Players in Limbo

The uncapped year in the NFL has put a few players in unique situations as we head towards training camp. Patrick Crayton, Marcus Spears, and Sam Hurd are still unsure of their futures. The extension on the years of service required to earn free agency has allowed to Cowboys to essentially low ball Marcus Spears. Patrick Crayton is feeling the effects because the Cowboys can afford to keep him as an insurance policy even with his $2 million base salary and Dez Bryant now ahead of him on the depth chart. Sam Hurd is in a similar situation to Crayton with Dez on the roster and also had no way out of Dallas since he was limited by his restricted free agency status.

Marcus Spears probably was insulted early on when the Cowboys tendered him at a lower salary than both of his back ups at defensive end. You can't blame the guy for being a little irritated by the way things played out. But he has had a great attitude about the situation. The NFL is a business after all and you can't blame the Cowboys for taking the frugal approach when the rules allow for it. I respect Marcus Spears for going about his business like a true professional even while the money on the table is somewhat insulting. But he understood what a lot of us regular Joes understand...$1.226 million dollars for playing football is nothing to complain about. Not many people are going to join in if you throw a pity party for yourself with money like that coming to you.

The bottom line for Marcus Spears is that he is a victim of the unsettled situation between the players and owners. He is a starting quality player but he isn't so good that the Cowboys feel like they can't win without him. The result is a low salary, one year offer. Spears is a very good run defender. Pass rush from DE's in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme is hard to judge. No DE in the Cowboys defense will put up big sack numbers as long as they stick with the current defense.

So Spears will probably end up starting if he can fend off Bowen and Hatcher in training camp. He'll be the starter and be paid less than his backups. It is obviously an unfair situation but if he plays another year at a high level he might get more money somewhere else next year. Fortunately for all of the fans of the Cowboys it looks like Spears is more concerned with winning than he is with money.

Patrick Crayton's situation is different. He entered the offseason as the #3 receiver even though he was more productive with fewer opportunities than last years #2 receiver, Roy Williams. Crayton is a solid pro. He runs excellent routes, has great chemistry with Tony Romo, and he does a good job fielding punts. He lacks the explosiveness of a top tier receiver or returner but he plays above his natural ability with good fundamentals.

Crayton finally showed up to work with the team last week and seems to have finally accepted the reality of his situation. While he has made public comments that implied he wanted out of Dallas he didn't really have any leverage to work with. The Cowboys want Crayton on the team to provide depth and experience and there is very little trade value for a 31-year-old, average at best receiver. So Crayton also appears stuck in Dallas at least until the Cowboys decide whether they want to keep him for another season. I do understand Crayton's complaints about getting his family settled if he on his way. But the millions of dollars he has made more than make up for the inconvenience of dealing with any uncertainty he might face if released.

Sam Hurd is hanging on by a thin thread. If Crayton stays that puts the number of quality receivers ahead of Hurd at 5 if you put Kevin Ogletree in that mix. But Hurd is taking the professional approach that Spears is taking. Hurd is going to work hard and try to win is roster spot. The odds are stacked against him but he is a lot younger than Crayton so he might be able to stay if he can stay healthy. Hurd is 5 years younger than Crayton and he has kept his mouth shut about his situation. Jerry Jones has shown over the last few years that he isn't going to let malcontents hang around to poison his locker room.

You have to feel a little sympathy for all three of these guys. They have all worked hard and contributed to the success of the team over the last few years. And none of them are at the point in their careers where their skills are eroding. But the NFL is a business and it is a young man's game. The labor dispute and the young talent on the roster are going to keep Spears, Crayton, and Hurd in limbo until the end of training camp.

Cowboys Have Good Super Bowl Odds

It is certainly extremely early in the process but it is interesting to take a look at what the oddsmakers think of the Dallas Cowboys chances to regain Super Bowl glory. The Cowboys are currently ranked as anywhere from the 3rd to the 6th most likely team to win it all in the Super Bowl XLV depending on which betting line you consult. They are almost unanimously picked as the 2nd best NFC team behind the Saints. Yahoo! Sports has a list of the odds to win the Super Bowl for every NFL team.

Do these betting odds really mean anything? Not really. But they do offer a chance to cash in on the performance of the team if you are so inclined to spend your money in that way. I like to look at the NFL Odds as a reference point for setting realistic expectations for next season.

The flaws in the Cowboys roster have been discussed and analyzed in so much detail at this point that it almost feels like the Cowboys are hurting from a talent standpoint. But in reality, the Cowboys have one of the most talented rosters across the board in the entire NFL. Left tackle is still an unknown (but I like the multiple options on the roster) and safety falls in the same category. Kicker may or may not be an issue depending on the development of David Beuhler.

After that what can you complain about? The 4th cornerback on the roster? I'm not saying that the 4th cornerback isn't important but most teams have a lot more issues than Dallas. Even the mighty Saints have some serious holes to fill after the departures from their defense and the unknown health of Darren Sharper's knee.

As usual with the upcoming season the biggest factor in Cowboys chances will be on the injury front. Tony Romo and Demarcus Ware are irreplaceable. If either of those guys go down to injury you can probably cancel your Super Bowl plans. But I like the depth everywhere on the roster heading into the season. There are multiple options for depth at nearly every position. Of course if the injury bug of 2008 returns then it really doesn't matter how much depth is on the roster. You can have a few backups fill in but any team no matter how talented has to be a little bit lucky on the injury front to win the Super Bowl.

I like the makeup of the roster more than I did entering the 2007 season. And that year I decided to spend my $20 in gambling money on my trip to the casino on a bet for the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl. Obviously I'm not a big gambler with a $20 limit but if I am going to bet it is going to be on my faith in my team. I like the Cowboys chances at this point. It is still early and a lot can change between now and September. But things are looking promising. Maybe I'll put my money where my mouth is and put another $20 on my team.

Sometimes Injuries Can Be A Good Thing

It is never good to hear that players are going to be missing offseason workouts. It means that there is less time for the offense or defense to mesh as a unit. That would be a problem in most cases, but I think the relatively minor injuries the Cowboys are dealing with are actually going to help them in the long run.

Let's start with Orlando Scandrick. Scandrick broke the left index finger on his left hand last week and required surgery to insert a pin to help the finger heal. That means he can't get out there and practice with the defense until the start of training camp. But the Cowboys have a giant hole in the depth chart behind Scandrick. Now there will be a legitimite battle for the #4 cornerback spot because Scandrick's replacements will get plenty of first team reps. Most of the time the younger guys don't get to work with the starters. The coaches now get a real chance to evaluate the younger cornerbacks on the roster. Maybe they will find someone who can fill the role or maybe they will realize they need to go out and sign a free agent. The injury forces them to take a long, hard look at the #4 cornerback now instead of during training camp.

Keith Brooking had a minor clean out surgery on his knee and will miss a few weeks of OTA's while he recovers. Brooking is a veteran and probably could play the position with his eyes closed at this point in his career. So now Jason Williams and Sean Lee can get on the field with the first teamers to get some quality reps. Both guys get a chance to really learn the defense and start the battle that will probably be resolved in training camp.

Now obviously I don't want to continue to see guys getting hurt. But I don't think it hurts when a veteran guy like Bradie James misses a couple of days because it gives the younger guys more reps. As good as the Cowboys were last season they lacked depth at several positions. They got lucky with injuries but they can't count on that again this year. The younger guys need to be ready to step up when their number is called.

What We've Learned From OTA's

Dez Bryant is a phenomenally gifted wide receiver. If you've seen any of the practice highlights then you have undoubtedly seen some of the displays of great hands he has shown. Dez has done a good job handling the media so far. But he will always have to be on his toes because the media is doing everything in their power to turn him into a T.O. type of guy since they couldn't get Roy Williams to take the bait.

Roy Williams has realized that he better get it going or he is not only going to lose his job but he will also be run out of Dallas at the end of the season. He is working hard and saying all the right things but we won't really know if Roy has made the necessary changes until we see him produce in the games this fall.

Sean Lee is going to be a very good linebacker if his knees are healthy. He has the desire, intelligence, work ethic and natural ability to be a starter in the middle of the defense for the next decade. I love to hear how seriously he takes practice and how he strives to improve on every play. He is an exciting prospect.

Alan Ball will be the starter at free safety. The people holding out hope that the Cowboys will do something to address the position need to prepare to be disappointed. The coaches seem sold on him. He looked decent in his time last year. I have faith the coaches know what they are doing since their recent moves to cut veterans have paid off.

David Beuhler is still a work in progress but the kicking job is his to lose. The reports from the OTA practices are promising. Beuhler has been hitting his kicks but we won't really know if he can get it done until he has the pressure on him in a real game. He seems to have the mental makeup to handle the pressure but you really never can tell. Mike Vanderjagt was one of the cockiest players I have ever seen and he fell apart as the Cowboys kicker.

Patrick Crayton is not being smart. I understand his frustration with his position on the depth chart, but staying away from the team is going to accomplish nothing. If he would show up and work with the team he could at least have a chance to compete for playing time even if it is as the #4 receiver. By staying away he is giving the team a chance to practice without him and they just might realize that they can move forward without him on the roster this season. The Cowboys haven't shied away from cutting overpriced veterans over the last few years.

The Cowboys are going to keep the three man rotation going at running back. Jerry Jones commented recently that he thinks the rotation will remain unchanged but I have a hard time believing that Felix Jones won't get more touches this season. In my mind the best case scenario would involve more carries for Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Barber can handle short yardage and playing the closer role in the 4th quarter.

We don't really get any good information about the offensive line from OTA's. The only thing we do know is that the left tackle job is Doug Free's to lose. Alex Barron will probably be the backup for both tackle spots unless Free embarrasses himself during training camp or in the preseason games.

Marcus Spears is a team player. You have to give the guy a lot of credit for handling his situation with class. He has started since his rookie year but somehow he is now getting paid less money this season than both of his backups. But instead of whining and moaning about it Spears is working hard to keep his job. He still might end up getting traded but he is handling things the right way. Basically he is taking the opposite approach from Patrick Crayton.

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.

Does There Have to Be a #1 Receiver?

The Cowboys are stacked at wide receiver. It is obvious. Miles Austin broke out last season to establish himself as a starter and potentially a star player. Roy Williams still hasn't lived up to his billing but he puts fear in the defense whether you want to admit that or not. And Dez Bryant is probably the most athletically gifted receiver of the three. Add Kevin Ogletree, Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd into the mix and there are more receivers than the Cowboys need on the roster. I realize Patrick Crayton is staying away from OTA's, but he will be a Cowboy next year unless the Cowboys decide they don't want him anymore. He has no leverage.

The thing that a lot of people need to realize ahead of time is that the Cowboys have a great problem. None of the receivers are going to have 100 receptions. There are so many options in the passing game that they can't get the ball to everyone all the time. The defenses are going to be constantly under pressure as long as the offensive line can give Tony Romo a little time. But don't expect big numbers from any particular player in the passing game except maybe Jason Witten.

People want to label Roy Williams a bust and really he has been so far. But part of the problem with Roy is that Romo has so many options it is easy to lose favor in the offensive scheme. If Romo doesn't have confidence in you he will just move on to the next guy because there are usually multiple open receivers on any given play. And Tony's options will only increase as Dez Bryant gets integrated into the offense.

I think if you really felt the need to put a #1 label on a wide receiver it would be Miles Austin. But I would be willing to bet that #1 receiver position will rotate between Miles Austin, Roy Williams, and Dez Bryant depending on matchups and defensive schemes. And that is a good thing. It prevents the defense from focusing on shutting down any one player and stopping the offense.

A lot of people want to run Roy Williams out of Dallas. I want him here. Like I said earlier he gets the attention of the defense whether you want to admit that or not. He did score seven TD's last year even with his limited receptions so he is a target in the red zone. And I view him as a first down machine along with Jason Witten in the passing game.

In a perfect world scenario I view the wide receivers like this. Miles Austin is the all-around guy for now. He can go deep, catch crossing routes, run after the catch, and make yards on the screens. Roy is the first down guy and the red zone target. Dez is going to be a big play guy at least early in his career. Rookie receivers have a hard time adjusting to the complexity of an NFL offense but his talent will give him the ability to make big plays. Kevin Ogletree is great on the quick screens and catches everything thrown his way. He might end up moving inside to the slot depending on how things play out with Patrick Crayton.

It is entirely possible that the top wide receiver will only have 60-70 receptions. The only "go-to guy" will probably still be Jason Witten. The #1 wide receiver will be determined week by week. I think Miles Austin is the lead guy but I really don't that title will have much meaning if the offense runs like it should.

Can Martellus Turn It Around This Year?

Last offseason had a lot of us believing that Martellus Bennett was the secret weapon in the Cowboys offensive attack. In the preseason it really looked like the Cowboys were going to have a role for him in the passing game. But in the early part of the season it became apparent that Martellus was not ready for an increased role in the passing game.

He seemed clueless when it came to pre-snap alignment on a ridiculously high number of his offensive snaps. There were incorrect routes run in games and even a few dropped passes. The worst thing that happened to Martellus was that he lost the confidence of his coaches and his quarterback. As the season wore on it became obvious that he was no longer a significant player in the passing game.

On the plus side for Martellus he did do an excellent job blocking in the running game. I have to give him credit for continuing to give a strong effort blocking while he was slowly phased out of the passing game. John Phillips started getting some looks in passing situations late in the season. Again, to the credit of Martellus, he didn't go crying to the media.

I'm not going to lie. I'm no fan of Martellus and his antics. I watched him act like a complete fool while the rest of the team was stretching and warming up for a training camp practice last season. He didn't seem very serious about his job. Having fun is one thing, but acting like an immature fool while the rest of the team is working is unacceptable. I was really hoping the Cowboys would trade him during the draft.

The only way things are going to change for Marty B is if he has a new attitude and a new level of maturity this offseason. He has all the natural physical tools to be not only a good player, but a great player. It all boils down to desire and maybe intelligence for Martellus. I don't want to insult his intelligence but when a guy can't even line up before the snap without his quarterback or a teammate telling him where to go it is embarrassing. His lack of preparation and focus is flat out unprofessional.

Either he hasn't cared enough to learn the offense or he doesn't have the mental capacity to learn it. In his second season he actually seemed to regress in his level of play and mental preparation. But the great thing about sports is that you have a chance to redefine yourself every season. If he comes out this season and plays well then all will be forgiven. We'll all talk about how he just needed time mature because he came into the league so young.

But if he goes through another season like last year I think we can come to the conclusion that he is what he is. I hope he turns the corner but I honestly believe the coaches should put their stock in John Phillips. I'm not saying Martellus shouldn't play. He still needs to be the #2 tight end because he is a big part of the running game. But John Phillips should be the second tight end option in the passing game until Martellus earns the right to get some passes. That would come from proving he knows the offense and is ready to take his job seriously.