2007 Dallas Cowboys

In Dallas, it appears to be out with the old (Bill Parcells), and in with the new (Wade Phillips). Perhaps the biggest question heading into this season is the apparent trust that owner Jerry Jones is putting in first year offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. I can’t understand why Jones did not name tight end’s coach Tony Sparano new offensive coordinator. He has NFL experience as an offensive assistant, offensive line coach, and a tight ends coach in his first four years in the league. He is credited with molding the Cowboys’ running game which featured the one-two punch of Julius Jones and Marion Barber. Jones must see something in Garrett that hopefully everyone will soon see if the Cowboys want to once again be one of the game’s most dominant teams.

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Offensively, the Cowboys may have uncovered a diamond in the rough in Tony Romo. I remain very skeptical. Last season, he had nothing to lose. This season he must look past the hype and deliver, especially in the wake of his playoffs blunder. Tony Romo will have to take command of the offense and not let Terrell Owens be a disease, although that seems inevitable. Romo does have one of the game’s better offensive lines to operate behind which should give him the opportunity to improve if he can overcome the pressure associated with the limelight.

Defensively, Wade Phillips’ version of the 3-4 defense should spice things up a little bit. Parcells had some good horses to work with, but seemed to be a little too conservative which reflected a lack of trust in his guys. Phillips will put all the trust in the world in his players and deliver a more aggressive version of the 3-4 that allowed the Chargers to lead the NFL In sacks in 2006. If Dallas can reach the 61 sack mark that San Diego reached in 2006, the Cowboys just might trump Philly in the East. Instead of just straight on attacking from the defensive front, we can expect more slants and two-gapping in Phillips’ scheme. And he gets more aggressive yet. We can expect more blitzing and more man coverage in the secondary. I expect the scheme alone to get a few more talented Cowboys’ defenders into the Pro Bowl this season.

I hate to say it, but this season really comes down to how Tony Romo performs. If he falls into a sophomore slump, it leaves the Cowboys on the look out for a new signal caller and puts the team in a mediocre category. If he excels and rises to stardom, the ‘boys will be a tough cookie to crumble, especially with the way the defense is expected to improve under Phillips.

By Jeff Alexander – 7/18/2007

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