Vinnie_Johnson
07-18-2007, 11:19 PM
Three Burning Questions
1. Is Jason Garrett the real deal as offensive coordinator?
Dallas owner Jerry Jones is grooming Garrett to be his next head coach. First, Garrett must succeed as a playcaller, something he has not done at the NFL level. Garrett has a bright football mind, but putting together an innovative game plan, calling plays under pressure and keeping his high-maintenance offensive stars happy will be a real challenge. He will keep the same base offense the Cowboys used a year ago, but will try to do a better job of spreading the ball around to all of his offensive weapons. Offensive line coach Tony Sparano should have a lot of influence with Garrett's playcalling, especially in the run game, and another big key is for Garrett to mesh with QB Tony Romo, while working to improve his mechanics and reads.
Camp battle to watch
LOLB Greg Ellis vs. LOLB Anthony Spencer
For Wade Phillips' 34 scheme to be effective, the Cowboys need two big-time pass rushers off the edge and they already have one on the right side in DeMarcus Ware. Ellis should be the guy, but he is coming off Achilles surgery and it's up in the air how effective he can be. If he's healthy, he's a double-digit sack guy. Spencer is the Cowboys' No.1 draft pick, but on the college level he played with his hand in the dirt and must make the tough transition to OLB. The perfect scenario for Dallas would be a healthy Ellis at LOLB, with Spencer playing DE in nickel situations, while learning the LOLB spot. However, this defense can't function at a decent level if Dallas doesn't get production out of the position, partly to take away the double team from Ware at the other side. Both of these guys should fill huge roles in 2007.
2. Will new head coach Wade Phillips be the right fit?
He is the polar opposite to ex-Dallas coach Bill Parcells and it will be very interesting to see how the players handle his approach. Phillips is a guy with little ego who should work very well with Jones. His upbeat and positive attitude should be a relaxing influence on the entire organization. However, do not mistake his easy going demeanor for a lack of toughness. He is a very aggressive defensive coach and will expect his players to be smart, but also play with an attack mentality. Phillips will run a disciplined football team, but it will also be a loose football team. His approach could have a lot to do with the Cowboys going deeper in the playoffs.
3. Can QB Tony Romo bounce back from the disastrous playoff game against Seattle?
Who is Tony Romo? Is he the guy who led his team to a 5-1 after taking over the starting job, or is he the mistake-prone QB who struggled down the stretch with six interceptions and five lost fumbles? He is a positive guy and his work ethic is solid. He has had a full offseason as the starter to evaluate and improve his mechanics, and make better reads under pressure. Garrett must work well with him, but at least Romo does not have to look over his shoulder to worry about his job security. This is his team and there is reason to think he will be better in 2007 than he was a year ago.
The player under the microscope
WR Terrell Owens. Although he put up solid numbers in 2006 (85 receptions for 1180 yards and 13 touchdowns), he also dropped 18 passes and his off-the-field distractions are well documented. Although he is a superbly conditioned athlete, at 33, he is starting to show signs of breaking down physically. He still can be a dynamic big-play guy, especially on crossing routes where he can run after the catch, but will he get along with Garrett and adjust to Phillips?
Fantasy take
Does Wade Phillips hate Julius Jones in the red zone as much as Tuna did? Is Tony Romo a legitimate every-week fantasy starter? Watch how the backs are used in camp and see if Romo is throwing confidently in preseason games for clues to the answers.
-- Matthew Berry
• Complete ESPN.com fantasy coverage
Breakout player
WR Patrick Crayton. Although he is listed as the third receiver, Crayton is closer to the field than most people think. Owens and Terry Glenn are both 33 years old, and injuries and durability are a concern. For now, Crayton will work out of the slot and his best attributes are his hands and deep speed. He is a very tough match up versus opponent's No. 3 corner. He is at his best working the middle of the field and also has the moves to make the first tackler miss. He could be a big-play producer.
Comeback player of the year
SS Roy Williams. He has struggled mightily over the last few years when he has been put in coverage situations, and offenses routinely have attacked him with the passing game. With the offseason acquisition of Ken Hamlin from Seattle, the Cowboys now have a true free safety who can play center field, and that will allow Williams to play in the box and attack the run, where he is at his best. Williams is really an undersized linebacker and now Dallas can put him in that role. It should lead to a very productive year.
Offensive philosophy
There are some question marks in terms of how this offense will be run in 2007 because of new coaching faces. Garrett is a bright, young guy with an innovative mind, but he is a first-time playcaller. He likely will stay with the Cowboys' base offense, which is a two-pronged running attack and a passing game that will work harder to spread the ball around to all of the weapons. Garrett will work extensively with Romo on his fundamentals and recognition of defenses, and he will try to make the Cowboys' passing game more explosive. Sparano will have significant input in the run game and will switch his line blocking to more man-to-man instead of zone techniques. Garrett can also get help from receivers coach Ray Sherman, who has been an offensive coordinator -- but how will these coaches and this offense handle the pressure of a tight game in the fourth quarter?
Defensive philosophy
Phillips was hired as the new head coach to replace Parcells for one reason; the Cowboys have excellent defensive personnel and there is a feeling that they can be a dominating 34 defense. Phillips is just the guy who can incorporate his aggressive schemes to dominate offenses. The first thing he will do is to switch from a two-gap read and react look to a one-gap penetrating defense, designed to attack the quarterback. They will also slant a lot more and keep the same concepts that led San Diego to lead the league in sacks a year ago. Phillips has brought Brian Stewart with him to run the defense. They will blitz a lot more off the edge than they did a year ago and their best pass rusher, OLB DeMarcus Ware, should flourish in this scheme. In the secondary, the Cowboys will play a lot less Cover 2 schemes, where offenses picked on Williams in coverage. Instead, they will bring Williams in the box, almost as a linebacker, and will play more three-deep schemes, with free safety Ken Hamlin as a centerfielder.
Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called "The War Room."
1. Is Jason Garrett the real deal as offensive coordinator?
Dallas owner Jerry Jones is grooming Garrett to be his next head coach. First, Garrett must succeed as a playcaller, something he has not done at the NFL level. Garrett has a bright football mind, but putting together an innovative game plan, calling plays under pressure and keeping his high-maintenance offensive stars happy will be a real challenge. He will keep the same base offense the Cowboys used a year ago, but will try to do a better job of spreading the ball around to all of his offensive weapons. Offensive line coach Tony Sparano should have a lot of influence with Garrett's playcalling, especially in the run game, and another big key is for Garrett to mesh with QB Tony Romo, while working to improve his mechanics and reads.
Camp battle to watch
LOLB Greg Ellis vs. LOLB Anthony Spencer
For Wade Phillips' 34 scheme to be effective, the Cowboys need two big-time pass rushers off the edge and they already have one on the right side in DeMarcus Ware. Ellis should be the guy, but he is coming off Achilles surgery and it's up in the air how effective he can be. If he's healthy, he's a double-digit sack guy. Spencer is the Cowboys' No.1 draft pick, but on the college level he played with his hand in the dirt and must make the tough transition to OLB. The perfect scenario for Dallas would be a healthy Ellis at LOLB, with Spencer playing DE in nickel situations, while learning the LOLB spot. However, this defense can't function at a decent level if Dallas doesn't get production out of the position, partly to take away the double team from Ware at the other side. Both of these guys should fill huge roles in 2007.
2. Will new head coach Wade Phillips be the right fit?
He is the polar opposite to ex-Dallas coach Bill Parcells and it will be very interesting to see how the players handle his approach. Phillips is a guy with little ego who should work very well with Jones. His upbeat and positive attitude should be a relaxing influence on the entire organization. However, do not mistake his easy going demeanor for a lack of toughness. He is a very aggressive defensive coach and will expect his players to be smart, but also play with an attack mentality. Phillips will run a disciplined football team, but it will also be a loose football team. His approach could have a lot to do with the Cowboys going deeper in the playoffs.
3. Can QB Tony Romo bounce back from the disastrous playoff game against Seattle?
Who is Tony Romo? Is he the guy who led his team to a 5-1 after taking over the starting job, or is he the mistake-prone QB who struggled down the stretch with six interceptions and five lost fumbles? He is a positive guy and his work ethic is solid. He has had a full offseason as the starter to evaluate and improve his mechanics, and make better reads under pressure. Garrett must work well with him, but at least Romo does not have to look over his shoulder to worry about his job security. This is his team and there is reason to think he will be better in 2007 than he was a year ago.
The player under the microscope
WR Terrell Owens. Although he put up solid numbers in 2006 (85 receptions for 1180 yards and 13 touchdowns), he also dropped 18 passes and his off-the-field distractions are well documented. Although he is a superbly conditioned athlete, at 33, he is starting to show signs of breaking down physically. He still can be a dynamic big-play guy, especially on crossing routes where he can run after the catch, but will he get along with Garrett and adjust to Phillips?
Fantasy take
Does Wade Phillips hate Julius Jones in the red zone as much as Tuna did? Is Tony Romo a legitimate every-week fantasy starter? Watch how the backs are used in camp and see if Romo is throwing confidently in preseason games for clues to the answers.
-- Matthew Berry
• Complete ESPN.com fantasy coverage
Breakout player
WR Patrick Crayton. Although he is listed as the third receiver, Crayton is closer to the field than most people think. Owens and Terry Glenn are both 33 years old, and injuries and durability are a concern. For now, Crayton will work out of the slot and his best attributes are his hands and deep speed. He is a very tough match up versus opponent's No. 3 corner. He is at his best working the middle of the field and also has the moves to make the first tackler miss. He could be a big-play producer.
Comeback player of the year
SS Roy Williams. He has struggled mightily over the last few years when he has been put in coverage situations, and offenses routinely have attacked him with the passing game. With the offseason acquisition of Ken Hamlin from Seattle, the Cowboys now have a true free safety who can play center field, and that will allow Williams to play in the box and attack the run, where he is at his best. Williams is really an undersized linebacker and now Dallas can put him in that role. It should lead to a very productive year.
Offensive philosophy
There are some question marks in terms of how this offense will be run in 2007 because of new coaching faces. Garrett is a bright, young guy with an innovative mind, but he is a first-time playcaller. He likely will stay with the Cowboys' base offense, which is a two-pronged running attack and a passing game that will work harder to spread the ball around to all of the weapons. Garrett will work extensively with Romo on his fundamentals and recognition of defenses, and he will try to make the Cowboys' passing game more explosive. Sparano will have significant input in the run game and will switch his line blocking to more man-to-man instead of zone techniques. Garrett can also get help from receivers coach Ray Sherman, who has been an offensive coordinator -- but how will these coaches and this offense handle the pressure of a tight game in the fourth quarter?
Defensive philosophy
Phillips was hired as the new head coach to replace Parcells for one reason; the Cowboys have excellent defensive personnel and there is a feeling that they can be a dominating 34 defense. Phillips is just the guy who can incorporate his aggressive schemes to dominate offenses. The first thing he will do is to switch from a two-gap read and react look to a one-gap penetrating defense, designed to attack the quarterback. They will also slant a lot more and keep the same concepts that led San Diego to lead the league in sacks a year ago. Phillips has brought Brian Stewart with him to run the defense. They will blitz a lot more off the edge than they did a year ago and their best pass rusher, OLB DeMarcus Ware, should flourish in this scheme. In the secondary, the Cowboys will play a lot less Cover 2 schemes, where offenses picked on Williams in coverage. Instead, they will bring Williams in the box, almost as a linebacker, and will play more three-deep schemes, with free safety Ken Hamlin as a centerfielder.
Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called "The War Room."