Time for a New Fullback

Deon Anderson has likely played his last down of football as a Dallas Cowboy. After his recent incident outside an Addison restaurant he will be facing criminal charges. The offenses appear to be misdemeanors but the big problem is that there were guns involved. Deon isn't nearly good enough to justify dealing with the mess that he has created for himself and the embarrassment he has brought to the franchise.

Deon has one year left on his current four year deal with the Cowboys but the Cowboys aren't on the hook for any money if they choose to release him. And his play on the field has been less than stellar. He is a below average fullback with a chronically bad knee. There was a good chance that Deon would be cut loose prior to next season anyway based on his play. So the arrest is probably going to be the nail in the coffin for his time in Dallas.

I won't be crying any tears if the Cowboys decide to cut Deon loose. He has never been very impressive as a player and there have been whispers about his attitude for a couple of years. After the embarrassing season ending 44-6 blowout at the end of the 2008 season Flozell Adams had all he could take of Deon's attitude and took matters into his own hands. The story is that Deon was having too much fun on the flight home after the loss and Flozell took offense and a fight ensued. And one of the Cowboys in house writers, Nick Eatman, has mentioned on the Lunch Break on more than one occasion that Deon doesn't seem to care much when the Cowboys lose. Deon may be a fun-loving guy but it seems like he cares more about having fun than he cares about winning.

It boggles my mind that a player in Deon's position would risk it all over a petty argument. I'm sure the story is being blown out of proportion but the last thing he needed to do was give the Cowboys any excuse to run him out of town. Between his subpar play, his chronic injuries, and now his off the field problems it has become apparent that the Cowboys will be in the market for a new fullback this offseason. I think Deon Anderson will be easily replaced.

Training Camp Preview - Part 2 - Running Backs

Heading into camp this is another position that is the deepest it has been in years. Marion Barber III, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice are all going to battle for carries but Barber and Jones will probably receive the bulk of the carries. At fullback the Cowboys have Deon Anderson returning but he will have to compete for his spot on the roster with several rookies.

Marion Barber III - Barber was reduced to a mere mortal late last season after his dislocated toe but appears to be back to 100% heading into camp. What is going to be interesting is how the Cowboys split the carries among all three running backs. Barber has always been at his best when the Cowboys are in short yardage situations and late in the 4th quarter when the Cowboys are trying to close out the game. Last season he was given the starting role and seemed to lose a little of his explosiveness as the season wore on. I'm guessing that Jason Garrett will give Felix Jones and Tashard Choice more carries earlier in the game to ensure that Barber is fresh for short yardage and 4th quarter situations. It will be hard to see what the plan is during camp but I would like to see Barber back to his old form running tough with a chip on his shoulder. The offense needs the spark he gives them when he breaks tackles and runs over defenders.

Felix Jones - It seemed as though Jason Garrett was just starting to understand how to use the talents of Felix Jones in the offense when he went down with what turned out to be a season ending hamstring tear in the Arizona game. I want to see Felix Jones running smooth on his healed hamstring and surgically repaired big toe. Those two injuries are a concern because Felix is a special player primarily due to his explosive speed and quickness. I hope to see the offense running more plays designed for Felix Jones both running the ball and catching the ball out of the backfield.

Tashard Choice - Choice was quite a nice surprise discovery late last season. He filled in nicely after both Barber and Jones were injured. I hope the Cowboys plan to give him some carries every game so that all three backs can stay healthy. In camp I don't think we'll really know how much he is going to be used during the regular season but how he does picking up blitzing defenders will probably be a major factor in how much he is on the field when the season starts.

Deon Anderson - The fullback is not used much in the offense for the Cowboys. With the plan for an increased use of the two tight end set it is going to diminish the role even more. Deon Anderson will have to win the job by not only being the superior blocker but also excelling on special teams. I think Anderson will win the job due to his knowledge of the offense but the competition is going to be good for him.

If all three running backs can stay healthy this season the Cowboys will have one of the deepest, most talented trios of running backs in the league. There is going to be more of an emphasis on protecting the ball this season which, to me, translates into an increased load for the running backs. The biggest factor in how much the running game will be utilized will be the offensive line because it is clear that all three backs are capable of making big plays if the line can do their job.