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Agent's Take: Examining the blueprint behind the surprising 6-2 Cowboys
By Joel Corry | Former Sports Agent
October 29, 2014 5:13 pm ET
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is gaining a small measure of vindication against the numerous critics of his performance as general manager with his team's unexpected 6-2 record, which leads the NFC East.
Consensus opinion is Jones needed to give up his general manager title a long time ago for guiding the Cowboys into mediocrity and hire someone with an extensive football background to run the franchise. Dallas has only won one playoff game since 1996, a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009, its last playoff appearance. The Sporting News named Jones as the NFL's worst general manager at the beginning of the season. Surprisingly, Jones is a leading candidate for NFL Executive of the Year at the midpoint of the season.
Here's a look at how the Cowboys got back on the right track and some potential challenges that might impact their quest to return to the postseason.
It starts in the trenches
The foundation for the Cowboys' newfound success began being laid in 2011 when the team used a first-round pick on offensive tackle Tyron Smith (ninth overall pick) for the first time during Jones' 22 years of ownership. Smith has developed into one of the game's best left tackles. He is the first NFL offensive lineman to earn player of the week honors since 2004 (Brian Waters, Chiefs). Before Waters, the last offensive lineman was Erik Williams of the Cowboys in 1992. The Cowboys made Smith the NFL highest-paid offensive lineman during the preseason with an eight-year, $97.6 million contract extension (includes $40 million in guarantees).
In 2013, the Cowboys were widely criticized for trading the 18th overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the 31st overall pick and a 2013 third-round pick (74th overall pick) in order to select center Travis Frederick. Several teams reportedly had Frederick rated much lower than his draft position. Frederick has quickly developed into a Pro Bowl caliber center.
The best draft decision by the Cowboys was the one that wasn't made. Instead of taking 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, who would have been a marketing bonanza, with the 16th overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, Jones reluctantly deferred to the organizational consensus by picking Zack Martin. Martin has made a smooth transition to right guard after being a four-year starter at left tackle for Notre Dame.
The emphasis on the offensive line has transformed the Cowboys into a run-oriented team with the NFL's top rushing attack at 160.5 yards per game on the ground. Dallas is running the ball 49.5 percent of the time after just a 36.4 percent clip over the previous three seasons. The chief beneficiary has been DeMarco Murray, who is having a season for the ages. He has rushed for an NFL record 100 yards or more in eight straight games to start a season. Murray has 1,054 yards, which puts him on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards by three yards. His 1,293 yards from scrimmage also put him on track to break Chris Johnson's single season record (2,509 yards).
The Cowboys' offensive line should remain largely intact for the foreseeable future. Right tackle Doug Free, a 2007 fourth-round pick by the team, will be an unrestricted free agent when his contract voids after the season. Smith is under contract through the 2023 season. Frederick and Martin won't be able to hit the open market until 2018 and 2019 respectively if the Cowboys exercise their fifth-year options on them. Left guard Ronald Leary, an undrafted free agent in 2012, won't be eligible for unrestricted free agency until the 2016 season ends.
Homegrown talent/draft success
The Cowboys' recent drafts have been better than the initial reviews. Football Outsiders has an annual report shortly after the draft giving each team's picks a composite grade based on the assessment of several draft pundits from major media outlets. The team's cumulative draft grade over the last five years (2010-2014) of these reports is next to last in the NFL.
Twelve starters, including undrafted free agents Leary and strong safety Barry Church, are from these draft classes. The Cowboys are having success with their first-round picks. In addition, to the three offensive linemen, Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant was taken with the 24th overall pick in 2010. The only first-round misstep has been cornerback Morris Claiborne, who is out for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee. The Cowboys traded up from 14th and gave up a second-round pick (45th overall) in 2012 to select Claiborne with the sixth overall pick. Alshon Jeffery was taken by the Chicago Bears with that second-round pick. Prior to the injury, Claiborne had primarily been a reserve since Orlando Scandrick (one of the team's two fifth-round picks in 2008) replaced him in the starting lineup early last season.
Success has also been found with skill position players. Besides Bryant, Murray was a third-round selection in 2011. Wide receiver Terrance Williams, who has developed into one of the league's better deep threats, was taken with the third-round pick acquired in the trade that landed Frederick. Second-round pick Gavin Escobar (47th overall in 2013) is beginning to contribute as a receiver in two tight end sets. Third wide receiver Cole Beasley is a 2012 undrafted free agent signing. The best defensive player of these drafts is the oft-injured middle linebacker Sean Lee. The 2010 second-round pick tore the ACL in his left knee on the first day of organized team activities in May. When healthy, Lee is a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker but has only played 46 games with the Cowboys.
Free agency restraint
The Cowboys have largely avoided bad high-priced signings by being minor players in free agency during the last two years. The five-year, $50.1 million contract (with $26.5 million in guarantees) Brandon Carr received in 2012 is the team's last big free agency signing.
The team consistently needing to restructure multiple contracts in order to create salary cap room just to be compliant with cap rules at the start of each new league year made it virtually impossible to be aggressive in free agency anyway. Linebacker Justin Durant, who signed a two-year, $2.4 million contract, was the most expensive free-agent addition in 2013.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Henry Melton was a low-risk signing this year. He essentially signed a one-year, $3.5 million prove-it deal (worth a maximum of $5 million through incentives) because of an early 2013 season left ACL tear. An additional three years for $24 million will be triggered if the Cowboys pick up the option on Melton's contract in February. Another starting defensive lineman came in free agency at a good value with Jeremy Mincey signing a two-year, $3 million deal (with additional $1 million in incentives).
The best acquisition of the offseason was middle linebacker Rolando McClain as a replacement for Lee. The Baltimore Ravens traded the rights to the then-retired McClain and a 2015 seventh-round pick for a 2015 sixth-round pick. McClain, who hadn't played in the NFL since the Oakland Raiders released him in the middle of the 2012 season for poor performance and off-the-field issues, is a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. He is one of the NFL's biggest bargains with his $700,000 salary.
Defensive concerns
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder with the defense. Under Rod Marinelli, who was elevated to defensive coordinator from defensive line coach after last season, the Cowboys are 14th in total defense (352 yards per game) and ninth in points allowed (20.9 per game) after ranking last (415.3 yards per game) and 26th (27 points per game) in these categories during 2013. Another noticeable difference is the Cowboys gave up a league-worst 71 plays of 20 yards or more in the air in 2013. Marinelli has the defense on track for 40 such plays and is currently ranked fifth in the NFL.
There isn't much improvement from a per-play standpoint. The Cowboys are giving up the same 6.1 yards per play as last year. Teams are gaining 4.9 yards per carry as opposed to 4.7 in 2013. The change in offensive philosophy is the defense's best friend. The ball control offense has helped the Cowboys go from 24th in opponent's time of possession in 2013 to seventh this year.
The inability to generate a consistent pass rush has been an issue. Letting Jason Hatcher leave via free agency and making DeMarcus Ware a cap casualty after he refused a pay cut were necessary moves. Although Hatcher led NFL interior defensive lineman with 11 sacks in 2013, giving him a lucrative long-term deal at 32 years old wouldn't have been practical. Ware's seven sacks with the Denver Broncos are one-half sack more than Dallas' entire defensive line has. The 32-year-old's $16,003,750 2014 salary cap number ($12.75 million 2014 salary) was unworkable after multiple injuries limited him to a career low six sacks in 2013. Second-round pick from the May draft, Demarcus Lawrence, who is returning from the broken right foot that sidelined him in training camp, and Anthony Spencer, who is still shaking off rust after missing almost all of 2013 because of microfracture surgery, could give the pass rush a boost in the second half of the season.
Outlook
Dallas should end its four-year playoff drought barring a major injury to quarterback Tony Romo or Murray. Under the current NFL playoff format, which began in 2002, 79.3 percent of teams that started with a 6-2 record have made the postseason. The Cowboys survived a major scare with Romo's back contusion, which is unrelated to his offseason back surgery, in Monday night's stunning loss to the Washington Redskins. Romo is likely a game-time decision for this week's contest against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys could become even more reliant on Murray if Romo is limited or misses any games because of his back. Murray is on pace for 412 carries, which would be the second highest single season total in NFL history. There are durability concerns with Murray. He's missed eleven games in his three previous NFL seasons because of ankle, foot, knee injuries without playing a full slate in any of them. Murray will soon be in unchartered territory. He hasn't had more than 217 rushing attempts in any of his NFL seasons.
Joel Corry is a former sports agent who helped found Premier Sports & Entertainment, a sports management firm that represents professional athletes and coaches. Before his tenure at Premier, Joel worked for Management Plus Enterprises, which represented Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ronnie Lott.
You can follow him on Twitter: @corryjoel
By Joel Corry | Former Sports Agent
October 29, 2014 5:13 pm ET
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is gaining a small measure of vindication against the numerous critics of his performance as general manager with his team's unexpected 6-2 record, which leads the NFC East.
Consensus opinion is Jones needed to give up his general manager title a long time ago for guiding the Cowboys into mediocrity and hire someone with an extensive football background to run the franchise. Dallas has only won one playoff game since 1996, a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009, its last playoff appearance. The Sporting News named Jones as the NFL's worst general manager at the beginning of the season. Surprisingly, Jones is a leading candidate for NFL Executive of the Year at the midpoint of the season.
Here's a look at how the Cowboys got back on the right track and some potential challenges that might impact their quest to return to the postseason.
It starts in the trenches
The foundation for the Cowboys' newfound success began being laid in 2011 when the team used a first-round pick on offensive tackle Tyron Smith (ninth overall pick) for the first time during Jones' 22 years of ownership. Smith has developed into one of the game's best left tackles. He is the first NFL offensive lineman to earn player of the week honors since 2004 (Brian Waters, Chiefs). Before Waters, the last offensive lineman was Erik Williams of the Cowboys in 1992. The Cowboys made Smith the NFL highest-paid offensive lineman during the preseason with an eight-year, $97.6 million contract extension (includes $40 million in guarantees).
In 2013, the Cowboys were widely criticized for trading the 18th overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the 31st overall pick and a 2013 third-round pick (74th overall pick) in order to select center Travis Frederick. Several teams reportedly had Frederick rated much lower than his draft position. Frederick has quickly developed into a Pro Bowl caliber center.
The best draft decision by the Cowboys was the one that wasn't made. Instead of taking 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, who would have been a marketing bonanza, with the 16th overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, Jones reluctantly deferred to the organizational consensus by picking Zack Martin. Martin has made a smooth transition to right guard after being a four-year starter at left tackle for Notre Dame.
The emphasis on the offensive line has transformed the Cowboys into a run-oriented team with the NFL's top rushing attack at 160.5 yards per game on the ground. Dallas is running the ball 49.5 percent of the time after just a 36.4 percent clip over the previous three seasons. The chief beneficiary has been DeMarco Murray, who is having a season for the ages. He has rushed for an NFL record 100 yards or more in eight straight games to start a season. Murray has 1,054 yards, which puts him on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards by three yards. His 1,293 yards from scrimmage also put him on track to break Chris Johnson's single season record (2,509 yards).
The Cowboys' offensive line should remain largely intact for the foreseeable future. Right tackle Doug Free, a 2007 fourth-round pick by the team, will be an unrestricted free agent when his contract voids after the season. Smith is under contract through the 2023 season. Frederick and Martin won't be able to hit the open market until 2018 and 2019 respectively if the Cowboys exercise their fifth-year options on them. Left guard Ronald Leary, an undrafted free agent in 2012, won't be eligible for unrestricted free agency until the 2016 season ends.
Homegrown talent/draft success
The Cowboys' recent drafts have been better than the initial reviews. Football Outsiders has an annual report shortly after the draft giving each team's picks a composite grade based on the assessment of several draft pundits from major media outlets. The team's cumulative draft grade over the last five years (2010-2014) of these reports is next to last in the NFL.
Twelve starters, including undrafted free agents Leary and strong safety Barry Church, are from these draft classes. The Cowboys are having success with their first-round picks. In addition, to the three offensive linemen, Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant was taken with the 24th overall pick in 2010. The only first-round misstep has been cornerback Morris Claiborne, who is out for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee. The Cowboys traded up from 14th and gave up a second-round pick (45th overall) in 2012 to select Claiborne with the sixth overall pick. Alshon Jeffery was taken by the Chicago Bears with that second-round pick. Prior to the injury, Claiborne had primarily been a reserve since Orlando Scandrick (one of the team's two fifth-round picks in 2008) replaced him in the starting lineup early last season.
Success has also been found with skill position players. Besides Bryant, Murray was a third-round selection in 2011. Wide receiver Terrance Williams, who has developed into one of the league's better deep threats, was taken with the third-round pick acquired in the trade that landed Frederick. Second-round pick Gavin Escobar (47th overall in 2013) is beginning to contribute as a receiver in two tight end sets. Third wide receiver Cole Beasley is a 2012 undrafted free agent signing. The best defensive player of these drafts is the oft-injured middle linebacker Sean Lee. The 2010 second-round pick tore the ACL in his left knee on the first day of organized team activities in May. When healthy, Lee is a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker but has only played 46 games with the Cowboys.
Free agency restraint
The Cowboys have largely avoided bad high-priced signings by being minor players in free agency during the last two years. The five-year, $50.1 million contract (with $26.5 million in guarantees) Brandon Carr received in 2012 is the team's last big free agency signing.
The team consistently needing to restructure multiple contracts in order to create salary cap room just to be compliant with cap rules at the start of each new league year made it virtually impossible to be aggressive in free agency anyway. Linebacker Justin Durant, who signed a two-year, $2.4 million contract, was the most expensive free-agent addition in 2013.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Henry Melton was a low-risk signing this year. He essentially signed a one-year, $3.5 million prove-it deal (worth a maximum of $5 million through incentives) because of an early 2013 season left ACL tear. An additional three years for $24 million will be triggered if the Cowboys pick up the option on Melton's contract in February. Another starting defensive lineman came in free agency at a good value with Jeremy Mincey signing a two-year, $3 million deal (with additional $1 million in incentives).
The best acquisition of the offseason was middle linebacker Rolando McClain as a replacement for Lee. The Baltimore Ravens traded the rights to the then-retired McClain and a 2015 seventh-round pick for a 2015 sixth-round pick. McClain, who hadn't played in the NFL since the Oakland Raiders released him in the middle of the 2012 season for poor performance and off-the-field issues, is a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. He is one of the NFL's biggest bargains with his $700,000 salary.
Defensive concerns
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder with the defense. Under Rod Marinelli, who was elevated to defensive coordinator from defensive line coach after last season, the Cowboys are 14th in total defense (352 yards per game) and ninth in points allowed (20.9 per game) after ranking last (415.3 yards per game) and 26th (27 points per game) in these categories during 2013. Another noticeable difference is the Cowboys gave up a league-worst 71 plays of 20 yards or more in the air in 2013. Marinelli has the defense on track for 40 such plays and is currently ranked fifth in the NFL.
There isn't much improvement from a per-play standpoint. The Cowboys are giving up the same 6.1 yards per play as last year. Teams are gaining 4.9 yards per carry as opposed to 4.7 in 2013. The change in offensive philosophy is the defense's best friend. The ball control offense has helped the Cowboys go from 24th in opponent's time of possession in 2013 to seventh this year.
The inability to generate a consistent pass rush has been an issue. Letting Jason Hatcher leave via free agency and making DeMarcus Ware a cap casualty after he refused a pay cut were necessary moves. Although Hatcher led NFL interior defensive lineman with 11 sacks in 2013, giving him a lucrative long-term deal at 32 years old wouldn't have been practical. Ware's seven sacks with the Denver Broncos are one-half sack more than Dallas' entire defensive line has. The 32-year-old's $16,003,750 2014 salary cap number ($12.75 million 2014 salary) was unworkable after multiple injuries limited him to a career low six sacks in 2013. Second-round pick from the May draft, Demarcus Lawrence, who is returning from the broken right foot that sidelined him in training camp, and Anthony Spencer, who is still shaking off rust after missing almost all of 2013 because of microfracture surgery, could give the pass rush a boost in the second half of the season.
Outlook
Dallas should end its four-year playoff drought barring a major injury to quarterback Tony Romo or Murray. Under the current NFL playoff format, which began in 2002, 79.3 percent of teams that started with a 6-2 record have made the postseason. The Cowboys survived a major scare with Romo's back contusion, which is unrelated to his offseason back surgery, in Monday night's stunning loss to the Washington Redskins. Romo is likely a game-time decision for this week's contest against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys could become even more reliant on Murray if Romo is limited or misses any games because of his back. Murray is on pace for 412 carries, which would be the second highest single season total in NFL history. There are durability concerns with Murray. He's missed eleven games in his three previous NFL seasons because of ankle, foot, knee injuries without playing a full slate in any of them. Murray will soon be in unchartered territory. He hasn't had more than 217 rushing attempts in any of his NFL seasons.
Joel Corry is a former sports agent who helped found Premier Sports & Entertainment, a sports management firm that represents professional athletes and coaches. Before his tenure at Premier, Joel worked for Management Plus Enterprises, which represented Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ronnie Lott.
You can follow him on Twitter: @corryjoel
