Three big questions linger for Cowboys’ Phillips

By Carlos Zepeda  |   Friday, July 13, 2007  |  Comments( 8 )

Dallas Cowboys
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Training camp for the Dallas Cowboys begins on July 24, and there are some questions that new head coach Wade Phillips needs to address before the beginning of the regular season.

1. Will Terrell Owens behave this season?

It's too much to ask, it seems, for Owens to shut up and play. His attention-grabbing off-field antics bring a flood of reporters to his locker, yet he constantly produces on the field to quiet his critics. Owens is fully healed from last season's finger injury, but he turns 33 this year.

Owens is still the go-to receiver in this offense but how long can he keep that up? His age will eventually show itself sooner or later and it is important to get at least one more solid year from him and teammate Terry Glenn, who will also be turning 33.

If Owens blows his top this year like he did in San Francisco and Philadelphia, the Cowboys should still have enough weapons on offense to survive a playoff run, but they won't win a Super Bowl without him.

Phillips' career in Dallas hinges on how he handles the T.O. saga. If Owens explodes and the team fails to make the playoffs, then expect owner Jerry Jones to do whatever it takes to bring in a different, higher-profile coach.

2. How will the defensive line look like this year?

Last year, the Cowboys' D-line wasn't asked to rush the passer. The group's job was to stuff the line and let the linebackers blitz. It was that Bill Parcells game-plan which allowed Lawrence Taylor to be a disruptive force during the 1980s when the duo was with the Giants. In today's NFL and in Wade Phillips' version of the 3-4, everyone rushes the passer.

The defensive line accounted for 13½ sacks last year. Starting ends Marcus Spears and Chris Canty each finished with one sack. This year they will be expected to get to the quarterback and stop the run.

Starting defensive tackle Jason Ferguson didn't register a sack in 2006 and should continue to stuff the middle, but he will also line up in different gaps which should get him into the opposing backfield more often. It will be a challenge for Phillips to get his starters to elevate their play and produce more pressure on the QB.

The other thing that can derail the line is the depth factor. After Spears, Canty and Ferguson, there is little experience. Jay Ratliff is the most promising of the group. He finished his second season in the NFL with 18 tackles and four sacks as he rotated at both end and tackle. Jason Hatcher had 15 tackles and 2½ in 2006 and could see more time as a third-down pass rusher.

3. Is Tony Romo ready for a full season as the Cowboys' No. 1 quarterback?

Last year, Romo went from an unknown backup to Dallas' savior in his first six starts. It was sweet for Cowboys fans when he threw five touchdowns on Thanksgiving Day and sour when he fumbled the snap that cost Dallas its first playoff win since 1996. He had a rough finish but still made the Pro Bowl with a 95.1 passer rating.

In 2006 Romo must prove that he is the savior whom Dallas has needed since Troy Aikman retired. Romo doesn't have to be spectacular; he just can't make the same mistakes that marred his 2006 season.

New offensive coordinator Jason Garrett backed up Aikman during the glory years of the early '90s, and he runs an offense similar to the one former OC Norv Turner put together. It will depend on the running game with precisely timed passes. Romo has to learn the timing of the offense and also keep Owens happy. It is so important for the two of them to get along, and the only way Romo can do that is by throwing to Owens early and often.

Romo is also working for a contract extension this year. Jones has been reluctant to talk about contract extensions, so it looks as if Romo will have to prove that he can be the quarterback he was last November when he threw for 1,124 yards, nine touchdowns and a passer rating of 124.7.

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CommentsComments: 8  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Jesse		05:11 PM
07/14/2007
3 Big Answers: 1 Wade will do as he does and befriend players. TO didn't go too crazy (seeing that his attempted suicide was NOT...
No.2
warren		05:58 PM
07/14/2007
Funny, those are about the three least worried about things anyone who knows anything about the cowboys is worried...
No.3
Capt Z		06:32 PM
07/14/2007
The D does have to step up to get to the playoffs or otherwise Romo and TO will not make it possible on their own.
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