IRVING, Texas - Two years ago, the Cowboys introduced 10 new coaches to the staff, headlined of course by Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett.
Last year, five new assistants were added, although some of them were making their second appearance here at Valley Ranch.
This year, as the Cowboys prepare for the 2009 season, only one new coach is on this staff for the first time.
But he couldn't be more important. Or is it special?
Either way you slice it, the hiring of new special teams coach Joe DeCamillis could be the biggest off-season addition the Cowboys have of any kind. He replaces Bruce Read, who was fired after two seasons, and takes over the special teams for a franchise that he considers to be top of the line.
"First of all, to be with the Cowboys, it's one of the premier, if not the premier franchise in the league," said DeCamillis, who enters his 21st season in the NFL that has included coaching stops in Denver, NY Giants, Atlanta and previously Jacksonville. "I'm privileged to be here first of all. I could've stayed in Jacksonville. I chose to come here. So it's just a real privilege to be here.
"But on the same note, I got here because we've got to get this thing squared away. We've got to get this thing done. Seeing how good the Cowboys were in the '90s with Joe Avezzano, you want to get back to that level. You want to get back to where special teams is a huge strength of the football team."
In just three months since he was hired, it has already proven to be a significant move. On draft day, team owner and general manager Jerry Jones said just about all 12 of the team's draft picks were made with special teams in mind.
DeCamillis was a fixture in the Cowboys' War Room this past weekend, giving his input on players that were selected.
But adding players is only half of the battle. DeCamillis said changing the attitude on special teams is the first step, and it's not just with the players.
"For Jerry to do what he did during the draft and for Wade to change a few things practice-wise, it's huge . . . makes my job easier," said DeCamillis, who doesn't expect more practice time to be used on special teams, but maybe just more emphasis. "I think it will be a little more urgent. You really have to have a sense of urgency. One thing that I try to get across to the players is that you have one down to get it done on special teams. Offensively and defensively, you have more than one down to get it right.
"On special teams, you only have one down to get it right. If you get a punt blocked, it's over. If you're not right on that specific play, it's a bad play for you. On the other hand, it could be a positive play. You have one play to get it right and that's why the urgency and the intensity have to be right on that particular play."
The Cowboys were on the wrong end of too many special teams plays last season, most notably against Arizona. The Cowboys not only had a kickoff returned for a touchdown to start the game, but lost in overtime on a blocked punt that resulted in a touchdown. On that play, Cowboys punter Mat McBriar suffered a fractured right foot and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.
All year long, the Cowboys had huge problems on special teams, either giving up a crucial punt return against the Steelers that turned the momentum in Pittsburgh's favor, or just consistent errors within the coverage units.
Not long after the season ended, the Cowboys showed Read the door and replaced him with DeCamillis, who said it's flattering to be considered someone to fix the problems, but there is sometimes a catch with that.
"There's some pressure there, too. You want to prove that their decision is the correct one," he said. "It starts when I got here. You really have to evaluate what's here and evaluate what you think really needs to be fixed. From that point, you find out if it's scheme, if it's personnel, if it's both, or whatever it is. Then you try to go get it fixed as efficiently and quickly as you can."
In free agency, the Cowboys signed safety Gerald Sensabaugh, who spent the last four years with the Jaguars and has played under DeCamillis. Theoretically, he could be the guy who replaces Keith Davis, the Cowboys' special teams captain last year who has not signed with any team as an unrestricted free agent.
At this point, especially after the Cowboys were so committed to special teams in the draft, it's unlikely that Davis will be brought back.
Other than Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee, a fourth-round selection, it's likely that all of the Cowboys' draft picks could have a role on special teams. Even 325-pound offensive lineman Robert Brewster, a third-round pick from Ball State, is believed to have experience as a middle-rusher on field goal-block units.
DeCamillis said he expects several of the Cowboys' rookies to have a role with this team, including Southern Cal kicker David Buehler, who not only could serve as the team's kickoff specialist, but his unique athletic abilities could land him a role on other special teams units as well.
"He's such a good athlete that you could project him to do some other things and he still could be a real good field goal kicker," DeCamillis said of Buehler. "He could be a weapon for us. He's got the athleticism to do some other things."
This past weekend, Jones commented frequently about the philosophical change he made that would allow the Cowboys to make two kickers active on game day. Nick Folk would still handle the field goal and extra points, but Buehler, who had 69 touchbacks in his collegiate career, would do all of the kickoffs, if not more.
DeCamillis said identifying each player's skill and figuring out how to maximize their talents for special teams is something he enjoys just as much as the actual coaching.
"The one thing I try to take a lot of pride in is evaluating personnel," DeCamillis said. "We have to get guys that want to do it . . . that want to go out and win that phase of the game every week. I think that's where you have to define each player's role. You have to define roles for each player. And I think once they buy into their roles and really see how much it's going to win games, they'll buy in quickly."
From the players, to the assistants and especially the owner and general manager, it seems that everyone is buying what DeCamillis is selling right now.
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Nick Eatman - 
