OXNARD, Calif. -- Here are five observations on the Dallas Cowboys, based on camp practices of July 29:
Marion Barber
Running Back
Dallas Cowboys
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
138 538 5 18 115 0
1.
The addition of Terrell Owens, believe it or not, could make the biggest impact in the running game, which struggled last season at 3.6 yards an attempt. Whether he likes it or not, Owens will be a decoy on most early down plays, drawing the safeties away from stopping the run.
Expect an expanded role for Marion Barber, who backs up Julius Jones and is the third-down back. Parcells also plans to move fuillback Lousaka Polite into different positions, including H-back. Jones had 993 yards on 257 carries, while Barber had 538 yards on 138 carries last season. With a plan to use more two-tight end sets, the Cowboys continue to evolve into more of a power team under Parcells, and that certainly isn't a bad thing. It also doesn't hurt that Owens is a good downfield blocker on running plays.
Bill Parcells believes the days of having one halfback who gets all of the carries are fading, and he says the colleges are one of the reasons why. His theory is that colleges are rotating more backs into games and sending backs who aren't used to taking a heavy pounding to the NFL. "Eventually, whatever colleges do gets to the pros," Parcells said. "You've got to work a long time in college to find a big back. It's really a different deal from the Earl Campell days."
Jones is the starter but Barber is expected to be more involved in the rotation.
2.
How good is the Cowboys' offensive line? The Cowboys really don't know at the moment, and it could be the difference between making the playoffs or finishing at the bottom of the tough NFC East. Despite the addition of veteran Jason Fabini, Rob Petitti will remain the starter at right tackle. Hard work during the offseason has given Petitti a new and improved body. He plays next to steady right guard Marco Rivera. The Cowboys are OK at center with Al Johnson.
The big question marks are on the left side. Can Kyle Kosier replace Larry Allen and his physical play at left guard? Can left tackle Flozell Adams return to Pro Bowl form? He's coming off a knee reconstruction and he's starting camp on the physically unable to perform list. Parcells says better depth and better competition for some of the positions will make the line better.
Another hope is that Owens' threat as a pass receiver will take some of the pressure off the line. Drew Bledsoe was sacked 45 times and the Cowboys want to become more of a play-action team to get bigger plays from Owens and Terry Glenn. The development of the offensive line will probably dictate whether this team makes the playoffs.
DeMarcus Ware
Linebacker
Dallas Cowboys
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int
58 47 11 3 8 0
3.
After three years of building, Bill Parcells has the type of defensive players he likes. He loves the youth and playmaking ability of his 3-4 defense. DeMarcus Ware is a stud pass-rushing linebacker who should be a Pro Bowl player for a long time. The linebacking corps might be so deep that Parcells can't find playing time for everyone. In different packages, Parcells can rotate Ware, Al Singleton, Kevin Burnett and first-round choice Bobby Carpenter on the outside. On the inside, he has Akin Ayodele, Bradie James and Rocky Boiman.
The defensive line had a setback Saturday when end Marcus Spears tore a meniscus and was lost for two to three weeks. Spears had surgery Sunday. Parcells feels he's solid at nose tackle with Jason Ferguson and he likes the youth he has at defensive end with Jay Ratliff, Chris Canty and rookie Jason Hatcher.
Where does that leave veteran Greg Ellis? Still unhappy. Ellis is a 4-3 defensive end struggling for playing time in Parcells' 3-4. La'Roi Glover struggled with the adjustment at nose tackle last year and he ended up being cut after the season. . "He has to play here or he can retire if he wanted to," Parcell said of Ellis. "Those would be his two choices right now.
Jason Witten
Tight End
Dallas Cowboys
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC
66 757 6 11.5 34 277
4.
From Mark Bavaro to Ben Coates, Bill Parcells loves tight ends. His latest star is Jason Witten, who made the Pro Bowl last year and was just rewarded with a $28 million contract extension. "The good news is that he loves the tight end position," Witten said. "But his expectations are really high. He's very demanding on the tight end position. First off, you better be able to block."
Parcells is particularly high on his tight ends this year because he wants to use more play-action passes. The tight end is critical on those plays because he could block or be a receiver. Not only did the Cowboys add Anthony Fasano of Notre Dame in the second round of the draft, they also paid good money to sign Ryan Hannam from the Seahawks. Expect the Cowboys to use a lot of two-tight end sets this year.
Witten is now one of the leaders on the offense, but he still can't escape Parcells' talk about his former tight ends. "I've heard every Bavaro-Coates story there is," Witten said.
5.
While offensive line is Parcells' biggest concern, the other big worry is at safety. There's no problem with Roy Williams. He's hitting everyone, and it won't be too long before Jerry Jones tries to lock him into a contract extension. Keith Davis is back despite being recently shot while driving his car. It's the second time in his career he's been shot.
"My father used to have an expression for things like that," Parcells said. "He said, 'Hey Parcells, it's never your fault but you are always there.'"
Davis' return is important because he's a solid safety and a valued special teams player. Without Davis, the Cowboys would have to rely on veteran safety Marcus Coleman. It's not out of the question for the Cowboys to look for a good, young safety toward the end of camp. It's one of the team's thinnest positions.
Marion Barber
Running Back
Dallas Cowboys
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
138 538 5 18 115 0
1.
The addition of Terrell Owens, believe it or not, could make the biggest impact in the running game, which struggled last season at 3.6 yards an attempt. Whether he likes it or not, Owens will be a decoy on most early down plays, drawing the safeties away from stopping the run.
Expect an expanded role for Marion Barber, who backs up Julius Jones and is the third-down back. Parcells also plans to move fuillback Lousaka Polite into different positions, including H-back. Jones had 993 yards on 257 carries, while Barber had 538 yards on 138 carries last season. With a plan to use more two-tight end sets, the Cowboys continue to evolve into more of a power team under Parcells, and that certainly isn't a bad thing. It also doesn't hurt that Owens is a good downfield blocker on running plays.
Bill Parcells believes the days of having one halfback who gets all of the carries are fading, and he says the colleges are one of the reasons why. His theory is that colleges are rotating more backs into games and sending backs who aren't used to taking a heavy pounding to the NFL. "Eventually, whatever colleges do gets to the pros," Parcells said. "You've got to work a long time in college to find a big back. It's really a different deal from the Earl Campell days."
Jones is the starter but Barber is expected to be more involved in the rotation.
2.
How good is the Cowboys' offensive line? The Cowboys really don't know at the moment, and it could be the difference between making the playoffs or finishing at the bottom of the tough NFC East. Despite the addition of veteran Jason Fabini, Rob Petitti will remain the starter at right tackle. Hard work during the offseason has given Petitti a new and improved body. He plays next to steady right guard Marco Rivera. The Cowboys are OK at center with Al Johnson.
The big question marks are on the left side. Can Kyle Kosier replace Larry Allen and his physical play at left guard? Can left tackle Flozell Adams return to Pro Bowl form? He's coming off a knee reconstruction and he's starting camp on the physically unable to perform list. Parcells says better depth and better competition for some of the positions will make the line better.
Another hope is that Owens' threat as a pass receiver will take some of the pressure off the line. Drew Bledsoe was sacked 45 times and the Cowboys want to become more of a play-action team to get bigger plays from Owens and Terry Glenn. The development of the offensive line will probably dictate whether this team makes the playoffs.
DeMarcus Ware
Linebacker
Dallas Cowboys
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Tot Ast Solo FF Sack Int
58 47 11 3 8 0
3.
After three years of building, Bill Parcells has the type of defensive players he likes. He loves the youth and playmaking ability of his 3-4 defense. DeMarcus Ware is a stud pass-rushing linebacker who should be a Pro Bowl player for a long time. The linebacking corps might be so deep that Parcells can't find playing time for everyone. In different packages, Parcells can rotate Ware, Al Singleton, Kevin Burnett and first-round choice Bobby Carpenter on the outside. On the inside, he has Akin Ayodele, Bradie James and Rocky Boiman.
The defensive line had a setback Saturday when end Marcus Spears tore a meniscus and was lost for two to three weeks. Spears had surgery Sunday. Parcells feels he's solid at nose tackle with Jason Ferguson and he likes the youth he has at defensive end with Jay Ratliff, Chris Canty and rookie Jason Hatcher.
Where does that leave veteran Greg Ellis? Still unhappy. Ellis is a 4-3 defensive end struggling for playing time in Parcells' 3-4. La'Roi Glover struggled with the adjustment at nose tackle last year and he ended up being cut after the season. . "He has to play here or he can retire if he wanted to," Parcell said of Ellis. "Those would be his two choices right now.
Jason Witten
Tight End
Dallas Cowboys
Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC
66 757 6 11.5 34 277
4.
From Mark Bavaro to Ben Coates, Bill Parcells loves tight ends. His latest star is Jason Witten, who made the Pro Bowl last year and was just rewarded with a $28 million contract extension. "The good news is that he loves the tight end position," Witten said. "But his expectations are really high. He's very demanding on the tight end position. First off, you better be able to block."
Parcells is particularly high on his tight ends this year because he wants to use more play-action passes. The tight end is critical on those plays because he could block or be a receiver. Not only did the Cowboys add Anthony Fasano of Notre Dame in the second round of the draft, they also paid good money to sign Ryan Hannam from the Seahawks. Expect the Cowboys to use a lot of two-tight end sets this year.
Witten is now one of the leaders on the offense, but he still can't escape Parcells' talk about his former tight ends. "I've heard every Bavaro-Coates story there is," Witten said.
5.
While offensive line is Parcells' biggest concern, the other big worry is at safety. There's no problem with Roy Williams. He's hitting everyone, and it won't be too long before Jerry Jones tries to lock him into a contract extension. Keith Davis is back despite being recently shot while driving his car. It's the second time in his career he's been shot.
"My father used to have an expression for things like that," Parcells said. "He said, 'Hey Parcells, it's never your fault but you are always there.'"
Davis' return is important because he's a solid safety and a valued special teams player. Without Davis, the Cowboys would have to rely on veteran safety Marcus Coleman. It's not out of the question for the Cowboys to look for a good, young safety toward the end of camp. It's one of the team's thinnest positions.
