The Cowboys have three RBs that could start in the NFL.  Felix Jones is the speedster, Marion Barber is the power back and Tashard Choice is the best combo of both.  23-year old Felix Jones appears to have the edge for the featured role in the offense.  He played in 14 games (1 start) for the Cowboys last season and he carried the ball 116 times for 685 yards (5.9 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  Jones also caught 19 passes for 119 yards (6.3 avg) and he returned 30 kickoffs for 678 yards (22.6 avg) last season.  Jones is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the football.  Jones has now played in 20 games (1 start) in his two years with the Cowboys in which he has carried the ball 146 times for 951 yards (6.5 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  Jones has also caught 21 passes for 129 yards (6.1 avg) and he has returned 46 kickoffs for 1,112 yards (24.2 avg) with 1 TD return in his career with the Cowboys.  Felix Jones is owner Jerry Jones favorite as they both attended Arkansas University which likely gives him a leg up on the competition.

27-year old Marion Barber reminds me of a bowling ball knocking down pins when he runs.  He would rather run over someone than cut to the open field as he thrives on contact.  Barber played in 15 games (all starts) for the Cowboys last season and he carried the ball 214 times for 932 yards (4.4 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 26 passes for 221 yards (8.5 avg) last season for the Cowboys.  Barber has now played in 75 games (31 starts) in his five years with the Cowboys and he has carried the ball 929 times for 3,984 yards (4.3 ypc) with 43 TD runs.  He also has caught 163 passes for 1,231 yards (7.6 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his time in Dallas.  Rumors had the Cowboys shopping Barber during the NFL Draft in April but they will benefit from not finding any takers.

25-year old Tashard Choice will likely again be the #3 RB for the Cowboys.  He played in all 16 games (0 starts) for the Cowboys last season and he carried the ball 64 times for 349 yards (5.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  Choice also caught 15 passes for 132 yards (8.8 avg) last season for the Cowboys.  Choice has now played in 32 games (3 starts) in his two seasons with the Cowboys and he has carried the ball 156 times for 821 yards (5.3 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He has also caught 36 passes for 317 yards (8.8 avg) with the Cowboys.  Choice could start on a lot of teams but he will likely be #3 in line for the Cowboys again in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS RBs in 2010:  A

The Cowboys are in good shape at QB for the 2010 season.  30-year old Tony Romo is going to try to get his team into the Super Bowl this year which will be played in Dallas.  He will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders so it will be interesting to see how he responds.  Romo played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he completed 347 of 550 passes (63.1%) for 4,483 yards with 26 TD passes and only 9 INTs (97.6 QB Rating).  Romo also carried the ball 35 times for 105 yards (3.0 ypc) with 1 TD run last year.  Romo has now played in 83 games in his career with the Cowboys and he has completed 1,178 of 1,857 passes (63.4%) for 15,045 yards with 107 TD passes against only 55 INTs (95.6 QB Rating).  Romo has also carried the ball 130 times for 375 yards (2.9 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his career.  Romo has a good enough arm and he’s good at buying time with his legs so he’s about as complete a passer that you’re going to find in the NFL.  He has a 38-17 (69.1%) record during the regular season as a starting QB which is outstanding.

37-year old Jon Kitna will back up Romo again in 2010.  He was not needed by the Cowboys last year and he last played in a real game in 2008 with the Lions.  Kitna has played in 128 games in his NFL career and he has completed 2,462 of 4,114 passes (59.8%) for 27,293 yards with 152 TD passes and 151 INTs (76.6 QB Rating).  Kitna also has carried the ball 279 times for 811 yards (2.9 ypc) with 10 TD carries in his NFL career.  Kitna is a swashbuckler often getting into trouble when he either forces the ball into coverage or fumbles because of his really small hands.  Kitna has a record of 46-69 (40%) in games  that he has started at QB in his NFL career.

24-year old Stephen McGee will enter his second year in the NFL as the Cowboys’ #3 QB.  He is a good runner but will need to refine his throwing before getting onto the field.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COWBOYS QBs in 2010:  A-

When Tony Romo went down to injury last season so did the Cowboys’ season.  To make sure that didn’t happen again the Cowboys traded for veteran Jon Kitna and drafted Stephen McGee for the future.  Still, the Cowboys need Romo to stay healthy and to play better in the second half of the season.  Romo is shifty enough to ellude defenders and he has enough arm to make any throw required by a good NFL QB.  Without T.O. around Romo will have to make sure he spreads the ball around more keeping all of the WRs and TEs involved in the offense.  Jon Kitna has had some good seasons in his NFL career but it’s getting close to the end for him.  Having small hands has hurt him in the past fumble-wise.  Still, Kitna can play well in short periods of time but the Cowboys would be in some trouble if they had to depend on him for a long haul.  Stephen McGee is a solid prospect out of Texas A&M.  He should be a good developmental QB for the future and his strength is his running as he is a tough guy.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  B+

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-

The Dallas Cowboys will be serving youth at fullback this season and that’s a good thing.  Second year man Deon Anderson is the likely starter at fullback this season for the Cowboys.  He is 5’10″, 241 pounds and he hits linebackers hard in the running game which is his best skill.  He also is a decent receiver out of the backfield who has nice speed.  Anderson played in 8 games (4 starts) last season for the Cowboys and he caught 6 passes for 55 yards (9.2 avg).  Expect Anderson to have a bigger role in the offense of the Cowboys’ this season if he can just stay healthy.

6’0″, 237 pound Ronnie Cruz was brought in as a free agent to compete with Anderson at fullback.  He played in 5 games (3 starts) for the Chiefs last season and he carried the ball 5 times for 19 yards (3.8 ypc).  He also caught 2 passes for 20 yards (10.0 avg) last year.  Cruz will likely help out on special teams too this season so that he can get on the football field a lot.  Cruz has now played in 19 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 5 times for 19 yards (3.8 ypc).  He has also caught 3 passes for 35 yards (11.7 avg) in his NFL career to this point.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C+

The Cowboys waved goodbye to Julius Jones in the off season as he bolted to Seattle as a free agent.  But, the Cowboys brought in two rookie running backs who will make everyone forget that Jones even played in Dallas.  The rookies will share the load with battering ram Marion Barber.  Barber is one of the strongest running backs in the NFL as he often pushes defenders backwards when he’s not just running over them.  Barber also has good hands in the passing game.  Barber played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Cowboys last season and he carried the ball 204 times for 975 yards (4.8 ypc) with 10 TD runs.  He also caught 44 passes for 282 yards (6.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Barber will likely carry the ball a little more than half of the time for the Cowboys in 2008.  Barber has now played in 45 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 477 times for 2,167 yards (4.5 ypc) with 29 TD runs.  He has also caught 85 passes for 593 yards (7.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.

Felix Jones will likely be the lightning half of the Cowboys’ running game.  He played in 27 games (9 starts) in his last two years at Arkansas and he averaged 1,165 yards rushing, 8.1 yards per carry and 8.5 rushing TDs per season.  Jones is the perfect complement to Barber’s power as he is one of the fastest runners in the NFL.  He should put up some really good numbers as a rookie this season for the Cowboys.

Fellow rookie Tashard Choice is a better runner between the tackles than Jones but he has nowhere near that kind of speed.  Choice was very effective in his last two years at Georgia Tech as he averaged 1,426 yards rushing, 5.1 yards per carry and 11 TD runs.  Look for Choice to gets scrap carries behind Barber and Jones unless one of them is injured.  Then he would likely handle half of the load.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

Tony Romo really broke out last season proving that his performance in 2006 was not a fluke.  He doesn’t have the strongest arm but he gets the ball where it needs to be.  He also is only of the more mobile QBs in the league and it helps him buy time in the pocket.  He does sometimes have brain freeze similar to Brett Favre but he generally doesn’t make those plays at bad times of the game.  Romo started all 16 games for the Cowboys last season and he completed 335 of 520 passes (64.4%) for 4,211 yards with 36 TD passes and 19 interceptions (97.4 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 31 times for 129 yards (4.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  The only knock on Romo so far in his career is that he hasn’t stepped up in the playoffs but it’s early enough in his career to reverse that trend.  Romo has now played in 54 games (26 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 555 of 857 passes (64.8%) for 7,114 yards with 55 TD passes and 32 interceptions (83.1 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 67 times for 229 yards (3.4 ypc) with 2 TD runs.

If anything happens to Tony Romo the Cowboys would be in deep trouble as Brad Johnson’s arm appears to be shot.  If he were starting the Cowboys would have to take a few plays out of the playbook.  He also isn’t very mobile anymore.  Johnson played in all 16 games (0 starts) last season for the Cowboys and he completed 7 of 11 passes (63.6%) for 79 yards without a TD pass or an interception (85.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 5 times for -5 yards (-1.0 ypc) but most of those were kneel downs in Cowboys wins.  Johnson’s main job is holding the ball on field goal and extra point attempts and the Cowboys hope that’s all he has to do this year.  Johnson has now played in 161 games (122 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 2,627 of 4,248 passes (61.8%) for 28,627 yards with 164 TD passes and 117 interceptions (83.1 QB Rating.  He also has carried the ball 274 times for 658 yards (2.4 ypc) with 8 TD runs.

Richard Bartel will be the #3 QB of the Cowboys but he doesn’t have much upside.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-