With all the talent that has come and gone through the eyes of owner JERRY JONES since 1996, you have got to feel his pain of not appearing in, let alone capturing, a Super Bowl championship for the last 16 years. In that time span, the Cowboys have had the money and the talent to at least earn three Super Bowl rings or appearances (1996, 2006, and 2007).
In 2012, the Cowboys are faced with the same old story which is that they have the talent to do some damage but will they underachieve when it really counts, such as in division play or in the playoffs? Stay tuned. In this early look, I will review the Cowboys current active roster numerically, and analyze quickly every player they have and how they can help the Cowboys this year.
KAI FORBATH was one of the better kickers to go to UCLA in recent memory and he will be in competition with last year’s starting kicker DAN BAILEY for the kickoff, extra points, and placekicking duties. Both of them have strong legs and can be accurate extra point and field goal kickers but the Cowboys must decide if they will carry the both of them for the entire season, because kickers can get hurt too. Forbath didn’t play a down for the Cowboys in 2011 and Bailey did everything for them last year. I predict Bailey (barring injury or mass inconsistency) will win the placekicking job for the 2012 season.
Punter CHRIS JONES (punted in just 2 games) for most of the 2011 season had to watch starting punter MAT MCBRIAR play out his contract. McBriar is a free agent and he still hasn’t been re-signed by the Cowboys, or signed by any other team, and Jones is the only punter on the Cowboys current roster. Jones better believe competition for his job is coming from either McBriar, a newcomer (rookie or a free agent veteran).
Now that the Cowboys signed KYLE ORTON to be TONY ROMO’s backup, or possible competition, STEPHEN MCGEE’s job just got harder or more crowded. Now he has to tear it up in camp, wait for two more quarterbacks to get hurt, or hope the Cowboys get blown out or blow out somebody for him to see action. Thank God he had a good career at Texas A&M to look back on (5,475 career yards and a 28-13 touchdown to interception ratio and around a 2 1/3 year starter at quarterback there).
Speaking of Romo, most of the Cowboys’ success goes through him. If he can stay healthy in 2012, and with the offensive weapons he has at his disposal, he will have no excuses for why he can’t take the ‘Boys to the next level.
TEDDY WILLIAMS has been with Dallas since 2010 and he hasn’t played a down, and at the same time hasn’t found his niche as either a receiver or defensive back. The ‘Boys have six receivers on their roster and after DEZ BRYANT and MILES AUSTIN, Williams will have to compete with the remainder to stay on the roster. One of the reasons why Dallas has kept him around though is because of his track speed, but in 2012 that may not be enough anymore.
ANDRE HOLMES has long and athletic legs that can just eat up yards and space when he has the ball in his hands. He is a complementary receiver and it would be nice to see what he can do this year. DWAYNE HARRIS saw action in seven games in 2011 with no stats. He was basically a special teams player or extra blocker when he actually did get in at receiver. The 2012 season will be pivotal for his development.
Orton was signed to push Romo or give the Cowboys enough bodies to look at with the quarterback position. Orton can still play, but his career is in decline. The Cowboys may be his last chance to ever start again in the league, as Romo is signed through the 2014 off season and is also at a crossroads in his career. The 2012 and 2013 seasons are crucial for Romo and Orton’s careers.
Austin is one of the more elite receivers in the league when healthy but he hasn’t had a 1,000 yard season since 2010. The ‘Boys lose part of their soul when this guy isn’t in the lineup. Three words that are critical for the Cowboys offense in 2012: MILES JONATHON AUSTIN.
MIKE JENKINS is the best all around defensive back on the Cowboys roster and he needs to be healthy or 80 percent himself for their secondary to be where they need to be.
Signing BRODNEY POOL will only help the secondary, as a he is a heck of an athlete and player when he wants to be. Potentially, he is an upgrade over free agent strong safety ABRAM ELAM. C.J. WILSON was signed last year, but he didn’t play at all. Wilson has talent and is an opportunistic player but he has never started and it will be hard for him to crack the cornerback position with all the talent they have there or may end up signing.
FELIX JONES just needs to stay healthy and complement a bigger back, and his health is crucial as far as the running game goes. DEMARCO MURRAY is in the same position as Jones, but he needs to complement the smaller Jones.
MARIO BUTLER was a developmental body last year, but in 2012 he will have to prove himself at a potentially crowded and very talented cornerback position. ORLANDO SCANDRICK over time with hard work and his own ability—and the ‘Boys defensive schemes—has turned into a exemplary corner. JUSTIN ROSS-TAPLIN was a developmental body in 2011 and he may be near the same situation as the before mentioned Butler.
PHILLIP TANNER can be a heck of a blocker at fullback, and he can also carry the mail, but blocking is where he is needed in this offense. MANA SILVA comes from a long line of no-nonsense defensive backs out of the University of Hawaii, and the safety needs a good offseason to make the Cowboys. He won’t beat out GERALD SENSABAUGH or Pool for a safety position, but Silva can provide special teams play and some skills versus the run as a backup safety. BRANDON CARR was a solid Kansas City Chief for four years, but he may have a hard time beating out Scandrick for one of the starting corner jobs, because the latter is in his prime and is on his way up.
Since DANNY MCCRAY has been employed by Dallas since 2010, he has been a backup safety and special teams player. Look for the same scenario in 2012.
With Pool around, BARRY CHURCH’s ascent to a starting job at strong safety just got harder. That is going to be an interesting competition between those two. Like Scandrick, Sensabaugh is on his way in this talented but unsung safety group. He led all Cowboys safeties in tackles in 2011.
SHAUN CHAPAS has more competition at fullback with the recently signed LAWRENCE VICKERS. Both of them can block and run and can be upgrades over restricted free agent TONY FIAMMETTA who wasn’t bad himself. People are talking about SEAN LEE, and in a good way, as he showed that he is ready to be one of the vital cogs of this defense after leading the team in tackles in 2011. Lee is an athletic and high intensity player who will only get better. If fellow inside linebacker BRADIE JAMES isn’t re-signed (it doesn’t look promising as the Cowboys gave new free agent DAN CONNOR James’ jersey number) then what a pair Connor and Lee would be together inside.
Young buck BRASHTON SATELE is just waiting for his chance be with this team, or any team, as he is just a hungry player. It would be nice to see the ‘Boys making a place for him on their roster.
Sitting behind DEMARCUS WARE can only help ALEX ALBRIGHT’s game. Albright is an athletic and high motor rusher who is trying to find his niche. Linebacker Connor can be a solid player when healthy. VICTOR BUTLER and the Cowboys need to realize his potential soon.
ORIE LEMON can be a tackling machine and an effective run defender. He can play inside or outside backer but he is a work in progress. For the last two years, BARAKA ATKINS has been as active as a dead fish (be it injuries or the teams he’s played for deactivating him). Being with Dallas can be a new start for him as he just got signed by them.
by Matthew Robinson
