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Murray Tweaks Hamstring

Scott Crisp — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:17:56 -0500

Injury prone starting running back DeMarco Murray saw his first OTA cut short on Tuesday after suffering a hamstring injury. Head coach Jason Garrett didn’t get into any specifics after the session, but said the team will proceed with caution so as not to force the issue with Murray or anyone else.

“We don’t want to put any of those guys in a situation where they’re going to take a backwards step,” Garrett said, per the Dallas Morning News. “Obviously you want them all out there, going 100 miles an hour. But you have to understand it is May 21, this is OTA 1, and we have a long way to go. So we’ll take a conservative approach.”

The good news: Garrett continued to say of Murray, “We anticipate to see him in the next few practices.”

Murray’s rookie season was cut short by a fractured ankle, and he missed six games a season ago with ligament damage in his foot. Dallas picked up Oklahoma State running back Joseph Randle in the fifth round of the 2013 draft to back up and play alongside the starter.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Romo: 8-8 Not Good Enough

Scott Crisp — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:13:21 -0500

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo isn’t taking part in the team’s first organized team activities of the offseason as he recovers from a procedure to remove a cyst from his back. But he is present at Valley Ranch, giving the franchise quarterback the first chance to speak to the media since signing an unprecedented six-year, $108 million extension.

Like everybody in the organization, Romo was quick to point out that 8-8, Dallas’ record in each of the past two seasons, isn’t going to cut it.

“I love this organization,” Romo said, per the Dallas Morning News. “We’ve started something here. We haven’t achieved that goal yet. But I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we don’t…We were 8-8. That feels average. I don’t like being an average football team. I don’t like being an average quarterback who is a part of 8-8. I feel like we’re better than that.

“I feel like we need to do things to change that.”

Not only is Romo’s supporting cast a lot different than a year ago, the coaching staff has a new-look as well, keeping with Jerry Jones’ promise to shake things up following the team’s season-ending loss to the Redskins in week 17.

“The challenge of trying to get to where we want to go is extremely exciting, extremely tough, extremely challenging in a good way,” Romo said. “It’s not just me. It’s all the players, all the coaches, everyone in the organization is doing that. No one is content with an 8-8 football season.

“It’s going to be good. It’s going to be good around here.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Houston, Bay Area Secure Super Bowls

Frank Heinz — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:45:21 -0500

NFL team owners have awarded Super Bowl L and LI to the Bay Area and Houston.

In Houston, Super Bowl LI will be played at Reliant Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans, in 2017.

"I can't tell you how excited I am for Houston in being selected as the site for the 2017 Super Bowl," says Houston Texans owner Bob McNair. "This is a worldwide stage that will be constructed in Houston and the world will be watching. It's an opportunity to showcase our wonderful city, the NFL and the Super Bowl all at the same time."

Reliant Stadium last hosted the big game in 2004. Houston hosted the game once before that, at Rice Stadium in 1974.

Details of Houston's 10-day festival, to be called "Super Bowl El Centro," and other plans, will be revealed Friday.

In the Bay Area, Super Bowl L will be played at the 49ers new stadium due to open in 2014 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Bay Area has hosted the Super Bowl once before, in 1985 when Super Bowl XIX was played in Stanford Stadium.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cowboys Run Shotgun Equally on Every Down

Jonathan Bales — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:35:46 -0500

The last thing a play-caller wants is to be predictable. We can talk about execution all day and while the players obviously need to perform on the field, it’s the play-caller’s responsibility to put them in the best position to do that. Some plays have a higher success rate than others in specific situations, and the play-caller need to maximize that chances for success.

I’ve been breaking down the Cowboys’ formations in an attempt to determine how much predictability exists in their play-calling. Not all predictability is bad—it can be harnessed to secure big plays—but in general, we want the play-calls to be as unpredictable as possible.

Yesterday, I showed that the Cowboys rarely run the ball from Shotgun. We’d never expect a really high Shotgun run rate since the alignment is used mostly in passing situations, but I explained that the ‘Boys don’t use Shotgun solely on third down or in the fourth quarter. Further, they’re tipping their play-calls via the specific Shotgun formation; when Jason Witten is split out wide, the offense almost always passes the ball, regardless of the situation.

Below, I broke down the Cowboys’ 2012 Shotgun plays based on the down.

First Down: 32.5 percent
Second Down: 33.6 percent
Third/Fourth Down: 33.8 percent

The distribution is pretty incredible with nearly the exact same number of plays across the three downs (if we count third and fourth down together). So while Dallas uses Shotgun on the majority of their third down plays, it’s not like they never run it on first or second down.

I also broke down the Shotgun plays via quarter. The first number below is the percentage of total Shotgun plays that occurred in each quarter. The second number is the percentage of those plays that were on third down. So in the first quarter, the Cowboys ran 15.1 percent of their total Shotgun plays, but 54.9 percent of those first quarter plays were on third down.

First Quarter: 15.1 percent/54.9 percent
Second Quarter: 24.6 percent/32.8 percent
Third Quarter: 21.3 percent/33.6 percent
Fourth Quarter/Overtime: 39.0 percent/26.4 percent

I think these numbers are telling because it shows that Jason Garrett doesn’t necessarily put a lot of Shotgun plays into the game plan. In the first quarter of games, the Cowboys don’t line up in Shotgun that often, doing so primarily on third down when they need to pass. By the second quarter, the Shotgun rate jumps substantially, suggesting the Cowboys have either scrapped their game plan by the second quarter or else just wait that long to call optimal plays. This trend to start the game with Tony Romo under center could be one reason the Cowboys start games so slowly.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Austin Looking To Stay Healthy

Scott Crisp — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:07:14 -0500

As Cowboys receiver Miles Austin knows well, once hamstring issues start, they’re hard to stop, always seemingly cropping back up without warning--this has been a major hurdle for Austin over the past couple seasons, and it’s inspired the Monmouth product to change his workout routine this offseason in hopes that he can stay healthy and return to Pro Bowl form.

"I'm definitely strengthening my hamstrings a lot more than I have been," Austin said, per ESPN Dallas. "Just doing a different routine, a couple of extra exercises each day on our leg days. Just running hard and trying to compete at a higher level this time, that way it doesn't shock your muscles when you actually do it for real."

Head coach Jason Garrett said this offseason that the team is keeping a watchful eye on Austin in order to make sure that he doesn’t overwork himself and aggravate the hamstring, but Austin also doesn’t want to slow down too much.

"What he says about that, I assume at the end of practices we're working hard," Austin said. "And I'm going to continue to do that. I got to train as well as I can beforehand, but I can't be the player that I am (if I don't) practice hard, and I will continue to do those things."

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Darrell Green's Son Now a Cowboy

Scott Crisp — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:53:05 -0500

The son of legendary Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green, Jared Green, didn’t have any qualms about joining the Dallas Cowboys, his dad’s greatest rival through his Hall of Fame career. In fact as hard as it may be to believe, according to the Dallas Morning News, Jared Green--a second-year wide receiver--grew up wearing the jersey of Michael Irvin.

“I just had so much admiration for Michael Irvin and for my dad, I really wasn’t even rooting for a certain team,” Jared said recently. “I just had so much fun watching them go against each other.”

The younger Green said he recently had the opportunity to have dinner with Irvin.

“Learning from him from the receiver aspect and learning from my father at the DB aspect, you really can’t get any better than that,” Jared said. “I just feel very blessed and humble to be able to be raised by a hall of famer and to have close relationships to hall of famers.”

Green is expected to compete for that fifth receiver spot and, if he makes the team, he believes we could see something we never thought we’d see in a million years: His father, the great Darrell Green, in a Cowboys jersey.

“It would only make sense that a proud dad would wear his son’s jersey,” Jared said. “Any fan or any spectator should appreciate that.”

Photo Credit: NBCWashington.com

NFL Considers Pro Bowl Changes

Scott Crisp — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:39:28 -0500

In their never-ending effort to make the Pro Bowl something fans actually want to watch, the NFL is reportedly considering reworking the event so it’s “more like a game show,” according to ProFootballTalk.com.

This would include having incentives available to players throughout the game in order to, according to the NFL Network’s Albert Breer via PFT, “make it so every single minute of the game has some sort of thing that’s going to keep fans interested and engaged.”

The idea is that since no one really takes the game seriously as is, they might as well drop the charade of treating it like an actual football contest. Breer went on to say that the league doesn’t “feel the need to keep the integrity of what a normal football game is.”

Romo to Miss OTAs After Back Surgery

Greg Janda — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:03:33 -0500

Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo will miss three weeks of OTA practices after having surgery to remove a cyst from his back.

The Cowboys official website said Romo had the surgery in April, but the procedure will keep him from practicing with the team during the next three weeks and may have him sitting out during a three-day minicamp in June.

The team expects Romo to be ready for practice by the time training camp rolls around in July.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Newton to Garrett: Ignore Jerry

Scott Crisp — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:50:29 -0500

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is as meddlesome as ever, and according to one former Cowboy, this could be a bad thing for head coach Jason Garrett.

“What Garrett has to do is when he’s running his practices, make sure he’s running his practices,” former offensive lineman Nate Newton told 103.3-FM ESPN Radio, per the Dallas Morning News. “When Jerry [Jones] walks out there, don’t even acknowledge him. I love Mr. Jones. If he comes out on this field, I’m going to want to shake his hand.

“But I’m not the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. I’m not trying to keep control of 53 grown men that’s running rampant. So if I’m Jason--no disrespect to Mr. Jones--but you hired me to do a job and then you stripped away everything that meant something to me during this off-season. Now I’ve got to get some of this back in front of the troops.”

Garrett is one of the few holdovers on the staff left from the 2012 season. Jones cleaned house after the season-ending loss to the Redskins, getting rid of two coordinators and a handful of other coaches, and hiring Monte Kiffin to take over the defense. He opted to stick with his head coach, but we have the feeling this could change if Dallas once again misses the playoffs.

Crawford Trying for Starting Job

Scott Crisp — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:45:00 -0500

With a talented but aging defensive line in place, 2012 third round pick Tyrone Crawford won’t likely win a starting job this season, but that’s not going to stop him from trying.

"For me and every single guy on the defensive line, they will tell me and even the vets like Hatch and Rat, go into every year trying to be a starter," Crawford said, per ESPN Dallas. "That's what I do every year, even if I don't get the starting spot. I'm playing like a starter when I'm on second string. We all have big roles. If we can fill those roles this year like we're starters (playing) on the second string, we might have one of the best defensive line in the NFL."

The projected starting defensive front is DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher, Jay Ratliff and Anthony Spencer. But the way Kiffin runs his defense, Crawford will likely get plenty of time on the field.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Smith Takes Up Karate

Scott Crisp — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:45:03 -0500

Taking a cue from Cowboys greats Randy White and Larry Allen, left tackle Tyron Smith has reportedly begun practicing karate this offseason.

“They did karate to get their hands quicker and smoother,” Smith said, per the Dallas Morning News. “It’s more about hand-eye coordination. Right now, I’m trying to get our offensive line into it.”

Smith also wants to bulk up this offseason. He is currently around 305, but he wants to add around 10 pounds of muscle. He was arguably the team’s best offensive lineman in each of his first two seasons, but he sees room for improvement and believes getting bigger will help him take that step forward.

“I just want to be a better run blocker and be stronger and more physical,” Smith explained. “There were times last year where I felt like I was too fast and I was a little off-balanced. I just basically want to add a little weight and stay there, be fast and strong at the same time.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cowboys Swap One CB for Another

Scott Crisp — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:28:19 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys swapped one cornerback for another on Friday afternoon, cutting Dustin Harris and signing Malik James.

James played college ball at Cincinnati and Nevada but, after being dismissed from Nevada for a DUI arrest, finished his career at Langston. He only played four games last year due to an injury, but he did bring down a pair of interceptions.

A Texas A&M product, Harris joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent earlier this month.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Carter Studying Derrick Brooks

Scott Crisp — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:15:23 -0500

Ever since the Dallas Cowboys brought in Monte Kiffin as defensive coordinator, Bruce Carter has been drawing comparisons to one of Kiffin’s brightest pupils in Tampa Bay, Derrick Brooks. And Carter finds the comparison flattering.

“Everybody’s just been hitting me with it--Derrick Brooks, Derrick Brooks,” Carter said, per ESPN Dallas. "That's a good thing."

Since he’ll be playing Brooks’ old position in Kiffin’s Tampa 2 scheme, Carter has spent a good deal of the offseason studying film of the nine-time All-Pro.

“He was always around the ball,” Carter said of Brooks. “He was always flying around. He was a playmaker. He was always in the right position at the right time. That’s something I want to do.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cowboys Rarely Run From Shotgun

Jonathan Bales — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:28:24 -0500

While it’s debatable that the Cowboys need to run the ball more often, no one would disagree with the fact that the team must find a way to do it more efficiently. If the ‘Boys average 3.6 YPC on the ground in 2013, they’ll probably be watching the playoffs from home yet again.

Last week, I mentioned that the offense has traditionally run best from three-receiver packages and spread formations. They rarely do it, but running from spread opens up the field and decreases the number of blocks needed for a play to be successful. Of course, one potential problem is that the Cowboys often use a shotgun alignment when they use receiver-heavy personnel. If they don’t want to be predictable, they need to run the ball from shotgun. That’s something that Jason Garrett hasn’t liked to do.

In 2012, the Cowboys used shotgun on over 50 percent of their offensive snaps (548). Many of those were on third down or late in games when defenses knew they’d pass, but many were also in normal game situations. I tracked the run/pass balance from each formation.

Gun 3 Wide Pro: 18 passes, 0 runs
Gun 5 Wide: 39 passes, 0 runs
Gun Spread: 96 passes, 3 runs
Gun Tight End Spread: 140 passes, 13 runs
Gun Tight End Trips: 85 passes, 22 runs
Gun Trips: 129 passes, 2 runs

So the Cowboys had 548 plays from a shotgun formation, but ran the ball from gun just 40 times (7.3 percent). That wouldn’t be a problem if the team used shotgun solely in pass-only situations, but Garrett called for shotgun quite often in the first half, in close games, on first and second down, and so on. That’s an advantage to the defense, even if they don’t know where the ball will be thrown, because the defensive line can pin their ears back and come right after Tony Romo. The Cowboys could theoretically hit them with a screen pass to stop the rush, but they don’t; they ran all of eight screen passes to running backs in 2012.

On top of that, when the Cowboys do run from shotgun, it’s almost always from “Gun Tight End Spread” or “Gun Tight End Trips”—the formations where Jason Witten lines up in-line. From the other four Shotgun formations the Cowboys utilized in 2012, they ran the ball five times combined, despite using the looks plenty in situations when they could have run the ball.

I don’t mean to give the Cowboys away (or do I?), but it’s pretty simple for opposing defensive coordinators; if the Cowboys are in shotgun and Witten is split out wide as a receiver, the offense is going to pass the ball, regardless of the situation.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Garrett Downplays Romo Role Change

Scott Crisp — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:54:16 -0500

Dallas Cowboys brass, owner and Jerry Jones in particular, have said all offseason that Tony Romo will have an increased role in offensive gameplanning in 2013 and beyond, but head coach Jason Garrett doesn’t seem to believe the signal caller’s role will be all that different from previous years.

“It’s similar to every quarterback situation in the league,” Garrett said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I have been a quarterback in this league. I have been around those dynamics. I have been quarterback coach. I have been the offensive coordinator. In every organization you are trying to get that rapport with the quarterback and the offensive coordinator.”

If there is any difference in his role in 2013, Garrett continued, it’s simply the product of Romo having another season of NFL experience under his belt.

“I think certainly the more experienced the player is the more he understands the offense, the more opposing defenses he is going to see, the smarter the player he is,” Garrett said. “A lot of that has to do with the understanding of the game that comes through experience. They become more credible. Tony is a veteran quarterback. He has played a lot of snaps for us. He has been our quarterback for six years now. So his voice matters to us. It has mattered for a long time.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kyle Wilber Bulks Up

Scott Crisp — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:40:07 -0500

Anticipating a move from linebacker to defensive line in Monte Kiffin’s 4-3 defense, Kyle Wilber showed up to the team’s voluntary offseason workout program more than ten pounds heavier than he was a year ago.

“Right now I’m 255,” said Wilber, who was listed at 243 a year ago, per ESPN Dallas. “The coaches tell me ‘Keep your speed. You don’t need to get bigger. If you’re 260 and still have your speed, that’s fine with me,’ but I’m perfect where I’m at right now.”

Like starters Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware, who will also be making the move from outside linebacker to defensive end under Kiffin, Wilber believes his experience at the position in college will ease the transition.

“My hand was on the ground at Wake [Forest],” Wilber explained. “I don’t feel like there’s much difference in comparing the 3-4 to the 4-3 because our outside linebackers we were basically defensive ends but I was standing up in a two-point. It’s less dropping for us now.”

Carr Adjusting to Yet Another DC

Scott Crisp — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:36:09 -0500

Learning a new defense under a new defensive coordinator is nothing new for Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr.

Monte Kiffin will be Carr’s third coordinator in as many years. He played under Romeo Crennel while with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011 and under Rob Ryan in 2012, his first season in Dallas.

"I've been playing for different coaches, different schemes, pretty much my whole career," Carr said this week, per ESPN Dallas. "I feel like it adds to my versatility. it's all about learning and grasping whatever is thrown at me."

Carr isn’t worried about making the transition, though, and he believes he’ll be helped by having a year under his belt with his Cowboys teammates.

"It helps to be here for a year," Carr said. "The chemistry we have established and see guys grow and develop. I know my role within the defense, with the team. Guys are kind of settling down now, and we added new guys who can make plays. It's about getting everybody on the same page."

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Bernadeau Questionable for OTAs

Scott Crisp — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:32:15 -0500

Coming off surgery to repair a right shoulder injury suffered last November, Cowboys right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau could be ready for the beginning of organized team activities, but it sounds just as likely (if not more so) that he’ll approach his return with caution.

“I’m not sure yet,” Bernadeau said, per the Dallas Morning News. “I’m just going to see how I feel. We don’t want to have any setbacks. I might play it safe.”

Bernadeau played through the injury down the stretch of 2012 before getting the procedure done in January. He’s spent the offseason slowly but surely working back to full health, though he admits he’s not quite there yet.

“You don’t want to come back weak and not be at full strength,” he said. “You know you just have to slowly progress to get better every week and that’s what I am doing.

Free Agrees to Pay Cut

Scott Crisp — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:13:08 -0500

More than three weeks after asking him to either take a pay cut or risk being released, the Dallas Cowboys got their answer from right tackle Doug Free this week and it looks like the veteran will be sticking around.

According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, Free has agreed to take a pay cut in order to remain with the team, and it’s a pretty big pay cut. Originally, Free was scheduled to make $7 million in 2013--the highest base salary for any right tackle in the league--and $8 million in 2014.

Now, he’ll make $7 million for the next two seasons combined.

This is the outcome the Cowboys have wanted all along. The team has insisted that they wanted Free back and that they were encouraged by his play down the stretch last year as he platooned with Jermey Parnell. They just didn’t want to pay such an insanely high price for him.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Should Cowboys Use Four WRs?

Jonathan Bales — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:02:08 -0500

With the selections of Gavin Escobar and Terrance Williams in the 2013 NFL Draft, there’s no doubt that the face of the Cowboys’ offense is going to shift, perhaps as soon as this season. The first change we’ll see will be more two tight-end sets. Remember, the Cowboys lined up with two or more tight ends on just over 30 percent of snaps in 2012, primarily because they were losing so often. Escobar’s presence and more favorable game situations could lead to two tight ends on half of snaps or more.

The ‘Boys now have three quality pass-catching tight ends, but the selection of Williams gives the team flexibility with their personnel packages. While Williams might have been drafted primarily as the eventual replacement for Miles Austin, the Cowboys would still be wise to utilize his skills in 2013. But don’t forget that slot man Dwayne Harris showed a lot of promise last season. Unless there’s an injury ahead of him, however, he likely won’t see the field often this year.

That’s because the Cowboys don’t typically run many four-receiver sets. I counted only 29 in all of 2012—fewer than two per game. Tony Romo passed on all 29 dropbacks, completing 17 of them for 172 yards (5.93 YPA), two touchdowns, and two interceptions. That’s a paltry quarterback rating of 69.9. It’s really no surprise; Romo and the ‘Boys have struggled mightily with four receivers in the past. That’s likely because the offense is forced into an empty-set with no one in the backfield, i.e. no threat to run the ball.

And it’s not as if the Cowboys run empty-set formations only in passing situations. Actually, only one of the 29 plays was in the fourth quarter and just eight of them were on third-and-six or longer. While there are certain advantages to employing four receivers (and a tight end) and spreading the field, it’s not really advantageous to do it on first-and-10 in the first quarter. When the defense knows a pass is on the way, the rushers can pin their ears back and come straight for the quarterback. With a struggling offensive line and no one in the backfield to pick up free rushers, that’s probably not the best idea.

So while the Cowboys have an interesting player in Harris, it wouldn’t be smart to force him onto the field as the fourth receiver. Instead, he’ll probably be relegated to competing with B.W. Webb for return duties.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Running With Three Receivers

Jonathan Bales — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:47:03 -0500

Yesterday, I discussed why it would be beneficial to get Terrance Williams on the field as much as possible in 2013, especially when the Cowboys want to run.

Rookie tight end Gavin Escobar is a poor blocker and the ‘Boys have historically been a whole lot more efficient on the ground when rushing from three-receiver sets. Defenses substitute in nickel personnel and spread the field, opening up running lanes inside.

On their 86 designed runs with “11” personnel—one running back, one tight end, and three receivers—the Cowboys averaged 4.35 YPC in 2012. Compare that to just 3.31 YPC on all other runs. In addition to using the proper personnel, though, it’s also important to run the ball at the right times. And those “right times” might not be what you think.

The primary reason that rushing from three-receiver sets works is that it is unusual. When defenses see three receivers on the field, they generally expect a pass. Using the same thinking, offenses can often find rushing success in passing situations simply because the down-and-distance implies a pass is coming. Did you know that rushing the ball is more effective than passing on every down-and-distance from third-and-one to third-and-four? And it’s actually just a tad less successful all the way up until third-and-10. It’s not that running the ball on third down is inherently beneficial, but rather defenses gear up so much to defend the pass that they become susceptible to the run. The fact that most NFL teams pass the ball on third down—even third-and-short—benefits those offenses who decide to run it.

So if we look solely at the Cowboys’ runs from three-receiver sets that also came in “passing situations,” we should see more efficiency. And we do. Looking solely at runs that came on first-and-11 or greater, second-and-six or greater, or on third down, Dallas averaged 4.61 YPC on 28 plays. That means that the offense generated 4.22 YPC on all other runs from three-receiver sets.

The Cowboys don’t need to line up in a three-receiver set to run the ball on third down and trick defenses, but it helps. In a situation such as third-and-three in which NFL teams passed the ball 84.1 percent of the time last year, lining up with “11” personnel can further perpetuate the idea that a pass is on the way. That’s probably why we see such great third-down rushing efficiency when offenses use pass-oriented packages and formations.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Will Allen Glad to be Back with Kiffin

Scott Crisp — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:21:54 -0500

Will Allen spent his first five seasons under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2004 draft. With Allen now a 30-year-old veteran and Kiffin a 72-year-old super-veteran, the two have reunited in Dallas.

“Monte’s a trip, man, but it’s fun,” said Allen, per ESPN Dallas. “I’m excited about it. I understand the defense and I understand the expectations and the standard, and I want to be able to convey that message to the guys here and help this team build and grow. I’m excited.”

The Cowboys signed Allen this offseason after releasing veteran Gerald Sensabaugh, and Allen will be one of a few safeties--the others being Matt Johnson and rookie J.J. Wilcox--competing for the starting spot opposite Barry Church.

This was one of the reasons Allen chose to come to Dallas.

“It’s a number of things,” he said. “It’s the opportunity to play with Dallas, the opportunity to be in the system again and the challenge of being able to start in this league. I started eight games last year with the Steelers and I see a great opportunity to start with the Dallas Cowboys and compete and help this team win.”

Dallas Optimistic About Free

Scott Crisp — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:17:47 -0500

It’s been nearly a month since the Dallas Cowboys asked right tackle Doug Free to either take a pay cut or risk being released by the team, but they still haven’t heard back. Nonetheless, the Cowboys remain positive about their relationship with Free and his agent, Jimmy Sexton.

“I think we’re on the same page with Jimmy and Doug, as far as timing,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said, per the Dallas Morning News. “We’re positive. Hopefully he’s positive and we’re trying to work through it all.”

Whether Dallas wants Free back in the fold in 2013 doesn’t seem to be much of a question.

“We’re trying to keep it to where it’s not an issue,” Jones said. “He knows that and we want him here.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Dallas VP Praises Felix Jones

Scott Crisp — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:43:06 -0500

On Tuesday, Felix Jones’ five-year career with the Dallas Cowboys came to an end when he agreed to a deal with the rival Philadelphia Eagles. To call his time with Dallas a disappointment would be fair--he was a first round pick, taken ahead of such others as Rashard Mendenhall, Matt Forte and Ray Rice in 2008--but executive vice president Stephen Jones won’t go so far.

“The guy played for us in a significant role,” Stephen Jones said, per the Dallas Morning News. “I still say that’s very successful. I’d also say running backs, this day and time, a guy can be very successful in his first contract as a running back and not necessarily sign the second one.

“The shelf life of a running back, unfortunately is not as long as some other positions. We were very pleased with the career Felix had here with us. You always hate when it comes to a close. No regrets there.”

Stephen Jones went on to say he’ll be rooting for Felix Jones moving forward, all but a couple of times a year.

“You know what we think of Felix, being a Razorback,” said the Dallas VP, a fellow Arkansas alum. “He made a lot of great plays for us. Obviously, we wish him luck, except when the Cowboys and Eagles play.”

Costa Open to Move to Guard

Scott Crisp — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:38:05 -0500

First round draft pick Travis Frederick will almost certainly begin the 2013 season as the Dallas Cowboys’ starting center, which leaves Phil Costa searching for a spot. This could be found as Frederick’s backup or at guard, a position to which Costa said he was open to moving this week.

“I mean, I’ve played guard before,” Costa said, per the Dallas Morning News. “I’ve played center. I guess wherever the best fit is.”

Costa went down for the season last year after playing in only three games, the final blow coming on October 21 when he dislocated his right ankle. But Costa says he’s pretty much healthy now, and may even be ready for organized team activities.

“It was supposed to be a four- to six-month recovery and I was pretty much 100 percent right on the four-month mark, maybe a little before,” Costa said. “But it’s healed well.”

Cowboys Moving From Valley Ranch?

Scott Crisp — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:33:06 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys have called Valley Ranch home since 1985, but this could soon change.

According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys are considering packing up for greener pastures. Frisco is in the running for the headquarters, as is Arlington. The latter of these would have the bonus feature of being stadium adjacent, but according to Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, the team’s still pretty thrilled with the idea of being home to JerryWorld alone.

“I’m still thrilled that we have the stadium,” Cluck said in the report. “That’s the most important asset.”

A potential move would be a bit of salt in the wound for the City of Irving, which, it was already reported this week, will lose the HP Byron Nelson Classic golf tournament to Dallas in 2019.

“We would not have a comment other than to say it’s very premature to discuss anything along the lines of potential options for our training headquarters,” said Cowboys executive vice president of public relations Rich Dalrymple.

Photo Credit: NBCDFW.com

Jones Not Dwelling on Injuries

Scott Crisp — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:52:31 -0500

Now a Philadelphia Eagle, running back Felix Jones readily admits that things went south in his career in Dallas before the team let him go in free agency this offseason, but he doesn’t want to blame his decline in production on injuries alone.

“Injuries do play a big factor,” Jones said, per the Dallas Morning News, “but I can’t dwell on that.”

Jones averaged a paltry 3.6 yards per carry in 2012, while seeing increased snaps in starter DeMarco Murray’s absence due to a foot injury. Dallas finished with their lowest rushing total in franchise history, since the league moved to a 16-game regular season.

The former first rounder did play 16 games for just the second time in his career, though this required the former first rounder to play through several nicks and bruises.

“Things don’t happen the way you plan,” Jones said. “I’m just happy to be here, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Photo Credit: AP

UFA QB Hoping to Catch On

Scott Crisp — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:54:04 -0500

After failing to catch on with either the Tennessee Titans or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, former Flower Mound and Tarleton State quarterback Nick Stephens is looking to catch on with his hometown Cowboys. Stephens has been with Dallas since shortly after the season ended, which could help his chances.

"It was a pretty big advantage to have signed when I did and get a jump on things," Stephens said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I feel like I've taken advantage of it up to this point. There is always so much more to learn, and it's not just learning it, but it's putting it together on the field. That's probably the most difficult part. You can sit down and draw them a million times, but until you get on the field and look everyone in the eyes and repeat this long play to them, that's when it gets ticked up a notch."

Last year, after cutting former fourth rounder Stephen McGee, Dallas opted to carry only two quarterbacks, Tony Romo and Kyle Orton. Obviously, Stephens would like to change this, but for now, he’s just focusing on improving as a football player.

"I don't think anyone would go into a situation thinking it wasn't a good opportunity," Stephens said. "But at this point, all I'm doing is I'm just trying to be the best I can be. I'm trying to learn from Tony [Romo] and Kyle [Orton] and Coach [Wade] Wilson and Coach Garrett. They're doing a phenomenal job teaching all of us. I'm just trying to put it all together."

Lee Not Slowing Down

Scott Crisp — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:55:42 -0500

Inside linebacker Sean Lee has battled injuries through much of his recent career, the latest being a big toe injury that kept him sidelined for the final ten games of the 2012 season. But Lee doesn’t intend on slowing down any, even if that ultimately means a shorter career.

“I’m going to try to play a certain way, play hard,” Lee told BaD Radio on 1310-AM The Ticket, via the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t think I would be successful if I didn’t play that way. I’d rather cut a few years off my career and play the right way than go soft and not play right. If injuries come, they come. But I’m going to sell out on the field and try to sell out every game. I think that’s the only way we really can win, if everybody does that.”

Lee’s rookie contract is set to expire at season’s end but, at the moment, he’s more focused on learning the new defense brought in by Monte Kiffin than any negotiations with Dallas.

“I’m just happy to be playing football,” he said. “I really don’t think about that stuff. I just want to be on the field, staying healthy. The ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl. For me, that’s all I think about non-stop, ‘How can I get better as a football player? How can I help my team win? What can I do to make my teammates better so we hopefully can compete for a Super Bowl every year?’ That’s my main concern.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

McNabb to Retire an Eagle

Scott Crisp — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:56:49 -0500

Donovan McNabb is returning to the Philadelphia Eagles... For a night, anyway.

McNabb said on his show on NBC Sports Radio this week that he will retire an Eagles this season. According to Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Inquirer, he will wait until Philly’s Thursday night contest against the Chiefs on September 19 to make it official, so Andy Reid, now the Kansas City head coach, can be present.

This was reportedly the team’s suggestion.

Led by the tandem of Reid and McNabb, the Eagles went to five NFC Championships and a Super Bowl appearance. McNabb was traded to the Redskins before the 2010 season and spent a forgettable season with Minnesota 2011. He was out of football and beginning a career as an analyst in 2012.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cowboys Sign CB B.W. Webb

Scott Crisp — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:59:24 -0500

Cowboys fourth round pick BW Webb became the third member of the 2013 draft class to sign with the team on Tuesday, reportedly agreeing to a four-year deal worth around $2.5 million. Webb joins sixth rounder DeVonte Holloman and fifth rounder Joseph Randle as the rookies to have been brought into the fold.

“He has quickness,” head coach Jason Garrett said of the William & Mary product, per the Dallas Morning News, “Playmaking ability…and is a guy that we would describe as a football player that can come in and compete.”

Webb, who left rookie mini-camp early to attend his graduation from W&M, figures to bring some versatility to the table for Monte Kiffin’s defense.

"I am playing a little inside,” Webb said. “I am playing a little outside, so wherever they put me, I think the coaches are going to prepare me for it.”

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Three Receivers or Two Tight Ends?

Jonathan Bales — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:52:21 -0500

Over the past few days, I’ve examined how rookie Gavin Escobar’s arrival in Dallas could affect the team’s usage of two-tight end sets. The ‘Boys want to run more “12” packages with Escobar on the field, but don’t forget that they also drafted a wide receiver in the third round in Baylor’s Terrance Williams. There’s really an interesting dynamic between the two players because their production is probably connected via an inverse relationship since they probably won’t be on the field together. That means that as Escobar’s production goes up, Williams’ will go down, and vice versa.

And as much as the Cowboys seem committed to getting Escobar on the field, don’t forget that this is a team that lined up with three or more receivers on over 56 percent of their offensive snaps in 2012. Much of that was due to sub-optimal game situations, but who’s to say those won’t crop up again? The Cowboys might have drafted Williams to be Miles Austin’s eventual replacement, but I think he’ll get more 2013 playing time than most expect, regardless of Austin’s status.

And Williams should be on the field often, but not for the reason you might expect. In reality, the Cowboys and many NFL offenses run the ball most effectively with three receivers on the field. As Chip Kelly will assuredly make clear this season in Philadelphia, it’s a whole lot easier to run from spread formations with only six or seven defenders in the box than it is to cram everyone into a small area and increase the number of blocks your offense needs to make for a play to be successful.

The Cowboys have long been successful when running the ball from “11” personnel—one running back, one tight end, and three receivers—but for whatever reason, they don’t do it much. Garrett called for a run with “11” personnel 86 times last year. That’s less than one-quarter of all running plays. The Cowboys managed 4.35 YPC on those rushes, however, compared to 3.31 YPC on all other runs. Even in short-yardage situations, it could really benefit the Cowboys to get Escobar off of the field—especially since he’s a really poor blocker—and spread out the defense to opening up running lanes. As much as I like Williams’ size and speed, his biggest contribution in 2013 could be getting on the field to allow the ‘Boys to rush the ball more effectively.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Jerry: Dez's Quiet Offseason a Good Sign

Scott Crisp — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:19:56 -0500

We haven’t heard much from Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant this season and owner and general manager Jerry Jones is taking this as a positive, a sign that perhaps Bryant has become a more mature player over the last couple years.

"He's certainly matured," Jones told Sirius/XM Radio, via ESPN Dallas. "You would expect that, you hope for that and that is happening. Football means everything to him and he certainly had a lot of growing up to do, probably more so than your average player in the NFL. He's quick to understand that and he's doing that and he's doing it at a real fast pace. I know better to really get too positive because you can really get that call."

In the past, Bryant has run into some well-publicized financial issues, been asked to leave a Dallas mall and got into a tiff with his mother that resulted in his arrest. But since this last incident, Bryant has kept his headline-making to on-field exploits, posting career-highs in catches (92), yards (1,382) and touchdowns in 2013.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Jones Wants Romo More Involved

Scott Crisp — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:14:33 -0500

Jerry Jones said shortly after the draft that he would like to see quarterback Tony Romo get more involved in the offense, in terms of gameplanning and the time he spends at Valley Ranch. Jones made clear in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio this week that he hasn’t changed his mind.

"He's played a lot of games now," Jones said, per ESPN Dallas. "He certainly had a lot of time on the job before he ever started and played. He has a unique grasp of our offensive concepts. The people who are around him the most--his coaches--tell me he's never had a bad idea. If you think about where he's at right now, he's 10 years older than most of the players we have on the field.

“We think his skill level right now is very much where we hoped it would be and will be for several years to come. But what we want to use more than we ever have is the kind of thing that (ex-Cowboys quarterback Roger) Staubach contributed -- input into designing a plan that helps us beat that opponent."

When Romo’s best friend and teammate Jason Witten was told of Jerry’s remarks, he seemed genuinely surprised.

"I've always felt like Tony was very involved in the process of the plays and our scheme, how we attacked," Witten said. "I think in any organization where you have an elite quarterback like that, you want him to feel comfortable. I think that's something we've always tried to do, and it sounds like we're going to continue to do that."

Photo Credit: Getty Images

2 Reasons Dallas Wants Murray to Change

Scott Crisp — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:20:20 -0500

Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown will work with DeMarco Murray this offseason to avoid contact where can, part of an ongoing effort to keep the University of Oklahoma product. Another reason they’d like Murray to stop initiating contact with defenders is that a rule change will make it so this year, if a back ducks his head going into a hit, it’ll be a penalty.

But Murray doesn’t plan on altering the way he approaches the game.

"I'm not changing my running style," Murray said, per ESPN Dallas. "If I get fined, hopefully, [Tony] Romo will take care of the first couple [of fines]."

The rule change has been criticized widely by running backs--including Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith--for potentially making runners sitting ducks for closing defenders while others believe the rule will just be incredibly hard to call. This group includes head coach Jason Garrett.

"It's really a tricky thing from the standpoint of, it's so well-intended," Garrett said. "We all understand the challenges that it puts the officials in. A lot of the defenseless player calls they've had to make over the last couple years are hard calls. The game happens fast, and they've got to be bang, 'He hit him with his head first; it wasn't his shoulder.' Players duck. All the things that go into making those snap judgments. They're difficult.

"I think the real concern that the coaches might have is simply that it's a hard rule to officiate, and far be it from us to say we understand what an official's going through. But the game does happen fast and those collisions happen quickly. I think it's well-intended."

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Matt Johnson in the Mix

Scott Crisp — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:18:36 -0500

Though he was drafted more than a year ago, safety Matt Johnson has yet to play a down for the Dallas Cowboys.

Johnson spent his rookie season dealing with hamstring and back injuries, which kept him off the field but, this offseason, Dallas is hoping that Johnson will compete with Will Allen, Danny McCray and rookie J.J. Wilcox for the starting spot opposite Barry Church.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said this offseason that he actually believes safety, one of the greatest concerns going into the draft, would be a strength for Dallas in 2013.

"Church, if he can play at the level he’s shown us, we’re going to have a really outstanding safety," Jones said, per ESPN Dallas. "I think we will benefit a lot from a scheme that emphasizes what these guys do--big, physical guys who like to hit. I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves."

Felix Jones Joins Eagles

Scott Crisp — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:49:00 -0500

Felix Jones is now an Eagle.

According to ESPN Dallas’ Calvin Watkins, Jones signed with the team on Tuesday, thus bringing an end to a five-year career with Dallas. Fellow 2008 first round pick, cornerback Mike Jenkins, left last month, signing a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders but Jerry Jones insists neither player was a bust.

Jones will serve as a backup in Philly, which is what he has been doing here ever since an injury in 2011 allowed DeMarco Murray to step in and take over the starting job. He played in all 16 games a year ago and even got a handful of starts as Murray was dealing with a foot injury, but he posted just 406 yards on 111 carries for a career-low average of 3.6 yards per carry.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Dallas 2-TE Sets Are Predictable

Jonathan Bales — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:09:47 -0500

In yesterday’s post on the Cowboys’ two-tight end packages, I mentioned that the offense typically has more success passing when they do so from a “run-oriented” formation. When the team has employed both tight ends from a traditional in-line position, they’ve frequently had lots of success passing because defenses anticipate a run being on the way. When the ‘Boys run a play-action pass from such looks, the success rate is even higher.

Nonetheless, Jason Garrett’s play-calls have been somewhat predictable from two-tight end sets. Looking at various two-tight end packages, there are certain formations from which the team almost exclusively runs or passes. For example, the Cowboys don’t mind passing from a traditional “Double Tight” formation, but when they do that, they usually utilize “12”personnel—one running back, two tight ends, and two receivers. When the offense lines up in any “Double Tight” formation with “22” personnel—two running backs, two tight ends, and one receiver—they rarely pass the ball.

That wouldn’t be a problem in and of itself because some predictability isn’t always a bad thing. It doesn’t matter what package or formation you use on third-and-12 because the defense knows you’ll probably be passing anyway, for example. The problem is that the Cowboys have historically utilized “22” personnel in lots of situations in which they could pass the ball. Dallas ran a “Double Tight” formation with “22” personnel on 58 plays in 2012. Well over half of those plays (34) came on first-and-10, many of them in the first half.

The problem is that the ‘Boys passed on only 13 of the plays (22.4 percent). Again, that wouldn’t be a major problem if the Cowboys primarily utilized such formations with “22” personnel in situations when the defense might know what’s coming anyway, such as on short-yardage or goal line plays. But when you line up with run-heavy personnel in a run-heavy formation and then proceed to run the ball almost all of the time, that can be a problem.

The only way to turn the predictability into a positive would be to harness it to secure big plays downfield. If the Cowboys ran the ball almost all of the time from a certain formation but then used it to set up a deep play-action pass, for example, the early sub-optimal play-calling could create a competitive advantage. However, the average length traveled by the Cowboys’ 13 passes from “Double Tight” formations with “22” personnel was 6.85 yards. Defensive coordinators: if the Cowboys line up with “22” personnel and in any formation with both tight ends in-line, they’re not going to throw the ball deep.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cowboys Ink Deal With Rookie Randle

Frank Heinz — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:56:51 -0500

The Dallas Cowboys said Monday they have signed 2013 fifth-round draft choice Joseph Randle.

Randle, the 151st overall, is a running back out of Oklahoma State.

According to owner Jerry Jones, Randle is expected to be used as a starter in his rookie season and will split time with the dynamic, but injury-prone, DeMarco Murray. Aside: Murray is working with RB coach Gary Brown to limit the punishment he takes while on the field.

With the signing, the Cowboys have now signed two of their seven 2013 draft picks.

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Murray Looks to Cut Down on Contact

Scott Crisp — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:08:33 -0500

Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has missed nine games over his first two seasons in the league, and obviously, Dallas wants him to stay more consistently healthy. As such, running backs coach Gary Brown is working with Murray this offseason in order to get him to limit the punishment he takes.

A powerful runner, Murray often initiates contact in an attempt to run over oncoming would-be tacklers.

"I noticed that," Brown said, per ESPN Dallas. "I've seen that. We've talked about it. We are going to have a plan to try to get better than that. He's explosive enough that he can freeze people's feet and get away from them and do the things he needs to do to gain more yards. With he and I working together to get him better, it should be a great thing."

Murray finished last season with 663 rushing yards on 161 carries and four touchdowns, while missing six contests due to a foot injury.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Frederick Not Worried About Shotgun

Scott Crisp — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:28:51 -0500

Cowboys first round pick Travis Frederick will almost surely enter the 2013 season as the team’s starting center. Doing this will require Frederick to get acquainted with snapping in a shotgun, something Dallas does quite a bit, but he doesn’t foresee any problems with picking it up.

“We did it a little bit [in college],” Frederick said, per ESPN Dallas. “Not a whole lot, but enough that I have experience in shotgun snaps.”

Frederick will likely be plenty familiar with shotgun snapping by the time the pre-season begins, as he has mini-camps, OTAs and camp proper to work on it. He was seen snapping from the shotgun in last week’s rookie mini-camp and, according to Todd Archer of ESPN Dallas, he fared pretty well.

“I think because it’s featured a little more in this offense we’re going to practice it more, so I don’t think it’s something to worry about," Frederick said. "I think I’ll handle that fine.”

Jerry Remains High on Kiffin

Scott Crisp — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:10:25 -0500

After taking in rookie mini-camp on Friday afternoon, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was convinced as ever that new defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin was the right man for the job.

“He’s the perfect combination of, not dumbing it down, but getting us at the right level of the playbook,” Jones said of Kiffin, per the Dallas Morning News. “Having come from college, having had the background he’s had, plus what we need, which was probably a reduced amount of things to do out there with the veteran players we have. That’s not to criticize anybody. That’s a common goal, a common criticism of coaches. But I think he’s the ideal fit for that.”

Indeed, one of the things Kiffin has been praised for so much around Valley Ranch this offseason is the relative simplicity of his defense which, it’s presumed, allow the Cowboys pass rushers to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback. This comes after Rob Ryan’s 3-4 system, which was noted for its use of any number of exotic schemes.

Smith Weighs in on Gay NFL Athletes

Scott Crisp — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:32:10 -0500

With NBA player Jason Collins coming out as the first openly gay, active athlete in the major four sports last month, the debate over whether the NFL was ready for an openly gay player was reignited. The league’s all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, frankly isn’t sure.

“It’s still taboo,” Smith said, per the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t know if the NFL is ready for it or not. I mean, it’s not for me to even say. Bottom line is, you are who you are, do what you do."

“The bottom line: Can you block this left tackle? Can you catch this pass? Can you make a tackle when I need you to make a tackle? That’s it.”

Former Cowboys defensive lineman Tony Casillas said recently that he “knew” there were gay players on the early 90s teams, on which he and Smith won Super Bowls.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Williams Gets Advice from RG3

Scott Crisp — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:49:00 -0500

Cowboys rookie receiver Terrance Williams knows a little better what to expect from life in the NFL after speaking to his old Baylor teammate Robert Griffin III, who was made the second overall pick in the 2011 draft by the rival Washington Redskins, after last month’s draft.

“[He said] just continue to do you and don’t change the way you are,” Williams said, per the Dallas Morning News. “Be happy with your capabilities and show what you can do. I just really took that to heart the most.”

Williams lasted until the third round, but he’s considered by many in the Dallas organization to be a steal in that position.

“Well, I was surprised, and I think a lot of people were surprised,” receivers coach Derek Dooley said of Williams. “And then of course, as a position coach, I was hopeful that the organization felt the same way that I did. Fortunately, we did.”

Cowboys' Success in Two-Tight End Sets

Jonathan Bales — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:04 -0500

The Cowboys used their 2013 second-round selection on tight end Gavin Escobar because they clearly want to run more two-tight end sets this season. Jason Garrett has long been a fan of two-tight end packages because the offense can beat defenses both on the ground and through the air. That’s the plan, at least. And the Cowboys actually pass quite a bit from two-tight end looks, especially “12” personnel—one running back, two tight ends, and two receivers.

In 2012, the offense got away from employing two tight ends as often as they’d like. The primary reason was that the Cowboys got down in games so often, forcing them to use three and four-receiver sets. By drafting another tight end capable of beating defenses as a receiver, the hope is that the Cowboys will be able to use more packages and formations from which they can effectively run and pass the ball.

Last year, the offense was moderately effective when passing the ball with two tight ends on the field, doing it 118 times for 924 yards (7.83 YPA). That’s a decent number, but I think Tony Romo & Co. could improve their efficiency by using more “run-oriented” formations when they’re planning to pass. The Cowboys have historically had a ton of success when they use two tight ends to line up in a formation from which teams normally run the ball, i.e. any sort of “Double Tight” formation with the tight ends both lined up in-line.

Of the Cowboys’ 118 passes from two-tight packages, 57 of them came with both of the tight ends lined up either in-line or in the backfield. On those attempts, Dallas averaged 8.42 YPA. In contrast, Garrett used two tight ends out wide on 22 passes. When both tight ends were away from the line, the Cowboys averaged only 5.68 YPA. It’s a small sample, but we see the same trend if we look back at past data. On the other 39 passes, the Cowboys had one of the tight ends lined up out wide and one in-line or in the backfield, and they totaled 8.18 YPA.

When it comes down to it, a big part of the passing success from “12” and other two-tight end packages is due to the element of surprise. Defenses don’t know what’s coming, and it shows. By lining up in a run-oriented formation with at least one tight end in-line, Dallas can “confirm” the defense’s initial suspicions and potentially increase their two-tight end passing efficiency even more.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Meet Cowboys' J.J. Wilcox

Sun, 12 May 2013 22:43:39 -0500

NBC 5's David Watkins introduces us to Cowboys Safety J.J. Wilcox.

Scouting Report: RB Kendial Lawrence

Jonathan Bales — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:16:51 -0500

Earlier this week, I broke down undrafted free agent acquisitions Brandon Magee and Jakar Hamilton. I chose those players because they likely have the best chance to make the Cowboys’ roster. The ‘Boys dished out $70,000 in guaranteed money to Magee, meaning he’s probably better than a coin flip to be on the team after training camp. Hamilton was a big-school player who transferred to South Carolina State and, despite lots of competition at safety, he has deep skills that the Cowboys don’t necessarily possess elsewhere.

I didn’t know too much about the other undrafted free agents, so I spent the morning gathering as much information as possible. I came away with a favorite: Missouri running back Kendial Lawrence.

Scouting Report

Lawrence is a small running back at 5-9, 194 pounds. The height doesn’t scare me—plenty of short backs have thrived in the NFL—but the weight is a concern. If Lawrence can beef up to over 200 pounds without losing speed, the Cowboys could have something here. To be fair, Lawrence’s body mass index (which is actually strongly correlated with NFL success) is 28.6—higher than Joseph Randle’s 27.7 BMI. So although short, there shouldn’t be too much concern that Lawrence can’t hold up.

When we’re looking at running backs from a measurables standpoint, the first things to consider are weight and long speed. If you’re deficient in one, you better make up for it in the other. And Lawrence does. He ran as low as a 4.33 40-yard dash at his pro day. That puts him in rare company with a group of running backs who have far out-produced even those backs in the 4.4 range.

Since Lawrence played in a major conference, we can also use his college stats as a predictor. In four seasons, Lawrence carried the ball 444 times for 2,232 yards—5.0 YPC—adding 21 touchdowns and 40 receptions. Lawrence averaged 5.1 YPC on a lackluster Missouri squad in the school’s first year in the SEC, which is a decent mark.

What I Like

Lawrence was relatively productive in college, and he has the speed you want in a running back. He’s undersized, but his body type doesn’t concern me nearly as much as fifth-round pick Joseph Randle (6-0, 204 pounds).

What I Don’t Like

Lawrence caught only 10 passes per season at Missouri. That could be due to the nature of their offense, but his best chance to make the Cowboys is as a third-down back. He’ll need to show he can pass protect and haul in receptions to make the roster.

Jonathan Bales is the founder of The DC Times. He writes for DallasCowboys.com and the New York Times. He's also the author of Fantasy Football for Smart People: How to Dominate Your Draft.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Dez Getting Comfortable

Scott Crisp — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:17:55 -0500

Going into his fourth season in the NFL, and coming off a career year, Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is getting comfortable--in a good way.

"It's a whole different mindset going in," Bryant said this week, per ESPN Dallas. "No more games. No more wondering. I know what I'm doing. I got to come in and do what I did at the end of last year, and I hope to build on that."

Bryant had 92 catches for 1,382 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago. He’s now the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver, most would submit, followed by Miles Austin a slew of young guys, including Baylor product Terrance Williams, who was drafted 74th overall in the draft earlier this month.

"I feel like we have a great receiving corps," Bryant said. "We're good if someone goes down. We have great enough receivers who can go in and contribute and make plays for this team."

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Emmitt Likes Romo Extension

Scott Crisp — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:18:48 -0500

Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith believes his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, did the right thing when they gave quarterback Tony Romo an unprecedented, six-year, $108 million extension.

"I think they did the right thing retaining him, because you can't find anyone better out there," Smith said, per ESPN Dallas. "Then again, it's not really up to me to give that kind of money. I only have so much time to focus on such things!"

Like just about everyone who counts themselves as a Cowboys fan though, Smith believes the offensive line could be a bit better.

"I think Romo is a good quarterback. He has receivers that can make plays. And the running game also can be effective," Smith said. "I just think they need more help with the supporting cast up front. They need better blocking and better protection. I think Jerry Jones and the family have all that covered."

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