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By Charean Williams
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
The wait is almost over. Football is almost back. * The Cowboys open training camp Friday when their charter arrives in California. Their first practice is a week from Sunday, and their first preseason game two weeks after that. * Time to lace up the cleats and snap on the chin strap.
1 Change in defense
The Cowboys allowed the most yards in team history last year as they ended the season without five starters and two key reserves. Dallas let Rob Ryan go, replacing him with Monte Kiffin, the team’s fifth defensive coordinator since the beginning of the 2007 season. He is switching Dallas back to a 4-3, the scheme the franchise has used for most of its history. Kiffin, 73, and Tony Dungy made the Tampa-2 defense famous with the Buccaneers, and Kiffin hopes for similar success in Dallas.
DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer have moved from linebacker to defensive end. Jay Ratliff becomes the 3-technique tackle, and Jason Hatcher moves from defensive end to the 1-technique inside. Bruce Carter transitions to weakside linebacker, and Sean Lee patrols the middle. But many of the key defenders, including Ware, missed much of the team work while rehabbing during the team’s off-season workouts.
2 Romo’s return
Tony Romo missed all of the team’s organized team activities and the minicamp after having a cyst removed from his back in April. The Cowboys insist it was a minor procedure and that his absence was merely a precaution. But Romo, who has been throwing, will have all eyes on him the first practice.
Read the rest: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/07/13/4999615/storylines-to-follow-at-dallas.html
cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
The wait is almost over. Football is almost back. * The Cowboys open training camp Friday when their charter arrives in California. Their first practice is a week from Sunday, and their first preseason game two weeks after that. * Time to lace up the cleats and snap on the chin strap.
1 Change in defense
The Cowboys allowed the most yards in team history last year as they ended the season without five starters and two key reserves. Dallas let Rob Ryan go, replacing him with Monte Kiffin, the team’s fifth defensive coordinator since the beginning of the 2007 season. He is switching Dallas back to a 4-3, the scheme the franchise has used for most of its history. Kiffin, 73, and Tony Dungy made the Tampa-2 defense famous with the Buccaneers, and Kiffin hopes for similar success in Dallas.
DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer have moved from linebacker to defensive end. Jay Ratliff becomes the 3-technique tackle, and Jason Hatcher moves from defensive end to the 1-technique inside. Bruce Carter transitions to weakside linebacker, and Sean Lee patrols the middle. But many of the key defenders, including Ware, missed much of the team work while rehabbing during the team’s off-season workouts.
2 Romo’s return
Tony Romo missed all of the team’s organized team activities and the minicamp after having a cyst removed from his back in April. The Cowboys insist it was a minor procedure and that his absence was merely a precaution. But Romo, who has been throwing, will have all eyes on him the first practice.
- 3 Playing-calling duties
- 4 Frederick’s development
- 5 Dez’s dominance
Read the rest: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/07/13/4999615/storylines-to-follow-at-dallas.html
