Sizing up the secondary: Is it too early to worry?

To say that depth in the secondary is important is just a bit of an understatement.

After watching the corners get burned against the Texans on Saturday, it’s understandable if a few people are a little worried right now, given Terence Newman’s uncertain injury situation.

While the consensus is that the front seven is going to be very strong this season, we’re not sure what to expect out of the secondary at this point, or parts of it at least.

Over the last five games of last season, the Cowboys gave up an average of 287 yards per game and 16 total touchdowns, including letting Drew Brees (384 yards, 5 TDs), Michael Vick (237 yards [a lot for him], 4 TDs), and Jon Kitna (306 yards, 4 TDs) absolutely rip them apart.

All of that came after the secondary had given up only nine touchdowns through the air in the first eleven games.

We know who to depend on at three spots, but even those have question marks.

A lot will be determined on Newman’s health. If he’s in the lineup, then we can breathe a little easier. But, if he is limited at any point in the season, that potentially opens up a whole host of potential problems not just at left corner, but in the entire secondary, given Newman’s importance and versatility.

Anthony Henry is the man at right corner, and if Newman is a question mark, then Henry’s significance is going to be magnified. He hasn’t come close to reaching his rookie mark of 10 interceptions in Cleveland in 2001, but five is a reasonable goal.

Roy Williams is going to be the X-factor. He’s gotten himself into better shape, which will help him in an expanded role in pass rushing. He gets ragged on quite a bit, but if he can back up his offseason improvements with a big year in ‘07, then the whispers will at least lessen a little.

At free safety, Ken Hamlin is going to be counted on to be a difference maker. Keith Davis and Pat Watkins split time there last season, and both have potential, but Dallas decided to hit the market and pick up a proven commodity in the former Seahawks man. Hamlin made a great comeback from a serious, season-ending head injury in 2005 to record nearly 100 tackles and three INTs for Seattle last season. He missed a week of practice early in camp after suffering a knock to the head, and that’s the only worry about him. But, having someone of his abilities back there paired with Roy Williams gives the Cowboys one of the top safety tandems in the league, provided both play to the level we know they can.

With Newman’s health a concern right now, that means that the guys behind him are going to have to step up. Saturday night wasn’t the kind of performance anyone was hoping for, but there have to be some guys who can rise to the challenge. Veteran corner Aaron Glenn is the next in line at left corner behind Newman, and he’s been among the top in his position for a long time, but he is 35, so he might not be able to be a every-down guy. But, given his experience, there’s no doubt he can be counted on in a pinch if needed. But, we’re going to need to see the likes of Jacques Reeves, Joey Thomas, and others to be more than fillers on the roster.

Even though Hamlin is going to be the guy at free safety, it might be worth it to give either one of them a look at corner, if depth really becomes an issue. It’s not something the staff would like to do, but if the guys already on the team aren’t sure bets, and the waiver wire doesn’t produce anything, then some other options might have to be considered.

Whatever combination of guys end up having to take care of coverage duties, one thing’s for sure: If they can play as they did in the two thirds of 2006, then we don’t have anything to worry about. But, if Saturday night happens too often, or the lapses of the last five games of last year crop up again, from giving up big pass plays, to missing tackles, to just being inconsistent in general, then that could do a lot to negate all that the front seven might do.

But, if the front seven wreaks havoc on a weekly basis. it can do a lot to take pressure of the secondary to have to be all over the place too much. One thing that didn’t help the cover guys a lot last season was the lack of backfield penetration, which gave quarterbacks time to throw, and receivers time to get open. If the aggressive defensive scheme pays off, that will limit the amount of chances there are for the secondary to get burned.

It’s safe to say that all of the Cowboys faithful will feel much better when Terence Newman returns to the field, and when we get a real look at what we might be able to expect from the guys in the defensive backfield, which will happen right off the bat, when Dallas faces Eli Manning, Trent Green, Rex Grossman, and Marc Bulger in the first four weeks of the season, and have to contend with the likes of Plaxico Burress, Chris Chambers, and Torry Holt. So, it won’t be long before we know if we don’t have anything to worry about, or if we do. And, if it’s the former, then hopefully it can last all season long, because it’ll make a big difference if the Cowboys’ hopes of winning the NFC East and getting a favorable playoff seeding.

So, get well soon Terence. We’re going to be needing you.