Cowboys Knee Jerk Reactions VS Giants

By:  Bobby Shores

This here is my "knee jerk" reactions/observations on the Cowboys game against the Giants, I am doing this after ONLY watching the game one time & live. I have not reviewed the film, read any other opinions on it, or listened to any podcasts; I did listen to the radio that talked about it briefly on my way to work, but literally got nothing out of it for this article.

"More Ogletree Please" Kevin Ogletree – [Editor's Note:  I started the "More Ogletree Please" three years ago when Kevin Ogletree was the darling of Cowboys training camp and made an impact early in the season catching wide receiver screens and 5-8 yard outs.] 

Kevin Ogletree

This will be the story of the week, undrafted free agent out of Virginia who looked like a promising talent the first year of his career before laziness and rumors "entitlement" dogged him the last two years. Nearly everybody (myself included) had written him off, it seemed like even the Cowboys had as they didn't find him worth retaining at the end of last year with a $1.26 million restricted free agent tender, opting instead to let him test the market before bringing him back for the minimum of $460,000. 

After a strong showing in the preseason and training camp Ogletree answered the call last night to the tune of 8 catches for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns. The most impressive part of Ogletree’s night was not the touchdowns, it was the clutch catches, being where Tony Romo expected him to be. You could tell that Ogletree will be one of Romo’s favorite targets this year by the way Romo continually looked his way in clutch situations. Ogletree, rather than Romo safety valves Jason Witten and Miles Austin and emerging star Dez Bryant, was the primary target on 3rd and shorts; running hard slants to get the first downs over and over again. He ran crisp and precise routes punctuated by near perfect throws from his quarterback.

Now I may be going out on a limb here, but the third wide receiver position has been in flux for a number of years, and we thought we had it answered until the Jaguars blew away Laurent Robinson with a 5-year $32 million contract in free agency, so I am suggesting that we go ahead and lock-up Kevin Ogletree for a few years. I am not calling for some huge contract, just enough to make him happy while keeping the Cowboys cap flexible for years to come. I am thinking something along the lines of 4-years and $12-14 million (that's $3-3.5 million annual average). While many will say that the "sense of entitlement" will come back once he has some money in his pocket, well I think otherwise, I honestly believe that after trying summer he had that he has matured and this is a whole new Kevin Ogletree.

Running Game – While it started off very slow, mostly due to the ineffectiveness of the offensive line (more on that later), DeMarco Murray and Lawrence Vickers got in their groove and started getting big chunks of yards. Murray’s 20 carries for 129 yards provided a solid balance to the Cowboys offense, making life on the Giants defense very difficult. Look for the running game to get going earlier in the game as the season progresses, particularly if the offensive line can come together.

While Murray did average a solid 7+ yards per carry, to me, he seemed to not have the burst that I saw last year which worries me a little. Also, on the long 48 (I think) yard run he wore out too quick, that should have been a touchdown and leads me to believe that he may not be in the shape he should, or maybe he is nursing some minor injury. Regardless something does not seem right and his 20 yards rushing in the first half is not going to cut it all year, but he obviously finished strong and was more than effective enough.

Play Calling – This was one of my favorite parts of this game, particularly Jason Garrett's offensive play calling. You can argue with the early 4th & 1 fullback dive with Vickers, but I wanted to see that play, unfortunately Jeremy Parnell (playing Tight End basically on that play) missed his block while the rest of the left side of the line did not get lower than the Giants defenders.

Besides that one questionable call (again that I agreed with) the rest of the game was called great. Unlike years past, Garrett didn't get the lead and go super conservative by calling run, run, run, punt. He kept his foot on the accelerator with a solid mix of run/pass and even gave Romo the options of going deep (like that long pass play to Dez). This tells me that Garrett finally realized that he doesn't need to dramatically alter his play calling style just because he has the lead, continue to use what got you the lead in the first place!

Felix Jones – I don't know where to start here, as an Arkansas Razorback alum, two kids attending there right now, and every member of my family owning a Felix Jones jersey.....It pains me to even bring this up....I think it may be time to cut Felix loose, he has looked overweight and generally uninterested, hopefully he is still just trying to get back in shape after his shoulder surgery this offseason. 

On kickoff returns he seemed to run (not sprint) in a straight line with no shakes or wiggles and still struggled to get back to the 20. He didn't even get a chance in the game as he had 0 carries, but he did get 2 passes thrown his way but both of them were uncatchable. It may be time to promote Lance Dunbar to the active roster as he will provide that "spark" in the backfield with Darren Sproles like skills, plus he would be a contributor on all special teams and run kickoffs back harder. I am not ready to make these moves yet, but Felix doesn't have much time, even in my book.....Maybe he just needs a change of scenery to revive a once promising career.....

Jason Garrett & Rob Ryan

Defense, Defense, Defense – WOW! WOW! WOW! This topic deserves an entire article, so I will keep this short. All 4 linebackers were the star of this unit, they set the tone with both DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer providing plenty of pressure on Eli Manning with Spencer looking good dropping back in coverage. Sean Lee and Bruce Carter were unbelievable in the middle, we already know that Lee is one of the most instictive middle 'backers in the NFL and he continued that last night racking up tackles and impact plays. Carter is the biggest surprise here, while he is not as instinctive as Lee, he was always right there with him a half-step behind cleaning up the tackles. Hist athleticism sets him apart, he looks like he can make a wrong read or take a misstep and still go sideline-to-sideline. I can't wait to see him continue to develop!

The defensive line and secondary were also impressive. The D-Line had great hustle and were flying to the ball and Jason Hatcher looks like he is answering the calls of all the people saying this was his "breakout year", and don't forget that Jay Ratliff wasn't even suited up for this game! The secondary was helped out by Victor Cruz's myriad drops and Morris Claiborne showed some promise but you can tell he is raw (particularly in his backpedal and turns, but he will learn that). The Cowboys big free agent CB Brandon Carr made some plays, but it looked like he may have tried to jump some routes or something because guys got behind/around him some and I need to go watch that on film some more...

Rob Ryan - This is the defensive I have been dreaming of for years! Ask my wife, I was wanting Rob Ryan as the Cowboys defensive coordinator when he was still coaching in Cleveland!! The play calling was excellent, he had guys coming from all over the field, and the fact that they stopped the Giants on the 1-yard line 3 times in a row!!! WOW WOW WOW!!!!

Offensive Line – Not much to say here, the play speaks for itself....I think I counted about 8-10 penalties on the offensive line as they were being pushed backwards most of the time. Nobody on the line played very well in any aspect of the game. But let's be honest, these guys have not played or practiced very much together during camp or the preseason, and center Ryan Cook played all but 3 offensive snaps after starting center Phil Costa went out with a back problems.

On the good side, Romo only got sacked twice, and they didn't come from the most dangerous Giants pass rushers, they came from up the middle, Romo had more to do with the only being sacked twice than the offensive line. This offensive line can only get better from here, and I think it will, it's time to see what offensive line coach Bill Callahan can do from here on out, this falls squarely on his shoulders.

One last thing, Tyron Smith struggled mightily playing on the left side of the line for the first time in his college or NFL career, but give him some time and he will get it. Those of you that thought that he was already a "Top 10" tackle in this league and would play on the left side like he did the right (Casey Ryan Mallow, maybe next time you will listen to me), I told you so! If you listened to me then you knew there would be some growing pains here, and without his insane athletic ability and reach, he would've gotten Romo hurt.


Obviously I could and should go on about the amazing game that Romo had, the breakout game for Dez Braynt, the second half for Miles Austin, the safety's, etc. But these are what stood out to me most, I have and will touch on the rest here and on Twitter.

Well there you have it, my week 1 knee jerk reactions, stay tuned as I give you more information as I break down the film. You can get all my immediate thoughts by following me on Twitter. 

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What Will Happen to Tyron Smith?

By:  Bobby Shores

Lost in the shuffle of all the Cowboys free agency madness is the effect that this will have on last years rookie standout Tyron Smith. At the season's end the whole world was ready to stick him at left tackle for the next 10 years and not worry about, unfortunately I think there is more to this than meets the eye......

After an outstanding rookie year last year, coupled with Doug Free's struggles, the decision was made (correctly I think) to move Smith to the left side and Free back to the right, where he excelled in seasons past. The Cowboys not only changed Smith's position, they also replaced the only offensive line coach he had ever known (yes, I know it was only 1 year, but I have to make this more dramatic to make my point) in Hudson Houck with Bill Callahan, on-field mentor Kyle Kosier is being cut who was also responsible for making all the line calls, every other position on the line will probably be different, he is still very young and will not be 22 until the regular season is almost over, he is a Top 10 Pick, he plays in Dallas at the most important position on the offensive line and everybody from the media to the fans keep assuming that left tackle has been secured for the next 10 years.

Yea, that is a lot of change for such a young guy.......Let's look at each one in some more detail.....

Before the start of the 2011 season, the Cowboys made the decision to move veteran offensive guard Kyle Kosier to the right side to help Smith develop, and help him he did. Not only has Kosier been responsible for making the offensive line calls (usually the job of the center), he was able to make sure that Smith knew what to do and how to do it, and was there to help him when he got in trouble. Kosier basically acted as his on-field mentor, and I am not sure that there is anybody currently on the roster than can replace him.

The move to the premier position on the offensive line, the left side, is another big change for Smith. While he was in the spotlight as a Top 10 pick and instant starter last year, moving to left tackle will really put him under the microscope. Not only are two of the Cowboys division foes in the Top 5 in sacks (Eagles & Giants), the Redskins only missed being in the Top 10 by 1 sack, and now Smith will face the top rusher on each team rather than the second or third best rusher.

Another big change for Smith is that the only offensive line coach he has known in the NFL, Hudson Houck, retired after the season. While I have no reason to believe that his replacement, Bill Callahan, is not as good (or even better) than him, I know that they had a special relationship and spent hours after practice and in the film room together. Houck was integral to Smith's success last season, and I only hope that Smith and Callahan are able to form a similar bond.

Continuity is a big part of helping young players develop in the early years of their career, and not only is rookie phenom Smith losing his mentors in Kosier and Houck, it appears that every other position on the line will be different as well, of course there was not a lot of continuity last year either. With the signing of Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau to most likely replace Kosier and Montrae Holland while the Center position is completely wide open. Stability will be needed at the left guard position for Smith as I am a firm believer that many of the Doug Free's struggles last season can be attributed to the revolving door at the guard spot next to him.

Finally, the reasons I think he could struggle this year is that he is still only 21 years old, playing in one of (if not THE) the most scrutinized football markets in the NFL, playing a highly scrutinized position as a Top 10 pick who excelled his rookie year. All this means there will be lots of pressure for him to build on his rookie success regardless of age, position change, coaching changes, personnel changes, etc.

Q & A: What is the safest Position In The Draft?

By:  Bobby Shores
Check out yesterday's ReclinerQB Q & A

Submit your questions for ReclinerQB to answer here (Twitter) or here (Email)

Question:  With the 2012 NFL Draft coming up, the Cowboys needing to fill multiple holes and with multiple players that could/should be available at those positions of need when they pick at #14 (Courtney Upshaw-OLB, David DeCastro-G, Dre' Kirkpatrick/Janoris Jenkins/Alfonzo Denard-CB, Mark Barron S); what do you consider to be the safest position in the 1st round of the draft?

ReclinerQB Thoughts:  The first thought that came to mind when I heard this question was interior lineman, so I thought I would do some quick research and look at the interior offensive linemen (guards and centers) taken in the first round for the past 14 years (all the way back to 1998). Remember I did this fairly quickly and am only picking players that were drafted as interior linemen, not players that were drafted as tackles and then moved to the interior line (Leonard Davis and Robert Gallery for example), and I am also basing this strictly off what I know of the player and not advanced scouting, if I run into a player I am not very familiar with then I will do a quick search.

1. Verdict Still Out-Mike Pouncey(2011)-15-Dolphins - Was playing very well until his season was ended with an ankle injury.
2. Verdict Still Out-Danny Watkins(2011)-23-Eagles - Watkins was expected to be able to contribute immediately, but struggled and was benched early in the season and did not see the field again until late. Obviously way to early to make a determination on someone after only 1 year, and I believe that the lockout severely hurt the 2011 rookie class.
3. Good-Mike Iupati(2010)-17-Niners - Instant starter and has been very impressive since being drafted, quick, strong and works hard.
4. Good-Maurkice Pouncey(2010)-18-Steelers - Instant All-Pro and instantly one of the best Centers in the league.
5. Good-Alex Mack(2009)-21-Browns - Pro Bowl Center and one of the better Centers in the league, will be a stalwart on the Browns offensive line.
6. Good-Ben Grubbs(2007)-29-Ravens - Been a solid starter since entering the league and will be the 2nd best guard in free agency this year behind Carl Nicks.
7. Good-Davin Joseph(2006)-23-Bucs - Resigned with the Bucs last year on a $50+ million dollar deal which shows that he is one of the better guards in the league.
8. Good-Nick Mangold(2006)-29-Jets - Probably the best Center in the league, 'Nuff Said!
9. Average-Chris Spencer(2005)-26-Seahawks - Probably the worst player on this list, he is an average player, nothing more, nothing less.
10. Good-Logan Mankins(2005)-32-Patriots - While he had kind of a down year, or at least a down 2nd half to the season he is one of the best guards (I am kinda getting tired of typing nearly the same thing every time).
11. Average-Jeff Faine(2003)-21-Browns - He has played for a long time in the league and played well, in fact he played better after the Browns traded him earning a Pro Bowl nod as a Saint (of course the Browns traded him before his prime....surprise!)
12. Average-Kendall Simmons(2002)-30-Steelers - Had some good years, sandwiched between numerous injuries, probably would have been much better if not for injuries 
13. Good-Steve Hutchinson(2001)-17-Seahawks - While his game is finally starting to tail off, he was the premier offensive guard in the NFL for many many many years.
14. Good-Damien Woody(1999)-17-Patriots - Good player for a lot of years, eventually playing all positions on the offensive line during his career, best years were probably with the Patriots (except Shotgun snaps)
15. Good-Alan Faneca(1998)-26-Steelers - Future Hall of Famer

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! So I do not even think I will check other positions, as interior line is BY FAR the safest position in the draft, and it is not even close!! There is basically about 1 taken per year in the first round of the draft, and I don't consider any of them to be "busts", there are 7 of them that are/were/will be perennial All-Pro and Pro Browl Players (Faneca, Hutchinson, Mankins, Mangold, Iupati, Ma. Pouncey and Mi. Pouncey), with most of the others having at least one Pro Bowl appearance on their resume. In fact, I would label only Chris Spencer as not living up to expectations, and the notes I have on him (2004 was the first year I really got into the draft) say that he was a reach at #26, and realistically was maybe a second rounder but probably a third rounder.

Because interior linemen are not valued as highly as other positions, it means that only the "Best of the Best"
 are taken in the first round, and teams do not "reach/project" as much, and the general consensus is that you can get an impact player in the first and get nearly as good quality player for your interior offensive line in the second and later rounds (which is not entirely true).

The person that asked this question, did so on the basis of whether or not the Cowboys should draft Stanford Guard David DeCastro at #14 if he is available, which looking at this list he would be as no interior lineman has been taken higher than #15 in the last 15 years. I said well I think taking DeCastro would be a "safe pick", as I have seen no glaring weakness in his game and I think he would fit very well in the Cowboys scheme.

So I would not be disappointed if the Cowboys took DeCastro at #14 as the numbers tell me there is about a 93% success rate, and I will go on a limb and say its about 98% if you do not reach for the player. I believe that DeCastro would form one of the best sides of a line in the NFL for at least 10 years if you teamed him with rookie sensation Tyron Smith (Think Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson). While it is not as big a need position as say cornerback or pass rusher, he will be the closest thing to a "Guarantee" in this draft.

I am even going to start picking the best interior lineman in every single draft and calling him the "safest pick in the draft" and I think I will be right 90% of the time. Anytime you get a 10 year starter in the first round, then you are doing good.

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Dallas Cowboys Breakdown: Offensive Tackle

By:  Bobby Shores

(This is the first part of a multi-part series breaking down the Dallas Cowboys by position, identifying areas of need and possible solutions for those needs, based on my film work and notes taken throughout the season)

The first day of team activity after the lockout ended the Cowboys made a statement that they were getting younger and shedding contracts that no longer made sense (yes the argument can be made that many of the deals never made sense), and it started up front with the right tackle position as they cut Marc Columbo, who was a former first round pick by the Bears whose career had been derailed by injuries before he revived it with the Cowboys.

Currently the Cowboys are only carrying three offensive tackles on the roster, with one of them being a purely project guy. This means that they must look to add an experienced veteran backup during free agency in case one of the starters goes down and their project tackle is not ready to step in.

With new offensive line coach Bill Callahan in the fold, look for the 'Boys to make a run at someone that he is familiar with, purely for depth

Here is a look at the offensive tackles currently on the Cowboys roster, and some changes/additions that may need to be made before training camp:

Tyron Smith (signed through 2014) - The biggest surprise of the 2011 season for not only the offensive line, but the Cowboys as a whole, was the emergence of rookie tackle Tyron Smith (who also happened to be the youngest player in the NFL). Smith was drafted No. 9 overall to play right tackle immediately and then move over to left tackle in a few years, but with the way he played this year, that move needs to happen yesterday.

When the Cowboys made him the first offensive lineman taken in the draft, I will admit I was less than pleased with the pick (Man I hate admitting I was wrong). My reasoning was that drafting the second best tackle on his team (Matt Kalil was the best) in the Top 10 is what you call "settling" and/or "reaching", that coupled with my perception that he lacked the work ethic that I looked for in a high first round pick (Gained 20 "bad" pounds before the draft), fueled my belief that he would be another career underachiever (much like Dez Bryant who I am right on so far). My other problem with him was that he had very little playing experience, starting only 24 games, and personally I like more experienced offensive linemen.

Good thing I can admit when I am wrong, and quickly. Early on in the preseason I started to realize that Smith could be the real deal; the team left him on an island in pass protection where he held his own and was excellent in run blocking where he regularly got to the second level. His dominance continued into the regular season where he often went up against the best pass rushers that teams had to offer and handled them with ease using his quickness, agility, and long arms to route them where he wanted them to go. Smith's only struggles (according to my eye) was dealing with stunts and when a defender used the same move on him over and over he would expect that and wait for it and then get beat when a new pass rush move was used.


Doug Free (signed through 2014) - After a breakout end to the 2009 season subbing in for an injured Columbo at right tackle. Free followed that up with a stellar 2010 season at left tackle holding some of the NFL's elite pass rushers to only 5 sacks all year (he faced Mario Williams, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Packers and Giants(2) that year). He then signed a "team friendly" deal for a guy that appeared to be an up and coming left tackle, in hindsight it appears the team knew more than us and gave him a very good contract for a right tackle, which is where Free should be.

Free regressed badly this year, looking like he did not have the power (specifically in his lower body) or a quick enough first step to handle the big time pass rushers that litter the NFC East (he was credited for giving up 10 sacks). Not only did he struggle with sacks, he also had the most penalties on the team with 10 (5 holding and 5 false starts). Free needs to move back to the right side in 2012 where I believe he will be a Top 5 right tackle, and become a strength for this offensive line.

So why did Free appear to take such a large step back, and why did he seem to not have the power? While this is a tough question to answer from the outside looking in, I honestly think that without being in the team's regular off season strength and conditioning program he came into the season weaker and slower than before and was unable to keep up. Why do I think this? From what I could tell from watching film is that his technique still looks sound, he was just routinely overpowered and/or beat to either the inside or outside....due to not being as strong or quick.

Jeremy Parnell (exclusive rights free agent) - Parnell is relatively new at not only football, but the offensive line. He spent the first three years at Ole Miss playing basketball before playing defensive end his senior year, he signed with the Saints as a free agent in 2009 before the Cowboys signed him off their practice squad in 2010.

Parnell reminds me of a young Jason Peters (not saying he will be that good) in terms of raw talent and athletic ability but needs to improve his strength and add some bulk, and remember it was 3-4 years before Peters became a starting tackle after spending most of his career as a very large and athletic tight end. The Cowboys have already invested two years in Parnell and I expect them to remain patient with him, he should be a solid swing tackle if he can add some weight/strength in the off season.

Off Season Needs/Options

With the Cowboys only needing to add a tackle for depth purposes, I expect them to bring in a mixture of rookie free agents, some young cheap players and maybe a guy or two that new offensive line coach Bill Callahan is familiar with from his Nebraska and/or Jet days.

One possibility is the Dolphins Lydon Murtha who was the #1 offensive tackle prospect coming out of high school, and who Callahan recruited and coached at Nebraska. The 6'7 Murtha was the primary backup to Jake Long before being placed on injured reserve with a toe injury, and from the one preseason game I saw him in performed well


2012 Outlook - I look for Tackle to be a strength of the Cowboys offensive line in 2012 with Free moving to Right Tackle and Smith making the transition to Left Tackle. If Parnell develops as I think he will, he should provide the team with a "swing tackle" that can easily play both spots, allowing the team to carry only 3 tackles. In the event that Parnell does not develop as quickly as I expect, then look for the team to pick up a veteran tackle that is familiar with Callahan and his style.

Be sure to check back in the next couple of days for the release of the Breakdown on the Guards & check the ReclinerQB Twitter account to get it the moment it goes live.

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Changes the Cowboys Need to Make NOW (Part 2)!

By:  Bobby Shores

(This is the second part of a two part series, the first part was released last week)


Yesterday and today we are taking a look at some changes that the Cowboys need to make NOW! While I know that most of them cannot be made until after the season, they need to start preparing, the window of opportunity with this core group of players is closing, and due to mismanagement of the players, coaches, staff, etc. this core group of players has not achieved what their talent level says they should have.

Cowboys Right Tackle Tyron Smith

3) Move Doug Free to Right Tackle and Tyron Smith to Left Tackle - After looking like a Top 10 left tackle last year and being rewarded with a big contract this year it looked like we would be set at left tackle for a couple of years and let Tyron Smith develop slowly at the right tackle spot. The $32 million contract for Free, a young player who looked like a Top 10 Left Tackle seemed like a steal, now it looks like we may have an overpaid Right Tackle.

After a year in which Free has looked like the rookie and Smith has looked like the chiseled veteran it is past time to move them. Free started off on the right side and excelled when he replaced Marc Columbo a couple years back and Smith looks mature beyond his years (mentioned previously here & here) and ready to handle the premier pass rushers of the NFL. Free cannot handle the speed rush or power rush moves of the elite defenders anymore, and it has been obvious nearly every single game this year. This change needs to be made soon before Romo suffers another serious injury.

5) Hire an Offensive Coordinator(OC) - I touched on this in last week's article, but I felt the need to touch on it again here, even after I felt that he called the best game since he took over as head coach this past week against the New York Giants. So what is my problem you are asking? As a head coach I feel you need to be involved in all facets of the game, offense, defense, special teams, etc., and while I don't know for sure I have a feeling that while the Cowboys defense was collapsing, Garrett was to busy dialing up offensive strategy for the next drive instead of helping Rob Ryan plug the hole.

Jerry Jones needs to force Garrett to hire an OC and/or pass/run game coordinators, either way he would still maintain final say over the game plan and play calls, but would also be able to help the defense and special teams. While Garrett is an offensive guy by trade, as a head coach and football lifer he should know enough about the other facets of the game to offer advice and help them reach their potential.

Recently Fired HC's Tony Sparano & Todd Haley

While I believe that Norv Turner is the logical offensive coordinator, if the Cowboys decide to go the route of passing and/or running game coordinator, there are already some good options out there, options that have a history with the Cowboys. Tony Sparano and Todd Haley. Both of these guys are recently fired head coaches who will need to prove themselves in a lesser capacity if they wish to reach the pinnacle of professional football again. With head coaching experience they will be able to help Garrett manage the game and the clock better and should know their role on the team and how to maintain that role.

The need for Garrett to focus more on the "big picture" reared its ugly head again this week when precious seconds ticked away at the end of the game with the Giants on the 1-yard line. The "Andy Reid" style of clock mismanagement has got to stop, and the only way is for Garrett to focus on the entire team and not just the offense.

What do you guys think of the changes? While I know that these are not exhaustive lists, I think they are a good starting point. Let me know what else, or what else we should do differently in the comments.

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Who are These New Look Cowboys (Offense)?

By:  Bobby Shores

The 2011 Dallas Cowboys are a team full of unexpected new contributors, you have high profile draft picks, low profile draft picks, guys that were found on the free agent scrap heap, and one guy that was found on a reality TV show.  And this is just talking about the offensive side of the ball, these contributors are a reason why the wildly inconsistent Cowboys seem to be becoming consistent at the right time to make a late season run into the playoffs.

DeMarco Murray/Montrae Holland/Tony Fiammetta/Running Game - These three guys are the main driving force behind the recent success of the Cowboys and their offense. While most people are giving nearly all the credit to the emergence of rookie running back DeMarco Murray and the highest 3-game rushing total in Cowboys History, if you look closer Murray's rise to success coincides with Holland and Fiammetta becoming fixtures in the starting lineup. 

The recent success of Tony Romo is also directly related to the emergence of the running game as teams now have to account for ground attack instead of playing the pass nearly 100% of  the time. I think we can all agree that Romo is at his best when he does not have to carry the entire offense on his shoulders, when that happens he tries to do too much and that is when he make mistakes.

Montrae Holland - Holland was acquired by the Cowboys in a 2008 trade with the Denver Broncos and has struggled to keep his weight in check, causing him to bounce from reliable multi-position backup, to starter, to backup, to released, to finally being brought back after his back healed up and he lost weight (both are directly related). Before Holland was brought back the Cowboys were working with a very young and small offensive line (3 rookies, yes I know that Center Phil Costa is not a rookie but he might as well be) that I predicted would be a problem early this season, but Holland arrived and instantly made Doug Free and Phil Costa better. 

Not only is he winning the battles in his "area" (Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett also seems to have changed the blocking scheme from 1-on-1 power blocking to more zone blocking) he is also getting out in space and getting in defenders way at the second level. His play has been so impressive that on his first game back Jerry Jones declared that Holland should get the game ball and not DeMarco Murray (who had just rushed for a franchise record 253 yards), and I tend to agree.

DeMarco Murray - the 3rd round draft pick out of Oklahoma, has been the driving force behind the resurgence of the running game. While you have to give a lot of credit to the offensive line and Tony Fiammetta, Murray has started running hard and not going down on first contact ensuring that he gets every yard possible out of every run. In my opinion, much of his success in the last few games has come with a fundamental change in his game, early in the season I saw him receive the hand-off and duck his head through first contact, but now he is keeping his head up allowing him to make that first guy miss when he steps in the hole allowing him to get to the second level.

Tony Fiammetta - Another guy that the Cowboys found on the scrap heap after he was picked from the Panthers, his playing time is also directly related to the emergence of the running game. Fiammetta is better on the edges than than taking linebackers head on in the gaps, and is a throwback fullback of sorts because he seems to be very athletic instead of bulky, with that you would expect him to be a threat out of the backfield, but he is happy clearing the holes for the threats.

Laurent Robinson - Falcons, Rams, Chargers, Cowboys(twice) all before age 26....doesn't sound like the resume of the best wide receiver on the 6th best passing team in the NFL does it? Well Laurent Robinson is currently the wide receiver playing the best for the Cowboys right now, in fact his play has made Miles Austin somewhat....expendable. In fact, I cannot believe that some wannabe sports writer/scout ever once considered that this passing attack needed Randy Moss....what an idiot!! 

Robinson was a journeyman free agent who was always considered talented, but injury prone. He has become a fixture in the Cowboys offense this season accumulating a solid 27 catches for 441 yards and 4 touchdowns. But Robinson's biggest impact has not been his stats, it has been the smaller things he is doing right, like knowing the plays, where to line up and what route to run while doing it at full speed and not loafing (I am talking to you Dez Bryant and Kevin Ogletree). His route running is also precise and crisp; running the routes the same way every time which gives quarterback Tony Romo the comfort of knowing that he can throw to a spot and his receiver will be there. 

It looks like Robinson has become the wide receiver version of Jason Witten for Romo, and in just 7 games this season has become a more reliable and dependable option than Miles Austin, if it weren't for the contract (Economics of the NFL) Robinson would continue to be the #2, even when Austin returns. 

Tyron Smith - Coming out of USC as the 9th overall pick in the draft, Smith was fairly inexperienced after only starting for 1 year, and not even the best tackle on his team (see Matt Kalil). I was very hard on him and did not expect him to make as great an impact as he has. But through a little more than half of the 2011 season Smith has been the best tackle, if not the best lineman on the Cowboys team. 

While he needs some work on leveraging his man off the snap when run blocking, which will come when he puts on some more weight and adds strength, he has been more than adequate in that area. His best attribute is his pass blocking, his first kick at the snap of the ball and his quick feet allow him to be in the right position to direct even the best pass rushers where he wants them to go. His one pass protection fault is when a rusher uses the same move over and over (speed rush to the outside) he starts sitting in his stance expecting it, and then the rusher can use a spin move to the inside or a bull rush and catch him off balance and out of position leading to a negative play. 

With a full season under his belt, including a full off-season in an NFL Weight Room and training camp, I fully expect him to make the transition to left tackle sooner than later, which will move Doug Free back to right tackle, forming arguably the best tackle tandem in the NFL. These problems will work themselves out as Smith gets experience, but until then, the Cowboys and their fans have to be very happy with their 1st round selection.

With these unexpected stars emerging on the Cowboys offense, we can expect big things for the rest of the season, and even further. Check back next week for the "New Look Defense".

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What should the Cowboys do with the #9 Overall Pick in the 2011 Draft?

The Cowboys were an enigma this year, going into the season they were expecting/expected to be the first team in the Super Bowl era to play the big game in their home stadium.....hilarity ensued as they started off 1-7, got Wade Phillips fired as Head Coach, lost their starting QB to injury, and then played competitively at the end of the season to still finish an embarrassing 6-10.  A 6-10 record typically means a team has a whole lot of work to do, but I believe they are closer than most think.  Most mock drafts have the Cowboys taking a CB, OT, or DE with their first pick, and numerous other positions with their 2nd round pick (everything from S, to ILB, OG, DE, and everything else).  Obviously what they do depends on what happens with the 8 picks before them and I will attempt to play out the most likely scenarios here.

One of the two most common pick that mock drafters have the Cowboys taking at #9 is Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara, and I must admit if he is available I think they should STRONGLY consider taking him.  I believe this draft is not very deep on CB's that can make an impact early, so if they are going to take one they need to do it early.  Prince is the near consensus #2 DB in the draft and the Cowboys have a desperate need at CB after they ranked 26th in the league against the pass in 2010.  Terence Newman is likely to be cut before the season due to age, injury, salary, and diminishing skills; and Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick are the other options and they struggled last year due to an inconsistent pass rush, horrible safety play, and "over thinking" instead of using their natural instincts (I expect them to bounce back this year).   The other CB that could be considered would be Colorado's Jimmy Smith who many believe is more talented than Prince (including myself), but his off-field concerns (numerous failed drug tests, 2 arrests, and his #1 off-field concern is a perceived lack of passion/desire to maximize his talents with hard work) will most likely keep him off the Cowboys draft board after they took a chance on someone with supposed "character concerns" last year in Dez Bryant (who apparently forgot to take the class at Oklahoma State where they teach you that you have to pay for what you buy or the one that teaches you that it is not smart to spend 150% of your yearly salary on diamonds).

The next most popular pick for the Cowboys at #9 is OT Tyron Smith of the other USC (Southern California that is).  For the Cowboys, taking any offensive lineman at #9 is a mistake (I know, it's weird saying that as bad as their O-line was), they should not need a LT because I think Doug Free can be "the guy" for them for the next 7-10 years, and I just do not see Smith or any other OL prospect being solid enough to go that high this year (possibly Pouncey, but you can move back and get him).  And if I think Free is the the anchor of the line, then Smith or any tackle they select would be relegated to the right hand side, and I do not think that selecting a RT (really its the LT backup) at #9 is a good philosophy especially in this draft where there is a lot of value to be had at the end of the 1st round.  What keeps Tyron Smith from being a "sure fire" elite prospect in my eyes is he appears to lack the passion and work ethic (gained over 20 bad pounds between end of season and combine) that I want out of a top 10 pick, and is still a little to raw for me (in the NBA they draft on potential especially in the top 15 picks, me, I don't draft on potential until 3rd round).  My other concern with Tyron Smith is that at USC he played right tackle, and even at the collegiate level your best offensive lineman plays left tackle, so why didn't Smith play left tackle?  If the Cowboys are dead set on reaching for an offensive lineman at #9 they should go for Pouncey or Gabe Carimi.

The last position I have been hearing recently for the Cowboys at #9 is Defensive End, in particular, Wisconsin's J.J. Watt.  DE (5-technique) in the Cowboys 3-4 is just not an impact player and I have made my opinion perfectly clear that they just need a big body that can occupy blockers and play the run, and there is not a 3-4 DE in the NFL that I can think of that I would take at #9 in the draft, it is just not an impact position!  So regardless of how bad Dallas needs a 3-4 DE, it is just not a position that is worthy of using a high (and rarely even a low) 1st round pick.

So after all of that, I bet you are wondering, "Then what the heck does the ReclinerQB think the Dallas Cowboys should do with their 1st round draft pick?".  They should trade out of that spot, no matter what, and don't tell me that they cannot find a trading partner because they can.  Now they might not be able to get the "value" that the trade chart says they should, or that people think they should get, but with the guaranteed money that they have to dole out for the contract that the #9 spot requires....there will probably not be a worthy player there that fits their needs.  So even if they can only swap 1st round picks with another team and pick up a 3rd or 4th rounder, than do it.  There will be a player you want and need further down in the 1st round like any number of offensive tackles and CB (Jimmy Smith would be a steal in the 20's).  Then they will be set up perfectly to take one of the higher rated offensive guards with their second round pick.

It's a win-win situation, and to pull this off perfectly and get Dallas back in the Super Bowl hunt, Jerry just needs to bring me in there and let me run (or at least help) this thing for him (I will even let him take credit), if he does that then I promise the Dallas Cowboys will be back in the Super Bowl hunt this year (if he lets me hang around and help out).