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February 14, 2008

Road to 13-3 Record Not Without Bumps

As I kicked back and enjoyed highlights of all 17 of the Cowboys' games a couple weeks back, many players caught my eye with their surprising success.  As everyone knows however, highlights always show the good, but not always the bad and the ugly.  And with that, here are a few players I thought had disappointing years for the silver and blue.

 

Julius Jones

Julius Jones tops this list without question in my mind.  Going into a contract year, I expected Jones to have a breakout season and have success that would turn Jerry Jones' head enough to re-sign Jones to a lucrative deal.  That however was far from the case.  Jones started all 16 regular season games, but failed to record a 100-yard outing.  He amassed a mere 588 yards and only saw the end-zone twice this season.  Many could argue that Jones' lack of success was due to Marion Barber getting most of the carries later on in games.  But it seemed as though Jones lacked the explosiveness and downhill style of Barber.  Jones was often seen dancing around in the backfield trying to make something happen rather than hitting the hole.  I feel that Jones' performance this season will be his ticket out of Dallas via free agency.  This year's draft could produce arguably the best crop of running backs in 10 years, and I expect the Cowboys to nab one of these runners early in the draft. 

 

Roy Williams

As Plaxico Burress strolled into the endzone untouched on the very first play of the 2007 season, we all gave our best 'here we go again' look when we spotted Roy Williams trailing 10 yards behind Burress.  The play ended up being a great summary for Williams' season.  Williams was frequently the guilty party for busted coverages and long touchdown passes.  He was also the culprit for many long runs, often whiffing on the tackle trying to produce a big time hit.  Although a vulnerability many a time this year, Roy Williams is still a major part of the Cowboys defense.  All the babble about him being released or traded need to be silenced and talk of him moving to linebacker needs to be put to rest.  He will return to Dallas at safety next year.  Maybe his number change to 38 will bring back the welcomed sight of Roy laying a good lickin' on wide receivers.  And let's hope that Dave Campo won't teach an old dog new tricks, but revert him back to his old ones. 

 

Jacques Reeves

As Roy Williams was having his routine problems in coverage, Jacques Reeves was having issues of his own.  Opposing quarterbacks routinely locked Reeves in their crosshairs, often with successful results.  While Reeves possesses game-changing speed, he often looked lost in coverage and a step slower than everyone else.  Although Reeves gained much game experience this season, it's safe to say he won't be Dallas' top priority as far as re-signing goes.  While they might bring Reeves back at the right price, he will more than likely end up in a different uniform next year.  Look for Dallas to pick one of the stellar corners in the draft. 

 

January 22, 2008

Boys Have Alot to Hang Their Hats On

As I enjoyed my Monday off thanks to one of the most influential figures in American history, I watched highlights of every game the Cowboys played this year in an attempt to help my still heavy heart.  As it turns out, reflecting on our successful season was just what the doctor ordered.  Here's a list of players who I thought had surprisingly successful years. 

Greg Ellis

I'll put up with a little off-season belly-aching from Greg anytime as long as he buckles up and goes to work like he did this year.  Seriously, hats off to this guy for his monstrous play this year.  When the complaining started in the summer, everybody including me thought it was time for Greg to hang up his spurs.  But you kind of got the feeling that Greg had a giant chip on his shoulder after his first game back against the Rams.  You could commonly spot Ellis in the backfield racking up sacks and stripping the quarterback.  He was a great compliment to Demarcus Ware and I see no reason why he should not be back next year flustering quarterbacks with his counterpart. 

 

Ken Hamlin 

The Cowboys could not have asked for anything more than what they got from Ken Hamlin this year.  They signed the guy to a one-year deal in the off-season, hoping his play would do justice for a bigger contract next year.  It's safe to say Dallas found a baller in Hamlin.  He constantly made interceptions at key times in games and was the leader in the secondary when it came to getting everyone lined up in the proper formation.  I'd venture to say that Hamlin had a bigger presence in the secondary this year than Roy Williams.  Expect Hamlin to receive a fat pay raise from Mr. Jones and stay in Dallas for awhile.

 

Patrick Crayton

We all held our breath in the summer and hoped that Terry Glenn would be ready at some point this season.  But when week 1 rolled around, it appeared that Terry Glenn would be resting his moneymakers a little longer than initially expected.  No problem.  Insert Patrick Crayton.  After seeing Crayton perform at a high level the first few weeks of the season, it was obvious that he was no longer a pup from Northwestern Oklahoma State.  The offense ran like a well-oiled machine and never missed a beat with Crayton lined up opposite Terrell Owens.  Now, we can still sit in our favorite Sunday armchair and daydream about what could have been with Owens, Crayton, and Glenn on the field at the same time, but it seems as though Dallas has found a franchise wide receiver in Patrick Crayton.

 

 

 

January 13, 2008

Cowboys Look to Quiet Critics

It's finally here.  The day Cowboys fans everywhere have been waiting for.  The day the Cowboys prove all the critics wrong yet again and beat the Giants for the third time this season. 

The critics have been on the prowl the last couple weeks.  In fact, I'd venture to say they stepped their game up a notch.  Everything under the sun was used to prove the Cowboys had no chance of winning today.

Tony Romo didn't play well down the stretch.  And his mind definitely could not have been on football since he was in Mexico during the bye week. 

Terrell Owens is hurt.  He won't be a factor in the game.

Assistant coaches are being interviewed for head coaching jobs.  It has to be distracting the team.

Nobody can beat a team three times in one season.

Heck, someone living under a rock would never know the Cowboys even went 13-3, won their division, clinched a first round bye and home field advantage. 

It's sure something to listen to the critics rip on the Cowboys.

Tony Romo was in Mexico?  Are you kidding me?  That's really going to play a factor in this game?  I don't think so.  Tony Romo is a professional athlete, and pro bowler at that.  I'm sure he has some sort of clue about how to manage his time and get ready for a big playoff game, but that's just me.

Terrell Owens will play no factor in this game?  That gives me quite a chuckle from when I hear analysts try to make that argument.  They must not have seen Super Bowl XXXIX, when Terrell Owens picked apart the Patriots secondary for 122 yards, just a couple months removed from surgery to repair his broken ankle.  I will in no way be surprised when Terrell Owens comes out today and torches the Giants secondary like he did in the first two games.

I feel stupid for analysts who think Dallas' assistants getting interviewed is going to impact their focus on the task at hand.  If this team or any professional team is affected by their assistant coaches being interviewed by other teams then they might as well go back to playing Pop Warner with their kids.

And last, I'm not sure how analysts even make a valid argument about it being extremely difficult for a team to beat someone three times in a year.  I guess Dallas shouldn't even take the field to play the game since the analysts seem to think it will be harder than robbing Fort Knox.  I vividly remember the Cowboys beating New York quite soundly up in East Rutherford in week 10.  And when they make the argument that the Giants have won 8 consecutive road games, they fail to mention that the last time they lost on the road, it was at the hands of Dallas at Texas Stadium.

The only thing I have left for my fellow Cowboys friends before I retire to my comfy armchair is to take TO's advice from earlier this week and "Get your popcorn ready."

 

December 19, 2007

ESPN Doing it's Best to Rain on Dallas' 12-2 Parade

With the Christmas season upon us, I feel it's only fitting for me to give a special holiday shoutout to my favorite sports network, ESPN.   

Now, most of you know that I'm a huge supporter of ESPN.  Let's be real.  These people don't care that Dallas has run away with their division.  They don't care that Dallas has clinched a first round bye for the first time since 1995. 

No, they'd rather dangle the meat in front of the tiger to see what kind of reaction they can get out of players and fans alike. 

They'd rather scrutinize Terence Newman for his sarcastic comments leading up to their game against Detroit. 

Mike Ditka would rather predict when he thinks T.O. will stab his team in the back than acknowledge that he's had a career best year. 

And now, they'd rather call T.O. a distraction for poking a little fun at Jessica Simpson than talk about the upcoming game against Carolina.

If there's one thing I've learned from being a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan for 18 years (that's right, I've been a fan since birth), it's that everything the Dallas Cowboys do will always be under a constant microscope and criticism, regardless of the circumstance. 

So from me and my fellow Cowboys fans, Merry Christmas ESPN, and thank you for yet another year of biased reporting.  We'll see you in Tempe. 

December 12, 2007

Keyshawn Needs to Quickly Learn His Place

I am truly at a loss for words when I see what I saw on NFL Live this afternoon.  I'm sure we've all seen it already.  Keyshawn Johnson, the former "accomplished" NFL receiver, took unjustified shots at Terrell Owens for some extremely general comments he made about Bill Parcells. 

After being blindsided by Keyshawn's ridiculous comments, Terrell Owens defended himself and his team.  But already, TO is being made out by ESPN to be a coach killer and a team destroyer, again. 

This is simply preposterous.  Keyshawn Johnson?  THE Keyshawn Johnson is telling an NFL player to "let it go?"  The Keyshawn Johnson that wrote the book entitled Throw Me the Damn Ball?  The Keyshawn Johnson who was constantly at his former coach Jon Gruden's throat?  The Keyshawn Johnson who was suspended by his team for half the year because he wouldn't shut up?  It's simply unbelievable that anyone with those types of accolades would criticize another NFL player for simply defending his current team and embracing his coach.   

Now I'm sure many of you think that the reason Keyshawn is trying to put TO in his place is because of his deep respect and friendship with Bill Parcells.  And you very well might be right.  But Bill Parcells must have thought the world of Keyshawn, releasing him at the end of the 2006 season, and bringing in none other than Terrell Owens to take his place. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers must have thought alot of Keyshawn, especially after his half-year suspension.  They traded him to Dallas in return for Joey Galloway.  The Buccaneers certainly ridded themselves of a problem with that trade, and got a pretty good player in return. 

The Carolina Panthers must have thought alot of Keyshawn Johnson.  I remember Keyshawn covering the 2007 NFL draft, constantly talking about how excited he was for the upcoming season.  Then when Carolina selected USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett with their second round pick, Keyshawn raved about him and talked about how much of an honor it would be to "teach the kid the ropes."  The Panthers obviously wanted no part of that, releasing Keyshawn the next week. 

So Keyshawn Johnson, shut your mouth.  You fit in extremely well with the rest of ESPN's sorry cast of "analysts" who sit there with smirks on their faces and act like they know what they're talking about.  You can sit on your couch with your popcorn and watch the best wide receiver in the league make your career as well as your analysis look like a joke. 

No worries TO, I got your back.

 

Extras

*Regarding the game on Sunday, I'm going to steal a page out of John Madden's book by simply saying "Great players, on a great team, making great plays." Enough said.

December 03, 2007

Ellis Quietly Having Monstrous Year

If anyone would have told me that Greg Ellis, entering week 14, would be leading the team with 10.5 sacks, ahead of sack master Demarcus Ware, I would have looked at you like you shot my mother.

The Greg Ellis that suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles the year before?  The Greg Ellis that stirred up trouble about his contract?  The Greg Ellis that was absent the first three weeks of the season, still rehabbing his injury?  Get outta town.

When he showed up to camp all bent out of shape about his contract, we rolled our eyes.  There goes grumpy old Greg again.  And when he sat out of training camp, still rehabbing his injury, we shook our heads.  Greg’s too old, time to trade him.  But Greg Ellis certainly got the last laugh by quietly having the best season of his NFL career.

At age 32, Ellis is showing no signs of letting up, or of the season-ending injury that hampered him until his return to the field in week 4. 

Not enough can be said about the importance of Greg Ellis to the Cowboys defense.  In 12 games, the Cowboys have racked up 33 sacks, one shy of their season total last year.  Ellis has eliminated opposing teams’ focuses on Demarcus Ware, and has helped free them both up in the backfield for a combined 20.5 sacks.  Ellis is also a major contributor to Dallas’ run-stuffing defense, which is ranked 4th in the league in yards allowed on the ground with 85.6 allowed per game.

Shame on the naysayers, including myself, for thinking that Greg Ellis was at the end of his decorated career with the Cowboys.  We have been stifled by the outstanding play of #98, the staple of our defense. 

 

November 05, 2007

Boys Look Sharp After One Week Hiatus

The first play of the game was a good summary for the night the Dallas Cowboys had at Lincoln Financial Field.  Marcus Spears put a lick on Donovan McNabb, causing him to fumble, which was recovered by Bradie James.  Julius Jones strolled into the endzone but a few plays later, setting the tone for the night. 

The storyline of the night though, quite certainly could have been Mr. Terrell Owens.  The boo-birds were out early at the Linc, most being antagonized by TO's torching of the Eagles defense.  TO had a productive night back at the place he once called home, hauling in 10 passes for 179 yards and a score. 

The Cowboys looked sharp in all aspects of the game for that matter, moving up and down the field on Philly's defense, and shutting down their lackluster offense for most of the evening.  In what was supposed to be a statement game for the Eagles only turned out to be an all-out whipping on their own field. 

The Boys are getting back to full health, and just in time for an NFC East showdown next week in East Rutherford against the New York Giants. 

Extras 

* The play of the night had to be Jason Witten's helmetless catch and run in the fourth quarter.  Witten got clobbered by an Eagles defender immediately after making the catch, then had his helmet yanked off by another, and still kept his footing and rumbled down the sidelines with no hat on.  What a tough guy. 

October 10, 2007

Boys Make Statement on Monday Night's Center Stage

I think I speak for legions of Cowboys fans when I say, what a statement the Boys made in front of a nationally televised audience on Monday Night. 

As my brother and I sat arms-length from the television with our hands firmly folded watching Tony Romo engineer the game-winning field goal drive, there was no doubt in my mind that my Cowboys were going to pull off a miracle. 

The thought of turning off the game after Tony Romo threw his fifth interception briefly crossed my mind.  I then remembered how many crazy games I had seen the Cowboys win on Monday Night. 

There was the New York Giants in 2002, when kicker Billy Cundiff kicked a record-tying 7 field goals in route to an overtime win against the G-Men. 

Then there was the game against Seattle in 2004, when quarterback Vinny Testaverde hit Keyshawn Johnson in the back of the endzone to send the game into overtime, where Julius Jones rumbled in for the game winning score. 

The Cowboys definately have a Monday Night Mojo.  To be down 8 points with less than 2 minutes to go and have the odds firmly stacked against them, and still leave Orchard Park with a win speaks volumes about this team.  Whether it was Bill Parcells who bestowed this team's resiliency on them in his 4 year stay, whether it be Wade Phillips or Jason Garrett, this team showed the kind of play that champions have on Monday Night.  They proved they have the talent, the composure, and the resiliency to end up in Tempe to play for keeps. 

I certainly hope all of Hank's rowdy friends stayed to watch Dallas' Monday Night miracle. 

 

September 18, 2007

Offense Takes Center Stage in Big D

As we enter week 3 of the 2007-2008 NFL season, one thing has caught the attention of Cowboys fans in the last two weeks.  The Boy's high powered offense. 

Now everybody knows that Wade Phillips is a defensive genius, but Big Wade has certainly brought a potent offense to Dallas, one they have been lacking since the 90's.  In the last two weeks, Dallas has scored a league high 82 points.  Tony Romo has thrown for 6 touchdowns, 2nd in the league.  Marion Barber has found the endzone 3 times, that's tied for first in the league.  Oh, and don't forget about Terrell Owens, who has quietly scored 3 touchdowns.  That's good for 3rd in the league. 

The X-factor to this offense though, may be Jason Witten.  Witten shredded the Giants secondary in week 1, and made key catches in week 2.  Give props to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who is utilizing the many weapons Dallas boasts on offense. 

So, as the season rolls on, look for the Cowboys offense to keep on rolling, and put up great numbers. 

 

Extras

* Special shoutout goes out to ESPN's Mark Schlareth.  Mark threw Dallas under the bus all off-seaon, and took shots at TO every chance he got.  Now, Mark is jumping on the Dallas bandwagon, praising TO for his circus catches and commending Tony Romo for Pro Bowl calibur play.  Congratulations Mr. Schlareth. 

* I think I speak for all Cowboys fans when I say, what a wonderful sight it is to see the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants both at 0-2, and in the NFC East basement.

* Demarcus Ware is still without a sack, but look for him to have a good outing against Chicago's JV offense.

* Tony Romo's quarterback rating of 119.3 is 2nd in the league, behind one Tom Brady, who has an impressive 134.2 rating. 

*Saw where the Cowboys signed former Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson to play nose guard in the 3-4.  I love this move by Dallas to give this guy a chance.  He and Jay Ratliff should be quite the duo in the middle when Johnson returns.

September 08, 2007

Big Things Expected From Boys in Season Opener

Dallas Cowboys football 2007 is all but here.  What better way for America's Team to start their '07 campaign than on Sunday Night Primetime against their hated rivals, the Giants? 

Being from the Northern half of Indiana, trash talk was applenty on Friday morning, what with the defending champion Colts pulling out all the stops against the highly touted New Orleans Saints on Thursday night's season opener. 

But after having my ear filled with claims of a Colts repeat after only one game, I couldn't help but be fired up to see my Boys come out on Sunday night on national television and show the world why they are Superbowl contenders this year. 

Dallas has a few injury concerns for Sunday night however, with Terence Newman being a game time decision along with reserve linebacker Kevin Burnett.  The Cowboys will also be without Greg Ellis and Terry Glenn, who will apparently be missing a few more weeks.  Expect Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd to step in for Terry Glenn, and Anthony Spencer to step up in a big way for Greg Ellis tomorrow night. 

Get the popcorn ready fellow Cowboy faithfuls, Cowboys Football '07 is finally here.

August 16, 2007

Players Making Bids for Roster Spots

With one preseason game under their belts, the Cowboys are now preparing for the Denver Broncos on Saturday night, who have already strolled into Dallas and practiced with the Cowboys in the blistering Texas heat.  Here's a couple players to keep and eye and ear out for that played well against the Colts.

 

Leonard Davis

Even though this mountainous addition to the offensive line played but a couple series last Thursday, there's reason for excitement.  Forget about what all the "analysts" have said about Davis being the biggest waste of free agent money this off-season.  This guy was in all-pro form on Thursday night, and he is exactly what the Cowboys are looking for at right guard.  You see the play when his helmet came flying off and he still found time to pancake a poor Colts lineman?  Waste of money?  You kidding me?  This guy will play well this year and earn a trip to the Pro Bowl. 

 

Joey Thomas

Many of you may not have known his name before last Thursday's game.  But you very well do now.  This guy was all over the place making plays from his corner position.  This former third round pick out of Montana State is certainly making a bid for a roster spot.  After some shaky years with the Packers, the team that drafted him, Thomas was looking for a fresh start when he signed with the Cowboys, and it looks as though he just might get it. 

 

Tony Curtis

This tight end may have gotten lost in the mix during training camp, but he certainly showed up during the first preseason game.  After spending all summer overseas in NFL Europa, Curtis proved he could catch the ball, hauling in a couple long passes.  He is still battling with fellow tight ends Adam Bergen and rookie Rodney Hannah, but look for his performance to help him make a bid for the third tight end spot. 

August 05, 2007

T.O. Staying Under the Radar in '07

As we near the end of Training Camp 2007, a new wind has apparently blown in along with new head coach Wade Phillips.  Not a peep out of T.O.  That’s right, Terrell Eldorado Owens, has been virtually unheard from this off-season. 
Whatever is ESPN to do without an over-exaggerated story about T.O. stirring up a Texas tornado down in the Lonestar state?  In fact, I have not seen or heard one thing about Terrell Owens on Sportscenter in the last two weeks, with the exception of their “Who’s Now” segment, which is a bracket competition to determine today’s most successful and marketable athlete on and off the field (T.O. was defeated by Alex Rodriquez in the Muhammad Ali Region). 
But Terrell Owens, “The Coach Killer”, has given the media nothing to jump on this year.  He has said and done all the right things. 
Now, there might have been some controversy regarding his comments about Bill Parcells after Wade Phillips was hired, but T.O. was not the only one guilty of this.  A number of Cowboys veterans expressed their dislike for the way The Tuna ran things. 
This year has been substantially different than last’s.  The media had to have been licking their chops at Terrell Owen’s every move last year.  There was the pulled hamstring.  Then there was the bike/yellow jersey incident.  And who could forget T.O’s alleged suicide attempt last year, as wonderfully reported by ESPN. 
With all of that happening last year, Terrell Owens still gained legions of fans, and this year will be no different.  Expect T.O. to continue to be, and stay, on his best behavior. 

July 25, 2007

Position Battles to Turn Up the Heat in Alamodome

With training camp underway in the confines of the Alamodome in the heart of San Antonio, here are three position battles to keep an eye on as training camp heats up.

1.  Greg Ellis vs. Anthony Spencer, Outside linebacker

This will definitely be the most intriguing and heated battle to watch going into training camp.  With Greg Ellis coming off his devastating ruptured Achilles last season, it will be interesting to see how he responds.  There has been somewhat of an upheaval regarding his contract heading into this season, but look for Ellis to close his mouth and go to work these next couple weeks, and prove he still has a major role on this team.  Don't expect Ellis to win the job without a fight, though.  Rookie Anthony Spencer will be looking to turn some heads in training camp and show he belongs.  He will give Greg Ellis stiff competition, but I believe Ellis wins this battle.  However, expect to see #93 on the field plenty, showing off his pass rushing skills in the nickel and dime formations. 

2.  Ken Hamlin vs. Pat Watkins, Free safety

Another position that will draw the attention of many during training camp will be the ever vacant free safety spot.  The Cowboys brought Ken Hamlin in via free agency, but declined to sign him to a lucrative deal, seen by many other free agents this year.  Hamlin remember, suffered a serious head injury a few years back in Seattle.  Expect big things from Hamlin however, who will quietly enter training camp with a big chip on his shoulder.  Look for Hamlin to display the ball-hawking safety skills the Cowboys were hoping for when they signed him.  Hamlin will be a field general and make sure the personnel is lined up correctly.  Do not count out Pat Watkins, however.  The tall, lanky second year free safety will be ready to show off his athleticism and push for playing time.  Hamlin wins the starting free safety job, with Watkins being installed in the nickel.

3.  Kyle Kosier vs. Pat McQuistan, Left guard

Last, but certainly not least, keep a watchful eye on the trenches, where a couple big uglies will fight for the starting guard spot on the left side.  Incumbent Kyle Kosier will return as the frontrunner for the job.  He started 16 games last year, and provided the Cowboys with solid play.  Look for him to be pushed this year however, by second year linemen Pat McQuistan, who will slide over from the tackle position to provide some competition.  McQuistan was held in high regard by one Bill Parcells last year, and impressed many during last year's training camp.  Kosier will maintain his starting job, but keep an eye on this McQuistan, who will more than likely see reps at either tackle position these first few practices due to starters Flozell Adams and Marc Columbo sitting out.  Look for McQuistan to tie down the top back-up position as a "swing tackle".
As we watch things develop in the coming weeks, I will certainly have my popcorn at the ready along with Joey D.

July 18, 2007

Boys Among League's Best on Paper

As I scroll through the current roster of the Dallas Cowboys, I can not help but be excited for the upcoming season.  The Boys are certainly among the leagues best on paper.  Although this does not translate into anything until the pads come on in late July, here are three strengths that will make the Cowboys great. 

 

1.  Linebacking Corps

This is certainly the strength of this Cowboys team.  The Cowboys have three sure-fire starters returning in Akin Ayodele, Bradie James, and Demarcus Ware.  An interesting battle to watch in training camp will be the outside linebacker position opposite Demarcus Ware.  Although Wade Phillips has already stated that Greg Ellis is his starting linebacker, look for Anthony Spencer to make a push for the starting job, and extensive playing time.  Also do not rule out Bobby Carpenter and Kevin Burnett in the middle.  Both make great depth behind the starting middle linebackers, but look for both to push for more playing time.  Wade Phillip's aggressive 3-4 scheme will allow this group to apply pressure and take pressure off a ridiculed secondary.
  
2.  Running Back

This position is also a great strength for Dallas.  Julius Jones will return as the starting running back, and entering a contract year, will be hungrier than ever.  Behind Jones is a very versatile back in Marion Barber.  Although some believe that Barber should be the starter, both backs thrive on the 2-back system.  Look for Barber to get 10-15 carries a game as a change-up back.  Also do not rule out Tyson Thompson, who is returning from a season ending leg injury suffered early last year.  I believe this unit will take pressure off of Tony Romo, and open up a passing game filled with savvy receivers. 
  
3.  Secondary

Yes, you read correctly, secondary.  This group of players has been scrutinized in the past couple years for giving up big plays and not making enough plays.  However, that will change this year.  The X-factor in this group of players is free-agent signee Ken Hamlin.  Hamlin will win the free safety job and free up Roy Williams to move into the box and make plays.  Hamlin is a ball-hawk and will patrol center-field in the secondary.  His addition, along with an improved pass rush, will take pressure off of the secondary.  Also returning are a group of veteran cornerbacks, who have been intact for several years now.  Terence Newman is an all-pro, and one of the premier corners in this league.  Solid play by Anthony Henry will be key for the secondary this year.  Do not forget about Aaron Glenn, a reliable veteran who will man the nickel corner spot again this season.