. Now he needs to get off to a fast start when the games count. That would be the best way to put the late-season swoon and botched snap in the playoff game behind him.
The Cowboys signed one-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Brad Johnson as the backup, but he turns 39 later this month and it would be unrealistic to think he'd be capable of leading a playoff run should Romo be lost for an extended period.
No Crowd in the Trainer's Room
Last season the Cowboys had incredible injury luck, with Ellis the only starter to miss any significant time. That must continue for the Cowboys to be serious Super Bowl contenders, and the status of Ellis, Newman and kicker Martin Gramatica will be closely monitored as game day approaches.
Starting wide receivers Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are also concerns. Both are heading toward their mid-30s, a stage when an NFL player's body starts to break down. Glenn missed camp with a knee injury but was scheduled to return to practice last week.
The Cowboys must cross their fingers that Owens and Glenn are big producers in 2007, Owens in particular. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett likes to throw the ball and that will mean plenty of opportuities for Owens, Glenn, third wideout Patrick Crayton and tight ends Jason Witten and Anthony Fasano.
Kicking Must be Consistent
Gramatica was having a good camp before he missed an extra point and injured a hamstring in the third preseason game. Rookie Nick Folk was supposed to be only a kickoff candidate, but the 52-yard field goal he nailed against Denver earned some attention.
Do they keep two kickers because they can't be sure of Gramatica's status for the opener?
O-Line Must Hold Up
Jerry Jones invested $30 million in bonuses to shore up the front five, re-signing right tackle Marc Colombo and center Andre Gurode and bringing aboard free agent Leonard Davis to plug the hole at right guard.
All five starting jobs were decided long before the start of camp, and on paper the unit appears to be formidable. Davis' performance in the first two preseason games was particularly impressive. He appears much more comfortable at an inside position than he did at tackle for the Arizona Cardinals.
The group needs to stay healthy because there's no proven depth. Rookie tackle Doug Free looked good in limited exposure before sustaining a knee injury. Cory Procter and Pat McQuistan are versatile and appear to be the front-runners for game-day backup duty, with rookie tackle James Marten and guard/center Joe Berger also getting long looks.
Roy Must Be a Factor
The addition of free safety Ken Hamlin is expected to free up Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams to be more of a playmaker.
If Hamlin can provide the deep help that was lacking for the Cowboys last season, Williams should have more chances to blitz and set up closer to the line of scrimmage.
But if Williams has extensive coverage duties (if Newman is hampered by his foot?), that could spell trouble for the defense.
Who's the Backup Nose Tackle?
Montavious Stanley and Ola Dagunduro tried to win the job behind starter Jason Ferguson, but both were among the first wave of cuts.
Jay Ratliff is better suited to defensive end, but with Jason Hatcher set as the Nickel pass-rusher, Ratliff will get on the field over the nose of the ball on passing downs.
Pick Up the Pace on Special Teams
The Cowboys finished second in the league in kickoff coverage last year, but they struggled covering punts. A mixed group looked lost when it was burned for a 91-yard touchdown return against the Houston Texans in the third preseason game. Last season's top special-teams performer, Ryan Fowler, departed via free agency during the offseason, and it appears the Cowboys miss him.
Another special teams issue: Who returns punts if Newman can't go?
What About the Schedule?
All road games are in the Central or Eastern Time Zones, certainly a positive thing. And the Cowboys draw three back-to-back road situations, but no three-game trips.
There are six night games, a fact of life for a marquee team expected to contend. But only one is on a Monday, another plus since Monday night contests upset a team's routine.
The Cowboys catch seven games against playoff teams, including four against division foes Philadelphia and the Giants. But only five contests are against opponents that ended 2006 with better than .500 records.
posted by The Gryphon at 3:35 PM
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