Dallas Cowboys Season Preview

(Courtesy of My Sportsbook) - In 2005, defense will be the word in Big D.

A 2004 unit that Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells acknowledged was the weakest of his career has been completely revamped, to the point where fans of America's Team are thinking long and hard about a complete turnaround of last year's 6-10 campaign. Gone is the 4-3 defense, replaced with the Parcells-favored 3-4. Gone is mainstay and Pro Bowl linebacker Dexter Coakley, an undersized player who was the antithesis of the type Parcells prefers on his defense. In are free agent pickups in nose tackle Jason Ferguson, cornerbacks Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn, and safety Izell Reese, a group that Parcells and Dallas owner Jerry Jones expect to bolster a club that was 21st against the pass in 2004.

In are marquee draft picks in outside linebacker Demarcus Ware (Troy), defensive end Marcus Spears (LSU) and linebacker Kevin Burnett (Tennessee), whom the team believes could shape the look of their defensive unit for the better part of the next decade. Clearly, however, Parcells is not looking at long-term projections. The 64- year-old head coach, into his third season with the Cowboys, is looking to win big and win immediately. In his most recent stops, Parcells spent four years with the Patriots (1993-96) and three years with the Jets (1997-99) before bowing out, and the smart money is on his time on the Texas Stadium sideline lasting not much longer than either of those tenures. The time is now for Parcells and the Cowboys, and a potentially suffocating defense is expected to be the key to the storied franchise's resurgence. Below we take a capsule look at the 2005 edition of the Dallas Cowboys, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

RB: After missing eight games due to injury early into his rookie year, Julius Jones (819 yards, 7 TD) emerged in the second half of 2004 as the rushing presence Bill Parcells so desired. Jones' development allowed the team to dispense with Eddie George (432 yards, 4 TD), Richie Anderson (246 rushing yards, 26 receptions), and ReShard Lee (128 yards, 1 TD), the three players other than Jones who received significant carries last season. Now battling for the No. 2 spot on the rushing depth chart will be former Bear Anthony Thomas (404 yards, 2 TD with Chicago) and fourth-round draft choice Marion Barber III, along with undrafted rookie Tyson Thompson (San Jose State). Darian Barnes started 10 games at fullback last season and is back to re- assume that role. Lousaka Polite saw his first pro action in Week 17 of 2004 and will be listed as the backup if he can hold off second-year pro Erik Bickerstaff.

WR/TE: The Cowboys received a minimal contribution from their receivers last year, yet did nothing to upgrade that unit through either free agency or the draft in the offseason. That means veterans Keyshawn Johnson (70 receptions, 6 TD) and Terry Glenn (24 receptions, 2 TD) should have little trouble stepping back into starting jobs, with Quincy Morgan (31 receptions, 3 TD with Browns and Cowboys), Terrance Copper (7 receptions, 1 TD) and Patrick Crayton (12 receptions, 1 TD) appearing set to serve as backups. Glenn missed the final 10 games of the 2004 season with a foot injury. Tight end Jason Witten (87 receptions, 6 TD) had a breakthrough year in 2004, making the Pro Bowl in his first full season as a starter. The status of Dan Campbell, who missed most of last season after tearing ligaments in his right foot, is in question after Campbell had an emergency appendectomy in late July. Sean Ryan, who would have moved up the depth chart in Campbell's absence, fractured his foot on August 1st and could miss all of training camp. Relative unknowns Brett Pierce and Mike Gomez will stand to gain if either Campbell or Ryan can't make an expedient return.

OL: Dallas was shaky on the line at times in 2004, and took steps to upgrade the unit in the offseason. Pro Bowl right guard Marco Rivera was brought in from Green Bay to help bolster the line, but must prove he's fully healthy after having offseason back surgery. Tackle Flozell Adams and guard Larry Allen should again occupy the left side, and center Al Johnson should again be a fixture in the middle. The battle at right tackle focuses on three players - Kurt Vollers, Torrin Tucker, and Jacob Rogers - with the second-year pro Rogers leading the campaign early in camp. The two losers of the three-player battle will have a chance to stick as backups, as will former starters Andre Gurode and Tyson Walter. Stephen Peterman, a third-round pick in 2004 who missed all of last season with an injury, is projected as a possible backup at both guard slots.

DL: In an effort to turn around the disappointing defense of 2004, Parcells and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer are implementing a 3-4 defense. At the center of the line will be free agent pickup Jason Ferguson (59 tackles, 3.5 sacks), who should play in a rotation with holdover La'Roi Glover (41 tackles, 7 sacks). Greg Ellis (59 tackles, 9 sacks) is expected to settle in at one end, with first-round draft choice Marcus Spears (LSU) playing the opposite side. Spears suffered a leg injury in training camp that could keep him out for a month, allowing fourth-round pick Chris Canty (Virginia) to receive extra reps. Canty and holdovers Eric Ogbogu (14 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and Kenyon Coleman (9 tackles, 1 sack) should serve as backups at end.

LB: The Cowboys' new four-linebacker rotation will center around inside linebackers Dat Nguyen (107 tackles, 3 INT) and Bradie James (46 tackles), who will work for the first time without the departed Dexter Coakley (71 tackles). On the outside, first-round draft choice Demarcus Ware (Troy) is being counted on to serve as the team's primary pass rusher, and veteran Al Singleton (47 tackles) should occupy the other outside slot. Scott Shanle (29 tackles) was valuable as a spot starter in 2004, and figures to be a backup along with third-round pick Kevin Burnett (Tennessee). Kalen Thornton (16 tackles) and Keith O'Neil (14 tackles) received most of their reps on special teams a year ago, but may be playing for just one spot in 2005.

DB: Parcells' club was consistently weak at cornerback last season, and went and signed Anthony Henry (76 tackles, 4 INT with the Browns) and Aaron Glenn (63 tackles, 5 INT with the Texans) because of those problems. Henry will start, and Glenn will act as an insurance policy in case Terence Newman (68 tackles, 4 INT) fails to regain his previous stellar form. Lance Frazier (40 tackles, 2 INT) and Jacques Reeves (19 tackles) were both part-time corner starters last season, but one could be subject to the chopping block following the addition of Henry and Glenn. Roy Williams (94 tackles, 2 INT), who had a disappointing 2004, has been moved from free safety to strong safety to maximize his skills. The battle for the starting free safety job involves holdovers Keith Davis (17 tackles), Lynn Scott (42 tackles, 1 INT) and offseason acquisition Izell Reese (36 tackles, 1 INT). The odd men out in that quest figure to stick as backups.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Parcells has never been a great champion of the efforts of kicker Billy Cundiff (20-26 FG, 31-31 XP), but Dallas has yet to bring in another player to win the job from him. Jose Cortez, who last attempted a field goal with the Redskins in 2002, is Cundiff's latest camp competition. Punter Mat McBriar (42.4 avg.) had a strong year in 2004, and will retain his job into this season. Lance Frazier (9.5 punt return avg.) handled most of Dallas' punt returns last season, and is in the hunt to re-assume that role. Main kickoff returner ReShard Lee (23.5 kickoff return avg.) is gone, leaving Terrance Copper (19.2 avg.) and Jacques Reeves (15.3 avg.) as the most experienced players in that regard.

PROGNOSIS: The Dallas offense had plenty of disappointing moments in 2004, but it was the defense with which Bill Parcells had the greatest frustrations. To rectify that situation, the Cowboys concentrated their offseason energies almost 100 percent to the defensive side of the ball, and now look to have the requisite talent to be one of the league's strongest defensive teams during the upcoming campaign. The unit, which will be shifting from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under coordinator Mike Zimmer (who has never coached that scheme), could have its growing pains as incoming free agents, heralded rookies, and a selection of holdovers attempt to meld together into a cohesive group. If they can come together by the time October hits, it should all be downhill from there. Offensively, the Cowboys need Julius Jones to carry the load and Bledsoe to make a few timely throws per game (as well as avoid the sack) in order to succeed. But to be sure, Dallas will sink or swim in 2005 with its defense, and if they swim, America's Team should once again find itself playing meaningful football in January.