X's and O's: Phillips, Garrett to Make Big Changes

Change is happening aplenty at Valley Ranch this offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys have seen big changes in personnel, but head c

oach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will be making even more throughout organized team activities.

There have already been reports of both coaches, usually laidback, being demonstrative throughout practice. Those are not the only changes players can expect from Phillips and Garrett.

Defense

Phillips is in full control of the defense this season per owner Jerry Jones’ orders. This should be good for the Dallas defense.

Phillips has concentrated on making his defense more flexible. He has done so with the acquisition of defensive backs and linebackers.

Dallas signed linebackers Keith Brooking and Matt Stewart as well as safety Gerald Sensabaugh. The team also drafted defensive backs Deangelo Smith, Michael Hamlin and Mike Mickens and linebackers Jason Williams, Victor Butler, Brandon Williams and Stephen Hodge.

With all the new help on defense, Phillips will look to better disguise coverages. He is no longer weighed down with the task of hiding safety Roy Williams or Greg Ellis in coverage.

This new group in the secondary has experience playing in both zone coverages and man-to-man schemes. Expect Phillips to employ both on a regular basis.

Phillips also has a number of inside linebackers who excel in coverage in his arsenal. Cowboys fans can look forward to some of the more exotic blitzes for which Phillips is known. Look for the secondary to be in constant flux to confuse opposing quarterbacks.

Last year, we saw 59 sacks from this group, but only eight interceptions. No Cowboy other than Terence Newman had more than one interception. With more movement and less predictability on defense, both sacks and picks should go up.

Offense

As for Jason Garrett’s side of the ball, the offense should look pretty different.

The past two seasons under Garrett, the Cowboys have been a pass first, quick strike offense.

With Terrell Owens gone and a strong stable of running backs look for a move to a more ball control offense.

Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice each showed excellent skills last season. The trio has taken to calling itself “Smash, Dash and Tash.” Garrett will give them all the opportunities to smash and dash through the NFC East.

With largely unproven receivers behind Patrick Crayton and Roy Williams, who is looking to prove a little something himself, the Cowboys just aren’t in position to rely on the receivers like they have in the past.

Garrett will make the move to put less pressure on Tony Romo and his young receivers. Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett will pull down plenty of catches in the new ball control offense.

That said, don’t be surprised if Romo takes his shots downfield with Miles Austin and Roy Williams. Garrett will just choose his spots to hit deep a little less often, and instead use his running backs to hit opposing defenses in the mouth.

Welcome back smashmouth football. This should be fun.