Tony Romo, QB, Eastern Illinois. 6'2" 225 LBS
Jordan: His mechanics are less-than-ideal. He has a form of "side-armed delivery" and looks a lot smaller on the field than his listed size. That said, the guy is a very good quarterback. He shows quick feet and excellent anticipation, negating much of the pass rush he faced. Unlike certain quarterbacks (Jeff Garcia being a primary example), his quick feet/mobility don't come at the expense of his ability to set his feet and run a smooth, efficient offense. While his set up and release are not the way you'd like them (he has a quick release, but his arm positioning is bothersome), he doesn't run into his own linemen or hurry the entire offense for no reason (like Garcia does). He doesn't imagine pressure that isn't there (like Garcia does)--he just does a great job of escaping the pressure that IS there. He has a strong arm and can throw with an incredible amount of zip; too much, in fact. He needs to learn how to throw with more touch. His deep balls tend to be line drives...very difficult to catch unless the player is wide open and they are perfectly on the money. The biggest things he needs to work on are throwing those deep balls with more loft, taking zip off certain throws when it's not needed, and figuring out how to exercise the right amount of caution. He has a lot of "gunslinger" in him (no surprise his hero is Brett Favre)...and last season, he was either too aggressive or too cautious far too much of the time. He needs to find the right balance...you don't want to take away the things that make him such a good player. It's certainly not a question about his dedication, though, as he's one of the hardest working players you'll find and won't have a problem doing the things people tell him he needs to do to succeed. The question is whether or not the right people are telling him what he needs to do.
Set Up-5-
Delivery-6
Read Coverages-6
Throw Short-6
Throw Intermediate-8-
Throw Deep-4+
Mobility-7
Leadership-6
Overall Rating: 6.5^
ROOKIE
Julius Jones, RB, Notre Dame 40 time: 4.35

Jordan: He did seem robotic playing under Parcells last year (2006-07). I believe he's more than capable of breaking tackles, but he showed little of that last season. It wasn't until the playoff game against the Seahawks that he started to show fire (and, truth be told, he was one of the few Cowboys who actually did show any at all). The thing I like about him is that he has very good playing speed. When he's in the open field, he's extremely dangerous. He's a fluid up-field runner with no wasted motion. He accelerates extremely well. He's a very smooth back in general. That said, he tended to hesitate behind the line when he ran the ball last year. Luckily, with the likes of Andre Gurode clearing open large running lanes, he was still able to have some success last season...but he'd be more effective if he were able to be a little more explosive immediately off the hand-off. His running vision was suspect--I don't know if he was overthinking everything because of Parcells or whether he just isn't very good at it, but I suspect it has more to do with the former. He would oftentimes hit a large hole, only to run smack into the safety at the second level. I think the coaches drilled it into him that he had to always hit the hole like they wanted him to...and he sacrificed any big play mentality he might've had before that. Whether or not he can be reprogrammed, I don't know...but either way, he is extremely effective as a pass catcher (screen plays in particular) and should be used more in that regard.
Instincts-5+
Inside Running-6-
Outside Running-6
Hands/Receiving Skills-6
Block-5-
Overall Rating: 5.9^
Terrell Owens, WR, UT-Chattanooga 6�3� 226 LBS, 40 time: 4.19

Jordan: The report remains pretty much unchanged. While all of the cameras were on his every move and people started to pretend that "drops" were an official NFL statistic, dozing off during team meetings at 8 AM was uncommon, and that his "actions" are somehow worse than Michael Vick fighting pitbulls in the basement of his house, it was quite clear to me that his finger injury severely hampered his ability to catch the football. While he has always had problems with drops, it was magnified by a substantial margin last year. Usually, his problems with catching the football are concentrated in one or two games per season. Last year, after his finger injury, he was catching the football with his palms. I think it's crystal clear that his finger injury affected his game to a large extent. If he's able to catch the ball normally this year, he'll be back to normal. Athletically, he's as good as he ever was. He lives in the gym and has molded himself into probably the best athlete to ever play professional football. He's the fastest and most explosive player in NFL history (as well as the most elusive wide receiver). The explosion this man possesses from his hips down is incredible. He can run a sub-4.2 40, 9.02 100 (yards--check the Superstars competiton 100-yard race, which is in the picture above--record time), and leap 40+ inches, plus he has moves that you won't even see on those little "nifty" elusive players. His moves appear to have moves of their own. He has the total package at his disposal as far as making you miss. He breaks ankles by juking people out of their cleats, he makes you look foolish with his spin move, he can stop and start and let you go flying by, he can hurdle you...there has never been a receiver like this. He is the Barry Sanders/Gale Sayers of receivers; an all-time great running back with the ball in his hands. Throw in speed that has never been seen before in the game of football, and you have Terrell Owens. He has redefined the words "fast" and "elusive." He has ridiculous burst off the line of scrimmage and has corners stumbling over themselves trying to turn-and-run out of the box. Your best bet is to jam him and hope to knock him off his route, because there's no way you can run with him. The weak points in his game are that he tends to get frustrated when things aren't going his way and starts to fight the football, thus causing some crucial drops (but not usually as many as last season), as well as being a less than stellar blocker, though he does hustle. I suppose another possible knock is that he tends to look back for the ball too early on deep routes, thus negating some of his separation--he'll blow past you initially, but then he turns around and focuses so much on energy on catching the ball that, even if he does catch it, he will immediately be tackled. He's not particularly adept at running "through" the ball. He doesn't have any taste for contact whatsoever, but he'll get out there and screen with his ridiculous speed. The other big weakness is he sometimes struggles in traffic--he rarely catches the ball when he knows he's going to take a big hit, but he's excellent on the jump ball. He's just not very physical. Everyone always talks about his perceived upper body strength, but with the exception of three or four stiff-arms a season, that's a complete non-factor. Those stiff-arms only net him around 20-30 extra yards a season...out of 1200-1500 total receiving yards. He might also stick his arm out a few other times, but it's in self-defense mode--when he's heading out of bounds anyway. Of course, every television announcer makes sure you don't miss it, though. Everyone assumes that he's doing something physical every time his non-football-carrying arm is moving around. It's laughable. His entire game is based on speed and elusiveness. If he gets the ball in space, you might as well go back to the sidelines, because you're either gonna wind up with a broken ankle or dying from exhaustion trying to keep close enough to read the name on the back of his jersey. He's essentially Barry Sanders with a live rocket on his back.
Jordan
Hands-5+
Patterns-5+
Receive Short-7
Receive Deep-8
Catch In Traffic-6
Run After Catch-8
Block-4+
Overall Rating: 7.5
Terry Glenn, WR, Ohio St, 5�11� 195 LBS, 40 time: 4.42

Jordan: In a way, since he had two healthy hands, he may have been the best Cowboys receiver last year. He's extremely polished...quick and explosive in his routes (has both speed in his stem and in-and-out of his breaks), natural at attacking the football in the air...he's fundamentally sound. He still has very good top end speed and can blow past most corners with sharp double moves. The one concern you have about him is durability--he has had problems with his knees in recent years, and his injury-history suggests that he's liable to tweak things. But when he's on the field, he's an exceptional player. But don't get it twisted--he did drop some passes down the stretch for them...while everyone was blaming Owens.
Hands-6
Patterns-7+
Receive Short-6+
Receive Deep-7
Catch In Traffic-6
Run After Catch-5+
Block-5
Overall Rating: 6.8
Jason Witten, TE, Tennessee

Jordan: He's a fairly complete player. I don't see him as being a huge force in the running game, but when you need that seal on an end with an up-field charge when running outside, he'll get it for you. I (and most people for that matter) look mainly at receiving when evaluating a tight end (since I believe TE blocking to be, while very important in SOME schemes, generally of secondary concern). In that regard, the guy is a mismatch for almost all of the linebackers he faces. He's an excellent route runner (from a technical standpoint, the Parcells staff did a great job with him). He's big, fast, has pretty good hands, runs tough and hard after the catch...but he's not quite as tough in traffic as you'd like. He's just missing that extra dimension you look for at the position--that toughness/nastiness. You want your TE to have a Jeremy Shockey-kind of personality on the field...that fearlessness in heavy traffic and overall aggressive nature. You want them to have the Tony Gonzalez-like basketball vertical leap...that ability to get the football like a rebound...but also that mentality that they don't care what kind of hit they're going to take, they're coming down with it. In that regard, he's not there yet, and I'm not entirely sure he'll ever be that kind of guy. That said, while he may never move up to that elite class, he's still an effective weapon who adds a pivotal dimension to their passing attack. When Romo took over, the biggest thing it allowed them to do was send him out in pass patterns rather than keeping him back to block for The_Statue.
Hands-6-
Patterns-7-
Receive Short-6+
Receive Deep-6-
Catch In Traffic-6-
Run After Catch-7
Block-5+
Overall Rating: 6.7
Flozell Adams, OT, Michigan State

Jordan: The injuries seem to have taken something from him. I think last year's steady play was largely the result of him knowing the mental aspects of the position. Before he was an underachieving player...great potential but he didn't really understand the position. Now it's just the opposite. He's not as quick or athletic as he once was...and, since 90% of all power comes from the lower body, this has had a negative effect on his run blocking as well. I do think his time may be limited, however. He was above average as a pass blocker, but teams are always looking for that dominating left tackle, and he hasn't been that in two years.
Run Block In Line-6-
Run Block On Move-5
Pass Block-6
Ability to Adjust-6
Overall Rating: 6.2v
Larry Allen, G, Sonoma State, 6'3" 335 LBS

Jordan: Still the best in-line run blocking guard in the game. Huge, powerful, and has an incredibly powerful hand punch. Just blows DTs off the ball. When he's healthy, he's just devastating inside. But they always try to pull him, and he just can't do that. He's not very athletic, despite having played left tackle at a high level earlier in his career, and he just clogs up lanes when he gets his fat ass in the way. The guy's probably the best in-line run blocking guard in NFL history, and if he only has to pull in tight quarters, he's just as devastating, but he's not the kind of guy you want to get flashy with. Just run behind him with the game on the line and as your bread-and-butter play, and you're milking him for all he's worth. He's still a great asset because of that one trait alone--being the greatest in-line run blocking guard in NFL history. If there's a part of his game he has REALLY dropped off in, though, it's pass blocking. He looks thoroughly uninterested whenever it's a passing play at this point.
Run Block In Line-8
Run Block On Move-4+
Pass Block-4
Ability to Adjust-4-
Overall Rating: 6.9v
Kyle Kosier, OG, Arizona State, 6�4� 293 LBS, 40 time: 4.83

Jordan: He's a good pulling guard--quick feet, much more aggressive than he was in San Francisco, and he generally looks comfortable downfield. As an in-line run blocker, he has been and will always be less-than-stellar. He might not quite fit their new scheme, assuming they're going to more of a "power run" kind of look.
Run Block In Line-4
Run Block On Move-6+
Pass Block-5
Ability to Adjust-6+
Overall Rating: 5.9
Greg C: Positives: Very athletic offensive lineman with quick feet and a good blue-collar type of work-ethic. Is a natural right-tackle, but has the versatility and willingness to learn and play other positions on the offensive line as well. Very reliable pass-protector when playing at RT, can keep up with speed-rushing LDEs and prevent them from getting into the backfield. Hard-worker at the point of attack, using good leverage and driving with his lower-body until the whistle blows...but Kosier's strengths are certainly as a pass-protector.
Negatives: Kosier just isn't a very strong in-line blocker, and has trouble when working in a confined area. His greatest asset, his athleticism and feet, go largely un-utilized when he's playing Offensive Guard. He's still learning how to use his hands as a Guard,
and has been beaten off the snap on more than a few occasions because of this. Kosier has also been pushed around a bit (at Guard), because of his lack of strength as an in-line blocker. But with Kosier working hard this offseason to gain 10 LBS and getting more experience, don't be surprised if Kosier turns out to be a very solid all-around offensive lineman in 2004.
(As a Right-Tackle):
Run Block In Line - 6
Run Block On Move - 7
Pass Block - 7
Ability to Adjust � 7
Overall rating: 6.5^
(As a Guard):
Run Block In Line - 5
Run Block On Move - 6
Pass Block - 6
Ability to Adjust � 6
Overall rating: 6.0
Marco Rivera, G, Penn State, 6'4" 307 LBS

Jordan: When they got it going on the ground, he was in his element. He's a very good run blocker. Even at his old age, he still was very solid in that area. He was stronger than most of the guys who had 30-40 pounds on him and showed a general understanding of how to get movement. He was tenacious and played with leverage and excellent body positioning. But as a pass protector, he was their biggest weakness, by a landslide. He did a poor job picking up stunts, blitzes, and anything they threw at him...and he generally seemed to be blocking on his heels. Why I still have him on this page, I don't know--I guess to explain why they chose Leonard Davis to replace him.
Run Block In Line-6+
Run Block On Move-6-
Pass Block-4-
Ability to Adjust-4-
Overall Rating: 5.5v
Andre Gurode, G, Colorado

Jordan: I guess the reason it took a while for him to emerge was his lack of athletic ability. He's really not a guy you want in space or having to use his feet. You want him going straight ahead. He is an absolute beast (for lack of a better descriptive word) as an in-line run blocker. He is both aggressive and overpowering. When you combine a guy who is that big and strong with the attitude to go with it...and vast improvements in the technical aspects of the position, you're pretty much guaranteed a quality run blocking offensive lineman. I thought his pass protection was very solid as well (at least when he was able to lock on), as he seemed to handle anything thrown his way well, and the offensive line generally seemed to have the right calls to pick up blitzes (once Romo came on the field...before that, Bledsoe would hold the ball until the cows came home, making them look bad). He should be a perennial Pro Bowler. He has succeeded Jeremy Newberry as the best in-line run blocking center in football, and I believe he might now be even better than the former was at his best.
Run Block In Line-8
Run Block On Move-4+
Pass Block-6
Ability to Adjust-5
Overall Rating: 7.2
Leonard Davis, G, Texas

Jordan: I don't know that he's any better at guard, but he really wasn't half bad at left tackle from what I have seen. He's so overwhelmingly enormous, the defensive end lining up against him immediately knows he has to take a wide angle to the QB...MUCH wider than he'd prefer. You're not gonna find too many guys who can overpower him (if any at all)...if it weren't enough that the guy is pushing 400 pounds, it really makes it unlikely since he did 33 reps of 225 at the combine. Really, he doesn't have to do much. His quickness is fine considering how big he is...the end takes that ridiculously wide up-field charge, and he just kind of lets him overrun the QB, monitoring him as much as he deems necessary. As far as run blocking is concerned, though, he doesn't consistently get low enough to do the damage his size and strength let you know he's capable of. Obviously, it's much different playing left tackle than right guard, as he didn't really get as much emphasis in the running game playing left tackle...but he generally seemed too high when I watched him. He can come off the ball and annihilate a linebacker at the second level, but he tends to stop his feet. Why linemen do that, I have no idea...but if the guy's not interested in the game, there's nothing you can do about it. The Cowboys have to hope there's a button they can push with him...it's not about physical ability. He needs to WANT to be a devastating run blocker.
Run Block In Line-6-
Run Block On Move-6-
Pass Block-6
Ability to Adjust-6
Overall Rating: 6.0^
Marc Columbo, OT

Jordan: He's a warrior. He came back from the layoff and was robbed of a Pro Bowl selection. After the first few weeks, he basically went the rest of the season without giving up a sack. He not only plays with sound technique and carries himself as a "power" player, but he's secretly a good athlete. For some reason, people forget that he was a good looking young left tackle prior to his injury...he can slide his feet. He's an extremely attentive player who battles until the whistle. It didn't take long for him to become a "Parcells guy." He's not as powerful an in-line run blocker as some of the other right tackles around the league, but I'd gladly trade a little bit of in-line run blocking power for a guy who is such a good pass blocker for a guy playing that position.
Run Block In Line-6-
Run Block On Move-5
Pass Block-7
Ability to Adjust-6
Overall Rating: 6.5
Jason Ferguson, NT, 6'3" 305 LBS

Jordan: Has been a very strong run stuffer for many years now. His upper body strength is superb--he can take on the guard and defeat him and make the play himself. He'll stack the double team and tie up both of the blockers. That said, the biggest concern with him is that the position is very demanding--a lot of guys wear down when they have to deal with a lot of running plays going at them. Being that he is a player (in all probability) in the second half of his career, his endurance probably isn't what it used to be...and it just seemed to me that he'd wear down as the game (and games) went (wore) on. Hopefully for his sake, with Wade Phillips' new scheme, they'll get more out of Spears, Canty, and some others in a more "downhill" oriented defense.
Recognition-7-
Pursuit-5+
Run Defense (POA)-7
Pass Rush-5-
Overall Rating: 6.8
Marcus Spears, DE, LSU
Jordan: He looked top heavy last year. He needs to lose the stomach...it's not working for him. Every once in a blue moon, he'd make an extremely impressive play versus the run...but he needs to be more of an active player. He certainly was more active than THAT at LSU. There's really no reason a player this well-coached should be a bust, but he certainly looked like one last year. While he's technically sound and an excellent leverage player and has tremendous playing strength, he almost seemed confused out there. Lose the weight, get quicker and more aggressive...and I think he'll be what they'd hoped he'd be.
Recognition-5+
Pursuit-4
Run Defense (POA)-5+
Pass Rush-3
Overall Rating: 5.4^
DeMarcus Ware, DE/LB, Troy, 6'4" 255 LBS, 40 time: 4.55
Jordan: It's like watching Charles Haley all over again, only a more complete version. It's fitting they gave him Haley's old number (94). He's a tall, unadulterated athletic defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid who excels as a rusher either standing up or coming out of the 3-point stance. He especially excels when he's freelancing--when he wants up-field, there's not much you can do about it. One of the great things about a well-run 3-4 defense is you can get your pass rushing OLBs on blocking backs, if you know what you're doing. You get him on a blocking back, forget about it. If he's playing wide and coming free off the edge and you don't have someone accounting for him...forget about it. You're not gonna be able to slide out there in time to pick him up...he closes in a nanosecond...his eyes light up when he sees the opportunity. He's not as good as Merriman against the run...not many are...but he's still very good overall in that aspect. In a more aggressive scheme, he'd be even better. He's much stronger than he looks and can do many of the same power maneuvers Merriman does when taking on offensive linemen. The only thing you'd like to see more of from him is a mean streak. He seems a bit quieter/less intense than ideal. That said, he's one of the best athletes in football...he can do pretty much anything he wants to, physically speaking.
Recognition-6+
Pursuit-8
Run Defense (POA)-6+
Pass Rush-8-
Overall Rating: 7.3^
Bradie James, OLB, LSU

Jordan: Putting him in zone coverage is asking for trouble. He lacks speed, range...playmaking ability in general. He isn't as tough and physical as you'd like in an ILB, either. His instincts seem OK, and once in a while he'll get a good jump on a play and make a nice hit, but those are few and far between. His performance on the field last season was, for the most part, abysmal. In the Phillips scheme, they're going to need at least one ILB to have range for the coverage packages he incorporates...and I think they'd be idiots to bench Ayodele.
Read and React-5+
Pursuit-4+
Blitz/Rush-5+
Run Defense (POA)-5+
Pass Coverage-3
Tackle-5+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Terrence Newman, CB, Kansas St., 40 time: 4.26

Jordan: For a guy with such great speed, he lacks the "quickness" you're looking for in a corner. He's more of a "blazing long-strider" type. The problem is, his functional speed isn't really all that. He can run with anyone up until they make a break off their stem. He really struggles to change direction...that's where the separation occurs. He has good hands but he doesn't really play the ball all that well either. While he seemingly has all the tools outside of agility/quickness, he really only plays well in flashes. About the only thing he's consistent in is his run support--he is never afraid to stick his nose in there and seems to generally look forward to the opportunities. But if you ask me--he's actually overrated by the Cowboys media (rather than underrated as so many allege).
Key and Diagnose-7
Man Coverage-6-
Zone Coverage-5
Hands-6
Run Support-6
Tackle-6
Overall Rating: 6.3^
Anthony Henry, CB, S. Florida, 40 yard dash: 4.65

Jordan: He's kind of like a modern day Eric Wright...only in an era with faster receivers. He has the size and the feel for the game...but his lack of speed makes him a tantalizing target for deep throws. Everything in front of him he's outstanding with. You can play him in bump-and-run or man off coverage (so long as the receiver's not running a go route) and he'll look like an all-pro. He's physical and aggressive versus the run. He's a very physical corner in general. But once you get him to either bite on something...or just get up the field...he's in trouble. That's why they need a better free safety over the top to protect him (he's always at right corner...at least that's how Parcells had him). He'd be a perennial Pro Bowler with the Eagles. If Pat Watkins can emerge, he might still end up making the trip.
Key and Diagnose-7
Man Coverage-6+
Zone Coverage-7-
Hands-7
Run Support-7
Tackle-7
Overall Rating: 6.3
Aaron Glenn, CB, Texas A&M

Jordan: The obvious lack of height is a concern...when he happens to be put on a big receiver, you hold your breath every time. They just tower over him. That said, he's a tough guy and he's seen everything. He doesn't run as well as he used to...but it's difficult to tell how much he lost because the Cowboys played him in so much zone that he would basically just be standing around, then have about 10 yards to close. So with him, the deal is; he's a good slot corner, but if something happens to one of your starters, you're in trouble. You don't want him lining up near the sidelines unless he's actually ON the sidelines.
Key and Diagnose-7+
Man Coverage-6
Zone Coverage-6-
Hands-6
Run Support-4
Tackle-4
Overall Rating: 5.5X (Injury)
Roy Williams, S, Oklahoma, 40 yard dash: 4.55

Jordan: Not only does he look completely lost in coverage...his tackling was inconsistent last year. Every now and then, he'd make a big play, either playing laterally in zone coverage for the interception, or making a big, timely hit...but for a guy who makes the Pro Bowl, gets paid that kind of money, and has the abilities that he has...this is unacceptable. If he doesn't step up his game this year, he's a guy they should replace. There are dozens of players who aren't THAT incompetent in coverage...and who can be more active players in general. Last year, he was about 20 pounds overweight and looked like he ran about a 5.0.
Key and Diagnose-5
Man Coverage-3
Zone Coverage-5+
Hands-6
Run Support-6-
Tackle-6+
Overall Rating: 5.7^