Up, Down or Sideways

by Rafael Vela on Dec 21, 2005 3:42 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys General

We're still clinging to hope here at Cowboys' Blog, but it seems some Metroplex scribes have thrown in the towel, with Randy Galloway opining that this team "is simply not good enough."

Not good enough to do what, precisely? Win a Super Bowl? That's not news. Make the playoffs? That remains to be seen. The reality today has the team at 8-6, two games better than last year with two games left to play. A reversal of recent fortune could put them at 10-6, the equal of the 2003 team.

Are they in fact the equal of 2003, better, or perish the thought, worse? I found a tape of the Cowboys regular season win over the Panthers from '03, a win that put them at 8-3, their high water mark for the season. I watched a little to see how much or how little Bill Parcells has improved the team.

Offense:

Backfield
2003: QB -- Quincy Carter; FB -- Richie Anderson; RB -- Troy Hambrick/Aveion Cason
2005: QB -- Drew Bledsoe; FB -- Lousaka Polite; RBs -- Julius Jones/Marion Barber

Big edge for the current team. Say what you will about Bledsoe, but he can throw anywhere on the field. Carter's game was an outside-the-yard-markers game: he had poor accuracy on crossing routes, seam routes and most anything in the middle of the field. At fullback, I'll give an edge to Anderson, who could run much better, catch much better and blocked no worse than Polite. At RB, give me today's team. I'll leave it to the posters to debate the virtues of Marion vs. Julius. Both are better than Troy Hambrick, whom Sports Illustrated's Paul Zimmerman once described as a back who could go half a season without making a cut.

Receivers
2003: SE -- Terry Glenn; FL -- Joey Galloway; Slot -- Antonio Bryant;
2003: SE -- Terry Glenn; FL -- Keyshawn Johnson; Slot -- Patrick Crayton;

The '03 unit was a track team, but it was not a unit that liked going over the middle. It's skills completmented Quincy Carter well, however. They ran deep routes and out patterns effectively, which played to Q's strenghts.

Keyshawn has proven to be a fine completment to Jason Witten in the red zone, adding a dimension the '03 unit lacked. Crayton is producing, in catches and yards-per-reception average, as well was Bryant did in '03 with none of the drama. Edge to '05.

Tight ends
'03: Jason Witten, Dan Campbell;
'05: Jason Witten, Dan Campbell;

In the Carolina game, Campbell was still the starter, with Witten coming off the bench. This may have been due to Witten's mid-season broken jaw. Witten's better now, but Campbell, who had a serious foot injury in '04, is slower. I'll call it a wash.

Offensive line
'03: LT - Flozell Adams; LG - Larry Allen; C - Matt Lehr; RG - Andre Gurode RT- Kurt Vollers;
'05: LT - Torrin Tucker; LG - Larry Allen; C - Al Johnson; RG - Marco Rivera; RT - Rob Petitti;

The '03 team had a left side, barely. Adams was good but Allen had limped through the season with poor conditioning. His legs were shot, which made him suspect on passing downs. Lehr had trouble with big nose tackles. Gurode was an enigma; he had talent, but could not get it going, like a truck with a powerful engine and lousy transmission. Vollers was a band-aid, who could pass block serviceably.

When Adams was healthy, the '05 line was better, since Allen is in much better condition this year. Without him, this unit is worse than the '03 model. Johnson run blocks a little better than Lehr, but has the same problem -- handling big nose tackles. Rivera hasn't been any better than Gurode. His technique is better, but his mental mistakes and holding penalties are unacceptable from a big-ticket vet. And he may have a bad back to boot. Petitti may have a better future than Vollers, but his present is worse.

With Flozell, '05 would have a slight edge. Because he's hurt, '03 gets the nod.

Overall: The current team is much better at the skill positions. It has more youth, depth and better balance. It could still use a fullback and either a good young TE or WR. Of the line, I've said it before and will repeat it here -- Parcells biggest failing has been his inability to fix the right side of this unit in three years. He'll get another chance soon.

Defense:
DEs, '03: Ebenezer Ekuban, Greg Ellis, Erik Ogbogu, Kenyon Coleman
DEs, '05: Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, Greg Ellis, Kenyon Coleman,

DTs, '03: LaRoi Glover, Willie Blade, Daleroy Stewart, Leonardo Carson
NTs, '05: LaRoi Glover, Jason Ferguson, Jay Ratliff (IR), Thomas Johnson

The '05ers win hands down. There is more depth, youth and talent here. The '03 team had a rotation, but it was merely to keep Glover and Ellis fresh. Those two were it on that team. If they didn't provide a rush heavy blitzes were needed to build pressure.

LBs, '03: Dexter Coakley, Dat Nguyen, Al Singleton;
LBs, '05: Demarcus Ware, Scott Shanle, Bradie James, Scott Fujita;

It's a bit of an apples and oranges comparison, since the '03 was strictly a 4-3 unit and the '05 mostly a 3-4. When the '05 unit had Singleton and Nguyen healthy, it was a decent group. I'm giving the nod to '03, since they were a smart, veteran group who stayed together all year and didn't make many mistakes. On the other hand, the '05 unit has bigger holes, but more upside with Ware and James, who is playing better -- and bigger -- now than anybody in '03.

CBs, '03: Terence Newman, Mario Edwards, Derek Ross, Pete Hunter;
CBs, '05: Terence Newman, Anthony Henry, Aaron Glenn, Jacques Reeves;

A slam dunk for the '05 group. When healthy, Newman, Henry and Glenn have shut teams down. Reeves is still learning, but has had his moments. He's better than either Ross or Hunter. The current team is better at every rank four deep.

Safeties
'03: SS -- Roy Williams; FS -- Darren Woodson; backups -- Tony Dixon, Lynn Scott;
'05: SS -- Roy Williams; FS -- Keith Davis; backups -- Willie Pile

The '03 unit gets the nod, since there is nobody on this year's model who can add what Woodson did. Overall, however, Parcells has upgraded this unit tremendously in the offseason, adding Henry and Glenn. The current Cowboys can cover. The '03 team could do so in spurts, but they needed constant blitzing to keep them from getting exposed. When teams did shut the Dallas blitz down the results were ugly. Think of the Thanksgiving Day meltdown against the Dolphins or the playoff loss to the Panthers.

One key indicator in the team's direction is what I'll call gold chip players, meaning quality starters and role players with four or fewer years of experience. The '03 team had four -- Newman, Williams, Witten and Bryant. The current team has nine -- Jones, Barber, Witten, Crayton, Canty, Spears, James, Newman and Williams.

Overall, the outlook is much better. The current defensive line and secondary are miles ahead of the '03 playoff team. The running back position has been upgraded, as has the QB position. The offensive line and linebacking corps still need work, but hey, let me tell you something you didn't already know.

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Comments

I don’t care about the 03 team the 03 played better than this team. BP got the most out of the 03 team you can say the same thing about 05 team. Everybody knows this team is better so I don’t see the point.

by aw on Dec 21, 2005 4:51 PM CST reply actions

You really think everybody can see that, aw? The Star-Telegram writers have been all over their pages this week telling their readers Parcells should not be fired. If some people are that ready to throw him under the bus, they don’t see it.

by Rafael Vela on Dec 21, 2005 4:58 PM CST reply actions

he shouldnt be fired, thats not an issue, injuries have caused us problems and lack of depth at the o-line. and i dont care about the 03 team and they did play to the best of their ability, this team hasnt that much

by tipp007 on Dec 21, 2005 5:11 PM CST reply actions

It was two years ago that team didn’t win the SB, what does it have to do with this team? This team is not that good. Everybody would say it because of the oline. I don’t think with a good line this team would be that good we would be better. Two year ago we had the #1 ranked Defense but we weren’t really number one. I didn’t think that team was going anywhere. I don’t think this team is going anywhere. and its not because of this blowout that just happen. Our offense is not good enough. We can’t put up points on team with a good defense. Some fan get too high with a win and get too low with a lost. Just going to the playoffs is not good enough for me I want that feeling I had in the early 90s if we lost a game was hurt and shocked but new we had a chance at winning it all. I think some changes need to be made here.

by aw on Dec 21, 2005 5:18 PM CST reply actions

Rafael-You left out the special teams. Which is probably a push.

by Sean on Dec 21, 2005 5:23 PM CST reply actions

There is an important relationship between these two teams, and comparisons should be drawn.
The ‘03 team made the playoffs, and this team likely won’t.
Why? It’s a question worth asking. Peel at that onion, and you’re left only with more questions.

Frankly, I think it has a lot to do with the personal responsibility exhibited by Richie Anderson, Flozell Adams, and Dexter Coakley. They did what needed to get did, and led those who needed leading. Roy Williams’ murderous hits helped too.

If Parcells was great for leading that bunch of dogs into the playoffs, then what do we say about him and a team of his hand chosen guys two years later?
I have no answers, but I do see the value in the questions.

by joey2zs on Dec 21, 2005 5:26 PM CST reply actions

I like this team better, no question. The only players from that team I wish we had playing this Sunday but aren’t are Flozell, Dat, Singleton, and Woodson. The rest I could care less about.

We are looking at the two teams to see how BP has upgraded the Cowboys after three seasons. Rafael is doing everyone a favor (as he always does) and giving us a 3-year Progress Report on BP’s tenure.

This team hasn’t made these kind of strides forward since the Jimmy Johnson era. If we still had Gailey or Campo or Switzer coaching that 2003 team we would by 3-13 at best this year. The NFC East is WAY tougher this year than it was in 2003 too. That year the Redskins and Giants were pitiful, that’s 4 wins right there, this year we got 1 total from those two teams. Luckily we got 2 from Philly this year, we got 1 off them in 2003.

BP has rebuilt this team, no matter how this season turns out. I can’t think of any coach who would have done any better than him the last 3 years. If Jerry Jones is only regarded for TWO good personnel decisions at this point in his career I think hiring Parcells should be up there with hiring Jimmy Johnson.

by Sterling on Dec 21, 2005 5:33 PM CST reply actions

The difference? The NFC sucked in 2003, and its pretty open this year. The whole NFC east is finally competitive, unlike 2003. You have 3 teams in the South alone at 9-5 or better. Every team in the NFC east this year is better than the Skins and Giants of 03.

by lou c on Dec 21, 2005 5:49 PM CST reply actions

After praising Parcells so much I want to clarify that I admit he has had his share of failures too. I am not saying he’s perfect, just the best we could hope for.

I rate his failures like this:

1) Not establishing a strong line along the offensive trenches. Very Un-Parcells-like. He knows this is where the game is won and lost. It seems like he has blown a lot of draft picks and FA money and has little to nothing to show for it.

2) Not establishing a more dominant running attack. It is better than when he got here, and has a lot of potential, but it is still far from being a dominating aspect of the offense. This year’s problems may have a lot to do with failure #1, but if this team is going to be successful it is going to have to have more than ONE 100-yard game going into Week 15 in Parcells’ third year as coach.

3) The run defense seems to have gotten a lot worse the second half of this season. Maybe it is all because of injuries and switching to a 3-4 when he didn’t have enough linebackers, but either way giving up over 400 yards in 3 games in a clutch playoff stretch run is going backward not forward. Hopefully it is only an aberration and not a trend, but no team is going to win in the NFL if it can’t stop the run. Parcells knows this well.

by Sterling on Dec 21, 2005 5:52 PM CST reply actions

I fail Parcells on only four of his numerous decisions: 1. Ryan Young – signing precipitated long hole at RT, 2. No FS, 3. no replacement for Richie Anderson, 4. not addressing CB in F.A. last year (which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, but he admits that was a mistake at the time). Jacob Rogers and Stephen Peterman weren’t mistakes… they’re like calling on the turn holding two Kings when there’s an Ace on the board… You bet on the kings because it’s the right thing to do, drafting them was the right thing to do. They were the best guys there, and we got them. We didn’t know they were nancy boys.

One thing about this Parcells team, though… there isn’t a crazy guy on the team. Key can get fired up, but he’s only a WR. He only catches balls when they’re thrown to him, he’s only involved in about 17% of all offensive plays, not counting his blocking – which is superior.
There’s no nutty LB or DE or Guard or TE who is maniacal and says stupid things and spits on players and plays a little dirty.
In our division there’s Taylor, Arrington, Phillip Daniels (apparently), Strahan, Shockey, Trotter, Kearse, Dawkins.
DeMarcus Ware can’t beat a tackle’s block, but he sure is a nice, well spoken young man.
Where are our crazy guys with dreads and scary tribal tattoos?

by joey2zs on Dec 21, 2005 6:10 PM CST reply actions

joey2zs:

I was just thinking the exact same thing about the need for a total maniac after the Redskins game.

I don’t care where BP and JJ find one. They can go down to a bar in Deep Ellum and find the scariest looking bouncer or patron around and if he’s big and athletic enough to play special teams or block then sign him.

Hell, go down to County Jail and look for the biggest baddest son-of-a-b!^&# there is and put him on the O-Line. He couldn’t do any worse than Torrin Tucker and maybe a guy like that would bring a little fire to the rest of the guys. Not literally…just figuratively.

by Sterling on Dec 21, 2005 6:53 PM CST reply actions

I don’t think Hollywood Henderson is doing much lately. Or is he even still alive…?

by Mo Rice on Dec 21, 2005 8:56 PM CST reply actions

Mo Rice:

Hollywood had no upper body strength but he could sure run fast (he was in a hurry on KO returns to get back to his next toke).

by Scooter on Dec 21, 2005 9:06 PM CST reply actions

They did an expose on Hollowood a couple of years back during an NFL on Fox broadcast. Bradshaw went to interview him and bury the hatchet (Hollywood once said Bradshaw couldn’t spell ‘CAT’ if you spotted him the ‘C’ and the ’A’). This was after Henderson won a Texas lottery worth a couple million bucks, if I recall correctly.

He took the money and built a couple youth centers and upgraded fields (football I assume) for the kids in his town. He’s clean and is giving back to the community.

He also apologized to Bradshaw on camera and Terry said (back in the studio) after the film finished that they talked a lot after the cameras went off and have a mutual respect for each other now.

IT was a good story …

by Raul on Dec 21, 2005 10:19 PM CST reply actions

I always liked Hollywood Henderson despite his drug problem. Then again Michael Irvin is one of my favorite players of all time and nothing he has (supposedly) done off the field has changed that in the slightest bit.

The only former Cowboys player that ever made me cringe with off field shenanigans was Rafael Septien.

by Sterling on Dec 21, 2005 10:30 PM CST reply actions

Joey2zs,
I agree that we need a crazy maniac on this team. Charles Haley was a crazy maniac, and so was LT. “Manster” White, was one on the field. It sure helps to have that kind of a mentality as a pass rusher, or the motor of Reggie White.

We need a fiery character in the locker room. Someone who gets everyone’s attention. I think that may be the missing ingredient, along with health of course! Yes, we sure could use a Manster in the locker room and on the field.

Raul,

I too remember the Hollywood Henderson story on Fox. It was really heartwarming to hear that he had turned his life around. Hollywood was one of my favorite Cowboys.

by onepaniolo on Dec 21, 2005 11:17 PM CST reply actions

Hmmmm…a lot people want a crazy maniac player on the team and virtually everyone is mad as hell at Torrin Tucker…

Does anyone have Erik Williams’ phone number? If not maybe someone can go down to Harry Heinz Blvd. and look for him.

by Sterling on Dec 21, 2005 11:42 PM CST reply actions

Sterling,
Septien was one of my favorite Cowboys kickers, after Efren Hererra and Toni Fritsch! We need a crazy kicker to go with a crazy linebacker and DE!

Somebody go look for Charles Haley! He might be pissing on Tim Harris’ car again. Suit ’em up and send ’em out there on Saturday. We need help against the Panthers!