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What's the Cowboys' offensive pecking order?
By Tim MacMahon
Tony Romo has a wealth of weapons around him.
Some might make the case that there aren't enough footballs to go around. My take is you can't have too much of a good thing -- and it's Jason Garrett's job to make sure that's the case.
Here's my feel for the pecking order in Garrett's game plans:
1. Miles Austin – He emerged as one of the NFL’s most dynamic receivers last season. The Cowboys knew he could stretch the field, but he proved that he’s a complete receiver who is also capable of turning short throws into big plays. His challenge now is to prove that his Pro Bowl campaign wasn’t a flash in the pan.
2. Jason Witten – The six-time Pro Bowler is Romo’s most reliable target. Heck, he’s one of the most reliable tight ends in NFL history. His 94 catches last season ranked third in the NFC and extended his streak of 60-catch campaigns to six. Tony Gonzalez (11 straight) is the only tight end to ever have a longer such streak.
3. Felix Jones – He might not be the starter, but he’s without question the premier playmaker among the running backs. Few backs in the league possess his burst and breakaway potential. He showed down the stretch last season that he’s capable of handling a medium workload. He needs to get 12 to 15 touches per game.
4. Dez Bryant – Is all the praise premature? Perhaps, but this kid oozes Pro Bowl potential. He’s a beast with the ball in his hands, with the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss. He’s at his best fighting for the ball in traffic. If he isn’t overwhelmed mentally, he’ll make a run at the offensive rookie of the year award.
5. Marion Barber – He’s ridiculously overpaid for a back who has never had a 1,000-yard season, but a healthy Barber provides the Cowboys a power element they need. They need him to revert to his pre-starter form in red zone and short-yardage situations. He’s at his best in small doses, so Jones getting a bigger role should help Barber.
6. Roy Williams – He’s no fool. He knows that if he doesn’t produce this season (the final year he’s guaranteed money from Jerry Jones), he’ll be gone. His offseason work is earning rave reviews for the second straight year. We’ll see whether he can finally develop a decent rapport with Romo and justify his starting job. He’ll see a steady diet of single coverage.
7. Martellus Bennett – His breakout season could come a year late. There’s no question that the 6-6, 265-pounder has the size and athletic ability to create big problems for defenses. He’s the rare tight end who can be a threat on vertical routes and in the red zone. Ask anybody who watched him dominate in the Alamodome last summer. Time to translate potential to production.
8. Tashard Choice – When the coaching staff’s hand has been forced, Choice has proven capable of carrying the load. If the other backs are healthy, he’ll have to settle for a much smaller role again, with the vast majority of his playing time coming as the third-down back and Razorback trigger man.
9. Patrick Crayton – A solid, dependable receiver is buried on the depth chart. He has pedestrian speed by NFL receiver standards, but he runs precise routes and probably has the best hands on the team, although some fans will never forgive him for his clutch drop during the final playoff game at Texas Stadium.
10. Kevin Ogletree – He’s ahead of where Austin was as a second-year undrafted player, and No. 19 has taken the kid under his wing. The coaches love Ogletree’s explosiveness and elusiveness. If he proves trustworthy during training camp, that could convince the Cowboys that Crayton is expendable.
By Tim MacMahon
Tony Romo has a wealth of weapons around him.
Some might make the case that there aren't enough footballs to go around. My take is you can't have too much of a good thing -- and it's Jason Garrett's job to make sure that's the case.
Here's my feel for the pecking order in Garrett's game plans:
1. Miles Austin – He emerged as one of the NFL’s most dynamic receivers last season. The Cowboys knew he could stretch the field, but he proved that he’s a complete receiver who is also capable of turning short throws into big plays. His challenge now is to prove that his Pro Bowl campaign wasn’t a flash in the pan.
2. Jason Witten – The six-time Pro Bowler is Romo’s most reliable target. Heck, he’s one of the most reliable tight ends in NFL history. His 94 catches last season ranked third in the NFC and extended his streak of 60-catch campaigns to six. Tony Gonzalez (11 straight) is the only tight end to ever have a longer such streak.
3. Felix Jones – He might not be the starter, but he’s without question the premier playmaker among the running backs. Few backs in the league possess his burst and breakaway potential. He showed down the stretch last season that he’s capable of handling a medium workload. He needs to get 12 to 15 touches per game.
4. Dez Bryant – Is all the praise premature? Perhaps, but this kid oozes Pro Bowl potential. He’s a beast with the ball in his hands, with the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss. He’s at his best fighting for the ball in traffic. If he isn’t overwhelmed mentally, he’ll make a run at the offensive rookie of the year award.
5. Marion Barber – He’s ridiculously overpaid for a back who has never had a 1,000-yard season, but a healthy Barber provides the Cowboys a power element they need. They need him to revert to his pre-starter form in red zone and short-yardage situations. He’s at his best in small doses, so Jones getting a bigger role should help Barber.
6. Roy Williams – He’s no fool. He knows that if he doesn’t produce this season (the final year he’s guaranteed money from Jerry Jones), he’ll be gone. His offseason work is earning rave reviews for the second straight year. We’ll see whether he can finally develop a decent rapport with Romo and justify his starting job. He’ll see a steady diet of single coverage.
7. Martellus Bennett – His breakout season could come a year late. There’s no question that the 6-6, 265-pounder has the size and athletic ability to create big problems for defenses. He’s the rare tight end who can be a threat on vertical routes and in the red zone. Ask anybody who watched him dominate in the Alamodome last summer. Time to translate potential to production.
8. Tashard Choice – When the coaching staff’s hand has been forced, Choice has proven capable of carrying the load. If the other backs are healthy, he’ll have to settle for a much smaller role again, with the vast majority of his playing time coming as the third-down back and Razorback trigger man.
9. Patrick Crayton – A solid, dependable receiver is buried on the depth chart. He has pedestrian speed by NFL receiver standards, but he runs precise routes and probably has the best hands on the team, although some fans will never forgive him for his clutch drop during the final playoff game at Texas Stadium.
10. Kevin Ogletree – He’s ahead of where Austin was as a second-year undrafted player, and No. 19 has taken the kid under his wing. The coaches love Ogletree’s explosiveness and elusiveness. If he proves trustworthy during training camp, that could convince the Cowboys that Crayton is expendable.
