ESPN

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys had an obvious need for help on the defensive line, which is part of the reason why they drafted Tyrone Crawford in the third round Friday.

The Cowboys want to generate more pass rush from their line and Crawford’s biggest strength is getting to the quarterback.

But the Cowboys also had a need because of age.

Their top four defensive linemen will be at least 29 by the time the season starts, and Marcus Spears, the 29-year-old, is entering his eighth season. Kenyon Coleman is 33. Jay Ratliff will be 31 in August. Jason Hatcher will be 30 in July.

The Cowboys also have Sean Lissemore, who turns 25 in September, Josh Brent (24) and Clifton Geathers (24).

“We like what has happened with Geathers,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “Of course, he’s a bigger guy and Lissemore you know about that. Again, we’d like one of those guys at that position on the come all the time. Our third round says the guy you draft is not necessarily a starter now but has a chance to move into a starter in the future. [Crawford] fits that profile.”

Crawford turns 23 in November.

This is the seventh installment of our 12-part series breaking down the Cowboys roster. Today we look at the defensive line.

Players: NT Jay Ratliff (signed through 2017), DE Jason Hatcher (signed through 2013), DE Marcus Spears (signed through 2014), DE Kenyon Coleman (signed through 2012), NT/DE Sean Lissemore (signed through 2013), NT Josh Brent (signed through 2013), DE Clifton Geathers (exclusive rights free agent), NT/DE Robert Callaway (signed futures contract)

Top free agents: DE Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals; DE Mario Williams, Houston Texans; NT Sione Pouha, New York Jets; DE Jason Jones, Tennessee Titans; DE Cliff Avril, Detroit Lions.

Top draft prospects: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina; DT/DE Michael Brockers, LSU; NT Brandon Thompson, Clemson; NT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State; DT Devon Still, Penn State.

2011 review: The defensive line performed respectably against the run for the most part. However, it left a lot to be desired in the pass-rushing department. The Cowboys’ defensive line combined for only 10.5 sacks, led by Hatcher (4.5). Ratliff made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance despite his sacks total declining for the fourth consecutive year. He finished the season with two sacks, tied with reserve Lissemore for second among the team’s defensive linemen. Coleman and Spears were solid against the run but nonfactors against the pass, which is particularly a problem with a secondary as vulnerable as the Cowboys'.

Offseason preview: The Cowboys need more playmaking at this position. Maybe they get that by moving Ratliff to defensive end, a subject that gets discussed every offseason but has not been seriously considered since he established himself as the starting nose tackle. Coples and Brockers, the best 3-4 defensive end prospects in the draft, are likely to be gone by the time the Cowboys get on the clock with the 14th overall pick. Arizona’s Campbell, who dominated Doug Free when the Cowboys played the Cardinals this season, would be a major upgrade in free agency. However, there’s a decent chance that the Cardinals will use the franchise tag to prevent one of the NFL’s best 3-4 ends from testing the open market this offseason.

Bryan Broaddus' Scout's Eye: When the Cowboys played well on defense last season it was usually because the defensive line was handling the run and getting pressure on the quarterback. When things were going badly, I could usually tell on tape it was because the line wasn't getting off blocks and struggling with the pressure. The biggest problem I had with the line was at defensive end. The team lost Stephen Bowen to the Redskins and in my view, that was a tough blow for the defense. The club brought back Spears and Hatcher but also signed Coleman. Hatcher moved into Bowen's role with Spears and Coleman as the starters. As the season wore on, Coleman wore down and his play hurt the defense. Spears was up and down as well. Where there is a need of an upgrade would be at end. I am a big fan of Lissemore and I would not be surprised to see him in the starting lineup next season for Coleman or at nose if Ratliff shifts to end. Speaking of nose, Ratliff made the Pro Bowl which surprised me. I like Ratliff and respect the way he played, but there were times where he was clearly better than the centers that he was playing against and he didnt always take advantage of the matchup. Ratliff doesn't always face double teams. Where Ratliff struggles the most is when he gets wore down. That's why guys like Brent and Lissemore are key to keeping him as fresh as possible. I like the nose men on this team but the front office needs to find some upgrades at end to give the defense a chance.

Need meter (0-5): 3

IRVING,Texas -- Cornerback Mike Jenkins had surgery last week on his right shoulder and it’s possible he will be in the midst of rehab as the Cowboys hold their organized team activities and mini-camp in the spring.

Jenkins is looking at a 4-6 month recovery time, according to a source. If he needs the full rehab time, then he could miss all of the offseason work and be ready for training camp, which will begin in late July.

Jenkins suffered the injury on Dec. 11 against the New York Giants and was limited for the final four games. He wore a protective harness that made it difficult for him to lift his arm over his head. He aggravated the injury in the Jan. 1 season finale against the Giants, seeing action only in multiple wide receiver formations.

Safety Barry Church had a similar surgery before the season ended.

Backup nose tackle Josh Brent had knee surgery since the season ended. He missed four games with a sprained medial collateral ligament and kneecap injury.

IRVING, Texas -- For the sixth straight year the Cowboys had more than 100 penalties in a season, matching the longest streak in team history.

The Cowboys’ 114 penalties were fifth-most in the NFL and Jason Garrett was unable to correct a problem that has plagued predecessors Bill Parcells and Wade Phillips.

Doug Free and DeMarcus Ware led the Cowboys with 10 penalties called, although Ware had one penalty declined during the year. Free had five holding penalties and five false starts. Ware had seven offside penalties, two roughing the passer penalties and a neutral zone infraction.

Tyron Smith, Anthony Spencer and Orlando Scandrick had eight penalties called against them this year. Scandrick had two declined, Smith had one.

Spencer had four neutral zone infractions, which means the Cowboys’ best pass rushers had 12 penalties in which they could not time the snap properly. Spencer’s other penalties were an unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer, running into the kicker and face mask.

An interesting note: three backup secondary players combined for 20 penalties. Scandrick had eight. Alan Ball had seven. Frank Walker had five. Fourteen of those were on defense. Scandrick was a quasi-starter as the nickel back, but Ball and Walker were flagged far too often given the amount of snaps they played. Guard Montrae Holland had six penalties in 10 games.

Another interesting note: Mike Jenkins was not penalized all year. Yes, he missed four games, but he was flagged nine times last year with six pass interference penalties. He was a much improved player all around in 2011.

Here’s the player-by-player breakdown of penalties

10 – Doug Free, DeMarcus Ware
8 – Anthony Spencer, Tyron Smith, Orlando Scandrick
7 – Alan Ball
6 – Montrae Holland
5 – Terence Newman, Tony Romo, Frank Walker
4 – Jason Hatcher
3 – Martellus Bennett, John Phillips, Jason Witten, Phillip Tanner, Kyle Kosier
2 – Keith Brooking, Jesse Holley, Kevin Ogletree, Tony Fiammetta, Barry Chruch, Josh Brent, Derrick Dockery, Jay Ratliff, Dez Bryant
1 – Bradie James, Sean Lee, Laurent Robinson, Gerald Sensabaugh, Victor Butler, Kenyon Coleman, Phil Costa, Abram Elam, Kevin Kowalski, L.P. Ladouceur, Stephen McGee, Miles Austin, Sean Lissemore

IRVING, Texas -- Officially Josh Brent is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at the New York Giants, but the backup nose tackle said he will play.

With the way Brandon Jacobs ran against the Cowboys in the first meeting, having Brent’s bulk (320 pounds) will be a plus.

Brent suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament and some kneecap damage while blocking on the field goal unit against Miami on Thanksgiving.

“I pushed it through rehab and I pushed it every day I stepped on the field,” Brent said. “Otherwise you’re not going to know if you’re able to go in the game.”

In Brent’s four-game absence the Cowboys allowed three teams to rush for more than 100 yards (Arizona, the Giants and Philadelphia). The Eagles ran for 239 yards in the first meeting of the year when Brent was inactive.

“I’m just relieved and happy to be able to come back and play this season,” Brent said. “We have an opportunity to do something special, making it to the playoffs and it’s in our hands.”

IRVING, Texas -- The franchise quarterback and the Cowboys’ pair of Pro Bowlers were among the eight players listed as having limited participation in Thursday’s practice on the official injury report.

The limited list: QB Tony Romo (hand), NT Jay Ratliff (ribs), OLB DeMarcus Ware (neck), CB Mike Jenkins (shoulder), RB Felix Jones (hamstring), NT Josh Brent (knee), WR Andre Holmes (hamstring) and WR Kevin Ogletree (knee).

ILB Sean Lee (illness) and S Danny McCray (ankle) were the only Cowboys not to participate in the practice. Coach Jason Garrett indicated that he was optimistic that Lee would be able to practice Friday.

Three key members of the Giants’ offense have not practiced this week: RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) and TE Jake Ballard (knee).

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys are following the same practice plan for DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff they used last week in order to make sure the Pro Bowlers are good to go for Sunday’s kickoff against the New York Giants.

Ware (stinger) and Ratliff (rib muscle strain) did not practice Wednesday but they will practice Thursday. They were limited last week and listed as questionable heading into the Philadelphia game but played the entire game.

“I’ll be out there tomorrow,” Ware said. “I feel great. I was just taking a little time off, me and Jay, to sort of recoup and get ready for this game.”

Linebacker Sean Lee (illness) did not practice but he should be good Thursday. Safety Danny McCray (ankle) also hopes to practice Thursday.

Running back Felix Jones (hamstring) was limited, but coach Jason Garrett said Jones, “seemed like he was running fairly well.” Jones did not practice last week and was removed from the Eagles’ game in the first quarter as a precaution. Cornerback Mike Jenkins (shoulder) was also limited but he will play Sunday.

Nose tackle Josh Brent returned to practice for the first time in more than a month from a knee injury. He was limited, as were wide receivers Kevin Ogletree (knee) and Andre Holmes (hamstring). Wide receiver Laurent Robinson (shoulder) took part in a full practice as did punter Mat McBriar (foot).

IRVING, Texas – Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan hopes that outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and nose tackle Jay Ratliff will be able to play every down against the Eagles.

PODCAST
Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff comments on the NFC East playoff picture, the matchup against the Eagles and more. Listen

Ware (stinger) and Ratliff (rib muscle strain) sat out the second half of last week’s win over Tampa Bay to rest nagging injuries. They’ve been limited participants in practice this week.

“Are we at full strength? Hey, nobody is this time of year,” Ryan said. “We’re as close to full strength as you could possibly be at this time of year. Again, we don’t have to make excuses. All we got to do is play great. That’s all.”

Cornerback Mike Jenkins (shoulder), right guard Kyle Kosier (foot) and receiver Laurent Robinson (shoulder) were also limited in practice this week. They all have been dealing with those injuries for weeks and are expected to play against the Eagles.

Running back Felix Jones (hamstring), safety Danny McCray (ankle), receiver Andre Holmes (hamstring), nose tackle Josh Brent (knee) and receiver Kevin Ogletree (knee) did not participate again in Thursday’s practice.

IRVING, Texas -- DeMarcus Ware went through a limited part of Wednesday’s practice and the Cowboys outside linebacker pronounced himself ready to go for Saturday’s game against Philadelphia.

“I feel really good, better than I did last week,” Ware said.

Ware suffered the stinger in the Dec. 11 loss to the New York Giants and aggravated it early in last week’s win at Tampa Bay. He did not play in the second half and did not practice on Tuesday. With Wednesday’s practice focusing on the nickel package, Ware, whose 16 sacks lead the Cowboys, felt it was necessary to return to work even if he was limited.

The most important change Ware could make will be with his equipment. He was fitted for a stiffer neck roll on Wednesday to make sure his head does not get jerked backward and aggravate the injury. He wore his normal neck roll against the Buccaneers.

“This one makes sure your neck doesn’t move, so you shouldn’t get any stingers,” Ware said.

Like Ware, Jay Ratliff returned but was limited in practice with a rib muscle strain. Safety Danny McCray, the team’s special teams’ ace, did not practice for the second straight day. Wide receiver Kevin Ogletree did not practice because of a knee injury suffered on Tuesday.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins (shoulder), guard Kyle Kosier (foot) and wide receiver Laurent Robinson (shoulder) were also limited.

Nose tackle Josh Brent (knee), wide receiver Andre Holmes (hamstring) did not practice.

IRVING, Texas -- Felix Jones is missing his second straight day of practice because of hamstring tightness, but the Cowboys continue to express faith he will play Saturday against Philadelphia.

Executive Vice President Stephen Jones said the team was being cautious because Jones is the only full-time running back available. Sammy Morris signed last week and had 12 carries for 53 yards against Tampa Bay. Chauncey Washington is on the practice squad.

While Jones is out, outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and nose tackle Jay Ratliff were back to practice after missing Tuesday’s session. The Cowboys will have to manage Ware (stinger) and Ratliff (rib muscle strain) for the rest of the season in practice.

Wide receiver Kevin Ogletree was back to work after he could not finish Tuesday's practice after banging knees with a player in practice.
Safety Danny McCray (ankle) also missed his second straight day of practice. Wide receiver Andre Holmes (hamstring) and nose tackle Josh Brent (knee) are also missing practice.

IRVING, Texas -- After tying his career high with 22 carries against Tampa Bay, running back Felix Jones was not in attendance at the portion of Tuesday’s practice that was open to the media.

Given his history, there has to be at least a little bit of a concern, however, it could just be an extra day of rest to make sure he is ready for another large dose of carries Saturday against Philadelphia. Jones was suffering from cramps toward the end of the Buccaneers’ game, which is why Sammy Morris was the closer. Jones also needed an IV at halftime.

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (stinger) and nose tackle Jay Ratliff (rib muscle strain) are sitting out practice but did some work on the side against a blocking sled in pre-practice. Jason Garrett hinted on Sunday the Cowboys could rest Ware and Ratliff some to make sure they are ready for game day.

Safety Danny McCray (ankle), nose tackle Josh Brent (knee) and wide receiver Andre Holmes (hamstring) are not practicing

The Cowboys do not have to provide an injury report after today’s practice. The first one is due Wednesday.

IRVING, Texas -- Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware returned to practice Thursday at Valley Ranch after missing Wednesday's session because of a neck stinger.

The final practice before Saturday's game at Tampa Bay started with light rain, thunder and flashes of lightning, marking the second consecutive day the Cowboys will have practiced in bad weather. They practiced in a steady rain Wednesday.

Among the missing from Thursday's session: Andre Holmes (hamstring), Danny McCray (ankle) and Josh Brent (knee).

McCray could be a game-time decision, just as he was last week. He eventually played. Holmes and Brent are not expected to play Saturday night.

IRVING, Texas – Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware told reporters that he practiced Wednesday, but the Cowboys' official injury report says otherwise.

Ware was one of five players who officially did not participate in the rainy practice at Valley Ranch. However, Ware said he is no longer dealing with pain as the result of a stinger.

The others who did not participate were center Phil Costa (concussion), nose tackle Josh Brent (knee), receiver Andre Holmes (hamstring) and safety Danny McCray (ankle).

Cornerback Mike Jenkins (shoulder), receiver Laurent Robinson (shoulder) and right guard Kyle Kosier (foot) were limited participants.

IRVING, Texas -- Center Phil Costa is watching Wednesday’s practice but unable to participate yet because of a concussion suffered in Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants.

Costa has to pass a few more tests as regulated by the league’s concussion policy before he can return to practice. If he can’t play Saturday at Tampa Bay, then undrafted rookie Kevin Kowalski would start.

Safety Danny McCray (ankle) is not practicing. He did not practice last week but managed to play and had his role increased after Barry Church suffered a shoulder injury. Nose tackle Josh Brent is also out but said Tuesday night he hopes to return Dec. 24 against Philadelphia. Wide receiver Andre Holmes is not practicing because of a hamstring injury.

Despite the rain, the Cowboys are practicing outside at Valley Ranch. According to the forecast, there is a 10 percent chance of rain Saturday night in Tampa.

IRVING, Texas -- Backup tight end Martellus Bennett returned to practice Tuesday after missing last week because of a rib cage injury.

There were numerous nicked-up players who did participate during a walkthrough session held with no helmets:

Kyle Kosier (foot), Danny McCray (ankle), Mike Jenkins (shoulder), Jay Ratliff (back) and DeMarcus Ware (stinger) attended practice.

Starting center Phil Costa (concussion), quarterback Jon Kitna (back) and nose tackle Josh Brent (knee) did not practice.

DeMarco Murray (ankle) and Barry Church (shoulder) officially went on injured reserve today.

The Cowboys also signed three players: Running back Sammy Morris, cornerback C.J. Wilson and safety Mana Silva.