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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 is the oldest player on the Cowboys' roster? Last Week's Answer: Danny White |
Never To Early To Look Ahead
I forgot the flash drive with my game notes on it so I will have to post
those tomorrow. In the mean time, I figured it would be a great time
to look ahead to the off-season. It is early, but I'm as addicted to
that part of the season as this part. I guess it is because that is the
season of hope. Usually during the season there isn't as much
hope for us Cowboys fans. That obviously isn't the case this
season, but I still love thinking about the off-season.
We have a lot of guys becoming free agents this off-season. We
probably want to re-sign all of them, and we probably have the
money to do so, but I see us letting guys go we don't deem
absolutely necessary so we won't be to strapped for cash. I
wouldn't expect any free agent signings as we need to lock up our
own guys. Don't fret though, that is the sign of a good team. If you
have outstanding drafts year in and year out, you rarely need to
sign one player. Free agency is for acquiring one or two pieces of
the puzzle. If you try to build your team through free agency you will
run out of money fast.
Here is a list of our unrestricted free agents that currently
start:
Julius Jones
Patrick Crayton
Flozell Adams
Ken Hamlin
I'm positive Julius Jones is in his last year with us. He is solid, but
he would cost too much. Some team really needing a starting
runner will give him good money. He isn't even the best back on
our team so we will simply let him go and draft a guy in the first half
of the draft that can take some of the load off Marion Barber. This
is one reason I don't mind us running Jones as much as we are.
Keep the wear and tear off Barber because we are going to need
him next season.
Patrick Crayton probably won't be back next season. If Terry Glenn
retires, we will re-sign him, but I can't see us paying a 3rd receiver
big money. He isn't great, but like Jones, some team will give him a
pretty sizeable chunk of change to start for them. I would like to
have him back, but I don't know that he is special enough to warrant
giving a big contract.
Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin are toss ups. We would love to
re-sign them, but it depends on what their asking price is. We will
have the money to sign them, but Jerry isn't going to overpay. If we
can Flozell to a deal similar to his last one (5 yrs/25 mil) I would pull
the trigger. He might not could make it five years, but most
veterans don't ever see the last year or two of their contracts. We
have some young talent at left tackle, but I'd hate not to keep the
dominate line we have this season intact for years to come.
Ken Hamlin has done a really good job this year. I couldn't be more
impressed with a guy that only signed a one year deal. The
problem is he might be playing his way out of Dallas. Deon Grant
got a 6 yr/30 mil contract last off-season. I'd say they are in the
same league. Again, we could afford to pay him that, but I don't
know that we would want to.
My guess is we will re-sign Flozell and Hamlin. I wouldn't bet much
money on it though. I also wish we could re-sign Crayton if
possible. He would be making a lot for a 3rd receiver, but he'd be
nice to have in a couple of years because the long-term future of
Glenn and Owens is in doubt.
We have some quality restricted free agents, but you always re-sign
these guys. The list includes Marion Barber, Jay Ratliff, and Chris
Canty. We may put a pretty high tender on Barber, but that isn't
really that big of a deal. I'd put the 1st & 3rd tender on him for a
little under two million. That is still a bargain for a starting running
back, and you don't have to worry about another team offering him
a huge contract.
The Draft
Well, so much for us having the 1st overall pick. The way
Cleveland is playing they have a shot at making the play-offs. We
will likely have a mid-first round pick and one late in the round.
Here is my early mock draft. Focus more on the positions I think we
need more than the positions as I don't know much about the
prospects just yet.
1a - CB Mike Jenkins 6'0 200 4.50 South Florida
Cornerback is our biggest cause for concern. Jacques Reeves is
decent, but he isn't starting material. Anthony Henry is aging and
he can't seem to stay healthy. Bringing in another top flight corner
gives us options in the secondary. Anthony Henry will finish his
career at safety, and he could do that with us if we find another
cornerback.
1b - WR Harry Douglas 5'11 170 4.35 Louisville
This guy is a true depth threat and Brian Brohm's go to guy. He is
a great combination of potential and productivity. We need a down
the field threat for the future to complement the possession ability
of Jason Witten.
2 - RB Allen Patrick 6'1 197 4.40 Oklahoma
Patrick has great speed and quickness and would seem to be the
perfect compliment to Marion Barber. It is questionable whether he
could take the pounding in the NFL, but that wouldn't matter in
Dallas. We don't need to take a runner this high, but I don't see
any glaring needs.
3 - NT B.J. Raji 6'1 340 5.25 Boston College
Tank Johnson gives us three good players at nose tackle next
season. The problem is his future as well as Jason Ferguson's is
questionable. If Tank Johnson looks to be the nose tackle of the
future or if Ferguson really comes on strong, scratch this pick for
maybe another defensive end prospect. We can always rely on Jay
Ratliff as we obviously had a lot better depth than anyone thought
at nose tackle. Still though, I'd like to have him start ahead of
Marcus Spears next season.
4 - C Kory Lichtensteiger 6'3 300 Bowling Green
We have tons of young depth at tackle, but we are a bit thin at
center and guard. Again, this isn't a glaring weakness, but we don't
have any. Lichtensteiger looks like a guy that could be a good
backup at center and guard.
5 - QB Matt Flynn 6'3 225 4.60 LSU
We need to start developing another quarterback. Romo is the
only quarterback we have that will be around two years from now.
6 - S Tony Joiner 5'11 218 4.60 Florida
7 - CB John Wilhite 5'11 185 4.50 Auburn
I forgot the flash drive with my game notes on it so I will have to post
those tomorrow. In the mean time, I figured it would be a great time
to look ahead to the off-season. It is early, but I'm as addicted to
that part of the season as this part. I guess it is because that is the
season of hope. Usually during the season there isn't as much
hope for us Cowboys fans. That obviously isn't the case this
season, but I still love thinking about the off-season.
We have a lot of guys becoming free agents this off-season. We
probably want to re-sign all of them, and we probably have the
money to do so, but I see us letting guys go we don't deem
absolutely necessary so we won't be to strapped for cash. I
wouldn't expect any free agent signings as we need to lock up our
own guys. Don't fret though, that is the sign of a good team. If you
have outstanding drafts year in and year out, you rarely need to
sign one player. Free agency is for acquiring one or two pieces of
the puzzle. If you try to build your team through free agency you will
run out of money fast.
Here is a list of our unrestricted free agents that currently
start:
Julius Jones
Patrick Crayton
Flozell Adams
Ken Hamlin
I'm positive Julius Jones is in his last year with us. He is solid, but
he would cost too much. Some team really needing a starting
runner will give him good money. He isn't even the best back on
our team so we will simply let him go and draft a guy in the first half
of the draft that can take some of the load off Marion Barber. This
is one reason I don't mind us running Jones as much as we are.
Keep the wear and tear off Barber because we are going to need
him next season.
Patrick Crayton probably won't be back next season. If Terry Glenn
retires, we will re-sign him, but I can't see us paying a 3rd receiver
big money. He isn't great, but like Jones, some team will give him a
pretty sizeable chunk of change to start for them. I would like to
have him back, but I don't know that he is special enough to warrant
giving a big contract.
Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin are toss ups. We would love to
re-sign them, but it depends on what their asking price is. We will
have the money to sign them, but Jerry isn't going to overpay. If we
can Flozell to a deal similar to his last one (5 yrs/25 mil) I would pull
the trigger. He might not could make it five years, but most
veterans don't ever see the last year or two of their contracts. We
have some young talent at left tackle, but I'd hate not to keep the
dominate line we have this season intact for years to come.
Ken Hamlin has done a really good job this year. I couldn't be more
impressed with a guy that only signed a one year deal. The
problem is he might be playing his way out of Dallas. Deon Grant
got a 6 yr/30 mil contract last off-season. I'd say they are in the
same league. Again, we could afford to pay him that, but I don't
know that we would want to.
My guess is we will re-sign Flozell and Hamlin. I wouldn't bet much
money on it though. I also wish we could re-sign Crayton if
possible. He would be making a lot for a 3rd receiver, but he'd be
nice to have in a couple of years because the long-term future of
Glenn and Owens is in doubt.
We have some quality restricted free agents, but you always re-sign
these guys. The list includes Marion Barber, Jay Ratliff, and Chris
Canty. We may put a pretty high tender on Barber, but that isn't
really that big of a deal. I'd put the 1st & 3rd tender on him for a
little under two million. That is still a bargain for a starting running
back, and you don't have to worry about another team offering him
a huge contract.
The Draft
Well, so much for us having the 1st overall pick. The way
Cleveland is playing they have a shot at making the play-offs. We
will likely have a mid-first round pick and one late in the round.
Here is my early mock draft. Focus more on the positions I think we
need more than the positions as I don't know much about the
prospects just yet.
1a - CB Mike Jenkins 6'0 200 4.50 South Florida
Cornerback is our biggest cause for concern. Jacques Reeves is
decent, but he isn't starting material. Anthony Henry is aging and
he can't seem to stay healthy. Bringing in another top flight corner
gives us options in the secondary. Anthony Henry will finish his
career at safety, and he could do that with us if we find another
cornerback.
1b - WR Harry Douglas 5'11 170 4.35 Louisville
This guy is a true depth threat and Brian Brohm's go to guy. He is
a great combination of potential and productivity. We need a down
the field threat for the future to complement the possession ability
of Jason Witten.
2 - RB Allen Patrick 6'1 197 4.40 Oklahoma
Patrick has great speed and quickness and would seem to be the
perfect compliment to Marion Barber. It is questionable whether he
could take the pounding in the NFL, but that wouldn't matter in
Dallas. We don't need to take a runner this high, but I don't see
any glaring needs.
3 - NT B.J. Raji 6'1 340 5.25 Boston College
Tank Johnson gives us three good players at nose tackle next
season. The problem is his future as well as Jason Ferguson's is
questionable. If Tank Johnson looks to be the nose tackle of the
future or if Ferguson really comes on strong, scratch this pick for
maybe another defensive end prospect. We can always rely on Jay
Ratliff as we obviously had a lot better depth than anyone thought
at nose tackle. Still though, I'd like to have him start ahead of
Marcus Spears next season.
4 - C Kory Lichtensteiger 6'3 300 Bowling Green
We have tons of young depth at tackle, but we are a bit thin at
center and guard. Again, this isn't a glaring weakness, but we don't
have any. Lichtensteiger looks like a guy that could be a good
backup at center and guard.
5 - QB Matt Flynn 6'3 225 4.60 LSU
We need to start developing another quarterback. Romo is the
only quarterback we have that will be around two years from now.
6 - S Tony Joiner 5'11 218 4.60 Florida
7 - CB John Wilhite 5'11 185 4.50 Auburn
Cowboys/Eagle Game Notes
That was another impressive performance. We have a tough
stretch of games ahead, but we will win every one of them if we play
anywhere near as good as we did Sunday. The Giants will be
tough, but they can’t beat us if we play up to our ability.
I really hope we re-sign Flozell Adams. His false starts are
annoying, but how many left tackles can completely manhandle
Trent Cole one-on-one. He is also one of the best run blocking left
tackles in the game. He is too old to give a huge contract to, but if
we can sign him to a three or four year deal for about twenty million
we should.
Bradie James should go to the Pro Bowl. He recovered a fumble,
blew up a screen to Westbrook, and stopped Westbrook cold in the
hole on two short yardage situations.
Terrell Owens had a huge game. I don’t know why the Eagles
weren’t concentrating on him more. One thing we did was put him
in the slot more. That gives him two options on his release and it
makes him much more difficult to double team. The problem with
that is it takes away from Patrick Crayton’s strength which is the
slot. Still though I’d rather have a dynamic Owens than an effective
Crayton out of the slot.
The secondary really stepped up last night. They completed a few
early passes against Reeves, but Henry quickly came in and the
passing lanes dried up. Hamlin and Henry both had interceptions,
and Newman should have had a pick six late in the fourth quarter.
McNabb had time to throw at times last night, but he couldn’t find
anyone. This defense has looked dominant the past five weeks
except for the letdown against the Patriots.
Jason Witten wasn’t thrown to many times, but he made it count
when he was. He had the helmet-less 52 yard catch and run and
the beautiful 20 yard TD. That was the most beautiful throw and
catch I’ve seen this season.
Was any one else impressed with Tony Curtis’s TD catch? He
looked like a basketball player going up and getting a rebound. I
don’t even know that Witten could have made that catch because
that was a play a receiver will struggle to make.
Marcus Spears showed a little something in this game. He forced
the fumble and reeked havoc in the backfield on another play.
Greg Ellis has been amazing. His presence has meant an extra
sack a game. He has 5.5 sacks in only three starts.
It sucks to see Deon Anderson got hurt. He had started to play
really well. He isn’t a dominating blocker, but he usually gets his
guy out of the play. He is also a good receiver out of the backfield.
We need to get Oliver Hoyte back.
I like how our passing attack is starting to be more of an
underneath game. Early in the season and late last season we
attacked down the field. That seems to be Romo’s strength.
However, the last few games we have really been killing teams with
dump-offs to the backs. Jones and Barber are racking up the
receiving yards. It is good to see Romo can adapt without his deep
threat in there and move to more of an underneath passing game.
I’m happy to get Tank Johnson. I don’t know how much he will play
though. He isn’t as good as Jay Ratliff, but we may put him in more
in the base defense so we can save Ratliff and his pass rushing on
the nickel.
That was another impressive performance. We have a tough
stretch of games ahead, but we will win every one of them if we play
anywhere near as good as we did Sunday. The Giants will be
tough, but they can’t beat us if we play up to our ability.
I really hope we re-sign Flozell Adams. His false starts are
annoying, but how many left tackles can completely manhandle
Trent Cole one-on-one. He is also one of the best run blocking left
tackles in the game. He is too old to give a huge contract to, but if
we can sign him to a three or four year deal for about twenty million
we should.
Bradie James should go to the Pro Bowl. He recovered a fumble,
blew up a screen to Westbrook, and stopped Westbrook cold in the
hole on two short yardage situations.
Terrell Owens had a huge game. I don’t know why the Eagles
weren’t concentrating on him more. One thing we did was put him
in the slot more. That gives him two options on his release and it
makes him much more difficult to double team. The problem with
that is it takes away from Patrick Crayton’s strength which is the
slot. Still though I’d rather have a dynamic Owens than an effective
Crayton out of the slot.
The secondary really stepped up last night. They completed a few
early passes against Reeves, but Henry quickly came in and the
passing lanes dried up. Hamlin and Henry both had interceptions,
and Newman should have had a pick six late in the fourth quarter.
McNabb had time to throw at times last night, but he couldn’t find
anyone. This defense has looked dominant the past five weeks
except for the letdown against the Patriots.
Jason Witten wasn’t thrown to many times, but he made it count
when he was. He had the helmet-less 52 yard catch and run and
the beautiful 20 yard TD. That was the most beautiful throw and
catch I’ve seen this season.
Was any one else impressed with Tony Curtis’s TD catch? He
looked like a basketball player going up and getting a rebound. I
don’t even know that Witten could have made that catch because
that was a play a receiver will struggle to make.
Marcus Spears showed a little something in this game. He forced
the fumble and reeked havoc in the backfield on another play.
Greg Ellis has been amazing. His presence has meant an extra
sack a game. He has 5.5 sacks in only three starts.
It sucks to see Deon Anderson got hurt. He had started to play
really well. He isn’t a dominating blocker, but he usually gets his
guy out of the play. He is also a good receiver out of the backfield.
We need to get Oliver Hoyte back.
I like how our passing attack is starting to be more of an
underneath game. Early in the season and late last season we
attacked down the field. That seems to be Romo’s strength.
However, the last few games we have really been killing teams with
dump-offs to the backs. Jones and Barber are racking up the
receiving yards. It is good to see Romo can adapt without his deep
threat in there and move to more of an underneath passing game.
I’m happy to get Tank Johnson. I don’t know how much he will play
though. He isn’t as good as Jay Ratliff, but we may put him in more
in the base defense so we can save Ratliff and his pass rushing on
the nickel.