***8/30/05 PC - Cuts Announced****

[Ken]

I thought there would be more than just two guys cut today.

They are down to 69.

[cowboyjoe]

give detalils later if no one else does

[jlust22]

The press conference just started. Rector and Love have been waived to put the roster at 69 players. Curtis and Ryan are the only players that are for sure out for Thursday's game. Parcells is hopeful that everyone else will play. Barber ran this morning and Parcells said he is very hopeful that can he play in the game. He said Keith Davis is improving every week and is doing a good job. He wouldn't officially name him the starting FS, but he said it looks like it is headed that way. He said Davis has earned everyone's respect and has been grateful for the opportunity to come back. He said this is not a make or break game for Henson since they only have three QB's on the roster. He said Henson is a young, developing player that is just not ready.

[TheHustler]

www.theticket.com

[cowboyjoe]

talking about qb's rating, how they kept tabs on them during offseason, and preseason
says that Henson is qb on team, young qb, needs experience,
40 pratices, 2 dozen plays previewed, has 2-3 offensive lineman to check on
says he got sense on several players ready to cross line,, be a good player
hes up to about 46-48 players or so evaluation so far
wants to get starting 5 offensive lineman out there, get centers playing, left side pretty good, right tackle needs more work, etc. hasnt gotten riveria really ready
flozell and larry know each other well, geroude experience, al johnson last week, real uncertainity right tackle and backup interior guards
try to see which players have you more flexible in backup area
doesnt know right tackle yet
thinks zimmer is doing well in 3-4

[cowboyjoe]

talks about inside middle linebackers more than enough, which makes this is first time this year since he has been here, going to have hard decisions to make on some good young players, trying to see where certain people fit, couple of spots on defense, effect how season and defense goes, talked about bledsoe in his fist 4 years, thrown in it on bad team, and on super bowl game with bill, he made some critical errors in super bowl game
last preseason game is worst nightmare you can have, right down to decisioin time to make on players make the team, he feels you dont protect players, so they dont get sense that dont care about result
if someone else calling plays he might let it be done, if bill doesnt call plays, if others call plays, he can complain at play caller

[VACowboy]

He said a few young players did some things Saturday night to demonstrate that they'd "crossed the line in a positive manner." I'm thinking Crayton, Pettiti and Ware. Any other ideas?

[Padd]

Burnett

[jlust22]

He said during the PC that he really likes Scott Shanle and that he is a very good young, developing player.

[rcaldw]

Could someone give us some more detail about what he said regarding Henson, what the question was and how he responded? Just curious about his public position with Thursday approaching.

[morasp]

He said a few young players did some things Saturday night to demonstrate that they'd "crossed the line in a positive manner." I'm thinking Crayton, Pettiti and Ware. Any other ideas?

Polite, thompson

[DBoys]

Burnett

No kidding he should be starting!!!

[bobtheflob]

thompson maybe. I thought he handled that test pretty well near the gaol line when he was tired

[cowboyjoe]

all i remember bill said he's one of the 3 qbs, but whereas bledsoe is proven qb, and romo is improving, that henson is at another spot as a qb, and he is one of our qbs, but he needs more experience, so again, whose fault is that, parcells

[InmanRoshi]

Made 2 roster moves. Waived Jamaica Rector and Reggie Love. That puts us at 69.

Who won’t play on Thursday?
Most people will play, except for Curtis and Ryan. Barber ran this morning, and I’ll have to see how he’s dong this afternoon. I’m very hoepfull he can go.

Can you say Keith Davis is your starting FS?
I don’t want to say that riht now, but he’s improving every week and it looks like it could be that way?

Have you had another player like that who gets kicked off the roster and then comes back to start?
Not exactly like that. But I’ve found if a guy is an outstanding special teams player he can usually contribute elsewhere in another capacity. Maybe not as a starter, but some role. Especially defensive players. I think now retrospectively, after what he’s been through, he’ll have pretty good judgement for the rest of his life was pretty good. When trouble starts, he’ll go the other way. I kind of have been rooting for him. He’s enthusiastic and tries hard every day.

When did you start trusting him again?
Last year, when he started demonstrated that he would do any job and do it the best he could. He was gratefull to come back. We appreciated the way he went about doing it. There waas scrutiny there with him, but he’s earned everyone’s respect. Certainly mine. Now he can go upward and onward. I don’t know where his ceiling is, but he has the type of approach that will maximize it.

How did the QB show up on the charted throws.
I wont tell you how they showed up, but we charted all 7 on 7, pass skeleton. All team period plays. All competitive period plays, when we were going active offense vs. defense, and all the plays in the game. Then we make a cumulative total and evaluation. That not only includes completion and incompletions, but inaccuracy, poor decisions, and dropped balls that were accurate.

QB rating shows that Romo had a good trianing camp and preseason.
QB rating in itself is a very false statistic. It should be a really called a passer rating, not a QB rating, because there are other things involved that are not taken into account. Especially decisions that a QB makes that would be unknown to the layman … it would just be impossible to know… but just trouble that he gets out of or recognizing certain things that makes a play better than it could have been.

What do you see that makes you think Bledsoe is ready?
I look for certain signs of things in that chart. Too much inaccuracy or poor decisions, then I know we need ot work on mechanics or we need to school him more.

Is Thursday a make or break game for Henson?
No, why would it be? He’s a young, developing player. He’s just not ready.

How many of decisions left to be made involve the OL
Two.

Can a player turn it around in the final game and make make the team?
I don’t think so. We’re coming up on 40 practices. Several scrimmages. Two dozen competitive O vs. D periods. 3 games. Maybe not a complete no, but with a young developing player you can get a sense that they’re starting to get ready to cross the line in a positive way. So if I witness that, yeah, maybe they could. But just making a long run or a circus catch or an interception, that wouldn’t change my mind.

You said last week you had figured out 40 of the 53? Are you up to 46 now?
Yeah, maybe a little higher.

Continuity on OL a worry? Do the starting 5 need to play more together?

Not getting the same 5 guys out there has been by choicle a little bit. I pretty much know the left side and Rivera. So I wanted to get the centers playing, both with 1st team. Then both RT’s playing with the 1st group. And Tyson played 1st group with Rivera out. So we’ve kind of been changing things up on purpose. Flozell and Larry have been playing together since before the war, so they should know each other very well. Gurode and Johnson have been here. Rivera is a new player, but an experienced veteran. The real uncertainty is the RT and the backup interior guards. You have to see in what way can you make up the roster that will give you the most flexibility as well, particularly in the backup areas.

Do you know if you have the answer at RT for the year?
I don’t know yet.

Zimmer and the 3-4
Doing well. Getting ideas, we’re going back and forth every day. Just this morning we were talking about situations, good situations, that we saw this morning and what we want to emphasize. I think he’s getting a good feel for play calling. We’re back and forth in playcalling, like we were last year.

Where does Keith O’Neil fit?
That’s a good question. It’s an undecided position. I can’t tell you, beause there are three things involved in the final count at LB. If we do something with the DL, it effects the LB’s. If we do something with the LB’s, then it effects what we do with the DL. This is the first time in my tenure in Dallas that these decisions will be difficult. We have some good players here who have performed in the past.

Can Shanle play special teams as well as O’Neil?
I think Shanle can be an adequate special teams player. I like Shanle, I think he’s a good, young developing player. Very good young developing player. We’re a little deeper at the inside LB position.


How do you decide the final 53?
I work back first to 45. Then to 46. Then to 47. Up to 53. Player 52 and 53 should be young, developing prospects who have a good upside but might be a year away from being something. I don’t think just focus on San Diego when making the roster, I want to get the right guys on the team, period.

You said Henson isn’t ready, is Romo ready?

Don’t want to go much further on that. Obivously, he has more experience. I’ll just leave it at that. He’s just more up on the system. More functional.

Henson hasn’t taken a step back?
No, I don’t see how he could take a step back. Its just .. a compartive thing, one guy is in one place, and another guy is at another place.

Quincy Morgan on the bubble?
That’s another position that have considerations beyond just receiving. He’s in a fight. No doubt about it.

Charting QB’s and looking at certain areas…. with Bledsoe did anything surprise you or unexpected?

I’m kind of refamilarizing myself with him. The more I see him, the more I understand where he is right now. What he likes vs. what’s difficult for him. He understands this management thing is important to me, and he goes along with it. You can’t expect a QB to go through a season with error free football, but I do want to minimize the mistakes on that end. Last time around with New England it was a 4 year development period for a young, immature, inexperienced QB who was forced onto a bad team. Fortunately, by the end of his 1st year he won 4 or 5 games in the row, including the final game of the season in overtime with a dramatic TD pass. The 2nd year we got in the palyoffs with him. A couple of years later was the Superbowl. But even in that Superbowl year, he was very much a work in progress. In that game he made some critical errors. That was many years ago, and now he has a wealth of experience. He’s much more mature and understanding, and I don’t think he views himself as a centerpiece, but a main cog in the wheel.

Best talent you had since you’ve been here?
Best group of athletes. Maybe more depth defensively. I on’t know what will happen. I’m not quite as comfortable in some areas. Offensively, I’m trying to see where certain people fit. A couple of spots on defense that will effect how this season goes. A few critical spots, depth wise.

Do you think you can lean on your defense and manage your offense?
I would like to feel like that, very much. I think any coach would. I would like to be able to just punt the ball without worrying about it. I don’t know if I can say that right now. I do think this defense is improving. I do think that. But Thursday Night is the worse night of the year for any HC. The last preseason is just a nightmare for a head coach.

Why is that/
Its right down to decision time, and just a few things can alter your entire thought process. I’ve never been one to protect my players in preseason, I do care about the result.

Payton calling plays?
I don’t know. I’ll be involved in one way or another. Maybe having someone else calls makes things flow easier. Philosophically, the coaches know more aout what I want.

What does not calling the plays free you up to do?
It allows me more freedom to complain at the playcaller. Just like anyone else.

[Funxva]

Thanks Inman, as always!

[aikemirv]

Where does Keith O’Neil fit?
That’s a good question. It’s an undecided position. I can’t tell you, beause there are three things involved in the final count at LB. If we do something with the DL, it effects the LB’s. If we do something with the LB’s, then it effects what we do with the DL. This is the first time in my tenure in Dallas that these decisions will be difficult. We have some good players here who have performed in the past.

Who are those players who have performed in the past that would be on the bubble?

Carson - he has looked very good in preseason - I can't see him getting cut

Obogu - he may well be gone after the comment the other day about "he will play in the NFL this year"

Singleton - I just can't believe with his depth problems he has mentioned at OLB that he would be gone either.

[SultanOfSix]

What does not calling the plays free you up to do?
It allows me more freedom to complain at the playcaller. Just like anyone else.

ROFL. I like that sense of humor.

[LaTunaNostra]

What does not calling the plays free you up to do?
It allows me more freedom to complain at the playcaller. Just like anyone else.

Thanks once again, Roshi.

I hope this move to Payton calling plays is permanent now..Bill will be in overload overseeing Zim's installing the new D.

[Erik_H]

Once again, thanks a ton Rosh.

What does not calling the plays free you up to do?
It allows me more freedom to complain at the playcaller. Just like anyone else.

That's just flat out funny.

[blindzebra]

Thanks once again, Roshi.

I hope this move to Payton calling plays is permanent now..Bill will be in overload overseeing Zim's installing the new D.

From what I've seen in games and from what was said in the PC...and I know this must be ripping Hollywood's heart out...Parcells likes Zimmer and is trusting him with this defense.

Zimmer was calling the plays in preseason and was not standing by Parcells while he does it, ala Payton.;)

[dmq]

I gotta believe that if our team improves throughout the year that Parcells will sign a 2 year extension.
I just believe he is finally getting a team and coaching staff together that can make a run at it.

[Hoov]

Once again, thanks a ton Rosh.



That's just flat out funny.

yes it was, how can you not love the way parcells is so blunt and direct but manages to say it in a way that is funny as well.

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

What does not calling the plays free you up to do?
It allows me more freedom to complain at the playcaller. Just like anyone else.
:lmao2:

Sorry...that just hit a funny bone.

[Thick 'N Hearty]

I would hate to be in coach's position when it comes time to make decisions about who to cut on the defensive side of the ball. This defense is going to be awesome. I would say a top 10 easy, possibly a Top 5.

The offensive side is a different story. I think some of his thought process is, "Okay, who sucked the least?"

[Doomsday101]

I would hate to be in coach's position when it comes time to make decisions about who to cut on the defensive side of the ball. This defense is going to be awesome. I would say a top 10 easy, possibly a Top 5.

The offensive side is a different story. I think some of his thought process is, "Okay, who sucked the least?"

When the cuts become hard to make you know your starting to improve talent wise and I do see this as being the case.

[Mike 1967]

"But just making a long run or a circus catch or an interception, that wouldn’t change my mind. "


hmmmm......makes me think of Morgan

[MinnesotaCowboy]

Good post, Rosh......I am getting "butterflys" just thinking about the cuts being made as we speak. The better the talent the harder it becomes.......what keeps those coaches from getting ulcers?????

[Ashwynn]

Wow. I am excited to see the final roster myself. Its wierd hearing Parcells say this is the first time hes had hard decisions on cuts. That says so much about where we are coming from, and also where we are going.

I am excited. Sounds like Parcells is feeling good about the team and our chances. Man, its gunna be a good year.

[Hollywood Henderson]

BZ:
Actually this report showed he & Parcells have "gone back & forth on play calling on D"

Why would it tear out my heart?

I knew changes needed to be made, so did Parcells, those changes have been made...We also got a real NFL level DB coach now...

Myself?
I hope Payton does call the plays, because it would allow Parcells to do what he does best...COACH the D! Afterall it is HIS (Parcells) 3-4 were playing now. (Don't forget this 3-4 was all "Greek" to zimmy)

zimmy the greek has always failed at placing players where they can best excell & help the team...I swear if Ware is out chasing players in coverage most of the time when we play SD, I will come down & smack some sense into him! :cool:

[blindzebra]

BZ:
Actually this report showed he & Parcells have "gone back & forth on play calling on D"

Why would it tear out my heart?

I knew changes needed to be made, so did Parcells, those changes have been made...We also got a real NFL level DB coach now...

Myself?
I hope Payton does call the plays, because it would allow Parcells to do what he does best...COACH the D! Afterall it is HIS (Parcells) 3-4 were playing now. (Don't forget this 3-4 was all "Greek" to zimmy)

zimmy the greek has always failed at placing players where they can best excell & help the team...I swear if Ware is out chasing players in coverage most of the time when we play SD, I will come down & smack some sense into him! :cool:

Zimmer and the 3-4

Doing well. Getting ideas, we’re going back and forth every day. Just this morning we were talking about situations, good situations, that we saw this morning and what we want to emphasize. I think he’s getting a good feel for play calling. We’re back and forth in playcalling, like we were last year.

Hmmm, that sounds like two people working together, that respect and like each other, and not Parcells calling all the shots to me.

[Doomsday101]

Zimmer and the 3-4

Doing well. Getting ideas, we’re going back and forth every day. Just this morning we were talking about situations, good situations, that we saw this morning and what we want to emphasize. I think he’s getting a good feel for play calling. We’re back and forth in playcalling, like we were last year.

Hmmm, that sounds like two people working together, that respect and like each other, and not Parcells calling all the shots to me.

You will never convice HH on Zimmer. Parcells can talk highly of Zimmer and HH still refuses to accept Zimmer as the DC

[blindzebra]

You will never convice HH on Zimmer. Parcells can talk highly of Zimmer and HH still refuses to accept Zimmer as the DC

I know, but it's still fun to point it out and watch him come back with more Zimmy/Wuss rantings.:D

[joseephuss]

BZ:
Actually this report showed he & Parcells have "gone back & forth on play calling on D"

Why would it tear out my heart?

I knew changes needed to be made, so did Parcells, those changes have been made...We also got a real NFL level DB coach now...

Myself?
I hope Payton does call the plays, because it would allow Parcells to do what he does best...COACH the D! Afterall it is HIS (Parcells) 3-4 were playing now. (Don't forget this 3-4 was all "Greek" to zimmy)

zimmy the greek has always failed at placing players where they can best excell & help the team...I swear if Ware is out chasing players in coverage most of the time when we play SD, I will come down & smack some sense into him! :cool:


Changes like getting better players on defense. I think every fan of the Cowboys knew that.

I think Parcells must be the dumbest coach in the world and highly overrated. I mean, he keeps a guy that "has always failed at placing players where they can best excell & help the team" on the team as the defensive coordinator for the 3rd straight year under him. If this guy is so incompetent, why would Bill do that and also expect him to be able to learn a knew defensive scheme? Bill is losing it.

[blindzebra]

Changes like getting better players on defense. I think every fan of the Cowboys knew that.

I think Parcells must be the dumbest coach in the world and highly overrated. I mean, he keeps a guy that "has always failed at placing players where they can best excell & help the team" on the team as the defensive coordinator for the 3rd straight year under him. If this guy is so incompetent, why would Bill do that and also expect him to be able to learn a knew defensive scheme? Bill is losing it.

Not to mention that this idiot Parcells completely ignored the defense his first year and worked almost exclusively with the offense, leaving the defense up to Zimmy/Wuss. What was our defensive rank that year, again?:D

[joseephuss]

Not to mention that this idiot Parcells completely ignored the defense his first year and worked almost exclusively with the offense, leaving the defense up to Zimmy/Wuss. What was our defensive rank that year, again?:D

Oh, but we all know that the 2003 defense was no good. It was all smoke and mirrors. :D

Sad, but true, the 2003 defense actually had better talent than the 2004 defense. Yikes. So far, looks like 2005 and the future will have much more talent than either club. Too bad Zimmy wuss is going to screw it all up.

[Hollywood Henderson]

Silly BZ, just silly...
You really read ALOT into those quotes...
Like he "likes zimmy and respects" him...
Please...

If you don't know the inside of D then why would u bring it up at all?

That #1 ranking of that D was funny, we sucked, & couldn't stop any good teams, were still VERY near the LAST in the REAL defensive stats that matter...(Turnovers & sacks) But yes, we were pretty good vs awful teams...

No, Parcells had seen enough and TOLD zimmy to learn this 3-4...
Got it?
Go ahead, show the world more what you don't know about D with YOUR rantings... :D

[blindzebra]

Silly BZ, just silly...
You really read ALOT into those quotes...
Like he "likes zimmy and respects" him...
Please...

If you don't know the inside of D then why would u bring it up at all?

That #1 ranking of that D was funny, we sucked, & couldn't stop any good teams, were still VERY near the LAST in the REAL defensive stats that matter...(Turnovers & sacks) But yes, we were pretty good vs awful teams...

No, Parcells had seen enough and TOLD zimmy to learn this 3-4...
Got it?
Go ahead, show the world more what you don't know about D with YOUR rantings... :D

From yesterday's PC:

Does the 3-4 scheme produce more turnovers?

No. I wouldn’t say that. If you got good players in the scheme, that’s what produces turnovers.

Ferguson, Henry, Ware, Spears, Burnett, Canty, Ratliff, Johnson, and Beriault any of these guys better than what we have had on the 03-04 rosters?

[Hollywood Henderson]

Actually, its been stated MANY times already that the 3-4 is much less predictable...Teams don't know if a blitz is coming or where from...

Its already PROVEN to be much better then the predictable always lose crap we had been playing with zimmy!
Don't you agree?

[blindzebra]

Actually, its been stated MANY times already that the 3-4 is much less predictable...Teams don't know if a blitz is coming or where from...

Its already PROVEN to be much better then the predictable always lose crap we had been playing with zimmy!
Don't you agree?

Do we have a sack or a turnover in a real game in a 3-4?

How do you define proven?:lmao:

[jobberone]

Actually, its been stated MANY times already that the 3-4 is much less predictable...Teams don't know if a blitz is coming or where from...

Its already PROVEN to be much better then the predictable always lose crap we had been playing with zimmy!
Don't you agree?

I think Zimmer has some things to address but if you truly think he's incompetent then you must also think Parcells is as well for keeping him around.

Either that or you must think Zimmer has something on Bill.

What could it be? Maybe Zimmer does Bill's hair?

:laugh1:

[joseephuss]

Actually, its been stated MANY times already that the 3-4 is much less predictable...Teams don't know if a blitz is coming or where from...

Its already PROVEN to be much better then the predictable always lose crap we had been playing with zimmy!
Don't you agree?

Since the defensive schemes have been pretty vanilla so far in the pre-season, I would say that the biggest difference has been the influx of better players.

Henry and Glenn to go along with a more confident Newman provide good coverage and more time for the front seven to make plays.

Ware has provided a much better pass rush than Wiley last season and Ekuban in 2003.

Always loses Zimmy? The 2003 team went 10-6 and made the playoffs.

I would say a majority of posters in this forum didn't think much of Quincy Carter, Troy Hambrick or Joey Galloway. Many disapprove of Antonio Bryant. Jason Witten and Larry Allen were better in 2004 than 2003. Who was the center or right tackle in 2003? My point is that it sure doesn't look as if the offense is the part of the team responsible for the teams success in 2003.

The defensive play calling was pretty good in the playoff game against Carolina. The execution was terrible. Guys missed tackles or took bad angles. No one made plays on the ball in the air while Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad both made plays.

[Hollywood Henderson]

Jos,
Obviously better players perform better in a scheme that suits their ability...

Always lose was in a remark to when we lost 16 of 18 games that we had leads going into the 4th 1/4 dating back during zimmy's era..

Games that matter? BZ...
Well, the proof is in the pudding...
Afterall, it wasn't zimmy's idea to change to the 3-4 was it?

Just be glad Parcells DID make the changes that the Cowboys needed to...

And shoots, he does need a guy that looks like squiggy, but sounds like he has MUCH less conviction then squiggy ever did to hold the clipboard! :) :lmao2:

[JackMagist]

Wasn't today the day we had to get down to 65 players or do I have the date wrong? Have there been any more cuts?

[blindzebra]

Wasn't today the day we had to get down to 65 players or do I have the date wrong? Have there been any more cuts?

We have extra exemptions from NFLE that we put on Jones and Crayton, so 69 was our limit.

[smashmouth]

Talent wins in this league and in any league. You can only get so so guys to do so much. It is going to be interesting with the cuts thing, because defensively, he's got

some serious issues coming his way. Our strongest talent base is going to be right there

on defense.