Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
|
|
Login / Signup |
|
2005 Team Report: Dallas Cowboys
Quarterbacks
Starter: Drew Bledsoe
Starting QB: Stop me if you’ve heard this before: frustrated with his team’s offensive execution, Bill Parcells taps a former player and veteran signal caller to take over the helm. Last year that player was Vinny Testaverde. This year it’s Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe, the rocket-armed prototypical pocket passer re-teams with Bill Parcells (and WR Terry Glenn) in Dallas after a three-year stint in Buffalo. Entering his 13th season, Bledsoe takes over America’s Team ready to move up the all-time passing charts (he’s currently 10th all time in passing yards and 18th in TDs). The key for Bledsoe to succeed in Dallas will sit squarely with the offensive line. When Drew has the opportunity to stand back in the pocket, he’s still capable of picking apart opposing defenses. If not, Bledsoe can be forced into turnovers and poor decisions under pressure. The numbers don’t necessarily point to Bledsoe being a material upgrade over Testaverde, but Parcells and his coaching staff believe otherwise.
Backup QB: Backing up Bledsoe will be a pair of inexperienced young quarterbacks. Henson, the heralded Michigan QB turned baseball player turned NFL backup, certainly has the bigger cache among casual fans. Henson has all the physical tools needed to be a dominant NFL quarterback, but years away playing baseball combined with questionable decision making under pressure make him an uneasy safety valve should Bledsoe miss time due to injury. Romo, who played college ball at D1-AA Eastern Illinois, may be the better option as the team’s backup (provided the Cowboys don’t sign a veteran before camp opens). Romo lacks experience at this level, but has made good decisions and seems to be held in slightly higher esteem by Parcells and his offensive assistants. Ultimately this battle will be settled in training camp, and one shouldn’t rule out the addition of another veteran if circumstances present.
Running Backs
Starter: Julius Jones
Starting RB: Julius Jones experienced the highs and lows of the NFL experience as a rookie last year. The Cowboys selected Jones with a 2nd round draft choice in the 2004 draft, and many thought he would challenge veteran Eddie George for playing time out of the gate. But a broken shoulder blade sidelined Jones for the first half of the season. Upon recovering, Coach Parcells wasted little time in making Jones the feature back, giving him 30 carries against the vaunted Ravens defense. That started a seven-week stretch where Jones rushed for 803 yards and seven touchdowns, one of the most productive backs in the league over that span. His 4.2 yards-per-carry average was impressive considering the state of the offensive line, but it was his ability to handle the load which sets Jones up as a workhorse for 2005. Jones had at least 22 carries in all seven starts, averaging 27 carries per game. Provided Jones can continue to shoulder the load and steer clear of the injuries that befell him at times early last season, there’s every reason to believe he will be the focal point of the Cowboys rushing attack. Backup RBs: Anthony “A-Train” Thomas, the former Chicago Bears starter, will backup Jones and provide much needed depth along with rookie Marion Barber III. Thomas, when healthy, is capable of the kind of tough inside running that’s a hallmark of Bill Parcells’ most successful offensive teams. Any time you can add a former two-time 1,000-yard rusher, who also has a knack for the end zone (6+ TDs in three of four seasons), it’s a solid addition. Meanwhile Barber will battle surprising fellow rookie Tyson Thompson for backup duties. Barber, a second-generation NFL player, is a power runner who runs with good leverage. He’s an above-average receiver, and may see significant time as a 3rd down receiving option, particularly with the season-ending loss of Richie Anderson. According to several reports, Bill Parcells thinks very highly of Barber, and he could quite conceivably be an effective feature back should Jones and/or Thomas succumb to injury or falter.
Fullback: Lousaka Polite seemed unlikely to make the final roster when Richie Anderson and Darian Barnes (last year's starter) were in the mix. But then Anderson was lost for the season and, surprisingly, Polite outplayed Barnes. Barnes has since been released and Polite will be the lead blocker for Julius Jones.
Wide Receivers
Starters: Terry Glenn, Keyshawn Johnson
Starting WRs: Terry Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson return as the team's starters, only this year it's Glenn who is reunited with his former quarterback (Bledsoe). Both receivers are veterans who understand exactly what is expected of them, and when healthy they are capable of making plays. Keyshawn has arguably not had a career that justifies his status as a former first overall draft pick, but he continues to be a well-rounded and reliable contributor. Johnson will do whatever is asked, including downfield blocking, and he regained his red zone touch a year ago, catching six touchdowns. Glenn is the bigger question mark, as he returns from a foot injury that sidelined him for the final ten games of the 2004 season. The good news is that Glenn has played well as a Cowboy (15.2 yards per catch, seven touchdowns) but the bad news is that his latest injury is the fourth significant injury in his nine-year playing career. Backup WRs: The Cowboys signed Peerless Price in early September to an incentive-laden 1-year contract that could pay him $2 million. That would suggest he's got a chance to start for the team, in which case Terry Glenn would probably move to the slot. Price flourished in Buffalo as the team's WR2 but floundered as Atlanta's go-to receiver. Patrick Crayton, the 6'0", 200 lbs. 2nd year receiver has impressed coaches and observers alike with his tough play. His play made the decision to cut Quincy Morgan an easy one. Terrance Copper, who saw limited action (7 receptions, 84 yards and one TD) as a rookie is also in the mix. Copper, 5'11", is a bit of an undersized project that was viewed more as a return man than a pass catcher by most scouts. But the team took a chance on him and he's done enough to figure into the WR rotation.
Tight Ends
Starters: Jason Witten
Jason Witten was viewed as a talented tight end prospect coming out of Tennessee, but wasn’t thought to have the offensive upside of players like Jeremy Shockey and Todd Heap. Yet, last year Witten enjoyed one of the most productive seasons by a tight end in years. Witten finished second to Tony Gonzalez with 87 receptions and 980 yards. His six touchdown receptions were enough to put him 3rd among fantasy tight ends (behind Gonzalez and Antonio Gates). In any event, there’s little question Witten will remain a major cog in the Cowboys offensive game plan, and he should be considered among the top players at his position. Dan Campbell serves as the primary backup, a heady veteran and able blocker. The other tight ends currently on the roster are little more than live bodies, none should be expected to contribute significantly. Place Kicker Jose Cortez : Last year Billy Cundiff was perfect from under 40 yards, but only 9 of 15 on longer kicks. His FG percentage has been under 80% all three years in the NFL. Dallas has ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in kicker scoring each of the last six years. Undrafted FA Brett Visintainer was released due to a back injury, and the Cowboys subsequently signed Jose Cortez. Although Cortez was probably not signed as a potential replacement for Billy Cundiff; he kept pace. As fate would have it, Cortez got an opportunity to start, at least short term. Cundiff suffered a torn quad in practice on 8/20, is expected to miss six weeks, and was subsequently released. On 8/26 the Cowboys traded for Seth Marler from Jacksonville, however he failed the physical and the deal fell through. Kick and Punt Returners Kick Returners: Tyson Thompson, Terrance Copper, Aaron Glenn, Anthony Thomas, Jacques Reeves Hometown hero and rookie RB Tyson Thompson emerged from preseason as the top KR. The Cowboys released last year's leading KR, RB ReShard Lee (41 returns, 23.5 avg). WR Terrance Copper (16 returns, 19.2 avg), CB Aaron Glenn, RB Anthony Thomas, and CB Jacques Reeves (13 returns, 15.3 avg) could contribute as backups. Punt Returners: Patrick Crayton, Terence Newman, Marion Barber, Aaron Glenn, Tyson Thompson WR Patrick Crayton (4 returns, 8.5 avg) and CB Terence Newman (2 returns, 6.5 avg) did not do much with their limited opportunities in 2004, but should get more opportunities this year. Rookie RB Marion Barber enters the regular season as the third string PR. CB Aaron Glenn (4 returns, 5.5 avg) was a backup for the Texans last year. The Cowboys are one of only seven teams to not score on PRs the last three years. Bill Parcells has indicated he'll be more willing to use Newman on returns this year, since they have greater depth at CB. Offensive Line
Projected Starters: RT Torrin Tucker, RG Marco Rivera, C Andre Gurode, LG Larry Allen, LT Flozell Adams
The Cowboys offensive line is taking shape, but it remains to be seen whether it's a team strength. The right tackle position is a major question mark, although the team appears ready to turn to rookie Rob Petitti to start the season. Guard Larry Allen is nearing the end of his career but is inarguably the team's best lineman. The starting five should be solid, led by Allen, tackle Flozell Adams and guard Marco Rivera (who was brought in from Green Bay and is one of the finest guards in the game). Team Defense Bill Parcells took over as Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2003, inheriting a team that gone through three consecutive 5-11 seasons with a defense that was regularly falling in the middle of the pack. Amazingly, in one season Parcells was able to transform a unit that finished 2002 as the leagues #18 defense into the top overall unit (#3 vs. run, #1 vs. pass). The defense appeared to be set heading into '04 (considering that there were no major defections and they actually added a pass rushing defensive end in Marcellus Wiley), but Dallas took a big step back, falling to #16 overall on defense with a very mediocre #21 ranking against the pass. Predictability killed the Cowboys, and their struggles to find a RCB compliment to Terence Newman proved to be their foil. The signing of Anthony Henry should go a long way in bringing their pass defense back to respectability and with Jason Ferguson brought in to plug the middle, they should be able to build on their top 10 run defense from a year ago. The rumors about the Cowboys deploying a 3-4 defense appear to be a reality, as they are practicing it in camp. Defensive Line
Starters: DE Greg Ellis, DE Marcus Spears, DT Jason Ferguson
Starting DL: A square peg in a round hole. That's what it felt like for DE Greg Ellis a year ago as he saw a reduced role while the Cowboys tinkered with their 3-4 defensive scheme. Seemingly on his way out of town with a $500,000 roster bonus due in March, he's actually received a vote of confidence in regards to his playing time and, entering his ninth season in Dallas, he'll look to improve on the career-low 25 solo tackles that he posted in 2005. At 6'6 270 he's certainly not your typical 3-4 defensive end, but he is a steady force against both the run and as a pass rusher who rarely if ever takes a day off of work. Ellis' line mate and partner in crime is Marcus Spears. A rookie first round pick in 2005, the 6'4 294 Spears was expected to be an opening day starter, but knee/ankle/groin injuries forced him to miss much of the preseason. With his health in order, Spears started the final ten games of the season with minimal fantasy impact (19 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks). The heart of this defense, and a player who will have a major role in Dallas' ability to stop the run, is nose-tackle Jason Ferguson. A "Bill Parcells guy", Ferguson was a 7th round draft pick of Parcells in 1997 while with the New York Jets. A non-factor in the fantasy world, Ferguson's job will be to tie up blockers, opening the door to success for those around him. At 31 years of age, Jason Ferguson hasn't missed a game in four seasons and, at his best, he'll command the double-team needed to make the Cowboys 3-4 work. The Dallas Cowboys are now working on a stretch on nine consecutive seasons in which they've failed to have a player produce double-digit sacks. It's quite possible that the streak will not reach 10, with the development of 2nd year OLB DeMarcus Ware, but it's unlikely that he'll receive much help in regards to sacks from a defensive line that will predominantly run a three-man front. Backup DL: DE Kenyon Coleman opened last season as a starter in place of Marcus Spears. He has the size (6'5 284) to hold up on the end, but he hasn't shown much in terms of production through his 41 career games (29 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks). A wild-card for the Cowboys may be 2nd year DE Chris Canty. A fourth round pick a year ago, Canty suffered a detached retina in a barroom brawl, forcing his draft stock to fall and landing him on the sideline for much of the preseason action. With imposing size at 6'7 294, Canty is an intriguing prospect at both DE (3-4) and DT (4-3). Although injuries plagued him throughout his college days, he didn't miss a game during his rookie season.
Linebackers
Starters: OLB DeMarcus Ware, ILB Bradie James, ILB Akin Ayodele, OLB Al Singleton
Starting LBs: When you draw up the prototypical OLB for a 3-4 system, you look for a player who's athletic, has great speed to get around the edge on his way to the quarterback and has enough strength to hold up at the point of attack. Basically, you look for DeMarcus Ware. A classic 'tweener when the Cowboys drafted him 11th overall in 2005, Ware was a 250 pound defensive end at Troy State with the potential to either become a star or get lost in the shuffle at the NFL level, depending on the scheme that he gets drafted into. For DeMarcus Ware, he landed in a Cowboys 3-4 set that will rely on the burgeoning star as their primary source of pressure on the quarterback. He was asked of a lot as a rookie in terms of defending the run and dropping into coverage, but that should change as the Cowboys realize that his greatest value lies in chasing down opposing quarterbacks. If week 16's performance against Carolina is any indication (7 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles) Ware is on his way to becoming one of the leagues most dynamic playmakers. ILB Bradie James has been on our radar for a few years now, leaving us waiting for the day that his talent and opportunity curves would finally coincide. That day appears to have come. No longer playing in Dexter Coakley's shadow, James led the Cowboys in tackles last year (72 solos) while adding in 2.5 sacks. At 6'2 250, he has the size that Bill Parcell's covets in his linebackers and it appears that his instincts have caught up with his physical talent, leaving James to anchor the new look Dallas defense for many years to come. Once a ball boy for the Dallas Cowboys, the arrival of ILB Akin Ayodele in Big D must be a dream come true. As an outside linebacker in Jacksonville for the past four seasons, Ayodele has averaged 72 solo tackles and 2 sacks as a starter. At 6'2 246 he possesses a nice blend of size, speed and athleticism. In Dallas, he'll have to make the transition from playing in space to being in the center of the commotion, a move that should be eased with weakside responsibilities (more blitzing, less time dancing with interior linemen) in an attempt to utilize his pass-rushing skills. OLB Al Singleton rounds out the starting linebackers, although he leaves very little to get excited about. A starter for the past three seasons at SLB in Dallas, Singleton has averaged just two solo tackles per contest. He turns 31 before the season opens and landed on the IR last year, missing the final eight games with a shoulder injury, so we may see him on the hot seat if the Cowboys want to look for youth or production from the position. His only saving grace may be his consistency and intelligence. Backup LBs: OLB Kevin Burnett, the 42nd overall selection in last years draft, came to Dallas considered a terrific athlete who possessed a nice blend of size, speed and coverage abilities. He was expected to push Al Singleton for the starting SLB job, but he couldn't beat out the incumbent and was eventually relegated to reserve WLB/special teams. Injuries started to mount and in December, Burnett tore his ACL, leaving his status for the upcoming season uncertain. Ryan Fowler will provide depth inside after starting three games a year ago (including an 8 solo tackle performance during week 17). Strong at the point of attack, he's a liability in coverage. As is Scott Shanle, a spot starter/injury replacement in Dallas over the past two seasons. Solid run defenders, limited coverage skills, backup inside linebackers. Rocky Boiman was signed as a UFA from Tennessee to provide depth outside.
Defensive Backs
Starters: CB Terence Newman, CB Anthony Henry, S Roy Williams, S Keith Davis
Starting DBs: CB Terence Newman has been the model of consistency since being drafted 5th overall in 2003. Emerging as one of the leagues elite cornerbacks, Newman has averaged 63 solo tackles, four interceptions and 17 passes defended with solid run-support and aggressive man coverage. Newman has started all 48 games during his first three seasons and will return punts on occasion. On the other side, CB Anthony Henry returns for his second season in Dallas, sixth overall. A free-agent addition with a fairly hefty contract, Henry doesn't quite bring Newman's skill set to the table, but he is a big guy (6'1 207) who's solid in run-support with 20 career interceptions (including 10 as a rookie in 2001). A groin injury limited him to 12 games last year, but a healthy return will once again give Dallas one of the leagues top cornerback duos. The Cowboys made many changes to their defense last year, with Henry being one of them, and it paid off as they landed in the top 10 for overall defense, improving from 21st to 11th against the pass. What's the deal with SS Roy Williams? We all want him to be a star, including the NFLs marketing committee (his face is everywhere), but it's clear that he's not the dominating force (the next Rodney Harrison) that we expected when he filled up the box score as a rookie in 2002. As likely to make Sportscenter highlights for his devastating hits as he is for whiffing on open-field tackles and allowing TDs in coverage, Williams should be a "Man in the Box". To his credit, he remains one of the leagues top safeties who possesses the ultimate respect from his peers, but his value lies at or near the line of scrimmage, not down the field. In order for Dallas to extrude that value, they need to find a complement safety. For now, that player is FS Keith Davis. A special teams demon who won the job entering 2005, Davis started all but one game and posted just 35 solo tackles, often being replaced on passing downs in order to keep him fresh (a testament to his value on special teams). A restricted free-agent, Davis signed an offer sheet with the New Orleans Saints that was matched by Dallas. They will likely still look to upgrade the free-safety position at some point, but in bringing back Davis they have experience and exceptional special teams value. Backup DBs: CB Aaron Glenn returns for his 13th NFL season, second with the Cowboys, likely handling the #3 cornerback duties. Once considered one of the leagues top covermen, Glenn retains some value against the pass (9 interceptions, 27 passes defended over the past two years) but his lack of solo tackles makes him a fantasy non-factor. Jacques Reeves is a player who may push Glenn further down the chart. Entering his third season, the club has been pleased with his development as he learns the finer points of the position to go along with his excellent speed.
Last modified: 2006-04-15 23:31:42
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Forums |
News |
Football stats |
Login / Signup |
Contact
Us |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||