Cowboys Team Report
Posted: April 8, 2008
Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
A weekly update on the Dallas Cowboys, including updates on the possibility of drafting Darren McFadden, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens.
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: Owner Jerry Jones has made it pretty clear that he's not going to move up high in the draft to select Arkansas RB Darren McFadden. Jones said he doesn't like the steep price tag the comes with high picks, particularly a player like McFadden who might be selected in the top 5 and net a deal worth as much as $30 million in guaranteed money. Second, Jones doesn't want to give up the 22nd and 28th picks in the first round, not to mention the additional picks and/or players it would cost to move high enough to get McFadden. Last, Jones doesn't want to pay big for a back who will be a part-time player with the Cowboys because of the presence of Marion Barber. ...
Jones has spent a lot of time talking about dealing one of the team's first-round picks for a proven receiver who can step into the lineup right away. The receivers believed to be most available are the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin, the Bengals' Chad Johnson and the Lions' Roy Williams. Jones' goal is to surround QB Tony Romo with as many playmakers as possible, in part because of how the Cowboys' offense faltered in December. Most rookie receivers struggle to adjust to the speed and physical nature of the NFL game, which is why Jones would prefer to trade for one of the aforementioned veterans.
HARD TRUTH: This year is all about winning in the postseason. Nothing else matters to Jones, whose team has not won a playoff game since 1996. Dallas has the talent to win a Super Bowl, as the bevy of Pro Bowl players on the roster proves, but after beating Green Bay and essentially earning the top seed in the NFC last year, the team lacked the mental toughness to maintain the focus and discipline it needed to make noise in the postseason. Perhaps the playoff disappointments of the past two years, as well as the continued maturation of key players such as Romo and Barber, will help Dallas stay focused this year.
SCOUTING REPORT: LG Kyle Kosier has been a dependable starter for Dallas the past two seasons, but he'll have to perform even better this season to keep his starting job. That's because new line coach Hudson Houck always wants the five best linemen on the field, regardless of position. Last year, the Cowboys tried to give second-year OT Pat McQuistan an opportunity to take Kosier's job. He wasn't ready but will probably get another opportunity this year. Kosier is a tough competitor who does a nice job in the running game. As a pass protector, he's solid but gets bull rushed if he doesn't play with perfect technique. He's a smart player who makes few mental mistakes, but the Cowboys will keep looking for an upgrade at this position.
OFFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: Expect Dallas to be even more aggressive in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's second season. The team will continue trying to acquire another quality wideout to play opposite Terrell Owens, so Garrett can continue to feel comfortable being aggressive. Garrett likes to throw; by adding another high-caliber receiver, the team would give Romo the threats he needs to make the offense go while allowing Garrett the luxury of using three- and four-receiver formations as much as he wants. Dallas wants to exploit defenses that choose to double-team Owens by having a speed receiver line up on the same side of the field as TE Jason Witten. The hope is the combination of Witten and the speed receiver would force safeties to make tough decisions about whom to cover when both players are running vertical routes.
Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
A weekly update on the Dallas Cowboys, including updates on the possibility of drafting Darren McFadden, Tony Romo and Terrell Owens.
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: Owner Jerry Jones has made it pretty clear that he's not going to move up high in the draft to select Arkansas RB Darren McFadden. Jones said he doesn't like the steep price tag the comes with high picks, particularly a player like McFadden who might be selected in the top 5 and net a deal worth as much as $30 million in guaranteed money. Second, Jones doesn't want to give up the 22nd and 28th picks in the first round, not to mention the additional picks and/or players it would cost to move high enough to get McFadden. Last, Jones doesn't want to pay big for a back who will be a part-time player with the Cowboys because of the presence of Marion Barber. ...
Jones has spent a lot of time talking about dealing one of the team's first-round picks for a proven receiver who can step into the lineup right away. The receivers believed to be most available are the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin, the Bengals' Chad Johnson and the Lions' Roy Williams. Jones' goal is to surround QB Tony Romo with as many playmakers as possible, in part because of how the Cowboys' offense faltered in December. Most rookie receivers struggle to adjust to the speed and physical nature of the NFL game, which is why Jones would prefer to trade for one of the aforementioned veterans.
HARD TRUTH: This year is all about winning in the postseason. Nothing else matters to Jones, whose team has not won a playoff game since 1996. Dallas has the talent to win a Super Bowl, as the bevy of Pro Bowl players on the roster proves, but after beating Green Bay and essentially earning the top seed in the NFC last year, the team lacked the mental toughness to maintain the focus and discipline it needed to make noise in the postseason. Perhaps the playoff disappointments of the past two years, as well as the continued maturation of key players such as Romo and Barber, will help Dallas stay focused this year.
SCOUTING REPORT: LG Kyle Kosier has been a dependable starter for Dallas the past two seasons, but he'll have to perform even better this season to keep his starting job. That's because new line coach Hudson Houck always wants the five best linemen on the field, regardless of position. Last year, the Cowboys tried to give second-year OT Pat McQuistan an opportunity to take Kosier's job. He wasn't ready but will probably get another opportunity this year. Kosier is a tough competitor who does a nice job in the running game. As a pass protector, he's solid but gets bull rushed if he doesn't play with perfect technique. He's a smart player who makes few mental mistakes, but the Cowboys will keep looking for an upgrade at this position.
OFFENSIVE ADJUSTMENTS: Expect Dallas to be even more aggressive in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's second season. The team will continue trying to acquire another quality wideout to play opposite Terrell Owens, so Garrett can continue to feel comfortable being aggressive. Garrett likes to throw; by adding another high-caliber receiver, the team would give Romo the threats he needs to make the offense go while allowing Garrett the luxury of using three- and four-receiver formations as much as he wants. Dallas wants to exploit defenses that choose to double-team Owens by having a speed receiver line up on the same side of the field as TE Jason Witten. The hope is the combination of Witten and the speed receiver would force safeties to make tough decisions about whom to cover when both players are running vertical routes.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:21 AM
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