BTB Vela: Cowboys Offense -- How Deep is Your Squad?

[WoodysGirl]

by Rafael Vela on Sep 1, 2009 5:40 PM CDT

54 comments


More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP
Wade Phillips sees fewer potholes when he scans his offensive roster. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Browse more photos »


NFL teams frequently rank their own talent by position. The Cowboys have their team scouts assess the roster for the first two weeks before they hit the scouting trails. The practice has two benefits. First, it gives the team a sense of where its talent lies and does not. Second, it gives the scouts a baseline.

The Cowboys scouting Kahuna Tom Ciskowski told me last year that he and his guys maintain profiles of their own roster and rate any college prospect against the talent in the Cowboys cupboard. The theory is that you don't want to target any prospect who can't challenge and beat out what's already here.

Today, I rank the offense, with a comparison to what was around in '08.

Quarterback

1. Tony Romo -- Tony Romo
2. Jon Kitna -- Brad Johnson
3. Stephen McGee -- Brooks Bollinger

Quite an upgrade in the backup slots. Kitna needs more reps to improve his timing, but he can get the ball to all areas of the field. McGee is VERY green but you can see his skills, however raw. Bollinger was a multi-year vet when Dallas scooped him up last year. McGee's arrow points up; Bollinger's didn't.

Running Back

1. Marion Barber -- Marion Barber
2. Felix Jones -- Felix Jones
3. Tashard Choice -- Tashard Choice

That's a comfortable depth chart, no? Jones should really be 1B to Barber's 1A and does anybody doubt that Choice has one of the smallest gaps between his 3 and Barter's 1? And that Choice will bust his butt to erase that gap?

Tight End

1. Jason Witten -- Jason Witten
2. Martellus Bennett -- Tony Curtis
3. John Phillips -- Martellus Bennett

Another area of significant upgrade. Let's begin with Bennett. Last year at this time he was wiping the Hard Knocks egg off his face. Now, he's a proven receiving weapon. His blocking needs work, but it's fair and improving. Let's not overlook the value John Phillips brings. I think he's better than Tony Curtis right now, and his all-around game, not to mention Bennett's down-the-field skills, give the Cowboys some cover.

Last year, Witten played with cracked ribs, a bum ankle and an assortment of other injuries, because he had to. Curtis' blocking skills abandoned him and Bennett was an unknown. Now, if Witten were to suffer either of those injuries, the team could sit him for a game or two, let him heal, and not see the tight end position collapse. That's good bang for your 7th-round buck.

Wide Receiver

1. Roy Williams -- Terrell Owens
2. Patrick Crayton --Patrick Crayton
3. Miles Austin -- Sam Hurd
4. Sam Hurd -- Miles Austin
5. Kevin Ogletree -- Isaiah Stanback
6. Isaiah Stanback -- Mike Jefferson

The names are mostly the same but the situations are different. At this point last year, Hurd, Austin and Stanback were all nursing serious injuries. Danny Amendola was in the running for a roster spot by default. Today, the top five seem likely to dress and dress in good health at Tampa Bay twelve days from now.

Now, quality? Will Williams be better than Owens? I don't see how he can be worse. T.O. wasn't hurt last year and his play making skills went missing after the first Eagles game. Yes, he lit up Nate Clements for 200-plus yards, but remember, Kevin Ogletree got Clements last week. Austin has caught everything thrown his way since he dropped a grossly over-analyzed pass against Oakland. Sam Hurd is Sam Hurd, though maybe a bit faster, and hopefully more healthy. (His injury is a quad strain, which should be in good shape by opening day.)

Ogletree is an upgrade from Stanback. As always, health is the question here. This looks like a steady unit -- if Williams stops burning through his cat lives at warp speed and Hurd finds a way to avoid the knock, as the soccer folks say. The other question is whether Dallas keeps five or six wideouts? Stanback has been a core special teammer and if the rookie defensive players keep going down, he'll stick around a bit longer.

Offensive Line

1. Flozell Adams -- Flozell Adams
2. Leonard Davis -- Leonard Davis
3. Andre Gurode -- Andre Gurode
4. Marc Colombo -- Marc Colombo
5. Kyle Kosier -- Cory Proctor
6. Doug Free -- Pat McQuistan
7. Montrae Holland -- Montrae Holland
8. Duke Preston -- Doug Free
9. Pat McQuistan -- Kyle Kosier
10. Cory Proctor -- A jar full of rabbits feet

Another big upgrade, even though the names are about the same. Consider:

--at this point last year, Kosier was injured and everybody was crossing their fingers that he would not miss more than one real game. He missed fourteen.

-- Cory Proctor was the 5th best O-lineman on this team. Now, I'd rate him tenth, on the outside of the bubble, with Duke Preston still sight unseen. That's because...

-- Doug Free has looked much, much better this preseason. This is the guy everybody was talking about in '07, not the guy whose feet were abducted by aliens at Oxnard last year.

-- Holland is just Joe Average, but that's miles ahead of the '08 Holland, who could not displace Proctor in the lineup until November because he was overweight and unfamiliar with the Cowboys' scheme.

-- Preston is number 8 on this year's list; he's matched by the '08 Free who was never active for a real game. I haven't seen him yet, but I still feel safe calling this year's 8 an upgrade over last year's 8.

-- McQuistan has also improved this year, if not as much as Free. His counterpart is the one-legged Kosier.

Right now, Dallas has nine linemen. Free could play in a pinch. I'd say the same for McQ, who is no worse, and probably better than Rob Petitti. Holland and Preston have both been NFL starters.

Compare that to last year's team, which was really only five deep until Holland got his act together. And if we're honest about Proctor, they were four deep. That team could absorb one injury -- Kosier's -- but collapsed when a second guy got hurt. This group could probably handle a second injury, provided it was not long-term.

Compare spots 5 through 9 on this year's team to their counterparts on last year's team. There simply is no comparison.

Fullback
Deon Anderson -- Deon Anderson?

The guy has to stay healthy. Julius Crosslin plays with a lot of heart, but he bought his hands at the Roberto Duran store.


0 recs |

54 comments | Add comment

 

[CF74]

Ha!! Kosier looks like a giant Russell Crowe in that picture..

 

[wileedog]

by

Now, quality? Will Williams be better than Owens? I don't see how he can be worse.

I'm no TO fan but this is a stretch. Yes TO gashed SF for a ton of his yards last year, and yes I think he is slipping and had multiple sub par games last year.

But Roy has one season his entire career that belongs in the same zip code with TO on average, and was a total non factor last season, injury, timing problems or otherwise. Yes, he may very well be worse.

Although the offense as a whole will still probably better.

 

[DallasFanSince86]

10. Cory Proctor -- A jar full of rabbits feet

:laugh1:

 

[Temo]

Ha!! Kosier looks like a giant Russell Crowe in that picture..

Heh, you're right.

 

[FLCowboyFan]

I'm no TO fan but this is a stretch. Yes TO gashed SF for a ton of his yards last year, and yes I think he is slipping and had multiple sub par games last year.

But Roy has one season his entire career that belongs in the same zip code with TO on average, and was a total non factor last season, injury, timing problems or otherwise. Yes, he may very well be worse.

Although the offense as a whole will still probably better.

If people read my previous posts, you will see I'm also not a TO fan. I believe RW can replace him this year but he has to prove it. I don't think TO was nearly as good last year as he was in previous years but RW is still an unkown.

I am 100% in the RW fan club because we need him to play like we all thought he would when he came in the league.

 

[dbair1967]

Tight End
Jason Witten -- Jason Witten
Martellus Bennett -- Tony Curtis
John Phillips -- Martellus Bennett
Another area of significant upgrade. Let's begin with Bennett. Last year at this time he was wiping the Hard Knocks egg off his face. Now, he's a proven receiving weapon. His blocking needs work, but it's fair and improving. Let's not overlook the value John Phillips brings. I think he's better than Tony Curtis right now, and his all-around game, not to mention Bennett's down-the-field skills, give the Cowboys some cover.

Last year, Witten played with cracked ribs, a bum ankle and an assortment of other injuries, because he had to. Curtis' blocking skills abandoned him and Bennett was an unknown. Now, if Witten were to suffer either of those injuries, the team could sit him for a game or two, let him heal, and not see the tight end position collapse. That's good bang for your 7th-round buck.

Not really sure what Vela is looking at in regards to Bennett's blocking. he was outstanding at it at Texas A&M, pretty good at it last yr as a rookie and looks really good this preseason. In fact he's so good they even hinted they think if he sucked at TE (which obviously he doesnt) they could put 40lbs or so on him and make him a pro bowl tackle.

 

[dmq]

The big question that I have never been able to figure out is, what happened to TO last year? Did his skills diminish that fast last year? Did offenses start playing him much more aggressively? Did JG fail to adjust his scheme when teams figured out how to shut TO down? Did Felix going down, Witten getting hurt and the collapse of our OL hurt TOs ability to get open?
I personally don't think it was all on TO. I won't miss the attitude, but I don't think his skills disappeared over night.

 

[tunahelper]

Ha!! Kosier looks like a giant Russell Crowe in that picture..

1st drive in Tampa surrounded by 1st string defense.

Kosier: "At my signal unleash hell"!

 

[JeffInDC]

The big question that I have never been able to figure out is, what happened to TO last year? Did his skills diminish that fast last year? Did offenses start playing him much more aggressively? Did JG fail to adjust his scheme when teams figured out how to shut TO down? Did Felix going down, Witten getting hurt and the collapse of our OL hurt TOs ability to get open?
I personally don't think it was all on TO. I won't miss the attitude, but I don't think his skills disappeared over night.

For some strange reason, T.O. seemed to lose a LOT of his physicality last year. The guy that made his rep on being a fast, physical nightmare for DB's seemed to just be a big, fast guy last year. The Packers and 'Skins game seemed to be the games that everybody in the league studied film of on how to stop him - just beat him up at the LOS and he becomes extremely frustrated and, dare I say...................just a good WR, but no longer a GREAT one. I remember Springs just abusing him in that first meeting.

 

[SMCowboy]

The big question that I have never been able to figure out is, what happened to TO last year? Did his skills diminish that fast last year? Did offenses start playing him much more aggressively? Did JG fail to adjust his scheme when teams figured out how to shut TO down? Did Felix going down, Witten getting hurt and the collapse of our OL hurt TOs ability to get open?
I personally don't think it was all on TO. I won't miss the attitude, but I don't think his skills disappeared over night.

I could be wrong, but I believe that difference between TO last year and in 2007, is more of a great game of smoke a mirrors by Jason Garrett in 2007, until the league figure out what we were doing, and how to stop TO.

There was a time, that a defense would never dare using press coverage against TO, he was to fast, to physical, and to quick that he would abuse press coverage. However, teams finally figured out, that if you press TO, he no longer has the quickness and to an extent the physicality to beat the press coverage.

 

[SMCowboy]

I'm no TO fan but this is a stretch. Yes TO gashed SF for a ton of his yards last year, and yes I think he is slipping and had multiple sub par games last year.

But Roy has one season his entire career that belongs in the same zip code with TO on average, and was a total non factor last season, injury, timing problems or otherwise. Yes, he may very well be worse.

Although the offense as a whole will still probably better.

I have to disagree, Roy Williams may not put up the same numbers as TO, but I am of the belief that a large part of TO's numbers are from the QB forcing the ball to TO, to keep him from being a cancer in the locker room. Roy Williams may not put up quite the same numbers as TO did, but, a big part of that will be because he will not be targeted near as much as TO. In which case, TO would still be a major upgrade if he was actually targeted because he was open, not because the QB is afraid to NOT throw the ball to TO.

Lets not forget that TO was tied for 9th in the league in pass targets last year. I certainly expect more than 69 catches for 1052 yards out of a WR that was targeted 140 times last year. To give an example of the other WR's that were near TO in pass targets. Greg Jennings, Roddy White, Wes Welker, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Not really sure what Vela is looking at in regards to Bennett's blocking. he was outstanding at it at Texas A&M, pretty good at it last yr as a rookie and looks really good this preseason. In fact he's so good they even hinted they think if he sucked at TE (which obviously he doesnt) they could put 40lbs or so on him and make him a pro bowl tackle.

Vela is just nitpicking. Bennett is solid at the POA but he needs to be more consistent when it comes to maintaining/finishing his blocks.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

The big question that I have never been able to figure out is, what happened to TO last year? Did his skills diminish that fast last year? Did offenses start playing him much more aggressively? Did JG fail to adjust his scheme when teams figured out how to shut TO down? Did Felix going down, Witten getting hurt and the collapse of our OL hurt TOs ability to get open?
I personally don't think it was all on TO. I won't miss the attitude, but I don't think his skills disappeared over night.

I think the problem is that the Cowboys didn't throw to him enough. Romo averaged over 9 yards per attempt throwing to TO (I think, going from memory). In that case the traditional wisdom that the Boys were forcing it to TO is wrong, and they should have kept going to him.

 

[dbair1967]

Vela is just nitpicking. Bennett is solid at the POA but he needs to be more consistent when it comes to maintaining/finishing his blocks.

he had some un-Godly number of pancake/knockdown blocks his last yr at Texas A&M, which indicates he does what you are talking about.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

I think the problem is that the Cowboys didn't throw to him enough. Romo averaged over 9 yards per attempt throwing to TO (I think, going from memory). In that case the traditional wisdom that the Boys were forcing it to TO is wrong, and they should have kept going to him.

We don't need him. I appreciate everything TO did on the field for us. I came to his defense often on this board. But he is gone and he won't be missed like people think. The Cowboys will spread the ball around and Romo's yards per attempt will be just fine.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The big question that I have never been able to figure out is, what happened to TO last year? Did his skills diminish that fast last year? Did offenses start playing him much more aggressively? Did JG fail to adjust his scheme when teams figured out how to shut TO down? Did Felix going down, Witten getting hurt and the collapse of our OL hurt TOs ability to get open?
I personally don't think it was all on TO. I won't miss the attitude, but I don't think his skills disappeared over night.

IMO, he faced some very good corners at GB and Shawn Springs, and then Romo was off (even before the injury). It also didn't help that Garrett didn't do much to help get some mismatches and get Owens open and when he did, it was something goofy like having Owens out of the backfield where the entire world knew that Owens was going to get the ball. The second half of the season Owens was blowing by corners frequently, but we had Brad Johnson throwing him the ball and then Romo was clearly off due to the injury.

Even in the 2nd Commanders game, Owens burned DeAngelo Hall frequently, but either never got the pass his way or Romo missed him badly. I remember one pick Hall made where Hall was clearly beat on a slant by Owens, but Romo missed him badly and the ball went right at Hall.

I really think his 'diminishing skills' were overblown. Sure, they have diminished to a degree, but poor coaching and poor QB play resulted in that. And he still had over 1,000 yards and 10 TD's. And he still had that factor where if he hit a big play early, it completely changed the game as opposing defenses would then put all of there focus on Owens and open it up for the rest of the team. I think he'll probably have a very good season in Buffalo.




YAKUZA

 

[HoosierCowboy]

I'm no TO fan but this is a stretch. Yes TO gashed SF for a ton of his yards last year, and yes I think he is slipping and had multiple sub par games last year.

But Roy has one season his entire career that belongs in the same zip code with TO on average, and was a total non factor last season, injury, timing problems or otherwise. Yes, he may very well be worse.

Although the offense as a whole will still probably better.

Heaven forbid that we have another TO--I'm hoping that the loss of his selfishness and distractions will be worth missing his talent. I'm very glad he's gone--as are many of his teammates and coaches.

 

[dougonthebench]

I know this is so off topic,...but the title makes me think of the Bee Gees song,"How deep is your love?".

 

[burmafrd]

TO to me has lost something physically but not too much yet- though it might be more noticeable this year. Frankly Garret stank the whole last part of the season. He got schooled in almost every game. What worries me was the fact that it was obvious and he did not adjust. Bodes ill for this year.