Bleacher Report - Articles by Martin Long

A Look Back Into What Was The Dallas Cowboys' Off-Season

Martin Long — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:28:55 -0400

Offensive Edition

As the pre-season draws to a close and the regular season looks set to begin the Dallas Cowboys’ look ready to begin on another deep playoff run.

Every offseason ends with a sentence just like the one above, and every season for the past 12 years, the Dallas Cowboys have failed to win a playoff game.

This season is another chance for the Cowboys to reclaim their glory as the league's best, and bring home the Lombardi Trophy...or to drop off as a playoff contender and be remembered yet again as an underachiever.

The Cowboys cleaned house at the end of last season after finishing with a very pedestrian 9-7 record and an early vacation. Terrell Owens was sent packing, along went Adam “Pacman” Jones, Tank Johnson, and Greg Ellis. The common theme with these players is that they were either a disruptive force in the locker room or had a clean cut history of creating problems, legal or otherwise.

The Cowboys then took a conservative approach in the draft, trading out of the first day and drafting 12 players on the second day in an attempt to improve depth and special teams.

From the 12 draftees, only two were offensive players: Robert Brewster and Manuel Johnson. Brewster tore a pectoral muscle while bench-pressing prior to training camp, and was placed on the PUP list (physically unable to perform) and therefore will not be able to play until at least week 10 of the regular season.

Manuel Johnson was cut as the final roster was trimmed to 53 players. This is now being taken into account the Cowboys gained almost nothing offensively from the draft.

As training camp got underway, five players were either put under the microscope or pulled it on top of them.

Kyle Kosier

Kyle Kosier is the starting left guard, and last season he went down with a foot injury and missed 13 games. Kosier stepped back into his starting roll as left guard and trained with the first team, and from general observation and reports, Kosier hasn’t missed a beat and is playing great football.

This is great for not just Romo and the running back trio, but Flozell Adams as well. Last season, Adams had a lot of trouble with speed rushers and without Kosier there, they usually came speeding around the edge and took Romo down from his blind side, resulting in more fumbles, turnovers, and losses.

Jon Kitna

Kitna is 36 and obviously in the twilight years of his career. There is still no doubt, however, that he is a considerable upgrade over Brad Johnson, who’s lack of arm strength and aging body caused the Cowboys’ to go 1-2 when Romo went down with a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand.

Kitna is the type of player that can come in and win a few games; he is not the player that you would want to be starting at quarterback for consecutive weeks. If Romo manages to stay healthy, we will never have to find out what would happen if Kitna had to take the reins of an elongated period of time.

Kitna has created some chemistry with the Cowboys’ receivers and has looked sharp all through training camp and the preseason.

Martellus Bennett

Last year, Bennett was known as the loud mouth rookie that wasn’t committed and didn’t try hard enough. This year, coaches and reporters can’t seem to say enough good things about him.

Bennett came into training camp in shape and prepared to work hard, and he has exceeded all expectations, seeming to make an amazing grab almost every practice session. In the preseason, he led all Cowboys’ receivers with 12 receptions for 155 yards.

He has proven to everyone that he can be a threat when given the chance, and because of that fact, the Cowboys’ have been looking at a lot of two tight end sets during the preseason and could possibly become the base offense in the future.

Kevin Ogletree

Ogletree was signed by the Cowboys’ as an undrafted free agent, but as soon as he stepped onto the field, heads started to turn.

Although he played with the third team offense, he impressed many of the Cowboys’ coaches with his route running abilities and his nice speed. Finally given a chance to play in the second preseason game, Ogletree made the most of it, catching three passes for 37 yards and a touchdown.

The touchdown grab is what really made people take notice.

Ogletree ran a fade route into the left corner of the endzone, Kitna threw it up, and as the ball came soaring down, the defender started grabbing onto Ogletree, committing a pass interference penalty.

Ogletree, unfazed, managed to catch the ball with one hand and keep both his feet inbounds for the go ahead touchdown. He continued to play well through the preseason and finished with seven receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns, doing just enough to earn himself a roster spot as the fifth receiver on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster.

Roy Williams

Williams has been called a lot of things this offseason, and one of those things is not a number one wide receiver.

Williams is the number one receiver on this team though, and he has put in the time, sweat, and pain to have the best year of his career. He started the offseason by coming in early and having throwing sessions with Tony Romo; he then began an extensive weight program, stating that he would drop eight pounds to get a leaner build in order to help his agility.

He has the natural ability—nobody should doubt that, but the most important thing for Williams is to stay healthy.

In the one season in which he started all 16 games, he had over 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns. If he can match that production this season, a lot of doubters will be put to rest.

The Dallas Cowboys’ offense is going to look a little different this season, there won’t be as many long bombs and there will probably be a lot more running plays and dinky little dump off passes, but with that comes less turnovers and heart crushing last minute losses.

The question is not whether the offense has enough weapons, but how does the offense utilize all of its weapons.

NFC East Position Rankings: Running Backs

Martin Long — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:43:20 -0400

The running back position in the NFC East is without a doubt the most talented in the league.

With the likes of Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis, Brandon Jacobs and Marion Barber, all these backs except Jacobs have been invited to a Pro Bowl at least once. This is not a knock to Jacobs however, as he rushed for over 1000 yards last season and was only outdone by the likes of Clinton Portis, Michael Turner, and Adrian Peterson.

Since it would almost be impossible to rank these four backs on just their running abilities, the rotation of all the running backs on each roster, their ability to catch the ball, and to pass block have been taken into account.

4. Washington Redskins

The Redskins are somewhat old fashioned in their approach to the running game. Instead of trying to employ an effective rotation with a one-two punch, they instead have a single feature back.

That back being none other than Clinton Portis.

Clinton Portis is a top tier running back with great vision and the ability to take it between the tackles, but he can also bounce it outside when necessary.

Portis’ instincts have also aided him in the blocking game, assisting him with his judgement of when to cut block or keep his feet.

Last season Portis played only a minor role in the passing game of Jim Zorn’s offense, pulling in 28 receptions for 218 yards and zero touchdowns.

Last season was the first year Portis managed to play all 16 games for the second consecutive year. This is a nice accomplishment for Portis, but in no way should encourage the Redskins front office to continue through this season without a second string running back that can step up when called upon.

Portis may have started all 16 games, but that is not to say that he performed well in all 16.

Portis came out firing at the start of the NFL season averaging 118 yards for the first eight weeks and crashing in for six, seven times. Unfortunately after the first eight weeks, Portis ran out of gas and averaged only 68 yards per game for the final eight weeks and only had two more scores.

Portis ended the season with 1,487 yards rushing and was invited to the Pro Bowl.

A stellar season at first glance, but after further investigation, an underachieving season to say the least.

Ladell Betts grabbed his big contract in 2006 and has thus been a huge disappointment, not even remotely living up to the expectations that were placed on him.

Anthony Aldridge has been picked up after he was waived by the Broncos and is known for his elusive skills and great speed, such a skill set would complement Portis very well and if Aldridge can find his form and produce, the running game for the Redskins will be instantly upgraded.

Without an efficient rotation, Portis will run out of gas very quickly and since there is no heir apparent in Washington, there would be huge problems if Portis went down.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles run a west coast offense. In this offense, the running back is spit out wide on many occasions and is utilized almost more in the passing game than in the running game.

Brian Westbrook fills the mould of such a running back perfectly. He’s got great speed, great hands, and can run great routes. He is however a smaller back at only 5’10”, 203 pounds and pushing 30 years of age. He is a very talented running back and has rushed for over 1000 yards twice in his career.

Unfortunately it doesn’t look like Westbrook will be producing another 1000 yard season in his career. He always had the problem of disappearing behind his offensive lineman and being taken down for a loss. With his speed, however, he usually manages to bounce it to the outside and pull out some nice gains.

Now at the age of 29, soon to be 30, Westbrook is starting to slow down a little and having never played a full season in his career, the signs are not looking good.

Westbrook is what I would call a fearless pass blocker. It doesn’t matter if it is a linebacker or a 300 pound defensive tackle, Westbrook will get lower and find a way to fend them off so his quarterback can step up and get a pass off.

Being a part of the west coast offense, Westbrook has a lot passes coming his way and played a fairly big role, managing to pull in 54 receptions for 402 yards and five touchdowns.

Westbrook ended up missing two games due to injury last year. He still however managed to rush for 936 yards and take it to the house nine times.

Westbrook finished with 1,338 yards from scrimmages. Solid numbers for a running back that was never meant to be more than a part-time player.

The Eagles had one of the games better backups in Correll Buckhalter. He was always able to come in and spell Westbrook for a play or two, and when Westbrook went down with an injury, Buckhalter stepped up and played just as well and even contributed nicely in the passing game.

At the end of last season, Buckhalter hit free agency and signed almost immediately with the Denver Broncos. This left the running back position very thin, that is until the Eagles drafted LeSean McCoy out of Pitt who looks just like a Westbrook junior, with great hands and great speed.

With the backup position settled, the Eagles have two backs that can contribute greatly on offense and take the pressure off one another as the season grinds on.

2. New York Giants

The Giants led the league in rushing yards last season and averaged five yards per carry. Some fans and supporters would argue that this would immediately put the Giants at No. 1 in the running back position. Wrong, the Giants lost the lightning to their thunder in Derrick Ward who slipped away to Tampa Bay in free agency.

This leaves Brandon Jacobs, a huge 6’4”, 264 figure to thunder around the field on his own.

The New York Giants are going to look to Ahmad Bradshaw to fill the void left by Derrick Ward.

Ahmad Bradshaw is a running back that could fill the void, but not to the point that the Giants’ will be boasting two more 1000 yard rushers in a season.

Brandon Jacobs set the tone last season with his ferocious running style that wore down defences from start to finish. He is very agile for a man of his height and weight, and once he has broken the line of scrimmage, the only way he is going to be stopped is if a defensive back trips him up.

With the momentum he puts forward, he is almost impossible to stuff at the line. This assisted in many goal line situations resulting in 15 touchdowns for Jacobs.

Jacobs was able to set his rhythm in almost every game and ended up with 1,089 yards rushing at the end of the season.

Jacobs is built like an old full back. He’s tall, he’s well built, and he can definitely block. He is a great pass blocker, one of the leagues elite. He can pick up anyone and push them out of the pocket.

Although he is a great pass blocker, he is not a very good pass receiver and demonstrated that last season by pulling in only six receptions for 36 yards and zero touchdowns.

Jacobs has never started all 16 games in his career and last season was no different. He missed three games due to injury. Jacobs is not a liability when it comes to injuries, he has never had anything more than a strained or tweaked something. But with the way that he runs, it is not surprising that he misses a few games now and again.

Jacobs had a great season last year, a Pro Bowl snub in my opinion and really showed any doubters that were still out there that he isn’t just a short yardage guy

Jacobs is unstoppable when he has a complimentary back that can come in and change the pace of the game. Derrick Ward was just that, and if the Giants want to stay atop as one of the leagues best rushing teams then Ahmad Bradshaw is going to have to step up and prove he can be that change up guy.

1. 1. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys boast the most depth and talent at the running back position.

Last season all three running backs were either underutilized or injured. That is saying a lot because all three of these running backs are talented and can definitely compete in the NFL when given touches and are healthy.

Marion Barber started the season off well, but caught the injury bug and never fully recovered. Felix Jones showed why he was the Cowboys’ first round draft pick and played electrifying football until being injured in week six and ultimately placed on injured reserve. Tashard Choice, a fourth round draft pick from Georgia Tech, picked up the slack and made sure the Cowboys still had a running game they could rely on.

Marion Barber is a thumper and always puts his body on the line. He is more suited for goal line situations and closing games out, but he can play well at almost any time in a game.

Barber had a fairly pedestrian season last year only managing to gain 885 yards on the ground and a 3.7 yard a per carry average. He did manage however to barge in for six on seven occasions.

Barber is a very aggressive type of blocker and can certainly pick up linebackers when asked to and does not shy away from defensive lineman either.

He is an above average receiver for a running back and played a large role in the passing game last season pulling in 52 receptions for 417 yards and two touchdowns.

Barber is usually a very reliable and durable back. Last year was the first year that Barber had a lingering injury that affected his game throughout a majority of the season, but yet again like Jacobs, with the running style they both use it is not a surprise that they may miss a few games.

Barber is not a full time back and never will be and that is why it is very important that Felix Jones is available to come in and change the game with his speed.

Felix Jones is the perfect backup to Barber, he runs with a lot more elusiveness and finesse than Barber making him almost the complete opposite and a surprising change for defences.

Tashard Choice is a balanced back. He can run inside, he can run outside, he can block and he can catch the football. He is the perfect backup for Barber and Jones, if either of them goes down, Choice can step in and not miss a beat.

This season, the three running backs on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster will be able to complement each other nicely. There is always the chance of injury and if that is the case they still have the depth to mount a good rushing attack.

NFC East Position Rankings: Quarterbacks

Martin Long — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:50:31 -0400

The NFC East is by far the toughest, most talented and most competitive in the NFL.

Every year the players and the teams seem to take the rivalries within this division to the next level. This is part one of a series that will rank every position of the four NFC East teams and at the end tally up the rankings and announce the best team in the NFC East.

Quarterback

4. Washington Redskins

Jason Campbell is the starter and a talented quarterback that has shown glimpses of greatness. What he has failed to do however is lift his team and lead them on any kind of run during the regular season. This has resulted in the management for the Redskins attempt to trade for Jay Cutler in the offseason.

To add insult to injury, after the Redksins failed to acquire Cutler in a trade, they publicly flirted with the idea of moving up in the draft to nab Mark Sanchez out of USC. The Jets made a move first and ended up with Sanchez. Now Campbell is left thinking his team doesn't really want him, let alone support him, which must be doing wonders for his confidence.

Statistically Campbell doesn't really stand out as a franchise quarterback.

After three seasons with Washington, Campbell has averaged a passer rating over just over 80 (80.4) and has never averaged over 6.5 yards per completion.

The upside to Campbell is that he has learned to be conservative with the football and last season he threw for 13 TDs and only six interceptions, while consistently moving the chains on third down.

To wrap Campbell up, he's a quarterback with potential that could shine in a more pass heavy offense, but is outdone and out shined by the other three starting quarterbacks in the league.

3. New York Giants

Eli Manning is a leader and a quarterback that makes plays when they are most needed. What Manning lacks however, is the ability to make plays out of the pocket (except for that ridiculous one against New England) and to perform when he doesn't have a deep threat to clear the flats and short zones out.

Manning had quite a stellar season with 21 TDs and just 10 INTs and ended the season with an average 86.4 QB rating. Once it got cold and windy though, and Burress took one to the leg, Manning's play dropped off and the Giants went 1-3 in December followed up with a zero TD two INT playoff performance at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Everyone remembers that lob pass to Plaxico Burress in the endzone with under two minutes to go in Super Bowl 42. After the Super Bowl victory, Eli was hailed as an elite quarterback and some even went as far to say that he was now on Peyton's (his older brother) level.

Manning is a franchise quarterback and I would be surprised to see him end up playing any where else in the near future. He is however, to an extent, a product of his environment.

Would Manning do as well without Plaxico Burress?

Well that question was answered this season and the definitive answer is no. His stats and general play fell without Big Burress to throw to.

Now imagine if Manning didn't have that running game that produced two 1000 yard rushers.

Derrick Ward is gone, one of the thousand yard rushers. He was signed by Tampa Bay during the off season. The other 1000 rusher was Brandon Jacobs. Ward was the perfect lightning switch up back that complimented Jacobs thunderous running style so well. Jacobs has lost his wingman and unless another runningback shows up the Giants running game could be in trouble.

With a crumpling blow to the passing game and then one to the running game, it is pretty safe to say that unless a receiver steps up and steps up big, Eli isn't going to have a very good year in the NYC.

To wrap up Manning, he is a good quarterback, but needs other good players around him to really succeed. (If we just went by those two plays in the Super Bowl though, he'd be the greatest ever.)

2. Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo is athletic, he makes plays out of the pocket, and can play at an elite level at times. He does however have a tendency to drop off in December and January, when he is needed most.

Last season Romo was injured for three games but still managed to put up some nice numbers: 26 TDs and 14 INTs and ended up with a nice 91.4 QB rating. Six of those 14 interceptions came in December games, that is almost two a game and something the Cowboys could have really done without.

Romo did become a victim of Terrell Owens last season and eight of his 14 interceptions were picked while he was throwing in the direction of Terrell Owens. With Owens now gone, Romo can go through his progressions and not feel like he has to force the ball to one receiver so that he doesn't cop abuse.

A lot has been made of how Roy Williams will not be able to fill the void left by Owens. Even if Roy can't fill the void, Romo has a three headed monster running attack he can fall onto as well as the reliable Jason Witten and Patrick Crayton.

This is the year Romo has to show that he can produce in December, if not now, then when?

To wrap up Romo, He has the talent and all the tools he needs. It ends up resting in his hands whether or not they can make it to the playoffs, because the defense is more than solid.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb is a great quarterback, he has been so his whole career. He has the rocket arm, he's got the mobility and awareness to resurrect plays when they are falling to pieces. The one knock to McNabb is his consistency.

McNabb threw for 23 TDs and 11 INTs to add up to an acceptable 86.4 QB rating. These numbers however don't really portray the kind of season McNabb had.

Last season, McNabb was benched in a week 12 loss to Baltimore. Up until this point of the season McNabb had been playing poorly and not helping his teams case at all to make the playoffs. Being benched was obviously what McNabb needed, from then on until the end of the season McNabb threw nine TDs and only one INT.

The Eagles run lead by McNabb and some great luck propelled them into the playoffs, where the Eagles made it all the way to the NFC championship game until finally being knocked off by the Arizona Cardinals.

McNabb is back this season with a new Pro Bowl left tackle in Jason Peters and a new speedy receiver in Jeremy Maclin. With these two additions McNabb will have all the weapons he needs to make another Super Bowl run.

To wrap up McNabb, he is an elite quarterback that just always seems to find a way.

Gerald Sensabaugh: The Dallas Cowboys' Absolute X Factor

Martin Long — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:15:51 -0400

There is one thing Roy Williams (the safety) was remembered for most towards the end of his tenure in Dallas. No, not the hard hits that he could lay on running backs breaking the line of scrimmage. It was how he got burned on almost every single coverage play to which he was assigned.

I am sure every Dallas fan remembers Santana "The Cowboy Killer" Moss streaking down the sideline, right by Roy Williams for a touchdown, who really had no chance of stopping the play.

Now, with Williams being released from the Cowboys' roster, a young talent from Jacksonville, Gerald Sensabaugh, has been brought in to sure up coverage at the safety position.

Last season he had four picks for the Jaguars in what could be called his breakout season. He tacked on 80 tackles and eight passes defended.

Jacksonville would have obviously loved to resign Sensabaugh to a new contract, but past injury issues and an off the field situation in which he was arrested for possession of a firearm slowed talks. Sensabaugh decided instead to not wait around and go straight to a team that has winning expectations, a team where he could be utilized straight away.

That team was Dallas.

With Sensabaugh now obviously pegged as the starter at the strong safety position, what can he bring to the table that Roy Williams did not?

Coverage.

Sensabaugh was credited in Jacksonville for the way he moved, and how they could match him up against slot receivers without any hesitation.

This has also been affirmed by the Cowboys' coaching staff, who have said that they love Sensabaugh's instincts, closing speed, and coverage skills.

Roy Williams was never praised for his coverage skills, and was usually hidden in zone coverage, causing the Cowboys' coaching staff to adjust their play calling.

With Sensabaugh, there is no need for extra zone coverages, as he can play man and play it well.

With better man coverage, the Cowboys can bring more pressure on the quarterback, resulting in more sacks, rushed passes, and interceptions.

Roy Williams was a feared hitter and a great run supporter, and with him now gone, questions have risen as to whether Sensabaugh can step up to the line of scrimmage and perform just as well.

Last season, Sensabaugh had 80 tackles but no forced fumbles. However, he was credited when coming out of college (North Carolina) for having above average tackling skills and being able to stop the ball carriers' forward motion. Forcing fumbles is great, as it creates a potential turnover, but in some situations, it can be a double edged sword.

Think back to the NFC championship game last season.

Larry Fitzgerald catches a long pass down the field. Brian Dawkins comes in and tries to place a big hit on Fitzgerald. He times his hit incorrectly, and Fitzgerald easily bounces off of him, running in for a touchdown.

This is just one example of how being overly aggressive and trying to strip the ball backfired on the defender.

If Sensabugh can live up to being an above average tackler, then there should be no loss, but a gain in the run support department; something the Cowboys are in great need of after two 70-plus yard runs in the week 16 loss to Baltimore.

Sensabugh is the X factor on this defense, more so than Mike Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick, who have already proven they can play at the NFL standard in the Cowboys' system.

If Sensabaugh can cover as well as he has been credited for and wrap up running backs before the first down marker, he will become the essential piece to the puzzle that the Cowboys desperately need.

Can Roy Williams Become the New Larry Fitzgerald?

Martin Long — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:01:31 -0400

Roy Williams: 6'3", 220 pounds, 39.5" vertical jump, 4.43 forty.

Larry Fitzgerald: 6'3" 217 pounds, 42" vertical jump, 4.55 forty.

One look at these numbers and it looks like Roy Williams and Larry Fitzgerald are on pretty even ground, physically.

When their football statistics are compared, though, Fitzgerald obviously seems like the better receiver. He has three years in which he has hauled in over 1000 yards receiving.

Williams only has one.

To most unbiased football fans, Fitzgerald is arguably the best receiver in the NFL and rightfully so. He has performed at a level that not many receivers do.

Williams is pushed to the back of the line and all people remember is that measly 198 yards he managed to gain last season.

What many seem to forget is the season of 2006 when Williams put up Fitzgerald-like numbers. He had 1300 yards receiving, as well as eight TDs.

What people also seem to forget is that 2006 was the only year Roy Williams was 100 percent healthy and didn't miss a single game. Every other season Williams has missed at least one game; 10 total for his career.

Was it a coincidence that 2006 was the year that he played well when he was healthy? Or is it just a fluke, and that regardless of the injuries he has sustained throughout his career, he is just a mediocre receiver at best?

Fitzgerald has only missed four games in his career, and in the 2006 season when he missed three games due to injury, he also failed to top 1000 yards receiving and only grabbed six touchdown passes.

Strange that people are quick to jump on Williams and point out his numbers, or lack thereof, but what almost all fail to take into account are the injuries that have affected him all through his career.

Fitzgerald and Williams have a very similar style of play. They both like to be very physical, they both bring down a lot of jump balls, they both have above average route running abilities, and they both make spectacular grabs.

Williams has been quoted as saying this offseason that he plans to get down to 212 pounds to help himself get even quicker and nimble in what he calls the "Larry Fitzgerald Approach."

If he can accomplish this and stay healthy this season, Roy Williams will become the new Larry Fitzgerald. Leaping up through double teams, bringing down tough contested balls, and filling up highlight reels on your television screen.

Sure, Jerry did give up a king's ransom for Williams, but he just might get the whole darn kingdom in return.

Dallas Cowboys: It Starts and Finishes with the Secondary

Martin Long — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:52:06 -0400

Secondary play is the key next year in Dallas, a key that for the most part has gone unnoticed as a lot of the media attention has been focused on Tony Romo and how all these "choke" performances are the reason the Cowboys have missed the playoffs the last three years.

I’m not one to stand up in arms and defend Romo for these performances; I believe he is a great QB, but to give away three turnovers in that must-win game against Philadelphia, two of them fumbles. Now that is just not right.

Regardless of these turnovers, however, our defense, even though ranked eighth overall last season, never really played to its full potential.

Whether it was giving up stupid penalties like 12 men on the field on third and 3, pass interference penalties in the end zone, dropped fumble recoveries, giving up two 70+ yard runs in a single game or just getting flat out beaten.

The secondary is the last line of defense.

They have to stop the RB from getting those long runs.

They have to pick up those fumbles and hold on.

They have to play smart and make sure everyone is in place so the defense can run smoothly.

Last season, the secondary was not or did not do any of these things, and some of them they weren't even close to doing.

Last season, the offense put up 22.6 points a game, good for 18th in the league.

The defense, however, gave up 22.8 points a game, good for 20th in the league.

Small difference, but not small enough. The defense was meant to be better last season, and to some degree they were.

They gave up only 187.7 yards through the air every game and just 106.6 yards rushing. They also led the league in sacks with 58, seven more than the second team, the Steelers.

The problem was not any of the above; it was that the defense could not hold up for 60 minutes.

Almost every single game, the defense would start off well with good pressure, good coverage, all-around good defense.

Toward the end of games, however, things would fall apart. Opposing teams would start passing more, and the secondary just couldn't handle it. They would end up giving up big plays that meant either the offense had to make long drives down the field to try and save the game or just a flat out loss.

This year, it has to be different.

This year, the defense needs to have every position set and ready to go. This year, the defense cannot get tired and give up a big play at the end of every close game.

In my opinion, the Cowboys defense has all the players it needs. It's just about putting the pieces together; if the Dallas secondary can do that and have every player ready and organized, then this team won’t give up big plays and will win big games.

It isn't just Romo who needs to be clutch.

The defense needs to make sure it can step up and make those big plays that can carry Dallas deep into the playoffs.

Michael Crabtree in for a Tough Time in San Francisco

Martin Long — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:04:43 -0400

When the San Francisco 49ers selected Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft, I hung my head in frustration.

It isn’t just the fact that the 49ers need to build a better defense around Patrick Willis if they want to become a true NFC West contender. It is the fact that the Niners don’t have a quarterback that could throw the ball to Crabtree consistently and help develop him into an NFL wide receiver.

I was really hoping that the Niners would pick Brian Orakpo and convert him into a DeMarcus Ware-type pass rushing weak side/strong side linebacker.

This move would have potentially helped secure a strong set of linebackers.

This was not to be, however, and the Niners selected Crabtree.

In my eyes, it was not the greatest move they could have made. I believe Crabtree is a great talent and a future All-Pro receiver, but he doesn’t belong in San Francisco.

At the moment, Crabtree is like a brand new yacht. Sure, it’s flashy and it can sail the high seas, but without a Captain to sail this yacht, it will just sit in dry-dock, being eroded and broken down by the waves.

What I am trying to get at is that any team can have a great wide receiver, but if they do not have a quarterback that can get him the ball, then he will become almost worthless, i.e. Randy Moss in Oakland.

To compound problems, Crabtree is a rookie, and if his development is hampered, then he could have a real tough time later trying to catch up.

Crabtree played extremely well at Texas-Tech and was obviously a standout receiver, but are these numbers padded somewhat?

Does the fact that he played in such a pass heavy offense mean anything?

Maybe, but regardless of the numbers Crabtree is big enough at 6’2”, fast enough (4.38-40), and sure-handed enough to make it in the NFL.

If it doesn’t mean anything, then sure, he should be able to make a smooth transition into the NFL.

Wrong.

The whole offense is being re-done with the arrival of new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye II.

This means there will be no other receiver that can really give him a tip here or there about how the offense is run, which could become a problem.

He does have Isaac Bruce to look up to, and Bruce will obviously be able to show him a thing or two about being an NFL wide receiver. Along with Brandon Jones, the receiving corps of San Francisco is looking very strong and Crabtree should be able to find his place, but maybe that place isn’t one where he becomes a star.

If the quarterback position can get settled and the ball can be consistently and accurately thrown, then there should be no problem for Crabtree to put up some big numbers.

That is a big "if" though, and the quarterback position might not be settled for the whole season, or even the season after that, which means Crabtree will be looked down upon as a product of environment and can only produce in the right offense.

I do not believe this is the case, and Crabtree might not step right into San Francisco and have success, but he will become a great receiver.

I have no doubt.

Donovan McNabb: Why He Hasn't Won A Super Bowl

Martin Long — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:21:44 -0400

Donovan McNabb is good quarterback, perhaps even a great quarterback.

But why hasn't he ever brought home the big one for Philadelphia?

Is it just the defense gives up too many points? Or is it something else?

The Eagles defense has been in the top 10 for the last 10 years under the control of Jim Johnson and has always been good at putting pressure on the quarterback and stuffing the running game.

So if it isn't the defense that is always bottoming out, then what is it?

Lack of consistency.

McNabb has never been consistent throughout a whole season, and neither has the offense he has been set with.

In 2004, when the Eagles made their Super Bowl run, it seemed as though McNabb was becoming an elite quarterback. After throwing three interceptions and being sacked four times in the Super Bowl in the loss to the Patriots, McNabb was kind of forgotten about and brushed off as elite.

This is just one of the cases of McNabb's inconsistent play. Over his career, McNabb has been plagued by knee injuries, sports hernia and ankle problems that have set him back and caused him to lose a step or two.

The injuries cannot be completely blamed on McNabb; perhaps lack of conditioning was a factor, but when a player is tackled in the National Football League, there is a high chance there may be an injury, and that unfortunately happened to McNabb.

Last season, it took five losses, a tie, and a benching before McNabb got his act together. Granted after that Week 12 loss McNabb did get his act together and led the Eagles all the way to the NFC Championship game.

But in that game against Arizona, McNabb was yet again inconsistent. In the first half, McNabb could not seem to find his rhythm and could not get his team going. In the second half, McNabb stepped up, but it was too little, too late, and the Eagles lost a nail-bitter to the Cardinals.

Over the years, though, McNabb has not had what anyone would call a good receiving core, and that is putting it lightly.

The only true No. 1 receiver he ever had was Terrell Owens. He eventually ended up being released from the team for causing more trouble than good.

McNabb has always soldiered along though and has led the Eagles to the playoffs seven out of the last 10 years. This is a great record, but still those playoff victories don't bring home the Lombardi Trophy.

This year could be different. McNabb has a receiving core with not one great receiver, but with four good receivers: DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jeremy Maclin, and Hank Baskett, any of who could become great.

This year is the year that McNabb has to show and prove that he is a great and elite quarterback and bring home a Lombardi Trophy.

Because as much as Eagles fans deny it, they must be getting sick of coming up short.

The Top Five Defensive Leaders In The NFL

Martin Long — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:15:05 -0400

Leadership is something that is under and over valued in the NFL. There are some players though that are true leaders, that lead by example and show other players how things are meant to be done. The players you are about to see are what all football general managers, coaches and owners dream about. They have the ability to single handedly change the pace or outcome of a game. There are only a select few and I have selected the players that I think are the most tenacious, committed and passionate about the game. the way they play it and most of all the way they lead.

Begin Slideshow

Jerry Jones: Always To The Extreme

Martin Long — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:16:01 -0400

I've always had a love-hate relationship with Jerry Jones.

The reason why is because moderation is not a word that appears in Jones' dictionary. Whenever he has an idea, it's always to the extreme or not at all.

Back when Jerry first bought the team in 1989, he made the gutsiest move of all and fired Tom Landry. He slotted in Jimmy Johnson as head coach, resulting in an uproar from the fans. As we all know, the questionable move paid off as the Cowboys went on to win two Super Bowls under Johnson's rein.

Jerry eventually ran Johnson out of town though by claiming that any coach could of won two Super Bowls with the talent he compiled. After Johnson left the Cowboys' went onto win another Super Bowl, but after that win the 'Boys'went into a downward spiral and have not won a playoff game since 1996.

Jerry took a new approach in 2006, which was to not worry about player history and just look at the talent. Jerry then went on to sign Terrell Owens and Tank Johnson. In 2007, this didn't seem to be a problem as the Cowboys went 13-3.

At the start of the 2008 season, Jerry then went on to trade for Adam "Pacman" Jones, who was suspended at the time of the trade.

Pacman never made an impact and just caused trouble during his tenure in Dallas.

After a sub-par 2008 season in which the Cowboys' went 9-7, not to mention team chemistry was being questioned, Jerry decided to completely clean the house of anyone who had caused an iota of trouble.

The result of this: the departure of Terrell Owens, Adam Jones, Tank Johnson, and Greg Ellis.

It now seems as though Jerry has a new fad, which is team unity instead of talent.

I will always thank Jerry for the things he's done as an owner. He is a great marketer and businessman, but when it comes to dealing with football, Jerry makes some strange decisions. I think that if he really cared about winning, he would either step down from his role as GM or at least hire a skilled adviser to help him make some wiser player personnel decisions.

Jerry is far too proud and has too big of an ego to even contemplate doing this. For Cowboy fans, be prepared for many more seasons to come of you scratching your head and asking why.

Five Wide Receivers Whose Production Will Drop in '09

Martin Long — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:24:28 -0400

Receivers' numbers change every year, and sometimes their numbers drop drastically.

This is a list of five wide receivers whom I believe will drop off and, as a consequence, put up some pretty laughable numbers.

5. Lee Evans

Evans is coming off a pretty stellar season, where he recorded over 1,000 yards for the second time in his career. With the addition of Terrell Owens, however, and an offense that relies heavily on Marshawn Lynch and the running game, I don't believe there will be enough balls to go around, and the net result of this will be a drop-off in production.

4. Hines Ward

Ward had a nice season last year with 1,047 yards and seven touchdowns.

All of this production is nice, but with the rise of Santonio Holmes, the drafting of Limas Sweed last year, and the versatile tight end Heath Miller, Ward might soon see less balls thrown his way, which will result in his statistical drop-off.

To add to this, Ward is 33 years old and has maybe lost a step or two, which can mean a lot in the NFL and is why he is No. 4 on this list.

3. Reggie Wayne

This is a controversial pick, but one that had to be made nonetheless.

Wayne has been very reliable over the past four years, with over 1,000 yards in each of these seasons. Every one of those seasons, though, Marvin Harrison has been a player on the Colts team. Because of this, defensive coordinators have been forced to perhaps ignore Reggie Wayne. Now, with Harrison gone from Indianapolis, defensive coordinators can roll up their sleeves and come right at Wayne.

With third-year receiver Anthony Gonzalez and reliable tight end Dallas Clark, we may see a drop-off in Wayne's production.

2. Roddy White

Roddy White played great last year. He plays on a team which is run-heavy and still managed to put up great numbers. With the addition of Tony Gonzalez, though, I believe this great production will come to an end. Gonzalez will be Ryan's go-to guy, and with Michael "Burner" Turner in the backfield, White might not be seeing as many passes fired his way.

1. Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens has put up big numbers wherever he has gone. All of a sudden, though, I think that's about to change. With a quarterback that is unproven and usually unreliable, I do not see Owens putting up nearly as big numbers as he did in Dallas. He's still a big target in the redzone, but not nearly as reliable as he used to be.

You may be wondering why I put both Bills' receivers on this list. I believe Edwards will catch "Owensitis" and end up lobbing balls to Terrell all the time, but not to great success due to coverages, and will only sparingly throw to Evans.

Every year, receivers drop off. It can cause huge problems for a team's offense, and can also result in players losing their jobs. At the end of the day, though, the NFL is a business, not a charity.

Five Wide Receiviers That Will Step Their Production Up in '09

Martin Long — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:53:20 -0400

Every year in the NFL a wide receivers production will differ, usually not to a significant degree but sometimes their numbers will drop horrendously or they will explode and break out into a career year. I am going to select five wide receivers that I think are going to step up and make a difference with a bigger production load this year.

5. Braylon Edwards

Edwards put up some great numbers in 2007 with over 1000 receiving yards and pulling 16 touchdown passes. In 2008 however Edwards dropped off terribly and only managed to pull in three touchdowns and gain 873 yards.

His drop off in production cannot be completely blamed on his lack off play, there was the terrible situation at quarterback, where two of the three QB's were placed on IR.

In 2009 though I believe the Browns will have more stability at quarterback and Edwards will thrive on this and put up just as good numbers as he did in 2007, if not better.

4. Marques Colston

Colston also had a breakout year on 2007 and being the number one receiver for Drew Bree's most people thought his numbers could only get better. 2008 however was not Colston's year as he tore a ligament in his thumb and was not the same from then on.

Colston is a huge target though 6'4", 225 and if he is fully recovered will bounce back hard and will be that number one receiver Drew Brees' need.

3. Jeremy Maclin

I'm going out on a limb here and predicting that this rookie is going to put up some great numbers, some will ask why I didn't pick Michael Crabtree. I didn't select Crabtree because of the system he is in, I believe he is a fantastic receiver and will be an All Pro someday, but in the 49er's system putting up big numbers is too much to ask.

Maclin will contribute immediately this is because he will be stepping right into Andy Reid's pass heavy offense and will see a lot of balls coming his way and with the 4.3 forty speed this guy posses, he will be able to run by a lot of people and pull down some long passes for some huge gains.

2. Chad Ocho Cinco

In 2008 Chad concentrated too much on getting out of Cincinnati than actually playing for Cincinnati that he damaged his stock a bit.

After only gaining 540 yards and pulling in three touchdowns (career lows bar rookie season in '01) and now it seems he will be in Bengal town for a long time to come, Chad has also come to realize this and now has stated he is going to put in a lot more effort to get back in shape and again become a lethal receiving threat.

This is an obvious selection as he is a great receiver and with a great quarterback in Carson Palmer there's no doubt he can do some great things.

1. Roy Williams

When Williams was traded to Dallas most people believed that his would now make their offense unstoppable, but unfortunately for Dallas things didn't pan out and Williams ended up with only 198 yards and one touchdown.

There is no doubt that at the moment Roy Williams is nothing but hype, but if he can get back to his 2006 pro bowl form and become more substance he will easily fill the void at receiver left by the departure of Terrell Owens.

All these receivers have something to prove, whether it's just the beginning for them, they're trying to prove they can come back from injury or that they can bounce back from a down year to be a great receiver.

One thing they all have in common is talent, all they have to do is prove they can use and they'll get those big pay checks and help their teams get those big W's!

Dallas Cowboys' Position Battles: Cornerback and Linebacker

Martin Long — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:34:22 -0400

Things are really heating up in Dallas Cowboys camp now. There is competition up and down the board, but where it really gets interesting is on the defensive side of the ball, where the spots for the left starting corner and nickel linebacker are up for grabs.

Cornerback Battle

Last year, the Cowboys drafted Mike Jenkins from South Florida in the first round. He played well and made great strides finishing with 19 tackles, one interception (which was returned for a touchdown), and four passes defended.

Last year in the fifth round, the Cowboys drafted Orlando Scandrick from Boise State. He also played very well and made as big of strides as Jenkins, if not bigger. He finished with 36 tackles, four passes defended, and one sack

These two corners had fairly similar seasons, though Scandrick was perhaps a more physical player as he finished with 17 more tackles. They are very similar height and weight wise: Jenkins is 5'11" and 190 pounds, and Scandrick is 5'10" and 192 pounds.

They are both very fast as well and will be able to play a lot more man coverage than Anthony Henry did while he was in Dallas. Scandrick might just have a bead on Jenkins here as he runs a 4.3-flat 40-yard dash, while Jenkins runs a 4.38. As little as a difference this is, this may be the only thing that separates them, as they both have fantastic instincts and are above average at tackling for corners.

I believe it will come down to whoever manges to stick it out and perform the best during training camp, because I believe they are both very talented, young corners, and in the future they are probably the two starting cornerbacks for the Cowboys.

Linebacker Competition

The nickel linebacker spot is up for grabs now that Kevin Burnett has moved on to San Diego. This position most people think would automatically go to Bobby Carpenter because he was the Cowboys' 2006 first-round draft pick.

This is not the case though, as Carpenter is not that fast (4.59 40-yard dash), which means he may have some trouble covering tight ends or rushing the passer in the nickel packages. The main competition for Carpenter is coming from Jason Williams, the Cowboys' third-round draft choice out of Western Illinois this year.

Williams is an extremely athletic linebacker and may be better suited for the this position because of his speed (4.46 40-yard dash), which makes him quicker than any linebacker that attended the NFL Combine. He also had a 39-inch vertical jump.

As Williams said, "These numbers don't lie." He's right, they don't, and he is a great prospect and is clearly far more athletic than Carpenter, which would most likely give him the edge in coverage and pass rush. The only edge Carpenter has on Williams is experience, but I believe Williams will gain that quickly enough.

I think Williams is probably better suited for the job, but I am slightly biased in this opinion as I am not happy with how Bobby Carpenter has performed since he was drafted, and I don't believe he should just be given this position.

Anyway, it should be a very exciting training camp for the Cowboys, and I will be very happy to see this fierce competition going on.

Thanks and Go 'Boys.

Dallas Cowboys: 2009 Season Predictions

Martin Long — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:33:11 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys season ended with a shocking and miserable defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. The end result of the 2008 season was a less than adequate and without a playoff birth 9-7.

After the crushing loss to the Eagles Jerry Jones promised change, and change there has been with the release of veterans such as: Terrell Owens and Greg Ellis. Troubled players such as Tank Johnson and Adam 'Pacman' Jones were also let go.

With the release of the 2009 Cowboys schedule we can begin to speculate on how many wins the cowboys will have.

I am going to add to these speculations by adding my own opinion of how many wins the Cowboys will have this season.

Week 1: @ Tampa Bay

Last year we were able to beat the Bucs' with our backup QB and since then they have released key key veterans I'm going with...W

Week 2: New York Giants

After Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg last year the Giants went into a downward spiral, and due to his pending legal problems he has since been released. This means Eli does not have a legit number one receiver to throw to.

They have a strong running attack though, but I still believe with this game being played at home, that the 'Boys will pull out a...W

Week 3: Carolina

My personal opinion of Jake Delhomme is that he cracks under pressure, and the Cowboys led in sacks last year (59). This, I believe will be the key here if Delhomme is kept under constant pressure and our offense runs smoothly this should be an easy...W

Week 4: @ Denver

With the loss of their QB (Jay Cutler) and still with a shoddy defense I believe this will be a hands down...W

Week 5: @ Kansas City

Kansas City has certainly made some upgrades in quarterback and at the linebacker position, but with a terrible offensive line, I believe Matt Cassell is going to be spending most of his time on his back, which will result in a...W

Week 6: Bye

Week 7: Atlanta

I believe that with the offensive weapons Atlanta possesses that they will be able to put a lot of points up on the board. With a defense that can shine at times we will be lost at what to do, and this will result in a...L

Week 8: Seattle

Even though Seattle has upgraded their WR corp with T.J. Housmandzadeh and used their first draft pick on LB Aaron Curry. But, I still believe that their secondary is very young and has a lot to prove, which will be the key here and will result in a close game but a...W

Week 9: @ Philadelphia

The Eagles are going to be one of the toughest teams not just in the NFC but in the NFL to beat, and with home field advantage I believe that the Eagles will cause a...L

Week 10: @ Green Bay

I believe that the Packers are going to have a turn-around from their 6-10 season last year, but even with that said, I still believe the Cowboys have enough offensive firepower to result in a...W

Week 11: Washington

Even with huge free agent signing of Albert Haynesworth I don't believe the Redskins are going to be that much better of a team. They have an aging running back, a QB who dropped off terribly at the end of last season, and their starting safety ( LaRon Landry) might not be on the team by then.

With all this said I believe the Cowboys will play well and come away with a...W

Week 12: Oakland

As long as Al Davis is the owner, this team is never going to take off and play as well as they should. Because of this, I have no doubt in my mind that the 'Boys should come away with a...W

Week 13: @ New York

By now I think that the Giants will of gotten things together and will become a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, I don't believe the 'Boys will be ready for this resulting in a...L

Week 14: San Diego

With this team's high powered offense, and the return of Shawn Merriman and a possibly healthy LT, this should be one of the greatest games of the season. I have this nagging feeling it will go into overtime and the 'Boys might not be able to hold on resulting in a...L

Week 15: @ New Orleans

I believe that the Saints defense will get better this year but not by enough to stop the 'Boys from putting up some big numbers on the board. Also, the Saints will not be able to put up enough, which will result in a...W

Week 16: @ Washington

I still firmly believe that this is not going to be Washington's year and that the Cowboys will go into Fedex Field and cause an uproar with a great...W

Week 17: Philadelphia

After last years 44-6 destruction of the Cowboys, I think Dallas is going to go into this game with the mindset that they cannot and will not lose. I believe this will pay off and that Dallas will win a close and tough game.

So that is it. I do believe the Cowboys will go 12-and-4 and get another playoff birth. I'm not sure or am going to speculate about what will happen after that, but I do believe this will be a good year for them.

Thanks and go 'Boys!