Professor Hostile here. It is time to check the grades and send out the Mid season report card.
Offense
Quarterback
The season began with a severe bump in the road in week 2. A 2nd loss in week 4 had many people up in arms. The Quarterback was not among that cabal. He pulled things together and has thrown TDs while limiting turnovers, and led the team to a 6-2 record and a 1 game lead in the NFC East. It is time for all of the anti-Tony Romo signatures to disappear. JMO.
He is on pace for a 4400 yard season with 26 TDs and only 10 INTs.
Grade...A
Running Backs
The season began with a bang as this team ran all over everyone in their path. It was obvious that would slow down a little bit and it has. Still this team is on pace for 2200 yards in rushing. All 3 RBs have contributed to wins and performance. They seem to know their roles and buy into the team concept.
Even though injuries have once again creeped into the picture and forced Tashard Choice to a temporary starting role he does not gripe. It seems the Wild Hog duties are his at this point. The Barberian is once again the closer. That is his role and it is vital. Felix Jones remains the home run threat.
The FB, Deon Anderson, has not even had to carry the football one time this year. The RBs average 5.2 yards per carry collectively and the team is averaging 5.1 ypc. I would like to see more screen passes to the Backs.
Grade...B+
Wide Receivers
Any time you have a WR averaging over 14 yards per catch it is a good thing. What is it when the entire Corps of WRs are not only over that but over 16.5 ypc? Remarkable. Even more remarkable are the roads most of this group took to reach the NFL. I think it is safe to say Miles Austin has arrived. Cowboys fans could not be more pleased.
Roy Williams has taken some lumps form the fans and media, but not from his teammates. His QB in particular is on his side and production is starting to show. Patrick Crayton continues to get the job done when called upon. Hurd and Ogletree stand ready to produce, Hurd has done great on Special Teams coverage units.
Grade...A-
Tight Ends
It seems strange that some people are asking, "where is Jason Witten?" but they are. The reason is that he has not been the target in the redzone that people figured he would be with that guy up in Buffalo. Bennett hasn't seemed to be much of a target at all. The over reaction would be that the TEs are not getting their job done. That would be patently false. This team is more productive in the 2 TE sets than in any other formation. It hasn't produced fantasy stats for the TE themselves, but this Offense moves upon what these guys are doing. John Phillips has added a great dimension as the blocking TE and H-Back.
Grade...B+
Offensive Line
When the season began these guys were destroying people. They are still playing well, but with the team no longer averaging 250 yards rushing per game it is only natural that their contributions would dip a little. Tony has been sacked 17 times this season but the team averages 5.1 yards per carry when they run the ball. The OL continues to get pre-snap penalties. That pushes the grade down a little.
Grade...B-
Offensive Coaches
It is getting harder and harder to point the fingers of blame at Jason Garret and his Offense. They seem to be able to adjust to whatever the other team is giving them. If they are given the run, they run the ball. If given the short pass, they take it and break tackles. If given the deep pass they take that. The chains are moving. Dallas is 3rd in the NFL is yards per game. Points are being scored. Dallas is 5th in the NFL in points scored per game.
Grade...A-
Defense
Defensive Line
In a 3-4 scheme it is usually hard to grade a D-line. It sure isn't hard to grade Jay Ratliff though. He is without a doubt one of the best interior linemen in the NFL. All doubts of this have either been erased or someone is stupid. Spears and Olshansky have proven solid against the run and the pass. Dallas ranks 12th in rushing yards allowed per game. This stat is a direct reflection on the D-line and LBs. The depth on this group has been probably the most pleasant improvement in this team over 2008.
Grade...B-
Linebackers
By now everyone expected DeMarcus Ware to have double digit sacks. He doesn't so some would surmise that he is not playing well. That would be a very foolish assumption. Ware is still the most disruptive force in the NFL. No one can turn a corner lower to the ground than this guy at full speed. It is inhuman. The sack numbers are climbing.
Ware's bookend Anthony Spencer has been a dilemma to the fans. He does not have a sack in 2009 so far, but his play against the run and in coverage has been outstanding. Thankfully Victor Butler has added 3 sacks so the production on the opposite end hasn't been pathetic. It is still below most expectations to this point.
What can you say negative about the Inside Linebackers in Dallas? I hope not much. Keith Brooking has been the Cowboys best Free Agent acquisition since Leonard Davis. He is everything you love in a football player. His intensity is now driving this team. Bradie James continues to be the man in charge and is doing yet another amazing job. Even the much maligned Bobby Carpenter has pleased fans recently.
Grade...B+
Secondary
We would like to see more takeaways. There is no denying that. It is a huge factor in how well a team Defense is performing overall. The Cowboys aren't giving the ball away, but they aren't taking it away either. On the positive side the CBs are shutting big plays down better than they have in years. Mike Jenkins moved into the starters job and has made it his. He and Terence Newman are both delivering big hits. Not a well known fact but Newman has forced the most fumbles on this team.
This just in, Gerald Sensabaugh can cover the middle of the field. Lately he's been doing it with one hand. His other is in a soft cast and wrap. He got his 1st INT of the season last week and realizing he is a one handed man, he stayed on the ground and protected the football. That is smart.
Grade...B-
Defensive Coaches
It would be nice to see more sacks and takeaways. That cannot be denied. The team has provided some nice short yardage stops and some critical 3 and outs. You know with this Defense that they will be solid but not spectacular. They rank 20th in yards allowed per game. That isn't good enough. They are 7th in points allowed per game. That is good enough. If the sacks and takeaways come they can rise up both rankings.
Grade...B
Special Teams
Kickers
Nick Folk is 14 of 17 on the year and all 3 misses have been from 40 to 49 yards. He has only attempted one FG of 50 yards or longer and converted that. Hard to fault the guy at all.
David Buehler is strictly a Kickoff specialist. He is at or near the top in every Kickoff category that is recorded.
Grade...A-
Punter
Matt McBriar has returned from a 2008 injury without having missed a step. He is currently 6th int he NFL with 46.1 average on his kicks. He has put 20 of his 35 punts inside the 20 yard line and has only 1 touchback all season.
Grade...A
Coverage Teams
Dallas ranks 5th in the NFL in Kickoff yards per return at 20.4 and is 10th in punt return yards per return at 6.8. The coverage teams have not allowed a TD and are a huge improvement over the 2008 teams that ranked 6th and 24th respectively.
Grade...A-
Return Teams
The Cowboys rank 22nd in the NFL at 21.9 yards on Kickoff Returns. They are 2nd in the NFL at 14.0 yards per return aided by 2 Punt Returns for scores. There is definitely room for improvement in Kickoffs, but Punts have been great, especially lately.
Grade...B
Special Teams Coach
I do not think there is a more inspiring story int he NFL than Joe DeCamillis this year. If you have not read the article about him and his struggles PM me. I will send you the link. The Cowboys have improved on Special Teams in remarkable ways. It is directly proportional to the job he has turned in and the manner and dignity with which he has done it.
Grade...A+
Overall Evaluation
There are good and bad reviews with every team. At 6-2 and first place in the NFC East it is hard to argue that the good outweighs the bad. This team could easily be undefeated if they had played better in the first 4 weeks of the season. They also could have another loss if they had not stepped up to knock off the lowly Chiefs. We need more takeaways and sacks. It would be nice to run the ball like we did early and control the clock in every game. The bottom line is winning and this team is. A Division lead is a huge positive, especially in a very tough Division and don't let anyone tell you the NFC East isn't still the most loaded Division in the NFL.
Grade...A-
