The Wulf Den: Return of the Wulf - Page 4 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Wulfman · 12-05-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboyMcCoy

I think the expectancy is like 15 years or so. Then if something goes wrong, they just replace that one. So... Pork or Beef? Just curious.

Mechanical. They said it should last longer than I do if I live to be 100.

Wulfman · 12-05-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGDen

Exactly what I was going to say. I think McCray is a disaster that should not be on an NFL defense. He is Cory Procteresque in that he is such a glaring weakness. His lack of ability compromises the entire unit. If we had Church and even just one of our two ILBs back, I think this team would be able to go pretty far this year. The offense is as healthy as it's been, but the defense is a M.A.S.H. unit that will likely cost us (at least a couple of)these remaining games.

I can understand this perspective, I just happen to look at it a different way. When I do this kind of season review, I try to look not just at how people are playing from one game to the next, but how that performance measures up compared to what they were expected to contribute from the end of training camp.

McCray was expected to serve as the special teams captain and come in on defense in some very specific packages, sometimes playing in the box in place of an interior LB and at times to blitz. That was his role at the end of last year, and what he had been doing in training camp. That role is his strength, in my opinion.

Instead, however, he's been thrown into a starting job because of Church's injury, and is having to do things from a gameplay perspective that he wasn't really expected to do previously. As such, his weaknesses in certain areas of safety play have been exposed and exploited. If that surprises anyone, I'm not quite sure they had realistic expectations anyway.

It also hasn't helped the safeties losing both Lee and Carter in front of them. There is a lot of communication that has to go on up the middle of the defense in order to make sure coverages work, and there's been a lack of that when Connor and Sims have been playing. Connor, in particular, doesn't appear to have the speed or quickness for coverage on a consistent basis, and players getting free behind him are usually going to find the safeties out of position as a result.

That's not to excuse McCray's mistakes, and he has made a number of them. In particular, he has a tendency to take bad angles to the ballcarrier, frequently putting himself out of position to make a solid tackle when he gets there (assuming he gets there at all). The dropoff in that particular area from Church to McCray is more significant than just about any other aspect I've seen on tape.

But overall, considering what he was expected to do, and then what's been dropped on him as the season has gone on, I can't get down on the guy, and I think he will be a solid contributor as a back-up and special teams captain next season. I will be watching, however, for some improvement over the last four games, specifically in the area I mentioned, above. If he doesn't show he can correct that problem, next year will likely be his last in Dallas, special teams captain or not.

CowboyMcCoy · 12-05-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wulfman

Mechanical. They said it should last longer than I do if I live to be 100.

Sweet.

Wulfman · 12-08-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboyLover2323

Excellent post by the OP.

I agree that they definitely need to address offensive tackle in the offseason. Free has fallen off a cliff and reached the point of no return. If it was a purely physical issue, I would have some hope, but I think a lot of it probably has to do with mental psyche and confidence at this point, so I am not sure that he'll ever get it back.

I also agree about the coaching situation. I doubt Callahan will get any interviews elsewhere, but Ryan might get a chance somewhere. Garrett is here to stay for at least another year or two, which excites me quite a bit. Now that Murray is back, we saw what Garrett can do as the playcaller here. The offense was rolling in the second half vs. Philly.

[View Full Quote]

I'll go a step further on the OT position. Not only do I release Free at the end of the year to save cap space, but I'm not filling his spot with Parnell unless I know he can handle the job. And for my money, the only way I know that is if I let him start at RT for at least 2-3 games at the end of this season. If he doesn't prove himself, go sign a mid-tier FA in the offseason and then draft a developmental guy for the future. If he does, either sign a middle-tier veteran or draft a developmental guy anyway to compete for the starting job or to serve as a back-up next year.

Wolfpack · 12-08-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wulfman

I'll go a step further on the OT position. Not only do I release Free at the end of the year to save cap space, but I'm not filling his spot with Parnell unless I know he can handle the job. And for my money, the only way I know that is if I let him start at RT for at least 2-3 games at the end of this season. If he doesn't prove himself, go sign a mid-tier FA in the offseason and then draft a developmental guy for the future. If he does, either sign a middle-tier veteran or draft a developmental guy anyway to compete for the starting job or to serve as a back-up next year.

Who in the FO / Staff do you think will be able to identify these mid-tier or draft guys? The current guys dont have any track record of hitting on OL, at all.

wittenacious · 12-09-2012

Haven't posted for awhile, 'til today, trying to avoid so much of the hostility. I miss the best of CZ. And there are so many great members here.

To read your OP, to see that you are back to it after all this time does my heart good. I followed your surgery and continued reading until I found that you had come through it and you were back at home, healing up.

Glad you're back at it, Wulf. But more importantly, I'm very glad you are on the Up N Up health-wise.

muck4doo · 12-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by wittenacious

Haven't posted for awhile, 'til today, trying to avoid so much of the hostility. I miss the best of CZ. And there are so many great members here.

To read your OP, to see that you are back to it after all this time does my heart good. I followed your surgery and continued reading until I found that you had come through it and you were back at home, healing up.

Glad you're back at it, Wulf. But more importantly, I'm very glad you are on the Up N Up health-wise.

Let the negative stuff slide off your back. Keep posting.

wittenacious · 12-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by muck4doo

Let the negative stuff slide off your back. Keep posting.

Wanna let the negative stuff slide, but there's just so much of it a body can take sometimes... you know? Appreciate the invitation to participate in posting again. Thank you for the encouragement. Used to enjoy it.

muck4doo · 12-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by wittenacious

Wanna let the negative stuff slide, but there's just so much of it a body can take sometimes... you know? Appreciate the invitation to participate in posting again. Thank you for the encouragement. Used to enjoy it.

There's never too much of it that you can't handle. There will always be stupid people on the internet. There are also many that appreciate what you have to say. Don't rob us of your opinions to appease the stupid.

wittenacious · 12-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by muck4doo

There's never too much of it that you can't handle. There will always be stupid people on the internet. There are also many that appreciate what you have to say. Don't rob us of your opinions to appease the stupid.

Again, I really do appreciate the encouragement, muck. Very kind.

Losing Wulfman would be the real tragedy.