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.

Training Camp Preview - Part I - Quarterbacks

The Dallas Cowboys start training camp in about 2 weeks so today I am starting a roster preview series leading up to training camp. Many of the positions are settled but there are a few positions with starting spots up for grabs. Every day or two I plan on taking a look at a different position on the roster. In my first part I am going to look at the quarterbacks.

This is obviously one of the most settled positions going into camp. Tony Romo is the clear starter with Jon Kitna backing up and Stephen McGee filling the number three spot on the depth chart. Since everything appears to be pretty well settled what should we look for during training camp out of these three players?

Tony Romo - Tony Romo is a pro bowl caliber quarterback with the potential to be an MVP candidate if the team can put together a great season. Right or wrong, Tony Romo's value is going to be measured by the success of the Dallas Cowboys late in the season and hopefully deep into the playoffs. With the departure of T.O. it is critically important that we see the development of chemistry between Romo and Roy Williams. They need to be on the same page especially on broken plays that require on-the-fly adjustments. Those type of plays tend to be where Romo is at his best so Roy needs to understand where to be so Romo can find him. Outside of that I am hoping to see Romo throwing great looking passes after getting his throwing hand healed up in the offseason. I would also like to see Jason Garrett demanding perfection from him after all we have heard this offseason about doing things "exactly right".

Jon Kitna - I think the Cowboys pretty well know exactly what they are getting in Jon Kitna. He is a solid player who can get the job done if Romo goes down with another injury this season. Kitna took an unbelievable beating as the quarterback of the Lions but he always got back up to play on. He is tough and he still has a decent arm. I would like to see him display a good understanding of the offensive system. I really hope that there is very little dropoff during training camp when he steps in to run the offense. That would give me extreme confidence in the quarterback depth heading into the season.

Stephen McGee - The only way Stephen is going to see an significant, meaningful playing time this season is if everything falls apart due to injuries at quarterback. I want to see if McGee's arm looks as good in practice as many of the players and coaches have been saying since he was drafted. I also want to see him go through his progressions on the plays and show he can find the second, third or even forth option on a play. It is going to take him some time to get up to speed, but time is on his side. In one to two years he needs to be ready to take over the backup role because Jon Kitna is no spring chicken.

Overall, this is the best the quarterback position has looked since the days of Troy Aikman. I am excited the Cowboys have depth this season so the offense won't go in the tank if Romo goes out for a few games again. I think Jerry Jones learned a valuable lesson last season about quarterback depth. I hope we don't see anyone but Romo behind center during the season, but everyone will sleep better knowing all is not lost if Romo goes down.

ESPN Is Thankful for Greg Ellis

Greg Ellis made some outrageous claim yesterday about Demarcus Ware hiding from the coaches during the game so that Ellis could get some playing time. The big problem with this story is the fact that Demarcus Ware was on the field nearly every play last season. ESPN won't let a little thing like the facts get in the way of a good story.

Demarcus Ware did an interview on Sirius NFL Radio this morning and went out of his way to avoid throwing his friend and former teammate under the bus while at the same time denying the ridiculous claims made by Ellis. It is nice to see that Demarcus Ware is trying to avoid making Ellis look like a fool, but I would have preferred a straight denial on this one so the ESPN's of the world would just shut up.

Greg Ellis was unhappy with his role in the defense ever since the Cowboys made the switch to the 3-4 scheme when Parcells came on board. Thank goodness he kept stupid comments like this one to himself while he was still with the team. I'm certain that ESPN will be running with this story for weeks and will still be mentioning it deep into next season regardless of the indisputable video and statistical evidence that proves how much Demarcus Ware was on the field. I always regarded Greg Ellis as a classy player but he has tarnished his legacy over the last few years with his incessant whining and this last shot just seals the deal in my mind.

Update: I just read that Greg Ellis is also throwing his former teammate, Anthony Spencer, under the bus for the big run at the end of the Ravens game. I am truly saddened that Greg Ellis is losing what little credibility and respect he had with me every time he opens his mouth. And he was considered the leader of the defense last year?

10 Things I Hope to See at Training Camp

The training camp schedule came out today and got me excited for the start of the season. Unfortunately I will only be able to make it to training camp in San Antonio for one day this year, but I am hoping to come away from my time there with a positive outlook on the season. I am already optimistic that this season will end in at least one playoff victory, but training camp will be very telling in terms of the new players and new team attitude. Here are some of the things that I hope to see:

1. Roy Williams looking dominant and on the same page with Tony Romo. We all know how important this one is to the hopes for this season.

2. All the receivers healthy and competing for playing time. I am especially hopeful that Sam Hurd and Miles Austin will be 100% by the start of training camp. I am comfortable with the current set of receivers but the team cannot afford to lose one or both of these guys this year.

3. Felix Jones flashing his amazing speed and quickness. He will be the gamebreaker for the offense this season so it is vital that he is back to his pre-injury rookie form.

4. Tony Romo throwing darts and looking decisive. This is a little harder to judge in a practice atmosphere, but I hope he is back to his old form after an offseason to get his pinkie, back, and ribs healthy.

5. Bobby Carpenter playing like a guy who belongs on the field. This is it for Bobby. Either he earns playing time this season or he is permanently labeled a bust and is probably on his way out at the end of the season. I think he will get it done if given a real shot during the season.

6. The defensive backs playing tight coverage and battling receivers for the ball. I am hoping that the soft zone we saw so much last season will be used a lot less now that we have three and possibly four or five guys capable of playing tight man to man coverage. I really want to see if all of the rookies are capable of playing at the level the Cowboys need them to play.

7. Anthony Spencer getting the job done against the run and rushing the passer. His performance is a key factor for the defense.

8. Wade Phillips looking more authoritative and involved as a coach. I know this is hoping against all odds, but he has got to assert himself more this season. I don't want to see that lost, dejected look on the sidelines when the going gets rough this season.

9. Jason Garrett demanding great execution from the offense. I saw him at training camp a couple of years ago and I came away very impressed, but he is under the gun after last season. I expect that he will do everything in his power to get the offense rolling.

10. More emphasis on special teams. This goes without saying, but last season proved how important special teams can be. I am excited to see the intensity of Joe DeCamillis.

Don't Get Carried Away Worrying About the Wildcat/Razorback Offense

It seems like every time I read something about the offseason work the Cowboys are doing I read something about the current fad in offensive schemes in the NFL, the Wildcat (also known as the Razorback). The media seems to be in love with the idea of this attack probably mostly because there is a catchy name attached to it. For one game last season the Dolphins made the Patriots defense look foolish, but after that the results were pedestrian at best.

When it was a surprise to defenses the offense was extremely successful. As soon as defenses started preparing during the week the results instantly dropped off. So now teams have had an entire offseason to prepare. You can't expect great results on a consistent basis when the defense knows how to defend against your attack. And it takes the most dynamic player in the Cowboys offense, Tony Romo, essentially out of the play. That doesn't seem like a very sound offensive strategy to me. Although any plays that involve Felix Jones need to be considered as part of the attack. But you don't take the ball out of Romo's hands too much or you lose the big pass play threat.

Two to four plays a game at most might end up incorporating the Wildcat/Razorback offensive attack. But that doesn't mean the entire offense is going to be restructured for this attack. My guess is that you will see it used from time to time, but only as a change up or surprise attack similar to a flea flicker play. The Cowboys do have some players who might make the scheme successful, but it should only be utilized on a very limited basis.

Jason Witten - Part 4 - All Around Nice Guy

This is my final entry in my series on Jason Witten. So far I have mentioned all of his on-field attributes that make him the best tight end currently playing in the NFL. What sets him on another level in my mind is what he does away from the football field. Most people know that there are charity events that the players are required to attend, but Jason Witten goes well beyond what is required or even expected for a player of his status.

I have to admit that I am very biased on this topic. A couple of years ago my father-in-law ran into Jason Witten in the Galleria in Dallas on my birthday. He was out shopping by himself for his wife. He agreed to call me to wish me a happy birthday and spent a good 10 minutes talking with my father-in-law. I unfortunately missed the call but he left me a voicemail which I now have saved on my computer. That was a priceless gift and it cemented Jason Witten as a great guy in my mind. It was a lot to ask of him because he was on his own time away from the team but he graciously went along with the request. I know other players might do the same if asked, but a good number of them would not.

Jason Witten's Score Foundation is what sets Jason apart from most players off-field charity work. He works tirelessly on his own time to do special things for children and families in need. It might be a special event for them, monetary contributions, or construction projects but you can bet that he is there when things are happening with his foundation. It isn't like he puts his name on the foundation and doesn't get his hands dirty running the events. He is at all of his events and he always makes the kids who are there feel like a million dollars. He is just a genuinely good person.

Jason sets an example both on the field and off that every player not only with the Dallas Cowboys but in the entire NFL can follow. He is a great player, a great leader, a great family man, and a great person. Some people like Jason understand that they are privileged to be in the NFL and go out of their way to take advantage of their situation through off-field work. The guys who don't get so involved have to be inspired by the work he does.

Jason Witten - Part 3 - Toughness

This is part 3 of my series on Jason Witten. Today I am going to focus on the toughness of Jason Witten. Over the next few days I'll post new parts to this series. I am certain that he is the best tight end in the NFL right now. He may go down as the best tight end in NFL history when his career is over. Hopefully this will open the eyes of anyone who doubts how good this guy is in every way imaginable.

Anyone who watched Jason Witten battle through numerous injuries last season knows how tough he is. He played through a separated shoulder that needed surgery all year long, broken ribs, and a severely sprained ankle near the end of the season. Each one of those injuries individually would have kept 9 out of 10 players out of the lineup, but he suffered from all three injuries at the same time near the end of the season and continued to not only play but perform at a high level. I don't know if any of you have ever had a rib injury, but the pain just doing normal breathing is nearly unbearable but somehow he was on the field taking hits to his ribs while they were injured.

Long before last season's injury struggles, Jason proved how tough he was as a rookie in 2003. On October 5 during a game against Arizona, Jason took a big hit that broke his jaw. He had surgery the next day on his jaw which required three steel plates to be inserted to stabilize the jaw. He missed the game the next week against Philadelphia, but returned to action less than two weeks after surgery against Detroit on October 19. That was the only game Jason has ever missed due to injury. I was sold back then on his toughness, but ever since then he has only done more to add to his reputation as a tough guy.

While playing through injuries can be a great show of toughness, it also sometimes causes a liability on the field because there is a tendency to protect the injury during the game. Not with Jason. He plays hurt, continues to take hits, and puts himself in harms way with no regard for his injuries. He didn't short arm passes over the middle with broken ribs last season even though he was exposing his ribs to defenders ready to lay big hits directly to his midsection. His toughness is the stuff of legend and he really deserves to be mentioned along with some of the tough guy legends from the 60's and 70's.

The best part about what Jason does to battle through injuries is that is sets a tone for the rest of the team to follow. How can you take yourself off the field when you have Jason Witten out there playing with broken ribs, a separated shoulder needing surgery, and a sprained ankle? Remember last season against the 49ers on November 23 when Jason was playing with broken ribs and he took a vicious hit from Nate Clements? He was on the ground for a few minutes and had to be helped off the field. With the game in hand he had every opportunity to call it a day, but there he was playing deep into the 4th quarter. You think we need more leadership on this team? Maybe more guys need to follow Jason Witten.