Finally Some Safeties!

It looks like the 2011 Dallas Cowboys have finally taken shape. With the signing of Gerald Sensabaugh and Abram Elam to one year contracts it would appear that the roster is very close to complete. There aren't any major holes remaining on the roster at this point. You could argue for wide receiver depth and cornerback depth but it seems as though the Cowboys want to go young there.

It is expected that Sensabaugh and Elam will man the two starting safety spots with Barry Church and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah providing depth. I'm happy to have experience back there but I hope that the coaches are going to get the young guys some real game experience this season because they need to be ready to start next season.

The best part about the two safety signings is the fact that the safeties came at relative bargain prices and the short term deals set things up for the young players to move into starting roles next season. I really like what I have seen from Barry Church in his limited time last season and from what I saw at training camp. He seems too good to get buried on the bench for much longer.

Unfortunately Terence Newman went down with yet another injury at practice yesterday. But on the bright side it appears that he may be able to return for the season opener. The Cowboys do have some young players at cornerback who will need to step up.

The silver lining here is the new defense that Rob Ryan is installing. With the multiple defensive looks they will give the offense and the blitzes coming from all over the field it makes the cornerback position a little easier to hide. But it still is a concern if Newman is expected to start and he is already out with an injury again.

Where Should the Cowboys Start?

Things are going to get absolutely crazy across the league next week. And for the Cowboys there is a lot of work to be done in a very short amount of time. Let's look at the priorities for the Cowboys heading into the shortest free agency signing period in the history of the NFL.

Priority #1 - Get Doug Free signed. I list this as the top priority because accomplishing the goal of locking Free into a long term deal not only helps shape the salary cap picture but it also impacts whether Marc Colombo can stay or go. If Free somehow ends up with another team the Cowboys will be forced to hold onto Colombo and start Tyron Smith at left tackle.

Priority #2 - Identify what dead weight is going to be cut from the roster to save salary cap space. There are some easy picks here. I know getting Free signed is the top priority for Jerry and Stephen Jones. So Colombo will be gone which will save the Cowboys $1.9 million in base salary and a $2.6 million option bonus. Cutting Barber saves $4 million on the cap and they Cowboys need to get rid of one of their backs anyway after drafting DeMarco Murray.

Priority #3 - Restructure some of the big money players to save cap space. Tony Romo, Demarcus Ware, Terence Newman and Miles Austin are all prime candidates for contract restructuring. I would love to see the Cowboys find a way to restructure Roy Williams' deal to make his cap number lower this season without making it impossible to cut him again next year. Leonard Davis is another prime candidate for contract restructuring.

Priority #4 - It looks like all teams will get 3 days to deal exclusively with their own free agents. The Cowboys need to resign Gerald Sensabaugh, Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen and Kyle Kosier. I would love to see the Cowboys upgrade the offensive line but the lockout is going to prevent that this season. With very limited offseason work in the offense it is hard to imagine any of the young players progressing to the point that they can start the year at left guard. Bringing Kosier back is the safe option and they can buy another year of development. David Arkin was drafted to be a starter but he won't be ready this season. The Cowboys can't afford to go into the short free agent period needing two starting safeties. Hopefully Sensabaugh isn't trying to break the bank with his new deal. The Cowboys are in bad shape at defensive end if they don't resign at least one and hopefully two of their soon to be free agent ends (Jason Hatcher, Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen)

Priority #5 - This is the beginning of open free agency. I seriously doubt the Cowboys will cut Newman and make a run at Nnamdi Asomugha. There won't be the cap space available to go after a high priced guy like that. The #1 priority should be finding a free safety. The Cowboys can't afford wait another year with Alan Ball as the only other starting option. There have been a lot of names thrown around as targets in free agency at safety. I'll be happy with anyone back there who isn't named Alan Ball.

Priority #6 - Depth, depth, depth. The Cowboys need more depth at cornerback, linebacker, offensive line, and wide receiver. They need to find quality depth at as many positions as possible. Obviously some of the rookies will be providing depth at some spots but you never know what you have from your draft picks until you get them on the field.

It is going to be a wild and fun week of free agency starting hopefully on Monday. The Cowboys have plenty of work to do to keep things interesting for Dallas fans.

The Defense Needs to Force More Turnovers

As good as the defense was last season they had one major flaw. They had a very hard time forcing turnovers. The odd thing about that is the strength of the defense, the pass rush, is usually a recipe for turnovers. For most teams if they can get pressure in a quarterbacks face then he will make mistakes trying to throw the ball early or force the ball into coverage because they are under duress. On top of that, it you hit the quarterback a lot during games that usually results in fumbles.

But the Cowboys defense just doesn't get the results that you would expect. Last season they had just 11 interceptions. That is not a good number. The Cowboys tied for 26th in the NFL in interceptions. The league lead belonged to the Green Bay Packers who had 30 picks. Yes, 30. That makes the Cowboys interception number look embarrassing.

The Cowboys forced 17 fumbles and recovered 10. They tied for 11th in the NFL in forced fumbles and tied for 16th in fumble recoveries. Again, not good numbers. Especially when you see that the Cowboys were 7th in the NFL with 42 sacks.

So what gives? The Cowboys were 19th in points allowed per game with 22.6 points allowed per game. The defense improved in that category dramatically over the second half of the season, but the turnovers were missing all year long.

If the Cowboys can improve their turnover ratio it will result in more wins and more lopsided victories at that. What can they do differently? They are pressuring the quarterback early and often and that will pay off in the long run if they improve in some other areas.

There are a few dynamic playmakers that seem to look for the ball. Demarcus Ware makes an effort any time he is near the quarterback to get the ball. Mike Jenkins always finds a way to get his hands on the ball. Terence Newman is around the ball but he often lets big opportunities slip through his hands. Maybe Sensabaugh will come up with more picks playing without a cast this season. But, overall, I think the defense isn't focused on taking the ball away from the offense.

So is it coaching? The defensive schemes have to play a role in the problem. The defense doesn't focus on gambling for turnovers like the Packers or Saints. But there is a flip side to that. The Packers and Saints also give up big plays on a regular basis because they are gambling for interceptions. The Cowboys philosophy seems to be permanently focused on the conservative approach defensively.

I'd like to see a change from a coaching standpoint next season. Obviously part of the issue is just not having a lot of players who are big turnover machines. But I think the coaches need to give the players more chances to gamble on a pick go for the big hit to jar the ball loose. I'm all for the conservative approach if it is going to limit points for the opposition. But there are situations in the game where the players can take a chance or anticipate quick throws. For example, why in the world are the DB's always playing soft coverage on the goal line? There are times to get up on the receivers and all too often the receivers get a free release in situations that really seem to require press coverage.

When the Cowboys send an all out blitz the DB's should be jumping the quick slants, quick hitches and quick outs. A blitz usually results in the quarterback getting rid of the ball quickly. The cornerbacks shouldn't be 7-10 yards off the receivers in those situations. I'm not saying they get up in press coverage on every blitz because the offense would know what was coming. But even playing off they can jump the short routes if the are given the freedom to take a chance now and then.

I can see that Mike Jenkins has the mentality of a guy who wants to take the ball away. Wade Phillips needs to turn him loose a few times a game in the right situations. And the same goes for the rest of the defensive backs. I don't want the whole scheme changed. I would just like to see the Cowboys mix it up a little bit with the coverage to give the defense more opportunities at turnovers.

Second Half Domination

As the Cowboys shuffled off the field at halftime I had one thought in my mind. I was thinking that if this team is really a playoff team then they will come out in the second half with a new attitude. Two quarters later I felt a giant sense of relief as the defense completely shut down Carolina during the second half. The offense was a little off all night whether it be penalties, sacks, or just bad play calling. But they scored enough points to give the team the lead and the defense sealed the deal with a touchdown late in the 4th quarter. The Cowboys did not play a great game but they did show that they fight through a slow start. I came away from the game satisfied with the win but there are a lot of problems that need to be corrected with this team.

Reasons to Celebrate: The defense finally showed up this season. Three sacks, three turnovers and a timely return for a touchdown to close out the game. Four straight three and outs to start the second half. It was very impressive to see what the defense can do when they play aggressive football. Say what you want about Terence Newman but the guy knows how to handle Steve Smith. He has done it in the past and he had Steve Smith frustrated again. On offense, the running game continues to dominate. Tony Romo did a good job protecting the ball. The special teams kept the Panthers pinned on their own end of the field all night long.

Reasons to Worry: Felix Jones is starting to earn the name Mr. Glass in my book. I hate that he seems to get up limping after every carry and his injuries always come on plays that don't even involve big hits. Jason Garrett is still making bad play calls at critical times. The opposing defense might be begging you to run the fade route from the one yard line, but sometimes you need to just line up and pound the ball into the end zone. The field goal instead of a touchdown in the fourth quarter could have cost the team the game. Run the ball! And I know a lot of people love Martellus Bennett, but I don't trust that guy with the game on the line. He cut off the route when Romo expected him to run to the corner of the end zone. Martellus needs to worry less about Marty B TV and more about his playbook during the week. And the penalties at the worst possible times have got to stop.

More Reasons to Worry: The secondary has to be the worst tackling secondary in the NFL. Running up and throwing a shoulder into a player may seem like a great way to deliver a big hit, but when you don't hit the guy square then he breaks free for more yards. I don't know if it is Dave Campo teaching that tackling technique or what, but those guys have got to wrap up. And I mean every single guy in the secondary...Hamlin, Newman, Scandrick, Jenkins, and Sensabaugh.

Play of the Game: Terence Newman jumped the slant route for an interception that he returned for a touchdown at a critical moment in the 4th quarter. It was nice to finally see a defensive back up on a receiver at the line and then actually jump a route. I hope it will be a sign of things to come. I know we are all sick of seeing the cornerbacks 8-10 yards off the ball at the snap and then watching the receiver catch the ball underneath.

Two winnable games are ahead on the schedule. Denver might be undefeated, but, on paper, the Cowboys are clearly the better team. Kansas City has nothing to make you worry. So the Cowboys need to take care of business so they can head into the bye week at 4-1. I'm not looking past the Broncos, but I know if the Cowboys play good football they will dominate Denver.

Roy Williams Is Responding Well to the Pressure

I felt a huge sense of relief today when I heard that Roy Williams was not only practicing, but playing great. Losing Roy is not something that needs to happen before the season even starts. What was extremely encouraging were the comments that he made to the media after practice.

Roy said he wanted to get back on the field because he wants to prove to his teammates, the fans, and the media that he is tough enough to push through some pain. He also admitted that some of his motivation was to avoid a core workout on the side with the trainers, but at least he was honest. It would have been easy for him to sit out for a few days and get a break from the monotony of camp, but I think he realizes that all eyes are on him this season.

Roy Williams expects to play in the preseason game Friday against the Titans. Again, this is great news because the more work he and Tony Romo get in game situations the better off the offense will be when the season starts. I was expecting him to miss a few days. This turned out to be the best case scenario for an injury which is unusual for the Cowboys over the last couple of years.

In other excellent news, Terence Newman made a strong return to practice as well. It sure would be nice to make it to the regular season with the core group of starters on both sides of the ball healthy. The nicks and bruises that are adding up are to be expected, but it always makes me nervous when the key players are hurting.

Cornerback Injuries...Time To Worry?

In just one practice the Cowboys went from a relatively injury free camp to a suddenly injury plagued camp...at least at the cornerback position.  Mike Jenkins sprained his ankle and Terence Newman has a mild groin strain.  They are both now listed as day to day on the injury report.  The problem with day to day is that it sometimes drags out or even turns out to be a much bigger injury than first anticipated.  So the big question is whether we should all be losing sleep over what is being described as relatively minor injuries.

Terence Newman has developed a scary trend for what is now the third season in a row.  Last year we were told that he had a mild groin strain and then things lingered and worsened to the point that he eventually required surgery due to a sports hernia.  I have a hard time taking Wade Phillips at his word on injury comments because he has a tendency to downplay every injury that happens.  All we can do is keep our fingers crossed that this really is minor for Newman because these groin strains have a way of lingering for long periods of time.

Mike Jenkins is another story.  Some guys bounce back from ankle sprains very quickly but others take months to get back to 100%.  The severity of the sprain is part of the equation but some guys are just fast healers.  Jenkins didn't seem to be a fast healer after his hamstring pull last season but he did come back and look very strong after his rehab stint.  I'm going to hope this sprain is minor enough that Jenkins has plenty of time to get himself back to 100% a couple of weeks before the regular season so he can get his confidence back.

I'm not going to go jump off of a bridge and call the season a bust after these two injuries but I am definitely concerned.  There are some young guys who will benefit from the extra practice reps.  How quickly Newman and Jenkins get back to full time practice will tell us everything we need to know about the severity of the injuries.  If at least one of them can get back to practice within the next week then I won't be worried.  If both guys are back I'll be elated.  But if Jenkins and Newman are both still out in two weeks then I am going to start sounding the alarm.  

Training Camp Preview - Part 8 - Cornerbacks

The top three cornerbacks on the roster heading into training camp look very good for the Cowboys. After that, there is a lot of unproven youth at the position. Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins are the top three players. There will be a battle to fill out the rest of the depth chart. Alan Ball and Mike Mickens look like the best bet to make the team but there will be a few other players fighting for a job as well. I want to take a quick look at what to expect from each cornerback in training camp.

Terence Newman - This is an easy one. He is one of the best in the NFL when healthy, but the last two years have left serious doubt that he is durable enough to be counted on for 16 games. I just want him to make it to the regular season healthy. We all know what he is capable of on the field, so he doesn't have anything to prove to me during training camp except that he can stay healthy.

Mike Jenkins - By the end of last season Jenkins was starting to show some of the ability that made the Cowboys draft him in the first round. There are concerns from some people about his toughness, but I'm really not too worried about that. I just want to see more confidence in his game. Jenkins started the season a little tentative, but after yet another Cowboys' injury he came back as a much more aggressive player against the pass. I want to see him challenging receivers at the line during training camp and showing the ability to knock down passes thrown in his direction. He has to step up his game this season.

Orlando Scandrick - Scandrick was a surprise last year being a fifth round draft pick. After showing some tremendous talent last season he will have much higher expectations heading into this season. I completely agree with Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com on this one. It will be harder for Scandrick to impress us this season because we now all believe he is talented. Last season it was easier for him because there were very low expectations for him. Just like Jenkins I want to see tight coverage and passes being broken up. We all know he can do it, but this season he'll be expected to be a big time player.

Alan Ball - I think Ball was a forgotten man this offseason with all of the talk about Jenkins and Scandrick. He didn't get much playing time but when he was forced into action against Tampa Bay he was very good. He has got to be ready to play when teams go to a four receiver set. Ball is going to have to earn is playing time by beating out Mike Mickens during camp.

Mike Mickens - I believe we are going to look back at the 2009 draft in a few years and view Mickens as the steal of the draft. He slipped all the way to the seventh round due to an injury, but he appears fully healed heading into training camp. From what I have heard about this guy he absolutely has the talent to play at the NFL level. I'll be interested to see what he can do during camp. I hope to see some quickness and a knack for getting between the receiver and the ball. I have high hopes for Mickens.

I think the cornerback position is in good shape heading into the season. I wasn't sad to see Anthony Henry go because I was sick of watching him allow passes to be caught in front of him on a regular basis. The tipping point for me came when he couldn't cover a one armed receiver (Derrick Mason) in the Ravens game. The big question mark is the health of Terence Newman. If he can stay on the field then the pass defense should be better this season than last year. I don't really care who wins the starting job across from Newman because Jenkins and Scandrick will both be on the field most of the time with so many teams running three and/or four receiver sets on most plays.