Dallas Cowboys Life

(Editor’s Note: Last summer, the DallasCowboys.com staff attempted to answer 20 questions about the Cowboys’ roster leading into training camp. With the 2015 season complete, we’re picking out the 10 best and most applicable questions and reviewing how our predictions fared.)

10) How Did The Cowboys Replace Dwayne Harris On Special Teams?

Bryan: I have to admit that I expected more from Lucky Whitehead coming out of the 2015 NFL Draft as far as a returner. His film at Florida Atlantic was outstanding, and when they were able to sign him, I thought that they had their replacement for Dwayne Harris. Whitehead was every bit as dynamic and explosive as Harris, but what I didn’t expect was to see him struggle like he did securing the ball -- which wasn’t a problem in college. There were times where he just did not look comfortable at all getting himself in position to make the catch which led to some unsure moments. It got to the point where I could understand why the coaching staff felt it necessary to go with other options early in the season. It was only until he began to catch the ball cleaner that the coaches felt it necessary to give him more opportunities with favorable results. Where this special teams unit really missed Harris was on the coverage aspect. There was not a player that was able to play as a gunner on the punt team and be a difference maker on the kick off as him.   

Nick: It’s hard to replace everything Harris did for this team, but his biggest contribution was in the return game. Personally, I think the Cowboys will be in good shape with Lucky Whitehead. Maybe it’s the hair, but I’ve always thought Whitehead could develop into a similar role as Harris, at least on offense and in the return game. As for Harris’ coverage skills, the Cowboys really didn’t get anyone to fulfill that role.

Rob: One game (specifically, one play) doesn’t define the entire season, but Harris’ 100-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter of Week 7 – the deciding touchdown in the Giants’ 27-20 win over the Cowboys – summarized the special teams skills he brought from Dallas to New York. He made a game-changing play with the ball in his hands, and the Cowboys’ coverage team couldn’t stop him. Before the season, I thought Lucky Whitehead would eventually step into Harris’ return role, and he showed flashes, like the 46-yard return that set up the Cowboys’ winning field goal against the Redskins in Week 13. Whitehead averaged 29.4 yards on kickoff returns, and he and Cole Beasley collectively averaged 6.0 yards on punt returns. (Harris had respective averages of 24.7 and 9.2 yards in 2014.) Harris’ biggest impact as a Cowboy might have been in coverage, though, where he led the team with 18 tackles in 2014. The Cowboys didn’t have a double-digit tackler in 2015 – three players tied for the lead with 8, and two of those players, Jeff Heath and Kyle Wilber, now have expiring contracts.

David: Back in the summer, I thought the Cowboys would be just fine using Cole Beasley and Lucky Whitehead to cover the loss of Dwayne Harris. Well, both players got a shot – and the results were less than ideal. I think it’s fair to say that Whitehead grew into the role as a return man as the season went on, but he only averaged six yards per attempt as a punt returner. In the same vein, the Cowboys never found a coverage player as consistent as Harris used to be, and I thought their special teams suffered as a whole because of it. I don’t have a problem with Whitehead going forward, but I certainly hope the Cowboys give him some competition heading into training camp. You look around the league at players like Tyler Lockett, who the Seahawks drafted in the third round just last year, and there’s no doubt in my mind this is a spot the team could improve – either in free agency or the draft.

To review our original predictions, click here:http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2015/06/29/20-questions-who-can-replace-special-teams-ace-dwayne-harris

IRVING, Texas – While Monday marks the first day of the offseason for 20 NFL teams, including the Cowboys, expect several changes to take place across the league.

But for now, don’t expect Will McClay to be changing teams. The Cowboys’ senior director of college and pro scouting declined an interview request from the Detroit Lions on Monday for the general manager position.

“Right now, my focus is getting better right here,” McClay said on Monday. “We’re 4-12. I’m ready to get in here and work with Jason and the Joneses try to get this turned around.”

McClay also said he feels obligated to honor the contract he signed last year with the Cowboys.

“This is where I want to be,” said McClay, who admitted that a GM position is something he covets. “But I’m excited to be here and get started on the offseason.”

McClay, 49, has been with the Cowboys organization for 13 years. Has overseen the Cowboys’ draft for the last two years, bringing in the likes of Zack Martin in 2014, followed by last year’s draft where three players with first-round grades - Byron Jones, Randy Gregory and La’el Collins – added to the team.  

McClay has also run the pro scouting department for the last few years and has helped the Cowboys sign free agents such as Darren McFadden and Jeremy Mincey in the past two years.

AARON WOOLSEY

Bryan: I don’t believe so. If anything, what I know about Bryant and the way he works coming back from injury, he is likely to be even better. I think what will help him this time around is that he is not getting ready for a game so he can take his time and gain more confidence about the repair.

David: I’m not a doctor, but I feel encouraged by the fact that Dez is going to have four months to recuperate before the offseason program gets into full swing – and roughly six months until training camp. Julio Jones dealt with a similar injury two years ago, and he has recovered nicely. So no – I’m not too worried.

T.J. MCCAULEY

Bryan: I could see that one cornerback taken and likely high in the draft. They are liking what they are seeing from Deji Olatoye and Terrance Mitchell, so that could keep them from adding that second guy. Depending on if they address the safety position say with a guy like Jalen Ramsey then you could see Byron Jones moving outside.

David: I agree with everything you’re saying, which is why it won’t surprise me if cornerback is one of the first positions they address in this draft. It didn’t work out the way they wanted it to when they drafted Claiborne No. 6 overall back in 2012, but I think they’d have to seriously consider taking a corner with this top-10 pick. We’ll see.

dallascowboys.com

IRVING, Texas -- He has been in the same meeting room with Dez Bryant since 2012, so Cole Beasley knows the Dallas Cowboys receiver better than most.

Beasley knows what Bryant has had to go through this season in dealing with a broken right foot that will require a second surgery and ankle and knee injuries that will limit him to nine games this season.

"Any time you come back from a broken foot, there's definitely going to be some issues. He came back pretty quick, probably sooner than he should have, but that's the type of guy he is," Beasley said. "He wants to be back and he wants to help the team win and do whatever is necessary. You admire the guy just for that."

Beasley said Bryant was limited more than he ever let on during the year.

"He definitely had some trouble running some routes," Beasley said. "We had to take some out of the game plan just because he didn't feel very comfortable on his foot, breaking on some routes. He did a good job of trying to fight through for us and fighting for his teammates. I know all the guys appreciate it."

Bryant, who will have right ankle surgery as well, finished the season with 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns.

Bryant was not part of the team for most of the offseason program in a contract dispute and then strained a hamstring in training camp that kept him from practice.

If not for the foot injury in the season opener, Beasley said he thinks Bryant would have been "normal Dez," this year.

"Him breaking the foot didn't just hurt his foot," Beasley said. "You've got conditioning and leg strength and all that. He couldn't do anything for, I don't know how long it was, but it was for a while. Any time you're not physically out there practicing for that long, it's going to affect you. Not just his foot, just his whole body, his strength. It's tough to come back from something like that."

IRVING, Texas – It doesn’t appear there will be a rushed decision about whether Dez Bryant’s season is over, to hear it from Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.

Bryant did not play in Sunday’s 16-6 loss to Buffalo, as he continues to nurse ankle and knee injuries that have plagued him for most of the season. With just one game remaining on the schedule, though, Garrett said the Cowboys are still determining whether Bryant can suit up.

“We’ll see,” Garrett said during his Monday press conference. “He’s going to have some further tests and evaluations here in the next couple of days and we’ll make a better determination as the week goes on.”

To say Bryant has coped with multiple injuries this year would be a serious understatement. The All-Pro receiver broke his foot during the season opener back on Sept. 13, and he suffered the injuries to his ankle and knee during the Nov. 8 loss to Philadelphia.

Throw in the hamstring strain suffered during training camp, and it’s been one thing after another for the Cowboys’ two-time Pro Bowler.

Bryant coped with those problems for most of the season – even to the point that he practiced fully during the three weeks prior to the Buffalo game. The nature of Bryant’s absence, coupled with the Cowboys’ elimination from playoff contention, is enough to spark speculation that the coaching staff would sit Bryant for the remainder of the regular season.

Despite that, Garrett said the objective is to make injury evaluations separately from outside circumstances.

“We really try to evaluate our players’ health independent of who we’re playing and when we’re playing, and where we’re playing and what the records are,” he said. “And that was the case with Dez. His foot and his ankle have been bothering him for a few weeks now, and we just thought it was the right thing for him to do was not to play.”

Thanks to the litany of injuries – not to mention the Cowboys’ rotating cast at quarterback – it’s been a forgettable year for Bryant. He’s on pace to finish with career-low numbers in all major categories, as he has just 31 catches for 401 yards and three touchdowns in nine appearances this season.

Even if the season has been disappointing, though, Garrett has stressed multiple times the importance of finishing the season strong. If Bryant can get clearance to play this week, it shouldn’t be surprising to see him Sunday.

“If they’re healthy enough to play, they’re playing,” Garrett said.

JAMES MITCHELL

Bryan: I feared that Tyrod Taylor would be able to beat them with his legs and on that 3rd-and-6 scramble where he avoided three rushers was outstanding. I give him a lot of credit for the way that he played in this game. He managed it well and came up with some timely plays. With this defense it usually comes down to one big play and that in my opinion was the back breaker.

David: I think it comes down to a couple of factors. Firstly, I think it’s fairly obvious that the offensive inefficiency keeps the defense on the field for longer than they need to be. This is a pretty good defense, but not the type of elite unit that can withstand that type of workload. On top of that, the Cowboys aren’t playing with leads like they did last year, and I think it puts the defense in bad situations from a playcalling standpoint.

JOSH HANSON

Bryan: The General Manager has said that he made a mistake in dealing with that position so I would believe that it is a priority. I also believe you need to draft a quarterback so when Tony Romo is done you don’t have the situation that you just explained.

David: It’s definitely going to be a priority, but it’s hard to predict how they handle it. Will they keep Kellen Moore around? Will they address the position in free agency? The draft. There’s no doubt in my mind they’ll put resources into the quarterback spot, but it’ll be interesting to see how they handle it

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Jeremy Mincey will join Dez Bryant and Morris Claiborne on the Cowboys’ inactives list for Sunday’s game against the Bills.

Bryant and Claiborne are expected absences, given that they didn’t practice this week and didn’t make the trip to Buffalo. Mincey, the eighth-year veteran, comes as a bit more of a surprise considering he wasn’t on the team’s injury report all week.

The Cowboys’ other four inactives for Week 16 are Jameill Showers Mark Nzeocha, Ron Leary and Chaz Green.

Curious Cowboys fans will no doubt be disappointed to see that Showers, the rookie quarterback who was activate from the practice squad on Friday, won’t be suiting up against Buffalo. Showers has served as a scout team quarterback and special teamer throughout the season, and it appears that he’ll serve as Cowboys’ third-string quarterback for the remaining week of the season.

Despite that fact, it appears Showers doesn’t have a large enough role to justify a game day roster spot this week.

While Showers may not be active, several other intriguing young players will get a shot this week. Mincey’s absence opens up the door for defensive tackle Casey Walker, who was also activated from the practice squad on Friday, to get an opportunity.

With Claiborne out of the lineup, second-year cornerback Deji Olatoye will also get an opportunity at some playing time. Olatoye and fellow second-year cornerTerrance Mitchell will help Brandon Carr and Byron Jones fill out the cornerback depth chart.

Devin Street and Brice Butler will both be active with Bryant sitting out on Sunday, and Butler will get the start at receiver opposite Terrance Williams.

As expected, Geoff Swaim will also be active for the first time in several months, as the Cowboys cope with the loss of Gavin Escobar to a torn Achilles.

The Bills’ inactives are quarterback Josh Johnson, running back LeSean McCoy, cornerback Ronald Darby, linebacker Nigel Bradham, defensive end Max Valles, tight end Charles Clay and defensive end Lavar Edwards.