Cowboys Team Report
Jean-Jacques Taylor
For Sporting News
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: The Cowboys are still looking for a way to get the most from former first-round pick Bobby Carpenter. After trying him at outside linebacker and inside linebacker on the strong side, they are moving him to inside linebacker on the weak side. The coaching staff hopes the combination of needing to fight through less traffic because he is on the weakside and the presence of end Chris Canty, who can protect him, will allow Carpenter to chase the ball and make plays.
The knock on Carpenter is that he's not a physical defender, which is exposed in the 3-4 because the linebackers must win so many one-on-one battles with guards who often outweigh them by 75 pounds. Zach Thomas will be the starter while Carpenter competes with Kevin Burnett for playing time. Burnett, a former second-round pick, is an athletic playmaker who played primarily in the nickel package last year. . . .
Mike Jenkins, one of the team's two first-round picks this year, made a positive impression in the first rookie mini-camp. He showed fluid footwork and good instincts, which is one of the reasons the Cowboys thought he was the cornerback most ready to contribute this season.
The Cowboys expect Jenkins to play quite a bit this year whether Pacman Jones is on the team or not. The Cowboys can line up Jenkins outside and have Terence Newman cover the slot. Or they can use him the dime. Or they can move Anthony Henry to safety in some nickel and dime schemes and let Jenkins play his spot on the outside.
SCOUTING REPORT: Jay Ratliff, a former seventh-round pick, has made himself an invaluable member of the Cowboys' defense with his playmaking skills. As a nose tackle, his job is to force double-teams every play and let others make tackles. But Ratliff plays so hard every play that he often handles the double-team and makes the play himself.
Ratliff plays with good pad level and does a good job of using his hands to shed blockers, but his biggest asset is his relentlessness to make plays. He's a natural defensive end, so he's undersized to play nose tackle, but he makes up for his lack of girth with quickness and technique.
CORNERBACK ANALYSIS: If Jones gets reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell, then the Cowboys will have one of the game's best cornerback trios, with the talented Jenkins right behind. Newman made the Pro Bowl last year and moves closer to being an elite player every year, though he needs to intercept more passes to get to the next level.
Henry is an underrated player who excels at using his long arms to knock down passes. He finished with six interceptions last year, despite being hobbled much of the season with a high ankle sprain.
Jones would give the Cowboys another dynamic cornerback capable of covering receivers one-on-one. All of that allows the Cowboys to be even more aggressive in their blitz packages.
For Sporting News
PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: The Cowboys are still looking for a way to get the most from former first-round pick Bobby Carpenter. After trying him at outside linebacker and inside linebacker on the strong side, they are moving him to inside linebacker on the weak side. The coaching staff hopes the combination of needing to fight through less traffic because he is on the weakside and the presence of end Chris Canty, who can protect him, will allow Carpenter to chase the ball and make plays.
The knock on Carpenter is that he's not a physical defender, which is exposed in the 3-4 because the linebackers must win so many one-on-one battles with guards who often outweigh them by 75 pounds. Zach Thomas will be the starter while Carpenter competes with Kevin Burnett for playing time. Burnett, a former second-round pick, is an athletic playmaker who played primarily in the nickel package last year. . . .
Mike Jenkins, one of the team's two first-round picks this year, made a positive impression in the first rookie mini-camp. He showed fluid footwork and good instincts, which is one of the reasons the Cowboys thought he was the cornerback most ready to contribute this season.
The Cowboys expect Jenkins to play quite a bit this year whether Pacman Jones is on the team or not. The Cowboys can line up Jenkins outside and have Terence Newman cover the slot. Or they can use him the dime. Or they can move Anthony Henry to safety in some nickel and dime schemes and let Jenkins play his spot on the outside.
SCOUTING REPORT: Jay Ratliff, a former seventh-round pick, has made himself an invaluable member of the Cowboys' defense with his playmaking skills. As a nose tackle, his job is to force double-teams every play and let others make tackles. But Ratliff plays so hard every play that he often handles the double-team and makes the play himself.
Ratliff plays with good pad level and does a good job of using his hands to shed blockers, but his biggest asset is his relentlessness to make plays. He's a natural defensive end, so he's undersized to play nose tackle, but he makes up for his lack of girth with quickness and technique.
CORNERBACK ANALYSIS: If Jones gets reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell, then the Cowboys will have one of the game's best cornerback trios, with the talented Jenkins right behind. Newman made the Pro Bowl last year and moves closer to being an elite player every year, though he needs to intercept more passes to get to the next level.
Henry is an underrated player who excels at using his long arms to knock down passes. He finished with six interceptions last year, despite being hobbled much of the season with a high ankle sprain.
Jones would give the Cowboys another dynamic cornerback capable of covering receivers one-on-one. All of that allows the Cowboys to be even more aggressive in their blitz packages.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:15 PM
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