Wade Phillips has always been a decent head coach in the regular season but he never wins in the playoffs and that’s a fact.  Phillips led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record during the regular season but then they got popped in their first playoff game 21-17 at home to the Giants.  Jerry Jones won’t tolerate losing at hom in the playoffs very long before he changes gears as his goal is always to win the Super Bowl.  Phillips has now been a head coach in the NFL for 8 years in which he has compiled a 61-42 record (59.2%) during the regular season.  He also though has a 0-4 record in the post season as he routinely gets outcoached in the playoffs.  There is no excuse for the Cowboys to not win a playoff game or two this season.

The Cowboys wanted to get a good look at some younger players against the Chargers and that’s why they got beat.  Tony Romo’s appearance was very brief Saturday Night as he completed 3 of 3 passes for 33 yards.  Brad Johnson followed Romo and he completed 8 of 15 passes for 89 yards with a interception.  Richard Bartel finished up the game completing 7 of 15 passes for 64 yards.  Rookie RB Tashard Choice was the leading rusher for the Cowboys in this game with 40 yards rushing on 7 carries (5.7 ypc) including a 19-yard TD scamper.  Felix Jones also had a solid game with 32 yards rushing on 6 carries (5.3 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 29 yards (14.5 avg).  Marion Barber battered the Chargers for 24 yards on 4 carries (6.0 ypc).  Fullback Deon Anderson only carried the ball 1 time but it was good for a 2-yard TD.  Miles Austin led Cowboys’ receivers with 5 catches for 64 yards (12.8 avg).  TE Tony Curtis pitched in with 3 catches for 23 yards (7.7 avg).  The Cowboys finished up with 111 yards rushing on 22 carries (5.0 ypc).  They also completed 18 of 33 passes for 174 yards.

Linebacker Bobby Carpenter led the Cowboys’ defense with 9 tackles on Saturday Night.  The Chargers finished up with 116 yards rushing on 36 carries (3.2 ypc).  They also completed 12 of 17 passes for only 97 yards.  The Cowboys didn’t play bad on defense as the Chargers were often benefitting from short fields on offense.

23-year old Nick Folk is looking for an encore season in 2008 after a very strong rookie season.  Folk played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he connected on 26 of 31 field goals (83.9%).  Folk also nailed all 53 of his extra point attempts last season.  The sky is the limit for Folk who has a strong enough leg to help the Cowboys score a lot of points without having to get in the end zone.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+

The Cowboys love throwing the football to the TE.  26-year old Jason Witten is one of the best TEs in the NFL.  He’s a big target (6′5″, 265 pounds) and he has great hands.  Witten doesn’t go down without a fight either often putting a shoulder down.  Witten played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 96 passes for 1,145 yards (11.9 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Look for Witten to put up outstanding numbers again in 2008 for the Cowboys.  Witten has now played in 79 games in his NFL career and he has caught 348 passes for 3,983 yards (11.4 avg) with 21 TD grabs. 

Tony Curtis appears to be the #2 TE heading into training camp but he will have to fight off rookie Martellus Bennett for the job and that won’t be an easy chore.  Curtis is a good run blocker and he was very effective in catching balls near the goal line.  Curtis played in 16 games last season for the Cowboys and he caught 3 passes for 18 yards (6.0 ypc) and every pass he caught was a TD.

Rookie Martellus Bennett has a very nice upside as he is a very solid receiver.  Bennett played in 12 games (6 starts) at Texas A&M last season and he caught 46 passes for 538 yards (11.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Bennett is a big target at 6′7″, 253 pounds so you can be sure Tony Romo will be looking for him when the pocket starts to break down.  Bennett finished his career at Texas A&M playing in 36 games (24 starts) in which he caught 102 passes for 1,197 yards (11.7 avg) with 9 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton are set as the starting receivers for the Cowboys but they really need someone to step up behind them.  Sam Hurd, Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback will battle for catches behind T.O. and Crayton.  Terrell Owens is a physical freak at the age of 34 as he doesn’t appear to be losing a step.  He’s a big guy at 6′3″, 224 pounds but he still can get down the field and beat you deep.  Owens played in 15 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 81 passes for 1,355 yards (16.7 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards last year.  Owens is Tony Romo’s go-to man so he should have another huge season as long as he can stay healthy.  Owens has now played in 173 games in his NFL career and he has caught 882 passes for 13,070 yards (14.8 avg) with 129 TD grabs.  Owens has also carried the ball 26 times for 164 yards (6.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Sure, T.O. is a drama queen but he’s still a darn good football player and he will put up huge numbers in 2008 as long as he can stay healthy.

29-year old Patrick Crayton really stepped up in place of the injured Terry Glenn.  He was so good in fact that he took over as the starting receiver opposite T.O. for good.  Crayton is a playmaker despite operating in T.O. and Jason Witten’s large shadows in Big D.  Crayton played in 15 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 50 passes for 697 yards (13.9 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Look for Crayton to put up even bigger numbers in 2008 as he often benefits from single coverage.  Crayton has now played in 50 games in his NFL career and he has caught 120 passes for 1,716 yards (14.3 avg) with 14 TD grabs.

23-year old Sam Hurd has the edge for the #3 job heading into training camp.  It will be up to him to take the job and hold off the other receivers competing for it.  Hurd played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 19 passes for 314 yards (16.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Hurd could possibly double those numbers in 2008 as long as he wins the #3 WR job.  Hurd has now played in 31 games in his NFL career and he has caught 24 passes for 389 yards (16.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.

6′3″, 216 pound Miles Austin has been earning his money as a kick returner his first two years in Dallas but he has an opportunity to be much more than that this year.  Austin played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he caught 5 passes for 76 yards (15.2 avg).  Austin is a big, strong player so I wouldn’t be surprised if he earned a nice role with the Cowboys this season.  He has now played in 25 games in his NFL career and he has caught 5 passes for 76 yards (15.2 avg).

The Cowboys have been raving about converted QB Isaiah Stanback saying that he’s really improved in the off season.  We shall see as he didn’t do much as a rookie last season.  He played in 2 games and he didn’t catch any passes.  His lone contribution to the Cowboys last season was that he returned 3 kickoffs for 78 yards (26.0 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-