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Cowboys wide receivers ranked 8th

 

Scouts, Inc. ranks the WR corps of each team today. They have the Cowboys at #8. 

Even though the Cowboys extended Terrell Owens' contract recently, he still turns 35 this season. However, he continues to play at a very high level. Patrick Crayton can be a decent No. 2 receiver opposite Owens. He can align both in the slot and on the outside, where he can utilize his size and speed to get separation. He is above-average route-runner with big-play ability. Terry Glenn is an experienced player with explosive playmaking skills, but played in only one game last season due to a knee injury. There is uncertainty with his future playing status with the Cowboys. Sam Hurd, Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback all contributed on special team units last season and must find consistent roles in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's multiple spread sets. The Cowboys don't have a lot depth behind their experienced starters.

T.O. keeps us in the Top 10 on his ability alone. Patrick Crayton gets some props about his speed? I never thought of Crayton as a speed guy or a big play guy. I always saw him as a good route-runner with good hands (yes, good hands, the Giants playoff game was an aberration.) I didn’t think Stanback contributed that much on special teams but I wouldn’t swear by that. Anyway, we ended up behind the Patriots, Cardinals, Bengals, Packers, Colts, Browns and Lions.

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DC.com continues its series on the assistant coaches with a look at defensive line coach Todd Grantham. He was the defensive coordinator for the Browns before they canned him over the offseason  and that’s where Brian Stewart stepped in to get him on staff. Stewart and Grantham coached together with the Texans. Our DL sure has a lot of talent and Grantham uses that for motivation.

Grantham certainly does have a deep roster of players to work with, something the coach admits is a huge advantage for him. The depth allows him to motivate the starters and backups in different ways. The starters are constantly challenged by the backups, who are trying to get more playing time. That challenge gets the starters to become even better.

"I think that even the guys who have been here, like Chris Canty - who has been a strong guarder, he's improved his play," Grantham said. "I think that competition there is what allows us to improve on things that they did last year."

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Hey, what’s our old friend Ken Norton, Jr. been up to?

Maiava's [linebacker] position coach [at USC], Ken Norton Jr., won Super Bowl rings with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers during a 13-year NFL career.

"In high school I was basically running around with my head cut off," Maiava said. "(Norton) taught me everything; it's just a different game now. The fire he brings — just watching film he gets intense and loses his mind — he lives and dies with the game. It's just been amazing being coached by that guy."

And speaking of Norton, here’s an article about fan favorites jumping ship to rival teams.

Longtime Cowboy Ken Norton, Jr., fresh off two straight NFC Championship Game victories over the 49ers, jumped ship in the winter of '94, opting to man the linebacker spot for hated San Francisco the following season. Wearing Niners' metallic gold and cardinal red, Norton won a third straight NFC Championship Game -- this time over the Cowboys -- and helped lead San Francisco to the franchise's fifth Super Bowl ring two weeks later.

I have to admit, seeing Norton playing for the 49ers made me ill.

0 recs  |  Comment 19 comments

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yeah it sucked seeing him as a 49er...

and you could tell ken norton jr. loved being a cowboy and was kinda upset we let him go. he was definitely giving us a little extra when we played them. that’s why it was great to watch him sit at home when we won the third super bowl…..

still have good thoughts about him tho. his work on the goal line super bowl vs. the bills was excellent….loved that…

by Tuna Helper on Jul 9, 2008 7:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Grantham

He’s a lot more experienced than the DL coach he replaced, and I don’t think it was a coincidence that he mentions Canty by name. He’s on the cusp of becoming a Richard Seymore type. IMO

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Jul 9, 2008 7:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

What really sucked

Calvin Hill as a Redskin

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Jul 9, 2008 8:59 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Grantham's Power Play?

Okay, I know a lot of people are singing his praises, but I stumbled across a story on the internet a few months ago that said he tried to make a power play for the head coaching job. According to the story, that’s why he got fired. Cleveland’s defense was awful while he was coordinator there, and only improved down the stretch last year, when Romeo Crennel announced in a press conference he was getting more involved with the defense.

I suspect there’s plenty of behind-the-scenes stuff going on, and getting at the truth in this case could be very hard.

Has anyone else heard anything about this? Not trying to smear the guy, but the story, which I’ve not been able to find since, really caught my attention.

by kindablue on Jul 9, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

scouts inc..

8th wr core maybe, but you add Witten, and are we the 2nd best WR/TE unit…

Maybe #1, losing Stallworth will hurt the New England you have to respect that speed on the outside.

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 9, 2008 9:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i agree

having whitten, barber , maybe even felix jones, makes our overall receiving game top of the league

by bkcowboy on Jul 11, 2008 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i'm most excited about...

anthony spencer, is anyone else as pumped to see him after a full year….he seems to get after the ball…i feel if our db’s stay healthy we’re going to have a ton of sacks…..go defence…

The main Ingreident to pickle bread is dill dough...

by hashishkabob on Jul 10, 2008 3:17 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

He's definitely one to watch

As the Giants’ success showed, pass pressure can dominate in the playoffs.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 10, 2008 6:53 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think pressuring the pocket

is the second biggest factor in winning a championship behind excellent qb play.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jul 10, 2008 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

YES SIR

Giants proved that last season.

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 10, 2008 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right

As improved as it was last season, I wasn’t really happy with the pass rush. Having Tank up tp speed, moving Rat around, getting Spence some reps should really move them up a notch. And if you have a good secondary – and we seem to – it could be a great recipe for winning.

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 10, 2008 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't forget our special teams

The Boys really boosted the return talent on the team with Pacman and Felix, plus we have a clutch kicker and an excellent punter. If the coverage teams can improve from last season, we should have a top 10 unit.

T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003

by APerfectStar on Jul 10, 2008 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good point

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 10, 2008 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Courtney Brown

Thats the guy Im excited to see. I know he’s behind one Pro-Bowler and one so-called Pro Bowler, but I think he finds a way on the field and I think he’s a starter in ‘09. He’s got ridiculous speed, he’s a ballhawk, and he’s sturdy enough to hold his own against the run. He’s been getting reps at both safety spots and I think there is a slim chance he could get Roy cut.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Jul 10, 2008 9:25 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

That would be nice

But only about 10% of these ever seem to work out. Here’s hoping,

Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig loves it.

by dunkman on Jul 10, 2008 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You know...

it’s nice to see Dallas finally try to develop some of their young receivers. Ever since the days of Irvin, the team has had to bring in Free Agents (Rocket Ismail, Keyshawn, T.O., Glenn) to man the position.

I know they haven’t been drafting high at WR, but if Hurd, Austin, and/or Stanback can get on the field as much as Crayton, it’d be great to finally have some homegrown pass catchers contributing. Saves a bunch of cap space, too.

That #38 sure can hit!

by Aaron Novinger on Jul 10, 2008 10:51 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I agree 1000%

It is much cheaper that way too..

"You can't win until you're not afraid to lose"

by Wmillion on Jul 10, 2008 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hate SF anyways

This just made me hate them more

Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old

by Mullin on Jul 10, 2008 12:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Home Grown

Staubach-Pearson and Aikman-Irvin were two Super Bowl winning combinations. All four players started their NFL careers with the Cowboys. If we win a Super Bowl with Romo-T.O., it will be a little different in that respect (but I’ll take it!)

I would have rated our receiving corps in the top five, just based on T.O., who is not second to anyone except maybe Moss. T.O. makes everyone better, from the quarterback to the tight end to the other receivers. They all have more space and more openings just by being on the field with T.O., who draws so much defensive attention. It appears that they downgraded us somewhat just based on T.O.’s age. He’ll be the best 35-year old receiver the league has seen.

by rrb on Jul 10, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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