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Cowboys Scouting Report
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

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Jan 10, 2008

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants will meet one of their fiercest rivals for the first time in the postseason Sunday when they face the Dallas Cowboys in Texas Stadium in an NFC Divisional Playoff game. Last week, the Giants (11-6) defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-14, in a Wild Card game to advance to the divisional round. Dallas, the top-seeded team in the NFC, had a bye. The Cowboys finished the regular season at 13-3. The Cowboys won both meetings this season, 45-35 on opening night in Dallas and 31-20 on Nov. 11 in Giants Stadium. Dallas leads the regular season series, 54-35-2, including 24-11 in Texas Stadium.

Offense

The Cowboys, whose first-year offensive coordinator is former Giants backup quarterback Jason Garrett, ranked third in the NFL in yards (365.7) and second in points (28.4) per game in the regular season. Dallas averaged 6.0 yards per play, the third-best figure in the league. The Cowboys were 17th in the NFL in rushing yards (109.1 a game) and fourth in passing (256.6). Seven Dallas offensive players were voted to the NFC Pro Bowl team, including five starters: wide receiver Terrell Owens, tight end Jason Witten and three members of the offensive line - left tackle Flozell Adams, guard Leonard Davis and center Andre Gurode. The reserves are quarterback Tony Romo and running back Marion Barber.

Romo was first in the NFC and fifth in the NFL with a passer rating of 97.4. His 36 touchdown passes set a Dallas franchise record and left him behind only league MVP Tom Brady, who threw for 50 scores. Romo is very dangerous on the move to his right or left, he can make all the throws and he has proven his mettle under pressure. Veteran Brad Johnson is Romo's backup.

The Cowboys have an unusual and productive setup at running back. The starter is speedy and elusive Julius Jones, who rushed for 588 yards this season. But it was his backup, Barber, who ran for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns and was voted to the Pro Bowl. Pound-for-pound, Barber is one of the toughest players to tackle in the NFL. He seldom goes backward and he has a nose for the goal line - and good speed. Fullback Oliver Hoyte is a tough blocker.

Terrell Owens missed the season finale against Washington with a high ankle sprain, but when healthy, few if any receivers are better. This season, he set a Dallas club record with 15 touchdown receptions while also leading the team with 1,355 yards. He had 81 catches, including nine for 212 yards and four scores against the Giants. Patrick Crayton has developed into a solid and productive No. 2 wideout. He had 50 catches for 697 yards and seven scores this season. A quarterback at Northwestern Oklahoma State, Crayton is a dependable receiver on intermediate and deep routes. Sam Hurd's lone touchdown was a 51-yarder in the opener against the Giants. Miles Austin could also be a factor at wide receiver. The wild card in the receiving corps is 12-year veteran Terry Glenn, who was inactive for the first 15 weeks of the season while rehabbing a knee injury. He made a brief appearance against the Redskins but did not catch a pass. If he's healthy, Glenn adds speed and the experience that comes from 593 catches and 44 touchdowns in his career.

Dallas has a good group of tight ends led by Witten, a four-time Pro Bowler who is one of the NFL's premier players at the position. His 96 catches placed him third in the NFC and first among tight ends. Witten is a complete player who can run, catch and block. He had 12 receptions of more than 20 yards, primarily because he is so good after catching the ball. Witten is a big-play threat on any down. Anthony Fasano is a solid backup who lacks only great speed. He is a sturdy blocker who caught 14 passes this season. Tony Curtis, who plays in Dallas' three-tight end formations, has developed into an outstanding blocker. Curtis caught three passes in 2007 - all for touchdowns.

The same five offensive linemen started every game for the Cowboys this season except for Gurode's absence in the last two because of a knee injury. He is expected to play against the Giants. Gurode is one of the NFL's best centers, a rare combination of size, strength and athletic ability. His backup, Cory Proctor, has the tools to be an outstanding player. Adams is a dominant left tackle, a player with rare athletic ability for his size (6-7, 340). Kyle Kosier, the guard next to him, is exceptionally strong and pulls very well. On the right side, Davis is a powerful athlete who keeps getting better and better. Tackle Marc Columbo is a tough player with good quickness and strength.

Defense

Dallas' 3-4 defense ranked ninth in the NFL, allowing 307.6 yards a game. The Cowboys were sixth against the run (94.6) and 13th vs. the pass (213.1). Dallas was 13th in points allowed (20.3).

The Cowboys put as much pressure on quarterbacks from their ends and outside linebackers as any team in the league. Weakside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is explosive and relentless and his 14.0 sacks placed him second in the NFC, just ahead of the Giants' Osi Umenyiora. According to the Cowboys, Ware had 27 quarterback pressures, 12 more than anyone else on the team. The defense came apart in 2006 when strongside linebacker Greg Ellis went down with an Achilles tendon tear. Ellis missed the first three games this season but has steadily improved since his return. A pro's pro, Ellis is intelligent and driven. Despite his early absence, he finished with a career-high 12.5 sacks. Up front, right end Chris Canty is a mountain of a main who is 6-7 and 299 pounds. Left end Marcus Spears is a good two-down run player who comes out in the sub defenses. Former college tight end Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen also see time at end.

Third-year pro Jay Ratliff is an undersized but gutty nose tackle who makes plays with his athleticism and quickness. Tank Johnson, who played in last year's Super Bowl with Chicago, is another interior presence. Inside linebacker Bradie James is strong, tough and fast and the Cowboys' tackles leader with 130 (80 solo). He is an exceptional blitzer. The other inside backer is Akin Ayodele, a solid, smart and steady player who is particularly good at stopping the run. Kevin Burnett, who plays in all of the sub packages, is very good in pass coverage. He could start for many teams. Anthony Spencer started the first six games in Ellis' absence and has since been a capable reserve.

Three members of the Cowboys' secondary are going to the Pro Bowl: cornerback Terence Newman and safeties Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams. And it was the fourth starter, Anthony Henry, who led the team with six interceptions. Hamlin was named a starter after the tragic death of Washington safety Sean Taylor, while Williams was added to the NFC roster to take Taylor's place. The foursome of Newman, Henry, Hamlin and Williams started only four games together all season, all in the final month.

Newman has battled foot problems all season. When healthy, he has terrific straight line speed and coverage skills. He intercepted four passes this year. Henry was playing at a Pro Bowl level before missing three games with an ankle sprain. Hamlin is a very smart player who gets everyone in the secondary lined up correctly. He has three interceptions against the Giants in the last two seasons - two with Seattle in 2006 and one on Nov. 11. Williams is an excellent run-stopping safety who prefers to play close to the line of scrimmage. He still delivers helmet-rattling hits. Jacques Reeves, who started 13 games this season for Newman or Henry, is the nickel back. Nathan Jones contributes in the nickel and dime packages.

Special Teams

Dallas might have the NFL's best kicking tandem in rookie Pro Bowler Nick Folk and punter Mat McBriar - the NFC Pro Bowl punter in 2006. Folk hit 26 of 31 field goal attempts and was second in the NFC and fourth among NFL kickers with 131 points. He also made pressure kicks when called upon, including the game-winning 53-yarder as time expired in Buffalo. McBriar was fourth in the league with a 47.1-yard gross average and seventh with a 38.5-yard net average. He had 24 punts of 50 yards or more and four of more than 60 yards. McBriar is also a good directional punter. Crayton was fifth in the NFC with a 9.1-yard punt return average and Austin was third in the conference with a 25.5-yard kickoff return average.