The Chronicles of America's Team

New, But Old Offense Looking Good

2007-05-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

There have been some changes and development on offense as well and I am going to try everyone through those.

Quarterback:
Passing on Brady Quinn tells everyone the Tony Romo is man who is going to be running this offense. Romo has spent tons of time working with new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and expect him to ready and to play well. Brad Johnson will be behind him and his experience gives us someone to lean on. There is a bit of a contest going on for the third spot though. Matt Baker spent last year on the practice squad and is the early favorite. Matt Moore, the rookie free agent will be giving him a run for his money. There was talk of bringing in Jason Garrett favorite Brock Berlin, but that does not seem too likely now.

Running Back:
Julius Jones is the only on the whole team that has opted not to work out at the Cowboys facility in Dallas. Instead he has been in Arizona and Wade Phillips said that for now that is fine. Jones likes the new offensive leadership and said he felt like a robot trying to hit holes that were not there when Parcells was the man in charge. Marion Barber, the NFC touchdown leader, will be back backing him up. Tyson Thomson is not far behind either. He is coming off an ankle injury and I would look for him to make a push at Barber and maybe even Jones too.

Fullback:
This is going to be an interesting position. There is not a clear starter here. Anthony Fassano will be an H-back style player and will see a lot of action catching passes out of the backfield. Fassano will also be playing tight end as well. So, rookie Deon Anderson will be the man doing most of the blocking. Oliver Hoyte rounds out the fullback position and he still has a chance to win a starting job.

Tight End:
Jason Witten might just be this team’s most valuable weapon in the passing game. He is a huge part of this team. As previously mention Fassano will play on the opposite side in dual tight end sets. Rounding out the depth chart here will be Tony Curtis.

Wide Receiver:
Well we all know the number one is Terrell Owens and the number two is Terry Glenn. Both are going to paid their roster bonuses and they will be back. Patrick Crayton is the leading candidate for the slot receiver in three receiver sets. However, he will feel the pressure from up and comer, Miles Austin. Isaiah Stanback figures to be a factor here as well. I can’t really elaborate on when his role will be until he actually recovers from his foot injury. Rounding out the receivers are Sam Hurd, Jamel Richardson, and Jamaica Rector.

Offensive Line:
Flozell Adams will be back at left tackle. However, there have been many indications that our pro bowl tackle might be leaving after this season. Doug Free, one of this year’s draft picks will therefore be backing him up. They wanted to get younger and that what Free gives them.
Left Guard is an interesting position. Kyle Koiser is the incumbent starter, but he is clearly the weakest link on this line. Pat McQuistan, who was the lead backup tackle last season is going to be moving to backup left guard. I would not be surprised for this to develop into a decent position battle.
Andre Gurode was locked up over the off-season and he will be returning as the center. Cory Proctor has been working as the second team center, even though he is best suited as a guard. If McQuistan’s transition to guard is quick, Proctor will most likely be moving to center and McQuistan will backup both guards.
Right Guard is going to be the prized off-season sign, Leonard Davis. Davis is a big man and is going to be a huge upgrade from Marco Rivera. For now we will say that Proctor will be his backup, but there is a possibility that Rivera will come back from his back surgery.
After a long contract battle Marc Colombo is coming back as the starting right tackle. He is injury prone, but I expect him to have a big year. Just in case, third round pick, James Martin will be backing him up. Martin usually played on the left side, but he said he will move to the right side. So, two BC alum will round out the offensive line.

Depth Chart:
QB: Tony Romo, Brad Johnson, Matt Baker, Matt Moore
RB: Julius Jones, Marion Barber, Tyson Thomson
FB: Anthony Fassano, Deon Anderson, Oliver Hoyte
TE: Jason Witten, Anthony Fassano, Tony Curtis
WR: Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Isaiah Stanback
WR: Terry Glenn, Miles Austin, Sam Hurd
LT: Flozell Adams, Doug Free
LG: Kyle Koiser, Pat McQuistan
C: Andre Gurode, Cory Proctor
RG: Leonard Davis, Cory Proctor
RT: Marc Colombo, James Martin

Mini-Camp Defense Developments

2007-05-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

I think it is important for everyone to see how the positions are going to be breaking and what the depth chart is going to look like before training camp begins. So, I am going to break down each position, starting with the defense. I will have the offense at a later date.

Secondary:
Anthony Henry will not be moving to safety, he will be staying as the second corner. Terrance Newman will again be playing the lead role taking on the other team’s elite receivers. The nickel corner is most likely going to be Aaron Glenn. Glenn is aging and was a Parcells favorite, so I would expect there to be a possibility of him getting beaten out. Some up and comers that round out the cornerback position are Jacques Reeves, Nathan Jones, and Courtney Brown.
Roy Williams is going to back at strong safety like usual. Backing him up will most likely be Keith Davis. It seems like Ken Hamlin will be playing with the first team as the free safety and Pat Watkins will be backing him up. However, in the nickel formation Hamlin will be sliding to the strong side and Watkins will play free safety. Roy Williams role in the nickel will be elaborated on below.

Linebackers:
Greg Ellis is going to be back for training camp and he has been proclaimed as the current starter. Spencer will have to beat him out if he wants the spot. Ellis and Spencer will be playing on the strong side. That means they will have the challenge of running through and covering the tight end. DeMarcus Ware will on the weak side, this will allow him to put more pressure on he quarterback. Technically Junior Glymph will be backing him up, but if Ware were to have an issue I would expect it to be Spencer, Carpenter, or Burnett.
As far as the inside goes, Bradie James and Akin Ayodele will be back as the starters. James has even trimmed off over 10 pounds in an effort to better prepare himself for the new system. Backing them up will be Bobby Carpenter and Kevin Burnett. Burnett has recently voiced his displeasure with his current situation with the Cowboys and I am going to bet the Carpenter is not going to be far behind. These are two guys with a lot of talent that are moving inside this year because of the excess of outside guys. They are both at a level where they can start in this league and hopefully they will have opportunities to make an impact.
In the nickel package the Cowboys will be going with four down lineman and two linebackers. Burnett will be one of those linebackers because of his amazing speed. The other is going to be Roy Williams. Yes, you read that correctly. Wade Phillips wants to get Roy away from coverage in third and long situations. This situation will allow Williams to make plays without needing to worry about someone beating him down the field.

Defensive Line:
Marcus Spears is delighted with Phillips’ new system because he claims he will be able to get better pressure. So, he will be staying at defensive end, however in the nickel he will play tackle. Backing him up will be Jeremiah Ratliff. On the other end, Chris Canty is going to start with the first team. Jason Hatcher will be behind him. Canty has had some struggles and I would look for a good training camp battle between him and Hatcher. In the nickel Ware and Spencer will most likely be playing as the defensive ends.
On the inside Jason Ferguson will remain as nose tackle. No one is really sure who is going to be behind him, but as for now it looks like it is going to Montavious Stanley.

Starting 3 – 4 Scheme:
RE: Chris Canty
DT: Jason Ferguson
LE: Marcus Spears
ROLB: DeMarcus Ware
ILB: Bradie James
ILB: Akin Ayodele
LOLB: Greg Ellis
CB: Terrance Newman
CB: Anthony Henry
FS: Ken Hamlin
SS: Roy Williams

Nickel (passing downs) Scheme:
RE: DeMarcus Ware
DT: Jason Ferguson
DT: Marcus Spears
LE: Anthony Spencer
ILB: Kevin Burnett
ILB: Roy Williams
CB: Terrance Newman
CB: Anthony Henry
CB: Aaron Glenn
FS: Patrick Watkins
SS: Ken Hamlin

1st Mini-Camp

2007-05-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

The first mini-camp is underway at Valley Ranch and TO has already stolen the show. Jerry Jones went on record saying that Terrell Owens would be in attendance, but not participating in the camp. However, Owens trotted out on to the field and caught passes. My first reaction was that it was media ploy by Jones and Owens to try and get more attention. However, after reading Wade Phillips reaction to the media frenzy after the first day of the three-day event, I don’t think they were trying to give the media something to talk about. Jerry Jones, unlike TO did address the media and said that Terrell sacrificed his football future to stay on the field last season and he could not even imagine not having a player with is dedication on the field next season.

Usually the first mini-camp of the offseason is used to evaluate rookies and find out who has stayed in shape and who is going to be in the dog house. I would like to hear more about that stuff. I could care less if TO is on the field or not because we all know that he is going to show up when it counts anyway. I have a million questions that I would rather hear something about:

I want to hear about where Greg Ellis is with his rehab; will he be ready for training camp?

How quick is Anthony Spencer’s switch to linebacker going to happen and is he going to beat out Ellis?

Is Pat McQuistan really moving to guard, and is he going to push Kyle Koiser for the starting left guard spot?

Does Nick Folk have a chance at beating out Martin Gramatica?

Is Anthony Henry going to be staying at corner, and who is going to replace him if he moves to safety?

Is Bobby Carpenter going to be a middle or outside linebacker?

Does Tyson Thomson have a chance at coming back and taking on a bigger role in the rushing game?

When is Isaiah Stanback going to be ready to play?

Who is going to backup Jason Ferguson at nose tackle; is there any chance that Marcus Spears is going to move to the inside?

There are just so many more important things then TO catching passes. He is the number one receiver and there is no chance of that changing. There never was. So, really his situation is uninteresting to me. Hopefully I get some answers to my other questions.

Draft Player Profiles

2007-04-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

Round One: Anthony Spencer, DE Purdue
This pick came as a bit of shock to almost all Cowboys fans, including myself. Anthony Spencer was a 260-pound end for Purdue and is going to have to move to outside linebacker in the Cowboys system. I know last year after Greg Ellis went down the pass rush suffered to a great extent. His return was claimed to be coming along quickly and very well. That obviously is not the case. Picking Spencer basically sends a message to Ellis that he is on his way out. It also admits that Bobby Carpenter is not capable of rushing the passer. I am obviously very skeptical about this pick, but Spencer is an outstanding talent. Both Joe Thomas and Levi Brown (offensive tackles picked in the top 5) claimed that Spencer was their biggest challenge this past season. Jerry Jones claimed going into the draft that he had 7 impact players on his board and that he would consider trading up to get one and that is exactly what they did. New head coach Wade Phillips was obviously the driving force behind this pick. Phillips has an outstanding defensive scheme and pressuring the quarterback is the focus. Phillips was also impressed at how well Spencer knew the scheme and he thinks that his transition to linebacker will go very smoothly. Spencer will win the starting job and look for Greg Ellis to be traded or moved back to end in nickel situations.

Round Three: James Martin, OT Boston College
Martin started his career at Boston College playing guard and started two seasons there. This past season, his senior season, he moved to tackle. Martin said that he prefers playing tackle even though scouts have him as more a guard in the NFL. Martin also claimed he is better playing out in space, but again scouts say that is one of his biggest weaknesses. The consensus on Martin is that he is going to be a career backup in the NFL. Jerry Jones claimed he saw Martin playing tackle, however later picks indicate that Martin will be moving back to guard. This pick was obviously a bit of a reach and probably should have been used on a cornerback. With all that said Martin will make the team and he will backup left guard Kyle Koiser.

Round Four: Isaiah Stanbeck, QB Washington
Stanback only started one season at quarterback for Washington and played a bit of receiver before that. Scouts say that he has the tools to become a quarterback, but he is best fitted as a receiver. As a quarterback, he was ranked bellow Chris Leak, who was not even selected. The recent signing of Brock Berlin and the presence of Matt Baker makes the chance of him competing at quarterback very unlikely. He also does not really fit into the wide receiving corps because Miles Austin and Sam Hurd are sitting at the fourth and fifth spots on the depth chart. So, this pick really leaves me scratching my head. Then it dawned on me that because of Stanbeck’s exceptional physical skills he might have been brought in to play safety or even cornerback. His 40 time does not do his blazing speed justice. Stanbeck can make an impact, but I am just not sure exactly where yet.

Round Four: Doug Free, OT Northern Illinois
Most people had Free ranked higher then third round pick Martin. Free has excellent size and great footwork, so he will remain as a tackle with the Cowboys. He is said to be a great technician and he is very durable. The major knock against Free is that he lacks strength and the killer instinct. Those are two easily fixable things. I would not be surprised if Free makes a bigger impact on this team then Martin does. Free will fit in as the backup left tackle behind Flozell Adams.

Round Six: Nick Folk, K Arizona
This pick leaves me just outraged. I saw a lot of mock drafts that had the Cowboys taking Mason Crosby as high as the third round. Crosby was the highest ranked kicker in the draft and was said to be very capable of making an impact right away. I actually watched a kicking competition and I was impressed with Justin Medlock even more. Medlock was picked in round 5, so he was out of the question, but Crosby was there and we took Nick Folk instead. Folk is said to have superhuman leg strength, but he frequently missed short kicks. What this all equates to is that they are probably planning on having to kickers: Gramatica for field goals an Folk for kickoffs. That wastes a roster space and Crosby was really the better pick here. This pick was just plain awful, one of the worst things I have ever seen the Cowboys do!

Round Six: Deon Anderson, FB Connecticut
At first this ones looks pretty good. Fullback is a position we could use depth at. Anthony Fasano already plays an h-back style fullback as a pass catcher and he does it pretty damn well, but he doesn’t block particularly well. Oliver Hoyte is a converted linebacker and he is a good blocker, but he is a little slow. So, getting a blocking fullback would make sense. However, Anderson is more of a pass catcher and is said to be incapable of delivering a powerful block. It also indicated that he has some major character issues. If he can block then it’s an ok pick, if he can’t then it’s a complete waste. I would not be surprised if he winds up not making the team.

Round Seven: Courtney Brown, CB California Polytechnic
This pick might just be the sleeper pick that could wow people this draft. Brown is a great athlete and ran an impressive 4.34. He might be one of the most physically gifted cornerbacks in this draft. He was ranked incredibly low because he only played against mediocre competition and was rarely challenged. He is not completely developed yet, but I really think that he could become a starting cornerback. He can also make an impact returning punts. He will make the team and he will eventually make an impact.

Round Seven: Alan Ball, CB Illinois
I really do not know much about him. He is tall, but a little too thin. I read somewhere that he gets pushed around easily and does not tackle at all. That doesn’t really translate to becoming a good special teams player either. Against physical receivers he will have a lot of difficulty. He is an interesting projects but I think he is going to wind up getting cut.

Nice Tade, Wait What?, Nice Trade, Who's That?

2007-04-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

This draft has been a pretty crazy one for the Cowboys. In this case, crazy means bad. A lot of very intriguing things were happening in the first round. At the cornerback position Leon Hall fell and the Jets traded up to the 14th pick to take Darelle Revis (another cornerback) before Hall. My immediate reaction to that was that the Cowboys should trade up and get Hall. They didn’t and Hall got selected. Some people had them picking safety Reggie Nelson, but he was selected at number 21, the pick right before the Cowboys went on the clock. One glaring player stared them in the face at that point and that player was Brady Quinn. Many of the analysts had the Cowboys going for Quinn because they were not confident in Romo. As much as I liked the idea of picking the golden boy Quinn, I knew that the Cowboys should pass him up and trade the pick to someone who would take him, like Cleveland. That is exactly what Jerry Jones did. He collected the third pick in the second round and a first round pick in the 2008 draft in return. At this point I was really pleased. We just moved down 14 picks and we got another first rounder for next year.

After watching two more picks I decided to get in the shower. When I returned I was shocked to see the Cowboys back on the clock at number 26. It was then announced that they had selected Anthony Spencer a defensive end/outside linebacker from Purdue. Then they announced that the Cowboys had traded with the Eagles and gave up that second round pick they just acquired from Cleveland as well as a third and a fifth round pick. Essentially they gave up a third and a fifth to move up 10 picks and to take a player that plays a position that the Cowboys are stacked at. So, for the third year in a row the Cowboys selected an outside linebacker with their first pick. Spencer is an outstanding talent and both Joe Thomas and Levi Brown said that he was by far their biggest challenge this past season. However, with Ellis returning this one just does not make much sense. This basically sends a message to Greg Ellis that his future with the Cowboys is in doubt. It also admits that last year’s first rounder, Bobby Carpenter is not capable of taking over his spot and being a staring linebacker. It also left the cornerback position in question and eliminated the chance of adding a decent player to provide depth at guard. Anyway, I kept watching in disappointment.

When it finally came time for the Cowboys to select in the second round almost all of the wide receivers they were targeting (Sidney Rice and Dwayne Jarrett) were off the board and there was not a cornerback worth taking there. The answer was to trade down again. They traded again with Cleveland and got an early third round pick and a fourth round pick in exchange. I guess I was pleased with decision again because it allowed to move back a few picks and still get the same player they would have taken at that spot, while adding another pick.

The Cowboys needed to use this newly acquired third rounder to address either cornerback, guard, or a defensive tackle. Josh Beekman, a highly regarded guard out of Boston College was available and Marcus McCauley a once thought first round talent was available at cornerback. DeMarcus “The Tank” Tyler was also available at defensive tackle. Personally, I would have selected Beekman. Scouts had him ranked as the third best guard in this draft and many people thought he could become a starter and an impact player in the league. I immediately thought that he could compete with Kyle Koiser for the left guard spot. Instead the Cowboys picked his counterpart at BC, James Martin. Marten started his BC career at guard but later moved to tackle. Martin did not overly impress scouts and they even called him unathletic at times. They also said will not be as good as felloe BC graduate and current Cowboys right tackle, Marc Colombo. I really don’t understand this pick. Why not go for a sure thing like Beekman? We needed depth at both positions but Beekman was a much better prospect. I think this was a bit of mistake.

Crayton Retained

2007-04-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

Patrick Crayton, whom was a restriced free agent this season has offically signed the $1.3 million tender the Cowboys offered. Crayton sparked a lot of interest on the market because of his potential to be a solid starting receiver in this league. However, he also came with a second round draft compensation. So, any team that would have wanted to sign him would have had to transfer their second round pick to the Cowboys. As expected, that proved to be too steep of a price in the eyes of teams that might have had interest in Crayton. All in all, Crayton will be returning and will most likley keep his spot as the number three receiver on the Dallas Cowboys. He will be a unrestriced free agent at the end of this comming season.

Mock Draft

2007-03-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

It’s that time for my ultimate draft update. I will be forecasting the possible picks that I believe that Dallas Cowboys should be making. I am not going to compile a complete mock draft, but I am going to break down each round (except the 7th) for the Cowboys and make a realistic pick. So, here we go:

Round #1:
The Cowboys have the 22nd overall pick in the first round. There has been a lot of speculation on what position the Cowboys are going to target here. With the recent addition of Ken Hamlin at safety a lot of people are thinking that TO is going to get cut and this pick will be a wide receiver. However, being a Cowboys fan for as long as I can remember, I know Jerry Jones is not going to cut TO. That still leaves the option of taking a wide receiver like Robert Meachem or Dwayne Jarrett, but I think this pick has to be a defensive one. While the immediate need is at safety, it is highly doubtful that a quality safety will be available at their pick. That state of the secondary is really in flux, but I think they have enough personnel to compile a decent one. So, which does that leave? A struggling pass rush that Wade Phillips is determined to fix. Greg Ellis will be returning and Bobby Carpenter will be backing him up. So, outside linebacker is set. The defensive ends, Canty and Spears are young, but they have proven to be ineffective. I believe that this pick will be in the defensive line/pass rush category. Gains Adams is not really big enough to play in a 3 – 4 line and Jamaal Anderson, Alan Branch, and Amobi Okoye will probably be off the board. The first question here is who is going to be replaced. I think that answer is Spears, whom will be moving to backup defensive tackle. That should alleviate how many snaps Ferguson takes a game. So, the pick should be an end. That end is Adam Carriker of Nebraska. Carriker is an end/tackle tweener that is idea for the 3 – 4. He is extremely strong and is one of the most intense guys around.

Round #2:
The Cowboys have the 21st (53rd Overall) pick in the second round. This is going to be a very important pick because they do not have a third round pick this year. There are really many, many options here. The wide receivers on this team, Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are aging and it is not really known if Patrick Crayton will ever be more then a third receiver. However, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd are being viewed as potential projects with big upsides. Jerry Jones is on the record claiming he could see them as number one receivers. Last year, the Cowboys picked Montavious Stanley in the later rounds with hopes that he would be able to win the backup defensive tackle spot. That did not happen and he was cut. He is now back on the team, but he obviously is not then answer to that problem, but picking Carriker and moving Spears to tackle would solve it. So, what does that leave? Offensive Guard. I know we just signed Leonard Davis, but there is a good possibility that we are going let Flo go at the end of the year and move Davis to tackle. A guard would thus be needed. That guy should be Josh Beekman of Boston College. He will be a great back up and he could even push Kyle Koiser for his job at right guard.

Round #4:
The Cowboys have the 23rd (122nd Overall) pick in the fourth round. I think this is the point where the Cowboys should add a wide receiver. It is actually funny because they picked Skyler Green in the fourth round last year and it didn’t really work out. I think I have found just the right the guy for this pick. Craig Davis of LSU was often overshadowed by his counterpart Dwayne Bowe, but he without has skills to be a good receiver in the NFL. It might be a stretch to think he will be available here, but I think he will be and this pick would bring in some good competition for Austin and Hurd. So, I think Davis would be an excellent pick here.

Round #5:
The Cowboys have the 22rd (159th Overall) pick in the fifth round. I know it seems like I have been ignoring the secondary, but I am going to address that with this pick. Kenny Scott, a cornerback out of Georgia Tech, has been viewed as having a good upside. He is a bit undersized and he does have some off the field issues, but he ran a great 40 and he has a lot of starting experience. If Henry is going to be moved to safety Scott could be able to do a decent job taking his place. I know plugging in a rookie 5th rounder sounds crazy, but if he comes through it will make the Cowboys look like geniuses. So, I would definitely take Kenny Davis with this pick.

Round #6:
The Cowboys have the 21st (195th Overall) and the 26th (200th Overall) picks in the sixth round. The first of these should be used to replace Ryan Fowler at backup middle linebacker. I think that guy is going to be Kelvin Smith out of Syracuse. Smith is a four year starter and was originally recruited by current linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni. The second pick in this round should revert back to the offensive line. With Pat McQuistan as the only proven back-up tackle on the roster adding one here would be a good idea. Chris Denman of Fresno State would be an ideal fit. He is a good run blocker that will need to develop his pass blocking skills. He is a good project to embark on with this pick.

Quick Recap:
Round #1: Adam Carriker, defensive end, Nebraska
Round #2: Josh Beekman, offensive guard, Boston College
Round #4: Craig Davis, wide receiver, LSU
Round #5: Kenny Scott, cornerback, Georgia Tech
Round #6: Kelvin Smith, middle linebacker, Syracuse
Round #6: Chris Denham, offensive tackle, Fresno State

Revenue Sharing/Rule Changes

2007-03-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

One of the hottest topics that is constantly floating around in the NFl is the issue of revenue sharing. I personally am not a fan. In my opinion revenue sharing should not exist. In fact I think teams that display poor home attendance figures should be penalized. The average attendance for the previous season should be calculated for each team at the start of each season. If the attendance in a particular game in the following season exceeds that average, the visiting team should receive that additional revenue. Thus teams that sell out ever game will never have to forfeit any revenue from ticket sales. This could potentially destroy owners who do not put the full effort into making their teams as good as they can possibly be. Teams that choose to spend half the money that other teams spend should not get the same return. That is a common fact of business. The more risk you take, the higher the reward can be.

It was also discussed at recent owner meetings that there are going to be some rule changes for next season. First, and foremost for a Cowboys fan, the balls used in the kicking game are going to be required to be broken in for over 40 minutes to ensure they are not slick. For those that have not heard, the ball Romo dropped was a brand new ball that had not been broken in. There is also going to be a penalty enforced for players that spike the ball somewhere other then the end zone. I think it is going to be treated as a delay of game. One of the more interesting new implementations will be that one defensive player is allowed to have a receiver in his helmet, much like a quarterback. This will allow defensive coordinators to call in plays to a designated player. There is only one player that is allowed to have this receiver, so when he is not in the game, signal calling must be used. Something that would have been helpful this year, coaches who are still in the playoffs will be allowed to partake in a second interview during the dead week before the Super Bowl. Two rules are also still being reviewed. Mike Nolan (head coach of the 49ers) proposed that the pass interference penalty be altered to 15 yards, unless it is blatant, in which it will continue to be at the spot of the foul. I am in full support of that because it will help our secondary.

Hamlin Added At Saftey

2007-03-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

I was against the signing of Ken Hamlin from the beginning and I still do not think it was a great idea. However Hamlin signed a one year contract worth about 2.5 million. This did not use much cap space and it certainly does not indicate the Cowboys are committing to Hamlin as a long term solution. Hamlin is young, at age 26, and he is very athletic, but I just don't see him working out. Darren Woodson pledged his support for Pat Watkins the other day. He claimed that Watkins is capable of being the proper complement to Roy Williams. I am still sticking with my gut here and I am going to say that Anthony should be moved to free safety. Who better to provide coverage then a former cornerback. He is not included in the poll on the Cowboys website that Hamlin is winning by a large majority.

Quick Update

2007-03-23T09:09:00.001-07:00

Jamel Richarson and Jim Molinaro have signed, but they seem to have passed on Brock Berlin. Jerry Jones stated that it is still a possibility that the team will take a journeyman quarterback in the later rounds and attempt to turn him into another Romo. Molinaro should help fill the void that recent cut Jason Fabini left and Richardson will add depth at wide receiver. Talks are still being held Hamlin, but I hope it doesn't work out. On another note I would like to see the Cowboys bring in Randall Gay, a cornerback with New England last year. Gay had a great rookie season, but last year was cut short by injury.

Free Agent Workouts

2007-03-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Three unrestricted free agents that are flying under the radar were brought in for workouts at the ranch. Brock Berlin, a quarterback, spent the last two years trying out with Jason Garret in Miami. However, he never made the team or the practice squad. I would love to see him make the team and become another Tony Romo, but probably will not happen here. Berlin was a highly touted high school recruit but he never had much success at the University of Florida and later the University of Miami. Nevertheless he is most likely going to be invited to camp to compete with Matt Barker (last year's practice squad quarterback) for the third quarterback position. Highly sought after Jamel Richardson, also worked out. Richardson is a wide receiver, who spend the last few years in the CFL. He is regarded as one of the better receivers in the CFL and he has also scheduled a workout with the Colts. The last one, Jim Molinaro was a restricted free agent offensive lineman that did not receive a tendered offer from Washington. While he has experience I highly doubt he will do much, besides maybe push Cory Proctor a little harder.

Ken Hamlin also visited today to discuss a possible contract with the Cowboys. Hamlin played free safety last year with the Seahawks. This would be an awful sign in my opinion. Hamlin was not even offered a deal to come back to Seattle and the Saints recently passed on him signing Kevin Kaesviharn instead. Hamlin is also a bigger, hard hitting safety. Roy Williams already does that. Signing Hamlin would add depth behind Williams at strong safety, but bringing him in to start at free safety would be a huge mistake. We need someone who can cover very well to make of for Roy Williams' frequent misreads in coverage. I am a full supporter of moving Henry to free safety and drafting a corner with the first round pick. If the Jerry Jones is serious about Hamlin, then that would lead me to believe that they want to take a wide receiver in the first round, which would ultimately point to TO's release. This is a horrible plan.

Crazy Ray Passes

2007-03-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

For as long as this franchise has been around Crazy Ray has been on the sidelines cheering them on. He eventually fell victim to multiple illness and passed away last week. While he was not an official mascot, he was one of the symbols of this team. For those of you that never knew about Crazy Ray, he basically dressed up like a cowboy, with the traditional hat, boots, and mock pistols. Ray always brought a smile to everyones face during the games and he will never be forgotten.

In other news, Ryan Fowler's contract offer from the Titans was not matched. Eleven million dollars for a reserve was just too high a cost. I am curious to see how they are going to fill the hole at middle linebacker at this juncture. I would love to get a veteran, just as insurance. However, James and Ayodele have been very good and injury free. A fourth round pick seems like most likely course of action to fill this hole.

Stay tuned, because in the near future I am going to post a full seven round breakdown of whom I believe the Cowboys should be taking in the upcoming NFL draft.

Correction

2007-03-12T21:14:00.000-07:00

Ryan Fowler has apparently signed an offer sheet with Tennesse Titans instead of the Philidelphia Eagles. Tennesse is offering him the opportunity to start and they tossed out a four year deal worth eleven million dollars. Fowler, being a Duke product, would love to return back to the southeast and compete for a starting job. It is highly doutbful that the Cowboys are going to match that offer. I did not think that Fowler would command that kind of money. Now it looks as if we are going to have to spend a thrid or fourth round pick on a middle linebacker, again. As I previously discussed, I hope they don't sign Singleton back and move Carpenter back to the middle. Carpenter is far better as an outside linebacker because of his significant size. They need someone smaller and quicker for the middle.

Fowler Signs Offer Sheet With Eagles

2007-03-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

Ryan Fowler, an restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Eagles. Fowler was signed by the Cowboys a few years ago after he went undrafted out of Duke University. Thus if the Cowboys fail to match the Eagles' offer, they will not get any compensation for Fowler. In my opinion I would strongly recommend making Fowler a long term offer. Fowler has been an exceptional special teams player and he is our most valuable reserve middle linebacker. Losing Fowler would just create another depth issue. I highly doubt the Cowboys plan on resigning Al Singleton because they want Bobby Carpenter to take over his duty as the primary backup to Greg Ellis. If we let Fowler go then Carpenter would have to moved back to middle linebacker and Al Singleton would have to be signed. This would be be a costly move and would take up unnecessary cap space, plus Singleton is old. On top of all of that, how could we let the division rival Eagles pick up Fowler? So, starting now, the Cowboys have one week to make Fowler an offer and I recommend they do.

Colombo FINALLY Signs

2007-03-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

All is finally happy in my little world because Marc Colombo finally signed with the Cowboys. The contract is a two year deal for seven million dollars, with four guaranteed. I would have liked to have seen them signed Colombo for more time, but as I previously mentioned he was injured for the majority of his first three seasons in the NFL. He was a first round pick out of Boston College and he has not lived up to his potential, but I think this is the season that he is going to play to all of his capabilities. If he completes the whole season without injury, then he really needs to be resigned to a long term deal. If you have not been keeping up with my previous posts, Colombo will be retaining his starting spot at right tackle next year. Thus, new signee, Leonard Davis will be playing at right guard. As like last year, Flozell Adams and Kyle Koiser will hold down the left side and Andre Gurode will be the man in the middle. I can finally say that this year's offensive line is going to very talented. Assuming that no major injuries occur, this will be one of the best units in the NFL.

Coleman and Johnson Depart

2007-03-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

Kenyon Coleman, the Cowboys thrid option at defensive end left in free agency to join the Jets. Coleman was a solid contributor after the Cowboys switched to the 3-4 and he will be missed. Coleman primarily played on thrid down situations and usually provided a good pass rush, something that Spears and Canty seem to have difficulty with these day. Coleman will be playing the same type of role in New York. He was not considered one of the Cowboys priorties because they probably feel that Jason Hatcher is ready for a bigger role in the defense. While I do think Hatcher is ready for a bigger role, it would have nice to have Coleman back as an insurance policy. If one of the defensive ends gets hurt, we would only have two ends with experience.

As I predicted Al Johnson was not retained by the team, however he did sign with the Cardinals. As a second round pick he was ultimalty a disapointment. When he was picked, he was expeced to start at center with Gurode playing right guard. This experiment lasted for one season before the Cowboys realized they were better off with Gurode at center. Parcells frequently said that Johnson was not the right size to play center. Johnson was considered too tall and he frequently found himself getting toppled over from the bottom. Some people around the league, like the Cardinals, believe he is still capable of being a good player in the NFL, but I would not expect to hear much about him again.

More Signings

2007-03-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

Leonard Davis was introduced today in a press conference with Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips. After the conference the Cowboys had two more announcements.

Martin Gramatica will be returning next year to resume his kicking duties. In my opinion he was the best kicker available besides Lawrence Tynes. Tynes was restriced free agent and would have cost the Cowboys a conditional draft pick, so Gramatica was the best route here. I love his ability to come in and make the clutch kick. That 46 yarder to beat the Giants was pretty nasty. Thus is something the team lacked for a long time and hopefully Gramatica can provide more consistency in the kicking game.

The other sign was Brad Johnson, a proven quarterback with plenty of starts under his belt. Getting Johnson is a huge boost to the Cowboys' security. If something happens to Romo (knock on wood) we know will we have a proven guy to trun to. The only potnetial problem with Johnson is that he is a true pocket passer and Romo is not. Therefore the offensive is going to have to be tailored should Johnson need to come in. Nevertheless, Johnson is a good player and will provide tons of security and leadership to this team. It seems like I end every update this way, but we still have not signed Marc Colombo. The latest news is that the Cowboys have offered him a two year contract, but Marc is looking for a longer deal. Colombo has been injury prone, playing in just three games his first three years in the league and last year was the only year he played all 16 games. While it is risky, I think he deserves at least three years, we need him back.

Davis Signs

2007-03-04T22:39:00.000-08:00

My anger in my last post has somewhat subsided now that Leonard Davis has officically signed with the Cowboys. His deal is a 7 year deal worth about $49.6 million. I thought it was going to be worse then that, so I guess it worked out, although he is now the highest paid lineman of this offseasn. He probably wasn't best lineman available, but whatever. As I mentioned previously, where he is going to be playing on the line depends on if the Cowboys can get a deal done with Marc Colombo. If Colombo returns Davis will be playing right guard with Colombo back at right tackle. This would be the optimal situation. I would love to see Davis replace Marco Rivera because he was getting pushed back into the backfield on routine. If Colombo does not return Davis will play tackle. There is also a possibilty that Davis could be moving to left tackle for the season after this comming one if Flozell Adams does not return for 2008. All in all this was a good sign and Davis will help our offensive line improve from last season.

Opening Day Failure/Bledsoe Cut

2007-03-02T22:47:00.000-08:00

As I perdicted and as Drew Bledsoe wanted he was cut from the Dallas Cowboys. I would love to see him get another opportunity as a starter in this league and I wish him all the best. He did a good job holding down the quarterback position until Romo was ready.

I have to say that the Cowboys have so far sucessfully dug themselves into a huge hole after the opening day of free agency. I metioned in one of my previous posts that I would have loved to see Nate Clements sign in Dallas, but he opted to sign on with the 49ers instead. From a business perspective, he was way over paid. I mean really an eight year, eighty million dollar deal was just outragous for him. This deal drives up the price of all free agent corners and I really think the Cowboys are going to have to turn to the first round of the draft to find their corner. At least thats what I hope they are thinking. The top free agent guards: Eric Steinbach signed with the Browns and Derrick Dockery signed with the Bills. The Cowboys seemed to have their minds made up that they wanted to pass on those guys and get Leonard Davis because of his vesatility to play both guard and tackle at a high level. However, they managed to let him leave and visit, of all places, Washington tomorrow. The also failed to sign Marc Colombo. I mean in a prefect world they would sign Davis to play right guard and Colombo to play right tackle and the offensive line would be looking pretty solid. I just have a bad feeling that Jerry Jones is going to mess all this up again. Maybe the Cowboys are headed down the same road that they were when Jimme Johnson left. While I certainly hope, for my sanity, that this is not the case, the Cowboys are in a hole and they are going to have to over pay players just to get back into this thing.

McBriar Locked Up

2007-03-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the Cowboys' pro bowl punter, Matt McBrair signed a five year $8.5 million deal. He also received a $2.5 million bonus. Last year McBrair had a 48.2 yards per punt average, which was the longest average since 1962. So, obviusly getting McBriar back was on the priority list. Feild position can make all the difference in a game and McBriar allows us to get out of our own side of the feild and on to the opponents side. While a lot of people are thinking that $8.5 million might be a little too much for a punter, McBriar is the best in the business and the Cowboys have plenty of cap room to retain him. I hate to say it but if McBriar ever fell off or had a lot of difficulty, they could also cut him and avoid a lagre part of the salary. Free agency starts on friday and it was a great plan to ensure the McBriar never hit the market. Marc Colombo deserves to be signed back and the Cowboys should be making him a fair offer before tomorrow when he hits the market. There is speculation they are going to try to make a puch for the Cardinals' Leonard Davis but I would love to see them sign Colombo back and foucs that money somewhere else that could use more improvement.

In other news the defensive coaching staff still seems to be up in the air. The leading candidate for defensive coordinator appears to be Brian Stewart, last year's secondary coach for the Chargers. I have to say that this would not be the best decision in my mind. The players seem to love Todd Bowles and it might cause a locker room divide to bring in another secondary oriented coach. I would like to see Paul Pasqualoni be named defensive coordinator. He was the head coach at Syracuse for a while and he actually had Stewart work under him there.

Combine Weekend

2007-02-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

This weekend is the NFL combine. On that note I think it is important to discuss the draft/offseason strategy that I believe the Cowboys should be implementing. I want to break down both cuts, the draft, and free agency.

I know deciding what players are to be cut is a very difficult decision, but we all know it is a part of the game. This offseason we will more then likely see Drew Bledsoe get cut. Now, I know Bledsoe still believe he can be a starting quarterback in this league and I believe him. I would love to see him go somewhere like Chicago to try to beat out Grossman. However, I think he is going to wind up retiring because he does not want to play somewhere unless he is going to be handed the starting job. I don't think he is going to find that. Other iminant cuts on the offensive side of the ball include Al Johnson, Jason Fabini, and Marco Rivera. These two offensive lineman did not see much time last year. Johnson was a second round pick and now that Gurode has really stepped up at center there is not much of a need for Johnson. Fabini, who was signed last year, was used as a blocking tight end in goal line situations. He gets payed way too much money to do that job. Rivera started at right guard last year and was obviously the weekest link on the offensive line. He makes a lot of money and has had a number of back problems over the years. They really need to replace him as the starter and I realy see no use for him as a backup. There has been a lot of speculation that either Terry Glenn or Terrell Owens will get cut, but I doubt it. On the defensive side of the ball I think Keith Davis, Al Singleton, and Aaron Glenn are going to be given the boot. Singleton is just the odd man out in a crowded linebacker group, Glenn is just way too old, and Davis has been an headache and I would assume that the saftey position is going to go in a different direction.

In the draft I would like to see the Cowboys pick Justin Blaylock, a guard from Texas. He would make an excellent replacement for Marco Rivera and he would bring some youth to a line that could use it. The report on him says he does not get pushed back but has some lateral movemet issues. I have not done much reseach as to the deeper rounds of the draft, but I would think the Cowboys should look into getting a free saftey, wide receiver, and even more offensive line depth. People have been saying that we should pick a quarterback, but I think getting a veteran player would be a better alternative.

As far as free agency goes I would love to see the Cowboys land Nate Clements to play corner. They could then move Anthony Henry to saftey as she has planned. Clements is a six year veteran, so he is in his prime and it is very doubtful that Buffalo is going to make a big push to retain him. Clements has been in the pro bowl and he would really sure up all the problems the boys have been having in coverage. Marc Colombo should also be a major concern for the Cowboys. He had a great season at right tackle last year and it would really be a shame to see him go. Another major issue the Cowboys have is who is going to replace Bledsoe as the backup quarterback. Damon Huard's name is getting tossed around a lot and I agree. He did a solid job filling in for Trent Green last year and he would provide some veteran leadership.

If the Cowboys can get all that done, I see no reason that they should not be playing in the Super Bowl come 2008.

Gurode Signs, Coaching Update

2007-02-20T10:51:00.000-08:00

Andre Gurode, who seems to have been the Cowboys top free agent priority, has signed on to play another six years with the Cowboys. After being named to the pro bowl the Cowboys knew they were going to have to make a big push to keep him. Negotiations took longer then anticipated and they wound up paying Gurode more then they wanted to. The exact figures of the deal are not current available. In my opinion, it was a good sign. Being an alternate in the Pro Bowl means he was one of the top six centers in the league and he probably deserves the pay check he is going to be receiving.

As far as the coaches go, Ray Sherman has been hired to coach the Wide Receivers. I don't know much about him, but he will bring experience to the staff being that he has been an offensive coordinator in the past. Skip Peete has been hired to coach the running backs. I really know nothing about him, but I am hoping he can put that fire back into Julius Jones. Wade Wilson, who was also a backup under Troy Aikman, will be making his second stint as the Cowboys quarterback coach. He did some good things with Quincy Carter back in the day, so I think this is a good hire. Also, Jason Garrett's brother John has been hired to coach the tight ends. This is probably a courtesy hire, but he won't have much to do because the Witten/Fasano combo is one of the best in the league. Jason Garrett's expected role of Offensive Coordinator has finally been set in stone. Jason seems like he is going to be calling all of the plays, but he will be working very closely with Tony Sparano. Sparano is going to remain the team's Assistant Head Coach and as usual he will be in charge of the offensive line. So, for the most part the offensive coaching staff has been finalized, howvever the defense remains up in the air.

In other recent news, Norv Turner has been hired by the San Diego Chargers to replace the recently fired Marty Shottenheimer. Ted Cotrell is going to replace Wade Phillips there as the defensive coordinator and Ron Rivera will be on staff as the linebackers coach. This is a great situation for the Chargers and they really have gotten some great coaches to come in there. This however presents an interesting situation for the Cowboys because they seemingly could have had the same staff had they not chose Wade Phillips. All I am saying is that if the Chargers continue on their path to success and the Cowboys do not, Jerry Jones is going to take a lot of heat from the press (myself included). Let the comparisons begin!

First Assistants Hired

2007-02-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

Wesley Phillips and Dat Nguyen were the first two coaches named to the new staff yesterday. Neither coach will really have a large role, but they are interesting picks due to their history. Wes Phillips is Wade's son if you couldn't have guessed it. He will be taking the role of assistant quality control coach. Basically he will be working under Jason Garrett and Tony Sparano. This will be Wes' first job in the NFL, however this was not just a unqualified family hire. Wes had interviews lined up with Cleveland and San Diego for a similar position. So, obviously many people have see some potential in Wes. Dat Nguyen, the other hire made, will be replacing Vincent Brown as the assistant linebackers coach. It seems as if Paul Pasqualoni will be remaining the the lead linebackers coach. This is just the second year that Nguyen will be out of playing football. He was forced to retire last offseason after a nagging neck stinger severely affected his ability to play. I love this hire because he is obviously someone who knows the Cowboys and was a former teammate of more then half of the current team. I am sure some of the inside guys, like Bradie James and Ryan Fowler are excited to have him back, even if it is on the sidelines. There was also news that the Phillips is going to be interview Ray Sherman, the Texan's wide receiver coach, for the same position here in Dallas. That might one of the hardest jobs to sell because of we all know who. So, stay tuned for more coaching updates.

Pro Bowl Recap

2007-02-11T15:52:00.000-08:00

The AFC won the Pro Bowl again this year, however for the first time in a while the Cowboys had multiple faces in the game. Andre Gurode and Flozel Adams were late addition to the NFC offensive line, Demarcus Ware and Roy Williams both started on the defensive side, Matt McBriar handled the team's punting duties, and Jason Witten and Tony Romo came off the bench for the offense. Romo definitely caught the most headlines during Pro Bowl weekend. First, Tony won the skills competition. He hit all four accuracy targets and barely missed the deep ball bonus. He also made an instant statement when he ran out on to the field to hold for an extra point when the NFC scored their first touchdown. I think that was something he really needed to do for his own confidence and I would love to see him holding again next season. When he finally got in the game at quarterback he struggled a bit. However, he almost instantly turned it around and almost lead the NFC to a fourth quarter comeback. He wound up finishing the game 11 for 19 with a touchdown and an interception. Not a bad performance at all. Well, stay tuned for next time when I will hopefully have some information about who is going to be joining the Cowboys staff.

Head Coach Is Named

2007-02-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

A lot of speculation has been made about who the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys is going to be and to tell you the truth it could be anyone of the people that interview. However, it seems that today Wade Phillips is going to be named the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Wade Phillips has many qualities that would make him a successful coach in Dallas. Phillips has previous head coaching experience in Denver, Buffalo, and Atlanta, and between all three he has compiled a winning record. The only thing I could tell you about his previous stops was that his Buffalo experience seemed to be ruined by the Doug Flutie/Rob Johnson battle at quarterback. This won’t be a problem with the Cowboys because Romo is our guy and Jason Garrett seems to be the man running the offense. That being said Jerry Jones really wanted Garrett to take over the offense, but he thought he was just too young and inexperienced to be the head coach. The fact that Jones wanted Garrett calling plays seemed to be what pushed him to hire Phillips over Norv Turner. I would not be surprised if Garrett was the head coach within a five year period. On the defensive side Phillips was an excellent choice because he runs a 3 – 4 defense much like the Cowboys have spent time developing the past two seasons. Phillips has said that his version of the 3 – 4 is very different from Parcells’ but obviously it’s still a 3 – 4. Phillips has had much success with this philosophy in San Diego. This past season San Diego had one of the better defensive units in the league. Phillips has been making calls since Tuesday to try to lure potential assistant coaches for his staff. Obviously, Jason Garrett is going to be the offensive coordinator and Tony Sparano will likely stay on as the offensive line coach. However, Todd Haley has left his wide receiver position to become the offensive coordinator for Arizona. The rest of the offensive staff is up in the air and I have no idea who Phillips would be bringing with him. On the defensive staff Todd Bowles, who was the Cowboys secondary coach last year, seems to be the player’s favorite to be named defensive coordinator. However, I would assume that Phillips will be going through an extensive process to make sure he has the best defensive coordinator as possible. I would also look for Wayne Nunnely, the Chargers defensive line coach to get a look, as well as their secondary coach Brian Stewart, and their linbackers coach John Pagano. That basically concludes my thoughts on Phillips being named head coach, I can’t wait for the press conference!

Return Of A Familar Face

2007-02-07T18:36:00.000-08:00

After a two day interview process, Jason Garrett has been hired by the Dallas Cowboys. He is going to be on the offensive coaching staff for sure, but he is still in contention for the Head Coach position. Personally I like this pick. Jason was the backup quarterback for Troy Aikman during the early 90s. I always remeber the sidelines during those days and seeing him with a head set on and constantly talking with Aikman. Jerry Jones tried to make Garrett a coach before, but Garrett went to the Giants to continue his playing career. Garrett spent the last two years in Miami coach the quarterbacks. This will be Garrett's first time being allowed calling plays if an offensive head coach is not hired. This seemed as if that was going to happen this year regarless of whether or not Parcells stayed. Jones had stated that he long wanted Garrett to be a part of the Cowboys staff and he believes that he is one of the better young offensive minds in football. While I don't know much about his character, I like this pick because he is young, smart, and will bring back some of the early 90s flavor that the Cowboys have been missing.

Tuna's Departure

2007-02-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

In the recent turn of events Bill Parcells has once again retired from the game of football. There has been no conference, no statement from the Cowboys, and I much as I thought this should happen, it is definitely a surprise to everyone. Parcells worked from 8am to 5pm everyday for the last two weeks and he never indicated that retiring would be on his horizon. He also leaves the Cowboys without a head coach a week before the Senior Bowl, one of the biggest scouting weekends for professional football. There are many rumors behind this retirement already. It might have been because he couldnÂ’t deal with TO, it might have been because Jerry Jones asked him to step down, but ultimately I think he came to his senses and realized that he has just plain lost it. At this juncture I feel it to be important to reflect back upon his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys and where I think the Cowboys should turn for their next head coach.

When Bill Parcells came to Dallas I was ecstatic. Having dealt with the Chan Gaily and Dave Campo the previous couple of years I would have been happy with any proven coach. Bill immediately retained Mike Zimmer from CampoÂ’s staff as his defensive coordinator and did very little to shake up the offensive player personal. This proved to be his most successful season in Dallas winning ten games. The Cowboys had the number one ranked defense (a 4-3 I might add) and Quincy Carter of all people started all 16 games a quarterback. Over the next two seasons he cut Carter and turned to Vinnie Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe at quarterback, he switched the defensive scheme to a 3-4 and he temporarily plugged holes with players like Keyshawn Johnson and Richie Anderson while have consistently poor drafts and missing the playoffs twice. This past season it looked as if it was all going to unfold, but then Tony Romo (a player former assistant head coach Sean Peyton invited to try out three years earlier) stepped in and revamped an offense that Parcells seemed incapable of running. The end of the season was marked by defensive failures, Romo trying to be a hero and ultimately dropping a snap that cost the Cowboys their season. Now I donÂ’t know how far the Cowboys could have gone in the playoffs this past season, but after four years in Dallas there was really no excuse that Parcells didnÂ’t have at least one playoff victory under his belt with the Cowboys. DonÂ’t get me wrong, the Cowboys are in better shape then they were before Parcells came in and there is a very good possibility that the next coach will lead this team to a Super Bowl.

So the burning question here is who is going to replace Bill. In a perfect world Jerry would confess his hidden love for Jimmy Johnson and beg the master to come back and lead AmericaÂ’s Team again. Jimmy would bring back Norv Turner, Dave Wannstedt, and Butch Davis on his staff. However, this is a silly dream and probably wonÂ’t happen. So, who are the real candidates? My first call would be to Urban Meyer. He just won a National Championship and he has turned around many a college program. I think he has a great football mind and that is really the kind of coach I would like to see in charge of the Cowboys. Aside from him other people I would interview would be Bob Stoops, Charlie Weiss, Mike Sherman, Steve Mariucci, Ron Rivera, Wade Phillips, Norv Turner, Tony Sparano, Rob Ryan, Jim Bates, and Dan Reeves. I know there are some defensive names there, but I think that the Cowboys should be turning to an offensive mind. I would also like to see a younger coach because that seems to working for a lot of other teams right now. Although my first pick was Meyer, I would also stay away from college coaches because they also have bad track records. Getting a players coach would be the biggest mistake the Cowboys could make, in fact no one should ever hire a players coach. So, if I had to pick one of those realistic candidates right now, I would pick Mariucci because he is offensive minded, young enough, and he has previous head coaching experience.