Dallas Cowboys Offense Has Plenty of 'Wow'
By Albert Breer, The Dallas Morning News
Jun. 2--IRVING -- Wade Phillips can rattle off the stats like they're tattooed on his palm.
Third in total offense. Fourth in passing yards. Second in yards per pass attempt and touchdown passes.
And that's why the Cowboys coach has had enough of the talk about adding a "wow" factor. Phillips remembers having enough "wow" to go around in last year's offense, one of the most prolific the Cowboys have ever fielded.
"We set all the passing records with the guys we have," Phillips said. "And we think those other guys will come on and do better and better."
The Cowboys' 1-2 punch at wide receiver, Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, combined for 131 catches in 2007. That ranked 15th among wide receiver duos.
But the passing game doesn't begin and end out wide. And if you add tight end Jason Witten to the mix, things change considerably. Owens and Witten combined for 177 receptions last year, third best for a pair of teammates.
"Other receivers came in and played well last year when Terry Glenn was hurt, and, obviously, you've got a guy like Witt and some of the other guys we have as weapons on this offense that are good football players," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "They're all going to complement each other, and to add a couple young guys to what we had, depending on how they come along, it's an exciting thing for us as coaches."
There remains the possibility of Glenn, who has yet to practice this spring, returning.
And that brings up the primary concern at receiver, which has more to do with insurance than production. Owens has played in all 16 games in only one of his last six seasons. And in that one, 2006, he fought through a broken hand and a torn tendon in a finger. While Glenn's health has improved since undergoing a pair of surgeries to his right knee in 2007, there's no certainty he'll play and produce at his accustomed level.
Crayton has become a factor, improving in each of his four seasons, and catching a career-best 50 balls last year. But beyond those three, there is no receiver who's had so much as a 20-catch season in the NFL.
Still, there are other areas where the slack can be picked up and pressure can be alleviated from All-Pros Owens and Witten. Marion Barber (44 catches in 2007) is a proven threat in the passing game, and the Cowboys drafted a pair of versatile pieces in the first two rounds in running back Felix Jones and tight end Martellus Bennett.
"I'm looking at T.O.'s numbers, and I don't think he's feeling a lot of pressure right now," Crayton said. "I think we're handling our business enough to where there's no pressure on T.O. And I think if you asked him now, he's not saying, 'Man, I'm not getting open a lot.' "
Then, there's this: The last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl, it was with Kevin Williams, who caught 38 balls that season opposite Michael Irvin. Similar to what can be expected from Barber and Witten, Jay Novacek and Emmitt Smith filled in the blanks with 62 catches apiece.
The hope now is that all those pieces, from the pass protection through all five skill positions, will work in better concert with a second year in Garrett's system. With so many of the primary pieces returning at the skill spots, and the rookies added, there seems to be every chance of that happening.
"I would say last year, this offense was a little transfixed," Owens said. "Jason, he's added some new wrinkles to the offense. And so the offense will be a little more contoured this year."
Jun. 2--IRVING -- Wade Phillips can rattle off the stats like they're tattooed on his palm.
Third in total offense. Fourth in passing yards. Second in yards per pass attempt and touchdown passes.
And that's why the Cowboys coach has had enough of the talk about adding a "wow" factor. Phillips remembers having enough "wow" to go around in last year's offense, one of the most prolific the Cowboys have ever fielded.
"We set all the passing records with the guys we have," Phillips said. "And we think those other guys will come on and do better and better."
The Cowboys' 1-2 punch at wide receiver, Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, combined for 131 catches in 2007. That ranked 15th among wide receiver duos.
But the passing game doesn't begin and end out wide. And if you add tight end Jason Witten to the mix, things change considerably. Owens and Witten combined for 177 receptions last year, third best for a pair of teammates.
"Other receivers came in and played well last year when Terry Glenn was hurt, and, obviously, you've got a guy like Witt and some of the other guys we have as weapons on this offense that are good football players," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "They're all going to complement each other, and to add a couple young guys to what we had, depending on how they come along, it's an exciting thing for us as coaches."
There remains the possibility of Glenn, who has yet to practice this spring, returning.
And that brings up the primary concern at receiver, which has more to do with insurance than production. Owens has played in all 16 games in only one of his last six seasons. And in that one, 2006, he fought through a broken hand and a torn tendon in a finger. While Glenn's health has improved since undergoing a pair of surgeries to his right knee in 2007, there's no certainty he'll play and produce at his accustomed level.
Crayton has become a factor, improving in each of his four seasons, and catching a career-best 50 balls last year. But beyond those three, there is no receiver who's had so much as a 20-catch season in the NFL.
Still, there are other areas where the slack can be picked up and pressure can be alleviated from All-Pros Owens and Witten. Marion Barber (44 catches in 2007) is a proven threat in the passing game, and the Cowboys drafted a pair of versatile pieces in the first two rounds in running back Felix Jones and tight end Martellus Bennett.
"I'm looking at T.O.'s numbers, and I don't think he's feeling a lot of pressure right now," Crayton said. "I think we're handling our business enough to where there's no pressure on T.O. And I think if you asked him now, he's not saying, 'Man, I'm not getting open a lot.' "
Then, there's this: The last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl, it was with Kevin Williams, who caught 38 balls that season opposite Michael Irvin. Similar to what can be expected from Barber and Witten, Jay Novacek and Emmitt Smith filled in the blanks with 62 catches apiece.
The hope now is that all those pieces, from the pass protection through all five skill positions, will work in better concert with a second year in Garrett's system. With so many of the primary pieces returning at the skill spots, and the rookies added, there seems to be every chance of that happening.
"I would say last year, this offense was a little transfixed," Owens said. "Jason, he's added some new wrinkles to the offense. And so the offense will be a little more contoured this year."
posted by The Gryphon at 5:24 PM
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