SB Nation User Blog: Jim Vance

Doomsday Redux: A Visit With Larry Cole

Jim Vance — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:00:50 -0000

The Original Doomsday Defense Front Four- George Andrie, Bob Lilly, Jethro Pugh and Larry Cole.

I had the pleasure of recently meeting Larry Cole at a luncheon in Decatur, Texas. Cole played defensive end and defensive tackle for the Cowboys from 1968 through 1980. He played in five Super Bowls, winning two of them. He was drafted in the 16th-round and wore the star his entire career. He played for one coach, Tom Landry.

Today, Larry is a very successful real estate developer in the DFW area and the CEO of Larry Cole Communities. He's tall, thinner than his playing days, but I can imagine how big and imposing he was with pads and at his playing weight.

He's a very gracious man and still is a big Cowboys fan. When I introduced myself and asked him if he still followed the Cowboys, his passion for the team and the game was evident. I wondered if he would be willing to give me some insights into his days as an original member of the Doomsday Defense and share his perspective on the current Dallas Cowboys. I asked if he would answer 10 questions, (I snuck in an extra) he agreed, and the Q&A results follow the jump.

Larry, thank you for taking time to speak with BTB and thanks for the great Cowboy memories!

1) What are your most vivid memories of Coach Landry?

Winning the first Super Bowl (VI). Rayfield Wright and I lifted him on our shoulders. He had that "ear to ear" grin. He had been through so many frustrating end of seasons that this got the "monkey off his back".

2) You played in 5 Super Bowls, winning two of them. Do you have a favorite Super Bowl story?

The night before Super Bowl VI my Mom and Dad took me and my Godparents out to dinner. I decided that I wanted to try something different for dinner. I ordered quail. I got two of them but they were only the size of an egg. When we left I was still hungry so we stopped at McDonalds so I could eat more. I had a good game as the whole team did. I recovered a Larry Csonka fumble and helped Bob Lilly tackle Bob Griese for a 29 yard loss that seemed to demoralize their team after that. So "I had it my way" by eating at McDonalds!"

3) Who gave you the nickname Bubba? Why?

Dave Edwards, outside linebacker, was the master of giving nicknames. He started this one. It wasn't Bubba, but was "Bubber Frank". I had to have two names in Texas. I think I got it because I played the left side at defensive end, which is the strong side for offenses. We had to stuff more of the running plays on our side. He played next to me and we were kind of the "stumps" to shut down the run.

4) Tony Romo is criticized for not being a leader. What advice would you give him?

Talk to Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. It is my understanding that he did spend time with Troy. He reminded me a little of Don Meredith who wanted to win, but didn't want it bad enough. I think dumping Jessica, at least until the end of the season, was good for him. He is handling himself very well this year. Not having to deal with T.O.'s personality is a plus at his age. I think Troy could have handled T.O.

5) When Landry devised the ‘flex' defense, how did it effect opposing offenses?

It was designed to stop the Green Bay Packer power sweep and trap series. It absolutely shut it down when executed properly. Once offenses changed to short passing it wasn't as effective. Landry abandoned it his last year of coaching and did a 3-4 defense, the same as coached by Wade Phillips.

6) Who was the meanest guy in the league during your era?

Conrad Dobler. He was a nasty player who stretched the rules and literally bit Jethro Pugh on his calf muscle. Dobler was a great competitor with limited talent. Dick Butkus was the other but he also played defense same as me so I didn't play against him.

7) If you were Wade Philips, what changes would you make to the current Cowboys team?

I like what he has done this year. I still have a lot of confidence in Jason Garrett. His father was a good football man. Jason was one of the ball boys in training camp. Other than that keep Felix Jones healthy!

8) Do you have a favorite Cowboy player? Past and present?

Bob Lilly is like a big brother to me. He has been and still is very supportive of anything I do. I learned the pro game from him. Demarcus Ware is such an awesome athlete and seems to be a good person off the field.

9) How has the game changed since you played?

Yes. In my day they took big bodies and made the best football player and athlete out of him. Now they take a fullback with good agility and footwork and make a defensive lineman out of him. These kids start playing, running and weight lighting when they are in junior high. I would love to take the 1971 team and morph into the bodies of these guys. We were more focused and disciplined and were more hungry since we didn't make enough money. Making the playoffs meant adding up to 40% more salary.

10) In your career you had three interceptions and one fumble returned for touchdowns. You must have been pretty fast for a big man, do you think Bob Hayes was concerned you might give him a challenge?

Not hardly! Two of the runs were over 40 yards. I felt like I was running on a treadmill! It took forever to get to the endzone.

11) Have you had a chance to see the new stadium? What do you think?

Yes, I went to the Ribbon Cutting. It is awesome! it is big, but not gaudy. I love the plazas at the end of the end zones. There are 6 levels. It's kind of like TCU's plaza where you can get out of your seat and mingle and keep up with the game. You can easily see the whole field in the endzone. It just feels right.

Dallas Cowboys Leaders Make an Early Appearance

Jim Vance — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:55:15 -0000

More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

Keith Brooking is bringing leadership to the Dallas Cowboys locker room.

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You want leadership? I'm hearing some bits and pieces from the local media that veteran players are stepping up.

After the Oakland game was over, Steve Dennis later reported on Babe Laufenberg's show that Keith Brooking, DeMarcus Ware and Patrick Crayton challenged everyone to step up their effort and improve their play when the team was in the locker room. They challenged rookies to study harder and learn quicker. They challenged experienced backups to tighten up their game and compete for a starting role.

Folks, this is leadership. Leadership is not screaming and yelling on the field in public, it's players exhorting their mates to do better in a closed locker room, man to man. You can't be interrupted by going onto the field, you can't walk away down the sideline because you don't like what is being said - you're all right there together.

This is face to face, in front of the whole team - family style.

Here's the best part - this meeting is taking place right after the first preseason game. That tells me that internal expectations are much higher this year.

These vets are saying to the rookies, "You're here because you are a football player, now play, no excuses."

They are saying to the back ups, "You play like you practice. Act like each snap is your last."

Hallelujah!

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp: It Just Feels Different This Year

Jim Vance — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:22:21 -0000

More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

Dallas Cowboys running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones - two warriors.

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I'm sure you've seen the old military movie scenes showing a parade of bright, shiny, smiling soldiers marching down Main Street lined with cheering crowds, ready to ship out for battle. Beautiful women throwing garlands, bands playing, and the troops confident in a triumph that they knew would be theirs.

That was last year's camp.

That camp, highlighted by Hard Knocks, gave the impression that the Cowboys were Super Bowl bound and everybody just needed to "..come on in for the big win." (To borrow a line from another military movie). Apparently the other teams in the league didn't get the memo. The Cowboys were bloodied and beaten during the regular season, at times appearing shell-shocked, before the eventual December collapse.

Did that early swagger contribute in some way to the swoon in December?

This year's camp reminds me of a scene from another military movie scene - the paratroopers in the plane, flying into D-Day. Serious faces, each man more introspective, thinking about his role when he hits the ground..

The current camp doesn't have the glitz and the showmanship that we saw last year. It's more like boot camp. You're there to learn your job, perfect your skills, and learn how to cover your buddies six-o'clock when the bullets are flying. Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett seem to be slugging it out with their best tactics, trying out what works and simultaneously preparing each others troops for the rigors of what will come.

The interviews are more subdued, the players and coaches seem more humble this year. I saw the usually boisterous Patrick Crayton being asked about his goals for this year in T.O.'s absence.

He said, (i'm paraphrasing) "we just need to win games. If we win enough games in the regular season we get to the playoffs. Then we need to win games there".

No personal goals. No talking smack. He boiled the attitude of this camp down to its most elemental form. Just win games.

There seems to be a sense of quiet determination on this team. I can't say if this will carry over to the regular season and result in more wins. I can't even accurately describe what I'm seeing and hearing. It just feels different this year.

Will the Cowboys Quarterback Controversy Distract the Team?

Jim Vance — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:27:41 -0000

More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

Rowdy gives Tony Romo the official news - you're our QB, baby!

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What Cowboy QB controversy? Exactly, there is no controversy and Cowboy fans can be thankful for that. (Sorry for the sucker headline, like Parcells once said, consider yourself sucked!)

Think about the drama some teams are facing as they head into camp this year. There are teams going to training camp wondering who their QB will be. Will that QB have the physical skills, the leadership skills, the mental and emotional strength necessary to take their team through the regular season and deep into the playoffs?

Consider the Washington Redskins and their QB Jason Campbell. Campbell knows that the team must not have full confidence in his ability based on their pursuit of Jay Cutler during the off season. How does this public vote of ‘no confidence' affect the mind and play of a young quarterback?

The Vikings have a team that many feel is a Super Bowl contender. They were about to enter training camp with rumors that coaches and players were sending Brett Favre text messages to come and join their team. Even though Favre decided to stay retired, Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson will be riddled with doubt about the coach's confidence in him.

There will be some question in San Antonio about Romo's ability to be a leader, but there is no doubt in his mind, or in the mind of anyone else, that this team and the starting QB position is his. It is an advantage to know in advance who to build your offense around.

Tony Romo has earned that confidence by his on-field play. He ranked 8^th in efficiency (91.4) out of all NFL starting QBs in 2008 and this after missing three games with injury. He rated better than 75% of all quarterbacks in the league. He was rated higher than all other NFC East QBs (Donovan McNabb 86.4, Eli Manning 86.4, Jason Campbell 84.3) and higher than Super Bowl winner Big Ben Roethlisberger (80.1).

I understand the system is somewhat dated and measures the passer's efficiency - not his ability to lead or inspire. However, it is the system applied to all NFL QB's past and present. And it is an indication that your passer can get the ball down the field.

This much is certain, Romo is the Cowboys starting QB before training camp opens, during training camp and he will be the starter when the regular season begins - and a lot of teams wish they were in that position.

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp: The Bubble Boys

Jim Vance — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:38:46 -0000

Who are the Bubble Boys this year? Who are the Cowboy players standing on the proverbial bubble this training camp? Almost all rookies are somewhat on the bubble unless they are top-round draft picks. I'm defining a Bubble Boy as a veteran player, who has not broken into the starting lineup and has yet to show themselves to be a reliable backup. At some point the team has to make a change if a player doesn't develop. That change can mean being traded for another player or future draft choice, or being cut outright. For some of the Bubble Boys, the clock is ticking.

Make the jump.

Bubble Boys:

Pat Watkins - When you play the safety position and your team signs a free agent safety and then drafts two more, you should be looking over your shoulder. The safety play was poor last year and the team appears determined to upgrade. With Roy Williams' injury last year there was a real opportunity for Watkins to secure a spot. He didn't. Watkins will have competition for one of the backup safety positions and he will need to make it clear that he is worth the roster space. If it looks like a push between him and a rookie, the rookie will get the spot.

Courtney Brown - See Pat Watkins above. The safety play was poor last year, Roy Williams was hurt and Brown had a chance to win a spot. He didn't. He could be on the outside looking in. The Cowboys could possibly look at him back at corner again.

Isaiah Stanback - Have you seen the M. Night Shyamalan movie called Unbreakable where Samuel L. Jackson played a bad guy who was nicknamed ‘Mr. Glass' because he was very fragile? Well, that's who Stanback reminds me of. He has talent, but he can't seem to stay healthy enough to get on the field. How long can the Cowboys endure the opportunity cost of waiting for Mr. Glass to become Mr. Big Play?

Alan Ball - At cornerback, the Cowboys have gone from liability to strength with Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. Ball was a 7th-round draft choice in 2007 and will be battling for a backup spot with rookie Mike Mickens, who was considered an elite cover prospect before suffering a knee injury. If Mickens knee is solid, Ball might be in trouble. DeAngelo Smith will also be in the mix.

Pat McQuistan - An offensive tackle drafted in the 7th-round in 2006. He has backed up Marc Columbo at RT and even Flozell Adams at LT but only for very brief stints. When Flozell had a bad wing last year and seemed a shell of himself, McQuistan had an opportunity to step in and help the team as well as himself. Flo had to come right back in. McQuistan needs to bring it during training camp or he just might lose it.

Bubble Boys (potential trade variety)

Bobby Carpenter - When you cost your team a first-round draft pick (18^th) and first-round draft pick money, and you haven't played your way onto the field - that's a big problem. Since Carpenter was drafted by Parcells in 2006 he has not been able to earn significant playing time and the team surely won't want to continue to burn up a roster spot without reciprocal production. For the last few years I've heard Carpenter being discussed as moving inside and then outside and that he deserves more playing time and yet, he doesn't manage to get on the field except for special teams. If the guy has the ability and desire, I'm sure Wade will recognize it and find a way to use it. His big opportunity is a shot at the starting nickel-backer role. I see him as someone the Cowboys would love to talk up during camp and package him for a future draft pick.

Cory Procter - Procter signed a one-year deal in April and he has shown some versatility by backing up Andre Gurode at center, but last year while filling in at guard he got pushed around more than a Wal-Mart shopping cart. If the Cowboys really liked him it seems they would have locked him up for a longer term. That one-year deal sounds to me like, "If another G/C prospect comes on the radar screen, we won't be tied to you with a longer contract." We used to think Kyle Kosier was the weak link on the o-line, until Proctor took his place. Procter will be battling Montrae Holland as the primary backup guard, but his best chance for continued stability with the Cowboys is as a backup center. Playing center could save him this year.

The clock is ticking down for these guys to make an impact. Training camp may be the last time some of these men wear the star. Tick...tick...tick.

Should You Buy Your Roy Williams Dallas Cowboy Jersey Now?

Jim Vance — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:48:44 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams (4) is poised to have a very productive year in 2009.

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I know there are doubters out there, and that's your prerogative. However, I'm thinking that Roy Williams is going to have a great year in 2009.

Last year was not a stellar year and his low production gave fuel to those who doubt that Williams was worth what the Cowboys gave up for him. There were three contributing factors to his lack of production last year (19 receptions/198 yards/ 1 TD) that need to be taken into consideration.

He came to the Cowboys with the season well underway and he had to adjust to a new QB and new teammates almost overnight. To illustrate how familiarity can impact a player's performance, consider that he had more yards in the first five games with Detroit than he had the rest of the season in Dallas.

More after the jump.

He struggled with plantar fasciitis, a painful foot condition that caused him problems for a significant part of his season. All players endure and play with some degree of pain, but mix the pain with the uncertainty that comes with being the new guy and you have a better understanding of why his timing and reactions might have been off.

The third contributing factor was that the Cowboys lacked balls. (Shame on you) What I mean is the team had a lot of talent and Romo had other options to spread the balls around to - options that Romo may have had more confidence in.

That was 2008, now take a look at his last two full seasons in Detroit. In 2007 he missed four games with an injury and his production was still 64 receptions/ 838 yards/ 5 TDs on a team that finished 7 - 9. That season the Lions offense was ranked last in rushing attempts, ranked next to last in rushing yards, gave up 20 interceptions and 51 sacks. When you played the Lions you schemed to stop the pass; you keyed on the receivers. If you were to extrapolate out for Williams having a full season his numbers that year would look more like 85 receptions/ 1117 yards/ 6 TDs.

Go back another year and look at 2006 when the Lions finished 3 - 13 and that year their offense was ranked dead last in rushing attempts and yards, with Kitna being tagged for 22 interceptions and 63 sacks. Williams had his best year as a pro compiling 82 receptions/ 1310 yards/ 7 TDs. His complimentary receiving mate was Mike Furrey. Admittedly, Detroit was operating under the pass-happy offensive scheme of Mike Martz and William's numbers may have benefited from playing there. However, if everyone in the stadium is thinking pass, and your receiver is still winning those battles, that's a good thing.

Fast forward to 2009. Roy Williams looks healthy and focused. He is in his home state where his folks will have to read every comment written about him. Williams and Romo have developed a connection, getting familiar with each others timing. Opponents will have to account for Smash, Dash and Tash as well as players like Jason Witten and Marty B. Roy Williams' complementary receivers are at least as good if not better than Mike Furrey.

If Roy Williams can put up respectable numbers on a struggling team with a marginal supporting cast, isn't it safe to assume he could do the same on a more balanced team with stronger players around him?

I think he can and I think he will. You may want to buy your Roy E. Williams jerseys now folks, they could get more expensive as the season rolls on.

Poll

Do you think Roy E. Williams will have a 1000 yard season in 2009?

Yes

1216 votes

No

219 votes

1435 votes | Poll has closed

The Wade Fade: Can He Get the Cowboys a Win in the Playoffs?

Jim Vance — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:49:36 -0000

More photos » by LM Otero - AP

Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips complains that everyone is on his back. Here is photographic proof that his suspicions are correct.

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Wade Phillips has had four chances to win a playoff game as a head coach. He's 0 for 4. Is he cursed or is he lacking as a coach? To win a playoff game you have to make it to the post-season first and that means you have to win more games than you lose. I want to compare Wade's record against past Cowboy coaches to see if he is the right guy to even get us into the show.

Cowboys coaches have included the notorious hard case Duane Charles Parcells, the mercurial James William Johnson, the stoic Thomas Wade Landry and now the soft and cuddly Harold Wade Phillips. Which coach has been the most successful over the span of the coach's careers during the NFL regular season?

I took a look at the winning percentages of the four coaches over the span of their years as a head coach. A partial season will count as a full season in regards to winning percentage as a head coach. For example, Phillips was with the Saints for four games 1985, his one win gives him a .250 winning percentage as a head coach that season. I will include every team the coach represented, in Phillips' case, New Orleans, Buffalo, Denver, Atlanta and Dallas.

Make the jump.

Coach	Years as HC	Games	Win	Loss	Ties	Winning %
Phillips	9	119	70	49	0	.588
Parcells	19	303	172	130	1	.570
Johnson	9	144	80	64	0	.556
Landry	29	418	250	162	6	.607

In the regular season, Wade is in good company, finishing second to the great Tom Landry among Cowboy coaches with at least 9 years as an NFL head coach. It would appear that Wade can get us to the playoffs, can he get us through the playoffs?

Landry, Johnson and Parcells have all won Super Bowls, Phillips has yet to win a playoff game. Let's take a quick look at those four playoff losses.

Three of Wade's four playoff appearances have been in wild card games. In 1993 as coach of the Denver Broncos, Phillips met the Raiders and Art Shell in the Coliseum. The Raiders had a come from behind victory over Phillip's Broncos the week before, and trounced the Broncos 42 to 24 in that wild card game.

In 1998, Philips coached the Bills to the wild card spot and faced the Miami Dolphins, led by Jimmy Johnson. The Dolphins forced 5 turnovers but Buffalo rallied and fought back. Late in the fourth quarter the Bills drove to Miami's one yard line behind by a score of 24 - 14. The Bill's receiver Andre Reed was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and Buffalo had to settle for a field goal. Buffalo recovered the onside kick and drove to Miami's five yard line. The Bill's QB Doug Flutie was hit making a throw, fumbled for the fifth turnover, and Miami won 24 to 17. (You were probably watching the playoff game later that same day in Texas Stadium. Troy Aikman was sacked four times and threw three interceptions during a loss to the Cardinals.)

The next year, 1999, Wade returned to the playoffs with another wild card spot against the Titans. This game is known in Nashville as The Music City Miracle. This is the playoff game where Wade Phillips' Buffalo Bills drove down and kicked a 41-yard field goal to pull ahead of Tennessee with 16 seconds left to play. The Bills kicked off and their stingy defense only had to hold on for a couple of plays to win, however, there was a controversial across the field lateral on that kickoff and Tennessee ran the ball 75 yards for a touchdown and the win. Bruce DeHaven, the 13-year Buffalo special teams coach was fired after the season. Phillips was roundly criticized for benching Doug Flutie in place of Rob Johnson. Flutie led the team to the post-season but was inexplicably benched before the playoffs.

In 2007, Phillips coached the Cowboys to a first-seed playoff position in which the Giants, twice defeated in the regular season, came to Texas Stadium. The Cowboys led halfway through the third quarter. Dallas penalties kept Giant drives alive and Dallas' penalties killed their own drives. The game ended in the final minutes with the Cowboys driving for a win, and Romo being intercepted in the end zone. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl. This was Wade's fourth playoff loss.

A coach's job is to get his team prepared and in a position to win the game. Does Wade Phillips deserve to get the blame for those playoff losses?

The bigger question: Can he get the Cowboys a win in the playoffs?

Suggestions for Roger...

Jim Vance — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:34:56 -0000

Ok, I do love the game of pro football, but there are certain aspects I could do without. Here are some annoying things about the pro game. I would like to ask Roger Goodell to intercede on my behalf and correct these blemishes on an otherwise great past time. Commish, are you listening?

Using the Chains - Come on. Are those chains the most precise unit of measure available? We have the technology to superimpose the first down line on the TV screen and the officials on the field are still ‘moving the chains'. I have trouble getting repeatable accuracy using a tape measure on a piece of wood, you have to assume these chains are rife with inaccuracy. Upgrade Roger, let's go laser.

Sudden Death Overtime - A coin flip should not have that much influence on a games outcome. I want to know which team is the best, not the most fortunate. Play an extra quarter, that way the coin toss is important but each team has a chance to utilize all of its strengths.

Prevent Defense - OK, this one we can't get done just with Roger's help, we need to get all coaches to agree. Every time I see some team go into this formation I hear myself saying, "The only thing you're going to prevent is yourself from winning." I am willing to bet that if statistics were kept on the prevent defense we would see that it doesn't work.

The Cliches - We need Goodell to put pressure on the networks. He's a downhill runner, Which team wants it more, It's a shame one of these teams has to lose, He made a circus catch, This team is better than its record shows, He has a nonstop motor, He's faster than he looks, and on and on. I'm working on another post just to capture these and others. We've heard them all so many times that I start thinking of alternative meanings. Circus catch - he caught a clown? A trapeze artist?

The Inevitable Midwinter Shirtless Shot - Please have the networks stop encouraging this childish and potentially dangerous behavior. Unless she's hot.

Alright, I could think of a few more but I don't want to sound petty. How about you? Is there anything about the pro game that bugs you?

Jason Garrett: Meet Your Opponents

Jim Vance — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:26:55 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Jason Garrett will be facing some new foes this year.

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General Patton tried to learn everything he could about his enemy. There is a great scene in the movie Patton after the general anticipates and counters Field Marshal Rommel's offensive attack; Patton exclaims, "Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book!"

We know that coaches study game film and will review the same play over and over again, looking to gain an advantage by noticing tendencies or tip-offs from their counterparts. You can bet that Jason Garrett is pouring over game film now but he's going to have difficulty finding any game film on two of his division opponents.

The Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache is the only returning DC in the East. (If you count Wade as a change for Brian Stewart). He's in his second year as the defensive coordinator for the ‘Skins and he has another five years in charge of the Bears defense from 1999 to 2003. The Redskins have had solid defenses since Blache took the helm. The year before he took over (2006) the Redskins defense ranked 31^st, in Blache's first year (2007) they climbed to 8^th and then to 4^th in overall defense in 2008. With his leadership and some offseason acquisitions the ‘Skins defense will be a challenge for Garrett this season.

The other two coordinators in the East won't have any actual game film as coordinators for Garrett to work off.

Make the jump.

Philadelphia's Sean McDermott and New York's Bill Sheridan are both in their inaugural seasons as defensive coordinators.

The Eagles Jim Johnson has been a master of the game for a long time. He is battling cancer and we all hope and pray for his recovery but I think the team appointment of Sean McDermott as interim DC indicates that Johnson is expected to be out for a considerable amount of time. McDermott has served as the longest tenured Philadelphia defensive assistant coach on the team. In his ten years working closely with Johnson, you have to expect that McDermott learned quite a few things. Before the Cowboys officially named Wade as their DC I was suggesting that we go after Sean McDermott as our defensive coordinator. With McDermott's long experience working under Johnson, he's well-positioned to carry on the Eagles defensive philosophy.

Bill Sheridan was most recently the linebackers coach for the Giants, working under former DC Steve Spagnuolo who took over as the new head coach of the Rams. Sheridan is fifty years old and although he has 29 years in coaching most of his career has been in college. Coach Sheridan is only in his fifth season in the NFL and his first ever as a defensive coordinator. I am sure Sheridan is a sharp guy with a lot of talent, but McDermott will have the shorter learning curve of the two rooks.

Both rookie coaches will find themselves on the hot seat this year. The temperature level goes up significantly when you are responsible for calling the correct play. Just as a rookie cornerback gets singled out and tested, you can bet the rookie coaches will too.

It is Garrett's third year as Cowboys OC. Will he be able to handle Greg Blache and the two rookies, or will they take him to school?

Cowboy Stew: Serving Seconds

Jim Vance — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:44:36 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Could Mike Mickens be an impact rookie for the Cowboys this year?

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When I have some intriguing tidbits to share with you, but those tidbits are not enough to warrant a full post, I save them up and then I throw them into the pot, stir it up and serve you some Cowboy Stew. These bits and bites don't have much in common other than that they are Cowboy related and got stuck in my brain for a while. So, dig into the stew, and share your thoughts.

Will our rookies be able to make an impact? That requires pure speculation and we won't know until the season is fully under way. Now, if we had a powerful computer that could run multiple scenarios and model future behaviors in the NFL based on past behaviors in college we might get some interesting data. Oh wait, there is a computer website that does just that. It's called Whatifsports.com. A few of the Cowboy rookies made the top 100.

Rookies present the biggest challenge. To come up with statistical inputs for rookies, we run a very complex set of algorithms that factors collegiate performance, role in college, strength of collegiate competition, "measurables," likely NFL role, previous performance of a similar player in that NFL role for this coaching staff and trends of similar rookies in the past. This gives us the player's projected ratio stats (expected yards per carry, completion percentage, etc.), as well as his forecasted usage for the upcoming season. From there, we can compare all rookies based on who we think will make the biggest positive impact for his new NFL team in his first year. The Top 100 from this ranking are listed below.

74. Mike Mickens, CB, Dallas
55. Victor Butler, LB, Dallas
52. DeAngelo Smith, CB/S, Dallas

Riddle me this Batman - (A line borrowed from Frank Gorshin and the old Batman TV series) Is there an anti- Cowboy bias in the media? Here is a recent scenario. The Cowboys release a certain aging receiver and they are slammed by the sports media and predicted to struggle in 2010.

During the same off season the New York Giants lose their number one receiver in Plaxico Burress, lose another receiver in Amani Toomer, lose a 1000 yard rusher in Derrick Ward and lose their successful Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and still the sports press picks the Giants to win the division and possibly the Super Bowl.

The Giants and the Cowboys split their two games last season indicating that the gap between them is relatively small and yet the loss of the Cowboys number one receiver is predicted to have a greater negative impact than the Giants loss of several starters. Go figure.

4^th and Long - I like Michael Irvin's reality show. Maybe it's just because there is a bit of football during the long dry offseason and I'm having withdrawals or maybe Irvin and his writers have done a good job of letting the characters develop. I'm picking the big wide receiver Montrell Jones to be the winner. He's not the most likable guy there but he has the size and strength and I feel like he has already been given a couple of mulligans to keep him on the show. My favorite character? Coach Joe! He cracks me up with some of his comments to the players and to Mike. What exactly is a slapdick?

Yes, but I'm the tallest midget! - Last season there were 13 NFL teams who finished the season in the negative total points category. What that means is the combined scores of your opponents totaled more than the total number of points scored by your offense. As you might expect, all of these teams finished at the bottom of their divisions and all of these teams had losing records - save one. The 2008 Dallas Cowboys. Clearly the Philly butt-whipping put the Cowboys in that position, but there they are at 9 -7 and boasting a minus 3 points. That's another dubious distinction to a disappointing season. Yes, we were the best of the losers.

So, how did you like the stew?