Dallas Cowboys: I'll be your Huckleberry...

The element that was shown was that when Holland or a healthy Kosier was in the interior line the team could both run inside and outside. It was also shown that Tashard Choice, Jones, and Barber are a dynamic group that can make Red Zone efficiency a reality now.

Red Zone scoring diminished last season from the previous season for one reason...Dallas was not able to run the ball there. This was more indicative of scoring relevance than the loss of a diminishing effective T.O. in the Dallas offense.

Now, without T.O. in the lineup, Dallas has a better chance of being efficient than it did from the Seattle game onward last season.

Then one has the defensive side of considerations. Here, an observation should begin with the picture of DeMarcus Ware.

Ware is presently the most dominating player in the game. He is even more devastating than the newly-acquired Washington Redskins defensive tackle, Haynesworth. He has averaged over 10 sacks a season for four full years. He has also been an All Pro for three of those four years and is the present signature of this defense.

Frustrations around the persona of T.O. have clouded the real picture of Dallas and its coaches for too long now. It not only is unfair, but intensely inaccurate as well.

Once Wade Phillips started grabbing the reigns back, just as Bill Parcells had done at various times in his past times as head coach, the team started to excel at a higher level.

Critics have pointed at the failure of the cornerbacks instead of the real culprits in the ineffectiveness of this secondary unit. The safety play was at question from the start of the season.

Roy Williams mercifully was injured and not able to be the brunt of ridicule and scorn. Although, he had deteriorated, even in an interior only role as teams would force him into coverage and then without fail outmatch him to large gains. You just could not hide him enough.

That would not have been fatal, but 'Killer' Davis and Pat Watkins were even worse in backup roles. Add onto this the fact that Anthony Henry was no longer able to catch up in deep developing plays and his effectiveness on short passes deteriorated excessively this season. He no longer possessed catch up speeds and wasn't nearly as effective even on short passes. This combined to put the whole safety group on islands.

The spiral down over the end of the season, was directly related to the degree that a very inferior group of safeties affected opponent's ability to sustain drives and take advantage of that very group. As with T.O.'s departure, the loss of Roy Williams, Davis, and other members of a poorly functional safety group elevates this section as well.

Gerald Sensabaugh's addition improves coverages greatly. The playing of both Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick improves the catch up and thus single coverage ability of this defense. Instead of being a weaker point of contention, the whole secondary is BETTER able to maintain realistic coverage, as it continues to add to the improvements in the secondary group as a whole.

The secondary's pass defense, ranked eighth in the NFL, was MORE related to the additions of Scandrick and Jenkins than the loss of Williams and Henry. Again, things are getting better on defense.

Now, strictly on the departures and additions, this Cowboys team has more depth that is adaptive as well as more dynamic than what was put on the field last season.

Numbers were down last season on Dallas turnovers. This was indicative to the drain that the ineffective strong safety and a diminished skills Henry were adding to that group.

It is stronger, despite losing the veteran experience, than it was last season. That Alan Ball and Courtney Brown are looking more adept at free safety and cornerback just adds to the running and coverage abilities of this group.

The center line of the entire defense has become harder to achieve against. Brookings moving in at weakside interior makes the ability to defense the run better. Adding a strong safety who doesn't have to break his neck in coverage of tight ends and running backs, only makes him easier to support the run defense as well as be used in blitzing situations as well.

Then one has the Wade Phillips' effect to consider. If anyone still feels that he is anyone's fool in the matter of defense, he just hasn't considered a very strongly supportive body of works there.

His defense is just now starting to hit stride as to application of technique, principles, as well as experience to be able to adapt to styles of play. This team will inch up in aggressive play as well as ability to stop opponents.

Wade is directing a very aggressive defense now. It is strengthened by players with familiarity with current members of the Dallas coaching staff.

Campo has previously worked with Sensabough and now, Ken Hamlin. Campo has been around Terrence Newman and was prominent in the quick development of both Scandrick and Jenkins.

Igor Oshanky should prove to be a strong asset against the run. If this run defense becomes even better, then it will open the door for a more integrated and functional secondary.

This in turn will allow the 'dogs' upfront to be even more aggressive from a NFL leading point from last season. Now, Wade Phillips' effect is just starting to be seen, and should shortly be felt as well.

Now, to this fan, the assembled chorus seems to be warming up for yet another production...and to my ears, some of that intermingling warm up, sounds sweet received. I can only project what this dictionary word might evolve towards...

CCBoy is a Sports Jabber contributor.

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