USAToday: Dallas Cowboys Team Report
Source: USAToday.com:
Jerry Jones has said the Cowboys' focus throughout the offseason is being more "Tony Romo friendly."
Primarily, the biggest show of support to Romo was made getting rid of disruptive receiver Terrell Owens.
But as far as new weapons are concerned, Romo won't see an upgrade. Instead, the bulk of the lineup changes and impact additions have come on defense.
The Cowboys expect to have four new starters on defense — all free agents — in linebacker Keith Brooking, defensive end Igor Olshansky, safety Gerald Sensabaugh and Mike Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick at cornerback.
They also emphasized defense in the draft with five of the first seven picks used on defenders and seven of 12 total picks coming on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cowboys led the league in sacks last season. But they didn't generate a lot of turnovers and they were in the lower part of the league in points allowed.
"I hope we are progressing to be a top pass-rush team and pressure team to help us get more turnovers than we did. That's an emphasis," coach Wade Phillips said.
While the offense needed some attention — it was productive enough to win games — the defense needs to improve.
As such, Phillips plans to oversee the unit. A defensive-minded head coach, Phillips let coordinator Brian Stewart run his defense the past two years. Stewart has been fired and Phillips will add duties as defensive coordinator.
With Phillips going into the final year of his contract and his job on the line, the Cowboys have become as much "Phillips friendly" as anything going into the 2009 season.
In his third season, Phillips is getting more players who will be able to play the style of defense he wants to use. He is an aggressive coach who wants to keep constant pressure on the opposition's offense.
It's no coincidence that outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware has developed into the league's most feared pass rusher under Phillips, who insisted the Cowboys give Ware more help.
The Cowboys added pass rushers Brandon Williams and Victor Butler in the draft to provide some push along with Anthony Spencer and Greg Ellis.
"We've come a long way pass-defense- and pass rush-wise, leading the league in sacks," Phillips said. "We are progressing the way I'd like our defense to progress. But we still need pass rushers."
NOTES, QUOTES
—Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was scheduled for surgery on Monday after suffering a fractured cervical vertebrae when the team's practice facility collapsed in high winds. Twelve people were injured and about 70 were in the facility when winds registering 64 mph in the area - one below the tornado threshold - brought the tent-like building down. There were no deaths, scouting assistant Rich Behm, 33, was paralyzed from the waist down when his spine was severed.
—The Cowboys' rookie pool for their 12 draft picks and first-year players is $4.639 million, which ranks 16th in the NFL.
—Owner Jerry Jones wasn't up to his usual tricks of the trade when it came to the 2009 NFL draft. He had made 51 draft-day trades from 1989 to 2008. But he wasn't quiet either.
The Cowboys made three trades over the two-day draft weekend.
—QB Stephen McGee didn't finish his career at Texas A&M as the starter but he doesn't lack confidence. His stock increased leading up to the draft and he believes he will be a better pro than he was in college because he will play in a system that suits his skills. Texas A&M had him as a running quarterback in a running offense. He has always seen himself as a passer and points to a number of passing records he set in his prep days.
"Certainly, if I would've been in a pro-style offense for all four years I could pretty much guarantee you I would be a first-round draft choice and I could have been in an offense that displayed my talents a lot better," McGee said. "But most importantly and first and foremost, I think any great quarterback will lay aside his own individual interest for the best interest of the team."
—The Cowboys believe they got a steal in Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens, who was chosen in the seventh round. Projected as high as a fourth-rounder, Mickens dropped in the draft because of a late-season knee injury that kept him out of the Senior Bowl and the Combine. Mickens led the NCAA in interceptions last season and is considered a playmaker. The Cowboys believe he is healthy enough for drills and will be ready to go in August.
"It's not a matter of if he's going to be ready for camp or not. It's more of an issue of how well he's responded to his injury and can he get back to where he was," club vice president Stephen Jones said. "And after looking at him and visiting with him we certainly feel like he can do that.
Jerry Jones has said the Cowboys' focus throughout the offseason is being more "Tony Romo friendly."
Primarily, the biggest show of support to Romo was made getting rid of disruptive receiver Terrell Owens.
But as far as new weapons are concerned, Romo won't see an upgrade. Instead, the bulk of the lineup changes and impact additions have come on defense.
The Cowboys expect to have four new starters on defense — all free agents — in linebacker Keith Brooking, defensive end Igor Olshansky, safety Gerald Sensabaugh and Mike Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick at cornerback.
They also emphasized defense in the draft with five of the first seven picks used on defenders and seven of 12 total picks coming on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cowboys led the league in sacks last season. But they didn't generate a lot of turnovers and they were in the lower part of the league in points allowed.
"I hope we are progressing to be a top pass-rush team and pressure team to help us get more turnovers than we did. That's an emphasis," coach Wade Phillips said.
While the offense needed some attention — it was productive enough to win games — the defense needs to improve.
As such, Phillips plans to oversee the unit. A defensive-minded head coach, Phillips let coordinator Brian Stewart run his defense the past two years. Stewart has been fired and Phillips will add duties as defensive coordinator.
With Phillips going into the final year of his contract and his job on the line, the Cowboys have become as much "Phillips friendly" as anything going into the 2009 season.
In his third season, Phillips is getting more players who will be able to play the style of defense he wants to use. He is an aggressive coach who wants to keep constant pressure on the opposition's offense.
It's no coincidence that outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware has developed into the league's most feared pass rusher under Phillips, who insisted the Cowboys give Ware more help.
The Cowboys added pass rushers Brandon Williams and Victor Butler in the draft to provide some push along with Anthony Spencer and Greg Ellis.
"We've come a long way pass-defense- and pass rush-wise, leading the league in sacks," Phillips said. "We are progressing the way I'd like our defense to progress. But we still need pass rushers."
NOTES, QUOTES
—Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was scheduled for surgery on Monday after suffering a fractured cervical vertebrae when the team's practice facility collapsed in high winds. Twelve people were injured and about 70 were in the facility when winds registering 64 mph in the area - one below the tornado threshold - brought the tent-like building down. There were no deaths, scouting assistant Rich Behm, 33, was paralyzed from the waist down when his spine was severed.
—The Cowboys' rookie pool for their 12 draft picks and first-year players is $4.639 million, which ranks 16th in the NFL.
—Owner Jerry Jones wasn't up to his usual tricks of the trade when it came to the 2009 NFL draft. He had made 51 draft-day trades from 1989 to 2008. But he wasn't quiet either.
The Cowboys made three trades over the two-day draft weekend.
—QB Stephen McGee didn't finish his career at Texas A&M as the starter but he doesn't lack confidence. His stock increased leading up to the draft and he believes he will be a better pro than he was in college because he will play in a system that suits his skills. Texas A&M had him as a running quarterback in a running offense. He has always seen himself as a passer and points to a number of passing records he set in his prep days.
"Certainly, if I would've been in a pro-style offense for all four years I could pretty much guarantee you I would be a first-round draft choice and I could have been in an offense that displayed my talents a lot better," McGee said. "But most importantly and first and foremost, I think any great quarterback will lay aside his own individual interest for the best interest of the team."
—The Cowboys believe they got a steal in Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens, who was chosen in the seventh round. Projected as high as a fourth-rounder, Mickens dropped in the draft because of a late-season knee injury that kept him out of the Senior Bowl and the Combine. Mickens led the NCAA in interceptions last season and is considered a playmaker. The Cowboys believe he is healthy enough for drills and will be ready to go in August.
"It's not a matter of if he's going to be ready for camp or not. It's more of an issue of how well he's responded to his injury and can he get back to where he was," club vice president Stephen Jones said. "And after looking at him and visiting with him we certainly feel like he can do that.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:59 PM
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