The Cowboys come to Oxnard with talent, star power and some troubled spots
By Bob Buttitta (Contact)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Cowboys in Oxnard
What: The Dallas Cowboys will arrive in Oxnard on July 24th, and an opening ceremony is scheduled for July 25th at 1:30 p.m. on the main practice field which will lead into the Cowboys' first practice at 2:30 p.m.
Where: River Ridge Fields
Admission: Free
Parking: Lot in front of the practice facilities on Vineyard.
Special activities: A wide range of interactive games and exhibits are located just outside the practice area.
Autographs: Players sign autographs after practice as they come off the field, but there are not official sessions offered.
Cowboys practice schedule (subject to change without notice)
July 25: 2:15-4:30 p.m. (shorts and helmets)
July 26: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
July 27: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
July 28: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m. (special teams practice).
July 29: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
July 30: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
July 31: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 1: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
August 2: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 3: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 4: 8:50-11:00 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
August 5: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
Aug. 6: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
August 7: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 8: 8-10:45 a.m.
August 11: 2:15-4:30 p.m. (special teams).
August 12: 10:45 a.m.
The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a 13-3 season and have a roster that includes 13 Pro Bowl players.
Under first-year coach Wade Phillips, the Cowboys turned in a sensational 2007 regular season, tying the Green Bay Packers for most wins in the NFC and scoring more points than any other team in Cowboys history.
But like the previous season, the Cowboys struggled down the stretch.
Despite having home-field advantage in the playoffs, they got knocked out in the divisional round by the New York Giants, their NFC East rival and the eventual Super Bowl champions.
The loss continued an ominous streak of not winning a playoff game since 1996.
Optimism is again running high at Valley Ranch, but if the Cowboys, who open camp in Oxnard on Thursday, plan to be playing in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., in February, they need to get several key questions answered before they leave Oxnard on Aug. 12.
Who is No. 2?
In Terrell Owens, the Cowboys have one of football's premier receivers.
Owens turned in another spectacular season in 2007, catching 81 passes for 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns. Making Owens' effort even more impressive is the team did not having a legitimate No. 2 receiver.
Prior to last season, that role had been filled capably by Terry Glenn, but a knee injury kept him out nearly all of 2007. The team isn't sure Glenn will ever return to form; the Cowboys told Glenn in order to come to camp he must agree to an injury settlement, which he has balked at accepting. Even if he returns, no one knows how well or if Glenn can play.
When Glenn went out, the team turned the No. 2 job over to Patrick Crayton, who is a capable receiver, but not good enough to draw double coverage away from Owens. Crayton had some decent games in 2007, but dropped two key passes in the playoff game against the Giants. He is really better suited as a No. 3 guy.
Dallas has been hoping Sam Hurd or Miles Austin would develop into a big-time threat. Hurd shows flashes, but must make some big strides if he is going to fill that role.
How desperate is Dallas to get Owens help on the outside? They have toyed with the idea of splitting All-Pro tight end Jason Witten out wide the majority of the time. Witten is one of the game's best tight ends (96 catches, 1,145 yards, seven touchdowns), but he may be less effective outside against a cornerback.
There has been rumor of a trade, perhaps for Joe Horn from Atlanta, but for now, Dallas needs to get its answer in camp.
Can Marion Barber thrive as a No. 1 guy?
Former Cowboys coach Bill Parcell loved Marion Barber from the moment he first saw him. After last season, it is easy to see what Parcells liked in the former Minnesota standout. Barber is one of the game's most punishing runners, reminding people of another former bruiser who played in Texas, Earl Campbell. Despite getting just 204 carries, Barber rushed for a team-high 975 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
The lower number of touches was a results of sharing time with Julius Jones, who started more games than Barber. Jones had 164 carries and gained 588 yards in 2007, but he signed a deal with Seattle, meaning Barber must carry the bulk of the load. If first-round pick Felix Jones blossoms like the team expects, Barber could have some help, but right now he's the man. It's a role Barber has never had, either with the Cowboys or in college, where he also split carries with a teammate. Barber's style makes him susceptible to injury, so there is question if he can hold up getting 400-plus carries.
Who starts in the secondary?
Cornerback Terrance Newman and free safety Ken Hamlin both signed large contracts in the offseason and are assured of being in the starting lineup this season.
Who will join them is one of the key questions on the defensive side for the Cowboys. Anthony Henry and Roy Williams are the incumbents at the other corner and safety spots, but both will have to prove themselves during camp in order to stay as starters.
It wasn't long ago Williams was considered the prototype strong safety. He is still a big hitter capable of making some big plays, but in the last few seasons, his lack of coverage skills has been exposed. In today's NFL, where teams are lining up as many as four wide receivers on many occasions, Williams' lack of coverage skills could be too much of a detriment to a defensive unit that is expected to be among the league's best.
Henry has been a standout corner, but he figures to be pushed hard by newcomers Adam Jones and rookie Mike Jenkins. Jones and Jenkins are much quicker than Henry and their speed and coverage skills might allow Dallas to play more man coverage, opening up more blitz packages.
One solution that has been talked about is moving Henry to safety, a move he told the Fort Worth Star Telegram he would be willing to consider. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Henry is big enough to play safety and he has the pass coverage skills that Williams lacks. But Jones and Jenkins must show they know the defense before such a move can take place. The pass-coverage issues are something other defenders are thinking about.
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware said fixing the pass coverage is a key.
"We did a good job on first and second down against the run last season, but then a lot of times we didn't get off the field because we would give up plays through the air," Ware said. "That is an area we are working hard to improve"
How much impact will Adam Jones and Zach Thomas have?
Jones has been a model citizen and teammate since joining the Cowboys in a trade from the Tennessee Titans. His speed and playmaking ability remind many people of former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders, who Jones has become friends with since arriving in Dallas. For Jones to make an impact, he must first get reinstated to play in the regular season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. That ruling is expected to come down during training camp.
Assuming he is reinstated and that Jones can pick up the defense, he figures to be a difference-maker in the secondary. In addition to his skills as a cornerback, Jones is an explosive return man, who has returned four punts for touchdowns in his young career.
Thomas, a native of Texas, comes home to Dallas after a spectacular career with the Miami Dolphins. Thomas is far from the prototypical linebacker used in Dallas' 3-4 alignment, so coaches will be looking to make sure he can make the switch. What he lacks in size, Thomas more than makes up for with intelligence and desire.
Will Tony Romo continue to improve?
Romo's wild ride from NFL nobody to NFL superstar got started at training camp in Oxnard two years ago when Parcells decided he needed to find out if the unproven quarterback out of Northern Illinois could be a starter in the NFL.
Parcells gave Romo more reps with the first team that training camp and installed him as the starter by midseason. In the season and a half he has been a starter, Romo has made big strides.
In 2007, his first full season as a starter, he passed for 4,211 yards and 36 touchdowns, both team records. But in each of the last two seasons, Romo has sputtered a bit late in the year and he is 0-2 in the playoffs as a starter.
While his off-the-field life with Jessica Simpson gets a lot of attention, Romo said his first love is football.
"I'm not married and I don't have kids, so football consumes a lot of my life," Romo said. "I have been lucky enough to do some good things, but there are always things you need to improve and get better at. In the offseason I play a lot of competitive golf because I want to feel that pressure of winning and losing, so I can make myself mentally tougher."
Romo said this offseason he's worked on improving his footwork and his delivery to allow him to get rid of the ball more quickly.
While the coaches and owner Jerry Jones might not get complete answers to their questions by the time they break from camp from Oxnard, they should have a much better idea of what direction they need to go to be a Super Bowl contender.
Barring any major injuries, Dallas is the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are one of the most well-balanced teams in football. But as they discovered last season, one bad game can ruin a great year. With the team's new stadium opening in 2009, Jerry Jones would love to be able to bring a Super Bowl trophy with him from 2008.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Cowboys in Oxnard
What: The Dallas Cowboys will arrive in Oxnard on July 24th, and an opening ceremony is scheduled for July 25th at 1:30 p.m. on the main practice field which will lead into the Cowboys' first practice at 2:30 p.m.
Where: River Ridge Fields
Admission: Free
Parking: Lot in front of the practice facilities on Vineyard.
Special activities: A wide range of interactive games and exhibits are located just outside the practice area.
Autographs: Players sign autographs after practice as they come off the field, but there are not official sessions offered.
Cowboys practice schedule (subject to change without notice)
July 25: 2:15-4:30 p.m. (shorts and helmets)
July 26: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
July 27: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
July 28: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m. (special teams practice).
July 29: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
July 30: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
July 31: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 1: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
August 2: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 3: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 4: 8:50-11:00 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
August 5: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
Aug. 6: 8:50-11 a.m. and 3:15-5 p.m.
August 7: 2:15-4:30 p.m.
August 8: 8-10:45 a.m.
August 11: 2:15-4:30 p.m. (special teams).
August 12: 10:45 a.m.
The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a 13-3 season and have a roster that includes 13 Pro Bowl players.
Under first-year coach Wade Phillips, the Cowboys turned in a sensational 2007 regular season, tying the Green Bay Packers for most wins in the NFC and scoring more points than any other team in Cowboys history.
But like the previous season, the Cowboys struggled down the stretch.
Despite having home-field advantage in the playoffs, they got knocked out in the divisional round by the New York Giants, their NFC East rival and the eventual Super Bowl champions.
The loss continued an ominous streak of not winning a playoff game since 1996.
Optimism is again running high at Valley Ranch, but if the Cowboys, who open camp in Oxnard on Thursday, plan to be playing in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla., in February, they need to get several key questions answered before they leave Oxnard on Aug. 12.
Who is No. 2?
In Terrell Owens, the Cowboys have one of football's premier receivers.
Owens turned in another spectacular season in 2007, catching 81 passes for 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns. Making Owens' effort even more impressive is the team did not having a legitimate No. 2 receiver.
Prior to last season, that role had been filled capably by Terry Glenn, but a knee injury kept him out nearly all of 2007. The team isn't sure Glenn will ever return to form; the Cowboys told Glenn in order to come to camp he must agree to an injury settlement, which he has balked at accepting. Even if he returns, no one knows how well or if Glenn can play.
When Glenn went out, the team turned the No. 2 job over to Patrick Crayton, who is a capable receiver, but not good enough to draw double coverage away from Owens. Crayton had some decent games in 2007, but dropped two key passes in the playoff game against the Giants. He is really better suited as a No. 3 guy.
Dallas has been hoping Sam Hurd or Miles Austin would develop into a big-time threat. Hurd shows flashes, but must make some big strides if he is going to fill that role.
How desperate is Dallas to get Owens help on the outside? They have toyed with the idea of splitting All-Pro tight end Jason Witten out wide the majority of the time. Witten is one of the game's best tight ends (96 catches, 1,145 yards, seven touchdowns), but he may be less effective outside against a cornerback.
There has been rumor of a trade, perhaps for Joe Horn from Atlanta, but for now, Dallas needs to get its answer in camp.
Can Marion Barber thrive as a No. 1 guy?
Former Cowboys coach Bill Parcell loved Marion Barber from the moment he first saw him. After last season, it is easy to see what Parcells liked in the former Minnesota standout. Barber is one of the game's most punishing runners, reminding people of another former bruiser who played in Texas, Earl Campbell. Despite getting just 204 carries, Barber rushed for a team-high 975 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.
The lower number of touches was a results of sharing time with Julius Jones, who started more games than Barber. Jones had 164 carries and gained 588 yards in 2007, but he signed a deal with Seattle, meaning Barber must carry the bulk of the load. If first-round pick Felix Jones blossoms like the team expects, Barber could have some help, but right now he's the man. It's a role Barber has never had, either with the Cowboys or in college, where he also split carries with a teammate. Barber's style makes him susceptible to injury, so there is question if he can hold up getting 400-plus carries.
Who starts in the secondary?
Cornerback Terrance Newman and free safety Ken Hamlin both signed large contracts in the offseason and are assured of being in the starting lineup this season.
Who will join them is one of the key questions on the defensive side for the Cowboys. Anthony Henry and Roy Williams are the incumbents at the other corner and safety spots, but both will have to prove themselves during camp in order to stay as starters.
It wasn't long ago Williams was considered the prototype strong safety. He is still a big hitter capable of making some big plays, but in the last few seasons, his lack of coverage skills has been exposed. In today's NFL, where teams are lining up as many as four wide receivers on many occasions, Williams' lack of coverage skills could be too much of a detriment to a defensive unit that is expected to be among the league's best.
Henry has been a standout corner, but he figures to be pushed hard by newcomers Adam Jones and rookie Mike Jenkins. Jones and Jenkins are much quicker than Henry and their speed and coverage skills might allow Dallas to play more man coverage, opening up more blitz packages.
One solution that has been talked about is moving Henry to safety, a move he told the Fort Worth Star Telegram he would be willing to consider. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Henry is big enough to play safety and he has the pass coverage skills that Williams lacks. But Jones and Jenkins must show they know the defense before such a move can take place. The pass-coverage issues are something other defenders are thinking about.
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware said fixing the pass coverage is a key.
"We did a good job on first and second down against the run last season, but then a lot of times we didn't get off the field because we would give up plays through the air," Ware said. "That is an area we are working hard to improve"
How much impact will Adam Jones and Zach Thomas have?
Jones has been a model citizen and teammate since joining the Cowboys in a trade from the Tennessee Titans. His speed and playmaking ability remind many people of former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders, who Jones has become friends with since arriving in Dallas. For Jones to make an impact, he must first get reinstated to play in the regular season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. That ruling is expected to come down during training camp.
Assuming he is reinstated and that Jones can pick up the defense, he figures to be a difference-maker in the secondary. In addition to his skills as a cornerback, Jones is an explosive return man, who has returned four punts for touchdowns in his young career.
Thomas, a native of Texas, comes home to Dallas after a spectacular career with the Miami Dolphins. Thomas is far from the prototypical linebacker used in Dallas' 3-4 alignment, so coaches will be looking to make sure he can make the switch. What he lacks in size, Thomas more than makes up for with intelligence and desire.
Will Tony Romo continue to improve?
Romo's wild ride from NFL nobody to NFL superstar got started at training camp in Oxnard two years ago when Parcells decided he needed to find out if the unproven quarterback out of Northern Illinois could be a starter in the NFL.
Parcells gave Romo more reps with the first team that training camp and installed him as the starter by midseason. In the season and a half he has been a starter, Romo has made big strides.
In 2007, his first full season as a starter, he passed for 4,211 yards and 36 touchdowns, both team records. But in each of the last two seasons, Romo has sputtered a bit late in the year and he is 0-2 in the playoffs as a starter.
While his off-the-field life with Jessica Simpson gets a lot of attention, Romo said his first love is football.
"I'm not married and I don't have kids, so football consumes a lot of my life," Romo said. "I have been lucky enough to do some good things, but there are always things you need to improve and get better at. In the offseason I play a lot of competitive golf because I want to feel that pressure of winning and losing, so I can make myself mentally tougher."
Romo said this offseason he's worked on improving his footwork and his delivery to allow him to get rid of the ball more quickly.
While the coaches and owner Jerry Jones might not get complete answers to their questions by the time they break from camp from Oxnard, they should have a much better idea of what direction they need to go to be a Super Bowl contender.
Barring any major injuries, Dallas is the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are one of the most well-balanced teams in football. But as they discovered last season, one bad game can ruin a great year. With the team's new stadium opening in 2009, Jerry Jones would love to be able to bring a Super Bowl trophy with him from 2008.
posted by The Gryphon at 12:49 PM
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