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This very long analysis assumes that we are done adding rookie free agents. Enjoy at your leisure.
Quarterback
WHO’S HERE Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee, Rudy Carpenter
WHO’S GONE Brad Johnson, Brooks Bollinger
OUTLOOK Tony Romo should continue to improve, especially now that the Cowboys have made the team “Romo-friendly” by taking away the distraction of Terrell Owens. Romo's at his best when able to make quick decisions and follow his instincts, and didn’t look as instinctual last year as he did in 2007. The onus is on him, though, to make good decisions and cut down on his mistakes. Jon Kitna is a much better backup option than Brad Johnson at this point in their careers. Kitna has enough arm strength to get the job done as the No. 2 guy and seems to have a good mind-set about the job. He would be an average long-term answer, but is a good choice as a short-term one. Stephen McGee is a true developmental No. 3 quarterback, and should get plenty of time to work on his skills without any real pressure to play. I’d say he gets at least two years before Dallas even considers letting him step up to the No. 2 role. He could go the way of players such as Drew Henson, Chad Hutchinson, etc., but at least the Cowboys aren’t counting on him to be the guy like the hope was for those guys. He also could be the next Romo, developing well under the tutelage of a quarterbacks coach (although it’s too bad Dallas doesn’t have David Lee to tutor him). Rudy Carpenter is just a camp arm who would have to impress a lot even to have a shot at making the practice squad.
Fullback
WHO’S HERE Deon Anderson, Julius Crosslin, Asaph Schwapp
WHO’S GONE No one
OUTLOOK There shouldn’t be any real challenge for Deon Anderson’s job. Julius Crosslin failed to impress in the preseason last year and Asaph Schwapp is apparently just a bruising, unathletic blocker with no other skills. I had hopes for Anderson becoming a true threat last season because he has shown good hands, the willingness to turn it upfield quickly after the catch and the ability to plunge for short yardage. However, Dallas didn’t really get him involved in the offense during the season, and his blocking isn’t devastating enough to really justify him being on the field. That’s one of the reasons I expect Dallas to use more two-tight end sets this year, since there’s not a significant difference between Anderson’s lead blocking and Martellus Bennett’s and there is a significant difference in Bennett’s receiving skills and Anderson’s. If Schwapp is a better blocker, I’d almost rather keep him than Anderson to plug in for running purposes, but I think offensive coordinator Jason Garrett wants a more versatile fullback than that on the roster, and Anderson’s his best option for now. Of course, which one is the better special teams player also will likely play a role since the fullback’s snaps on offense will be limited.
Running back
WHO’S HERE Marion Barber III, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Alonzo Coleman
WHO’S GONE No one
OUTLOOK Now that the Cowboys were forced to figure out that Tashard Choice can play too, Dallas is going to have to figure out how to split carries among three backs next season. One of the important things, of course, is having Marion Barber fresh for the fourth quarter so he can run out a lead. I think Barber still starts and plays a couple of series because he seems to pump up the team with his enthusiasm. Felix Jones will get in for a few plays during those series, though, perhaps in the same backfield with Barber, to add a big-play threat as a runner and receiver, and then will likely get a couple of series of his own. Then, Choice has earned at least a couple of series per game in relief ... and it’s possibly that it will be him and Barber being the main backs throughout with Jones coming in and out of the lineup instead of being the lead back for a full series or two. The mixing and matching should be interesting, and Dallas needs to get it right this year. I have no earthly idea why Alonzo Coleman was kept around after last preseason. Dallas seems intrigued by him, but he didn’t do anything during the preseason to even warrant a practice squad spot. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cowboys give him another year on the PS, though, but hopefully he earns it this time.
Wide receiver
WHO’S HERE Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Isaiah Stanback, Travis Wilson, Manuel Johnson, Kevin Ogletree, Julian Hawkins
WHO’S GONE Terrell Owens
OUTLOOK The Cowboys obviously lost a lot of talent and production when they cut Terrell Owens, but they also lost a player who demanded that Jason Garrett and Tony Romo get him the ball, which they tried to do to keep the player pleased and from being a disruption. Now, Dallas can attempt to have a more balanced attack without it becoming a sticking point. Roy Williams is expected to be the lead dog, and the success of the attack depends on him fulfilling that role. His work with Romo this off-season is promising as Williams appears determined to prove his doubters wrong ... and some of the doubts are unjustified because they are based on last season when Romo didn’t have time to build a rapport with Williams (partly because of Owens’ demands) and Williams was limited by a Lisfranc injury (a stress fracture in his midfoot). Of course, some of Williams’ success will depend on the play of the No. 2 receiver. Whoever that is has to show enough ability to keep teams from taking away Williams with double coverage. The best candidate for that role appears to be Miles Austin, who has shown the ability to stretch the field in a third receiver role. If Austin shows that teams have to respect his speed when he’s going against No. 1 and No. 2 corners, that will keep a safety from cheating on Williams. Austin’s ability to get in and out of his cuts on routes is one of the main questions about him, with the other being the consistency of his hands, but he has shown improvement in those areas as he’s developed so there’s reason to hope he can handle the role. If not, it’s likely that it defaults to Patrick Crayton, who does run good routes and does have good hands but isn’t a consistent threat to defenses because of his lack of speed. Crayton’s inability to get open consistently against single coverage, though, was one of the reasons Dallas traded for Williams, so it would be better if Dallas could keep him in the third receiver role, where he draws matchups he can win more regularly. Sam Hurd is the wild card here because he’s also shown good hands and good route-running ability in a limited role. But Hurd also doesn’t have much speed and it’s questionable if he could get open regularly against starting corners any better than Crayton. Isaiah Stanback showed some promise as far as athleticism, quickness and speed go, but can’t stay healthy long enough for Dallas to know if he can translate those skills into being a polished receiver. The Cowboys also see some promise in Travis Wilson, but I’ll have to see it on the field to believe it. Manuel Johnson or Kevin Ogletree could contend with Stanback and Wilson for the fifth spot, or fifth and sixth if Dallas keeps that many. Johnson is unique from Dallas’ other receivers in that he has a lot of shiftiness to him to go along with good speed, while Ogletree is a speed receiver in a corps that doesn’t have great speed. One of those two, or both, could be practice squad candidates. I don’t really see Julian Hawkins being more than a camp body.
Tight end
WHO’S HERE Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Rodney Hannah, John Phillips
WHO’S NOT Tony Curtis
OUTLOOK I think we sometimes forget the number of injuries Jason Witten played through last season. I don’t think he was at his best as the season wound down, but he still was among the best in the league. His ability to sell his routes and find the open spot, and his rapport with Tony Romo are keys to this offense. Smart teams know that and gear their defenses around taking him out of the passing game. They can’t do that completely, but Dallas is going to have to show it can move passingwise without Witten for teams to alter their plans. Witten will keep plodding along to Pro Bowls either way, but to be fully effective he has to have help. Some of that help will be provided by the No. 2 tight end. Martellus Bennett proved worthy of more playing time by showing that he can be an effective blocker, potentially better than Witten because of his power, and he can be dangerous in the passing game. Bennett does a good job of catching the ball and has a burst to get upfield after receiving it. The only worry with him is Bennett being mature enough to work for that additional playing time, but Witten seems willing to push him if Bennett cannot push himself. The battle for the third spot should be interesting between the pass-catcher, Rodney Hannah, and the all-arounder, John Phillips. If Dallas wants more of a receiver in the role, it will likely go with Hannah, who showed a lot of ability to get open and make plays with the ball in the preseason. If it wants a player who’s better at blocking and good enough to get open as the No. 3 guy, it will likely go with Phillips. Of course, it’s possible that Hannah’s blocking has improved since last preseason. Whoever loses the battle should end up on the practice squad. Either way, Dallas should at least be in as good a condition as it was with Tony Curtis, who disappointed last year.
Center
WHO’S HERE Andre Gurode, Cory Proctor, Matt Spanos
WHO’S NOT No one
OUTLOOK I still believe a lot of fans underestimate what Dallas has in Andre Gurode. Sure, there are shortcomings to his game, such as his Shotgun snaps and limited agility, but he makes up for it by being one of the most powerful, unmovable centers in the game. One reason a lot of teams are using the 3-4 defense is because most NFL centers can be overpowered by big nose tackles. Gurode can’t. He neutralizes them in the passing game and is able to get a push against them in the running game. The key to beating Gurode is speed, but I would rather players have to try to go around him than be able to go through him. He’s a worthy Pro Bowler not because he’s the best center of all-time but because he’s one of the best of his time. And he’s far better than his backup, Cory Proctor, who is just the opposite -- a guy who can handle speed but is roadkill against power. Proctor showed last season that having to play him for an extended period and having to play him at guard is an invitation for defenses to enter Dallas’ backfield. The only thing he did well was pull. At center, his lack of power isn’t as big of an issue except against 3-4 teams. Against 4-3s, unless teams wisely put a tackle over him, he can be effective double-teaming or advancing to get a linebacker. Despite the fact that I was hoping Dallas would make a move to get better at backup center in the draft, I don’t see Matt Spanos taking Proctor’s spot.
Guard
WHO’S HERE Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis, Montrae Holland, Ryan Gibbons, Robert Brewster, Greg Isdander, Travis Bright
WHO’S NOT Joe Berger
OUTLOOK Cory Proctor made Kyle Kosier look like an All-Pro last season. Proctor showed what a true weak link looks like, making me appreciate Kosier despite his lack of great power. Kosier has enough power to hold his ground most of the time, although he does get beat by strong defensive tackles, and Dallas missed his superior pulling ability. Kosier can get to the hole in a hurry to seal off a linebacker. His absence last season destroyed the unity of the line, and it was easy to see how much better the unit was with him in the game. Montrae Holland might be more ideal as far as power goes, but it’s going to take some dedication from him to beat out Kosier. What Holland has in power, he lacks in quickness, so with him in the game the Cowboys are a full-on, straight-ahead power team. Kosier better allows Dallas to take some runs to the fringes, although there are other ways to accomplish that. Leonard Davis has the other guard spot locked down. He also doesn’t have ideal agility and can be beaten when defenders get him leaning, but he has better movement skills that Holland and is a mauler when locked on to a defender. That leaves Robert Brewster, Greg Isdander and Travis Bright to contend for a backup spot or possibly to be in the mix for starting left guard, although that’s unlikely. Brewster and Isdander have good movement skills to go along with their size (but need more power), with Brewster being a possibility as a swing guard/tackle. A close battle goes to Brewster, but Isdander could surprise, along with Bright, who is more of a power player than the other two rookies. All three could already be better than Joe Berger, and Ryan Gibbons might as well go ahead and follow him out the door.
Tackle
WHO’S HERE Flozell Adams, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Pat McQuistan, Mike Turkovich
WHO’S GONE No one
OUTLOOK Flozell Adams did not have a Pro Bowl year last season, not even close. It was clear to me that Adams was disturbed by playing next to weak link Cory Proctor and was thrown off by injuries. Adams has always been a distractible player and Dallas has to keep him focused on task, especially when he’s not going up against players he views to be real challenges. A couple of things that are not going to change about Adams are his false starts and inability to consistently handle speed rushers, but he’s still one of the better left tackles in the league when he’s on his game. The Cowboys just don’t know how much longer he’ll be on his game, or if they have a replacement for when that day comes. Doug Free looked real promising his rookie season, showing real good feet to push speed rushers wide and get in front of bull rushers, but last preseason he took a step back, getting beat more often than expected. He still has the right skills for the position, but needs to improve his power base if he’s ever going to be a starter. And it became clear that he’s the only real possibility for that when Pat McQuistan’s flaws were overexposed. McQuistan is supposed to be extremely athletic to go with having good power for the right tackle spot, but he gets fooled too much, leaving him lunging and in a bad position techniquewise to use his power and athleticism. At this point, I’m not sure that’s something that can be fixed, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him cut or traded at the end of camp. Not because Dallas will keep Mike Turkovich, who’s just a body, but because it will have better backup options in guards Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis and perhaps even Robert Brewster. Luckily, we have a very solid starting right tackle in Marc Colombo, mostly because he's a battler. Colombo lacks great athleticism, but it's clear he hates to get beat and will do everything he can to keep from it, playing to and sometimes beyond the whistle. Solid technique also helps him overcome his deficiences.
Quarterback
WHO’S HERE Tony Romo, Jon Kitna, Stephen McGee, Rudy Carpenter
WHO’S GONE Brad Johnson, Brooks Bollinger
OUTLOOK Tony Romo should continue to improve, especially now that the Cowboys have made the team “Romo-friendly” by taking away the distraction of Terrell Owens. Romo's at his best when able to make quick decisions and follow his instincts, and didn’t look as instinctual last year as he did in 2007. The onus is on him, though, to make good decisions and cut down on his mistakes. Jon Kitna is a much better backup option than Brad Johnson at this point in their careers. Kitna has enough arm strength to get the job done as the No. 2 guy and seems to have a good mind-set about the job. He would be an average long-term answer, but is a good choice as a short-term one. Stephen McGee is a true developmental No. 3 quarterback, and should get plenty of time to work on his skills without any real pressure to play. I’d say he gets at least two years before Dallas even considers letting him step up to the No. 2 role. He could go the way of players such as Drew Henson, Chad Hutchinson, etc., but at least the Cowboys aren’t counting on him to be the guy like the hope was for those guys. He also could be the next Romo, developing well under the tutelage of a quarterbacks coach (although it’s too bad Dallas doesn’t have David Lee to tutor him). Rudy Carpenter is just a camp arm who would have to impress a lot even to have a shot at making the practice squad.
Fullback
WHO’S HERE Deon Anderson, Julius Crosslin, Asaph Schwapp
WHO’S GONE No one
OUTLOOK There shouldn’t be any real challenge for Deon Anderson’s job. Julius Crosslin failed to impress in the preseason last year and Asaph Schwapp is apparently just a bruising, unathletic blocker with no other skills. I had hopes for Anderson becoming a true threat last season because he has shown good hands, the willingness to turn it upfield quickly after the catch and the ability to plunge for short yardage. However, Dallas didn’t really get him involved in the offense during the season, and his blocking isn’t devastating enough to really justify him being on the field. That’s one of the reasons I expect Dallas to use more two-tight end sets this year, since there’s not a significant difference between Anderson’s lead blocking and Martellus Bennett’s and there is a significant difference in Bennett’s receiving skills and Anderson’s. If Schwapp is a better blocker, I’d almost rather keep him than Anderson to plug in for running purposes, but I think offensive coordinator Jason Garrett wants a more versatile fullback than that on the roster, and Anderson’s his best option for now. Of course, which one is the better special teams player also will likely play a role since the fullback’s snaps on offense will be limited.
Running back
WHO’S HERE Marion Barber III, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Alonzo Coleman
WHO’S GONE No one
OUTLOOK Now that the Cowboys were forced to figure out that Tashard Choice can play too, Dallas is going to have to figure out how to split carries among three backs next season. One of the important things, of course, is having Marion Barber fresh for the fourth quarter so he can run out a lead. I think Barber still starts and plays a couple of series because he seems to pump up the team with his enthusiasm. Felix Jones will get in for a few plays during those series, though, perhaps in the same backfield with Barber, to add a big-play threat as a runner and receiver, and then will likely get a couple of series of his own. Then, Choice has earned at least a couple of series per game in relief ... and it’s possibly that it will be him and Barber being the main backs throughout with Jones coming in and out of the lineup instead of being the lead back for a full series or two. The mixing and matching should be interesting, and Dallas needs to get it right this year. I have no earthly idea why Alonzo Coleman was kept around after last preseason. Dallas seems intrigued by him, but he didn’t do anything during the preseason to even warrant a practice squad spot. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cowboys give him another year on the PS, though, but hopefully he earns it this time.
Wide receiver
WHO’S HERE Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Isaiah Stanback, Travis Wilson, Manuel Johnson, Kevin Ogletree, Julian Hawkins
WHO’S GONE Terrell Owens
OUTLOOK The Cowboys obviously lost a lot of talent and production when they cut Terrell Owens, but they also lost a player who demanded that Jason Garrett and Tony Romo get him the ball, which they tried to do to keep the player pleased and from being a disruption. Now, Dallas can attempt to have a more balanced attack without it becoming a sticking point. Roy Williams is expected to be the lead dog, and the success of the attack depends on him fulfilling that role. His work with Romo this off-season is promising as Williams appears determined to prove his doubters wrong ... and some of the doubts are unjustified because they are based on last season when Romo didn’t have time to build a rapport with Williams (partly because of Owens’ demands) and Williams was limited by a Lisfranc injury (a stress fracture in his midfoot). Of course, some of Williams’ success will depend on the play of the No. 2 receiver. Whoever that is has to show enough ability to keep teams from taking away Williams with double coverage. The best candidate for that role appears to be Miles Austin, who has shown the ability to stretch the field in a third receiver role. If Austin shows that teams have to respect his speed when he’s going against No. 1 and No. 2 corners, that will keep a safety from cheating on Williams. Austin’s ability to get in and out of his cuts on routes is one of the main questions about him, with the other being the consistency of his hands, but he has shown improvement in those areas as he’s developed so there’s reason to hope he can handle the role. If not, it’s likely that it defaults to Patrick Crayton, who does run good routes and does have good hands but isn’t a consistent threat to defenses because of his lack of speed. Crayton’s inability to get open consistently against single coverage, though, was one of the reasons Dallas traded for Williams, so it would be better if Dallas could keep him in the third receiver role, where he draws matchups he can win more regularly. Sam Hurd is the wild card here because he’s also shown good hands and good route-running ability in a limited role. But Hurd also doesn’t have much speed and it’s questionable if he could get open regularly against starting corners any better than Crayton. Isaiah Stanback showed some promise as far as athleticism, quickness and speed go, but can’t stay healthy long enough for Dallas to know if he can translate those skills into being a polished receiver. The Cowboys also see some promise in Travis Wilson, but I’ll have to see it on the field to believe it. Manuel Johnson or Kevin Ogletree could contend with Stanback and Wilson for the fifth spot, or fifth and sixth if Dallas keeps that many. Johnson is unique from Dallas’ other receivers in that he has a lot of shiftiness to him to go along with good speed, while Ogletree is a speed receiver in a corps that doesn’t have great speed. One of those two, or both, could be practice squad candidates. I don’t really see Julian Hawkins being more than a camp body.
Tight end
WHO’S HERE Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Rodney Hannah, John Phillips
WHO’S NOT Tony Curtis
OUTLOOK I think we sometimes forget the number of injuries Jason Witten played through last season. I don’t think he was at his best as the season wound down, but he still was among the best in the league. His ability to sell his routes and find the open spot, and his rapport with Tony Romo are keys to this offense. Smart teams know that and gear their defenses around taking him out of the passing game. They can’t do that completely, but Dallas is going to have to show it can move passingwise without Witten for teams to alter their plans. Witten will keep plodding along to Pro Bowls either way, but to be fully effective he has to have help. Some of that help will be provided by the No. 2 tight end. Martellus Bennett proved worthy of more playing time by showing that he can be an effective blocker, potentially better than Witten because of his power, and he can be dangerous in the passing game. Bennett does a good job of catching the ball and has a burst to get upfield after receiving it. The only worry with him is Bennett being mature enough to work for that additional playing time, but Witten seems willing to push him if Bennett cannot push himself. The battle for the third spot should be interesting between the pass-catcher, Rodney Hannah, and the all-arounder, John Phillips. If Dallas wants more of a receiver in the role, it will likely go with Hannah, who showed a lot of ability to get open and make plays with the ball in the preseason. If it wants a player who’s better at blocking and good enough to get open as the No. 3 guy, it will likely go with Phillips. Of course, it’s possible that Hannah’s blocking has improved since last preseason. Whoever loses the battle should end up on the practice squad. Either way, Dallas should at least be in as good a condition as it was with Tony Curtis, who disappointed last year.
Center
WHO’S HERE Andre Gurode, Cory Proctor, Matt Spanos
WHO’S NOT No one
OUTLOOK I still believe a lot of fans underestimate what Dallas has in Andre Gurode. Sure, there are shortcomings to his game, such as his Shotgun snaps and limited agility, but he makes up for it by being one of the most powerful, unmovable centers in the game. One reason a lot of teams are using the 3-4 defense is because most NFL centers can be overpowered by big nose tackles. Gurode can’t. He neutralizes them in the passing game and is able to get a push against them in the running game. The key to beating Gurode is speed, but I would rather players have to try to go around him than be able to go through him. He’s a worthy Pro Bowler not because he’s the best center of all-time but because he’s one of the best of his time. And he’s far better than his backup, Cory Proctor, who is just the opposite -- a guy who can handle speed but is roadkill against power. Proctor showed last season that having to play him for an extended period and having to play him at guard is an invitation for defenses to enter Dallas’ backfield. The only thing he did well was pull. At center, his lack of power isn’t as big of an issue except against 3-4 teams. Against 4-3s, unless teams wisely put a tackle over him, he can be effective double-teaming or advancing to get a linebacker. Despite the fact that I was hoping Dallas would make a move to get better at backup center in the draft, I don’t see Matt Spanos taking Proctor’s spot.
Guard
WHO’S HERE Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis, Montrae Holland, Ryan Gibbons, Robert Brewster, Greg Isdander, Travis Bright
WHO’S NOT Joe Berger
OUTLOOK Cory Proctor made Kyle Kosier look like an All-Pro last season. Proctor showed what a true weak link looks like, making me appreciate Kosier despite his lack of great power. Kosier has enough power to hold his ground most of the time, although he does get beat by strong defensive tackles, and Dallas missed his superior pulling ability. Kosier can get to the hole in a hurry to seal off a linebacker. His absence last season destroyed the unity of the line, and it was easy to see how much better the unit was with him in the game. Montrae Holland might be more ideal as far as power goes, but it’s going to take some dedication from him to beat out Kosier. What Holland has in power, he lacks in quickness, so with him in the game the Cowboys are a full-on, straight-ahead power team. Kosier better allows Dallas to take some runs to the fringes, although there are other ways to accomplish that. Leonard Davis has the other guard spot locked down. He also doesn’t have ideal agility and can be beaten when defenders get him leaning, but he has better movement skills that Holland and is a mauler when locked on to a defender. That leaves Robert Brewster, Greg Isdander and Travis Bright to contend for a backup spot or possibly to be in the mix for starting left guard, although that’s unlikely. Brewster and Isdander have good movement skills to go along with their size (but need more power), with Brewster being a possibility as a swing guard/tackle. A close battle goes to Brewster, but Isdander could surprise, along with Bright, who is more of a power player than the other two rookies. All three could already be better than Joe Berger, and Ryan Gibbons might as well go ahead and follow him out the door.
Tackle
WHO’S HERE Flozell Adams, Marc Colombo, Doug Free, Pat McQuistan, Mike Turkovich
WHO’S GONE No one
OUTLOOK Flozell Adams did not have a Pro Bowl year last season, not even close. It was clear to me that Adams was disturbed by playing next to weak link Cory Proctor and was thrown off by injuries. Adams has always been a distractible player and Dallas has to keep him focused on task, especially when he’s not going up against players he views to be real challenges. A couple of things that are not going to change about Adams are his false starts and inability to consistently handle speed rushers, but he’s still one of the better left tackles in the league when he’s on his game. The Cowboys just don’t know how much longer he’ll be on his game, or if they have a replacement for when that day comes. Doug Free looked real promising his rookie season, showing real good feet to push speed rushers wide and get in front of bull rushers, but last preseason he took a step back, getting beat more often than expected. He still has the right skills for the position, but needs to improve his power base if he’s ever going to be a starter. And it became clear that he’s the only real possibility for that when Pat McQuistan’s flaws were overexposed. McQuistan is supposed to be extremely athletic to go with having good power for the right tackle spot, but he gets fooled too much, leaving him lunging and in a bad position techniquewise to use his power and athleticism. At this point, I’m not sure that’s something that can be fixed, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him cut or traded at the end of camp. Not because Dallas will keep Mike Turkovich, who’s just a body, but because it will have better backup options in guards Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis and perhaps even Robert Brewster. Luckily, we have a very solid starting right tackle in Marc Colombo, mostly because he's a battler. Colombo lacks great athleticism, but it's clear he hates to get beat and will do everything he can to keep from it, playing to and sometimes beyond the whistle. Solid technique also helps him overcome his deficiences.
