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Cowlishaw: Buehler thing 'a mistake from the start'; you don't have to be 'too careful' with Dez
07:13 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Columnist Tim Cowlishaw answered your sports questions in a chat Wednesday. Here are some highlights.
Cliff asks ... The Cowboys open the season at the Redskins, are at home to the Bears and at the Texans. Which will be the toughest test for them?
Tim Cowlishaw: Great question, Cliff. I think Texans will be toughest. That team beat Dallas, 19-10, when it had never played a game. Houston is going to break through and be a wild-card team at some point. I don't know what the Texans plan to do for a running game, and that's a big problem since (Steve) Slaton appears to be too much of a fumbler. But I like Dallas' chances to win the other two, not easily, but the Cowboys should win if they play. The Texans game will be a toss-up.
Guest asks ... Will Felix Jones start at RB?
Tim Cowlishaw: I think the possible production this team can get from its RBs is still a huge plus that isn't really being evaluated much in the pre-season. But I also think Barber is in for a much better season than he had a year ago. He has to prove that he isn't hitting the wall after taking so much pounding (and delivering so many blows), but I suspect he will show it.
James asks ... David Buehler missed a kick very wide left in the preseason game. We know he has a strong leg, but are they sure he can get it done beyond 35 yards?
Tim Cowlishaw: I think the Buehler thing was a mistake from the start. I'm not sure why they went that direction. Normally, you low budget kickers to stay under the cap. There is no cap. I don't get why a team with Super Bowl aspirations takes that kind of a chance. We shall see.
Guy asks ... Sam Hurd back on the trade block apparently. And there is an apparent market for him, with "several teams calling." I think Sam is a talent, who has just been getting the short end of the stick here in Dallas. You think in the end, he's on this team or do they move him via trade? Or even just cut him loose? It's a shame that he's never been given a shot here. He's always making plays in camp and the preseason, but never gets a real opportunity during the regular season.
Tim Cowlishaw: I agree with you, Guy, I think Hurd is a valuable 4th receiver, a guy who is fine making plays on special teams and getting his few opportunities when they come (hopefully not back to back plays on the goal line against Denver). But if they have younger players making plays at receiver, there's not room for everyone. I would be surprised if Hurd has any trade value. That's not to knock him but teams have those guys.
Alaska Dave asks ... Are we going to have to see another year or Patrick Crayton returning punts?
Tim Cowlishaw: You don't like that? Crayton's not bad at all. And he never drops them. On the other hand, the night they drafted Dez Bryant, they thought they had just upgraded the punt return spot. Do you have to be careful with him now? I don't know, I don't think you have to be too careful with a guy that's 22-years-old.
ralph elkins asks ... Offense looks very bland, no running game at all. What are your thoughts?
Tim Cowlishaw: I haven't seen Jason Garrett show a desire to put anything out there to watch in any of the past preseasons, either. I think there have to be some real concerns about the offense with the injuries to the line and Dez Bryant. But at the same time, the defense looks outstanding and I think it's going to be the best in the NFC or right at the top of the conference in most categories. So I wouldn't put too much in it, even if it's somewhere between disappointing and deadly boring to watch.
Mike asks ... The Cowboys are obviously high on (safety) Alan Ball ... they must see something that makes them thing he can hold the fort down back there, I'd love to know what that is.
Tim Cowlishaw: Get ready to see the real Alan Ball, ladies and gentleman. No, I think he's a good player, and they know he can cover people, which is something they haven't had back there in a long, long time. The Cowboys' defense is so good up front and at corner that I will be stunned if even average play at safety isn't enough to get this team where it wants to go.
lahotboy asks ... Will Cletis Gordon challenge Orlando Scandrick for playing time this season?
Tim Cowlishaw: That's one of the fun things (one of the few fun things) about watching preseason football is seeing some of the second-team or in some cases third-team guys that make plays. On my days in San Antonio, Gordon and McCann were both playing well in a lot of the drills and team stuff. Gordon is clearly a good athlete. I think they have a lot of ways to go in the secondary right now.
Click here to read the entire chat
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07:13 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Columnist Tim Cowlishaw answered your sports questions in a chat Wednesday. Here are some highlights.
Cliff asks ... The Cowboys open the season at the Redskins, are at home to the Bears and at the Texans. Which will be the toughest test for them?
Tim Cowlishaw: Great question, Cliff. I think Texans will be toughest. That team beat Dallas, 19-10, when it had never played a game. Houston is going to break through and be a wild-card team at some point. I don't know what the Texans plan to do for a running game, and that's a big problem since (Steve) Slaton appears to be too much of a fumbler. But I like Dallas' chances to win the other two, not easily, but the Cowboys should win if they play. The Texans game will be a toss-up.
Guest asks ... Will Felix Jones start at RB?
Tim Cowlishaw: I think the possible production this team can get from its RBs is still a huge plus that isn't really being evaluated much in the pre-season. But I also think Barber is in for a much better season than he had a year ago. He has to prove that he isn't hitting the wall after taking so much pounding (and delivering so many blows), but I suspect he will show it.
James asks ... David Buehler missed a kick very wide left in the preseason game. We know he has a strong leg, but are they sure he can get it done beyond 35 yards?
Tim Cowlishaw: I think the Buehler thing was a mistake from the start. I'm not sure why they went that direction. Normally, you low budget kickers to stay under the cap. There is no cap. I don't get why a team with Super Bowl aspirations takes that kind of a chance. We shall see.
Guy asks ... Sam Hurd back on the trade block apparently. And there is an apparent market for him, with "several teams calling." I think Sam is a talent, who has just been getting the short end of the stick here in Dallas. You think in the end, he's on this team or do they move him via trade? Or even just cut him loose? It's a shame that he's never been given a shot here. He's always making plays in camp and the preseason, but never gets a real opportunity during the regular season.
Tim Cowlishaw: I agree with you, Guy, I think Hurd is a valuable 4th receiver, a guy who is fine making plays on special teams and getting his few opportunities when they come (hopefully not back to back plays on the goal line against Denver). But if they have younger players making plays at receiver, there's not room for everyone. I would be surprised if Hurd has any trade value. That's not to knock him but teams have those guys.
Alaska Dave asks ... Are we going to have to see another year or Patrick Crayton returning punts?
Tim Cowlishaw: You don't like that? Crayton's not bad at all. And he never drops them. On the other hand, the night they drafted Dez Bryant, they thought they had just upgraded the punt return spot. Do you have to be careful with him now? I don't know, I don't think you have to be too careful with a guy that's 22-years-old.
ralph elkins asks ... Offense looks very bland, no running game at all. What are your thoughts?
Tim Cowlishaw: I haven't seen Jason Garrett show a desire to put anything out there to watch in any of the past preseasons, either. I think there have to be some real concerns about the offense with the injuries to the line and Dez Bryant. But at the same time, the defense looks outstanding and I think it's going to be the best in the NFC or right at the top of the conference in most categories. So I wouldn't put too much in it, even if it's somewhere between disappointing and deadly boring to watch.
Mike asks ... The Cowboys are obviously high on (safety) Alan Ball ... they must see something that makes them thing he can hold the fort down back there, I'd love to know what that is.
Tim Cowlishaw: Get ready to see the real Alan Ball, ladies and gentleman. No, I think he's a good player, and they know he can cover people, which is something they haven't had back there in a long, long time. The Cowboys' defense is so good up front and at corner that I will be stunned if even average play at safety isn't enough to get this team where it wants to go.
lahotboy asks ... Will Cletis Gordon challenge Orlando Scandrick for playing time this season?
Tim Cowlishaw: That's one of the fun things (one of the few fun things) about watching preseason football is seeing some of the second-team or in some cases third-team guys that make plays. On my days in San Antonio, Gordon and McCann were both playing well in a lot of the drills and team stuff. Gordon is clearly a good athlete. I think they have a lot of ways to go in the secondary right now.
Click here to read the entire chat
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