IRVING, Texas - Here we are, in the early stages of November, yet all week long we're going to hear and read about Dec. 28 of last year.
And rightfully so, it was the day the Cowboys' season not only ended, but it happened in a way that even the most diehard of fans couldn't stomach.
So as the Cowboys get ready to take a return trip to Philadelphia, it's hard not to wonder if this team is any better, or even better-equipped to take on an Eagles squad that downright humiliated them in what instantly became a one-game playoff.
But this Cowboys' team is much better, and for several reasons. And maybe we didn't know it at the time, but this team got significantly better, nearly two weeks after the Eagles loss.
Forget Dec. 28. Think Jan. 9, 2009. That's when the Cowboys got extremely better. That's when they made the first step in turning an Achilles' heel into one of the team's strengths.
On Jan. 9, the Cowboys hired Joe DeCamillis to replace the already-fired Bruce Read with the hopes of giving the special teams units an extreme facelift.
There was no press conference. In fact, we couldn't even talk to DeCamillis or any other assistant on the staff for a couple of months.
But whether it was big news at the time or not, right then and there the Cowboys of 2009 became a better football team.
And some seven games into the regular season, it's pretty easy to see the special teams are the most improved area on the team.
It's about that time of year when we usually do our mid-season awards and grades for categories such as Team MVP, Best Win, Biggest Surprise and so forth.
While the spot of "Biggest Off-Season Acquisition" might be a tough call for others, it won't be for me. Joe DeCamillis is a slam dunk. A rim-rattling, backboard-breaking, glass-shattering two-handed jam that can be heard throughout the entire halls of Valley Ranch.
With Joe D., yes, he can always be heard.
Right away, you could tell his coaching style and approach were intense. I wouldn't call it old-school, because there are coaches who have been around forever who have an opposite approach. I think we all know that Wade Phillips is a certain way. And to an extent, Jason Garrett has a calmer demeanor to his approach.
With DeCamillis, it's an in-your-face, call-you-out, scream-and-shout approach. But the best part is, it's effective.
The players bust their tail for him. Does that mean they didn't before for Bruce Read? That's hard to say and you'll never get a straight answer on that. But the fact is, basically the same core of players is getting the job done better this year than they have in the past.
The Cowboys hired DeCamillis to come in here and turn things around on special teams and he's done that - 180 degrees.
That's why I think he's the most valuable addition the Cowboys made this season.
Quick, name three new players that have contributed the most this season.
It's a pretty easy one actually. Keith Brooking, Gerald Sensabaugh and David Buehler all come to mind.
Well, DeCamillis played a huge part in bringing in all three of them.
Having coached in Atlanta for 10 years, he's developed quite a player-coach relationship with Brooking. You're talking about two guys that approach their job the same way - all out. So naturally they're going to hit it off. So with DeCamillis already in Dallas when the Falcons decided to cut Brooking (as Ace Ventura would say . . . Good Call!), he had a few discussions with the veteran linebacker about joining the Cowboys.
Now DeCamillis doesn't take the credit for Brooking's decision, but it likely was a factor.
But he does admit having a huge role in Sensabaugh signing with the Cowboys. The two were both in Jacksonville the last two years and if DeCamillis was a selfish person, he'd wish he could have Sensabaugh on every special teams unit there is. He calls the safety a "stud" on special teams, but that doesn't mean he wants to keep him there.
He's all about these guys making the most of an opportunity and for Sensabaugh, who still plays some on special teams, he's definitely excelling with this chance to start at strong safety.
And then there's Buehler, who already has 17 touchbacks in seven games. That's 17 more than the Cowboys had a year ago.
Now touchbacks isn't really something DeCamillis can control. He didn't create Buehler's golden right leg. But on those kicks that don't go through the back of the end zone and are actually put in play, the Cowboys are getting down there and covering kicks.
You know . . . the Cowboys kick it, the other team catches and returns it, and then . . . . they're tackled. And no, not 20-30 yards down the field, usually it's right then and there. Wow, refreshing, huh?
The Cowboys rank second in the NFL in opponent's average starting position, the 21.6-yard line. Some of that is Buehler's touchbacks, some of it is Buehler's high and deep kickoffs that naïve and overly-confident return specialists are bringing out of the end zone anyway, and some of it is DeCamillis' teaching his players how to stay in their lanes and play under control despite running some 50 yards like a madman.
The Cowboys rank 11th covering punts, a ranking that has improved rapidly here in the last few weeks. You can see the confidence in the gunners - Alan Ball and Pat Watkins - who a few times this year have just met at opposing punt returners to combine on the tackle.
You can't talk about special teams improvements without mentioning Patrick Crayton, who became just the second player in franchise history to return two punts for touchdowns in consecutive games. Are you serious? Crayton taking it to the house . . . twice?
Crayton will be the first to admit the blocking up front has been outstanding. But he'll also admit that DeCamillis deserves a ton of credit for this turnaround.
"He's brought a different attitude about (special teams)," Crayton said. "The guys realize that we have the potential to break one at any moment now. If we get a returnable punt, or we can take it back to the house now. It's just the attitude.
"Special teams practice now, before practice . . . it's really just 30 minutes of hell. These guys are actually sweating more, I promise you, before the actual team period gets started. He really gets after us."
And you know the players must respect that coming from DeCamillis and what he's gone through.
Here's a guy, 44 years of age, who we all know by now is battling through a broken neck and back that required extensive surgery, nearly six months ago to the day. Sure, that was a half a year ago, but the physical pain hasn't gone away, resulting in daily rehab work with strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek, who shares many of same techniques in his coaching style.
"We hit it off pretty much from the beginning," Juraszek said of DeCamillis. "Our personalities are very similar. We're very vocal, active and try to create an aura of excitement. That's what he brought to the team right away.
"What I like about Joe is that he coaches on the same level as them. He doesn't coach from a pedestal talking down to them. He's trying to help them become better players on special teams so our team plays better overall. And that's how I relate to him. I'm doing the same thing with our players, trying to get them prepared on the field when an opportunity presents itself."
DeCamillis and Juraszek might have similar coaching styles, but only because they're similar in personality.
"You have to be yourself," DeCamillis said. "You can't be someone you're not. The players will see right through it. They're smart. They know what's going on. And if they see that, they won't respect you."
Needless to say, DeCamillis is getting respect from his players. As a result, his players on special teams are getting some respect, too.
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Nick Eatman - 
