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Troy Aikman Research Paper

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One of the keys to the art of building a winner is finding the right personnel to fit your system. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett’s offensive philosophy stems from his days as a backup quarterback to Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. In the glory days of the 90s dynasty, Aikman had a massive offensive line that featured tackles Mark Tuinei and Erik Williams, guards Nate Newton and Kevin Gogan, and center Mark Stepnoski that gave Aikman enough time to get the football to his outlets. What the maulers did best was pave the way for the great Emmitt Smith – a physical all-around back the offense centralized their game plans around.

On the boundary, Michael Irvin (6-2, 207 lbs.) and Alvin Harper (6-3, 210 lbs.) were two physical receivers Aikman connected …show more content…

The late Don Coryell was the architect and innovator behind the system that Ernie Zampese learned under Coryell as an assistant with the Chargers. Norv Turner grasped the system as a receivers coach with the Rams when Zampese was the OC from the mid-80s to early-90s. Turner was hired by the Cowboys in ’91 to coordinate the offense and had an impact on Aikman’s development into one the best timing passers in guiding the Cowboys to back-to-back super bowl runs in ’92 and …show more content…

Now Garrett, like Turner and Zampese had to work with, has the tools in place for the offense to be a juggernaut. Starting with the receivers, Garrett has a beast in Dez Bryant (6-2, 225 lbs.) able to dominate with the same prowess Irvin took to the gridiron, and Terrance Williams (6-2, 208 lbs.) opposite of Bryant with some similarities as Harper (can get up and get the ball). Notice the comparison in size that Irvin and Harper had? Insert Brice Butler (6-3, 215 lbs.) and the Cowboys have the ideal receivers wanted in the system – prototypical sized route runners able to get downfield.

Lots of eyes will be on Butler, who has the size and speed to potentially take over for Williams – the current Z receiver on the roster. Williams should put up better numbers than Mohamad Sanu – the Bengals’ former number two receiver who signed a five-year, $32 million deal with the Falcons. If Sanu’s 33 catches, and near 400 yards receiving last season set the table for the deal he signed this offseason – Williams should be seeking something

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