Cowboys random articles

by Dave Halprin on Feb 6, 2008 11:06 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

John Clayton chimed in with his Top 5 contenders for next year’s Super Bowl. The Cowboys come in at #4.

The Cowboys are loaded. They have 13 Pro Bowlers, and Tony Romo has established himself as an elite quarterback. However, he needs to grow up a little. His vacation with Jessica Simpson turned into a disaster. He is entitled to his personal life, but he needs to more responsible as a leader on a team.
Wade Phillips should only make the defense better in his second year as head coach. Although the Cowboys' 3-4 is talented, it didn't maximize its potential. The Cowboys need to get better against the run and not bite on as many play-action fakes. Still, they are the most talented team in a very tough NFC East race.

Need to get better against the run? Geez, I guess only allowing one 100-yard rusher in a season just isn’t good enough nowadays.

But as Clayton said above, the Cowboys are loaded with 13 Pro-Bowlers. That’s a record and you can read about them here.

No team in NFL history had ever sent more than 11 players to the Pro Bowl, much less 13. So the Cowboys will be making history this Sunday when the NFC squad takes the field.

T.O. talked to some reporters after the Pro Bowl practice today. Want to know what the Pod did for the Super Bowl?

"Talk? About what?" Owens asked when first approached.
How about the Super Bowl?
"Didn't watch it," Owens said. "Went to the movies."
To see what?
"It was "The Bucket List," he explained. "Two of the greatest actors ever, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. A must-see. A real tearjerker."
Did you cry?
"Nah," Owens replied. "But I tell people to go see it, and bring the tissues."

Jason Witten gives an interview to a gaming site after he lost in the first round of a Madden tournament to Ocho Cinco.

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John Clayton chimed in with his Top 5 contenders

John Clayton chimed in with his Top 5 contenders for next year’s Super Bowl. The Cowboys come in at #4.

that means we won't even catch site of it

by Arkcowboys on Feb 6, 2008 11:35 PM CST reply actions

not understanding what you're talking about

out of his top 5, he has us as the best NFC team.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 7, 2008 7:20 AM CST up reply actions

Ferguson's return will improve the run defense

I agree the Boys run defense was good the majority of the time. But it could still be better.

Fergy's return to the starting NT will allow Ratliff to start at Left DE.

Ferg is a true NT. And Rat is better than Spears at both run defense and pass rusher.

I would like to see the Boys add a true NT type in the mid rounds of the draft (Frank Okam, Ahtyba Rubin ?).

IMO Tank Johnson in not a NT, he is a 3-Technique DT that is best suited to come in on the Nickel or Dime package when the Boys switch to a 4 man line.

by DeRat on Feb 7, 2008 12:26 AM CST reply actions

I think Fergy

is going to be cut. His cap number is pretty high.

The Beast of the East is back!!!!

by Cowboys81 on Feb 7, 2008 1:01 AM CST up reply actions

that will never happen

unless he gets hurt again. You can't go into the season as Tank as you're only NT. Fergy is pretty good and very underrated.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 7, 2008 7:21 AM CST up reply actions

This is an intereting point, Terry

I've been assuming that Fergie would get cut for the reason 81 stated, but after watching what a deep and talented D-line can do to a team as good as the Pats, I'm leaning your way. The window with a talented team these days is quite small.

by dunkman on Feb 7, 2008 7:57 AM CST up reply actions

well, I think they're going to trade Spears

sometime this spring before the draft or on draft day, which will allow Ratliff to move into his DE position. Ratliff did a tremendous job playing NT but we all know he is more suited to play DE and will be even more disruptive there.

That leaves the NT position with just Fergy and Tank and unless the Cowboys plan on signing a FA or drafting a NT high, it makes no sense to cut Fergy since 3-4 defenses need great depth on the DL.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 7, 2008 8:10 AM CST up reply actions

To say a run defense

that only allowed one 100-yard rushing game (and that in the last and 'meaningless' game after clinching the #1 seed) has good potential for improvement next year, that's a pretty good position to be in.

by scottmaui on Feb 7, 2008 3:06 AM CST reply actions

IMO, there are 3 areas that make a defense

really good. Pressuring the pocket, stopping the run and covering receivers.

We were pretty good at stopping the run and pressuring the pocket, but still need to get better in those areas. Coverage is where we really need to get a lot better and which is what prevented us from being an eilte defense.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 7, 2008 7:25 AM CST up reply actions

Agree, CB top priority

Agree, better coverage is the quickest path to the Super Bowl.

We need to add at least 2 good CB's. A CB that can play the #3 spot in 2008 and challenge for a starting role in 2009.

Ideally, 2 CBs in the draft that can fill the above role. T-new may not be here beyond next year. It would be nice to have the option to move Henry to the #3 CB and/or FS.

We have debated Roy Williams value over and over so I leave it at that.

by DeRat on Feb 7, 2008 9:17 AM CST up reply actions

Clayton is RIGHT!!

I too thought, what the heck is Clayton talking about...Run Defense?

Then I started to do some thinking, then some research, and I think he might just be right...to an extent.

The Cowboys run defense appears to have wore down as the season went along.

Now, the stats don't always tell the entire story because Dallas was involved in more competitive games later in the season, allowing teams to stay "balanced" in their offensive attack, but lets look at the numbers...

First 11 games (through Thanksgiving) opponents averaged just 82 ypg on the ground. After Thanksgiving, 122 ypg at a rate of 4.7 ypc. Maybe one back didn't eclipse the century mark, but four of the last 5 oppoenents rushed for more than 120 yards against the Cowboys.

J-Rat did a remarkable job manning the middle of our front for most of the season, but even with the addition of Tank later in the season, the play of our run defense dropped some. Now I'm not pointing the blame at one position, but we all know how important the middle of the 3-4 is to controlling the run gaps. With a healthy Fergy back in the line-up next year, we can only get better. If we compliment him with Tank Johnson and J-Rat (on passing downs) we will also be better able to keep everyone fresh throughout the season.

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 7, 2008 12:05 PM CST reply actions

Cowboys all time Pro Bowl leader

• Speaking of the Cowboys, since 1971, they've sent 187 players to the Pro Bowl, most of any NFL team. Rest of the top five: Steelers (172), 49ers (160), Raiders (157) and Vikings (156). The fewest five includes: Texans (5), Jaguars (28), Panthers (37), Ravens (51) and Browns (64).

http://myespn.go.com/profile/hashmarks

Cowboys fan since 1978.. I was 3 years old

by Mullin on Feb 7, 2008 1:44 PM CST reply actions