Cowboys article roundup

by Dave Halprin on Sep 2, 2006 10:08 AM CDT in Dallas Cowboys News

SI.com's Don Banks does some predicting, and he likes the Cowboys in the NFC East.

Key question: Can Drew Bledsoe be a Super Bowl quarterback again 10 years later?

Answer: Yes, but there are several obvious qualifiers that go along with that premise. Dallas has a defense that could be dominating, but this is the year that all that young talent must mature into a unit that consistently puts the Cowboys in a position to win. Give Bledsoe some improved protection (49 sacks in 2005), a defense that leads the way and a big-play threat in Terrell Owens, and the Cowboys could reign in a conference devoid of great teams. After all, Bill Parcells took teams to the Super Bowl in both 1986 and '96. He's due.

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Dallas (10-6): In a division dominated by quality coaching, the Cowboys get the nod based on defense. Dallas' two-year streak of missing the playoffs is the NFC East's longest.

SI.com also talked to opposing scouts for each team, go here to read the answers. This one particularly rang true:

As talented as tight end Jason Witten is, and considering how many big plays he makes, he still doesn't get the recognition he deserves from around the league.

ESPN does a breakdown of the Cowboys from several of their "experts". Here's John Clayton on the Cowboys defense:

Overall, though, the Cowboys are loaded. Their defense is one of the best in football. Parcells has loaded up the 3-4 to be attack-oriented, and it has great speed. This might be his best defense since he presided over the Lawrence Taylor era with the Giants.

ESPN Power Rankings says:

#7 - Dallas' offseason was all about T.O. If Owens is the player he was in his first season in Philly (77 receptions for 1,200 yards and 14 TDs), Dallas could be very good.

Drew Bledsoe is good to go, just a sore neck.

Bledsoe, via text message on Friday afternoon, said, "Feeling OK. Sore neck. Nothing serious. Ready to go."

The injury is not a concussion, and Bledsoe should start in the season opener Sept. 10 in Jacksonville.

Vanderjagt has got the support of his teammates.

One by one, they stopped by -- Roy Williams, Julius Jones, Jason Witten. Why even Terrell Owens offered a few words of comfort.

After he missed two potential game-winning field goals in overtime Thursday night, Mike Vanderjagt received nothing but a glare from Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells.

Vanderjagt's teammates tried a different approach.

"I told him to keep his head up," Owens said after the Cowboys tied Minnesota 10-10 to close the preseason. "We're going to count on him during the course of the season. I'm still behind him and a lot of the team is still behind him."

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The SI.com report

from opposing teams scouts was a really interesting read about all the teams, highly recommend it.

by APerfectStar on Sep 2, 2006 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

I agree Tom

but they whiffed on the defense for the Cowboys with the only mention how overrated Roy Williams is. I am hoping that opposing scouts (especially Jacksonville) continue to underestimate this defense.

by lee3022 on Sep 2, 2006 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions