Dallas Cowboys have embraced football socialism

By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.

chill@star-telegram.com

"I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody." — President Barack Obama

IRVING — When President Barack Obama made that statement during his election campaign, he was labeled a socialist, sparking a mini-controversy.

Time will tell if Obama’s ideals will take hold in America.

There is no question his spread-the-wealth message has caught on in the millionaire’s club that is the Dallas Cowboys locker room.

Gone is the capitalistic notion of giving the guys with the biggest salaries and biggest egos all the opportunities to make plays.

In riding a three-game winning streak to a 5-2 record and into a first-place tie in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys have gotten contributions across the board.

"It’s a lot of guys making plays, not just one or two guys, and that’s important," coach Wade Phillips said. "We have a lot of good football players. We have some great football players. But we have a lot of good football players, and you want to get them involved. That makes you consistent."

It also makes you unpredictable and hard to devise a game plan for.

The Cowboys still have stars leading the way, such as quarterback Tony Romo, Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten and Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware. Aside from Romo, however, Witten and Ware’s numbers are down compared with past years. But production on offense and defense is better than it has been at any time since Phillips arrived.

Twelve players have caught passes. Three runners have 37 or more carries. Nine players have notched sacks. Fourteen Cowboys have pass deflections, 11 have quarterback pressures and five have forced fumbles.

Don’t just consider the numbers, but also the unlikely sources they are coming from.

Receiver Miles Austin is the biggest rags-to-riches story with five touchdown receptions in the past three games to spark the winning streak and earn a starting spot. Third running back Tashard Choice, with 48 carries for 236 yards and two touchdowns, has been just as impactful as starter Marion Barber.

Cornerback Terence Newman, known more as a cover corner, has three forced fumbles. Backup defensive end Stephen Bowen is right behind Ware in quarterback pressures with 13.

"You got guys making plays, getting sacks, causing fumbles, knocking balls down, doing whatever we can to try to win and be a playmaker," linebacker Bradie James said. "Everybody is really stepping up to the plate."

According to the Cowboys, the spread-the-wealth plan was a conscious effort to be more socialistic than capitalistic in an effort to be a more complete team.

The Cowboys would like better numbers from Roy Williams, who has only 14 catches this season, but they are not losing sleep over it because they have been able to rely on other players, such as Austin.

"The good thing is we’re not saying, 'Well, we’ve got to get the ball to Roy Williams,’ " Phillips said. "You can get caught up in that, 'We need to get the ball to so and so.’ When we had Terrell [Owens], you felt you had to get him the ball to make a difference."

The goal, running backs coach Skip Peete said, was "to spread the ball and make the defense defend the whole offense, not just one area or one person. It gives you options. And it forces defenses to pick their poison. If you want to stop the run, we can beat you with the pass. If you want to stop Witten, we can go to Miles Austin. If you try to keep the safety back for the pass, then we will get running lanes."

"You want an opportunity," said Witten, the leader in receptions with 37 but with only one touchdown catch. "But these guys have shown they can be successful. That helps our football team."

It’s good for everybody.

Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760

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