Greg Ellis makes the Cowboys' defense better when he's on the field, which was pretty easy to see in the Cowboys' win over St. Louis on Sunday.
For Dallas to become an elite defense that can contain offenses like those of New England and Indianapolis, the Cowboys need Ellis to play at a high level because he makes everyone else better. He forces teams to pick whether to help on his side or DeMarcus' Ware's side because each is capable of beating one-on-one blocking.
He makes Jacques Reeves and the rest of the secondary better because he improves the pass rush. And he'll eventually make the run defense better as his health improves and he gains more stamina. At 265 pounds, he can hold the point of attack against the run.
More important, the rest of the players on defense have confidence that he will make a big play at winning time because they've seen him do it on numerous occasions.
He had 1 ½ sacks in his first game this season as he continues to recover from a ruptured Achilles' tendon suffered last November. The Cowboys hope he will continue improving physically and peak right around the start of the playoffs. They're going to need him to be a difference-maker by the end of the season.
So much of winning in the NFL is mental that teams need every edge they can get. Ellis gives the Cowboys an edge.
Q. I know this is crazy worry and paranoia, but will Jason Garrett jump next year and be somebody's head coach? Does Jerry Jones have contractual authority to deny him to move up? I was hoping he would succeed Wade Wilson, who I also don't want to leave soon.
Janice Johnson, Bowie, Md.
TAYLOR: I understand your worry, but you should think about Garrett and his personal goals more than the Cowboys' long-term success. Every assistant coach dreams of being a head coach, I'm sure Garrett is no different. But it's important that if he leaves, he goes to a stable organization that gives him a chance to be successful. He's a smart guy, so he knows all of this. Jones doesn't have contractual authority to deny him an opportunity to be a head coach, nor should he. Jones will probably gave him a significant raise in the off-season, but if the right job comes along, Garrett should take it.
• • • Q. What made Tony Romo an undrafted rookie?
Sergio Seixas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
TAYLOR: A lot of factors probably contributed to Romo's not being drafted. He's only 6-2. Most teams want a quarterback who's at least 6-4 because it helps them see over the offensive and defensive lines and reduces the odds that their passes will be knocked down at the line of scrimmage. He also played at a Division 1-AA school, so there were some questions about the competitive level. He's answered all of those questions and done a great job of working hard and improving each year.
• • • Q. Should the Cowboys try to sign another receiver since Terry Glenn might not play this year? It seems to me that we need another go-to receiver other than Terrell Owens and Jason Witten. I'm just not sure we can count on Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd to fill the gap. What do you think?
James Dickens
TAYLOR: It seems to me that Crayton and Hurd have done a pretty good job of filling for Terry Glenn, who surpassed the 1,000-yard mark each of the last two years. Neither is in Glenn's class, but they have enough ability to make his loss a little less painful. Crayton had been effective this season before Sunday, when he caught seven passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Hurd has taken advantage of his few opportunities, as well. I can't see signing another receiver except as an insurance policy.
• • • Q. I think it's ironic that the defense spent all of training camp talking about how much better off it would be without Bill Parcells, but it appears to be the offense that has really benefited. Do Romo and the receivers feel that they were shackled in the previous offense, or that the scheme was bad?
Dorian Jung
TAYLOR: That's a good question. The Cowboys finished fourth in the NFL in points scored last season, so it wasn't as if they didn't have offense last year. The difference, I think, is that Jason Garrett is a lot more aggressive than Bill Parcells allowed Tony Sparano to be as a play-caller. Just look at the way the Cowboys approached the playoff game with Seattle last year. Although injuries had crippled the Seahawks' secondary, Parcells opted not to attack their weakness. The Cowboys still should've won, but had they been more aggressive, the game probably would've never come down to a field goal at the end.
• • • Q. My question is regarding the salary cap and the signing of Tony Romo. I know the Cowboys want to get him signed up. I also know that the Cowboys are also about $13 million under the cap. Can the Cowboys sign Romo to a new contract that will pay him about $10 million for the rest of this year and allow relief in seasons to come?
Daniel Winkelman, St. Louis
TAYLOR: The Cowboys have plenty of room under the cap to accommodate Romo's new contract whenever it gets done. It will not be a problem this year or any other year in the near future.
• • • Q. We saw Jerry Jones lock up Roy Williams, Bradie James and Jason Witten before they became free agents. Which current players, other than the obvious in Tony Romo, do you feel Jones should sign to long-term extensions?
Marco Terrazzano
TAYLOR: That's another good question. I would say Patrick Crayton, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, should get a good deal as a quality role player. As I like to say, every good team has tough, versatile players like Crayton on it. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff is another guy who will need to get paid when the time is right. The jury is still out on Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. Terence Newman will get paid, when the time is right, but it's going to be a tough negotiation because he'll be 30 and his body is already showing some signs of breaking down.
• • • Q. Why was the torn biceps a season-ending injury for Jason Ferguson? I remember Ken Norton Jr. played at least a portion of the season with a torn biceps in the early '90s. Was Ferguson's tear more severe, or is it just more important for a nose tackle to have full use of his arms than a middle linebacker?
Jeff Whelchel, Amarillo
TAYLOR: You use your arms a lot more as a defensive tackle than as a linebacker in addition to having to put your hands on the ground for every play. It was also a severe tear that required surgery to repair. Remember, every injury is unique, just as everyone's ability to heal is unique. That's why it's hard to compare injuries and recovery rates.
• • • Q. It struck me with the loss of Ferguson that Dallas seems to give up on players who can help. There are others like Skyler Green, who's returning punts and a backup receiver for the Bengals. Here are others we let get away: Scott Fujita, Michael Myers and Ebenezer Ekuban.
Why is this?
Chris Kline, Ashe County, N.C.
TAYLOR: Chris, in this era of free agency, you can't keep everybody. More important, none of those guys you mentioned is or has ever been a difference-maker. They were replaceable then and they're replaceable now.
• • • Q. Is Kosier one of the more under-rated offensive linemen on this team? Week in and week out, he just does his job. Never gets penalties. I think he was definitely a good pick-up for us. Your thoughts?
Mark Canello, Windsor Locks, Conn.
TAYLOR: Kosier is a good, solid player. Everyone on the team can't be a star. You need some guys like Kosier, Crayton, Akin Ayodele, Bradie James and Anthony Henry who show up every Sunday, do what they're supposed to do and go home while the stars like Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Terrell Owens and DeMarcus Ware get all of the accolades.
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