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July-14th-2007, 09:52 PM
Dallas' hopes hinge on a new coach, new atmosphere
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/071507dnspocowquestions.71fb4.html
08:26 PM CDT on Saturday, July 14, 2007
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
The Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1996 and have not gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1998-99.
The hiring of Bill Parcells got the Cowboys back to respectability. Now, with Parcells gone, Wade Phillips has been hired to revamp a talented defense that owner Jerry Jones has invested millions into. DeMarcus Ware and Roy Williams are two players that Phillips' 3-4 alignment should help.
Also, Jason Garrett was hired as offensive coordinator to further the development of quarterback Tony Romo.
We look at the big questions surrounding Phillips' first season as coach in Dallas and discuss how far the team can go.
1. Will Tony Romo get a new contract
before the start of the season?
The Cowboys' starting quarterback would like a new deal before the 2007 season begins. Team management would also like to make this happen, but there is no rush. The team has previously taken care of players who were in the final year or two of their contracts.
Romo is in the final year of a two-year, $3.9 million deal. The Cowboys made a strong commitment to him by bypassing Brady Quinn with a first-round draft pick in April. Jones said Romo has the marketability and skills necessary to lead the Cowboys, and signing him long-term will probably happen. Dallas most likely will give Romo a better deal than the one that Houston just awarded Matt Schaub, who received a six-year, $48 million contract. :D
2. Can Greg Ellis return from a torn Achilles' tendon?
He moved laterally, backwards and forwards in off-season workouts. Ellis' biggest gripe is with Jones, who broke off a potential meeting to discuss a renegotiation of a contract. Ellis hinted if he's not healthy, he won't participate in training camp. But that appears doubtful. Dallas, which drafted Anthony Spencer to eventually replace Ellis, is unsure of Ellis' return from such a severe injury. Even Ellis said he's not sure how he'll perform once training camp starts.
3. Will DeMarcus Ware have as many sacks
as Shawne Merriman did last season?
The two play different roles in the 3-4 defense. Under Phillips' 3-4 in San Diego, Merriman had an NFL-leading 17 sacks last season and was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Ware had 11 ½ sacks in a 3-4 defense that had players go man-to-man with little blitzing or creativity. With Phillips' defense, players can freestyle more and Ware can line up on either side. The Cowboys want Ware as a mismatch for offenses. Though he's not as strong as Merriman, he's quicker, and that should help him get to the quarterback.
4. Can Nick Folk beat out Martin Gramatica
for the kicking job?
Folk, a sixth-round pick from Arizona, was selected because he has a strong leg and converted 15 of 20 field goal tries as a senior. The Cowboys would like Folk to kick off, but Gramatica, a veteran, has done that.
Gramatica faced off with a rookie in training camp last year. At New England, he lost the kicker job to Stephen Gostkowski. But Gramatica proved he could make big kicks when he was signed by Dallas, including the game-winner on the road in his Cowboys debut against the New York Giants. Folk could land on the practice squad if Dallas decides not to use two kickers on the active roster.
5. Is Phillips' version of the 3-4 better for the Cowboys?
As the defensive coordinator with San Diego for three seasons, Phillips' defense improved from 18th in the 2004 season to 10th last season. His defensive unit had a league-high 61 sacks in 2006. With Dallas, it's unclear what this new version of the 3-4 defense will do. Roy Williams will move toward the line of scrimmage to maximize his ability to make plays. Ken Hamlin was signed at free safety to add another punishing hitter in the secondary. Phillips will use as many linebackers as possible in different spots. He likes speed, blitzes and stunts to confuse an offense. Some of Dallas' starters aren't very fast but are strong and physical.
6. Does Terrell Owens know the plays?
Multiple times during the season, players told Owens the plays in the huddle. Owens says he knew the plays but too many times he ran the wrong route, missed a block or was chastised by the coaches for a miscue. During minicamps, Owens got the bulk of the passes. Garrett and receivers coach Ray Sherman said Owens knows the playbook going into training camp. It seems Owens got a lot of reps in minicamps and organized team activities to familiarize him with the offense. :laugh:
7. Will Leonard Davis live up to his
team-record $16 million signing bonus?
The No. 2 pick of the 2001 draft, Davis has never been to a Pro Bowl and had his work ethic questioned by the coaches in Arizona. This off-season, Davis signed a seven-year, $49.6 million contract to become the anchor of the offensive line. He will average about $7 million per season if he completes the contract. Davis will start at right guard for now, replacing the released Marco Rivera. But Davis could move to left tackle in the future.
8. Can Jason Garrett become a good play caller?
Garrett said he hopes he's an offensive coordinator who calls the right plays.
He'd better be, because Tony Sparano, who called the plays last season, helped the Cowboys finish with the NFL's No. 5 offense. Dallas scored 20 or more points 12 times last season and produced two receivers with 1,000-plus yards, a running back with more than 1,000 yards and another running back with 16 total touchdowns.
Garrett, who has developed a bond with Romo, likes the Cowboys offense of the 1990s, when throwing the ball downfield to big-play receivers and a strong tight end helped the the team win three Super Bowls.
Garrett has a good foundation, but how he handles Owens' moodiness and the carries of Julius Jones and Marion Barber will be a major concern.
9. Can the Cowboys survive late December?
Dallas is 8-15 overall in December the last five years and 5-8 on the road during the same time span. This season, Dallas has three of its last four games on the road, playing at Detroit and Carolina, and finishing the year at Washington.
Improving on those recent struggles may be critical.
10. Is Dallas a Super Bowl team?
It's not like the Cowboys missed the playoffs last season. They were one bobbled hold from reaching the divisional round. Many in the organization believe they could have beaten Chicago and even New Orleans, despite a regular-season loss to the Saints.
This season brings a more relaxed attitude, a new way of running the 3-4 defense and the addition of Garrett to further open up the offense
The Cowboys should be in contention for the Super Bowl.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/071507dnspocowquestions.71fb4.html
08:26 PM CDT on Saturday, July 14, 2007
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
The Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1996 and have not gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1998-99.
The hiring of Bill Parcells got the Cowboys back to respectability. Now, with Parcells gone, Wade Phillips has been hired to revamp a talented defense that owner Jerry Jones has invested millions into. DeMarcus Ware and Roy Williams are two players that Phillips' 3-4 alignment should help.
Also, Jason Garrett was hired as offensive coordinator to further the development of quarterback Tony Romo.
We look at the big questions surrounding Phillips' first season as coach in Dallas and discuss how far the team can go.
1. Will Tony Romo get a new contract
before the start of the season?
The Cowboys' starting quarterback would like a new deal before the 2007 season begins. Team management would also like to make this happen, but there is no rush. The team has previously taken care of players who were in the final year or two of their contracts.
Romo is in the final year of a two-year, $3.9 million deal. The Cowboys made a strong commitment to him by bypassing Brady Quinn with a first-round draft pick in April. Jones said Romo has the marketability and skills necessary to lead the Cowboys, and signing him long-term will probably happen. Dallas most likely will give Romo a better deal than the one that Houston just awarded Matt Schaub, who received a six-year, $48 million contract. :D
2. Can Greg Ellis return from a torn Achilles' tendon?
He moved laterally, backwards and forwards in off-season workouts. Ellis' biggest gripe is with Jones, who broke off a potential meeting to discuss a renegotiation of a contract. Ellis hinted if he's not healthy, he won't participate in training camp. But that appears doubtful. Dallas, which drafted Anthony Spencer to eventually replace Ellis, is unsure of Ellis' return from such a severe injury. Even Ellis said he's not sure how he'll perform once training camp starts.
3. Will DeMarcus Ware have as many sacks
as Shawne Merriman did last season?
The two play different roles in the 3-4 defense. Under Phillips' 3-4 in San Diego, Merriman had an NFL-leading 17 sacks last season and was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Ware had 11 ½ sacks in a 3-4 defense that had players go man-to-man with little blitzing or creativity. With Phillips' defense, players can freestyle more and Ware can line up on either side. The Cowboys want Ware as a mismatch for offenses. Though he's not as strong as Merriman, he's quicker, and that should help him get to the quarterback.
4. Can Nick Folk beat out Martin Gramatica
for the kicking job?
Folk, a sixth-round pick from Arizona, was selected because he has a strong leg and converted 15 of 20 field goal tries as a senior. The Cowboys would like Folk to kick off, but Gramatica, a veteran, has done that.
Gramatica faced off with a rookie in training camp last year. At New England, he lost the kicker job to Stephen Gostkowski. But Gramatica proved he could make big kicks when he was signed by Dallas, including the game-winner on the road in his Cowboys debut against the New York Giants. Folk could land on the practice squad if Dallas decides not to use two kickers on the active roster.
5. Is Phillips' version of the 3-4 better for the Cowboys?
As the defensive coordinator with San Diego for three seasons, Phillips' defense improved from 18th in the 2004 season to 10th last season. His defensive unit had a league-high 61 sacks in 2006. With Dallas, it's unclear what this new version of the 3-4 defense will do. Roy Williams will move toward the line of scrimmage to maximize his ability to make plays. Ken Hamlin was signed at free safety to add another punishing hitter in the secondary. Phillips will use as many linebackers as possible in different spots. He likes speed, blitzes and stunts to confuse an offense. Some of Dallas' starters aren't very fast but are strong and physical.
6. Does Terrell Owens know the plays?
Multiple times during the season, players told Owens the plays in the huddle. Owens says he knew the plays but too many times he ran the wrong route, missed a block or was chastised by the coaches for a miscue. During minicamps, Owens got the bulk of the passes. Garrett and receivers coach Ray Sherman said Owens knows the playbook going into training camp. It seems Owens got a lot of reps in minicamps and organized team activities to familiarize him with the offense. :laugh:
7. Will Leonard Davis live up to his
team-record $16 million signing bonus?
The No. 2 pick of the 2001 draft, Davis has never been to a Pro Bowl and had his work ethic questioned by the coaches in Arizona. This off-season, Davis signed a seven-year, $49.6 million contract to become the anchor of the offensive line. He will average about $7 million per season if he completes the contract. Davis will start at right guard for now, replacing the released Marco Rivera. But Davis could move to left tackle in the future.
8. Can Jason Garrett become a good play caller?
Garrett said he hopes he's an offensive coordinator who calls the right plays.
He'd better be, because Tony Sparano, who called the plays last season, helped the Cowboys finish with the NFL's No. 5 offense. Dallas scored 20 or more points 12 times last season and produced two receivers with 1,000-plus yards, a running back with more than 1,000 yards and another running back with 16 total touchdowns.
Garrett, who has developed a bond with Romo, likes the Cowboys offense of the 1990s, when throwing the ball downfield to big-play receivers and a strong tight end helped the the team win three Super Bowls.
Garrett has a good foundation, but how he handles Owens' moodiness and the carries of Julius Jones and Marion Barber will be a major concern.
9. Can the Cowboys survive late December?
Dallas is 8-15 overall in December the last five years and 5-8 on the road during the same time span. This season, Dallas has three of its last four games on the road, playing at Detroit and Carolina, and finishing the year at Washington.
Improving on those recent struggles may be critical.
10. Is Dallas a Super Bowl team?
It's not like the Cowboys missed the playoffs last season. They were one bobbled hold from reaching the divisional round. Many in the organization believe they could have beaten Chicago and even New Orleans, despite a regular-season loss to the Saints.
This season brings a more relaxed attitude, a new way of running the 3-4 defense and the addition of Garrett to further open up the offense
The Cowboys should be in contention for the Super Bowl.