dcfanatic
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Every team in the NFL wants their younger players to continue to grow and become better players each and every season. The Cowboys have a nice group of young talented players on both sides of the ball, but if some of them don't step up their game in 2006 the Cowboys won't be hoisting up a Vince Lombardi Trophy next February.
Here's five of the young core guys that must improve in 2006.
1. Strong Safety Roy Williams - Some of you are saying that 'Roy is fine' or 'Roy does enough for this defense and we should be happy'. I don't agree. Williams is a great player when he is near the line of scrimmage, but he turns into an average player away from the line of scrimmage. He has to work on his coverage skills and his recognition skills. Now these two may go hand in hand for Williams. We all know that he isn't the fastest player on the field so he has to get a better feel from watching the quarterback where the ball may be headed. This should allow him the extra step or two to break up those long pass plays that have been troubling him over the last few seasons. Please don't try the argument that he's a Strong Safety and it's not his job to cover the deep ball either. As a 'Safety' you are the last line of defense so it is indeed his job.
2. Middle Linebacker Bradie James - Yes, he came on big last season in his first year as a starter in the middle. Well now I want to see him create more turnovers and be a physical presence on a few more plays. How many forced fumbles did James have in 2005? None. This is not acceptable for a guy who led the team in tackles. If he is able to bring more physicality to his game that will probably lead to some turnovers for the Cowboys defense. I want to see him with at least four or five forced fumbles in 2006 and maybe a few highlight reel hits. Tackles are great, but turnovers are better.
3. Cornerback Terence Newman - First let me say that his play in 2005 was dramatically improved over his work in 2004. Now let's improve it again in 2006. He is another guy who does not create nearly enough turnovers when you compare it to the number of times he is involved in a tackle or a pass defense. A lot of you are saying that he doesn't have a lot of interceptions because teams rarely throw at him. Remember that dropped interception against Denver last season? In 2006 he has to make those plays. If he can double his interceptions from 3 in 2005 to at least 6 in 2006 the Cowboys defense should be greatly improved. Newman only had 1 forced fumble, double that total too.
4. Running Back Julius Jones - I know, I know - he was injured. Well in some of the games that he wasn't injured he didn't exactly light it up. In the first four games last season he was very healthy and his longest run was all of 14 yards. That's not going to cut it in 2006. In those same four games his average per carry was below 4 yards. That's also not going to cut it 2006. I am a fan of Jones because I have seen him shine very brightly on occasions, but then other times he flickers out. He has to come out and light up some defenses early on in the season. Makes team a little scared that he's going to hurt them with a long run here and there. Two things, stay healthy and create some long runs to get the offense excited with his play.
5. Center Al Johnson - The word around Dallas is that Johnson gained 17 pounds of muscle this past off-season. Now the question is going to be, Does that make him a better player? I think Coach Parcells is going to give him every opportunity to win the Center job over Andre Gurode because he's a smarter player on the field. But if he can't hold back these bigger defensive tackles it won't matter because Gurode is still probably the bigger man. Johnson was considered a technician on the field, now Coach Parcells want him more in the style of a mauler. This type of play wears down defensive lineman a lot quicker and allows an offense to impose it's will on a team when the fourth quarter rolls around.
All five of these guys should have bright futures as Dallas Cowboys, but instead of settling on them as being good players I would like to see them become great players in 2006. I hope all of them take their game to a higher level while helping the Cowboys reach that goal of winning Super Bowl XLI.
