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Expect Free Agency Fizzle for Dallas (Defense)

     As promised, here’s the second part of the Cowboys’ free agency preview.

     DEFENSIVE LINE:  The team has needed a pass rusher from the line ever since Charles Haley retired.  Incredibly, even with extraordinary talents such as Ebenezer Ekuban and Shante Carver, the Cowboys have had to rely on linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Greg Ellis for pressure on the quarterback.  While restricted free agent Chris Canty should return, and continues to improve each year, Marcus Spears has been less than stellar thus far.  Tank Johnson was adequate once he returned from suspension, allowing the team to consider dealing Jason Ferguson to Miami.

     Jevon Kearse is again looking for work, but he hasn’t seemed inspired to play football since the 2000 Super Bowl with Tennessee.  If Dallas wants to spend a bit, Mike Rucker or Justin Smith would provide an immediate upgrade over Spears and draw some blockers away Ware and Ellis.  Despite just five sacks between the pair last season, both Rucker and Smith would benefit from Wade Phillips’ agressive schemes.

     On the draft front, pass rushers are going be in more demand than fair elections in Pakistan, thanks to the Giants’ Super Bowl win.  Unfortunately, Chris Long and Vernon Gholston will be long gone by the time Dallas goes on the clock, but Casper Brinkley and Sedrick Ellis could be available to the team at some point.  Also, Glenn Dorsey’s new (old) tibia injury could perhaps cause him to “Brady Quinn” to the Cowboys at the end of Round 1.

     Fact is, the team has spent three of its last four first rounders on defensive linemen; Dallas can’t afford another screw up.

     LINEBACKERS:  Even before the addition of Zach Thomas, this was the strongest unit on the Cowboys’ roster.  Ware is one of the best in the league at getting to the quarterback, and Ellis has decided to once again give a hoot about football.  Bobby Carpenter didn’t get much of a chance last year, but he should see more action in the fall.  Bradie James continues his development into a great player, leading the team with 101 tackles last season; his three sacks were a career high.

     This is a unit that doesn’t need too much tinkering, especially given what top player Lance Briggs is expected to command, and Kawika Mitchell having signed with Buffalo already.  However, Boss Bailey, Calvin Pace, and Jeremiah Trotter all could be had.  Roosevelt Colvin was unproductive in New England, and his injury history reads like a medical school final exam. 

     The most intriguing name?  Former Defensive Rookie of the Year Kendrell Bell was cut loose by Kansas City after a lackluster Chiefs career.  Bell, of course, was passed over by Jerry Jones when he took Quincy Carter in the second round in 2001.  With Carter coked out of the league, Jones has a chance to see what he’s been missing the past seven years.

     This is one of the weakest positions in the draft, with Penn State’s Dan Johnson the best available.  With other needs, the Cowboys can take a pass at adding any more linebackers this season.

      SECONDARY:  Perhaps the only unit I’ve ever witnessed worse than Dallas’ was the Longhorns from The University of Texas the past two seasons.  Outside of one of the league’s elite, Terrence Newman, and franchise player Ken Hamlin, this unit, well, stinks worse than a skunk eating out of the dumpster behind El Rancho.  Jacques Reeves, Nate Jones, and special teams captain Keith Davis are all free agents and figure to leave (mercifully).  Now, if only someone would do something–ANYTHING–about Roy “Don’t Worry Guys, I Got This Line of Scrimmage Covered” Williams.  Seriously, anything.

     Dallas took quite a double-whammy when the best defender available, Asante Samuel, spurned the team and signed with division rival Philadelphia.  I guess watching Terrell Owens tap-dance on their field really got to them last year.  With Samuel and Nnamdi Asomugha already off the board, only Randall Gay really sparks any interest.  Marcus Trufant, designated by Seattle as the Seahawks’ franchise player, is certainly great, but the Cowboys are still smarting from the last franchise player they acquired from Seattle.

     Mike Jenkins, Aqib Talib, Ambrose Woodson, and Marcus Brown headline a cornerback class that has a few top talents, but not much depth.  Marcus Griffin and Tom Zbikowski are the big fish in a shallow safety pool, but either should available around the second or third rounds. 

     With the team needing to focus on other areas (wide receiver, running back) in the first round, the Cowboys might not address the secondary until the second round.  By then, it may be too late.

     SPECIAL TEAMS:  Few, if any, teams in the NFL have a better unit than punter Mat McBriar and kicker Nick Folk.  McBriar has been the best punter in the league for two years, and Folk made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season by making several big kicks, including the game-winner twice in Buffalo.  There is no need to change anything here.

     Despite the many team records the offense set this year, the defensive unit should be the one that undergoes the least change this year.  Sadly, though, this is more a statement of the lack of defensive help available than the overall strength of the unit.  Barring some sort of mid-major miracle, Tony Romo and Friends are going to need to average 35 per game again.

     Brian Smith can be reached at BLSmith@mail.utexas.edu

     Listen to Brian talk sports every Tuesday morning, 9-11, only at kvrx.org.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 11:44 pm and is filed under The Cowboy Roundup. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.