2006 NFL Preview: The Dallas Cowboys
2006 NFL Grade: B+
Running Back/Full Back- If youngster Julius Jones can stay healthy for the entire 2006 NFL season, the Cowboys will be well set at running back. If Jones hits a few bumps along the road or gets hurt in 2006, the Cowboys have Marion Barber to fall back upon, but neither running back has proven that they can run the ball full time for an entire NFL season. Bill Parcells may go looking for a free agent running back to provide veteran leadership or a young running back hungry for a chance at the NFL.
2006 NFL Grade: B
Wide Receiver/Tight End- Terrell Owens’ addition to the Cowboys would be terrific if they knew they would get a tantrum-free year out of him, but even half a season with Parcells will do wonders for a lethargic receiving corps. Owens should have a Pro Bowl year and look for 2006 to be a season where he tries to make amends for the rest of his career. Outside of Owens, the Cowboys have some good receivers, with veteran Terry Glenn and second year receiver Patrick Crayton giving some support to Bledsoe. At tight end, Jason Witten will have a Pro Bowl type year and rookie Anthony Fasano should prove doubters wrong about his draft position.
2006 NFL Grade: B+
Offensive Line- The heart of the Cowboys’ offense will be the offensive line, with center Al Johnson anchoring the line. Johnson will develop into a true Cowboys lineman of the 1990s, smart and athletic with enough power to knock back defenders. At the guard positions, veteran Marco Rivera and young guard Kyle Kosier should develop around Johnson as a strong interior line team. New addition Jason Fabini will win the heated contest for the right tackle position in the 2006 NFL season, providing Bledsoe and company some protection on the front side while dominating tackle Flozell Adams handles the backside rush.
2006 NFL Grade: A-
Defensive Line- The Cowboys’ defense is going to revolve around how well the defensive line does in 2006. Veteran Greg Ellis and second year defensive end Marcus Spears are going to develop as a solid defensive line that will allow the linebacker corps to make some plays on the run and in coverage. In rotation with these two will be rookie Chris Canty, who should provide more pass rushing help on obvious pass downs. Defensive tackle Jason Ferguson should provide a big presence in the middle of the Cowboys’ defense in the 2006 NFL season and will allow Rocky Boiman and Bobby Carpenter to step up and make plays at the first level.
2006 NFL Grade: B+
Linebacker- Bill Parcells finally has a linebacker corps that is similar to the ones he had with the New York Giants, though relatively unpolished. In three or four years, the grouping of middle linebackers Rocky Boiman and Bobby Carpenter and outside linebackers DeMarcus Wayne and Al Singleton may be as good as any linebacker corps in the league over the last few decades. Wayne and Carpenter are hard nosed and aggressive, while Singleton and Boiman are experienced enough to give the Cowboys leadership in the second level in 2006. Look for Wayne to have an even better year in 2006 than in 2005, as he will get more consistent over an entire season.
2006 NFL Grade: A
Defensive Back- Terence Newman and Anthony Henry will remain the starting tandem at cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys in 2006 and will have another year to develop their games to a new level. Look for Henry to really take off statistically this year as Newman becomes a shutdown corner against some serious competition (he is going to play against Terrell Owens every day in practice and plays some solid receivers in 2006). Hard-hitting safety Roy Williams and veteran Marcus Coleman will aid the young corner pairing by keeping receivers in front of them and make enough big plays to force offenses into small and medium range plays.
2006 NFL Grade: A-
Kicker/Punter- The Cowboys upgraded their kicking position in the 2006 offseason, releasing Billy Cundiff in favor of former Colt Mike Vanderjagt. Though Vanderjagt has to shake off a horrible missed kick in the AFC Divisional playoff, the Cowboys are getting one of the best kickers in NFL history and a kicker looking to prove himself with a new team. Bill Parcells is sticking with punter Mat McBriar, the Australian born kicker, though he is notoriously fickle with specialists and a better punter could push McBriar out with a bad start in the 2006 NFL season.
2006 NFL grade: B
2006 NFL Projection- The Dallas Cowboys are only going to get better this season, going 11-5 and making their way further toward the NFC championship.
