Which Cowboys Are ‘Madden-Ready?’
Posted: May 25, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
Love him or loathe him, John Madden carries a lot of influence with Pro Bowl voters. When younger Cowboys like Terence Newman were ignored last year while established vets like Larry Allen received another gilded invitation to Honolulu, I mentioned that the young bloods had not yet received the “Madden treatment.”
You know the game: first your team starts winning; then, they get lots of national TV games; if they play well in the games covered by Madden, he’ll lather the stars with hyperbole, such as “nobody has longer sweat stains down their pants, Pat than the Cowboys’ linemen. They’re the best, sweatiest, smelliest offensive line I’ve ever seen…”
Next thing you know, you’ve got three or four of those linemen sipping mai tais on the beach.
Dallas players didn’t have a chance in ‘05 because they lacked national exposure, coming off a 6-10 season. But the Cowboys are back in the spotlight after a 9-7 turnaround and the acquistion of Terrell Owens. They’ve got two Monday night games, two Sunday night games, several national Sunday games and the annual Thanksgiving Day game lined up.
With that in mind, I’m taking up reader Shane J.’s question, “when is Terence Newman going to make the Pro Bowl,” and recasting it as, “which Cowboys will get the Madden Treatment in ‘06?” Assuming the Cowboys make the playoffs, I’ll rank them as follows:
Good Bets:
Roy Williams — He’s a good player and he’s got a Pro-Bowl reputation. The second part counts almost as much as the first.
Terrell Owens — The Cowboys offense will hurt his normal stat line a bit, but now that Roy Williams is on his team, I see sixteen games of performance.
Jason Witten — His spot is contingent on Jason Fabini, but if the old guy soldifies right tackle, Witten can resume terrorizing NFC safeties and linebackers. Alge Crumpler is the only TE in the conference who can match Witten’s numbers.
Possible:
Terence Newman — he started to get some notice last year. Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman named Newman to his All-Pro team, which only goes one-deep. Some love from Madden would put Newman on the map. Newman suffers from reverse-Rodney Dangerfield-syndrome, in that NFL QBs and OCs give him too much respect. Teams avoided him in the first half of the season, preferring to test Anthony Henry. When Henry got hurt, Newman almost never saw a ball come his way. Interceptions get cornerbacks to Honolulu and Newman needs more, unless Madden and other announcers point out how much he is feared;
Anthony Henry — Henry was having the stats-heavy year and had the Pro Bowl in his sights when he pulled a groin against Arizona. Teams tested him and beat him from time to time, but Henry won most of the battles. He dominated in the Chargers and Giants wins. A sixteen game repeat could earn him his due.
Bradie James — He was a prototype inside linebacker the last half of the season. He’ll need sixteen games of linebacker goodness this time, plus some serious love from Madden. Inside linebackers do the dirty work. They don’t get sacks or picks. He can make it, but he’ll need some help.
Demarcus Ware — Eight sacks was a promising start. He’ll need to take the next step and get into double digits. Outside linebacker is a sack position in a 3-4 and if Ware posts the numbers, he’ll get a post-season vacation.
Drew Bledsoe — He had a 98 rating at midseason but cratered when his line collapsed. NFC quarterback play dropped last year. Father time put Brett Favre in a vise grip; Donovan McNabb lost T.O. and any semblance of a running game; Duante Culpepper tore up his knee and Michael Vick regressed. Bledsoe can stand out in this watered down field, but does not control his fate. The five guys in front of him do.
Long Shots:
Julius Jones — T.O.’s arrival assures Jones won’t see many eight man fronts this year. He’s had some eye-popping performances his first two seasons but needs to stay healthy. That’s far from certain.
Flozell Adams — Adams has played in two Pro Bowls but is rehabbing a torn ACL. Walter Jones and Orlando Pace have two OT spots locked up. Flo, if healthy, could snag one of the last ones.
Chris Canty — He’s got that look about him, but needs a breakout year. He’ll need some heavy production when he’s playing end in the nickel, because he won’t get many sacks playing end in the 3-4.
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I think there are four or five Cowboys that make the Pro Bowl this year barring injury…
Roy Williams
Jason Witten
Terrell Owens
Demarcus Ware
Drew Bledsoe
On a side note…
I like my Cowboys to get recognized as much as any fan, but it is a bitter sweet pill. In the salary cap era if we are interest in building a great team, it is better for the team if a player plays at a Pro Bowl level but doesn’t make the Pro Bowl. Pro Bowl appearences, whether deserved or not, always increase a players value in free agency (especially for young players).
I Like the fact that Dallas dont really get that much respect in the press ..iam not going to be naieve and say all of our skill player are better than every one in the league (although my heart says they are) i do believe that T new is one of the top 5 in the leagus..all u have to do is watch the Carolina Game when he shut dwn Steve Smith..I felt that he really got the shaft last year..i read Pete Pricksco’s article about how he thinks Adrian Wilson is better that Roy at SS!! as long as we have guys saying that we will never get full respect
Newman also suffers from the “Got Run Over By Chris Cooley Effect” because a lot of people saw that game, and most of them remember that play. T-New doesn’t get picks like Ty Law, so that becomes almost all they remember.
BrianL’s right though. If Newman makes the Pro Bowl…young Pro Bowl cornerback makes TONS of money in free agency. Hope we can keep him.
My Pro Bowl predictions
Terry Glenn/TO…one of them makes it
Witten
Roy Williams
maybe Anthony Henry or T-New
Bledsoe if the line stays healthy.
Bill Parcells
Winning will breath Probowlers.
brianl:
i forgot about that game he really did get “trucked” ..but i dont know to many CB’s who could lay a lick as a matter of fact ..i dare ne one to name a corner (not safety) who can bring the wood
Think before a game a producer has ever said, “Hey John, how ’bout we tone down the hyperbole this evening? They can’t all be the greatest ever.”
How many nonplussed, politely critical sideways glances do you think Summerall has shot Madden through their years? 10,000? A million? “Ifeane Ohaleta is the greatest safety I’ve ever seen play this game.”
Personally, I think Madden just gets excited and loves the game. I don’t really put any stock in anything he fires off the cuff. But, when he breaks down technique I tend to listen. It seems that his credence - to me - rises and falls based on how flattering he is towards my favorite players.
I don’t think anything will be granted to the Cowboys, especially on offense - except for Witten. He has a lunchpail, blue collar, good ol’ boy kind of persona, and everybody roots for that kind of player. He’s probably the 5th or 6th “best” TE in the game and not a totally household name yet, and when he performs well pundits can pat themselves on their backs for saying things like, “He’s having a great season, like I said in the beginning of the year, watch this kid blah blah blah…” Despite his 2 Pro Bowls.
I think everyone is going to be skeptical of players they love being skeptical about… Bledsoe, Witten. And they’re going to be skeptical of two people who draw attention and criticism like lightning rods, Jones and Parcells.
If things go well, you can expect the 2nd tier guys, Fasano, Julius, Glenn, MBIII to really rise in the media’s estimation. Bledsoe and TO are expected to have Pro Bowl years, anything else is a failure.
I have the feeling that our ‘Boys are gonna be the prohibitive favorite by the bookmakers (the real experts) and completely shunned by the East-coast-biased mediots.
Who do you trust?
Pro Bowlers:
Flo, Julius Jones, Bledsoe, Witten
Roy, Spears, Ware
IK (idiot kicker)
t.o. will never get fan or player votes. Neither Glenn nor t.o. will have the stats and no way any coach makes them a must have.
mikeridge78:
antone winfeild of the vikings brings the wood. No denying it.
Raf,
I am honored by the mention, but you get all the credit. It was only an idea, and a narrow one at that. You are the writer and expanded it to the point it isn’t just something to pass time.
I do think T-New gets noticed this time around. If in fact our defense holds teams down in their point average. They will in turn be playing catch up. That means that when the balls are flying, he is very rarely out of position. He had some problems the year before last with some confidence; last year showed it was an aberation. I think he, Ware, possible Roy, make it on defense. Outside shot one of the other lb’s or Henry make it. I don’t think there is anyway both corners make it whether they deserve it or not.
Offense is a different story. I understand why some of you are saying that one or both of the receivers, Bledsoe, and Witten are going to make it, but…..
If our defense does what we think it will. I see them playing the ball control style that we love and hate. With our weapons we should be able to move it consistently without relying on the big play. Not saying we won’t go for it on occasion, it just will not be our staple (ala QCarter 10-6 aberation). Long story short, this will keep the numbers down and the highlights artifically lower. I think this might send Flo and Witten but will be hard pressed to send JJ or either receiver.
My outside pick since we are just playing, how bout Green for special teams? It could happen.
Raf, I think your post does not quite get it with Madden. Madden has always struck me as liking the kinds of guys he liked coaching. He likes big, fat, strong, mean offensive linemen like Shell and Upshaw, so he loved Newton, Allen, and Williams. He coached Branch, but he always liked Biletnikoff better–a guy he could depend on to make a first down when he needed it. He liked Stabler better than Lamonica, for the same reason. He would rather have consistency on offense than flash.
On defense, he likes sure tacklers and game changers. Mostly, he likes tough players, a lot like Parcells does. Madden loved players like Villapiano and Tatum. He was not above cheating and playing dirty (or having his players cheat and play dirty), so a little dirty play just makes the player “colorful” in his eyes. He also does not care about stats as much as dependably helping the team win, and really likes to pump the guys that are not too flashy or obvious about doing it, but consistently take care of details.
Witten is a Madden player. Williams is one, too. Newman could be, if anyone would ever throw at him. Ware will be one, once Madden sees him in action enough. Spears and Canty could be, just on their toughness and dependability. Let’s see how James, Ayodele, and Carpenter play this year before deciding, but he could easily pump the linebacking corps as a unit. One of them could be a Madden guy individually, if he shows pure grit play after play.
On the other hand, Owens never will be, nor will Glenn. Fasano has a better chance to be a Madden player than either of those guys, even if he never makes all pro. Bledsoe could be if he gets up from sacks and completes winning TDs in the face of a strong rush.
What about Spears as a long-shot? I would have thought he’s got better odds than Canty. Last year was injury affected (although I guess you could say the same for Canty) and sounds like he’s in much better shape this year.
Hope Newman plays at a Pro-Bowl level again and gets his due. I respect Dr. Z’s opinion and he picked him as his All-Pro! That Cooley wiff on National TV looked pretty bad but I thought he tackled pretty well throughout the season.
i think both canty and spears should both be up there. remember canty was considered one of the top d-lineman goin into his senior year. so he is first round talent.
but my only question is how good is spears? it seems all the hype is around canty. so is spears panning out and what is special about him? just fill me in on the guy, cuz i didnt see him play alot.
Spears will be fine. He is a huge athletic DE.
Last year he was hurt. At first it looked like it was season ending. He missed a lot of training camp as a rookie. That slowed his development and helped Canty’s because he got more opportunity.
There are some similarities in the two players. Canty has a little more burst (a lot more when Spears was hurt) but Spears is more powerful and still quick enough to be a factor as a pass rusher.
Spears is ideal suited to be a 3-4 Defensive end. He is strong enough to play two gaps against most OT in the league. With healthy knee, a full off season of conditioning and a full training camp I expect to see a much improved player this season.
Does anyone else here think Bledsoe should’ve gone last year over Vick? The fact that a QB like Vick could have made the Pro Bowl last year shows what a popularity contest it is. Basically, the more we win the better our chances.
I’m not sure how much each groups votes are worth, but if all equal then remember that the players and coaches count for a good portion of the vote too. They know who’s good and who’s not more than most fans who vote do.
mikeridge78
I can 2 corners who hit harder than 90 percent of the safetys in the league
(Vikings) Antoine Winfeild and (49ers) Mike Rumph
No, he is not Madden ready but…
The following excerpt from Matt Mosley’s column today regarding Drew Henson, exactly illustrates why Dallas will not give up on him. This guy has potential written all over him. No way should the Cowboys dump him, no way you naysayers out there. Sorry to post rather than link but it is such a small clip.
“There is something to Drew Henson. We knew he had a strong arm and could be accurate, so we didn’t learn that from NFL Europe. That league is so watered down for him that it’s difficult to evaluate him on certain things, like completion percentage. However, there are certain things that are the same wherever you play. Does he respond to competition?
“On many occasions, Henson was able to rally his club back to win games. He responded well to those challenges and was successful enough to have his team 4-1 and looking like the champions before the wheels completely fell off his receiving corps. He showed he was a leader. He moves well in the pocket and gives himself time to create when things are breaking down up front.
flo, TO, Witten , R Williams, Tnew will make the pro bowl. possibly Bledsoe and BJames
oh, and probably vanderjack too
OK so when was the last time we sent 5-6 guys to the Pro Bowl? LA wa sa perrenial Bowler because of his history so that is gone. Glover was a top talent and he went as well. I think Roy still gets love because he is recognized as a game changed at his spot. Bledsoe will rise and fall, as will our season, on the O-line.
i think JJ has a good chance of making the pro bowl if he stays healthy , with his shifty-ness he’s going to make a lot of guys look bad with the exposure and the hype that surrounding us all he need is just an 1100 yard season and he’s a shoe in.
I think Canty and Spears will be improved this year, but I’m not very optimistic either will make the probowl unless they somehow have a career high game when Madden is in the Booth and get the madden treatment. Usually the 4-3 rush ends and the 3-4 rush OLB’s get the attention and the probowl votes. But a 3-4 end needs a big performance at just the right time to get noticed.
My sleeper picks for Madden treatment and for the probowl are the Guards–Rivera and Kosier. If Rivera returns to form, then he IS a well established probowler, and he will get noticed. Kosier will automatically attract some attention because he is attempting to step in to LA’a shoes at LG. If Kosier can be effective in pulling and blocking in space, then he will have some real opportunities to get noticed for his individual contributions. Plus…we all know Madden likes to comment on sweaty men that weigh more than 300lbs.
I think that only Flo is the only guy from the O-line that could make it, if he returns well from injury. Too many factors against the other guys to earn them that much respect. Don’t get me wrong, I think our line will play well, just not pro bowl well. Rivera will be better and could make the PB having more of a household name than most of the other guys, Fabini will be much better than last years RT option, obviously Johnson will be better to some degree with his improved strength. The biggest question is on Kosier. He’s definitely an impovement on mobility at the position, but it seems like we signed this guy mostly on a hunch. No one in America has heard of Kyle Kosier though, and he just won’t get the votes.