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Dallas Cowboys 2010 Draft 1st Round Pick : Dez Bryant

                    

                                  

                               

      Newest Dallas Cowboy Wide Receiver Dez Bryant overcome with joy after being                                                     drafted by his hometown team.

Jerry Jones did not have to wheel and deal like a whirling dervish with other teams to perhaps arguably get the most talented player in the first round of the NFL draft. Jerry only had to swap his first round pick #27 with New England’s  #24 and trade his 3^rd rounder for the Patriots’ 4^th. This is the NFL’s 75^th year of conducting the draft, and the Cowboys sure did find a diamond. With the pick, Jerry selected wide receiver Dez Bryant who was a star at Oklahoma State University.  Bryant was considered to be a top 10 talent but had slipped in the rankings due to his “off-field” behavior.

Bryant was suspended after just playing 3 games this past fall due to lying to the NCAA regarding a meeting with former NFL great Deion Sanders. They only met for dinner, but NCAA thought Bryant lied to them about the meeting. Whatever the case, Bryant did not play the rest of the season which some teams considered detrimental. He did not have the appropriate cleats during his pro day work out and scouts, coaches, and GMs thought he was too scatter brained. In a nutshell, Bryant was red flagged due to concerns about his character and teams shied away from him a la Randy Moss.

Bryant visited with Jerry and Stephen Jones et al in the weeks leading up to the draft and made a good impression on everyone. He was one of their 3 must have players. Rumored had it Jerry would do everything possible to draft either Idaho Guard Mike Iupati, Texas Safety Earl Thomas, or Bryant. Jerry decided to sit back and wait for the draft to unfold early on. Some pundits opined Jerry would have to give up too much compensation such as players or draft picks to move high enough to get Iupati and Thomas. Luckily Bryant fell close and Jones had no choice to pounce.

Jerry mentioned by drafting Bryant he made amends for not drafting Randy Moss eons ago who also came with character issues. I am ecstatic Dez is a Dallas Cowboy now and adds playmaking ability to an already explosive offense. He was the best collegiate wide receiver the past few years second only to Michael Crabtree who was drafted by the San Francisco 49’ers last year. I cannot wait to see the offense next year with Miles Austin and Roy Williams on the outside, Jason Witten over the middle, and Bryant going all over the field. Tony Romo must be feeling giddy about all the possibilities. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has another playmaker to work into his offense. Speaking of which, many have compared Bryant to another Cowboy great- Michael Irvin. I trust Jerry will draft a safety and offensive lineman in the later rounds and perhaps another linebacker or defensive back. Have a look at Dez Bryant’s highlights:

      

2010 Dallas Cowboys Schedule

 

The NFL released each team’s schedule yesterday. The Cowboys’ quite possibly have the league’s toughest trek towards Super Bowl 45. Every year the Cowboys’ mantra is “Super Bowl or Bust”. It might sound clichéd, but along with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and our Cowboys are organizations that believe if they do not win the Super Bowl every year then their season is a failure.

The Cowboys might feel Jerry Jones really breathing down their collective necks this season as he expects them to be the first team ever to host a Super Bowl in their home stadium. (Granted the Super Bowl has only been played in New Orleans, Miami, Los Angeles regularly, and more recently in Tampa Bay, Detroit, and Arizona.) But as ironic as this may sound, even if/when the Cowboys make it to Super Bowl 45 they could be the “Visiting team” in their own home!

I predict as the team is put together before the draft the Cowboys will win their division and be NFC Champions with an 11-5 record. The offseason is a long one and the NFL draft is this week so every team will be a little different than last year. Here is my prediction of how the season will shape up:

7/12/10- @ Washington- Donovan McNabb et al will be geeked up to the Nth degree to play Dallas on opening weekend-but so will the Cowboys. Cowboys win.

7/19/10- Chicago – Cowboys open first home game with a win as the Bears are still rebuilding. 2-0.

7/26/10- @ Houston- the Texans hate to be known as the Cowboys’ lil’ brother. This could be a nail biter but Cowboys start the season on a 3 game winning streak.

10/3/10- Bye Week- much to early in the season for time off but will give the Boys time to prepare for a talented Tennessee Titans team the following week.

10/10/10- Tennessee- Vince Young valiantly leads the Titans to the cusp of victory but ultimately cannot seal the deal and Dallas improves to 4-0.

10/17/10 @ Minnesota – As much as I am hoping for Dallas to stomp the Vikings at their place I don’t see it happening if Brett Favre returns for another season. I hope I am wrong. If Favre does retire though, count this as a Cowboys’ win and their record improves to 12-4.

10/25/10-New York Giants come to town and get sent home crying with a divisional loss on Monday Night Football. Cowboys 6-1

10/31/10- Jacksonville beat the Cowboys down in Florida 2 years ago but Cowboys will scare the bejeezus out of the Jaguars on Halloween this time. 7-1

11/7/10- Cowboys lose their 2^nd game to the Packers @ Lambeau field. I will throw up again. 7-2

11/14/10- @NY- Giants pull out a squeaker and the Cowboys lose their 2^nd consecutive game – record falls to 7-3.

11/25/10 New Orleans- Saints come marching in to Cowboys Stadium on Thanksgiving Day as defending Champs but Cowboys give them déjà vu and up their record to 8-3.

12/5/10- @ Indianapolis- low scoring game Peyton Manning pulls out a last second win from the clutches of defeat. Cowboys drop to 8-4.

12/12/10 Philadelphia comes to town and they are just what the doctor ordered. Cowboys have their number especially with out Donovan McNabb at QB. 9-4

12/19/10- Washington hobbles in again and lays down for a good ole fashioned whooping. Cowboys guaranteed a playoff spot and NFC East Champs with win. 10-4

12/25/10- @Arizona- Cowboys fans get what they want for Christmas- a victory over the Cardinals improving to 11-4.

1/2/11-@ Philadelphia- Eagles don’t qualify for the playoffs but beat the Cowboys. 11-5.

 

The End of an Era: Texas Stadium Implosion

          

   One of the most unique sports stadiums ever erected imploded this morning ending a 39 year run. So many memories were made on that hallowed playing field. Football legends such as Roger Staubach, Bob Lily, Tony Dorsett, Randy White, Drew Pearson, Rayfield Wright, Lee Roy Jordan, Bullett Bob Hayes, Herschel Walker, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Charles Haley, Larry Allen, et al made history playing in there. The hole in the roof was there so God could watch his Cowboys play on Sundays. Texas Stadium was the home to 5 Super Bowl Championship teams during its tenure. America's team played before millions of fans over the span of 39 years. Generations of Cowboys fans went there to watch their heroes beat their hated rivals like the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Arizona Cardinals. 

We bid a fond farewell to a trusted old friend and renew our faith and dreams with the hope that the ginormous Cowboys' Stadium will foot the bill its predecessor did so admirably.

Interested in seeing Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland movie- just ranked my favorite Johnny Depp movies on my blog. www.dallascowboyfanboy.com

Top 10 Favorite Johnny Depp Movies

      

 
 
    
 
 
 
     
 
                    I have been a Johnny Depp fan since his days on the TV show “Jump Street.” I like how he did not want to be marketed as a pretty boy like Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise and chose the quirky roles more so than the traditional leading man role. Sure he has played straight roles like Donnie Brasco, J.M. Barrie, and last summer’s “Public Enemies” (as John Dillinger) with aplomb, but he still gives iconic and memorable performances from Edward Scissorhands to pirate Jack Sparrow. I imagine Depp likes to indulge the quirkier side of his personality since he does not feel restrained in his performance.

With Tim Burton’s much-anticipated version of “Alice in Wonderland” opening this week I felt like ranking my favorite Johnny Depp movies starting with my #1 Edward Scissorhands.

 

1.     Edward Scissorhands- one of the most bizarre and original movies ever. It was the first pairing of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp and turned out to be one of the strangest pairings to ever come out of Hollywood.

2.     Donnie Brasco – fuhgettaboutit! A gritty portrayal of a real under cover cop who infiltrated la famiglia.

3.     Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl- Depp could have chosen to play this character like the swashbuckler Disney Studio Execs wanted him to, but I am glad he choose to play Jack Sparrow as an homage to Keith Richards.

4.     Ed Wood- 2^nd pairing with Tim Burton produced a funny but under the radar movie about perhaps Tinsel town’s campiest cross dressing director.

5.     What’s Eating Gilbert Grape- Depp plays it straight compared to a young Leonardo Dicaprio as a mentally handicapped youth.

6.     Don Juan DeMarco- plays a mental patient who believes he is The Don Juan with Marlon Brando as his psychiatrist.

7.     Finding Neverland- Depp portrays another iconic real life person- JM Barrie the author who created Peter Pan.

8.     Public Enemies- Depp plays John Dillinger and gives an excellent performance.

9.     Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas- quite possibly Depp’s wackiest role to date based on Hunter S. Thompson’s own experiences in Las Vegas searching for the “American Dream” while loaded on various psychedelic drugs.

10. Chocolate- Depp plays a cool, charming, smooth gypsy who gets to sample Juliette Binoche’s treats.

 

Check out my blog to see who I predicted will win Super Bowl 44.

SUPER BOWL XLIV COLTS 31- SAINTS 21

                                                                   

 
                                                    vs   

 

                           Indianapolis Colts will beat the New Orleans Saints 31- 21. Peyton Manning will throw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Drew Brees will have a decent day throwing the ball (even better if Colts’ Dwight Freeney plays sparingly).The Colts have better players all around especially on defense. The Colts have tight end Dallas Clark, wide receivers Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie, and running back Joseph Addai to catch Manning’s passes. The Saints have Marques Coltson, Jeremy Shockey, and Reggie Bush. I’ll take the Colts’ skill players everyday of the week over the Saints’.

The Colts’ defensive front will be able to pressure Drew Brees into throwing a few interceptions and taking 3 sacks. Conversely, the Saints defensive liability is in their defensive line. They have not been able to pressure opponents’ QBs consistently this season. That leaves their secondary to cover wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs longer. If you give Peyton Manning more than 3 seconds to find a target to throw to he will pick your defense apart. The Colts’ offensive line is one of the best in the NFL and protects Manning very well. They are not very efficient running the ball, but Manning calls the plays and they don’t have to run the ball very often.

The game will be competitive for most of the game but the Colts will pull away in the fourth quarter. Bourbon street will not get the post game celebration party it hopes for and this will be their last opportunity for the next several years to root for a Super Bowl contender. The Dallas Cowboys will be in the mix the next several years starting next year.

In other news it was a bad week for current and former Dallas Cowboys. Earlier in the week former Cowboy tight end Jay Novacek’s wife allegedly committed suicide;FB Deon “Cricket” Anderson was arrested for threatening a valet employee at a Dallas establishment with an unregistered hand gun; a FT. Lauderdale woman accusing of Michael Irvin for raping her in July of 2007 but only pursuing charges 2 ½ years later. 

Predicting the 2010 NFL Hall Of Fame Class

 

                        This Saturday afternoon the Hall of Fame voters will reveal which players will make inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this year. Last month 15 modern day finalists plus 2 senior candidates (Floyd Little & Dick LeBeau)were chosen and it is one of the most formidable lists in some time. It’s a “no brainer” that Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are the only 2 shoo ins who are guaranteed a place in the hall. Up to 7 retired players are eligible to gain enshrinement, but I think that 7 is too many in one year. I predict 5 will be inducted this year, which means that the remaining 14 players will be vying for 3 spots. There are 3 other wide receivers that are hoping to make it. Tim Brown, Andre Reed, and Chris Carter are all deserving but at the most only 1 of them will join Jerry Rice in 2010. These are the 17 finalists:

 

              

Tim Brown	WR	LA/Oak., TB
Cris Carter	WR	Phil., Min., Mia
Don Coryell	Coach	StL Cards, SD
Roger Craig	RB	SF, LA Rai., Min.
Dermonti Dawson	C	Pitt.
Richard Dent	DE	Chi, SF, Ind., Phi
Russ Grimm	G	Wash.
Charles Haley	DE-LB	SF, Dallas
Rickey Jackson	LB	New Orl., SF
Cortez Kennedy	DT	Seattle
Dick LeBeau	CB	Detroit
Floyd Little	RB	Denver
John Randle	DT	Minn., Sea.
Andre Reed	WR	Buff., Wash.
Jerry Rice	WR	SF, Oak., Sea.
Shannon Sharpe	TE	Den., Bal.
Emmitt Smith	RB	Dallas, Ari.

Here are my 5 enshrinees:

1.Jerry Rice- Unanimously regarded as the best wide receiver to ever play the game. Won 3 Super Bowls playing for the San Francisco 49’ers.

2. Emmitt Smith- all team rushing leader whose rushing record won’t be broken any time soon. The last member of the “Triplets” of the Cowboys who will be enshrined. (Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin are the other two enshrines and 3 time Super Bowl Champions)

3. Charles Haley-is the only player with 5 Super Bowl Championship rings. He won 2 with San Francisco and 3 as a Dallas Cowboy. One of the best ever pass rushers to ever play.

4. Don Coryell- was one of the game’s offensive innovators and passing game guru. It’s amazing he has not been enshrined yet.

5. Russ Grimm- was one of the original “Hogs” offensive lineman for the Washington Redskins. One of the most dominant players at his position during his playing days.  This last spot will be close as Dermonti Dawson, a Pittsburgh offensive lineman, is equally deserving.

Emmitt Smith will be the 5^th former Dallas Cowboys player to be voted into hall the past 5 years. The others are Troy Aikman and Rayfield Wright (2006); Michael Irvin (2007); “Bullet” Bob Hayes (2009). Charles Haley has said he doesn’t want to go in as either a 49’er or Cowboy but just as a play

Dallas Cowboys 2010 Opponents Home/Away

                         The Dallas Cowboys will have a very tough road ahead if they intend to be the first NFL team to play in a Super Bowl at their own stadium in Super Bowl 45 next year. I believe they are very hungry and can accomplish the task but it will be a difficult one. They have to play one of the hardest schedules according to opponent’s winning percentages. Their opponent’s winning percentage is .543. The NFC East plays the AFC South and the NFC North. All told, the Cowboys will play six teams who made the playoffs this season- Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Arizona, Green Bay, Minnesota, and New Orleans. Of course they still play Philly, Washington, and New York twice who arguably makes up the toughest division in the NFL. The schedule makers really put the Cowboys behind the eight ball since the Cowboys only get to play the New Orleans Saints at home and the rest on the road. Who the hell are these schedule makers? Do they hate the Cowboys?

If I was Jerry Jones I would file a complaint with the league about why do the Cowboys have to play all these playoff teams on the road? The logical formula would be to split these games up evenly 3 home and 3 away.

There is a silver lining though as the Cowboys have Chicago, Jacksonville, Detroit, New Orleans, and Tennessee at home. If you go by how these teams played with the exception of the Saints, you could say those are 5 “gimmes”. But having said that the old adage of on any given Sunday any team can beat any team in the league. It is far too soon to predict what I think the Cowboys record will be, but I expect them to be the NFC’s representative in the 2011 NFC Championship game. It will be a long offseason and so much can happen from now until September. Here are the records of all of the Cowboys’ opponents from this season and will comment on each game.

Home:

New Orleans Saints 13-3- if the Saints win the Super Bowl the Cowboys will be more motivated to beat them next year.

Chicago Bears 7-9- Jay Cutler took his lumps learning a new offensive system in his first year and if they want to improve need to draft or sign a few free agent wide receivers. Brian Urlacher’s return to the defense will be vital. After he was lost early in the season the defense was very porous.

Detroit Lions 2-14- Rookie Quarterback Matt Stafford showed signs this season but still has some learning to do. Lions won only 2 games in 2008 and 2009. Talk about rebuilding.

Jacksonville Jaguars 7-9 – really struggled on defense switching from the 4-3 alignment to the 3-4. David Garrard is not a franchise quarterback but the have a fire hydrant for a running back with Maurice Jones-Drew.

Tennessee Titans 8-8- perhaps if Vince Young took over earlier in the season for Kerry Collins the Titans could have made the playoffs. The Titans were the best team in the AFC in 2008 and have most of the same players. They are one of the teams to watch out for next year.

Away:

Green Bay Packers 11-5-Cowboys played one of their worst games this season losing to the Packers in Lambeau field 7-17. It’s already tough to play there and with QB Aaron Rodgers looking really good this could be a pivotal game for home field advantage for the playoffs.

Minnesota Vikings 12-4- the lost to the Saints at the Superdome in the NFC Championship game. Their hopes to return to the playoffs really hinge on wether Brett Favre returns for another season. The Cowboys will have revenge on their minds thinking how Favre and Vikings ran up the score in the waning seconds in the divisional playoff game this year.

Arizona Cardinals 10-6- Kurt Warner’s recent retirement is a huge setback for this team. Matt Leinart has proven he is close to being a big bust. They should regress next season.

Houston Texans 9-7- this is another team to watch next season. Quarterback Matt Schaub has proven he is a very good player. Every season people expect team to finally make it over the hump into the playoffs. They always fold for 3 or 4 games during the season but the defense has grown immensely the past few years. It will be a playoff atmosphere as the Texans hate being portrayed as the Cowboys’ little brother in Texas. It will be a dogfight.

Indianapolis Colts- 14-2- they were the best team in the league this year. There’s no doubt they will be expected to repeat next year too. Like with the Saints, if the Colts win the Super Bowl, the Cowboys will be extra motivated to play them. In 2007 the Cowboys spoiled the Colts’ bid for a perfect season and will have confidence when they play.

I did not include the Eagles, Redskins, and Giants since they are all familiar foes. 2010 will be difficult and rewarding.

 

 

2 Cowboys named to 2000's NFL All Decade team

 

The NFL Hall of Fame Voters selected 2 Dallas Cowboys in their All Decade Team for the 200’s. One is a former Cowboy who undoubtedly will be enshrined into the NFL Hall of fame on his first ballot (first chance after being retired for 5 years). The other is currently regarded as one, if not the best defensive player in the entire league.  Also he is just entering his prime!

 

The two Cowboys are former offensive lineman Larry Allen and current super star line backer, DeMarcus Ware. The honors are well deserved. Arguably, Allen was the best offensive lineman of his era, maybe even the best ever. Allen played in a small college, Sonoma State University. Only a few teams followed his collegiate career. Thankfully the Cowboys thought enough of his potential and talent to draft him at all. At 6’3 and 325 pounds he was part of the new breed of humongous offensive lineman. He had legendary strength and dominated any defensive lineman who dared line up across from him. Allen’s original position was at left guard on the offensive line.  But Allen was so versatile he played every position  and was as dominant everywhere he played. The most memorable play came in a game against the New Orleans Saints . Troy Aikman’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and a Saint’s linebacker intercepted the ball and raced down the left sideline. From a dead stand still, Larry Allen raced after the linebacker eventually catching him and amazingly made the tackle. Who has ever heard of a 325-pound offensive lineman chasing down a 240-pound linebacker? Check out this clip to see for yourself Allen’s amazing athleticism.

DeMarcus Ware is the other Cowboy to be named to 2000’s All Decade team. DeMarcus Ware was named to 4 straight Pro Bowls after being drafted in 2005 from another small school, Troy State (now known as Troy). He was drafted to be a linebacker in Bill Parcell’s 3-4 defensive scheme, but Ware starred as a defensive end in college. Some critics were not sure if he could make the transition from being a defensive end to a linebacker, but Ware was sure of his talent.  Five years later and DeMarcus Ware is one of the most feared defensive players in the league. He is a game changer and also is a high character guy. Ware is the prototypical linebacker who is equally great as a pass rusher, run stopper, and pass coverage. Last year he led the NFL with 20 sacks and just came up short winning defensive player of the year honors in 2008.He had several injuries this season including a concussion, wrist, back, and neck injuries. Ware showed his toughness playing in the next week’s game after injuring his neck against the San Diego Chargers. Fans were worried as Ware was strapped to a gurney and carted off the field. Amazingly, Ware was able to come back and play against the then undefeated Saints and sealed the Cowboys victory sacking and stripping quarterback Drew Brees. Watch his highlights here:

Grading the 2009 Dallas Cowboys

 

With their season over, I am doling out grades for the Cowboys’ starters. All in all they got the proverbial monkey off their collective back, and they are primed to go all the way in 2010 culminating in a Super Bowl victory in their home stadium.

 

Tony Romo turned the corner this year and became the leader he needs to be. Set Cowboys’ records for passing attempts, completions, and yards. He also reduced is turnover– A

Marion Barber suffered through a few injuries this season limiting his effectiveness. He did not have the same powerful running style that helped earn him the starting job. – C

Felix Jones showed some flashes of his electrifying abilities running the ball. He made the most of his limited opportunities and expect to see more of him next season. B+

Tashard Choice was not used as much as a lot of fans had hoped for. He provides excellent depth behind Barber and Jones. Hope next season he will get more chances to show his talent. – Incomplete

Roy Williams underwhelmed and under achieved this season almost regressing some. He makes a lot of money but has not produced in 1-½ years as a Dallas Cowboy. He might be the Cowboys #4 or #5 receiver in a lot of fans’ eyes.- D

Miles Austin made a name for himself when given the opportunity to play. He only started 11 regular season games but caught 10+ Touchdowns and amassed over 1,000 yards. He made the Pro Bowl emerging as one of the best Wide receivers in the NFC.- A-

Patrick Crayton lost weight in the offseason and visibly ran faster than in season’s past. He still might have the best hands on the team, and he is a good 3^rd receiver in the passing game..B

Jason Witten had another great season earning another trip to the Pro Bowl but kind of slipped under the radar. He is hands down the best all around tight end in the game. He did not have many touchdowns this year, but he provided Romo with the best type of security blanket a QB can ask for. A-

Martellus Bennett did not have the break out year the coaching staff was expecting him to have. He was almost an after thought in the passing game. He needs to be more consistent catching the ball and running routes but is a very good blocker. C-

John Phillips came out of nowhere as a rookie and 3^rd string tight end. He is similar to  Jason Witten but maybe a couple of notches lower. If Bennett has a break out year next season the Cowboys will have the best TEs in the game. B

Flozell Adams cut down on his penalties this season later on but still makes stupid mistakes and is already 35 years old. It might be time for him to consider retirement as he played rather slower this year. C-

Kyle Kosier played the entire season but was not as effective for some reason. He was the best OL pulling and leading on sweep plays though. He should face some competition from Brewster or another draft pick this year. C+

Andre Gurode had a solid year but is not an ideal signal caller for the offensive line. He had several blown assignments causing Romo to scramble a lot on passing downs. He made the Pro Bowl on reputation alone. C

Leonard Davis also made the Pro Bowl on reputation again too but still had a decent season.  He was dominant in the running game but needs to be more consistent in passing plays. B-

Marc Columbo may have been the best OL this year. He has a nasty streak and is a mauler in the running game. He was injured and missed 5 games. He did not appear ready versus the Vikings and his rustiness showed. B-

Doug Free showed he could play well at the pro level replacing Columbo when he got hurt. It was a pleasant surprise to know the Cowboys have themselves a young OT who can play either tackle position. He might be a starter next year. B+

Defense:

Marcus Spears was strong playing against the run this year. He showed he is a valuable player. It fits Wade Phillips coaching style and hope he returns next year. B-

Igor Olshansky was a great free agent pick up. He played well against the run too opposite Spears. The DE’s in Phillips 3-4 defense are not required to be pass rushers. He will be playing for the Cowboys for a while. B

Jay Ratliff made the Pro Bowl for the 2^nd consecutive year at Nose tackle- a rare feat to accomplish considering he was only a 7^th round draft pick. He is one of the elite defensive tackles in the league especially since he is a bit undersized. A

DeMarcus Ware is simply the best all around defensive player in the NFL. He did not have the stats this year since he was playing with several injuries this season. He is the premier pass rusher but also plays the run and covers running backs and tight ends equally well. A+

Anthony Spencer really emerged playing opposite Ware this year. He came on strong in the middle of the year providing a formidable duo of OLBs. I call him “Ware-Lite” he does everything DeMarcus does but just a little bit less talented and that is saying something. A-

Keith Brooking brought leadership and tackling ability as a free agent pick up. He rallied his teammates and shored up the middle. B+

Bradie James showed he is a good pass rusher and covers TEs and Rbs well in the passing game. B

Mike Jenkins had a coming out party perhaps supplanting Terrence Newman as the team’s best cornerback. He had 5 interceptions and made his first Pro Bowl in his second year. He made great athletic plays breaking up passes and blanketing wide receivers. Has the skills to be a top 5 DB in the years to come. A

Terrence Newman may have lost ½ a step this season but still made his 2^nd consecutive Pro Bowl. He doesn’t have as much pressure on his shoulders with Jenkins emerging as an excellent DB. Newman still plays good run support and should still be a starter next year. B+

Orlando Scandrick had some growing pains during his sophomore season early on but came on strong later on. He has great potential and ability, and I expect him to blossom next season. B

Gerald Sensabaugh was another great pick up by Wade Phillips in the offseason. Sensabaugh proved to be a very good cover safety that the Cowboys have been missing since Darren Woodson roamed the secondary. B+

Ken Hamlin did not make any spectacular plays but called all the adjustments for the secondary. He did not make any glaring mistakes either but needs to play like he did in 2007. Like Roy Williams, Hamlin is making a lot of money but not playing up to his contract. He might have to take a back up role if he wants to be on the team next year. C

 

David Buehler was as good as advertised. He was a potent weapon booming kickoffs into the endzone. Teams will not have 80 yard touchdown drives very often. Hope he becomes a better place kicker next season. B+

Nick Folk was the biggest disappointment this year. He missed 10 field goals after having offseason hip surgery. He missed some rather easily FGs that got him fired. Shaun Suisham fared even poorer. The coaching staff will have to look for another kicker this year or bring Folk back for another chance. D-

 

Wade Phillips/coaching staff did a very good job this season. Jerry Jones retained Wade for a few more years as a show of confidence. Wade has his players on board his train believing in him. In a nutshell, the team is poised and primed for a Super Bowl run next year. With just 1 or 2 good offensive lineman, a safety, and possibly another Wr the Cowboys are on their way to their record 9^th Super Bowl appearance next year.