Cowboys-Buccaneers Preview

 

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Cowboys-Bucs

SCOUTING REPORT

Cowboys-Bucs: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Cowboys-Buccaneers matchup. 1. Dallas needs to establish thunder and lighting: The Cowboys have an excellent running back tandem in Marion Barber and Felix Jones. Barber is a punishing back who can wear down a defense, and Jones has the explosiveness to make a big play any time he touches the ball. Look for offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to establish the ground attack versus the Buccaneers' 4-3 defense under new coordinator Jim Bates.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
DAL	7-3	231	175	4-1	3-2	2-1	6-2
TAM	1-9	164	294	1-5	0-4	0-2	1-6
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Dallas Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Romo 60.0 2624 15 7

Tampa Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Johnso... 50.4 685 4 8 Leftwi... 54.2 594 4 3

Dallas Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Barber 123 572 4.7 4 Jones 54 353 6.5 1

Tampa Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 117 450 3.8 3 Ward 66 243 3.7 1

Dallas Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Austin 35 679 19.4 7 Witten 54 481 8.9 1

Tampa Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Winslo... 47 483 10.3 5 Bryant 19 269 14.2 2

Full Player Stats: Dallas | Tampa Bay

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	DAL	345.0
	TAM	341.0
Yards Passing	DAL	236.8
	TAM	226.2
Yards Rushing	DAL	107.7
	TAM	114.8
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	DAL	294.3
	TAM	306.1
Pass Yds Allowed	DAL	187.7
	TAM	187.3
Rush Yds Allowed	DAL	106.6
	TAM	118.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Dallas leads 3-2
Oct 26, 2008	DAL 13, @TAM 9
Nov 23, 2006	DAL 38, @TAM 10
Oct 26, 2003	DAL 0, TAM 16
Sep 9, 2001	DAL 6, @TAM 10

Many of the preseason headlines about the Dallas Cowboys involved where the team played as opposed to the players, and it's unlikely they minded being under the radar.

With big-name distractions like Terrell Owens and Adam "Pacman" Jones -- even Jessica Simpson -- out of the picture, the Cowboys start looking to recover from another disastrous end to a season as they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Considered by many a Super Bowl favorite the previous two years, Dallas does not seem to be getting such widespread praise heading into this season. After all, it's a team that has not won a playoff game since 1996.

The Cowboys missed out on the postseason last year by losing their final two games -- 33-24 to Baltimore in their Texas Stadium finale and an embarrassing 44-6 defeat to archrival Philadelphia.

That was the only game all season in which Tony Romo played and failed to throw a touchdown pass, finishing 8-5 as the starter after going 19-7 in the previous two years. That career record includes a 5-8 mark in December and doesn't count his 0-2 mark in the playoffs.

"Obviously the way I was before wasn't getting the job done to the extent to the goal you want to accomplish," Romo said. "So you just keep going and keep going and hopefully you are able to accomplish that one day. I can see improvement."

Owens' consistent demand for the ball -- not to mention his penchant for being so outspoken -- may have negatively affected Romo's play and that of the offense. Some might have said the same about Simpson, the pop star who was Romo's girlfriend -- and constant fodder on Dallas talk radio -- until the pair broke up during the offseason.

"Everything was just football 24-7," Romo said during training camp. "I think that's the way we want to work around here."

With Owens off to Buffalo and Romo's dating life staying out of the tabloids, as well as the controversial Jones being released, the players surely did not have to deal with as much negative attention.

The team's facilities also took care of that.

First, the collapse of the Cowboys' indoor practice facility seriously injured scouting assistant Rich Behm and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis. Then, the video boards at the new Cowboys Stadium drew heavy criticism when punters were hitting them in exhibition games.

Before playing its first regular-season game at the $1.15 billion venue, Dallas looks to spoil the debut of Buccaneers first-year coach Raheem Morris.

A four-game losing streak to end last season cost Tampa Bay (9-7) a playoff spot as well coach Jon Gruden his job, and Morris has taken over after serving as the Bucs' defensive backs coach.

Tampa's once vaunted defense no longer has 11-time Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks and includes six new starters.

"New leaders have to emerge," veteran cornerback Ronde Barber said.

That defense will be tested right away as it tries to slow down a potent offense led by Romo, who last year joined Roger Staubach as the only Dallas quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons.

He'll continue to rely on tight end Jason Witten, whose 81 receptions led the team in 2008, but Romo likely needs more help from Roy Williams. He's replacing Owens as the No. 1 wideout after being limited to 19 catches last year following his midseason acquisition.

"This is another level here in Dallas than it was in Detroit," Williams said. "That's fine. I've been in the spotlight since I was little. I know how to handle it. I don't let them get to me. I don't have a big head."

A three-pronged ground game should take some pressure off the passing attack.

Marion Barber looks to rebound from a year in which his rushing yards and touchdowns decreased even though his attempts increased, averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. Felix Jones averaged 8.9 yards as a rookie and scored four touchdowns despite missing 10 games due to injury. That left extra playing time to Tashard Choice, who averaged 5.1 yards per rush.

The defense is led by DeMarcus Ware, who led the league with a team-record 20 sacks last season. Linebacker Bradie James proved to be a team leader -- he had eight sacks in his final 10 games -- and veteran Terence Newman stars in the secondary.

That unit will be looking to spoil Byron Leftwich's regular-season debut with the Bucs. He was signed during the offseason and won the No. 1 quarterback job by beating out Luke McCown, who was later traded to Jacksonville.

In essence, Leftwich is a stop-gap until first-round pick Josh Freeman is ready to take over the reins.

"One day they're going to give him the keys," Leftwich said. "I'm just going to try to make sure they don't give him the keys this year."

Sources: Newman avoids punishment for tiff

Sources: Newman won't be punished for altercation with Campo

Questions about Williams continue to swirl

Redskins' LaRon Landry calls out Boys WR Roy Williams: 'He was scared.'

Cowboys brushing off Campo-Newman incident

Cowboys coach, player won't discuss sideline exchange

Cowboys' Phillips says Romo feeling a lot better

Quarterback spent most of Monday's media access period getting treatment

Greg Ellis officially an ex-Cowboy

As expected, the Cowboys weren't able to find a team willing to trade for Greg Ellis, so they released him today.

Already interest in Greg Ellis

When news broke of the Cowboys' release of Greg Ellis earlier today, the phone of Ellis' agent, James D. Williams, started to ring from interested parties.

Money is no longer flowing for Dallas Cowboys

I don't mean GM broke. Or Michael Vick broke. Or even Tom Hicks broke. But it certainly appears as though Jerry is paying more attention to the bottom line when it comes to the Cowboys than he's ever done in the past.

Kitna knows his job with Dallas Cowboys is be ready if Romo isn't

By MAC ENGEL CARROLLTON - Jerry Jones was just kidding, but the sad part of what he said a few days before the 2009 NFL Draft was true.'Last year we had one quarterback who was hurt and another quarterback who was playing like he was hurt,' Jones said.The comment drew uncomfortable laughter, and Jones immediately recognized what he had just ...

Dallas Cowboys have plenty to prove in 2009

Jean-Jacques Taylor has been at the DMN for 16 years. He covered the Rangers and Cowboys before becoming a columnist.

Bucs' Zuttah apparently ahead of Sears at left guard

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are undergoing a changing of their left guard, and it definitely appears as though the key figure in that change is second-year pro Jeremy Zuttah.

Jackson needs swagger

If Amarri Jackson wants to make sure he gets to training camp and through the preseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wide receiver Antonio Bryant has some veteran advice for the Sarasota native.

Receiver Kelly Campbell savors his chance to make Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Each time Bucs receiver Kelly Campbell reads a headline about an NFL player who has been arrested or otherwise gotten into trouble, he can't help but immediately think about the potential consequences.

Dungy is moving forward

It had been a busy Thursday morning but now Tony Dungy was heading back across the Howard Frankland Bridge toward Tampa after a couple of meetings in a campaign to increase parental involvement in Florida public schools.

Mangurian looking for discipline on Bucs' OL

Two months before the start of training camp, Tampa Bay's new offensive line coach has a chilling message for his minions: If you're not planning on being smart and disciplined, don't bother showing up.