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Does Jerry Jones have teeth on his spine?

The other day Jerry Jones said that he was thinking of the surgery that Tony Romo had to remove a cyst on his back as if it was a toothache. No, I am not joking. The man said this, read here.

I’m hearing Tony Romo’s cyst was close enough to his spine for the Cowboys to be extremely cautious with his recovery. Not quite a toothache

— Matt Mosley (@mattmosley) May 24, 2013

So I ask this question. Does Jerry Jones have teeth on his spine?

Does Jim Miller think the Cowboys have a QB who can win the Super Bowl?

On Sirius NFL radio today they went over all of the NFL teams quarterback situations…

So he thinks the Rams and Cardinals have a QB who can win a Super Bowl? Bradford and Palmer get a yes, but Romo gets a ‘Solid’. Nah. I don’t give Romo a yes, but I definitely don’t give them a yes.

ESPN 1250AM: Terrance Williams talks about learning NFL game during OTA’s

Going to be exciting to see Terrance Williams getting a lot of time in the preseason games this summer…

Rookie WR’s always have a ton to learn at this level and most if it’s hand placement as they fight to get off the line of scrimmage. In college you don’t find a ton of press coverage. Just hope this kid is ready for some action if one of the veterans goes down this season.

Why is Brian Urlacher talking about the Cowboys?

We all know the injury history of Sean Lee. And we all know Brian Urlacher is retiring. But what if Sean Lee cannot stay healthy and Urlacher is still out there during the season? Read here.

Although the Bears seemed to leave open the possibility of an Urlacher return months after sending out a parting news release, such a scenario never materialized. Some speculated Urlacher would end up with the rival Vikings based on that team’s need for a middle linebacker. Only one team outside of the Bears truly intrigued Urlacher.

“If I could have picked a spot, it would have been Dallas,” Urlacher said. “(The Cowboys) run our defense. They took our d-coordinator (Rod Marinelli). That would have been ideal. But they have two really good young linebackers.”

You have to check out all the scenarios. Stay healthy Sean Lee!!!

Sporting News: Cowboys will ride new 43 Defense into playoffs

We go to Vinny Iyer of the Sporting News for his look at the Cowboys new 43 Defense, read here.

The biggest issue for the Cowboys has been pass defense. The yardage numbers will tell you they have improved from No. 26 in 2010 to No. 23 in 2011 to No. 19 last season. But under Ryan’s aggressive mode, two things stood out: They gave up a lot of big pass plays without making enough of them.

They were burned before and after the catch, and when the Cowboys blitzed, opponents had a 101.5 passer rating last season. Dallas countered with seven interceptions, which tied for the league low, and an uncharacteristically low 34 sacks, in 2012.

The base concept of Kiffin’s defense is zone, but it includes well-timed wrinkles with blitzing up front combined with some man coverage on the back end. With what Kiffin inherits on the outside and inside, the good news is that Dallas will maximize the fundamentals and raise the playmaking quotient.

Of all the teams switching fronts, no team is better and more established on the edge with its pair of outside linebackers-turned-ends.

“You would expect that DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer will handle the move to end well,” says former Cowboys offensive lineman Brian Baldinger, an analyst for NFL Netwrok.

Given that Ware (6-4, 254) can do just about everything, that Spencer (6-3, 250) is a late-blooming 2012 Pro Bowler who has evolved into a complete player on the other side, and that neither will have coverage responsibilities like in the past, they are set up to surge as pass rushers.

Ware and Spencer, who combined for 22 1/2 sacks in 2012, will put Kiffin in a position where he’ll often be comfortable rushing just four and dropping back seven. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff also has a history of pass-rush production to complement that cause well.

One AFC scout thinks there’s another reason the Cowboys will thrive with their new look: The delayed returns they will receive on the cornerbacks they added in ’12—veteran Brandon Carr and first-round pick Morris Claiborne.

Carr has the good size (6-0, 210) needed to excel in Kiffin’s coverage scheme and is well versed in the Tampa 2 after playing his rookie season under Herman Edwards in Kansas City. His strength in run support is another key factor.

The Cowboys drafted Claiborne sixth overall because of his potential to make big plays on the ball. At a solid 5-11, 188 pounds, he is versatile enough to interchange between zone and man. Claiborne is ready to make an impact in Year 2.

The pass-rush combo of Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware is a great fit in Monte Kiffin’s 4-3 defense. (AP Photo)
Kiffin’s scheme also requires a rangy, fly-to-the-ball middle linebacker, and Sean Lee offers just that. Two years ago, as an inside linebacker in Ryan’s 3-4, he broke out with 104 tackles and was exceptional in coverage (four interceptions). He was on the verge of a monster 2012 before suffering a season-ending toe injury in the Cowboys’ sixth game.

Justin Durant is one of Lee’s new teammates, slated to start on the outside next to him. In just a short time with the team, Durant has seen just how driven Lee is to be the best.

“He’s pretty intense, one of the most intense guys I’ve played with,” Durant said. “He wants to know everything when he’s out there.”

Durant is coming off a good two-season stint in the Detroit Lions’ version of the Tampa 2. After respecting Kiffin from afar, he’s now seeing firsthand how the 73-year-old relates so well to much younger players and puts them in the right position to succeed—much like Phillips did.

“We were in a bit of different situation when I came to the Lions in ’11 and we went to the playoffs, but there’s some of that same feeling with this team,” Durant said.

With Romo and his many weapons in the passing game, the Cowboys already fit the profile of an NFC playoff team. But they needed to clean up their pass defense mess to balance that out, and that’s exactly what will happen in 2013.

The Bears Defense under Marinelli helped them get to a +20 turnover ratio on the season. They finished 10-6 and barely missed the playoffs. The offense led by Jay Cutler just did not get it done down the stretch.

If Kiffin and his crew can create turnovers then it’s up to Romo to take this team to the playoffs.

Ware: Signatures of NFL’s Best Sack Artists in 2013

Jerry Jones: Not concerned about Romo, Says Garrett is ‘the premiere’ asset for Cowboys

Rappaport says Romo may not be back until Training Camp

Broaddus: First thoughts on the Cowboys OTA’s

Bryan Broaddus checks in with his thoughts on the OTA’s from today, read here.

Of Free and Parnell, it appeared by my view that Free had a slightly better of the day overall but both players seemed to struggled at times against Anthony Spencer and his quickness. It’s clear that Parnell is stronger than Free and was better at sitting down on his man. Free did a better job of working his man wide and to the outside. As this possess moves on both players are going to get plenty of chances to win this job.

Frederick was much better in this practice handling the twist stunts in the blitz period than he was at the rookie mini-camp. Where Frederick had his struggles was sitting down on rushers like that used power against him. He also took a nice shot to the head when he went up onto the second level and ran head first into Sean Lee who stopped him in his tracks. What Frederick is going to have to learn against these veteran players is how to finish blocks.

I liked what I saw from Matt Johnson today for a couple of different reasons. His best trait and I remember this from his college film is his burst. There was one time where he was down in the box and they brought him off the edge on a blitz and he was on the ball in a hurry. He has a real feel for this. His pedal looked smooth and relaxed when he was playing deep. The main thing is that he looks ready to compete and I see that as a real plus.

Going to give you a name of a player that only his mother and father know that he is on the team but he caught my eye today. Defensive end Cameron Sheffield is not a household name but for one practice he played like we should all learn it. Sheffield played with really nice quickness and was difficult to block when on the move. His best move of the day was using a quick swim move to free himself on the rush, then another time knifed hard down inside getting in the backfield for a tackle for loss. In a scheme where quickness and getting up the field is key, Cameron Sheffield did his part to make the coaches stand up and take notice of him.

Seems that Freddy is the starting Center right now and will be given every opportunity to be that starter when September rolls around. Good. And now let’s hope he’s a good young player.

DCFanatic Radio – Live at 6pm Est – Romo will miss next three weeks?

We go live to talk about the Cowboys first OTA with the entire team today and about the big news that Tony Romo had a cyst removed from his back which means he will miss next three weeks…

Listen to internet radio with DCFanatic Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Hearing great things about Sean Lee, Barry Church and Bruce Carter. All look ready to go.

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