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Cowboys Off-Season 2010: The Youthquake is Rumbling


When the Dallas Cowboys cratered in 2008, staggering to a 9-7 finish after entering camp as Super Bowl favorites, they faced a stark, grey reality -- they were an old team.

The Cowboys have steadily pared the greybeards from their lineup.  Look at the '08 starters who have already left, with their ages this season, and compare them to the ages of their replacements:

'08 Starter Projected '10 Starter
Roy Williams (SS)  30 Gerald Sensabaugh 27
Ken Hamlin (FS) 29 Alan Ball 25
Anthony Henry (CB) 32  Mike Jenkins 25
Terrell Owens (WR) 37 Miles Austin 25
Patrick Crayton (WR) 31 Roy Williams 29; Dez Bryant? 22
Greg Ellis (OLB) 35 Anthony Spencer 26
Flozell Adams (LT) 32 Doug Free 26
Average age: 32.3 Avg. newbie age with Roy -- 26.0; with Dez -- 25.0

The youth movement could accelerate if the two kid inside linebackers make their moves this summer or early in the season:

Vets on the Fence:

Keith Brooking (WILB) 35  Jason Williams 24
Bradie James (SILB) 29 Sean Lee 24
Avg. veteran age: 32.0 avg. newbie age: 24

 

Dallas has nine total starters with an average age of 32 who could make way for nine youngsters with an average age just under 25 by season's end.  If the kids can play, they won't just raise the Cowboys' window of contention, they'll extend it.

The benefits may go beyond youth and lower salaries.  A few weeks ago, I published a quote by Oakland A's GM Billy Beane where he touted youth for its resiliance;  he claimed younger players suffer fewer injuries than players over 30.  Was that age a factor in the crippling wave of injuries which struck the '08 team?  Are the younger NFL teams indeed healthier overall?

I've put our resident numbers cruncher OneCoolCustomer on the case. He tells me he'll have his findings ready sometime late this week.  Stay tuned for his followup.  Who knows, shaking up your lineup could actually make it far less shaky.

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