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2008 Team Report: Dallas Cowboys

Quarterbacks

Starter: Tony Romo
Backup(s): Brad Johnson, Richard Bartel

Starting QB: Tony Romo enters the 2008 season with a chip on his shoulder after an inauspicious playoff exit to the division rival New York Giants. Regardless of how the team fared at playoff time, few could argue that Romo has cemented himself as one of the league's best young passers. In his first full season as a starter, Romo threw for 4,211 yards and 36 touchdowns earning his second Pro Bowl berth. With arguably the quickest release in the league, and mobility to spare, opposing teams have trouble getting to the gunslinger. If there is one criticism worth noting, it's that Romo can be prone to turnovers (19 INTs in 2007) as he tries to force throws at times. Armed with a long-term contract, great offensive coaches and a solid offensive line, Romo should remain among the NFC's best passers for the foreseeable future.

Backup QB: Brad Johnson returns for a 17th NFL season and his second as a Dallas Cowboy. The almost 40-year-old brings a steady veteran presence to the locker room and, at this point in his career, is essentially like a second position coach for Tony Romo. Johnson is only two seasons removed from being a starter and has completed no fewer than 60 percent of his passes every season since 1995. While Johnson would be a dramatic step back from Tony Romo, he could steady the ship in a conservative, run-oriented attack. The QB3 situation remains in flux, with second-year Richard Bartel the only other quarterback on the roster.

Running Backs

Starter: Marion Barber III
Backup(s): Felix Jones [R], Tashard Choice [R]
Fullback(s): Deon Anderson, Ronnie Cruz

Starting RB: The time has arrived. After having to split carries with Julius Jones despite significantly outperforming him for the last few seasons, Marion Barber is set to lead Dallas' potent rushing attack in 2008. In May, Barber came to terms on a seven-year, $45 million deal, with $16 million guaranteed, so he is entrenched in Dallas. Barber earned his first Pro Bowl nod last year while rushing for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns despite splitting time with Jones. He runs with power and has a low center of gravity, helping him emerge as one of the NFL's best short-yardage and goal-line options. Always a capable receiver, Barber became an important part of the passing game last season, catching 44 receptions for 282 yards. The great news for fantasy owners is that Barber is already a top-10 fantasy back despite never having eclipsed 204 carries. Even if Barber amasses only 250 carries this season, he could be looking at 1,200 yards rushing and 12-15 touchdowns.

Backup RBs: Backing up Barber will be a pair of rookies: Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Jones, the 22nd overall pick out of Arkansas, is likely to see significant playing time as a complement to Barber. Jones is a 5-foot-10 207-pound speedster capable of hitting the home run. He is said to be a favorite of owner Jerry Jones, a fellow Razorback alum. Jones will add an explosive dynamic to the running game that Julius Jones could not. Choice, a fourth-rounder, is also 5-foot-10 but is bulkier at 217 pounds, and runs with more power. While Choice lacks the explosiveness and overall elusiveness of Jones, he is a well-rounded back who can get yards after contact. Either way, the backfield is arguably deeper and more talented than it's been in years.

Fullback: Deon Anderson emerged from a trio of fullbacks last year and is now the team's lead-blocking back. Ronnie Cruz, a backup in Kansas City, will serve as a special teamer and Anderson's backup.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton
Backups: Sam Hurd, Terry Glenn, Isaiah Stanback, Miles Austin

Starting WRs: The Cowboys have a future Hall of Famer atop the WR depth chart but there are question marks beyond that. The sure thing is, of course, Terrell Owens who remains one of the NFL's best-conditioned and effective wide receivers. Owens had one of his best seasons last year catching 81 passes for 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns. Despite turning 34 years old in December, Owens averaged a career-best 16.7 yards per catch last season. Owens has scored 10 or more TDs in seven seasons including his two years as a Cowboy. Barring injury, Owens should once again be the linchpin of the Cowboys potent passing attack and serve as an elite fantasy option. The other starting spot will be finalized in training camp; for now, it looks like Patrick Crayton is the most likely to start opposite Owens. Crayton started 13 games last season in place of Terry Glenn and caught 50 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. It's unclear whether Crayton has the skill set to emerge as an impact starter and could be better suited as the team's slot receiver. Though the only way Crayton plays the slot is if Terry Glenn makes a surprising return or the Cowboys find a way to pry someone from another roster in the coming months.

Backup WRs: The Cowboys surprisingly passed on drafting a receiver despite depth concerns. Terry Glenn is the X-factor. Jerry Jones labeled Glenn a "50-50" shot to return from two knee surgeries that limited him to one game in 2007. Without him, the team desperately needs one of its inexperienced backups to emerge. Sam Hurd has actually started four games in the last two seasons making him the odds-on favorite to play the slot position (assuming Patrick Crayton remains a starter). Hurd knows the offense, has improved his route-running and is sure-handed. The most intriguing option is Miles Austin, a third-year player out of tiny Monmouth University. He hasn't caught a regular season pass but has the best combination of size (6'3", 215 pounds) and speed of the bunch. Isaiah Stanback is a converted QB who probably won't see much time on offense -- at least not in 2008.

Tight Ends

Starters: Jason Witten
Backups: Martellus Bennett [R], Tony Curtis

Jason Witten was already one of the NFL's best all-purpose tight ends before last season's monster 96-catch, seven-touchdown season. Witten's 1,145 yards rank as the 11th-best total for a TE in NFL history. He led all NFL tight ends with 390 yards after the catch. In addition to being an offensive force, Witten is excellent in both run and pass protection. The Cowboys use multiple-TE sets quite often, so we can expect both Tony Curtis and Martellus Bennett to see the field. Bennett was the Cowboys second round draft choice this year and will be asked to step into Miami-bound Anthony Fasano's role this year.

Place Kicker

Nick Folk : During their 90's dynasty years, the Cowboys ranked in the top six in kicker scoring for eight consecutive years. After that, they ranked in the bottom half each for the next seven years. In 2006 they finally returned to the upper half, ranking 14th in kicker scoring, and then vaulted to 4th last year. Last year's 131 points came off the rookie foot of Folk. When drafted it was assumed by many that he might serve as a kickoff specialist, but he proved more than capable as a placekicker. He made 26 of 31 (83.9%) field goals and was perfect on all 53 PAT attempts. Although he missed several long field goals, he also made some, with a long of 53 yards.

Kick and Punt Returners

Kick Returners: Miles Austin; Felix Jones; Mike Jenkins; Adam Pacman Jones; Nate Jones; Isaiah Stanback; Danny Amendola

WR Miles Austin took over part way through 2006 and averaged 26.0 yards. He also scored a TD in the Wild Card game at Seattle. Last year he averaged 25.5 yards on 24 returns. He'll face competition this year from a pair of first round draft picks. RB Felix Jones averaged 29.6 yards (4th in the nation) and scored twice for Arkansas last year. CB Mike Jenkins averaged 26.7 yards and scored once for South Florida last year. Although Adam Pacman Jones eventually handled just punt returns when he was with the Tennesee, he is also a very capable kickoff returner. He returned kickoffs in college, and led the Titans during his rookie season. The potential backups include DB Nate Jones (6 returns, 20.3 avg.) and WR Isaiah Stanback (3 returns, 26.0 avg.). The dark horse candidate is undrafted free agent WR Danny Amendola, whom everyone likes to compare to Wes Welker.

Punt Returners: Adam Pacman Jones; Patrick Crayton; Terence Newman; Danny Amendola

WR Patrick Crayton led the Cowboys in punt returns in 2005, despite missing five games due to injury, while CB Terence Newman was the primary backup. In 2006 they reversed roles. Newman led the team (20 returns, 10.1 avg., 1 TD), while Crayton was second (11 returns, 7.7 avg.). Last year Crayton was the leader (22 returns, 9.1 avg.), while Newman missed some time due to injury (4 returns, 6.5 avg.). The Crayton/Newman tandem could become a moot point this year, depending on if/when Pacman Jones is reinstated and if/when he is anywhere close to the player he was before. He was one of the top punt returners in the league prior to his suspension, averaging 12.9 yards and scoring three times in 2006. Jones was the 6th ranked fantasy returner in 2005 and 3rd in 2006. Danny Amendola averaged 11.1 yards on punt returns and scored once during his college career. Dallas left plenty of room for improvement as they ranked 31st in fantasy returning last year.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: LT Flozell Adams, LG Kyle Kosier, C Andre Gurode, RG Leonard Davis, RT Marc Colombo
Key Backups: Doug Free, James Marten, Joe Berger, Cory Procter

Commentary coming soon.

Team Defense

The Cowboys finished just inside the top 12 in most fantasy leagues last season as new head coach Wade Phillips installed a more aggressive style of 3-4. Led by OLB DeMarcus Ware, the Cowboys had the third most sacks in the league (46) and were top 10 in yardage allowed. Veteran LB Zach Thomas is a key addition to the front seven. If he can avoid the migraines, back and leg problems that have plagued him in recent seasons, Thomas will bring an element of speed to the front seven that the team hasn't had since Dat Nguyen left. With Thomas helping Bradie James inside against the run, the Cowboys may be able to force more passing situations making offenses deal with Ware, Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer more often. The Cowboys also added talent at the corner position by trading for Pacman Jones then drafting one of the best cover corners available in first-round pick Mike Jenkins. If reinstated, Pacman will make an immediate impact. Jenkins will have some growing pains, but fits the big-play nature of the Dallas secondary well. Depending on your scoring system, the Cowboys are the classic risk-reward pick. The pass-rush skill of Ware and the big-play secondary give them top-five upside, but you may have to deal with a few poor games along the way.

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Marcus Spears, DE Chris Canty, NT Jay Ratliff
Backups: NT Tank Johnson, DE Jason Hatcher, DE Stephen Bowen, DE Marcus Dixon

Starting DL: Spears and Canty will return for another season as the starter defensive end tandem. Canty improved his production in the more aggressive 3-4 that Wade Phillips brought with him last season. Spears did not, and found himself losing snaps to Jason Hatcher. Expect more of the same this season. Canty, in a a contract year, could be motivated to have a better statistical season. More likely, the three man rotation will strive to take up blockers and pressure when they can. Ratliff played impressively at nose tackle despite his small size last year and continued to take the majority of the snaps when Tank Johnson joined the active roster later in the season. Ratliff will remain the starter, but the team would probably like Johnson to take a heavier load in the rotation this year.

Backup DL: Hatcher has shown flashes of impressive pass rushing skill for his size and should continue to play a major role on passing downs and in rotation, playing inside when the Cowboys use the 4-2-5 nickel package and end on base downs. Bowen will fill a similar, but smaller, role. Johnson should push for more snaps at nose tackle this season, after a full offseason to learn the ropes of Phillips' defensive scheme.

Linebackers

Starters: RILB Zach Thomas, LILB Bradie James, ROLB Demarcus Ware, LOLB Greg Ellis
Backups: S/ILB Kevin Burnett, SLB Anthony Spencer, S/ILB Bobby Carpenter

Starting LBs: Ware had the best season of his career in 2007, with 60 solos and 14 sacks in Wade Phillips' more aggressive 3-4 scheme. He'll continue to be moved around the front seven to take advantage of mismatches across the offensive line. He's a near lock to finish among the top five sackers in the league again in 2008. The other OLB spot currently belongs to Greg Ellis, who remained an effective pass rusher after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury in 2006. Ellis will be pushed by second year player Anthony Spencer, however, and was upset about the lack of practice reps he was getting in the team's post-draft OTAs. The inside linebacker positions will be manned by Zach Thomas, who the Cowboys signed shortly after the Dolphins released him this offseason, and Bradie James. Thomas will fit nicely into the weak side ILB role and should be productive if he can stay off the injury report. James is a solid veteran and will round out what could be one of the best linebacking groups in the league if all goes to plan.

Backup LBs: Spencer will push for still more playing time this year and could force Ellis into a marginal role if the early raves about his play in OTAs transfer are echoed in training camp and through the preseason. Like Ellis, Spencer has the ability to provide the all-around play the Cowboys desire from their strong outside backer. Burnett is a valuable backup, frequently contributing in the nickel and dime packages and on special teams. He'll step right in should Thomas falter due to age or injury as the primary ILB backup with Akin Ayodele now in Miami. Carpenter has yet to establish himself in Dallas in either version of the 3-4. He's taken reps both inside and outside as a Cowboy, but projects as deep depth and special teams help only again this year.

Defensive Backs

Starters: SS Roy Williams, FS Ken Hamlin, CB Terence Newman, CB Anthony Henry
Backups: FS Pat Watkins, CB Mike Jenkins [R], CB Evan Oglesby, CB Pacman Jones (susp)

Starting DBs: The Cowboys enter the summer with a number of questions in the secondary. Safety Roy Williams has been the focus of multiple concerns this offseason. The team noted his inconsistent play in coverage last season and suggested that he might sit on passing downs, which prompted a slew of stories about Williams being released or traded and his not being comfortable in the defense. Some of those concerns died down after the early OTAs, but Williams is no longer entrenched as an every down strong safety. The status of Pacman Jones, who the Cowboys acquired in an April trade, also remained unclear as the summer began. Jones would very likely bump starting corner Anthony Henry into a swing third corner/FS type role if re-instated and would be the Cowboys' best cornerback if he returned to his 2006 form. Henry will also have to hold off rookie first round pick Mike Jenkins for snaps. Hamlin will return as a roving, big play making free safety alongside veteran corner Terence Newman, who should be safe at one corner role whether Jones and Jenkins are in camp on time or not.

Backup DBs: Jenkins, one of the team's first round picks this season, will push for playing time immediately. A premier man cover corner prospect, Jenkins will challenge veteran corner Anthony Henry, especially if Pacman Jones isn't re-instated for the 2008 season. Watkins is projected as the primary backup at safety right now, but the Cowboys would strongly consider moving Henry to safety should one of the starters need to be replaced.

Last modified: 2008-06-23 04:43:23