First and goal to go
At 6-1 and atop the NFC East, Cowboys aim for a super second half
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Although the Cowboys didn't necessarily expect to be 6-1 through the first seven games of the season, they did expect to among the league's best teams.
Owner Jerry Jones built the Cowboys in the off-season to make a Super Bowl run in 2007. And they are seemingly well on their way at the midpoint. But as good as they feel about how they have started, the Cowboys say finishing strong over the second half of the season is important.
"At the end of the day, some teams are going to rise up here these next six, seven weeks, and some are going to fall off," quarterback Tony Romo said. "You just have to keep stacking the wins together and go forward as a team and get better each week, and, eventually, put yourself in position to be a good football team in December, January and hopefully February. That's all we are trying to do."
Here's a look at the Cowboys at the bye:
Best comeback
Cowboys 25, Bills 24 On a Monday night in Buffalo, the Cowboys played their worst game of the season. Tony Romo was intercepted five times and lost one fumble, and two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns. The Cowboys had a minus-5 turnover margin in the game. They trailed 24-16 but scored nine points in the final 20 seconds to win.
Best play
Tony Romo's 4-yard run vs. Rams With the score tied 7-7 and the Cowboys facing a third-and-3 from midfield late in the second quarter, center Andre Gurode's snap to Romo sailed over his head, and Romo was unable to retrieve the ball until he was at his own 17-yard line. He grabbed it, turned around and ran up the left sideline for a first down. Unofficially, Romo ran 70 yards for an official 4-yard gain. The play ignited the Texas Stadium crowd, and the Cowboys won 35-7.
Best performance
Tony Romo vs. Giants In his first game since the 2006 playoff loss in Seattle, Romo completed 15 of 24 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Best clutch performance
Nick Folk vs. Bills The rookie kicker had already made two field goals, including a career-long 47-yarder, when he lined up for the game-winning attempt with 2 seconds remaining. On his first try from 53 yards, the kick was good. But the Bills had called a timeout, thus negating the kick. On the second attempt Folk was good again to give the Cowboys the win.
Worst performance
The Cowboys' defense against the Patriots Other than a fumble return for a touchdown, the Cowboys' defense looked as porous as the rest of the defenses Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has faced. The Patriots scored 48 points, were 11-for-17 on third downs, and Brady passed for 388 yards and five touchdowns.
Craziest play
Marion Barber's near-safety against the Patriots The Cowboys had the ball on their own 10-yard line in the third quarter. Barber took a handoff and tried to run to his right, but began heading backward and almost was tackled several times in the end zone before he reversed his field and ran to his right for the most-exciting 2-yard gain in recent memory.
Biggest surprise
Cornerback Jacque Reeves. There was a lot of consternation when the Cowboys released cornerback Aaron Glenn just before the season. Terence Newman was hobbled with a heel injury and there was no proven player to step in. Reeves hasn't been a shutdown cornerback, but he hasn't been a major liability, either. He has been solid. More important, he has been the team's only constant at cornerback since Anthony Henry went down with an ankle injury as Newman was set to return.
TV appeal
In the 1970s and early 1980s and for much of the 1990s , television networks had one universal adage -- when in doubt, go with the Cowboys. The draw of America's Team seems to be returning in 2007. The Cowboys-New England Patriots game on CBS was the most-watched NFL Sunday game since 1996. What's more is the Cowboys have had the highest-rated games this season on Fox, ESPN and NBC.
Where are you ...
Defensive end Marcus Spears. No one was a bigger critic of former coach Bill Parcells when he left than Spears. Not even Terrell Owens. Spears blamed Parcells' conservative schemes for his lack of impact plays. The former first-round pick had 2.5 sacks his first two seasons and predicted big numbers in Wade Phillips' aggressive scheme. Through seven games, Spears has a half-sack and is getting pushed for playing time by Jason Hatcher, who has a sack, a forced fumble and a 29-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Upcoming story lines
Tank eligible to play Nov. 11: Tank Johnson will be eligible to make his debut against the New York Giants on Nov. 11. Don't expect a Pro Bowl performance from Johnson, but do expect a fresh and motivated body the Cowboys can put into the nose tackle rotation with Jay Ratliff. His role and snaps should increase as the season goes on, alleviating wear and tear on Ratliff, a converted defensive end.
Favre comes to the Metroplex: Brett Favre comes to town and could be making his final appearance at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29. It might be the final time to see one of the NFL's all-time great quarterbacks in the area. Add in the fact that the Packers are on the Cowboys' heels for the best record in the NFC, and this could be Thursday-night must-see TV.
Will Terry Glenn return? Glenn, who has had two arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee, said he wants to come back this season, and he is doing everything he can to get back. The Cowboys are holding a roster spot open for him. The offense could be downright scary if Glenn returns to join Jason Witten, Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton as weapons for Romo. But Crayton's emergence as a legitimate No. 2 receiver means the Cowboys can still realize their Super Bowl dream if Glenn doesn't return.
Will Tony Romo get a contract extension? It's a matter of "when," not "if" regarding Romo and a new contract with the Cowboys. You probably can also add in "how much." Negotiations are progressing, but at this point, it probably makes more sense for the Cowboys to wait until after the season. Regardless, Romo will be a very rich man soon. He is already in line for the richest contract in Cowboys history. And if he leads the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, the money would be unfathomable for a player who was unknown and undrafted in 2003.
What about a deal for Marion Barber? The other side of the pancake on Barber's breakout season is that he is in the final year of his rookie contract. He will be a restricted free agent, and he has retained the services of agent Drew Rosenhaus and will be looking for a lucrative deal. The Cowboys could put a first-round tender on Barber, which would guarantee him a $1.85 million salary. If a team were to sign him, it would owe the Cowboys a first-round draft pick. Or the Cowboys could put a first- and third-round tender on Barber, which would guarantee him a $2.35 million salary.
Midseason Grades
B Rush Offense The offensive line has been as good as advertised, and so has free-agent signee guard Leonard Davis. He has combined with center Andre Gurode to give the Cowboys a formidable force up the middle. The Cowboys are 10th in the league on the ground (130.4 yards per game), led by backup running back Marion Barber, who is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
A Pass Offense What more can you ask of Tony Romo? He has been better than expected, even with the six-turnover game against Buffalo. He leads the league's fourth-rated pass offense. He makes plays with his legs and his arm. Tight end Jason Witten has emerged as Romo's go-to receiver, but the Cowboys have an embarrassment of riches with Terrell Owens leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns and Patrick Crayton's rise as a viable no. 2 receiver.
A Rush Defense Wade Phillips came to the Cowboys with a reputation as a sack-hungry defensive coach. But he has always placed an emphasis on stopping the run first. And the Cowboys have been stout against the run, allowing more than 100 yards in a game only once. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff and defensive end Chris Canty have been anchors up front while linebacker Bradie James has cleaned up in the middle. He leads the team in tackles.
C Pass Defense The Cowboys had issues in the secondary with starting cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Terence Newman missing games because of injuries. Jacques Reeves has been solid filling in, but lacks star quality. Safeties Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin have also given up some big plays. But the return of linebacker Greg Ellis has helped the pass rush. He has 4.5 sacks in the past four games.
B Special Teams There are concerns about the Cowboys' kick and punt coverage teams after they gave up touchdowns on returns against St. Louis and Buffalo. There are also questions about the Cowboys' kickoff return unit. Tyson Thompson has struggled on returns for much of the year. There are no questions about rookie kicker Nick Folk, who has missed only two field-goal attempts, one of which was blocked, or punter Mat McBriar, who is having another Pro Bowl-caliber season. Add in a blocked field goal by Chris Canty that led to a 68-yard return for a touchdown by Pat Watkins, and the special teams have made major contributions.
A Coaching Wade Phillips might not have the stature of a Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson or a Tom Landry, but so far he has proven to be the right man for the job. His laid-back style was just what the team and organization needed. He has also followed up his promise to put his best players in position to succeed. Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Marion Barber, DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis have had a huge impact on the season.
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Although the Cowboys didn't necessarily expect to be 6-1 through the first seven games of the season, they did expect to among the league's best teams.
Owner Jerry Jones built the Cowboys in the off-season to make a Super Bowl run in 2007. And they are seemingly well on their way at the midpoint. But as good as they feel about how they have started, the Cowboys say finishing strong over the second half of the season is important.
"At the end of the day, some teams are going to rise up here these next six, seven weeks, and some are going to fall off," quarterback Tony Romo said. "You just have to keep stacking the wins together and go forward as a team and get better each week, and, eventually, put yourself in position to be a good football team in December, January and hopefully February. That's all we are trying to do."
Here's a look at the Cowboys at the bye:
Best comeback
Cowboys 25, Bills 24 On a Monday night in Buffalo, the Cowboys played their worst game of the season. Tony Romo was intercepted five times and lost one fumble, and two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns. The Cowboys had a minus-5 turnover margin in the game. They trailed 24-16 but scored nine points in the final 20 seconds to win.
Best play
Tony Romo's 4-yard run vs. Rams With the score tied 7-7 and the Cowboys facing a third-and-3 from midfield late in the second quarter, center Andre Gurode's snap to Romo sailed over his head, and Romo was unable to retrieve the ball until he was at his own 17-yard line. He grabbed it, turned around and ran up the left sideline for a first down. Unofficially, Romo ran 70 yards for an official 4-yard gain. The play ignited the Texas Stadium crowd, and the Cowboys won 35-7.
Best performance
Tony Romo vs. Giants In his first game since the 2006 playoff loss in Seattle, Romo completed 15 of 24 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Best clutch performance
Nick Folk vs. Bills The rookie kicker had already made two field goals, including a career-long 47-yarder, when he lined up for the game-winning attempt with 2 seconds remaining. On his first try from 53 yards, the kick was good. But the Bills had called a timeout, thus negating the kick. On the second attempt Folk was good again to give the Cowboys the win.
Worst performance
The Cowboys' defense against the Patriots Other than a fumble return for a touchdown, the Cowboys' defense looked as porous as the rest of the defenses Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has faced. The Patriots scored 48 points, were 11-for-17 on third downs, and Brady passed for 388 yards and five touchdowns.
Craziest play
Marion Barber's near-safety against the Patriots The Cowboys had the ball on their own 10-yard line in the third quarter. Barber took a handoff and tried to run to his right, but began heading backward and almost was tackled several times in the end zone before he reversed his field and ran to his right for the most-exciting 2-yard gain in recent memory.
Biggest surprise
Cornerback Jacque Reeves. There was a lot of consternation when the Cowboys released cornerback Aaron Glenn just before the season. Terence Newman was hobbled with a heel injury and there was no proven player to step in. Reeves hasn't been a shutdown cornerback, but he hasn't been a major liability, either. He has been solid. More important, he has been the team's only constant at cornerback since Anthony Henry went down with an ankle injury as Newman was set to return.
TV appeal
In the 1970s and early 1980s and for much of the 1990s , television networks had one universal adage -- when in doubt, go with the Cowboys. The draw of America's Team seems to be returning in 2007. The Cowboys-New England Patriots game on CBS was the most-watched NFL Sunday game since 1996. What's more is the Cowboys have had the highest-rated games this season on Fox, ESPN and NBC.
Where are you ...
Defensive end Marcus Spears. No one was a bigger critic of former coach Bill Parcells when he left than Spears. Not even Terrell Owens. Spears blamed Parcells' conservative schemes for his lack of impact plays. The former first-round pick had 2.5 sacks his first two seasons and predicted big numbers in Wade Phillips' aggressive scheme. Through seven games, Spears has a half-sack and is getting pushed for playing time by Jason Hatcher, who has a sack, a forced fumble and a 29-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Upcoming story lines
Tank eligible to play Nov. 11: Tank Johnson will be eligible to make his debut against the New York Giants on Nov. 11. Don't expect a Pro Bowl performance from Johnson, but do expect a fresh and motivated body the Cowboys can put into the nose tackle rotation with Jay Ratliff. His role and snaps should increase as the season goes on, alleviating wear and tear on Ratliff, a converted defensive end.
Favre comes to the Metroplex: Brett Favre comes to town and could be making his final appearance at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29. It might be the final time to see one of the NFL's all-time great quarterbacks in the area. Add in the fact that the Packers are on the Cowboys' heels for the best record in the NFC, and this could be Thursday-night must-see TV.
Will Terry Glenn return? Glenn, who has had two arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee, said he wants to come back this season, and he is doing everything he can to get back. The Cowboys are holding a roster spot open for him. The offense could be downright scary if Glenn returns to join Jason Witten, Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton as weapons for Romo. But Crayton's emergence as a legitimate No. 2 receiver means the Cowboys can still realize their Super Bowl dream if Glenn doesn't return.
Will Tony Romo get a contract extension? It's a matter of "when," not "if" regarding Romo and a new contract with the Cowboys. You probably can also add in "how much." Negotiations are progressing, but at this point, it probably makes more sense for the Cowboys to wait until after the season. Regardless, Romo will be a very rich man soon. He is already in line for the richest contract in Cowboys history. And if he leads the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, the money would be unfathomable for a player who was unknown and undrafted in 2003.
What about a deal for Marion Barber? The other side of the pancake on Barber's breakout season is that he is in the final year of his rookie contract. He will be a restricted free agent, and he has retained the services of agent Drew Rosenhaus and will be looking for a lucrative deal. The Cowboys could put a first-round tender on Barber, which would guarantee him a $1.85 million salary. If a team were to sign him, it would owe the Cowboys a first-round draft pick. Or the Cowboys could put a first- and third-round tender on Barber, which would guarantee him a $2.35 million salary.
Midseason Grades
B Rush Offense The offensive line has been as good as advertised, and so has free-agent signee guard Leonard Davis. He has combined with center Andre Gurode to give the Cowboys a formidable force up the middle. The Cowboys are 10th in the league on the ground (130.4 yards per game), led by backup running back Marion Barber, who is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
A Pass Offense What more can you ask of Tony Romo? He has been better than expected, even with the six-turnover game against Buffalo. He leads the league's fourth-rated pass offense. He makes plays with his legs and his arm. Tight end Jason Witten has emerged as Romo's go-to receiver, but the Cowboys have an embarrassment of riches with Terrell Owens leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns and Patrick Crayton's rise as a viable no. 2 receiver.
A Rush Defense Wade Phillips came to the Cowboys with a reputation as a sack-hungry defensive coach. But he has always placed an emphasis on stopping the run first. And the Cowboys have been stout against the run, allowing more than 100 yards in a game only once. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff and defensive end Chris Canty have been anchors up front while linebacker Bradie James has cleaned up in the middle. He leads the team in tackles.
C Pass Defense The Cowboys had issues in the secondary with starting cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Terence Newman missing games because of injuries. Jacques Reeves has been solid filling in, but lacks star quality. Safeties Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin have also given up some big plays. But the return of linebacker Greg Ellis has helped the pass rush. He has 4.5 sacks in the past four games.
B Special Teams There are concerns about the Cowboys' kick and punt coverage teams after they gave up touchdowns on returns against St. Louis and Buffalo. There are also questions about the Cowboys' kickoff return unit. Tyson Thompson has struggled on returns for much of the year. There are no questions about rookie kicker Nick Folk, who has missed only two field-goal attempts, one of which was blocked, or punter Mat McBriar, who is having another Pro Bowl-caliber season. Add in a blocked field goal by Chris Canty that led to a 68-yard return for a touchdown by Pat Watkins, and the special teams have made major contributions.
A Coaching Wade Phillips might not have the stature of a Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson or a Tom Landry, but so far he has proven to be the right man for the job. His laid-back style was just what the team and organization needed. He has also followed up his promise to put his best players in position to succeed. Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Marion Barber, DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis have had a huge impact on the season.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:25 AM
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