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The Cowboys Aim to Drain the Stupid Swamp

The stupid.  It burns, and it grates, and it chafes, and it frustrates.  It makes you snarl at your dog, messes with your sleep and takes the taste out of your coffee.

The 2008 Cowboys were a dumb and undisciplined football team, one which led the league in penalties.  Of course, this was not a new problem.  Look at the later Parcells years and you’ll see a team that ranked among the leaders in penalty yardage. 

Early this year I wrote a series of “autopsies” examining the offensive line, the defensive front seven and the special teams, and concluded that serious personnel changes were probably necessary if the team was going to improve, changes which would take a while to incorporate.

Four months into 2009, it is clear the Cowboys have prioritized intelligence.  Many disciplinary risks have left.  Several penalty kings have also left and others are on thin ice. 

We’ve heard of brain drains, but let’s examine the Cowboys progress at draining the swamp of stupid which has surrounded this team:

Tank Johnson — He tied for most penalties among defensive linemen, with five.  Given that he was a backup, who seemed to show up every other game or three, his departure was a small but real example of addition by subtraction.

Adam Jones — He made some plays, but he also blew a ton of assignments.  He got himself on the suspended list at a time when Terence Newman and Anthony Henry were injured. leaving the team with no veteran cornerback options in the Bucs game.  You can’t rebuild your secondary with guys this unreliable.

Roy Williams — The horsecollar penalty was created for him, yet Roy could never stop grabbing collars.  His late 4th quarter breakdowns were legendary;  one of the enduring images from the past four years is Williams surrending a long pass and then immediately pointing a finger at a teammate. 

Pat Watkins — He’s still around, but Dallas drafted two safety prospects and a handful of special team prospects, putting Penalty Pat on notice.  Watkins committed a third of the team’s special teams penalties last year.  Most of them were personal fouls.  He took three such flags in the first Eagles game.  He made just as many mental errors in the secondary.  He took an unbelievable twelve-men-on-the-field flag when he subbed himself in after a time out in the Redskins loss.  Watkins assumed Dallas was playing nickel.  The Cowboys were in their base.  Like Williams, Watkins can’t stop bad behavior.  For Roy it was horsecollars; for Pat it’s grabbing facemasks on punts. 

Terrell Owens –  He wasn’t a dumb player, or penalty-prone.  The team still felt he was disruptive and sent him away.

Some guys are solid starters or rotation guys, and will simply have to clean up their acts.  Among them:

Greg Ellis — He took a high number of off-sides penalties.  He’s not a starter anymore, so the reduction in downs will hopefully reduce his flags.

Nick Folk — He’s not in any current danger, but he knocked five kickoffs out of bounds last year.  Drafting  David Buehler should cut this number significantly.

Tony Romo — His interception percentage was actually lower last year than it was in ‘07, but Romo’s fumbles-lost almost tripled.  He needs to take much better care of the football when he leaves the pocket. 

Marion Barber — He never lost a fumble his first three years in the league.  Last year, he fumbled more often (seven times) than he did in his ‘05 through ‘07 seasons combined.  Barber lost three of them. 

The offensive line — Their 33 total penalties was a drop from their ‘05-’07 penalty rate.  That’s still a lot of flags.   Flozell Adams (13) and Marc Colombo (7) were the most frequent offenders.  We’re not likely to see a serious dip here until new linemen enter the lineup.

You can’t turn over the roster in one spring.  The Cowboys have, however, cut several of their most penalty-prone players.  That should bring a drop in overall penalties and a more competitive team.

The Cowboys Aim to Drain the Stupid Swamp

The stupid.  It burns, and it grates, and it chafes, and it frustrates.  It makes you snarl at your dog, messes with your sleep and takes the taste out of your coffee.

The 2008 Cowboys were a dumb and undisciplined football team, one which led the league in penalties.  Of course, this was not a new problem.  Look at the later Parcells years and you’ll see a team that ranked among the leaders in penalty yardage. 

Early this year I wrote a series of “autopsies” examining the offensive line, the defensive front seven and the special teams, and concluded that serious personnel changes were probably necessary if the team was going to improve, changes which would take a while to incorporate.

Four months into 2009, it is clear the Cowboys have prioritized intelligence.  Many disciplinary risks have left.  Several penalty kings have also left and others are on thin ice. 

We’ve heard of brain drains, but let’s examine the Cowboys progress at draining the swamp of stupid which has surrounded this team:

Tank Johnson — He tied for most penalties among defensive linemen, with five.  Given that he was a backup, who seemed to show up every other game or three, his departure was a small but real example of addition by subtraction.

Adam Jones — He made some plays, but he also blew a ton of assignments.  He got himself on the suspended list at a time when Terence Newman and Anthony Henry were injured. leaving the team with no veteran cornerback options in the Bucs game.  You can’t rebuild your secondary with guys this unreliable.

Roy Williams — The horsecollar penalty was created for him, yet Roy could never stop grabbing collars.  His late 4th quarter breakdowns were legendary;  one of the enduring images from the past four years is Williams surrending a long pass and then immediately pointing a finger at a teammate. 

Pat Watkins — He’s still around, but Dallas drafted two safety prospects and a handful of special team prospects, putting Penalty Pat on notice.  Watkins committed a third of the team’s special teams penalties last year.  Most of them were personal fouls.  He took three such flags in the first Eagles game.  He made just as many mental errors in the secondary.  He took an unbelievable twelve-men-on-the-field flag when he subbed himself in after a time out in the Redskins loss.  Watkins assumed Dallas was playing nickel.  The Cowboys were in their base.  Like Williams, Watkins can’t stop bad behavior.  For Roy it was horsecollars; for Pat it’s grabbing facemasks on punts. 

Terrell Owens –  He wasn’t a dumb player, or penalty-prone.  The team still felt he was disruptive and sent him away.

Some guys are solid starters or rotation guys, and will simply have to clean up their acts.  Among them:

Greg Ellis — He took a high number of off-sides penalties.  He’s not a starter anymore, so the reduction in downs will hopefully reduce his flags.

Nick Folk — He’s not in any current danger, but he knocked five kickoffs out of bounds last year.  Drafting  David Buehler should cut this number significantly.

Tony Romo — His interception percentage was actually lower last year than it was in ‘07, but Romo’s fumbles-lost almost tripled.  He needs to take much better care of the football when he leaves the pocket. 

Marion Barber — He never lost a fumble his first three years in the league.  Last year, he fumbled more often (seven times) than he did in his ‘05 through ‘07 seasons combined.  Barber lost three of them. 

The offensive line — Their 33 total penalties was a drop from their ‘05-’07 penalty rate.  That’s still a lot of flags.   Flozell Adams (13) and Marc Colombo (7) were the most frequent offenders.  We’re not likely to see a serious dip here until new linemen enter the lineup.

You can’t turn over the roster in one spring.  The Cowboys have, however, cut several of their most penalty-prone players.  That should bring a drop in overall penalties and a more competitive team.

The Cowboys Aim to Drain the Stupid Swamp

The stupid.  It burns, and it grates, and it chafes, and it frustrates.  It makes you snarl at your dog, messes with your sleep and takes the taste out of your coffee.

The 2008 Cowboys were a dumb and undisciplined football team, one which led the league in penalties.  Of course, this was not a new problem.  Look at the later Parcells years and you’ll see a team that ranked among the leaders in penalty yardage. 

Early this year I wrote a series of “autopsies” examining the offensive line, the defensive front seven and the special teams, and concluded that serious personnel changes were probably necessary if the team was going to improve, changes which would take a while to incorporate.

Four months into 2009, it is clear the Cowboys have prioritized intelligence.  Many disciplinary risks have left.  Several penalty kings have also left and others are on thin ice. 

We’ve heard of brain drains, but let’s examine the Cowboys progress at draining the swamp of stupid which has surrounded this team:

Tank Johnson — He tied for most penalties among defensive linemen, with five.  Given that he was a backup, who seemed to show up every other game or three, his departure was a small but real example of addition by subtraction.

Adam Jones — He made some plays, but he also blew a ton of assignments.  He got himself on the suspended list at a time when Terence Newman and Anthony Henry were injured. leaving the team with no veteran cornerback options in the Bucs game.  You can’t rebuild your secondary with guys this unreliable.

Roy Williams — The horsecollar penalty was created for him, yet Roy could never stop grabbing collars.  His late 4th quarter breakdowns were legendary;  one of the enduring images from the past four years is Williams surrending a long pass and then immediately pointing a finger at a teammate. 

Pat Watkins — He’s still around, but Dallas drafted two safety prospects and a handful of special team prospects, putting Penalty Pat on notice.  Watkins committed a third of the team’s special teams penalties last year.  Most of them were personal fouls.  He took three such flags in the first Eagles game.  He made just as many mental errors in the secondary.  He took an unbelievable twelve-men-on-the-field flag when he subbed himself in after a time out in the Redskins loss.  Watkins assumed Dallas was playing nickel.  The Cowboys were in their base.  Like Williams, Watkins can’t stop bad behavior.  For Roy it was horsecollars; for Pat it’s grabbing facemasks on punts. 

Terrell Owens –  He wasn’t a dumb player, or penalty-prone.  The team still felt he was disruptive and sent him away.

Some guys are solid starters or rotation guys, and will simply have to clean up their acts.  Among them:

Greg Ellis — He took a high number of off-sides penalties.  He’s not a starter anymore, so the reduction in downs will hopefully reduce his flags.

Nick Folk — He’s not in any current danger, but he knocked five kickoffs out of bounds last year.  Drafting  David Buehler should cut this number significantly.

Tony Romo — His interception percentage was actually lower last year than it was in ‘07, but Romo’s fumbles-lost almost tripled.  He needs to take much better care of the football when he leaves the pocket. 

Marion Barber — He never lost a fumble his first three years in the league.  Last year, he fumbled more often (seven times) than he did in his ‘05 through ‘07 seasons combined.  Barber lost three of them. 

The offensive line — Their 33 total penalties was a drop from their ‘05-’07 penalty rate.  That’s still a lot of flags.   Flozell Adams (13) and Marc Colombo (7) were the most frequent offenders.  We’re not likely to see a serious dip here until new linemen enter the lineup.

You can’t turn over the roster in one spring.  The Cowboys have, however, cut several of their most penalty-prone players.  That should bring a drop in overall penalties and a more competitive team.

Cowboys Grab Some Grabowski’s

I used to live in the Chicago area during the Mike Ditka coaching era -  circa 1985 -the year the Bears had the most intimidating defense I’ve ever seen. He referred to that team as Grabowskis. He also said they were ‘lunch-pail’ guys.

These Ditka-isms meant that his players weren’t flashy, they were hard working guys who came to work with a lunch box, got dirty, worked hard and got the job done. A Grabowski is a guy who isn’t afraid to spit or grab himself or cuss out another player who isn’t putting out.

Here’s a classic Ditka-ism -

“I don’t think we come in favor with some people. There are some teams that are fair-haired and some that aren’t. There are some teams named Smith and some named Grabowski. We’re Grabowskis. The Rams are a Smith team.”

Think about those players who were recently allowed to leave the Cowboys compared to the players who have been recently asked to join. We lost some Smiths and added some Grabowskis.

The free agents that have been signed? - Grabowskis. The players in the draft?- Grabowskis. Hard working, get down in the trenches, get dirt on your face, take no crap Grabowskis.

Marion the Barbarian is a Grabowski. Jay Ratliff is a Grabowski. Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick are Grabowskis.

We’ve all seen people like this throughout our own life - the scrappy guy or girl who has some talent but wins through effort and persistence. Doesn’t it seem like the neon lights at Valley Ranch have been stored away and the shop lights with the little metal hooks have replaced them?

Remember when Deion made his famous ‘business decision’ and sidestepped a tackle? Now, I would love to have another guy with Deion’s talent; and guys with special talent like that you can sometimes forgive, so I kind of understood his ‘business decision’. I didn’t like it but I understood it.

Give me a Grabowski instead of a ‘businessman’. All things considered I’m happy to have a guy who feels his ‘business decision’ is to take that runner out. A guy who may not frighten defensive coordinators with his speed but who will give alligator-arms to receivers because they know he always makes them pay for coming his way.

That’s what Grabowskis do. They don’t finesse you or impress you. They beat on you. Grabowski isn’t a name, it’s an attitude. I’m anxious to see this new attitude in the silver and blue.

Cowboys Grab Some Grabowski’s

I used to live in the Chicago area during the Mike Ditka coaching era -  circa 1985 -the year the Bears had the most intimidating defense I’ve ever seen. He referred to that team as Grabowskis. He also said they were ‘lunch-pail’ guys.

These Ditka-isms meant that his players weren’t flashy, they were hard working guys who came to work with a lunch box, got dirty, worked hard and got the job done. A Grabowski is a guy who isn’t afraid to spit or grab himself or cuss out another player who isn’t putting out.

Here’s a classic Ditka-ism -

“I don’t think we come in favor with some people. There are some teams that are fair-haired and some that aren’t. There are some teams named Smith and some named Grabowski. We’re Grabowskis. The Rams are a Smith team.”

Think about those players who were recently allowed to leave the Cowboys compared to the players who have been recently asked to join. We lost some Smiths and added some Grabowskis.

The free agents that have been signed? - Grabowskis. The players in the draft?- Grabowskis. Hard working, get down in the trenches, get dirt on your face, take no crap Grabowskis.

Marion the Barbarian is a Grabowski. Jay Ratliff is a Grabowski. Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick are Grabowskis.

We’ve all seen people like this throughout our own life - the scrappy guy or girl who has some talent but wins through effort and persistence. Doesn’t it seem like the neon lights at Valley Ranch have been stored away and the shop lights with the little metal hooks have replaced them?

Remember when Deion made his famous ‘business decision’ and sidestepped a tackle? Now, I would love to have another guy with Deion’s talent; and guys with special talent like that you can sometimes forgive, so I kind of understood his ‘business decision’. I didn’t like it but I understood it.

Give me a Grabowski instead of a ‘businessman’. All things considered I’m happy to have a guy who feels his ‘business decision’ is to take that runner out. A guy who may not frighten defensive coordinators with his speed but who will give alligator-arms to receivers because they know he always makes them pay for coming his way.

That’s what Grabowskis do. They don’t finesse you or impress you. They beat on you. Grabowski isn’t a name, it’s an attitude. I’m anxious to see this new attitude in the silver and blue.

The Valley Ranch Review: Demarcus Ware Won’t Worry and More Rookie Stuff

Todd Archer checks up on the Demarcus Ware contract situation. The all-everything OLB doesn’t sound too worried. Ware joked about the $20 million and $41 million respectively guaranteed to all-pro defenders James Harrison and Albert Haynesworth.

“I feel like it’s somewhere in there,” Ware said. “It’s not 51. It might not be 100. It’s somewhere between the two. Maybe it’s 94.”

[snip]

“I’m not frustrated because at the end of the day I know I can play,” said Ware, who led the league with 20 sacks in 2008. “Like I say, I’m a Ferrari. The only thing I do is appreciate. It’s on them to get it done.”

Todd Archer at the DMN blog on players that will be attending the upcoming rookie camp besides the draft picks.

Those without a full season will be on hand, mostly guys from last year’s practice squad. They are: tight end Rodney Hannah, center Ryan Gibbons, defensive lineman Marcus Dixon, fullback Julius Crosslin and offensive lineman Matt Spanos.

Been wondering about the backup NT, besides Junior Siavii? Maybe Marcus Dixon is in the mix.

Of the vets, I’m looking forward to seeing Dixon. Jerry Jones talked him up the last few times we spoke, saying he might be able to get in the mix as a backup nose tackle.

Will there be even more competition at inside linebacker? Coach Phillips suggested that sixth-round pick Stephen Hodge will get some looks there.

“We’ll have to see,” Phillips said. “Obviously, he hasn’t played linebacker. But he played safety and made a lot of tackles. He came up a lot and made a lot of plays and obviously was a real good safety. We see him as an inside ‘backer and we’ll just have to get a feel for if he can do both.”

Hat tip to CowboyHornedFrogs for his FanPost on Hodge.

Gilmer, Texas native, Manuel Johnson, talks to KTTB radio about being drafted by the Cowboys. Topics discussed are Jerry Jones’ explanation to him of why they didn’t draft him earlier (a focus on defense), his chances of climbing up the wide receiver depth chart in Big D, and how being picked by the Cowboys was worth waiting into the seventh-round.

It’s easy for us couch-sitters to be skeptical about every draft pick for every team. But you gotta love what being drafted means to the young men and their families. Here’s a local news story that covered draft day at the home of Cowboys rookie safety Michael Hamlin.

Jason Witten and his foundation are continuing to fight domestic violence. He recently spoke at a benefit luncheon for the Texas Advocacy Program.

Mickey Spagnola reports on the Cowboys’ allotted dollars for this year’s rookie class.

The combined first-year cap charge for those 12 players can’t exceed $4.639 million. That amount ranks 16^th in the NFL, and represents the total salary cap hit in 2009 (base salary plus prorated signing bonus) for all first-year players, which includes the rookie free agents who will officially be signed on Thursday.

The Valley Ranch Review: Demarcus Ware Won’t Worry and More Rookie Stuff

Todd Archer checks up on the Demarcus Ware contract situation. The all-everything OLB doesn’t sound too worried. Ware joked about the $20 million and $41 million respectively guaranteed to all-pro defenders James Harrison and Albert Haynesworth.

“I feel like it’s somewhere in there,” Ware said. “It’s not 51. It might not be 100. It’s somewhere between the two. Maybe it’s 94.”

[snip]

“I’m not frustrated because at the end of the day I know I can play,” said Ware, who led the league with 20 sacks in 2008. “Like I say, I’m a Ferrari. The only thing I do is appreciate. It’s on them to get it done.”

Todd Archer at the DMN blog on players that will be attending the upcoming rookie camp besides the draft picks.

Those without a full season will be on hand, mostly guys from last year’s practice squad. They are: tight end Rodney Hannah, center Ryan Gibbons, defensive lineman Marcus Dixon, fullback Julius Crosslin and offensive lineman Matt Spanos.

Been wondering about the backup NT, besides Junior Siavii? Maybe Marcus Dixon is in the mix.

Of the vets, I’m looking forward to seeing Dixon. Jerry Jones talked him up the last few times we spoke, saying he might be able to get in the mix as a backup nose tackle.

Will there be even more competition at inside linebacker? Coach Phillips suggested that sixth-round pick Stephen Hodge will get some looks there.

“We’ll have to see,” Phillips said. “Obviously, he hasn’t played linebacker. But he played safety and made a lot of tackles. He came up a lot and made a lot of plays and obviously was a real good safety. We see him as an inside ‘backer and we’ll just have to get a feel for if he can do both.”

Hat tip to CowboyHornedFrogs for his FanPost on Hodge.

Gilmer, Texas native, Manuel Johnson, talks to KTTB radio about being drafted by the Cowboys. Topics discussed are Jerry Jones’ explanation to him of why they didn’t draft him earlier (a focus on defense), his chances of climbing up the wide receiver depth chart in Big D, and how being picked by the Cowboys was worth waiting into the seventh-round.

It’s easy for us couch-sitters to be skeptical about every draft pick for every team. But you gotta love what being drafted means to the young men and their families. Here’s a local news story that covered draft day at the home of Cowboys rookie safety Michael Hamlin.

Jason Witten and his foundation are continuing to fight domestic violence. He recently spoke at a benefit luncheon for the Texas Advocacy Program.

Mickey Spagnola reports on the Cowboys’ allotted dollars for this year’s rookie class.

The combined first-year cap charge for those 12 players can’t exceed $4.639 million. That amount ranks 16^th in the NFL, and represents the total salary cap hit in 2009 (base salary plus prorated signing bonus) for all first-year players, which includes the rookie free agents who will officially be signed on Thursday.

The Valley Ranch Review: Demarcus Ware Won’t Worry and More Rookie Stuff

Todd Archer checks up on the Demarcus Ware contract situation. The all-everything OLB doesn’t sound too worried. Ware joked about the $20 million and $41 million respectively guaranteed to all-pro defenders James Harrison and Albert Haynesworth.

“I feel like it’s somewhere in there,” Ware said. “It’s not 51. It might not be 100. It’s somewhere between the two. Maybe it’s 94.”

[snip]

“I’m not frustrated because at the end of the day I know I can play,” said Ware, who led the league with 20 sacks in 2008. “Like I say, I’m a Ferrari. The only thing I do is appreciate. It’s on them to get it done.”

Todd Archer at the DMN blog on players that will be attending the upcoming rookie camp besides the draft picks.

Those without a full season will be on hand, mostly guys from last year’s practice squad. They are: tight end Rodney Hannah, center Ryan Gibbons, defensive lineman Marcus Dixon, fullback Julius Crosslin and offensive lineman Matt Spanos.

Been wondering about the backup NT, besides Junior Siavii? Maybe Marcus Dixon is in the mix.

Of the vets, I’m looking forward to seeing Dixon. Jerry Jones talked him up the last few times we spoke, saying he might be able to get in the mix as a backup nose tackle.

Will there be even more competition at inside linebacker? Coach Phillips suggested that sixth-round pick Stephen Hodge will get some looks there.

“We’ll have to see,” Phillips said. “Obviously, he hasn’t played linebacker. But he played safety and made a lot of tackles. He came up a lot and made a lot of plays and obviously was a real good safety. We see him as an inside ‘backer and we’ll just have to get a feel for if he can do both.”

Hat tip to CowboyHornedFrogs for his FanPost on Hodge.

Gilmer, Texas native, Manuel Johnson, talks to KTTB radio about being drafted by the Cowboys. Topics discussed are Jerry Jones’ explanation to him of why they didn’t draft him earlier (a focus on defense), his chances of climbing up the wide receiver depth chart in Big D, and how being picked by the Cowboys was worth waiting into the seventh-round.

It’s easy for us couch-sitters to be skeptical about every draft pick for every team. But you gotta love what being drafted means to the young men and their families. Here’s a local news story that covered draft day at the home of Cowboys rookie safety Michael Hamlin.

Jason Witten and his foundation are continuing to fight domestic violence. He recently spoke at a benefit luncheon for the Texas Advocacy Program.

Mickey Spagnola reports on the Cowboys’ allotted dollars for this year’s rookie class.

The combined first-year cap charge for those 12 players can’t exceed $4.639 million. That amount ranks 16^th in the NFL, and represents the total salary cap hit in 2009 (base salary plus prorated signing bonus) for all first-year players, which includes the rookie free agents who will officially be signed on Thursday.

Cowboys Draft Class May Devour "Camp Cupcake"

After the Cowboys’ 2008 season ended with a resounding crash, Jerry Jones made it clear that the organization would rethink it’s method of operation from the top on down. In recent years, one of the Cowboys’ most commonly scrutinized practices has been coach Wade Phillips’ laid back approach to training camp. While coach Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett have both pledged to toughen their methodology, they may not have much control over the tempo at practice. In 2009, “Camp Cupcake” will be staring down the barrel of 12 second-day draft picks, fighting for their NFL lives.

What do you get when you mix a few fringe veterans with 12 bloodthirsty rookies? Grizz has dubbed the Cowboys’ upcoming training camp Death Camp 2009. I guess you could call it NFL Deathmatch, or Survivor: Dallas. Whatever you want to call it, the competition is officially on like Donkey Kong. The Cowboys have starters in place for the most part, but everything after that is pretty much up for grabs. I seriously doubt Coach Phillips will have to do much to ratchet up the intensity at practice this year.

Other than the starters, who can relax now? Do you think Greg Ellis is lying around eating pork rinds after seeing the Cowboys select two young, athletic kids to play his position in ten picks apart? How comfortable can Pat Watkins, Alan Ball, or Courtney Brown be with three new defensive backs now in the picture? There may be guys on this roster who saw a certain name called Sunday and headed straight to the gym.

The psychology of this situation is the fascinating part. A veteran may feel disrespected because the team felt that it needed to upgrade that particular player’s position. The rookies are going to come in with an underdog mentality because they were 5th, or 6th, or 7th round picks. The veterans of course want to keep their jobs, and losing a training camp battle means more than just no longer being a Cowboy. Imagine being cut from an NFL team after being there a few years. Maybe you have a home in the area that you now have to sell. Maybe your wife loves it there, and your child likes his/her school. Maybe you’ve moved your mother to the Dallas area to be close to you, and she likes being there. Now you’ve got to pack all of that up, and move to a new city. Getting fired in the NFL means relocating your entire life. Now maybe there are some players on the roster who are ready for a fresh start elsewhere. But the guys who enjoy being a Cowboy have an awful lot to fight for.

Though the backups are the ones fighting for their lives, the intensity in practice will most likely affect the starters as well. For seasoned veterans, training camp is mostly about learning, developing rapport with new teammates, and just trying to stay healthy. For guys on the roster bubble, training camp is about trying to impress the coaching staff.

Remember, in training camp there are a lot of drills that will pit the first team offense against the second team defense and vice-versa. So what happens the first time Roy Williams catches a pass, and receives a little extra pop from some rookie cornerback who is only supposed to be wrapping up? We all know how Marion Barber deals with these type of situations, but it’s not a stretch to expect things to get a bit more chippie than usual. Even assuming the guys all keep it civil, nobody wants to get shown up by a rookie.

By injecting so much new blood into the roster, the Dallas Cowboys have created a competitive culture that might have been absent in recent years. With so many jobs on the line, this year’s training camp will almost certainly have a different feel.

Cowboys Draft Class May Devour "Camp Cupcake"

After the Cowboys’ 2008 season ended with a resounding crash, Jerry Jones made it clear that the organization would rethink it’s method of operation from the top on down. In recent years, one of the Cowboys’ most commonly scrutinized practices has been coach Wade Phillips’ laid back approach to training camp. While coach Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett have both pledged to toughen their methodology, they may not have much control over the tempo at practice. In 2009, “Camp Cupcake” will be staring down the barrel of 12 second-day draft picks, fighting for their NFL lives.

What do you get when you mix a few fringe veterans with 12 bloodthirsty rookies? Grizz has dubbed the Cowboys’ upcoming training camp Death Camp 2009. I guess you could call it NFL Deathmatch, or Survivor: Dallas. Whatever you want to call it, the competition is officially on like Donkey Kong. The Cowboys have starters in place for the most part, but everything after that is pretty much up for grabs. I seriously doubt Coach Phillips will have to do much to ratchet up the intensity at practice this year.

Other than the starters, who can relax now? Do you think Greg Ellis is lying around eating pork rinds after seeing the Cowboys select two young, athletic kids to play his position in ten picks apart? How comfortable can Pat Watkins, Alan Ball, or Courtney Brown be with three new defensive backs now in the picture? There may be guys on this roster who saw a certain name called Sunday and headed straight to the gym.

The psychology of this situation is the fascinating part. A veteran may feel disrespected because the team felt that it needed to upgrade that particular player’s position. The rookies are going to come in with an underdog mentality because they were 5th, or 6th, or 7th round picks. The veterans of course want to keep their jobs, and losing a training camp battle means more than just no longer being a Cowboy. Imagine being cut from an NFL team after being there a few years. Maybe you have a home in the area that you now have to sell. Maybe your wife loves it there, and your child likes his/her school. Maybe you’ve moved your mother to the Dallas area to be close to you, and she likes being there. Now you’ve got to pack all of that up, and move to a new city. Getting fired in the NFL means relocating your entire life. Now maybe there are some players on the roster who are ready for a fresh start elsewhere. But the guys who enjoy being a Cowboy have an awful lot to fight for.

Though the backups are the ones fighting for their lives, the intensity in practice will most likely affect the starters as well. For seasoned veterans, training camp is mostly about learning, developing rapport with new teammates, and just trying to stay healthy. For guys on the roster bubble, training camp is about trying to impress the coaching staff.

Remember, in training camp there are a lot of drills that will pit the first team offense against the second team defense and vice-versa. So what happens the first time Roy Williams catches a pass, and receives a little extra pop from some rookie cornerback who is only supposed to be wrapping up? We all know how Marion Barber deals with these type of situations, but it’s not a stretch to expect things to get a bit more chippie than usual. Even assuming the guys all keep it civil, nobody wants to get shown up by a rookie.

By injecting so much new blood into the roster, the Dallas Cowboys have created a competitive culture that might have been absent in recent years. With so many jobs on the line, this year’s training camp will almost certainly have a different feel.

Tom Orsborn over at the Express-News shot me an email alerting me to his latest story on…

Tom Orsborn over at the Express-News shot me an email alerting me to his latest story on third-round pick Jason Williams. It’s a must read. The kid certainly has confidence.

“I’m not going to say I’m definitely going to start, but I definitely feel I can come in and get the job done right away,” said Williams, who was selected in the third round. “I’m a playmaker, a great football player.”

[snip]

“I’ve been underrated for so long, I have a chip on my shoulder,” Williams said. “Nobody realizes what a great player I am. Now that I’m on a national scale, playing with the best players, everyone is going to see what a great player I am.”

The Valley Ranch Review: More Cowboys Draft Reviews and Other News

We got a “B”! Tony Moss at TSN was nice enough to take into account the Cowboys not drafting until Sunday. Here’s his analysis:

The Cowboys were the last team in the league to make their first pick, and used it on Jason Williams, the first player below the FBS level to be selected. Williams is extremely athletic but will need some polish. The same goes for Brewster, who looks like a depth guy at one of the guard slots. McGee, the first selection of the fourth round, projects as the eventual backup to Tony Romo. Butler and Brandon Williams are pure edge pass rushers who could compete to play in a situational role if things go well. Hamlin was one of the top pure strong safeties available and could also contribute early. Buehler, the first kicker selected, has a huge, erratic leg and looks like a kickoff guy. The club’s final four selections could all be long shots.

Bottom Line: No sure-fire impact players when your first pick comes in the third-round, but Dallas did a good job of adding depth to a team that needed it.

Grade: B

Adam Schein said Dallas had a solid draft, giving love to the David Buehler (yeehaw!) and Mike Mickens picks. Schein even proclaimed that Roy Williams “could end up being the single best receiver in the NFL East this year.”

More VRR after the jump, including some stuff on unheralded and unloved draft pick John Phillips, the TE from Virginia.

 

New linebacker, Victor Butler, will already have his own welcoming committee in San Antonio come training camp.

Offensive lineman, Robert Brewster, was a player the Cowboys certainly had their eye on before the draft, being both interviewed at the combine and brought into Dallas for a visit.

Brewster was a mainstay on the Cardinals’ offensive line the past four years, starting all 50 games and contributing to one of the Mid-American Conference’s most powerful offenses. The Cincinnati native, who allowed just two sacks in 2008, was a first-team All-MAC performer each of the past two seasons.

[snip]

He will participate in a Cowboys mini-camp beginning Friday. Brewster said the Cowboys plan to give him a look at guard and tackle in mini-camp.

Cowboys’ TE coach, John Garrett, may have been the main recruiting tool for Dallas’ drafting of UVA tight end John Phillips as well as the signing of UVA wide receiver Kevin Ogletree. Garrett, a former Cavalier assistant coach when both players were brought in as freshmen, provided the Cowboys’ coaching staff some perspective on Phillips and Ogletree.

Garrett remembers the Cavaliers’ first day in pads during training camp in August 2005. Virginia coach Al Groh challenged his players to make a positive impression in a kickoff-coverage drill.

“Well, John raced down there, knocked over a guy and tackled the kickoff returner inside the 20,” Garrett recalled with a laugh. “I mean, he just smashed into the wedge, and we were like, ‘Who is this guy?’

“John Phillips loves football, he loves to compete. . . . He is just sort of intangibly the consummate player that Al Groh wants in his program: a smart, tough, reliable, dependable player who loves football.”

If you don’t know much about Dallas’ special teams coach, Joe DeCamillis, Nick Eatman has a nice write-up on him. Our own Jim Vance did a profile on Joe D. a couple of weeks ago.

Here’s some guys who could’ve been Cowboys.

The Valley Ranch Review: More Cowboys Draft Reviews and Other News

We got a “B”! Tony Moss at TSN was nice enough to take into account the Cowboys not drafting until Sunday. Here’s his analysis:

The Cowboys were the last team in the league to make their first pick, and used it on Jason Williams, the first player below the FBS level to be selected. Williams is extremely athletic but will need some polish. The same goes for Brewster, who looks like a depth guy at one of the guard slots. McGee, the first selection of the fourth round, projects as the eventual backup to Tony Romo. Butler and Brandon Williams are pure edge pass rushers who could compete to play in a situational role if things go well. Hamlin was one of the top pure strong safeties available and could also contribute early. Buehler, the first kicker selected, has a huge, erratic leg and looks like a kickoff guy. The club’s final four selections could all be long shots.

Bottom Line: No sure-fire impact players when your first pick comes in the third-round, but Dallas did a good job of adding depth to a team that needed it.

Grade: B

Adam Schein said Dallas had a solid draft, giving love to the David Buehler (yeehaw!) and Mike Mickens picks. Schein even proclaimed that Roy Williams “could end up being the single best receiver in the NFL East this year.”

More VRR after the jump, including some stuff on unheralded and unloved draft pick John Phillips, the TE from Virginia.

 

New linebacker, Victor Butler, will already have his own welcoming committee in San Antonio come training camp.

Offensive lineman, Robert Brewster, was a player the Cowboys certainly had their eye on before the draft, being both interviewed at the combine and brought into Dallas for a visit.

Brewster was a mainstay on the Cardinals’ offensive line the past four years, starting all 50 games and contributing to one of the Mid-American Conference’s most powerful offenses. The Cincinnati native, who allowed just two sacks in 2008, was a first-team All-MAC performer each of the past two seasons.

[snip]

He will participate in a Cowboys mini-camp beginning Friday. Brewster said the Cowboys plan to give him a look at guard and tackle in mini-camp.

Cowboys’ TE coach, John Garrett, may have been the main recruiting tool for Dallas’ drafting of UVA tight end John Phillips as well as the signing of UVA wide receiver Kevin Ogletree. Garrett, a former Cavalier assistant coach when both players were brought in as freshmen, provided the Cowboys’ coaching staff some perspective on Phillips and Ogletree.

Garrett remembers the Cavaliers’ first day in pads during training camp in August 2005. Virginia coach Al Groh challenged his players to make a positive impression in a kickoff-coverage drill.

“Well, John raced down there, knocked over a guy and tackled the kickoff returner inside the 20,” Garrett recalled with a laugh. “I mean, he just smashed into the wedge, and we were like, ‘Who is this guy?’

“John Phillips loves football, he loves to compete. . . . He is just sort of intangibly the consummate player that Al Groh wants in his program: a smart, tough, reliable, dependable player who loves football.”

If you don’t know much about Dallas’ special teams coach, Joe DeCamillis, Nick Eatman has a nice write-up on him. Our own Jim Vance did a profile on Joe D. a couple of weeks ago.

Here’s some guys who could’ve been Cowboys.

The Cowboys Play a Penny Stock - the Case for Stephen McGee

Let’s sidestep the Mike Leach vs. Mike Sherman, Tech vs. A&M by proxy through Graham Harrell and Stephen McGee  kerfluffle and examine the wisdom of selecting a mid-round quarterback. 

The Cowboys’ pick of McGee, at a time when they have a solid veteran, suggests to me that the organization is maturing in its draft outlook, that it’s taking a longer view, rather than reflexively grabbing players to fill immediate needs.  

Quarterback is the game’s most needed position.  Look at the price the Chiefs paid for Matt Cassell and the much heftier check the Bears wrote to obtain Jay Cutler.  Given the heavy demand and meager supply, it’s surprising that more teams with sure starters don’t invest in quarterback development.

Two teams in recent years have made a habit of drafting quarterbacks, whether they needed them or not.  Both reaped handsome rewards.

Let’s look at the 1990s Ron Wolf-led Packers.  Wolf sent the franchise on its way back to prominence when he sent a 1992 first round pick to Atlanta for a second year backup named Brett Favre.  Favre quickly established himself as a top-tier QB but that did not stop Wolf from drafting a quarterback almost every year of his tenure as Packers GM. 

Look at this list of prospects:

• ‘93 — Mark Brunell, 5th round;
• ‘95 — Jay Barker, 5th round;
• ‘96 — Kyle Wachholtz, 7th round;
• ‘98 — Matt Hasselbeck, 6th round;
• ‘99 — Aaron Brooks, 4th round;

Wolf never went more than three seasons without drafting a quarterback.  Not all of them hit, but that’s not the point.   Green Bay always had a young quarterback in waiting in case Favre went down.  Because he proved to be one of the most durable quarterbacks in league history, Wolf could trade his prospects and enjoy a handsome return on his initial investment.  Consider:

• Brunell cost the Packers a 5th round pick and was traded for a 3rd and a 5th.
• Brooks cost a 4th and was dealt in a package for linebacker K.D Williams and a 3rd round pick 
• Hasselbeck was a 6th rounder and was used to help the Packers move up from 17th to 10th in the draft.  The points assigned to Hasselbeck add up to a low 2nd round pick.

This decade, the Patriots have adopted the Wolf formula and have struck it rich.  Bill Belichick took over a team that had an established vet in Drew Bledsoe, but has picked QBs in five of his ten years running the team. 

As with Green Bay, not all Belichick’s QBs developed.  Rohan Davey and Cliff Kingsbury were busts.  But the hits were enormous.  6th round pick Tom Brady’s instant superstar play let New England trade the aging Bledsoe for a 1st round pick.  7th rounder Cassell brought the 34th pick this year and could have brought more had the Patriots wanted to accept a first rounder.

If McGee develops, Dallas will have two quarterback assets, in a league where many teams have none.  Regardless of whether he hits or busts, the Cowboys should not hesitate to draft another quarterback two years down the line and every second or third year thereafter.

Because you never know when you’ll need a quarterback. In 1979 the Cowboys’ 3rd round pick came on the clock and a quarterback topped their draft board.  The team had Roger Staubach and were happy with backups Danny White and Glenn Carano.  They passed on the QB prospect and took TE Doug Cosbie instead.

Cosbie had a solid career and retired with all the Cowboys’ tight end records, but the team’s quarterback depth quickly dissipated.  Staubach surprised the team by retiring the following spring and Carano, a ‘77 2nd rounder, flamed out.  White was quite good for several years, but never got his team to a Super Bowl.

And that quarterback the Cowboys passed up?  He had a pretty good career too. 

His name is Joe Montana.

The Cowboys Play a Penny Stock - the Case for Stephen McGee

Let’s sidestep the Mike Leach vs. Mike Sherman, Tech vs. A&M by proxy through Graham Harrell and Stephen McGee  kerfluffle and examine the wisdom of selecting a mid-round quarterback. 

The Cowboys’ pick of McGee, at a time when they have a solid veteran, suggests to me that the organization is maturing in its draft outlook, that it’s taking a longer view, rather than reflexively grabbing players to fill immediate needs.  

Quarterback is the game’s most needed position.  Look at the price the Chiefs paid for Matt Cassell and the much heftier check the Bears wrote to obtain Jay Cutler.  Given the heavy demand and meager supply, it’s surprising that more teams with sure starters don’t invest in quarterback development.

Two teams in recent years have made a habit of drafting quarterbacks, whether they needed them or not.  Both reaped handsome rewards.

Let’s look at the 1990s Ron Wolf-led Packers.  Wolf sent the franchise on its way back to prominence when he sent a 1992 first round pick to Atlanta for a second year backup named Brett Favre.  Favre quickly established himself as a top-tier QB but that did not stop Wolf from drafting a quarterback almost every year of his tenure as Packers GM. 

Look at this list of prospects:

• ‘93 — Mark Brunell, 5th round;
• ‘95 — Jay Barker, 5th round;
• ‘96 — Kyle Wachholtz, 7th round;
• ‘98 — Matt Hasselbeck, 6th round;
• ‘99 — Aaron Brooks, 4th round;

Wolf never went more than three seasons without drafting a quarterback.  Not all of them hit, but that’s not the point.   Green Bay always had a young quarterback in waiting in case Favre went down.  Because he proved to be one of the most durable quarterbacks in league history, Wolf could trade his prospects and enjoy a handsome return on his initial investment.  Consider:

• Brunell cost the Packers a 5th round pick and was traded for a 3rd and a 5th.
• Brooks cost a 4th and was dealt in a package for linebacker K.D Williams and a 3rd round pick 
• Hasselbeck was a 6th rounder and was used to help the Packers move up from 17th to 10th in the draft.  The points assigned to Hasselbeck add up to a low 2nd round pick.

This decade, the Patriots have adopted the Wolf formula and have struck it rich.  Bill Belichick took over a team that had an established vet in Drew Bledsoe, but has picked QBs in five of his ten years running the team. 

As with Green Bay, not all Belichick’s QBs developed.  Rohan Davey and Cliff Kingsbury were busts.  But the hits were enormous.  6th round pick Tom Brady’s instant superstar play let New England trade the aging Bledsoe for a 1st round pick.  7th rounder Cassell brought the 34th pick this year and could have brought more had the Patriots wanted to accept a first rounder.

If McGee develops, Dallas will have two quarterback assets, in a league where many teams have none.  Regardless of whether he hits or busts, the Cowboys should not hesitate to draft another quarterback two years down the line and every second or third year thereafter.

Because you never know when you’ll need a quarterback. In 1979 the Cowboys’ 3rd round pick came on the clock and a quarterback topped their draft board.  The team had Roger Staubach and were happy with backups Danny White and Glenn Carano.  They passed on the QB prospect and took TE Doug Cosbie instead.

Cosbie had a solid career and retired with all the Cowboys’ tight end records, but the team’s quarterback depth quickly dissipated.  Staubach surprised the team by retiring the following spring and Carano, a ‘77 2nd rounder, flamed out.  White was quite good for several years, but never got his team to a Super Bowl.

And that quarterback the Cowboys passed up?  He had a pretty good career too. 

His name is Joe Montana.

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