Three Things to Look for From Cowboys Camp 2007

Three Things to Look for From Cowboys Camp 2007

Dallas Cowboys Camp 2007 has officially started and the Cowboys have enjoyed being back in San Antonio and the Alamodome. I heard some, "Remember the Alamodome" chants this first week but back in May of 2006, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced that the team would be back in San Antonio and not practicing in Oxnard, California any longer and the team is reunited with a city that loves their Cowboys. No matter if, the Cowboys are in Texas or California this camp, the team has some major work ahead of them and some very lofty expectation in 2007. Dallas officially starts the 2007 with a pre- season match- up against the Super Bowl Champion, Indianapolis Colts on August 9.

1. Is Tony Romo the long- term answer in Dallas and has he moved past his playoffs blunder?
This is a big- time question in Dallas this off- season and rightfully so. Tony Romo the "Rockstar" was magical coming in for Drew Bledsoe last year but his magic seemed to run out down the stretch. We all remember how Romo's season ended, that ending did not sit well with the young gunslinger and I wonder if this will come back to haunt him in 2007. Our Cowboys insider tells me that Romo is past that, way past that and the bobble should not affect what Romo does in 2007. Only time will tell. Former Cowboy quarterback, Jason Garrett will be making his debut as the new offensive coordinator and his top- priority is making sure Romo is more comfortable with the Dallas system. This one- on- one approach will be good for Romo and is something that he did not see a lot of from Bill Parcells and company. Romo won the starting job last year because of his mobility and for obviously, being talented but more so because of his confidence, perhaps even overconfidence. Romo has a swagger that Big D has not seen since Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders. Romo is not the accurate surgeon that Aikman was, he is more like a young, gun- slinging Brett Farve. If Romo can be confident in 2007, forgetting 2006 and if Garrett can harness his swagger and confidence, this team could make a deep run into the playoffs in 2007. Romo is entering the final year of his contact-- if he can get off to a good start and show that he is indeed the man for the future in Dallas, look for the Cowboys to lock him up quick.

2. Can new head coach Wade Phillips bring the D back to the Big D?
Phillips was the defensive architect in San Diego that created one of the most exciting and best defenses in the NFL. Phillips will be bringing a more aggressive version of the 3-4 with him to Dallas this year than, what was being run previously in Big D. Phillips will be blitzing more and utilizing the Dallas depth chart to fit these aggressive schemes. Why I think this year's Dallas defense will be one of the best in the league is because DeMarcus Ware is going to be used to his strengths more. Ware will be the roving blitzer the majority of the time. This is what Phillips did with Shawne Merriman and look what Merriman has done in recent years. Parcells's 3-4 was more of a read and react system that did not focus on the Dallas strengths, speed, power and depth. We all know about the Cowboys first draft pick Anthony Spencer, he will certainly add to the versatility of Phillips 3-4 scheme. This former MVP of the Purdue Boilermakers will be a true- impact player in 2007. Linebacker Greg Ellis is also a big piece here. Ellis and owner Jerry Jones spoke recently and the key linebacker agreed to come back and play another year. Ellis missed a good chunk of 2006 with an injury and this is one of reasons the Cowboys pass rush suffered in 2006. Ellis will help solidify the pass rush while adding veteran leadership, if he can go. My Dallas insider has told me that Ellis rushed his return and his Achilles has not full healed-- this could be a devastating loss to the Cowboys if Ellis can't go. Ken Hamlin, who signed this off- season is another key piece that will help bolster the Cowboy secondary as well as allowing Roy Williams to play around the line of scrimmage more instead of in coverage. This will strengthen the blitz packages for Phillips and keep Williams out of trouble. Brian Stewart, new Cowboys defensive coordinator that came over with Phillips from San Diego said, "We should be the best defense in the NFL. Everybody has to stay healthy, and everybody has to play to their capabilities. But that happens, we should be the best defense in the NFL." He may be true-- sorry Giants, Eagles and Redskins fans.

3. Are the Cowboys deep enough at wide receiver and is Terrell Owens going to be a distraction again in 2007?
I love this question because Terrell Owens is such a drama king and already in 2007, he is in the headlines. The depth at wide receiver is a question mark to me because Terry Glenn is set to have some damaged cartilage taken out of his knee that he recently injured in practice. There is no tear or serious damage in the knee but Glenn's injury and subsequent surgery will have him out for at two weeks, probably more like three. What if Glenn's knee bothers him again this year and causes him to miss more time? TO has also been in and out of practice due to back spasms. Dallas had him checked out and he is fine-- I think TO just hates training camp and practice in general, last year I remember him on the bike for all of training camp, what gives Terrell? Owens also missed practices in week one of camp for tightness in his hamstrings. The Cowboys do have some able bodies to throw into the receiving rotation but no one is proven. Fourth- year receiver Jerheme Urban has been impressive thus far. Receiver coach Ray Sherman said, "I'm really happy with the way he's practicing and hopefully he'll continue to bring that into the pre- season, but he's doing a good job for us and I'm very pleased with him." Urban, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, and rookies, Isaiah Stanback, Mike Jefferson and Jerard Rabb are all battling for a shot at an active roster spot and with Terry Glenn sidelined and TO always with some sort of injury, look for the Cowboys to play everyone and their mom at receiver this pre- season. The Cowboys need to iron- out who their slot receiver is going to be as well as getting everyone enough reps in case Owens or Glenn were to go down for a lengthy period of time. Owens will always be a distraction but this year look for limited drama. Phillips is not like Parcells and will give TO more lee- way this year. Much of what went on with TO last year in Dallas I feel was induced by Parcells lack of interest in the Pro Bowler. Phillips will utilize Owens more than Parcells did which means Owens will not be barking at Romo and the offensive coaches for more touches, at least if Dallas is winning.

Preseason Schedule

8/9 vs. Indianapolis
8/18 vs. Denver
8/25 at Houston
8/30 at Minnesota