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Cowboys history has an odd symmetry.
In 1989, Sports Illustrated profiled the short-stocked roster for new coach Jimmy Johnson and pointed to two offensive standouts to build around -- running back Herschel Walker and guard Crawford Ker.
Jimmy didn't see it that way. He built around a couple of high draft picks from Gil Brandt's last draft, WR Michael Irvin and LB Ken Norton. He traded Walker for a bounty and cut the agile Ker, who didn't fit his big-body template. Jimmy promoted two odd-balls from the late Landry teams, Nate "the Kitchen" Newton and D-line convert Mark Tuinei, and built his powerball lines around them.
New coach Jason Garrett studied the old head coach's methods and appears to have some of Jimmy's ruthlessness. Garrett has more base talent to work with, and therefore makes no competitive concessions in his inaugural season. He is nonetheless willing to jettison any veteran who does not fit his long-term plans.
He's all but cleaned out the veterans on his offensive line. Marc Colombo -- gone. Leonard Davis -- gone. Andre Gurode could hit the door any minute, through trade or release. Don't think that Montrae Holland's time is long, after Kevin Kowalski gave the team another young prospect with his showing against Minnesota.
The Cowboys targeted offensive linemen early, middle and late in April's draft, picking one in the 1st, 4th and 7th rounds. Amazingly, they may have hit on all three picks. Tyron Smith is the right tackle. Bill Nagy continues to close in on the left guard starting spot. David Arkin may need an offseason with Mike Woicik, but looks like he can push for the other starting guard spot in perhaps a year.
And the new guys look a lot more like Tom Landry-linemen than Jimmy-guys. Quickness and agility are valued over brute force. Zone blocking has been a part of Dallas' playbook, but the new group runs a lot more zone plays than the veterans did, and the kids run them better -- and cleaner. Have you noticed how few penalties the first-team line has taken this summer? If Phil Costa returns and continues his progress, a line overhaul which looked like a two-year job may have all necessary pieces already in house.
That will let the scouts focus fully on the secondary, the other area of long-time neglect. It has that short-time feel. Both starting safeties are on one-year deals. The starting left corner is in his walk year at age 33, all but guaranteeing Terence Newman a new team in 2012. Mike Jenkins has two years to prove that 2010 was the fluke, not 2009. If he doesn't, he'll get the Davis and Colombo treatment. If the coach feels he has to discard his secondary and start over with Orlando Scandrick, he'll do it. The offense line offers the template.
Jason Garrett wants the Cowboys plane airborne and climbing, but he won't hesitate to overhaul an engine or two after takeoff. Buckle your seat belts, find your emergency exits and get ready for a wild ride.
Cowboys history has an odd symmetry.
In 1989, Sports Illustrated profiled the short-stocked roster for new coach Jimmy Johnson and pointed to two offensive standouts to build around -- running back Herschel Walker and guard Crawford Ker.
Jimmy didn't see it that way. He built around a couple of high draft picks from Gil Brandt's last draft, WR Michael Irvin and LB Ken Norton. He traded Walker for a bounty and cut the agile Ker, who didn't fit his big-body template. Jimmy promoted two odd-balls from the late Landry teams, Nate "the Kitchen" Newton and D-line convert Mark Tuinei, and built his powerball lines around them.
New coach Jason Garrett studied the old head coach's methods and appears to have some of Jimmy's ruthlessness. Garrett has more base talent to work with, and therefore makes no competitive concessions in his inaugural season. He is nonetheless willing to jettison any veteran who does not fit his long-term plans.
He's all but cleaned out the veterans on his offensive line. Marc Colombo -- gone. Leonard Davis -- gone. Andre Gurode could hit the door any minute, through trade or release. Don't think that Montrae Holland's time is long, after Kevin Kowalski gave the team another young prospect with his showing against Minnesota.
The Cowboys targeted offensive linemen early, middle and late in April's draft, picking one in the 1st, 4th and 7th rounds. Amazingly, they may have hit on all three picks. Tyron Smith is the right tackle. Bill Nagy continues to close in on the left guard starting spot. David Arkin may need an offseason with Mike Woicik, but looks like he can push for the other starting guard spot in perhaps a year.
And the new guys look a lot more like Tom Landry-linemen than Jimmy-guys. Quickness and agility are valued over brute force. Zone blocking has been a part of Dallas' playbook, but the new group runs a lot more zone plays than the veterans did, and the kids run them better -- and cleaner. Have you noticed how few penalties the first-team line has taken this summer? If Phil Costa returns and continues his progress, a line overhaul which looked like a two-year job may have all necessary pieces already in house.
That will let the scouts focus fully on the secondary, the other area of long-time neglect. It has that short-time feel. Both starting safeties are on one-year deals. The starting left corner is in his walk year at age 33, all but guaranteeing Terence Newman a new team in 2012. Mike Jenkins has two years to prove that 2010 was the fluke, not 2009. If he doesn't, he'll get the Davis and Colombo treatment. If the coach feels he has to discard his secondary and start over with Orlando Scandrick, he'll do it. The offense line offers the template.
Jason Garrett wants the Cowboys plane airborne and climbing, but he won't hesitate to overhaul an engine or two after takeoff. Buckle your seat belts, find your emergency exits and get ready for a wild ride.