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          Dallas Cowboys

          Dallas Cowboys Twitter mailbag, Part 2

          Jan 3, 2015
          • Todd ArcherESPN Staff Writer
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            • Covered NFL since 1997, Cowboys since 2003
            • Previously covered Bengals and Dolphins
            • Lives in Dallas area with his wife and two children
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          IRVING, Texas – Part 2 of the Dallas Cowboys’ Twitter mailbag is ready.

          In it we discuss:

          If you want to see Part 1, click here.

          Away we go:

          @toddarcher: I think we always overrate that kind of thing. Rod Marinelli was asked about it on Friday and he said sometimes you can get too much information and it affects how you get ready for a game. Marinelli has coached enough games against Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson to know what they like to do. And there's enough of a body of work now to see the differences in offenses Scott Linehan ran with the Lions to what they do now. The information doesn't hurt, but I don't think it makes that much of a difference.

          @toddarcher: I'm a little surprised we haven't seen Will McClay's name linked to any of these personnel gigs yet on an official basis. But that's a good thing for the Cowboys. McClay wants to have the chance to run his own gig, just like about every scout in the business, but he will be smart enough to not just take any job. It has to be the right job. McClay is in a good situation with the Cowboys. He has a ton of influence on Jerry and Stephen Jones and Jason Garrett. To me, his coaching background really helps him because he can think like one when looking for players. It's easier to say, 'This is a good player.' It's another to say, 'This is a good player but this is why he is or isn't a fit for what we do.' McClay can do that. I think he will be back with the Cowboys in 2015.

          @toddarcher: It will be far different than what they did last year, when Calvin Johnson caught 14 passes for 329 yards. They didn't give Brandon Carr much help at all and Johnson and Stafford made him pay. They also need to be more aggressive with Johnson at the line. Too often the Cowboys allowed Johnson to go where he wanted without any pressure. I think you'll see Carr closer to the line and you'll see safety help over the top. Bill Parcells used to say defenses can take a receiver away whenever they want. The Cowboys didn't even try to do that last year and were burned. That won't happen this year.

          @toddarcher: The Cowboys will not pick up Henry Melton's option that guarantees him $9 million in 2015. He didn't play well enough to warrant that kind of contract. But perhaps he could return at a lower price, although I believe that is also unlikely. We need to remember that Melton is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament and it can take two years to come back from them. He had some moments, but he said he never felt like his old self this year. As of today, I don't think the Cowboys re-sign him at any price and he will have to find another team to get a chance to prove he can be a Pro Bowl defensive tackle again.

          @toddarcher: Ten might be too high, but I agree that Witten will be a big factor in the passing game. We saw Tony Romo go back to him later in the season. He had 18 catches in his final three games and was able to make some big plays. The Lions will bring a big pass rush with their front four, so I would expect Romo will look to get the ball out quickly, especially early in the game. Another guy I would expect to have some good numbers is slot receiver Cole Beasley. I think the Cowboys work Witten and Beasley and then soften up the Lions before going to Dez Bryant over the top.