Earl Thomas (FS, Texas) I have gone back-and-forth over this choice for the Cowboys, and I just can’t picture them not acquiring Earl Thomas. It is a match made in heaven; Thomas grew up dreaming of playing for the Dallas Cowboys. And right now, the Dallas Cowboys are dreaming of finding that ball-hawking safety that can do it all, and Earl Thomas may just be that safety.

Second-Round

Roger Saffold (OT, Indiana) Saffold is the type of player that the Dallas Cowboys are looking for. He’s athletic and he can move, but he also isn’t scared of getting right up in a defender’s grill and blowing them off the ball. He projects as a future left tackle, but could make an immediate impact as a guard for the Cowboys.

Third-Round

Sean Lee (ILB, Penn State) Lee was a projected first-round prospect; that was of course before he tore the ACL in his right knee, and missed the entire 2008 season. He bounced back very nicely in 2009, registering 86 tackles and 11 tackles-for-loss in 10 games. And even though Keith Brooking was a great pick-up for the Cowboys and played well during the 2009 season, he is going onto 35-years of age, and his performance did start to drop-off towards the end of the year. If he goes down, the depth behind him is unproven, to say the least. Lee will at least be an effective special teamer and at best, a candidate for the nickel linebacker role.

Fourth-Round

Eric Olsen (C, Notre Dame) Notre Dame’s offensive line was terrible last season, but don’t try to shift the blame onto Olsen, he played very well and was fantastic at adjusting to delayed blitzes. He isn’t ready to start just yet, though – and mightn’t be for another season or two – but with some technique refinement and hard work, he could become the heir apparent to Andre Gurode.

Sixth-Round

Walter Thurmond (CB, Oregon) With Terence Newman getting on in age (31) and Alan Ball proving to be a solid safety, depth at the cornerback position has become quite thin. Thurmond is not an exceptional athlete, but is a tough player that will do what he is asked by the coaches. He projects almost solely as a nickel or dime cornerback, which is really all the Cowboys need at the moment. He could also provide an upgrade on special teams, as he is renowned for being a sound tackler.

Seventh-Round

Jan Jorgenson (3-4 OLB, BYU) No team can ever have enough solid pass rushers, and while Jorgenson may not even make the a 53-man roster, he will remind younger players, such as, Brandon Williams and Victor Butler that they have perform, if they want to stay on the team.

Martin Long

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Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice has been the subject of off-season trade rumors lately. Since the ‘boys have a wealth of talent in the backfield in starter Marion Barber and back-up Felix Jones that makes Choice expendable.

San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie is on the trade block and the Chargers are now in serious need of a running back since the release All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson his now former back-up Darren Sproles.

Choice has been the most durable of the three Cowboys running backs and may also be the most complete. Barber is a power runner with surprising shiftiness and Jones is the quick and shifty runner with shocking power. Choice posses all three qualities and is capable of starting for any of the additional 31 teams in the NFL.

In response to the trade rumors Dallas Cowboys Vice President Stephen Jones commented that the Cowboys have yet to receive any offers for Choice and they have ever intention to keep Barber, Choice, and Jones.

“It lets you know other teams want you and that they’ve noticed you. I want to stay here. It’s a great place and a great organization to play for. It’s just that the situation that I’m in, man, it’s hard,” said Choice when asked about the latest trade rumors.

From the looks of things the Cowboys have completely dismissed the Chargers so-called inquiry for Choice, but the same thing happened a couple of years ago when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pulled the trigger on former Lions wide out Roy Williams.

In may be in the best interest of the Cowboys to keep Tashard as Jones and Barber have proven to be injury prone the
past couple of seasons.

In other Cowboys news owner Jerry Jones said that one of his off-season priorities is to sign Miles Austin to a long term deal. Complications abound as there is the potential of an uncapped 2010 season if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached. Austin will command high dollars because of his breakout season last year and the fact that the Cowboys are in desperate need of his services next year.

-JH

You can reach Jay by e-mailing him at jhenry@fanhuddle.com

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Maybe Jerry should take a chance with one of those 11 players.

That chance: Adam “Pacman” Jones.

Yes, Pacman is not a model citizen, and that is putting it lightly, but there is no doubting the talent and potential he possesses.

There is always a chance that Pacman pulls another one of his stunts, but really, will he?
This is his last chance. If he messes up again, it won’t matter how talented he is, he won’t be playing in the NFL again.

A young man by the name of Chris Henry made more than a couple of mistakes in his life – just like Pacman – but the Cincinnati Bengals gave him that last chance, and he used it. He was on the right track to becoming a better man and a successful football player; unfortunately his tale didn’t finish with a happy ending, as his life was cut short after falling out of a moving truck last December.

Pacman deserves that last chance.

If Pacman joins the Cowboys again, it’ll be different.
He will be walking into a locker room with leaders, with players that won’t let him put himself in front of the team, and with players that don’t care if he was drafted in the first-round.

This time round, Pacman won’t be playing in front of the younger players, but behind them.
He will have to earn his playing time, but will also act as an insurance policy if one of the other cornerbacks is injured.
He will be able to compete and potentially upgrade the position of punt and kick returner.

He will obviously be signed to an incentive-laden contract, meaning that if he wants to get paid, he’ll have to work for it. This will also mean that if Pacman takes one wrong step, the Cowboys can cut him and not have to worry about paying him a dime.

In Dallas, the spotlight will be on Pacman and it’ll be brighter than ever. It will give him the opportunity to either put his career back on track, or send it spiraling down into a pile of debris.

If Jerry really wants to light a fire under some players, he should bring in Adam “Pacman” Jones. Newman, Jenkins and Scandrick will really feel the heat, knowing that a player with Pacman’s talent is playing right behind them, so to speak.

Patrick Crayton will have to elevate his game, too, if he wants to keep his position as the primary punt returner on the team.

This all sounds nice and peachy, but how do we even know Pacman has matured or grown up one bit?

You may not know this, but, Chris Henry and Pacman Jones both attended West Virginia University, played for the Mountaineers and according to Pacman, “Were the best of friends.”

After seeing how his best friend had turned his life around, it must have been truly shocking for Pacman to see Henry have his life cut short and would’ve really put things in perspective for him. Because of this, I believe Jones will be truly motivated to make a successful comeback to football, to become a better player and a better person in the process.

While it is a risky move bringing in a player such as Pacman, with a troubled past, it is the type of move that Jerry would love to make: Moderate-risk, high-reward.

Martin Long

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Yes, the Cowboys’ offense made some vast improvements last season.

But, if you’re after real improvement, look no further than the Cowboys’ defense. Which were second only to the New York Jets in points allowed, with a stifling 15.6 per game, and posted two consecutive shut-outs, for the first time in franchise history. However, the improved statistics don’t tell the whole story. It was the improvement and maturation of a couple of players that really made the difference. Both Anthony Spencer and Mike Jenkins took huge strides in the ‘09/’10 season.

Spencer, whose name had been thrown around with the word “bust” at the beginning of the season, started off slow, but blow up towards the end of the season, with eight sacks in the final eight games (including post-season).

Jenkins, who had a rather disappointing rookie campaign, came on very strongly; picking off a team-high five passes, and being selected to the Pro-Bowl as an injury-replacement.

Last season, the Cowboys broke in five new starters on the defense, albeit there were some problems, but overall the defense played very well, so there should be no doubt about it, the Cowboys’ defense should be even better this coming season.

Now onto the state of the Cowboys’ defense.

Defensive End

Marcus Spears probably had the best season of his career in ’09. Unfortunately, he will be a restricted free-agent, and probably won’t receive that long-term deal he was looking for.

While Igor Olshansky wasn’t exceptional, he held up his end of the bargain, and was stout in the running game; picking up the slack frm Chris Canty’s departure.

Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher added great depth to the defensive end position. Bowen has a bit of an edge on Hatcher, as he is much more effective at rushing the passer.

Since Spears, Hatcher and Bowen are all restricted free-agents this off-season, it is possible that one of the three will not be returning to the Cowboys, which means, Marcus Dixon could possibly be called up frm the practice squad.

If the Cowboys lose more than one of their defensive ends, they will have to look towards the draft or free-agency, to fill the void.

Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle

Jay Ratliff was his usual, sensational best; creating havoc in opposing teams’ backfields on a regular basis, and picking up six sacks in the process.

Behind Ratliff, is Junior Siavii, who isn’t a terrible player, but still created a noticeable drop off, when he stepped in, to give Ratliff a breather.

Look for the Cowboys to add a bigger-type of nose tackle in this coming draft. No, not because Ratliff should be moved to defensive end, because he shouldn’t. He excels at the nose tackle position, why move him? What Ratliff needs, is a backup that can spell him and be reliable, so he can come in on third-down and still be fresh enough to be able to rush the passer effectively.

Outside Linebacker

Is there a better 3-4 outside linebacker than DeMarcus Ware in the NFL, at the moment? No.

Ware is the type of player everyone wants to see, but don’t want to play against. In my eyes, he started the whole “December roll” for the Cowboys, when he returned frm that nasty neck sprain, to play in New Orleans, and perhaps single-handily change the course of the game.

Anthony Spencer played exceptionally well for the second-half of the season, helping to create quite the dynamic duo, in Ware and himself.

Behind Ware and Spencer, there is Steve Octavien, Victor Butler and Brandon Williams. Octavien hasn’t really progressed in his two years in the league and could be a long-shot to make the team this season, depending on how Butler and Williams progress. Butler showed flashes of potential, but really, that is all they were, flashes. He is a good pass rusher but hasn’t totally got his head around the position of outside linebacker just yet. Williams missed his entire rookie season, after tearing his ACL in a pre-season game. Before the injury, Williams was probably the one rookie that impressed the coaches the most, and while it may be tough for him to rebound, the coaches still have high hopes for him in the future.

The Cowboys are pretty set at outside linebacker for the moment, but as they say: you can never have enough good pass rushers. If the Cowboys have a pass rushing prospect rated highly and he drops to them, don’t be surprised if they pick him up.

Inside Linebacker

Bradie James is perhaps one of the more underrated inside linebackers in the league. He posted his fourth consecutive 100-plus tackle season in ’09, and is consistently around the ball.

Beside James, there is Brooking. While Brooking obviously isn’t the youngest of players anymore (34), he can still get the job down, and is the vocal leader on the Cowboys’ defense. He’s got at least one more solid season in the tank

Bobby Carpenter is never going to be a great, or even good player. But Wade found a nice role for him in the nickel packages, where he can play solidly, and not be relied on to make plays. He is entering the final year of his contract, and most likely his final year as a Cowboy.

Jason Williams and Stephen Hodge, both came in as rookies last year. Hodge ended up on IR and Williams failed to take any noticeable strides. Both are very athletic players that just need to learn how to convert their athleticism into production on the football field… easier said than done.

The Cowboys can probably wait another year, until they decide whether they need to take an ILB early in the draft or not. But if one does fall to them, yet again, don’t be surprised if they snatch him up.

Cornerback

Terence Newman cops a lot of flak these days and is it all warranted? No.

Newman is a solid cornerback. Sure he doesn’t make a huge amount of plays on the ball, but is still a very good cornerback that doesn’t get beat very often. He’s starting to get up there in age (31), which is always a worry for cornerbacks; however, I believe Newman has at least two more years of solid play left in him.

Mike Jenkins is developing into one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He isn’t just your normal zone or man-on-man guy. Jenkins can play zone, he can play man, he can jam or he can play off. It doesn’t matter; he is a talented player that will go far in this league.

Orlando Scandrick worked me both ways this season. After losing the starting job to Jenkins, I noticed his play start to drop off a little, and just as I began to wonder if something should be done about it, BAM, back up he goes, playing at a high level again. Scandrick is a very fluid corner that knows how to stick with his man, and it is only a matter of time before he starts pushing Newman for a starting job.

Alan Ball is really a jack-of-all-trades type of guy that moves back-and-forth between safety and cornerback. When he did fill in as the fourth corner, he played reasonably, but definitely not exceptionally.

Since there isn’t all that much depth at the cornerback position for the Cowboys, they could – as they did last year – draft a cornerback or two in the later rounds of the draft.

Safety

Ken Hamlin just isn’t working. Yes, he’s the quarterback of the secondary, and yes he doesn’t give up the deep ball, but he just can’t make a play to save himself. An upgrade must be sought out in either the first or second round of the draft.

Sensabaugh is a solid player, he isn’t great, but he’s impressive in man-to-man coverage, can come up in the run game and make a hit and fits Wade Phillips’ scheme perfectly.

Alan Ball played rather well when Ken Hamlin went out with an ankle injury, but is still not ready to start. He is solid, but still a little slow at reading-and-reacting to plays.

Stick a fork in Pat Watkins. Sure, he’s a great special-teams player, but if he can’t cover a 34-year-old outside linebacker, playing tight end, then safety is not the position for him.

Martin Long

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During his tenure with the Cowboys Irvin caught 65 touchdowns and 750 balls. He only played for one team and won three Super Bowls during his time with Dallas. Irvin played with fellow Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, which formed the triplets during their great run in the nineties.

There was also another side of Irvin. Michael could be a terror off the field. He was arrested numerous times for drugs use, among other things, and was a part of the infamous group of players that frolicked in the “white house” near the Cowboys practice facility.

When former head coach Jimmy Johnson was fired by owner Jerry Jones, Irvin reacted by throwing a garbage can at a reporter who asked for Irvin’s reaction to the firing.

There is no doubt that Michael has a commanding personality and was the un-questioned leader of that powerful Cowboys offense.

But if we compare Irvin’s numbers to a few of the wide receivers sitting on the door step of Canton, Michael looks like a second teamer. As pointed out by Peter King in his weekly “Monday Morning Quarterback” article, Irvin falls 351 receptions short of Chris Carter and 201 short of four time AFC Champion Andre Reed.

So why are these guys on the outside looking in and Irvin has a bust of himself in the hallowed halls of Canton?

It’s because Michael Irvin has three Super Rings and the guys mentioned above have a combined zero. Andre Reed played in four consecutive Super Bowls and met the Cowboys twice in those games. He and those infamous Buffalo Bills teams were never able to reach the top of the NFL mountain and fell short each time they attempted to attain glory.

Carter never reached a Super Bowl and played in two NFC Championship games. He’s regarded as the greatest “sideline” receiver of all time and had one of the best sets of hands I’ve ever seen.

Because Carter played on Vikings teams that never quite got over the hump, should that keep him out of the hall?

Same goes for Reed. Should these players continue to knock at the door and never get in because they are lacking a championship from their resume?

Michael Irvin was a hell of a wide receiver and was a big reason why the Cowboys won three Super Bowls during the nineties.

But the Hall of Fame is just that, the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Super Bowl Champions. Irvin played during a time of great receivers like Jerry Rice, Chris Carter, Andre Reed, Time Brown, Irving Fryer, and Andre Rison. All of these guys could make a case for the Hall of Fame without the NFL jewelry.

I love Michael Irvin and I regard him as one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game of football. I’m just not sure that I would regard him as a Hall of Fame type of player if we are basing this off of numbers. Irvin can’t hold a candle to the Chris Carters of the world and if it were switched it would be Carter in and Irvin on the doorstep knocking.

On ESPN’s popular morning program First Take during a segment entitled “1^st and 10,” commentator Skip Bayless said that if it were up to him recently released running back LaDainian Tomlinson would not get into the Hall of Fame because of his lack of a post season resume.

So does Irvin get a pass because he has such a great postseason resume but a lack luster regular season one? I understand that most fans and reporters hold the postseason in high regard for all sports but shouldn’t regular season numbers play a part in that as well?

Currently LT sits as the 8^th leading rusher of all time and has a few NFL records to go with that ranking. However he has no Super Bowl rings and lacks any real tangible postseason success to hold on to. Should that keep him out of the Hall of Fame?

Congratulations to Michael Irvin for joining the ranks of the greats that are already in the Hall. But if it were up to me, he would be left off the list along with his quarterback Troy Aikman and a few other players. Listening Steve Young?

-JH

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Austin had a career season last year logging over 1100 yards receiving and double digit touchdowns. If there is no collective bargaining by March 5, which there won’t be, then Austin will become a restricted free agent. The Cowboys will not tag him and more than likely Jerry will sign him to a long term deal.

The issue with Austin’s contract is that of Roy Williams, as pointed out by the Dallas Morning News Todd Archer, Williams is guaranteed $27 million dollars over the life of his contract and that dollar amount will more than likely come into play as negotiations ramp up between the two camps.

Williams was brought in to become the Cowboys number one receiver and chief deep threat. That hasn’t worked out so well for Dallas, just ask Tony Romo. What that did for the Cowboys is find Miles Austin waiting for his chance to breakout.

Since there is no chance that Jerry will part ways with Roy, unless he he’s arrested or builds another “white house” across the Cowboys practice facility, he’s pretty much carved out a spot on the pine. Miles is the Cowboys new number two as Jason Witten is Tony’s primary threat in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s offense. 

Still there is wonder as to when Jerry will pay Austin and how much. I think it’s already set in stone that Jones will keep Austin.  But since Roy Williams has been such a bust for the Cowboys I still say it wouldn’t hurt to add another receiver to the arsenal. I was a huge advocate for the team to bring in former Patriots and Browns receiver Donte Stallworth.

Donte is 29 and still runs a 4.40 on grass turf and will have a ton to prove. He would have been exemplary in the locker room and would have worked hard to earn the trust of his teammates.  Even though I want the Cowboys to add another wide out I would not want to pick up a big name receiver like Brandon Marshall with fear that it would disturb team chemistry.

With the release of former superstar running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook earlier this week, the NFL off-season is shaping up to be more turbulent than Tiger Wood’s driveway at 3 o’clock in the morning.

-JH

You can reach jason by e-mailing him at jhenry@fanhuddle.com

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So why am I writing an article about him? No, not because I think everyone should like him, but because I want to show you all how underrated he is, why he deserves your respect and how he ties in with the Cowboys.

Here is a table displaying Jason Avant’s basic statistics since 2007.

(G= games played in. GS= games started)

One may look at those statistics and say: “Well he seems to be getting marginally better each year, but overall, pretty pedestrian numbers.”

And that person would not be wrong. While Avant is getting better each year, his numbers aren’t exactly mind-boggling.

However, take a look at some hidden statistics, and Avant’s numbers will not look nearly as “pedestrian” as they may seem.

Since 2007, Avant has had 134 passes directed at him, and caught 96, which gives him a catch percentage of: 75.4%. Avant’s catch percentage puts him in the upper-echelon of receivers in the NFL, with the likes of Wes Welker (80.4) and Hines Ward (73.6). But what makes it a really impressive number is that since 2007, Donovan McNabb has only completed on average 56.9% of his passes to the teams other wide-receivers. This says a few things about Avant: Firstly, he has got some sure hands. Secondly, he knows how to come back to the ball. And thirdly, he knows how to help his quarterback out, by running some crisp routes.

According to Hosted Stats, Avant has only dropped one ball since 2007. As well as only having one of the balls intended for him picked off. Mr. Reliable.

Summing up, Avant is not a game-breaker, he is never going to be a number one receiver in the NFL and put up gaudy statistics, but he is a very reliable player that makes the most of his chances, and should really be starting as a number two receiver for the Eagles, or perhaps another team…

And now onto how he ties in with the Cowboys.

Patrick Crayton of the Cowboys is rather similar to Avant. They both operate at their best when they are placed in the slot but can also play very well on the outside, they both have sure-hands and both of them know what to do when their quarterback is in trouble/out of the pocket. However, Crayton will be turning 31 this year, is not nearly as explosive as Avant and does not win as many contested balls.

If there is no CBA and Avant becomes a restricted free-agent, the Eagles will control all the leverage in terms of a contract extenstion. To save themselves the trouble, they will most likely tender him.

This is where it becomes interesting, if the Eagles place just a second-round tender on Avant, then it could possibly open the door for the Cowboys to make a move.

DeSean Jackson and agent Drew Rosenhaus are apparently preparing to make a move, and enter negotiations about a new contract/contract extension with the Eagles. If this is true, the Eagles will probably entirely put off any talks with Avant about a contract extension, and will not be willing to match an offer from another team.

However, if the Eagles place a first-round tender on Avant, that completely slams the door on even the slightest possibility that the Cowboys make a move.

While there is little chance of all these circumstances occurring in Dallas’ favour, it is still a possibility the Cowboys should explore. Avant would provide an upgrade over Crayton. And as I like to say: If you’re not improving in the NFL, you’re losing in the NFL.

Martin Long

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Now we just have the combine, the NFL draft, NFL free agency, and the start of training camp in August to look forward to. But that’s six months away and football fans tend to go through withdrawals, I mean heavy withdrawals.

The Cowboys rode into the off-season on a little of a high. Even though the team was picked apart by Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional playoff round, Dallas was able to exit the Metrodome with high hopes because they ended the 2009 season on such a good note.

There was the emergence of wide receiver Miles Austin and cornerback Mike Jenkins, the play of nose tackle Jay Ratliff, and the ability of the entire team to finally gel as a unit under head coach Wade Phillips.

Cowboys fans have a lot to look forward to this off-season and the NFL draft may be at the top of the list. There are a few positions of concern that Jerry and his son need to address, like the offensive line and maybe adding a free safety. But some mock drafts are suggesting the Cowboys should go all defense in the first two rounds focusing on the secondary and the linebacking core.

Personally I feel that the Cowboys most pressing need is in front of them and that’s the offensive line. Former stalwart offensive lineman Flozell Adams has turned into a liability on the line and is no longer capable of proving adequate protection for quarterback Tony Romo. His side of the line became leaky and he developed a penchant for false starts and personal foul penalties this past season.

Tackle Doug Free replaced injured lineman Marc Colombo for a good chunk of the season and he did a pretty good job of filling in. Some are suggesting that Free should replace Adams on the left side of the line, but I believe the Cowboys will be able to find a better offensive lineman via the draft.

There is also concern in the back of the secondary. Free safety Ken Hamlin is owed $5 million dollars next season and played subpar for stretches throughout last season. Strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh looked lost against the Vikings in the playoffs and started to trail off as the season got longer. Dallas needs to make a decision on draft day if they want to replace either player or draft for the future and find temporary back-ups.

The NFL rookie combine is less than a week away and the city of Indianapolis is still reeling from their Super Bowl loss to the Saints.

The NFL off-season is officially in high gear as we prepare to poke, prod, and grade every single man that steps foot on the playing surface of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. I just hope Jerry and his boys are bringing their A game.

-JH

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In the ’09 season, the Dallas Cowboys did something nobody thought they could… win in December. After finishing 3-2 in the Christmas season (12-5 overall) and winning a playoff game for the first time in 13 years, the Cowboys have removed the monkey from their back, and can now start focusing on next season without all the rumours floating around about Wade Phillips’, Jason Garrett’s or Tony Romo’s job security. No more will there be talk of the dreaded “December Curse”. The Cowboys can finally focus on just winning. But is that enough?

No.

The Dallas Cowboys cannot become content with what was a successful season in ‘09. As they say in the big league: if you’re not improving in the NFL, you’re losing in the NFL. The Cowboys’ front-office must continue to add talent to the roster, then let the player compete and the best man wins. Competition usually brings out the best in players, and if the Cowboys want to keep winning, they have to assemble the best team they can.

Alright, now onto the state of the Cowboys. This is the offensive edition and will be looking at each position, in-depth…

Quarterback

Tony Romo had the best season of his career in ‘09. Morphing from the gun-slinger, to the sheriff, who knows when to put his gun away. Romo still took some chances, but ball security was his first priority. He didn’t let himself lose the game with his arm.

Behind Romo, there is Jon Kitna, who is a cool 37 years old and obviously in the twilight years of his career. He is a serviceable back-up. And by the looks of it, he’ll be back for next season. Nothing can really be said about him, since he never played a snap in the regular season.

Then there is the sophomore, Stephen McGee from Texas A&M. This kid is obviously a project-player, and cannot really be judged after one season. However, if he has an impressive training camp, we could possibly see him start to push Kitna for that number two spot (Unlikely, though).

Running Back

Felix Jones is the best back on this team. He should start. Barber and Choice should then both compete for the change of pace role. And the loser is relegated to third-down and mop-up duty. I wouldn’t actively seek a trade for any of the backs. However, if a team came knocking with second and fourth round draft choices, looking for a running back, I would immediately offer up Barber. He is the oldest, and while he brings a fiery attitude and still produces (just not at a high level); he just isn’t worth keeping over Choice or Jones.

Deon Anderson blocked well this season, just like he has throughout his career here in Dallas, but his recent arrest, has put his future with the team in jeopardy.

Tight End

Jason Witten… ‘nuff said. But really, Witten yet again, produced at a very high level, and although he was slightly inconsistent in pass-protection last season, he is still head and shoulders above Bennett and Phillips. Bennett obviously didn’t have the kind of season he or anyone else expected from him. However, he has the athletic ability to be a threat in the passing game and is exceptional at run-blocking. He just has to put his head down and work hard, ridding himself of any potential distractions. I am not saying he isn’t working hard at the moment, but with the potential he possesses, it shows that he isn’t working hard enough. John Phillips had a fairly nice year. He isn’t going to dazzle anyone with his pass-catching ability, but he is reliable, and when you’re a third tight end that is all that matters. His blocking was the highlight of his rookie season. Mostly playing the H-Back role, he performed well and did not regularly gain the attention of officials. If Anderson is released, look for Phillips to have an increased role in the offense.

Wide Receiver

Roy Williams underachieved for his second season in a row. Miles Austin broke-out onto the scene with an incredible season. Patrick Crayton was his consistent self. Sam Hurd played well when his number was dialled. And Kevin Ogletree flashed a lot of potential. Roy is not going anywhere, trust me. Austin will get signed long-term, sometime between now and week 12 of next season. Crayton is consistent, but could be replaced by a young slot machine, like say, Jordan Shipley. Hurd will probably be tendered, and is a key component of the special-teams. If Kevin Ogletree keeps playing at a high level, he’ll overtake Crayton as the third receiver.

Offensive Line

At tackle, Doug Free should compete to start at left or right tackle. Flozell Adams has a year left in him, and we can’t use one game as a reason to why Marc Colombo should be released. The Cowboys will spend at least one premium draft pick on the offensive line, and don’t be surprised if it is on a tackle. The depth behind Free is next to nothing. Pat McQuistan has not showed any promise of becoming an eventual starter, but the same could’ve been said about Free last year. With that said, though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see McQuistan cut.

At guard, Kyle Kosier is underrated in my opinion. Sure, he isn’t great and was made to look pretty terrible by the Williams Wall (isn’t everyone, though?), but he is a good player, and plays better than most give him credit for. Leonard “Bigg” Davis is a little slow in pass-protection, at times, but is an absolute mauler in the running game. Behind Kosier and Davis, there is Cory Procter and Montrae Holland. I would be lying if I said I thought Procter was a good player, in fact I thought they should’ve cut him last season. I haven’t really seen much of Holland, and he wasn’t activated all season long, so I doubt it would be a huge loss if he got away in free-agency.

At Center, Andre Gurode is a good player, but I wouldn’t call him great. His inconsistent performances become quite apparent when you watch tape of him. Behind Gurode, there is really nothing in terms of depth. Procter isn’t great at any kind of snap and never seems ready to block when playing center. Duke Preston isn’t a shocking player by any means, but that doesn’t mean he is a good player. I definitely expect the Cowboys to take an OG/C in the draft, if not two.

The Cowboys’ offensive lineman will all be 31 or older by the start of next season. The line shouldn’t be ripped down, but adequate replacements should be found and groomed, so when one of starters does start to decline, rapidly, there is a player ready to step up and take his place.

Check Back soon for my “State of The Cowboys: Defense” column.

Martin Long

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