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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 |
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.
53-Man Roster Prediction
I have a much better idea about the players on our roster after the
Denver game. I didn't really have much opinion of a bunch of guys
even after the first pre-season game. Now I can pretty much tell
you how about every player has played.
QB – Romo, Johnson, Moore
Moore looked too good in the first pre-season game not to keep
him on the roster. Bartel hasn't seen the field so I'm assuming
Moore does indeed have the advantage.
RB – Jones, Barber, Thompson
Thompson had a pretty good performance Saturday night. He
again showed us what he is and what he isn't. He will never be a
starting running back because he lacks power and agility. However,
he is the perfect guy to give four or five carries a game to in hopes
that he will break a big one. I actually don't see him getting those
carries this year though simply because I don't think you want to
take any carries away from Jones and especially Barber.
Thompson could make an impact in 08' with no Julius Jones in the
picture.
FB – Hoyte, Anderson
Hoyte is a lock for the starting spot. I didn’t see Anderson do much
in the first pre-season game, but he looked really good in the
second game. I haven't really singled him out on special teams but
he should be pretty solid there.
WR – Owens, Glenn, Crayton, Hurd, Austin, Stanback
The top four are locks. Austin contributes on special teams and
has some receiving ability so he sticks ahead of Urban. I know a lot
of people like Urban because he seems to do all the little things, but
I just don't see much potential this year. Miles Austin is frustrating
because he has so much talent yet he has struggled. I still say you
keep the talent. Stanback has a bright future ahead of him if he
keeps flashing the same ability I saw against Denver.
TE – Witten, Fasano, Bergen
I’m not jumping on the Tony Curtis bandwagon just yet. He couldn’t
even start in NFL Europe. Bergen has starting experience in the
NFL which is very attractive to me.
OT – Adams, Colombo, Marten, Free, McQuistan
These five guys make the roster no questions asked.
G – Davis, Kosier, Procter
C – Gurode
I don’t know if we can go this thin on the interior line. It depends on
if McQuistan and Free are capable of playing guard. Keeping five
tackles puts you in a weird position because most teams only keep
four. We will keep five though because that is where our good
developmental prospects are. We also have a lot less long-term
stability at tackle. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we kept Joe Berger
too though.
Total – 26
DL – Spears, Canty, Ferguson, Ratliff, Hatcher
This would be going extraordinarily short on the defensive line, but
let me explain myself. None of the guys vying for the backup nose
tackle spot seems to be good enough to actually spell Jason
Ferguson. No matter what, I see Ratliff being the guy that gives him
a breather. This means we wouldn’t even take any of the three
guys to the game . If you aren’t taking them to the game why not
just keep two or three extra lineman on the practice squad and
save the roster spot for a better player that probably would be less
likely to clear waivers. I don’t think any of the trio are good enough
to make anyone else’s team considering they can’t make our team
and we don’t even have any backup nose tackles. If anyone makes
the roster as a backup nose tackle it will be someone we pick up
from another team.
LB – Ware, Spencer, James, Ayodele, Carpenter, Burnett, Glymph,
Phillips
Do you notice a prominent name missing? I’m gonna go out on a
limb and say Ellis isn’t on the roster. I don’t know that we are going
to keep a roster spot for him if he can’t even get on the field and
practice. I’m not saying we will cut him, we might, but I could
definitely see injured reserve.
DB – Newman, Henry, Glenn, Williams, Hamlin, Watkins, Brown,
Davis, Thomas, Ball
We go long at defensive back because we like the young players.
Courtney Brown has great potential at free safety. He could bump
Pat Watkins off the roster if they like his potential better. It is hard
to keep two developmental safeties. He could take Keith Davis’s
spot, but Davis is too good on special teams. Joey Thomas is the
4th corner and Alan Ball beats out Reeves and Jones because it is
time to recycle the bottom of the CB dpeth chart. Reeves and
Jones have been around three years and they’ve been solid, but
they don’t seem to have starting potential so its time to move on.
Total - 23
K - Martin Gramatica, Nick Folk
I'm not entirely convinced we will do this. Nick Folk has to make the
team because you don't use a 6th round pick on a kicker and then
cut him after he has done everything you could ask for and much
more as a kicker. We could keep Gramatica for a month just as an
insurance policy in case Folk hiccups. This spot will most likely go
to the backup nose tackle eventually, but we don't need one right
away.
I have a much better idea about the players on our roster after the
Denver game. I didn't really have much opinion of a bunch of guys
even after the first pre-season game. Now I can pretty much tell
you how about every player has played.
QB – Romo, Johnson, Moore
Moore looked too good in the first pre-season game not to keep
him on the roster. Bartel hasn't seen the field so I'm assuming
Moore does indeed have the advantage.
RB – Jones, Barber, Thompson
Thompson had a pretty good performance Saturday night. He
again showed us what he is and what he isn't. He will never be a
starting running back because he lacks power and agility. However,
he is the perfect guy to give four or five carries a game to in hopes
that he will break a big one. I actually don't see him getting those
carries this year though simply because I don't think you want to
take any carries away from Jones and especially Barber.
Thompson could make an impact in 08' with no Julius Jones in the
picture.
FB – Hoyte, Anderson
Hoyte is a lock for the starting spot. I didn’t see Anderson do much
in the first pre-season game, but he looked really good in the
second game. I haven't really singled him out on special teams but
he should be pretty solid there.
WR – Owens, Glenn, Crayton, Hurd, Austin, Stanback
The top four are locks. Austin contributes on special teams and
has some receiving ability so he sticks ahead of Urban. I know a lot
of people like Urban because he seems to do all the little things, but
I just don't see much potential this year. Miles Austin is frustrating
because he has so much talent yet he has struggled. I still say you
keep the talent. Stanback has a bright future ahead of him if he
keeps flashing the same ability I saw against Denver.
TE – Witten, Fasano, Bergen
I’m not jumping on the Tony Curtis bandwagon just yet. He couldn’t
even start in NFL Europe. Bergen has starting experience in the
NFL which is very attractive to me.
OT – Adams, Colombo, Marten, Free, McQuistan
These five guys make the roster no questions asked.
G – Davis, Kosier, Procter
C – Gurode
I don’t know if we can go this thin on the interior line. It depends on
if McQuistan and Free are capable of playing guard. Keeping five
tackles puts you in a weird position because most teams only keep
four. We will keep five though because that is where our good
developmental prospects are. We also have a lot less long-term
stability at tackle. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we kept Joe Berger
too though.
Total – 26
DL – Spears, Canty, Ferguson, Ratliff, Hatcher
This would be going extraordinarily short on the defensive line, but
let me explain myself. None of the guys vying for the backup nose
tackle spot seems to be good enough to actually spell Jason
Ferguson. No matter what, I see Ratliff being the guy that gives him
a breather. This means we wouldn’t even take any of the three
guys to the game . If you aren’t taking them to the game why not
just keep two or three extra lineman on the practice squad and
save the roster spot for a better player that probably would be less
likely to clear waivers. I don’t think any of the trio are good enough
to make anyone else’s team considering they can’t make our team
and we don’t even have any backup nose tackles. If anyone makes
the roster as a backup nose tackle it will be someone we pick up
from another team.
LB – Ware, Spencer, James, Ayodele, Carpenter, Burnett, Glymph,
Phillips
Do you notice a prominent name missing? I’m gonna go out on a
limb and say Ellis isn’t on the roster. I don’t know that we are going
to keep a roster spot for him if he can’t even get on the field and
practice. I’m not saying we will cut him, we might, but I could
definitely see injured reserve.
DB – Newman, Henry, Glenn, Williams, Hamlin, Watkins, Brown,
Davis, Thomas, Ball
We go long at defensive back because we like the young players.
Courtney Brown has great potential at free safety. He could bump
Pat Watkins off the roster if they like his potential better. It is hard
to keep two developmental safeties. He could take Keith Davis’s
spot, but Davis is too good on special teams. Joey Thomas is the
4th corner and Alan Ball beats out Reeves and Jones because it is
time to recycle the bottom of the CB dpeth chart. Reeves and
Jones have been around three years and they’ve been solid, but
they don’t seem to have starting potential so its time to move on.
Total - 23
K - Martin Gramatica, Nick Folk
I'm not entirely convinced we will do this. Nick Folk has to make the
team because you don't use a 6th round pick on a kicker and then
cut him after he has done everything you could ask for and much
more as a kicker. We could keep Gramatica for a month just as an
insurance policy in case Folk hiccups. This spot will most likely go
to the backup nose tackle eventually, but we don't need one right
away.