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Latest News
2007 SCHEDULE
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
| Cowboy's Trivia Question of the Week! Who holds the Cowboys' single season passing yardage record? Last Week's Answer: Purdue |
Will Greg Ellis Ever Play Again?
I know you've asked yourself this question at some point over the
last few weeks. It isn't something pleasant to think about, but it is
definitely a question worth asking. Will Greg Ellis ever play again?
My answer, I don't know. I can't pretend to know the exact condition
of his leg. The team says he is fine, but Greg is worried. I'm
worried. The guy hasn't practiced in over three weeks. It doesn't
sound like he has made any serious progress over those three
weeks. The clock is ticking. He will have to start practicing before
the team uses a roster spot on him.
You have to question whether he will ever come back. He is coming
back from perhaps the toughest injury in football. He is trying to
play a position that he was just borderline athletic enough to play in
the first place. Even if he comes back chances are he will be a tad
slower and less athletic. That could be a problem when you are
looking at the least athletic linebacker in football. The guy is a
really skilled pass rusher, but you'll never confuse his athleticism
with DeMarcus Ware or even Anthony Spencer.
Ever the optimist, I have believed all spring and summer that our
pass rush problems would be mainly solved by bringing in Wade
Phillips and Anthony Spencer to go along with Ellis's return. I'm
starting to waiver on that a little bit. Ellis's return is in doubt.
Anthony Spencer didn't show much at training camp or in the first
pre-season game. Wade Phillips will help, but he can only do so
much. All this talk from Chris Canty and Marcus Spears is BS.
Good football players are good no matter what scheme they play in.
If Marcus Spears was as talented as his first round billing would
indicate he could be a star at 4-3 DE or just about anywhere you
could put him. Take DeMarcus Ware. He would be a star at 4-3
DE or OLB despite those not being ideal positions because he is
simply a great player. Now Phillips' scheme does seem better
suited to Marcus Spears and I expect to see his play improve a bit,
but he just doesn't have what it takes to play at a high level. As for
Canty, he was ideally suited for Parcells's scheme. He is more of a
physical player which is exactly what Parcells wanted while Spears
is a little more finesse which didn't make him tailor made for his
scheme.
I shudder when I think about the possibilities of our pass rush being
as bad as it was last season. If that is the case our defense won't
be an elite unit, in fact it might not even be a good unit. We aren't
going anywhere without our defense. Our offense should be really
good, but we need a complete team. I sure hope Ellis comes back
healthy. If not, maybe Anthony Spencer or Junior Glymph or
somebody can step up and get a little pressure on the QB opposite
Ware.
I know you've asked yourself this question at some point over the
last few weeks. It isn't something pleasant to think about, but it is
definitely a question worth asking. Will Greg Ellis ever play again?
My answer, I don't know. I can't pretend to know the exact condition
of his leg. The team says he is fine, but Greg is worried. I'm
worried. The guy hasn't practiced in over three weeks. It doesn't
sound like he has made any serious progress over those three
weeks. The clock is ticking. He will have to start practicing before
the team uses a roster spot on him.
You have to question whether he will ever come back. He is coming
back from perhaps the toughest injury in football. He is trying to
play a position that he was just borderline athletic enough to play in
the first place. Even if he comes back chances are he will be a tad
slower and less athletic. That could be a problem when you are
looking at the least athletic linebacker in football. The guy is a
really skilled pass rusher, but you'll never confuse his athleticism
with DeMarcus Ware or even Anthony Spencer.
Ever the optimist, I have believed all spring and summer that our
pass rush problems would be mainly solved by bringing in Wade
Phillips and Anthony Spencer to go along with Ellis's return. I'm
starting to waiver on that a little bit. Ellis's return is in doubt.
Anthony Spencer didn't show much at training camp or in the first
pre-season game. Wade Phillips will help, but he can only do so
much. All this talk from Chris Canty and Marcus Spears is BS.
Good football players are good no matter what scheme they play in.
If Marcus Spears was as talented as his first round billing would
indicate he could be a star at 4-3 DE or just about anywhere you
could put him. Take DeMarcus Ware. He would be a star at 4-3
DE or OLB despite those not being ideal positions because he is
simply a great player. Now Phillips' scheme does seem better
suited to Marcus Spears and I expect to see his play improve a bit,
but he just doesn't have what it takes to play at a high level. As for
Canty, he was ideally suited for Parcells's scheme. He is more of a
physical player which is exactly what Parcells wanted while Spears
is a little more finesse which didn't make him tailor made for his
scheme.
I shudder when I think about the possibilities of our pass rush being
as bad as it was last season. If that is the case our defense won't
be an elite unit, in fact it might not even be a good unit. We aren't
going anywhere without our defense. Our offense should be really
good, but we need a complete team. I sure hope Ellis comes back
healthy. If not, maybe Anthony Spencer or Junior Glymph or
somebody can step up and get a little pressure on the QB opposite
Ware.
Broncos. vs. Cowboys Game Notes
Wow, it is a good time to be a Cowboys fan right now. The team
looked great last night. The defense actually looked like the
defense we had been expecting from Wade Phillips. They looked
athletic and they were getting tons of penetration. Canty and
Spears actually looked like they deserve to be starters and Jason
Ferguson was disruptive.
The most exciting improvement I saw was Anthony Spencer. He was
pretty active last night. He stopped the run, got some pressure,
and he did a solid job in coverage. After last week I wondered if he
would even be a real contributor for this team. He looked lost and
he made zero plays. Now I can see him being a guy that could get
five or six sacks at least as the full-time starter in addition to being
solid in coverage and against the run.
Miles Austin struggled last night. He dropped a couple of passes
and didn't do a good job on the Romo interception. He and Hurd
really struggled against Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly. Crayton and
Owens didn't play for very long and those guys were the starting
WRs against the 1st team Denver defense for nearly a quarter.
Our offense didn't do much during that time.
Deon Anderson showed why we drafted him. He was blowing
people up last night. I've been hoping to see something from him
and I finally have.
Remi Ayodele was okay last night. He got some pentetration a few
times, but he also was driven back a few times. I still don't think any
of the three backup nose tackles are good enough to make the
team. I hate it for Jay Ratliff to because he is stuck playing out of
position. Maybe we can trade for some depth or some team will
release a decent veteran tackle.
Both running backs looked awesome last night. Julius Jones looked
fast and unusually patient. He was actually stopping and waiting for
a seam to open up before darting through it. In years past he would
have simply lowered his head into the pile and picked up no extra
yards because he doesn't have any power. This is the best I've
seen him in awhile.
Just when I got ready to say that maybe Julius Jones is the better
back Barber started to run. He was hitting the hole with authority.
The first guy had no chance of tackling him. He had two runs
including a touchdown run where at least three or fours guys has a
shot at him and they couldn't tackle him. His best run of the night
was about a 12 yard gain for a first down. He made the first two
guys miss and it took the third and fourth together to bring him
down.
Jackie Battle suffered a high ankle sprain so his pre-season is likely
over. He had a shot at the practice squad, but there is no telling
now especially now that Alonzo Coleman is back at practice.
Speaking of Coleman, he looked good. I was excited about him this
pre-season. He is easily our most elusive running back. If he could
return kicks he might challenge Thompson for a roster spot.
Kevin Burnett was a monster last night. He was in the Broncos'
backfield the entire third quarter. He was already our fastest
linebacker, but the man can fly at 227. I've heard his name
mentioned in trade rumors and I'd say he could bring us a good bit
in return because a team playing a 4-3 would be getting a young
linebacker capable of starting right away that has serious potential.
I don't know that I want to trade him though because he could have
a future with the Cowboys. He could be the Donnie Edwards in the
not so distant future if he plays the way he did last season.
Marc Colombo looked rusty. He didn't allow any sacks, but he was
beat on two or three plays in only two offensive series. I like Marc,
but he isn't playing as well at Pat McQuistan is at this point.
Leonard Davis had another good game. He isn't the second
coming of Larry Allen, but it appears that he will play well enough to
justify his big contract. The only flaw I see in his game is that he
can struggle on short yardage plays because at 6'6 he has trouble
getting under shorter defensive tackles.
Nick Folk is kicking his way onto the roster. This guy has done
everything you can ask and more. He drilled a 52-yarder right down
the middle. I know keeping a rookie kicker is a leap of faith, but we
will have to if he doesn't slip up. I like Gramatica, but this guy could
be our kicker for the next ten years. If we are worried, we could just
keep both of them for a few weeks and take Folk to the games while
we leave Gramatica in Dallas. If he doesn't slip up we could then go
ahead and cut Gramatica. Phillips says we could keep both, but I
don't think we would put both of them on the 45-man gameday
roster because both guys are basically even on kick-offs so what is
the point of having a specialist.
Ken Hamlin had a solid game. I didn't hear his name called much,
but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The only deep pass Cutler
tried was pretty well covered by the corner and Hamlin got back
there a tick late, but not bad at all.
Brad Johnson looked better last night. He frustrates you because it
seems like he doesn't throw anything over five yards. The thing is
though, five minutes later he is still throwing those five yard passes
and we are on the five yard line. He is safe with the ball which is
good, its just he is totally different than Romo, but that isn't
necessarily a bad thing. I also noticed that Brad Johnson can still
move. He is similar to Romo in that aspect. He is very hard to sack.
None of the backup cornerbacks really stood out. I guess Jacques
Reeves won the battle of the veterans because he didn't give up
any big plays. Nate Jones allowed a 90 yard TD pass. He was in
position, but he fell trying to tip the pass and the guy ran the rest of
the way. Joey Thomas made a nice play or two, but he also gave
up a 36 yard pass interference call that put the ball on the
Cowboys' five yard line.
James Marten looked decent. He was getting beat every once in
awhile, but he held his blocks long enough for Brad Johnson to get
rid of the ball.
Pat McQuistan is a great athlete. On one of Tyson Thompson's
long runs he was going stride for stride with Thompson down the
sideline and finished the play. He certainly looks the part with long
arms and a trim body and I'm betting he runs about a 4.8 judging by
that play alone. He looked like a tight end not a tackle.
Speaking of Thompson, he looked pretty good. He doesn't give you
the steady 3,4, and 5 yard gains that you need to sustain drives,
but he broke like four runs over 10 yards. He would be a perfect
guy to give 4 or 5 carries a game.
Matt Moore didn't get to do anything but hand the ball off as we
were running out the clock.
Isaiah Stanback had a good debut. He is a lot faster than I thought
he was. I saw him play at Washington and I knew he was a great
athlete for a quarterback, but I saw him as being more of a
possession receiver. He is anything but that. He separates from
corners out of his breaks much like Terrell Owens does. This guy
has great size, but he is nothing like Miles Austin or a typical big
receiver who struggle to separate at times.
Wow, it is a good time to be a Cowboys fan right now. The team
looked great last night. The defense actually looked like the
defense we had been expecting from Wade Phillips. They looked
athletic and they were getting tons of penetration. Canty and
Spears actually looked like they deserve to be starters and Jason
Ferguson was disruptive.
The most exciting improvement I saw was Anthony Spencer. He was
pretty active last night. He stopped the run, got some pressure,
and he did a solid job in coverage. After last week I wondered if he
would even be a real contributor for this team. He looked lost and
he made zero plays. Now I can see him being a guy that could get
five or six sacks at least as the full-time starter in addition to being
solid in coverage and against the run.
Miles Austin struggled last night. He dropped a couple of passes
and didn't do a good job on the Romo interception. He and Hurd
really struggled against Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly. Crayton and
Owens didn't play for very long and those guys were the starting
WRs against the 1st team Denver defense for nearly a quarter.
Our offense didn't do much during that time.
Deon Anderson showed why we drafted him. He was blowing
people up last night. I've been hoping to see something from him
and I finally have.
Remi Ayodele was okay last night. He got some pentetration a few
times, but he also was driven back a few times. I still don't think any
of the three backup nose tackles are good enough to make the
team. I hate it for Jay Ratliff to because he is stuck playing out of
position. Maybe we can trade for some depth or some team will
release a decent veteran tackle.
Both running backs looked awesome last night. Julius Jones looked
fast and unusually patient. He was actually stopping and waiting for
a seam to open up before darting through it. In years past he would
have simply lowered his head into the pile and picked up no extra
yards because he doesn't have any power. This is the best I've
seen him in awhile.
Just when I got ready to say that maybe Julius Jones is the better
back Barber started to run. He was hitting the hole with authority.
The first guy had no chance of tackling him. He had two runs
including a touchdown run where at least three or fours guys has a
shot at him and they couldn't tackle him. His best run of the night
was about a 12 yard gain for a first down. He made the first two
guys miss and it took the third and fourth together to bring him
down.
Jackie Battle suffered a high ankle sprain so his pre-season is likely
over. He had a shot at the practice squad, but there is no telling
now especially now that Alonzo Coleman is back at practice.
Speaking of Coleman, he looked good. I was excited about him this
pre-season. He is easily our most elusive running back. If he could
return kicks he might challenge Thompson for a roster spot.
Kevin Burnett was a monster last night. He was in the Broncos'
backfield the entire third quarter. He was already our fastest
linebacker, but the man can fly at 227. I've heard his name
mentioned in trade rumors and I'd say he could bring us a good bit
in return because a team playing a 4-3 would be getting a young
linebacker capable of starting right away that has serious potential.
I don't know that I want to trade him though because he could have
a future with the Cowboys. He could be the Donnie Edwards in the
not so distant future if he plays the way he did last season.
Marc Colombo looked rusty. He didn't allow any sacks, but he was
beat on two or three plays in only two offensive series. I like Marc,
but he isn't playing as well at Pat McQuistan is at this point.
Leonard Davis had another good game. He isn't the second
coming of Larry Allen, but it appears that he will play well enough to
justify his big contract. The only flaw I see in his game is that he
can struggle on short yardage plays because at 6'6 he has trouble
getting under shorter defensive tackles.
Nick Folk is kicking his way onto the roster. This guy has done
everything you can ask and more. He drilled a 52-yarder right down
the middle. I know keeping a rookie kicker is a leap of faith, but we
will have to if he doesn't slip up. I like Gramatica, but this guy could
be our kicker for the next ten years. If we are worried, we could just
keep both of them for a few weeks and take Folk to the games while
we leave Gramatica in Dallas. If he doesn't slip up we could then go
ahead and cut Gramatica. Phillips says we could keep both, but I
don't think we would put both of them on the 45-man gameday
roster because both guys are basically even on kick-offs so what is
the point of having a specialist.
Ken Hamlin had a solid game. I didn't hear his name called much,
but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The only deep pass Cutler
tried was pretty well covered by the corner and Hamlin got back
there a tick late, but not bad at all.
Brad Johnson looked better last night. He frustrates you because it
seems like he doesn't throw anything over five yards. The thing is
though, five minutes later he is still throwing those five yard passes
and we are on the five yard line. He is safe with the ball which is
good, its just he is totally different than Romo, but that isn't
necessarily a bad thing. I also noticed that Brad Johnson can still
move. He is similar to Romo in that aspect. He is very hard to sack.
None of the backup cornerbacks really stood out. I guess Jacques
Reeves won the battle of the veterans because he didn't give up
any big plays. Nate Jones allowed a 90 yard TD pass. He was in
position, but he fell trying to tip the pass and the guy ran the rest of
the way. Joey Thomas made a nice play or two, but he also gave
up a 36 yard pass interference call that put the ball on the
Cowboys' five yard line.
James Marten looked decent. He was getting beat every once in
awhile, but he held his blocks long enough for Brad Johnson to get
rid of the ball.
Pat McQuistan is a great athlete. On one of Tyson Thompson's
long runs he was going stride for stride with Thompson down the
sideline and finished the play. He certainly looks the part with long
arms and a trim body and I'm betting he runs about a 4.8 judging by
that play alone. He looked like a tight end not a tackle.
Speaking of Thompson, he looked pretty good. He doesn't give you
the steady 3,4, and 5 yard gains that you need to sustain drives,
but he broke like four runs over 10 yards. He would be a perfect
guy to give 4 or 5 carries a game.
Matt Moore didn't get to do anything but hand the ball off as we
were running out the clock.
Isaiah Stanback had a good debut. He is a lot faster than I thought
he was. I saw him play at Washington and I knew he was a great
athlete for a quarterback, but I saw him as being more of a
possession receiver. He is anything but that. He separates from
corners out of his breaks much like Terrell Owens does. This guy
has great size, but he is nothing like Miles Austin or a typical big
receiver who struggle to separate at times.