Austin tries to lead the way for Cowboys' young receivers

SAN ANTONIO  At 22, Dez Bryant is a raw, unpolished wide receiver with undeniable potential. Now a starter, the Dallas Cowboys' injury-prone No. 1 draft choice from a year ago must emerge into a reliable target if the team's aerial attack is to rebound in 2011.

Bryant, an explosive downfield threat who lacks experience and polish, is going to need help, of course. Perhaps the "old man'' of the team's tenderfoot receiving corps can lend a hand (or two).

Except …. Miles Austin is all of 27.

Austin, the Cowboys' Pro Bowl receiver, is attempting to still grasp the nuances of running crafty, scheme-busting routes. Yet, he is by far the most accomplished of the team's developing wide receivers group, which includes Kevin Ogletree, 23; Manuel Johnson, 24; Jesse Holley, 27; and rookie Dwayne Harris, 23.

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"Me, Romo and Miles, and all of the rest of the receivers, we're getting a great chemistry down,'' said Bryant, who hauled in a touchdown in practice after recognizing his quarterback's signal to the change the play at the line of scrimmage.

Depth, at least from proven veterans, is an issue. The Cowboys, facing difficult salary-cap decisions, released veteran receiver Roy Williams last week. Former Cowboys receivers Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd are now in San Diego and Chicago respectively.

Someone say, "Terrell Owens?'' He is a free agent. But it seems unlikely that Cowboys' general manager-president-team owner Jerry Jones is ready to sell his football soul again with T.O.

Two seasons ago, the Cowboys' offense was a burr in the saddle of NFL defenses, ranking No. 2 overall in the league. It produced 6,390 yards as quarterback Tony Romo whipped the football around for a franchise-record 4,483 passing yards. Cowboy receivers posted a league-best 2,154 yards after the catch.

Romo suffered a broken collarbone near midway through last season, and the running game was underutilized and generally underwhelming. With journeyman Jon Kitna replacing Romo, Dallas finished ranked 26th in the NFL in passing. Romo has recuperated and Dallas coach Jason Garrett, a former Cowboys quarterback, is eager to expand his offense's verticality.

The Cowboys first must generate better balance. That starts with a revitalized rushing attack featuring Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. A fortified running game would help protect Romo and set up play-action downfield passes to Austin and Bryant, along with Jason Witten, one of the league's premier tight ends.

For now, Ogletree is (lightly) penciled in as the third receiver but he admitted his steep learning curve "is a process.'' The Cowboys don't use many four-wide receiver sets because of Witten's great hands, so Ogletree's game-day action was curtailed in 2010 as the undrafted former two-time all-ACC player from Virginia found it difficult to get into a rhythm.

For now, the Cowboys' impact players on the outside start with Bryant and Austin.

"Dez comes to work every day he's out here,'' Romo said. "When he's here, he just puts his working hat on and he goes out here and runs all day. Miles is the same way. They both have a great work ethic; they both have a great attitude. From a quarterback's perspective, it's fun being out here throwing with these guys over and over again.''

Austin, an undrafted free agent signed in 2006, set a franchise receiving record of 250 yards in a single game in 2009. That was the same season he made his first NFL start.

His career blossomed two seasons ago after the release of Owens when Austin, then the team's No. 3 wideout, was moved into the starting lineup. The 6-2, 215-pounder was rewarded last season with a contract extension and he thanked Jones with 69 catches for 1,041 and seven TDs, including six through the air.

Thrust into a leadership role, Austin says the younger receivers often seek his counsel.

"I give them as much feedback as I can whether it be in the locker room, out here on the field or in the lunch room,'' he said. "I just try to pass on as much knowledge as I can. Not to say it's always the right knowledge, but I try to do my best job and just bestowing upon them the best advice that I can."

Regarding Bryant, Austin added: "I don't feel like I'm teaching Dez. I'm just trying to be a good teammate and I'm trying to lead through my actions and not necessarily my words.''

Garrett, who replaced the fired Wade Phillips during the team's tumultuous 6-10 season, said Dallas' dynamic duo presents defenses with big, strong dynamic playmakers capable of defeating man-to-man coverage.

"They can get away from defenders,'' Garrett said. "To be honest with you, as productive as Miles has been in the past couple of years, he has a long way to go in terms of his understanding of our scheme … and how to win. He has a long way to go, but he's going about it the right way, as Dez is.''

Bryant played only two seasons at Oklahoma State before the Cowboys traded up with New England and selected him as the 24th overall pick in the 2010 draft. However, he missed crucial training camp time after a high-ankle sprain last July. He did not play in a preseason game.

Bryant played in a dozen games last season, starting only two before breaking his ankle against the Indianapolis Colts in early December and being placed on injured reserve.

Still, Bryant, 6-2 and 225 pounds, finished the season with 45 catches for 561 yards and six receiving touchdowns, adding two more scores on punt returns. Wearing No. 88, the same number worn by Hall of Fame Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, Bryant demonstrated that he could get open downfield and was a veritable beast after the catch.

"He very much made an impact on our football team in a lot of different ways, but he still has a long way to go,'' Garrett said. "He has a long way to go in terms of understanding our system and a long way technically, but every guy on our team is in the same situation.''