[Bette]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

In the last 2/3 of the season last year, Julius averaged under 3 yards a carry. He should be quiet and run.

Yeah, that wasnt so great. But with the addition of Davis, and the change in the play caller, and just the general change in the atmosphere, Julius hopes to do just that. So do the coaches and so do the Dallas fans.

[Bette]

The Dallas News said today that Coach Phillips says that Romo will play one quarter against the Colts.

T.O. was back at practice today.

There will be competition in the kicker position on Thursday between Nick Folk and Martin Grammatica. On Monday both kickers made 50 yards. Now I know most people dont think kickers are any big deal but 50 yards is impressive. And there isnt exactly an abundance of good kickers out there. There was talk of trying to keep them both on the roster. I wish they could.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bette

There will be competition in the kicker position on Thursday between Nick Folk and Martin Grammatica. On Monday both kickers made 50 yards. Now I know most people dont think kickers are any big deal but 50 yards is impressive. And there isnt exactly an abundance of good kickers out there. There was talk of trying to keep them both on the roster. I wish they could.

50 yards is indeed impressive ....... and ask the Patriots just how important a kicker is

imo they should keep Gramatica ..... he is proven in the long-term

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Bette

The Dallas News said today that Coach Phillips says that Romo will play one quarter against the Colts.

T.O. was back at practice today.

There will be competition in the kicker position on Thursday between Nick Folk and Martin Grammatica. On Monday both kickers made 50 yards. Now I know most people dont think kickers are any big deal but 50 yards is impressive. And there isnt exactly an abundance of good kickers out there. There was talk of trying to keep them both on the roster. I wish they could.

I like Grammatica...hope he comes through

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I like Grammatica...hope he comes through

I like Grammatica too. But he's a good kicker, not a great kicker. What if Folk turns out to be the next Jack Elam or Adam Vinateri? Then again, you dont want to have to rely on a rookie kicker if you are in the playoffs.

[Bette]

Some of the Dallas players got into a couple of scuffles yesterday at practice. Roy Williams was pretty cantankerous. James Bradie asked him what was wrong with him. I always roll my eyes when I hear of these scuffles at training camp. I always think, you idiots. Save it for your opponents during the season. Dont waste it on each other. But I suppose this is kind of hard to turn on and off. I imagine the coaches dont mind as long as they dont really hurt each other.

T.O. practiced again today and Phillips said he would probably play with the starters on Thursday against the Colts. Man, if something happens to both T.O. and Glenn we are in deep doo doo. The young receivers just arent in that bracket yet.

Phillips likes to rest his veteran players if they have any sort of injury. Kind of different from Bill.

I just realized that if the Cowboys have a bad season I am going to get a lot of flak on this forum. It could be a very long seasonin that case. Of course, thats not going to happen, but if it did----

[Bette]

Things to watch for tonight:
Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Columbo will not be playing tonight to give them both a rest after their knee surgery. Rookie Doug Free and 2nd year player Pat McQuistan will start in their place. The 3rd round pick James Marten will also get time.
All of the backup quarterbacks are expected to play.
T.O. will be on the field but not Terry Glenn. This means that there should be more plays for some of the less experienced receivers like Sam Hurd and Miles Austin.
Phillips says they will do some blitzing.
Both kickers are doing well, but Folk might need an edge in kickoffs in order to get a roster spot.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Bette

Things to watch for tonight:
Tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Columbo will not be playing tonight to give them both a rest after their knee surgery. Rookie Doug Free and 2nd year player Pat McQuistan will start in their place. The 3rd round pick James Marten will also get time.
All of the backup quarterbacks are expected to play.
T.O. will be on the field but not Terry Glenn. This means that there should be more plays for some of the less experienced receivers like Sam Hurd and Miles Austin.
Phillips says they will do some blitzing.
Both kickers are doing well, but Folk might need an edge in kickoffs in order to get a roster spot.

Amazing T.O. is back just time to play the game

[Bette]

Look for tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Columbo to play in Dallas's second preseason game on Saturday against the Broncos.

Now I just read at the Cowboys' website that coaches are impressed with Tyson Thompson. He has so improved at running back that he may get some plays along with Jones and Barber. He is expected to win the position as kick return specialist. The Cowboys running game is looking better all the time.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bette

Now I just read at the Cowboys' website that coaches are impressed with Tyson Thompson. He has so improved at running back that he may get some plays along with Jones and Barber. He is expected to win the position as kick return specialist. The Cowboys running game is looking better all the time.

i think thats how the Pats Faulk started out ...... and he is doing great now

[Bette]

Greg Ellis is still rehabbing.

Safety Ken Hamlin returned after missing a week from a concussion sustained in practice.

Finally, Cowboys have a good problem at kicking position. Folk and Grammatica are still looking good. Folk may have to show up better at kickoffs in order to win a position. Grammatica did slightly better at kickoffs in the game against the Colts.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Bette

Greg Ellis is still rehabbing.

Safety Ken Hamlin returned after missing a week from a concussion sustained in practice.

Finally, Cowboys have a good problem at kicking position. Folk and Grammatica are still looking good. Folk may have to show up better at kickoffs in order to win a position. Grammatica did slightly better at kickoffs in the game against the Colts.

Ken Hamlin?...Wasn't he a former draft pick for Seattle a few years back?

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Ken Hamlin?...Wasn't he a former draft pick for Seattle a few years back?

Yes, he was.
Roy Williams has been criticized for lapses in pass coverages (unfairly he says) So by bringing in Hamlin Williams will be able to be closer to the line of scrimmage, which is one of his strengths anyway. They also hope Hamlin will be the defensive leader back there that has been missing since Darren Woodson.

[Bette]

I was able to watch the reair of the Cowboys and Broncos game.
The Cowboys 1st teams looked good. Even special teams played better than last week.
Both Julius Jones and Marion Barber want more touches. Julius wants them down by the goalline and Marion wants them between the 20's. I said Barber would get better after last week and he did. Both running backs are patient, making good decisions. Jones is running more straight up.
Terence Newman was out due to an issue with his heel.
Marion Barber lost his helmet again. He had issues with it last week against the Colts.
Either Travis Henry isnt the answer to the Broncos' running game, or the Dallas run defense is really good.

[Bette]

Ok, this is it.
Thursday's game against Minnesota didnt mean much in the larger scheme of things except to give a chance to the players fighting to make the roster. Final cuts have to be made by Saturday to get to the 53 man roster. There is still a chance to keep two kickers on the team.

So now begins the long brutal road to the playoffs and beyond. And all those questions going through Cowboys fans' heads will be answered.
I have some real fears about some of the injuries. Fasano, Ellis, and Newman may come back but are they going to hold up for the season? Will the offensive line stay healthy and keep Romo in an upright position? Which one last year was the real Tony Romo? The bright star at the beginning or the one who struggled down the stretch? Is Phillips going to be the man to take this team past the first round of the playoffs? Is Hamlin the answer in the secondary? Is this team going to self-destruct like they have so many times before?

Note that I have no questions about TO. TO will be fine. Its some of the rest of them that I am worried about.

Anyone else have any concerns???

GO COWBOYS!!!