Dallas Cowboys roster analysis: Deceptive talent
The Dallas Morning News
Dec. 31--IRVING -- In terms of talent, few teams in the NFL can match the Cowboys. Even the teams that made the playoffs will admit that.
But the Cowboys will be home this weekend, having missed the postseason with a 9-7 record after an abysmal 44-6 defeat to close the season at Philadelphia.
"We've got the best talent in the NFL," cornerback Terence Newman said, "but that doesn't always get the job done."
The Cowboys have a core of young and young enough players to compete for years to come, according to owner and general manager Jerry Jones. But the changes coach Wade Phillips promised Monday have to take place with personnel, too.
Here's a breakdown of the roster:
QUARTERBACKS Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Brooks Bollinger Romo's December has some people -- though not Jerry Jones or Wade Phillips -- wondering if he is the long-term answer. Romo must protect the ball better, but he represents the best chance of winning. Brad Johnson will be 41 next September, and his three-game stint in Romo's absence did not go well. He could be a salary-cap cut that saves $2 million. Bollinger was brought in after the first game of the season and could be re-signed to compete for the No. 2 job in 2009. The Cowboys ought to look into drafting a quarterback in the middle rounds of the draft.
RUNNING BACKS Marion Barber, Felix Jones (injured reserve), Tashard Choice, Deon Anderson, Alonzo Coleman, Julius Crosslin (practice squad), Marcus Thomas (practice squad)
Barber's first year as a full-time running back ended badly with a dislocated little toe. But with him, Jones (who is recovering from toe surgery) and Choice, the Cowboys could have one of the best tailback trios in the league because each brings something different to the table. Barber is the tough runner. Jones' speed makes him the biggest difference maker. Choice's vision makes him dangerous. Anderson had a solid lead-blocking season but was bothered by injuries.
WIDE RECEIVERS Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback (injured reserve), Sam Hurd (injured reserve), Danny Amendola (practice squad), Travis Wilson (practice squad), Paris Warren (practice squad)
Owens, Williams and Crayton are tied up with long-term contracts, but none were as effective in 2008 as they were in 2007. Owens had 1,000-plus yards and 10 touchdowns but was taken out of too many games by defenses. Williams' arrival from Detroit in a trade did not go as planned, but he and the coaches believe a full off-season will help him get in sync. Crayton's numbers dropped off because of less playing time and fewer looks. Austin, who will be a restricted free agent, showed signs of big-play ability but suffered two knee injuries that slowed his progress. Stanback will have shoulder surgery for the second straight off-season and has yet to make an impact. Hurd will be a restricted free agent. Amendola and Wilson showed progress on the practice squad.
TIGHT ENDS Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Tony Curtis, Rodney Hannah Witten led the Cowboys in catches and is going to his fifth straight Pro Bowl despite playing with shoulder, rib, ankle and knee injuries for most of the season. Rookie Bennett had moments good and bad while flashing the raw potential that makes him a big-play threat. Curtis did not progress as expected and will be a restricted free agent. Hannah was a late-season call-up from the practice squad and will be back to compete for the No. 3 job.
OFFENSIVE LINE Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier (injured reserve), Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Cory Procter, Montrae Holland, Pat McQuistan, Doug Free, Joe Berger, Ryan Gibbons (practice squad)
As a group, the line did not play as well as in 2007 even with Davis and Gurode returning to the Pro Bowl. Adams struggled with speed rushers. Kosier played in only three games, and his absence proved his value. Colombo was the Cowboys' most consistent linemen and was rewarded with a contract extension. Procter struggled in Kosier's place, and Holland took time to get accustomed to the scheme after coming from Denver in a trade. McQuistan saw little action and Free was active for only two games. The Cowboys need to look at how they evaluate linemen; they have not had success drafting them since 2002.
DEFENSIVE LINE Chris Canty, Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher, Tank Johnson, Stephen Bowen, Marcus Dixon (practice squad)
Ratliff earned his first Pro Bowl with 7.5 sacks and has become a defensive anchor. Canty is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent who might command more money from another team. Spears had a career high in tackles and enjoyed his most consistent season. Hatcher needs to make a jump in the off-season, especially if Canty isn't re-signed. Bowen showed the ability to pressure the quarterback. Johnson made few plays and is likely to play elsewhere next year.
LINEBACKERS Greg Ellis, Bradie James, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware, Kevin Burnett, Anthony Spencer, Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers, Carlos Polk, Steve Octavien Ware, one of the NFL's most dangerous players, is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year with 20 sacks. James had career highs in tackles and sacks after attacking the quarterback more. Thomas proved he can stay healthy and is still a tackling machine, but he is a free agent. Burnett, who did well in sub packages, is also a free agent and would like to be a full-time player. Ellis' sack totals dipped, as did his playing time with Spencer playing more late in the season. He is entering the last year of his contract. Carpenter, a former first-round pick, played sparingly on defense but could see his role increase if Burnett or Thomas leaves.
SECONDARY Anthony Henry, Terence Newman, Ken Hamlin, Roy Williams (injured reserve), Keith Davis, Adam Jones, Orlando Scandrick, Mike Jenkins, Pat Watkins (injured reserve), Tra Battle, Courtney Brown, Alan Ball Henry is entering the final year of his contract and could make the full-time move to safety in 2009. Newman's season was slowed by a groin surgery, and he needs off-season ankle surgery. When healthy, he remains one of the top corners. Hamlin was not as productive after signing a multiyear deal. Jones missed six games because of a suspension and one because of injury and never had the impact the Cowboys had hoped for. Williams' season ended when he fractured his forearm for the second time, and he might have played his last game given his $6.62 million cap figure in '09. Scandrick, a fifth-round pick, was the best find. Jenkins, a first-rounder, has to be more physical. Battle brought a spark on special teams and Ball might be a sub package corner. Watkins is coming off shoulder surgery and missed half the season. Brown fell out of favor late in the year.
SPECIALISTS Nick Folk, Sam Paulescu, L.P. Ladouceur, Mat McBriar (injured reserve)
Folk missed just two field goal attempts but needs to add distance to his kickoffs. Ladouceur remains a fixture at deep snapper. McBriar suffered a fractured foot but, thanks to Paulescu's struggles, saw his value rise in his absence.
Dec. 31--IRVING -- In terms of talent, few teams in the NFL can match the Cowboys. Even the teams that made the playoffs will admit that.
But the Cowboys will be home this weekend, having missed the postseason with a 9-7 record after an abysmal 44-6 defeat to close the season at Philadelphia.
"We've got the best talent in the NFL," cornerback Terence Newman said, "but that doesn't always get the job done."
The Cowboys have a core of young and young enough players to compete for years to come, according to owner and general manager Jerry Jones. But the changes coach Wade Phillips promised Monday have to take place with personnel, too.
Here's a breakdown of the roster:
QUARTERBACKS Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Brooks Bollinger Romo's December has some people -- though not Jerry Jones or Wade Phillips -- wondering if he is the long-term answer. Romo must protect the ball better, but he represents the best chance of winning. Brad Johnson will be 41 next September, and his three-game stint in Romo's absence did not go well. He could be a salary-cap cut that saves $2 million. Bollinger was brought in after the first game of the season and could be re-signed to compete for the No. 2 job in 2009. The Cowboys ought to look into drafting a quarterback in the middle rounds of the draft.
RUNNING BACKS Marion Barber, Felix Jones (injured reserve), Tashard Choice, Deon Anderson, Alonzo Coleman, Julius Crosslin (practice squad), Marcus Thomas (practice squad)
Barber's first year as a full-time running back ended badly with a dislocated little toe. But with him, Jones (who is recovering from toe surgery) and Choice, the Cowboys could have one of the best tailback trios in the league because each brings something different to the table. Barber is the tough runner. Jones' speed makes him the biggest difference maker. Choice's vision makes him dangerous. Anderson had a solid lead-blocking season but was bothered by injuries.
WIDE RECEIVERS Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback (injured reserve), Sam Hurd (injured reserve), Danny Amendola (practice squad), Travis Wilson (practice squad), Paris Warren (practice squad)
Owens, Williams and Crayton are tied up with long-term contracts, but none were as effective in 2008 as they were in 2007. Owens had 1,000-plus yards and 10 touchdowns but was taken out of too many games by defenses. Williams' arrival from Detroit in a trade did not go as planned, but he and the coaches believe a full off-season will help him get in sync. Crayton's numbers dropped off because of less playing time and fewer looks. Austin, who will be a restricted free agent, showed signs of big-play ability but suffered two knee injuries that slowed his progress. Stanback will have shoulder surgery for the second straight off-season and has yet to make an impact. Hurd will be a restricted free agent. Amendola and Wilson showed progress on the practice squad.
TIGHT ENDS Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Tony Curtis, Rodney Hannah Witten led the Cowboys in catches and is going to his fifth straight Pro Bowl despite playing with shoulder, rib, ankle and knee injuries for most of the season. Rookie Bennett had moments good and bad while flashing the raw potential that makes him a big-play threat. Curtis did not progress as expected and will be a restricted free agent. Hannah was a late-season call-up from the practice squad and will be back to compete for the No. 3 job.
OFFENSIVE LINE Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier (injured reserve), Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Cory Procter, Montrae Holland, Pat McQuistan, Doug Free, Joe Berger, Ryan Gibbons (practice squad)
As a group, the line did not play as well as in 2007 even with Davis and Gurode returning to the Pro Bowl. Adams struggled with speed rushers. Kosier played in only three games, and his absence proved his value. Colombo was the Cowboys' most consistent linemen and was rewarded with a contract extension. Procter struggled in Kosier's place, and Holland took time to get accustomed to the scheme after coming from Denver in a trade. McQuistan saw little action and Free was active for only two games. The Cowboys need to look at how they evaluate linemen; they have not had success drafting them since 2002.
DEFENSIVE LINE Chris Canty, Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher, Tank Johnson, Stephen Bowen, Marcus Dixon (practice squad)
Ratliff earned his first Pro Bowl with 7.5 sacks and has become a defensive anchor. Canty is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent who might command more money from another team. Spears had a career high in tackles and enjoyed his most consistent season. Hatcher needs to make a jump in the off-season, especially if Canty isn't re-signed. Bowen showed the ability to pressure the quarterback. Johnson made few plays and is likely to play elsewhere next year.
LINEBACKERS Greg Ellis, Bradie James, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware, Kevin Burnett, Anthony Spencer, Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers, Carlos Polk, Steve Octavien Ware, one of the NFL's most dangerous players, is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year with 20 sacks. James had career highs in tackles and sacks after attacking the quarterback more. Thomas proved he can stay healthy and is still a tackling machine, but he is a free agent. Burnett, who did well in sub packages, is also a free agent and would like to be a full-time player. Ellis' sack totals dipped, as did his playing time with Spencer playing more late in the season. He is entering the last year of his contract. Carpenter, a former first-round pick, played sparingly on defense but could see his role increase if Burnett or Thomas leaves.
SECONDARY Anthony Henry, Terence Newman, Ken Hamlin, Roy Williams (injured reserve), Keith Davis, Adam Jones, Orlando Scandrick, Mike Jenkins, Pat Watkins (injured reserve), Tra Battle, Courtney Brown, Alan Ball Henry is entering the final year of his contract and could make the full-time move to safety in 2009. Newman's season was slowed by a groin surgery, and he needs off-season ankle surgery. When healthy, he remains one of the top corners. Hamlin was not as productive after signing a multiyear deal. Jones missed six games because of a suspension and one because of injury and never had the impact the Cowboys had hoped for. Williams' season ended when he fractured his forearm for the second time, and he might have played his last game given his $6.62 million cap figure in '09. Scandrick, a fifth-round pick, was the best find. Jenkins, a first-rounder, has to be more physical. Battle brought a spark on special teams and Ball might be a sub package corner. Watkins is coming off shoulder surgery and missed half the season. Brown fell out of favor late in the year.
SPECIALISTS Nick Folk, Sam Paulescu, L.P. Ladouceur, Mat McBriar (injured reserve)
Folk missed just two field goal attempts but needs to add distance to his kickoffs. Ladouceur remains a fixture at deep snapper. McBriar suffered a fractured foot but, thanks to Paulescu's struggles, saw his value rise in his absence.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:00 AM
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