Don't doubt them Cowboys: Dallas gets better with age
By Charley Casserly
CBS Sports
Last year the Dallas Cowboys ended the season with a 13-3 record and were the favorites to go to the Super Bowl. They defeated the New York Giants twice in the regular season and had home-field advantage for the playoffs. Another win over the Giants and then a rematch at home against a Green Bay Packers team they had already beaten earlier in the season was all that prevented them from going to the Super Bowl.
We all know what happened. Dallas lost to the Giants and was eliminated from the playoffs.
This season's Cowboys are better equipped to handle the playoffs. It starts with the coaching staff having a better understanding of the players. This allows them to use their personnel to the best of their ability.
Much has been said about Tony Romo's mistakes in the past two playoffs. We have to remember he is only in his third year as a starting quarterback in the NFL. His style is that of a gunslinger at times, but in talking to him during the past two years at training camp, I see a young quarterback who is gaining experience.
Romo talks about being more patient in the pocket, not sliding up into the protection in front of him or forcing the ball into coverage, and working to get the ball to the secondary receivers.
Also, Jason Garrett is in his second year as an offensive coordinator. That is huge for the Cowboys. Garrett did a good job last year and will only get better.
The Cowboys are significantly better at running back. Marion Barber seems improved over last year and Felix Jones is an upgrade over Julius Jones. When Julius Jones came out of college, he was taken in the second round and most people did not have him rated that high.
Felix Jones, however, was rated by most people to be a first-round or early second-round pick, mainly because of his speed. The Cowboys have to be careful not to overuse Jones. He will best be used the way they are using him now, as a kick returner and a change-of-pace back. They do need to use him to take the load off Barber, whom you have to keep fresh for late in the season.
With the combination of Garrett, Romo and an improved running back situation, the Cowboys offense should be better late in the season and in the playoffs.
The defensive line is improved because the players are a year older and more experienced. This is a young group which will continue to improve even as the season progresses. Their best defensive linemen right now is nose tackle Jay Ratliff. He is quick and explosive with a high motor. This group does not have a dominating player, but its depth is its strength.
At linebacker, two aspects stick out. The first is DeMarcus Ware. He is the type of player who can take over a game when it counts, as well as someone you build your game plan around. His play at outside linebacker also makes everyone around him better because of the attention opposing offenses give him. The Cowboys do a good job of moving him around to make it harder for the offense to block him.
The other linebacker who has impressed me is Zach Thomas. He still has the ability to make plays in the running game, plus I think his work ethic is a great example for other players. I think he will be an asset in the playoffs, meeting rooms and locker room.
The other area the Cowboys have improved is cornerback. Adam Jones should continue to get better as the season goes forward. He is a little rusty. He was never technically sound, so to learn a new system after being out for a year is going to hurt him early in the season. He should be much better late in the season than he is now. Also the two rookie corners, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick have been good additions to a secondary that was lacking at cornerback last year.
Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, who is a bright young coach, has a staff that he is more familiar with than last year and he also knows his players better in his second year as defensive coordinator. I expect the Cowboys to better on defense this year.
Sometimes, a team has to experience a tough loss in the playoffs to understand what it takes to win in the playoffs. I think this where the Cowboys are this year. The only issue that bothers me is the number of penalties the Cowboys accumulate. They must overcome this problem to win in the playoffs.
CBS Sports
Last year the Dallas Cowboys ended the season with a 13-3 record and were the favorites to go to the Super Bowl. They defeated the New York Giants twice in the regular season and had home-field advantage for the playoffs. Another win over the Giants and then a rematch at home against a Green Bay Packers team they had already beaten earlier in the season was all that prevented them from going to the Super Bowl.
We all know what happened. Dallas lost to the Giants and was eliminated from the playoffs.
This season's Cowboys are better equipped to handle the playoffs. It starts with the coaching staff having a better understanding of the players. This allows them to use their personnel to the best of their ability.
Much has been said about Tony Romo's mistakes in the past two playoffs. We have to remember he is only in his third year as a starting quarterback in the NFL. His style is that of a gunslinger at times, but in talking to him during the past two years at training camp, I see a young quarterback who is gaining experience.
Romo talks about being more patient in the pocket, not sliding up into the protection in front of him or forcing the ball into coverage, and working to get the ball to the secondary receivers.
Also, Jason Garrett is in his second year as an offensive coordinator. That is huge for the Cowboys. Garrett did a good job last year and will only get better.
The Cowboys are significantly better at running back. Marion Barber seems improved over last year and Felix Jones is an upgrade over Julius Jones. When Julius Jones came out of college, he was taken in the second round and most people did not have him rated that high.
Felix Jones, however, was rated by most people to be a first-round or early second-round pick, mainly because of his speed. The Cowboys have to be careful not to overuse Jones. He will best be used the way they are using him now, as a kick returner and a change-of-pace back. They do need to use him to take the load off Barber, whom you have to keep fresh for late in the season.
With the combination of Garrett, Romo and an improved running back situation, the Cowboys offense should be better late in the season and in the playoffs.
The defensive line is improved because the players are a year older and more experienced. This is a young group which will continue to improve even as the season progresses. Their best defensive linemen right now is nose tackle Jay Ratliff. He is quick and explosive with a high motor. This group does not have a dominating player, but its depth is its strength.
At linebacker, two aspects stick out. The first is DeMarcus Ware. He is the type of player who can take over a game when it counts, as well as someone you build your game plan around. His play at outside linebacker also makes everyone around him better because of the attention opposing offenses give him. The Cowboys do a good job of moving him around to make it harder for the offense to block him.
The other linebacker who has impressed me is Zach Thomas. He still has the ability to make plays in the running game, plus I think his work ethic is a great example for other players. I think he will be an asset in the playoffs, meeting rooms and locker room.
The other area the Cowboys have improved is cornerback. Adam Jones should continue to get better as the season goes forward. He is a little rusty. He was never technically sound, so to learn a new system after being out for a year is going to hurt him early in the season. He should be much better late in the season than he is now. Also the two rookie corners, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick have been good additions to a secondary that was lacking at cornerback last year.
Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, who is a bright young coach, has a staff that he is more familiar with than last year and he also knows his players better in his second year as defensive coordinator. I expect the Cowboys to better on defense this year.
Sometimes, a team has to experience a tough loss in the playoffs to understand what it takes to win in the playoffs. I think this where the Cowboys are this year. The only issue that bothers me is the number of penalties the Cowboys accumulate. They must overcome this problem to win in the playoffs.
posted by The Gryphon at 5:56 PM
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