Keeping Up with This Jones Easier Said Than Done

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The memories of what Felix Jones was able to accomplish in his rookie season as a Cowboy are plentiful despite missing the final 10 games with a toe injury in 2008.

He scored a touchdown on his first carry at Cleveland in Week One. He set a team record with 247 return yards against Philadelphia in Week Two, which included a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He added a 60-yard touchdown run a week later at Green Bay to become the first rookie in six years to score a touchdown in his first three games.

He showed so much promise in so little time that he clearly emerged from any cloud college teammate and current Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden held over him at Arkansas.

But a pulled hamstring on a 14-yard run at Arizona on October 12 kept him off the field for five games. Just when he was set to return a piece of turf gave way on a cut attempt, which forced him to the injured reserve on Nov. 26. Surgery soon followed.

Street clothes became his every-Sunday attire from there forward. His 8.9 yards per carry and 27.1 yards per kick return would have to live as “what ifs” until the 2009 campaign; one that should be full of No. 28.

With one big play threat gone in Terrell Owens and another hoping to emerge in Roy Williams, Jones should fancy himself smack in the middle of any and all things offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has planned while other pieces round into form. The Cowboys haven’t had a player with his abilities at his position in a long time. He’s already showed his versatility.

Just having him on the field opens up so much. The Cowboys have never dabbled with the “Wildcat” formation, but they should now. Remember, Jones was in the same backfield with McFadden at Arkansas when the formation gained national acclaim.

There’s no secret that Marion Barber is the featured back of the backfield. But an every-down back he is not. Dallas relies so much on his toughness for the fourth quarter that it needs someone to shoulder some of the load for him to stay fresh. Jones is that guy.


SECONDARY THOUGHTS
With the other Roy Williams now in Cincinnati, Dallas head coach Wade Phillips no longer has to worry about catering to a player that simply wasn’t fit for his 3-4 scheme. That should pay dividends across the landscape of a revamped and improved secondary.

Ideally, the Cowboys would like keep their secondary in man coverage to allow DeMarcus Ware and company more bodies to rush the opposition. Dallas knows what it has in Terence Newman, who is as good a cover corner as anyone when he stays healthy.

And it proved to have enough confidence in second year corners Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins by trading Anthony Henry to Detroit for John Kitna. The arrival of free agent safety Gerald Sensabaugh (70 tackles and four interceptions last season at Jacksonville) is an improvement coverage-wise.

With the white elephant known as Adam “Pacman” Jones no longer in the room, expect a mix of veterans like Newman and Ken Hamlin to gel well with the youngsters in a much more relaxed environment (well, as relaxed as one can be for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1996).

Phillips should also feel more at ease with former defensive coordinator Brian Stewart out of his contract. It’s his defense know. What comes of it is anyone’s guess.

SPECIAL TEAM WOES HAVE GOT TO GO

One would be remise not to mention Dallas’ attempts at righting the special teams ship after its countless blunders in 2008. Who could forget the block of a Mat McBriar punt that not only gave Arizona an overtime victory but also ended McBriar’s season with a broken ankle? No one? Figured so.

Joe DeCamillis, son-in-law of former NFL coach Dan Reeves, is the man in charge of turning things around. He held the same special teams coaching post at Jacksonville for two seasons and was offered a contract extension to stay with the Jaguars, but turned it down to replace Bruce Read.

Unfortunately for DeCamillis, he’s warranted some unwanted attention due to an accident at the Cowboys’ practice facility a few weeks ago that broke one of his vertebrae. The verdict is still out on whether he’ll make improvements in the kicking game.

DeCamillis isn’t backing down from his duties despite his injury. The former All-American wrestler at Wyoming has already participated in Cowboys practices wearing a neck brace and is manning a bullhorn to get his messages across. Dallas drafted an assortment of players to play special teams in last month’s draft to help his transition.

DeCamillis, 43, has never played a down of college or professional football, but he’s got 16 years of NFL special teams coaching experience that suggests he knows what he’s doing.

The Jaguars ranked third in kickoff coverage in 2008 and 18th in both kickoff returns and net punt average. The Cowboys ranked sixth, 21st, and 22nd in those categories respectively.

Surely, there aren’t many out there that would say Jacksonville had more talent than Dallas last season right? Special teams often comes down to which team has more heart. The Cowboys should be full of it this season if they have any respect for their new coach.

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