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Special Alert
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Fair or not, many outside observers still call 2009 a "special teams draft" for the Cowboys, comparable to 1995 when the then-Super Bowl champions were accused of essentially drafting backup players.
The 2009 class's lack of overall success hasn't fully been able to dispel that notion. Five of the 12 picks are gone, including top selection Jason Williams, and the lone starter through the 2010 season was kicker David Buehler.
Two years later, the Cowboys' 2011 draft class embodies what owner/general manager Jerry Jones tried to explain about the 2009 unit: a group of young, starting-caliber players, many of whom can help on special teams while they develop.
The '09 crop hasn't produced a starter on offense or defense yet, partly because the top pick (Williams) was only a third-rounder. The Cowboys expect more immediate impact from the '11 eight-man class, starting with ninth overall choice Tyron Smith, who will likely start at offensive tackle as a rookie.
Others will have to pitch in elsewhere to make the 53-man roster and dress on game day. By and large, that means play - and play well - for special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis.
Second-round linebacker Bruce Carter should be a core contributor once he recovers from the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee suffered last November at North Carolina. In addition to being a four-year starter on defense, Carter set a Tar Heels record with seven career blocked kicks (six punts, one field goal).
"I was able to get my hands on a couple of blocks and just help my team out any way I can," Carter said at the draft last month. "Just give great effort, and that's one of the things Coach (Butch) Davis taught us - to go out and give everything you've got."
Added Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett: "He's an outstanding special teams player, and that's one of the reasons we were attracted to him. We do view him as a starter at some point here with the Cowboys, but in the meantime, he's simply going to help our football team by being out there on special teams."
Third-round running back DeMarco Murray figures to play right away offensively, possibly on third downs and as a pass-catching complement to Felix Jones. He also could be a kickoff or punt return option for DeCamillis. Murray averaged 27.6 yards on 53 returns over four seasons with the Sooners, primarily as a freshman and sophomore.
The Cowboys had the second-best punt return team in the league, mostly using Dez Bryant (15.9-yard average), but ranked only 23rd on kickoff returns (21.2-yard average). DeCamillis would like to use Bryant on both, but that might be too heavy a workload if Bryant becomes a starting receiver next year.
Sixth-round receiver Dwayne Harris could at least compete for a kick-return job. He ranks second in East Carolina school history (to the Titans' Chris Johnson - not bad company) with 102 career kickoff returns for 2,374 yards. His 23.3-yard average is the seventh-best ever by a Conference USA player.
Elsewhere in the draft, fifth-round cornerback Josh Thomas and seventh-round fullback Shaun Chapas are ideal candidates to play on the "core four" special teams units, given their late-round draft status and experience.
"I've played all of them in my career at Georgia," Chapas said. "I've been on all of the major four: kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return."
Keep in mind, though, that at least four of the five mentioned rookies (Carter, Murray, Harris and Chapas) already seem to have a good chance at starting or playing regularly on offense or defense within the next two years.
Make no mistake, this is not a "special teams draft." But DeCamillis did appear to get some help.
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Fair or not, many outside observers still call 2009 a "special teams draft" for the Cowboys, comparable to 1995 when the then-Super Bowl champions were accused of essentially drafting backup players.
The 2009 class's lack of overall success hasn't fully been able to dispel that notion. Five of the 12 picks are gone, including top selection Jason Williams, and the lone starter through the 2010 season was kicker David Buehler.
Two years later, the Cowboys' 2011 draft class embodies what owner/general manager Jerry Jones tried to explain about the 2009 unit: a group of young, starting-caliber players, many of whom can help on special teams while they develop.
The '09 crop hasn't produced a starter on offense or defense yet, partly because the top pick (Williams) was only a third-rounder. The Cowboys expect more immediate impact from the '11 eight-man class, starting with ninth overall choice Tyron Smith, who will likely start at offensive tackle as a rookie.
Others will have to pitch in elsewhere to make the 53-man roster and dress on game day. By and large, that means play - and play well - for special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis.
Second-round linebacker Bruce Carter should be a core contributor once he recovers from the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee suffered last November at North Carolina. In addition to being a four-year starter on defense, Carter set a Tar Heels record with seven career blocked kicks (six punts, one field goal).
"I was able to get my hands on a couple of blocks and just help my team out any way I can," Carter said at the draft last month. "Just give great effort, and that's one of the things Coach (Butch) Davis taught us - to go out and give everything you've got."
Added Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett: "He's an outstanding special teams player, and that's one of the reasons we were attracted to him. We do view him as a starter at some point here with the Cowboys, but in the meantime, he's simply going to help our football team by being out there on special teams."
Third-round running back DeMarco Murray figures to play right away offensively, possibly on third downs and as a pass-catching complement to Felix Jones. He also could be a kickoff or punt return option for DeCamillis. Murray averaged 27.6 yards on 53 returns over four seasons with the Sooners, primarily as a freshman and sophomore.
The Cowboys had the second-best punt return team in the league, mostly using Dez Bryant (15.9-yard average), but ranked only 23rd on kickoff returns (21.2-yard average). DeCamillis would like to use Bryant on both, but that might be too heavy a workload if Bryant becomes a starting receiver next year.
Sixth-round receiver Dwayne Harris could at least compete for a kick-return job. He ranks second in East Carolina school history (to the Titans' Chris Johnson - not bad company) with 102 career kickoff returns for 2,374 yards. His 23.3-yard average is the seventh-best ever by a Conference USA player.
Elsewhere in the draft, fifth-round cornerback Josh Thomas and seventh-round fullback Shaun Chapas are ideal candidates to play on the "core four" special teams units, given their late-round draft status and experience.
"I've played all of them in my career at Georgia," Chapas said. "I've been on all of the major four: kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return."
Keep in mind, though, that at least four of the five mentioned rookies (Carter, Murray, Harris and Chapas) already seem to have a good chance at starting or playing regularly on offense or defense within the next two years.
Make no mistake, this is not a "special teams draft." But DeCamillis did appear to get some help.