Spursfan092120
09-10-2009, 05:58 PM
Cowboys Counting on New, Back-To-Basics Approach
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 10, 2009
Filed at 5:10 p.m. ET
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Everyone on the Dallas Cowboys knows the deal.
They're underachievers. They fall apart in December and January. All style, no substance. Ego first, team second.
Tony Romo and the boys realize they can't do anything about that perception for several months. Without Terrell Owens (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/terrell_owens/index.html?inline=nyt-per), and with a new attitude, maybe they will.
''I'm a little hesitant to say that we have lost swagger because I know of the pride and I know of the expectations we have being a part of the Dallas Cowboys,'' team owner Jerry Jones (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/jerry_jones/index.html?inline=nyt-per) said during training camp. ''But I don't believe anybody feels that we shouldn't have been a little humbled about what happened to us last year. I know I feel that way personally.''
Humbled and hungry, the Cowboys are taking a new approach this season, a back-to-basics philosophy reminiscent of the early days of the Bill Parcells (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/bill_parcells/index.html?inline=nyt-per) era.
For instance, there's this message on a giant sign in the locker room and in the hallways at team headquarters: ''It is important to do things right, but more important to do things exactly right,'' with ''exactly'' in red.
And there's this notion Romo has been spouting all summer: ''Is December going to be important? You're darn right it is. But I think that the approach needs to be about tomorrow's practice. That's when you play good in December and January, when you continue that approach every day, every week.
''We're doing things that we like to refer to as 'the Dallas Cowboy Way' now. For us, that's taking each day and stacking them together; stack all those days together at the end, then we'll see what happens.''
December and January are a huge stumbling block for this club.
Dallas has finished the last two seasons by losing three of its final four games. Last year, the slide kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs. The year before, they were knocked out of the playoffs in their first game, despite being the No. 1 seed and playing at home.
As bad as those 1-3 finishes under coach Wade Phillips look, they actually were an improvement from the final season under Bill Parcells. That year, Dallas dropped four of the last five, including a playoff game in Seattle.
Romo has been the quarterback all three of those seasons. His career record: 23-5 in September, October and November; 5-10 in December and January.
The fade at the finish lumps Romo into a dubious but important category along with Quincy Carter (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/quincy_carter/index.html?inline=nyt-per), Chad Hutchinson and all of Dallas' other starting quarterbacks since Troy Aikman (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/troy_aikman/index.html?inline=nyt-per): None has won a playoff game. In fact, the Cowboys haven't done so since 1996, a drought that's already the longest in franchise history. If they don't win the Super Bowl (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/super_bowl/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) this season, they'll have the longest dry spell between titles in franchise history.
Most franchises would become irrelevant under those circumstances, even clubs with impressive trophy cases. Yet Jones has managed to keep Dallas among the league's most important organizations. Just check the TV ratings or the latest Forbes list that ranks the Cowboys the most valuable sports club in North America. Better yet, check out the nearly $1.2 billion stadium the team is moving into this season, most of which he paid for himself.
Jones believes the monster video board, retractable roof and others delights will bring out the best in his club. There is a precedent -- the Cowboys' first Super Bowl title came in 1971, the season they moved into Texas Stadium.
They do have a lot going for them this season.
With T.O. gone, the offense will no longer tilt toward one player. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, the highest-paid assistant in the NFL, has plenty of capable playmakers to choose from, and Jones is counting on him to deploy them creatively.
His emphasis likely will start in the backfield with Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Jones could be the key to everything. Expect Garrett to try all sorts of ways to take advantage of Jones' speed and moves that sometimes seem borrowed from Nintendo. The trick is keeping him healthy; he played only six games as a rookie.
Dallas also will rely on two tight ends, Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, usually at the same time. Bennett caught only 20 passes as a rookie last season, but averaged 14 yards and scored four touchdowns. Although he claims to be from Jupiter and rankled people with videos he put on the Internet this summer, Marty B has learned the playbook and developed into someone Romo trusts.
As for the receivers, Roy Williams won't have to put up Owens-like numbers because of how much the ball will be spread around. Still, the Cowboys are counting on him to be more of a No. 1 receiver than the guy who caught 19 passes in 10 games last season.
Then there's Romo and his vow to take fewer gambles after having at least one turnover in 11 of 13 games last season.
The defense should be solid, too, with Phillips calling his own plays and getting to unleash linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Ware led the NFL with 20 sacks last season and has been working on new moves to stay a step ahead of offensive linemen. What he really needs is for Anthony Spencer to blossom as a first-time starter on the opposite side.
The Cowboys believe they've upgraded their special teams, too, from bringing in proven coach Joe DeCamillis to adding a kickoff specialist. They also have punter Mat McBriar back from an injury.
On paper, the pieces fit together nicely. Come December and January, we'll find out whether they hold up.
''With me, it's actions speak louder than words,'' Ware said. ''That's what the whole team is thinking this year.''
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/10/sports/AP-FBN-Cowboys-Preview.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 10, 2009
Filed at 5:10 p.m. ET
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Everyone on the Dallas Cowboys knows the deal.
They're underachievers. They fall apart in December and January. All style, no substance. Ego first, team second.
Tony Romo and the boys realize they can't do anything about that perception for several months. Without Terrell Owens (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/terrell_owens/index.html?inline=nyt-per), and with a new attitude, maybe they will.
''I'm a little hesitant to say that we have lost swagger because I know of the pride and I know of the expectations we have being a part of the Dallas Cowboys,'' team owner Jerry Jones (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/j/jerry_jones/index.html?inline=nyt-per) said during training camp. ''But I don't believe anybody feels that we shouldn't have been a little humbled about what happened to us last year. I know I feel that way personally.''
Humbled and hungry, the Cowboys are taking a new approach this season, a back-to-basics philosophy reminiscent of the early days of the Bill Parcells (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/bill_parcells/index.html?inline=nyt-per) era.
For instance, there's this message on a giant sign in the locker room and in the hallways at team headquarters: ''It is important to do things right, but more important to do things exactly right,'' with ''exactly'' in red.
And there's this notion Romo has been spouting all summer: ''Is December going to be important? You're darn right it is. But I think that the approach needs to be about tomorrow's practice. That's when you play good in December and January, when you continue that approach every day, every week.
''We're doing things that we like to refer to as 'the Dallas Cowboy Way' now. For us, that's taking each day and stacking them together; stack all those days together at the end, then we'll see what happens.''
December and January are a huge stumbling block for this club.
Dallas has finished the last two seasons by losing three of its final four games. Last year, the slide kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs. The year before, they were knocked out of the playoffs in their first game, despite being the No. 1 seed and playing at home.
As bad as those 1-3 finishes under coach Wade Phillips look, they actually were an improvement from the final season under Bill Parcells. That year, Dallas dropped four of the last five, including a playoff game in Seattle.
Romo has been the quarterback all three of those seasons. His career record: 23-5 in September, October and November; 5-10 in December and January.
The fade at the finish lumps Romo into a dubious but important category along with Quincy Carter (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/c/quincy_carter/index.html?inline=nyt-per), Chad Hutchinson and all of Dallas' other starting quarterbacks since Troy Aikman (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/troy_aikman/index.html?inline=nyt-per): None has won a playoff game. In fact, the Cowboys haven't done so since 1996, a drought that's already the longest in franchise history. If they don't win the Super Bowl (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/super_bowl/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) this season, they'll have the longest dry spell between titles in franchise history.
Most franchises would become irrelevant under those circumstances, even clubs with impressive trophy cases. Yet Jones has managed to keep Dallas among the league's most important organizations. Just check the TV ratings or the latest Forbes list that ranks the Cowboys the most valuable sports club in North America. Better yet, check out the nearly $1.2 billion stadium the team is moving into this season, most of which he paid for himself.
Jones believes the monster video board, retractable roof and others delights will bring out the best in his club. There is a precedent -- the Cowboys' first Super Bowl title came in 1971, the season they moved into Texas Stadium.
They do have a lot going for them this season.
With T.O. gone, the offense will no longer tilt toward one player. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, the highest-paid assistant in the NFL, has plenty of capable playmakers to choose from, and Jones is counting on him to deploy them creatively.
His emphasis likely will start in the backfield with Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Jones could be the key to everything. Expect Garrett to try all sorts of ways to take advantage of Jones' speed and moves that sometimes seem borrowed from Nintendo. The trick is keeping him healthy; he played only six games as a rookie.
Dallas also will rely on two tight ends, Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, usually at the same time. Bennett caught only 20 passes as a rookie last season, but averaged 14 yards and scored four touchdowns. Although he claims to be from Jupiter and rankled people with videos he put on the Internet this summer, Marty B has learned the playbook and developed into someone Romo trusts.
As for the receivers, Roy Williams won't have to put up Owens-like numbers because of how much the ball will be spread around. Still, the Cowboys are counting on him to be more of a No. 1 receiver than the guy who caught 19 passes in 10 games last season.
Then there's Romo and his vow to take fewer gambles after having at least one turnover in 11 of 13 games last season.
The defense should be solid, too, with Phillips calling his own plays and getting to unleash linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Ware led the NFL with 20 sacks last season and has been working on new moves to stay a step ahead of offensive linemen. What he really needs is for Anthony Spencer to blossom as a first-time starter on the opposite side.
The Cowboys believe they've upgraded their special teams, too, from bringing in proven coach Joe DeCamillis to adding a kickoff specialist. They also have punter Mat McBriar back from an injury.
On paper, the pieces fit together nicely. Come December and January, we'll find out whether they hold up.
''With me, it's actions speak louder than words,'' Ware said. ''That's what the whole team is thinking this year.''
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/10/sports/AP-FBN-Cowboys-Preview.html?partner=rss&emc=rss