C
Cr122
Guest
Archer: Expect better execution from Cowboys once regular season starts
11:53 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 31, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Dallas Morning News writer Todd Archer answered questions in the Dallas Cowboys weekly newsletter regarding the team as they near the end of the preseason. Here are some highlights:
David Hirsch asks, “With Dallas' offensive struggles in the preseason, do you think they will get things together by the start of the regular season? Or is this a long-term problem?”
ARCHER : The ability is there to be among the best units in the NFL. I'm not getting too carried away with the preseason work. It's a concern but not a major deal-breaker. I think when they get everybody back, from Dez Bryant to Kyle Kosier to Marc Colombo, things will be better. You're not going to see much different Thursday, so this team will have to build its confidence in practice before it plays the Redskins.
Kevin Clark from Evanston, Wyo. writes, “This has probably already been beaten to death, but the preseason hasn't looked good for the 'Boys. Is this more the result of their vanilla offense/defense or is it that they once again may not be as good as they and many others think they are?”
ARCHER: Kevin, it's a question worth asking. Has everybody overrated the Cowboys' talent? Maybe. I feel sorry for the flavor vanilla. It has to have such a complex for the way it's been bandied about the last week or so. I think the lack of a game plan has played a part in the poor showing, but they didn't look this bad the last couple of pre-seasons when they weren't game planning.
Robert Carson wonders, “What are we going to do about the inability to score touchdowns inside the red zone? We are not clicking on all wheels.”
ARCHER: Let me be a wise guy and say, score all of their touchdowns from outside the 20. Tip your waiters and waitresses, I'll be here all week.
No, I think they need to find a way to execute better in the red zone. The really good red zone teams run the ball into the end zone. The Cowboys haven't done that well since 2007. I think that'll be a focus this year, as well as getting Jason Witten involved more from the 10-15-yard line. He needs to be a bigger part of the offense when they are in the red zone.
Donald Griffin Jr. asks, “ Outside of Miles Austin, who are the next Cowboys who will be seeking new contracts with significant signing-bonus money?”
ARCHER : Depends on your definition of significant. There is not another player in Austin's category if you're talking big money, like, say, $25-million-plus guaranteed. The Cowboys have players they'd like to keep – Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen , Jason Hatcher – but they would not cost as much as Austin. It will be interesting to see if they make extension offers to guys like Jason Witten and Jay Ratliff in the next year or so. Those two could be in position for a "significant" raise, too.
Mick White wonders, “Where do you think the Cowboys will be in regard to being ready for the season opener in Washington?”
ARCHER: They won't have generated much goodwill from the preseason work but that doesn't mean they won't be ready for Washington, either. For all of the carping about Wade Phillips' training camps, the Cowboys have never been a team to start slowly. I think they'll be ready to go for the Redskins. Does that guarantee a win? No, but I think you'll see better execution out of the regulars.
Todd writes, “I was watching Robert Brewster doing a great job at left tackle. Has there been any thought about starting him and moving Free to right tackle?”
ARCHER: Well, I don't believe Brewster has done that great of a job at left tackle. He's not athletic enough to handle speed rushers over there. He's a right tackle and probably more of a guard. Alex Barron is the backup left tackle anyway. If Marc Colombo were to miss a significant amount of time, then I can see the Cowboys moving Free to right tackle, but they like everything they have seen from Free in the preseason and in camp.
To read the rest of the newsletter, click here.
• • •
11:53 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 31, 2010
SportsDayDFW.com
Dallas Morning News writer Todd Archer answered questions in the Dallas Cowboys weekly newsletter regarding the team as they near the end of the preseason. Here are some highlights:
David Hirsch asks, “With Dallas' offensive struggles in the preseason, do you think they will get things together by the start of the regular season? Or is this a long-term problem?”
ARCHER : The ability is there to be among the best units in the NFL. I'm not getting too carried away with the preseason work. It's a concern but not a major deal-breaker. I think when they get everybody back, from Dez Bryant to Kyle Kosier to Marc Colombo, things will be better. You're not going to see much different Thursday, so this team will have to build its confidence in practice before it plays the Redskins.
Kevin Clark from Evanston, Wyo. writes, “This has probably already been beaten to death, but the preseason hasn't looked good for the 'Boys. Is this more the result of their vanilla offense/defense or is it that they once again may not be as good as they and many others think they are?”
ARCHER: Kevin, it's a question worth asking. Has everybody overrated the Cowboys' talent? Maybe. I feel sorry for the flavor vanilla. It has to have such a complex for the way it's been bandied about the last week or so. I think the lack of a game plan has played a part in the poor showing, but they didn't look this bad the last couple of pre-seasons when they weren't game planning.
Robert Carson wonders, “What are we going to do about the inability to score touchdowns inside the red zone? We are not clicking on all wheels.”
ARCHER: Let me be a wise guy and say, score all of their touchdowns from outside the 20. Tip your waiters and waitresses, I'll be here all week.
No, I think they need to find a way to execute better in the red zone. The really good red zone teams run the ball into the end zone. The Cowboys haven't done that well since 2007. I think that'll be a focus this year, as well as getting Jason Witten involved more from the 10-15-yard line. He needs to be a bigger part of the offense when they are in the red zone.
Donald Griffin Jr. asks, “ Outside of Miles Austin, who are the next Cowboys who will be seeking new contracts with significant signing-bonus money?”
ARCHER : Depends on your definition of significant. There is not another player in Austin's category if you're talking big money, like, say, $25-million-plus guaranteed. The Cowboys have players they'd like to keep – Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen , Jason Hatcher – but they would not cost as much as Austin. It will be interesting to see if they make extension offers to guys like Jason Witten and Jay Ratliff in the next year or so. Those two could be in position for a "significant" raise, too.
Mick White wonders, “Where do you think the Cowboys will be in regard to being ready for the season opener in Washington?”
ARCHER: They won't have generated much goodwill from the preseason work but that doesn't mean they won't be ready for Washington, either. For all of the carping about Wade Phillips' training camps, the Cowboys have never been a team to start slowly. I think they'll be ready to go for the Redskins. Does that guarantee a win? No, but I think you'll see better execution out of the regulars.
Todd writes, “I was watching Robert Brewster doing a great job at left tackle. Has there been any thought about starting him and moving Free to right tackle?”
ARCHER: Well, I don't believe Brewster has done that great of a job at left tackle. He's not athletic enough to handle speed rushers over there. He's a right tackle and probably more of a guard. Alex Barron is the backup left tackle anyway. If Marc Colombo were to miss a significant amount of time, then I can see the Cowboys moving Free to right tackle, but they like everything they have seen from Free in the preseason and in camp.
To read the rest of the newsletter, click here.
• • •
