SN: Cowboys' offseason report: Emphasis moves to run game
Posted: April 2, 2009
Things are changing in Dallas. Terrell Owens is gone as the offense looks to move more toward a three-headed run oriented attack, and some of the core players on defense are gone. But this is a critical year for coach Wade Phillips, who must erase an embarrassing finish to the '08 season and get his new squad off to a fast start to keep the hot-seat stories at bay.
Best free-agent move
You could argue that the best move the Cowboys made this offseason was cutting the chord with Terrell Owens, and there is some validity to that. But the Cowboys have been uncharacteristically wise and understated with their free-agent signings, particularly on defense.
Letting Chris Canty get away was awful (see below), but if you are going to make that kind of decision, bringing in a player of Igor Olshansky's caliber is a nice follow up. Olshansky has outstanding size and strength and does a fantastic job of filling the unheralded role of defensive end in a 3-4 defense. Even better, Dallas got him at a fairly good price (4 years, $18M), he's only 26 years old, has some big-game experience, and he played for Phillips in San Diego, so he knows the defense inside out.
Similarly, the signing of safety Gerald Sensabaugh fills a need (long time SS Roy Williams won't be back) with a player who is familiar with the defense. Sensabaugh started 13 games for the Jaguars last season under former Cowboys coach Dave Campo, recording career highs in tackles (70), passes defensed (8), and interceptions (4). He's an aggressive tackler who is at his best playing close to the line of scrimmage, and can do a better job than Williams did when asked to play in coverage in the short zones.
Worst free-agent move
Canty is a good player who was the unsung hero of the Dallas defense. He has great size and strength combined with better pass rush skills than most 3-4 DE's, and the instincts and tackling ability to defend the run. He's a quiet leader who plays with a great motor and made the OLB's behind him better players. Sounds like the kind of guy Dallas should have wanted to keep around. They got lucky with Olshansky, who will fill the void adequately. But he's no Canty.
To-do list
Jerry Jones and company still have some work to do. The secondary lacks depth and a bona fide starter at cornerback opposite Terrence Newman, and the young receivers will have to prove themselves quickly. Though there aren't a lot of viable veteran options out there at this point, it's hard to believe Dallas has opted to enter the season with Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton as its starting receivers. However, this does fall in line with reports that the Cowboys will place more emphasis on the run game in 2009.
Defensively, the Cowboys can call Keith Brooking an upgrade over Zach Thomas if they want to, but he is also 33 years old, and backup Bobby Carpenter has already been on the trade block and Matt Stewart is a special teamer.
Top draft priorities
• Cornerback: The plan is to let Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick battle it out for the starting job opposite Newman, who is the only player on the roster with any starting experience at corner. Dallas will likely sign a veteran in case the young guys don't work out, but expect the Pokes to find a couple cover guys in this draft.
• Safety: The team signed Sensabaugh as a free agent out of Jacksonville. He will align at strong safety next to FS Ken Hamlin. But Pat Watkins is not starting material and Courtney Brown is promising, but raw. The secondary is still the one glaring weakness on this team, so expect Dallas to address the need early.
• Offensive Line: OG Kyle Kosier is coming off injury, appearing in just three games last season, and backup Cory Proctor has struggled when pushed into a starting role. The Cowboys will be looking for a big-bodied player who can move his feet, fitting the mold of Dallas linemen. At OT, Flozell "The Hotel" Adams is entering his 12th season and the team began to see signs of decline last year.
• Wide Receiver: Jerry Jones is very excited about the prospects for youngsters Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback, but the receiving corps is far from a finished product. Williams hasn't proven himself as a true No. 1 receiver, in Detroit or Dallas, and Crayton is best suited to playing in the slot as a No. 3 receiver.
RealScouts, a team of pro football scouts, analyzes NFL players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News Today. Read more at sportingnews.com.
Things are changing in Dallas. Terrell Owens is gone as the offense looks to move more toward a three-headed run oriented attack, and some of the core players on defense are gone. But this is a critical year for coach Wade Phillips, who must erase an embarrassing finish to the '08 season and get his new squad off to a fast start to keep the hot-seat stories at bay.
Best free-agent move
You could argue that the best move the Cowboys made this offseason was cutting the chord with Terrell Owens, and there is some validity to that. But the Cowboys have been uncharacteristically wise and understated with their free-agent signings, particularly on defense.
Letting Chris Canty get away was awful (see below), but if you are going to make that kind of decision, bringing in a player of Igor Olshansky's caliber is a nice follow up. Olshansky has outstanding size and strength and does a fantastic job of filling the unheralded role of defensive end in a 3-4 defense. Even better, Dallas got him at a fairly good price (4 years, $18M), he's only 26 years old, has some big-game experience, and he played for Phillips in San Diego, so he knows the defense inside out.
Similarly, the signing of safety Gerald Sensabaugh fills a need (long time SS Roy Williams won't be back) with a player who is familiar with the defense. Sensabaugh started 13 games for the Jaguars last season under former Cowboys coach Dave Campo, recording career highs in tackles (70), passes defensed (8), and interceptions (4). He's an aggressive tackler who is at his best playing close to the line of scrimmage, and can do a better job than Williams did when asked to play in coverage in the short zones.
Worst free-agent move
Canty is a good player who was the unsung hero of the Dallas defense. He has great size and strength combined with better pass rush skills than most 3-4 DE's, and the instincts and tackling ability to defend the run. He's a quiet leader who plays with a great motor and made the OLB's behind him better players. Sounds like the kind of guy Dallas should have wanted to keep around. They got lucky with Olshansky, who will fill the void adequately. But he's no Canty.
To-do list
Jerry Jones and company still have some work to do. The secondary lacks depth and a bona fide starter at cornerback opposite Terrence Newman, and the young receivers will have to prove themselves quickly. Though there aren't a lot of viable veteran options out there at this point, it's hard to believe Dallas has opted to enter the season with Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton as its starting receivers. However, this does fall in line with reports that the Cowboys will place more emphasis on the run game in 2009.
Defensively, the Cowboys can call Keith Brooking an upgrade over Zach Thomas if they want to, but he is also 33 years old, and backup Bobby Carpenter has already been on the trade block and Matt Stewart is a special teamer.
Top draft priorities
• Cornerback: The plan is to let Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick battle it out for the starting job opposite Newman, who is the only player on the roster with any starting experience at corner. Dallas will likely sign a veteran in case the young guys don't work out, but expect the Pokes to find a couple cover guys in this draft.
• Safety: The team signed Sensabaugh as a free agent out of Jacksonville. He will align at strong safety next to FS Ken Hamlin. But Pat Watkins is not starting material and Courtney Brown is promising, but raw. The secondary is still the one glaring weakness on this team, so expect Dallas to address the need early.
• Offensive Line: OG Kyle Kosier is coming off injury, appearing in just three games last season, and backup Cory Proctor has struggled when pushed into a starting role. The Cowboys will be looking for a big-bodied player who can move his feet, fitting the mold of Dallas linemen. At OT, Flozell "The Hotel" Adams is entering his 12th season and the team began to see signs of decline last year.
• Wide Receiver: Jerry Jones is very excited about the prospects for youngsters Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback, but the receiving corps is far from a finished product. Williams hasn't proven himself as a true No. 1 receiver, in Detroit or Dallas, and Crayton is best suited to playing in the slot as a No. 3 receiver.
RealScouts, a team of pro football scouts, analyzes NFL players, coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News Today. Read more at sportingnews.com.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:36 PM
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