This offseason has to be almost perfect

[erod]

I, you, we....all of us are squawking for offensive lineman, and rightly so. Don't want to watch Tyron Smith and the four traffic cones again. Never again. I still flinch when I read the names Bernadeau or Free. Romo must be in shock therapy this very minute.

We mention defensive lineman, too, and safety sometimes. But the blinding spotlight is trained to the big fat guys who's jerseys you can't buy on the website without special order and 250 bucks.

The cure to the Cowboy ills, however, is going to be far trickier than that.

Amidst the ongoing coaching lottery drawings and shift back to the 4-3, there remain these nagging backstories that we know of and make a passing post about, yet we somewhat dismiss as just idle noise in the offseason background.

Felix Jones is as good as gone. Same for Mike Jenkins and perhaps Anthony Spencer. Tough decisions ahead on Doug Free, Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin, and a few others, especially with Tony Romo's contract situation looming. We can't have Romo counting $17 million against the cap.

As always, the salary cap noose is tight, though there seems to be some wiggle room with restructuring and whatnot, especially if Jerry kicks the can down the road again and borrows from future cap space as allowed.

Then there's the other half of the league penalty. Another $5 million dead bones right there.

So, while a new cast of lineman is assembled (hopefully), very key free agent decisions will have to be made all about the roster, especially on the cheap for one or two. Duct tape and super glue in the right spots is in order.

Meanwhile, the decision on Spencer looms, and not helping matters is the flagrant stupidity of our interior defensive linemen, Ratliff and Josh Brent. Both would have helped, and now Ratliff could be looking at a suspension while Brent sits in the pokey. I'm praying Dez learned a lesson about mama last year and stays out of the fray this go-round.

No more drama from anyone, please. Wrap 'em all in bubble wrap and lock 'em in the training room.

So the grocery list includes more than just beef. How about a corner, a backup for our oft-injured tailback, perhaps a strong-side linebacker, as well as safeties with hands instead of oven mits. Maybe even a receiver.

This team COULD be very close, because key players in key positions are certainly in place. But this is as critical of an offseason as I can remember in a long time. No room for error in free agency, or in the top picks.

I hope Ciskowski, Garrett, and company have their eye on the ball this crazy offseason.

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by erod

I, you, we....all of us are squawking for offensive lineman, and rightly so. Don't want to watch Tyron Smith and the four traffic cones again. Never again. I still flinch when I read the names Bernadeau or Free. Romo must be in shock therapy this very minute.

Felix Jones is as good as gone. Same for Mike Jenkins and perhaps Anthony Spencer. Tough decisions ahead on Doug Free, Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin, and a few others, especially with Tony Romo's contract situation looming. We can't have Romo counting $17 million against the cap.

Meanwhile, the decision on Spencer looms, and not helping matters is the flagrant stupidity of our interior defensive linemen, Ratliff and Josh Brent. Both would have helped, and now Ratliff could be looking at a suspension while Brent sits in the pokey. I'm praying Dez learned a lesson about mama last year and stays out of the fray this go-round.
.

To me, the only difficult decision is Spencer. It's difficult to lose a good player, but he is much less critical in the new defense. They didn't really have any options to replace him in RR's defense, but now it is easier.

Free: Easy decision. Cap hit to keep = 11.175M. Cut him. Parnell is better.

Ratliff: Part or all of his base salary appears to be guaranteed. Cutting him would have Zero benefit. The only possibility would be to get another team to take his base salary in a trade. That seems highly doubtful.

Miles Austin: I don't really see cutting him as an option unless they sign a significant Free Agent to replace him; however, I don't really see him here in 2014 unless he has a great year in 2013 and is injury free.
Right, Austin injury free for a year.

In regards to Ratliff and Brent making stupid decisions. Brent was not are great fit in the new defense, IMO. Ratliff can't really be counted on to stay healthy anyway.

[erod]

Originally Posted by xwalker

To me, the only difficult decision is Spencer. It's difficult to lose a good player, but he is much less critical in the new defense. They didn't really have any options to replace him in RR's defense, but now it is easier.

Free: Easy decision. Cap hit to keep = 11.175M. Cut him. Parnell is better.

Ratliff: Part or all of his base salary appears to be guaranteed. Cutting him would have Zero benefit. The only possibility would be to get another team to take his base salary in a trade. That seems highly doubtful.

Miles Austin: I don't really see cutting him as an option unless they sign a significant Free Agent to replace him; however, I don't really see him here in 2014 unless he has a great year in 2013 and is injury free.
Right, Austin injury free for a year.

[View Full Quote]In regards to Ratliff and Brent making stupid decisions. Brent was not are great fit in the new defense, IMO. Ratliff can't really be counted on to stay healthy anyway.

Brent could have played the 1-technique well on the center, I think.

I believe Spencer is gone, but Free will stay. Just a gut feeling. I could see Free and Austin restructuring, but again, that's just pushing money into the future yet again.

[big dog cowboy]

Originally Posted by erod

So the grocery list includes more than just beef.

True. But dominance there cures a lot of ills.

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by erod

Brent could have played the 1-technique well on the center, I think.

I believe Spencer is gone, but Free will stay. Just a gut feeling. I could see Free and Austin restructuring, but again, that's just pushing money into the future yet again.

Generally, in the Kiffin defenses, the 1-tech tries to defeat double teams by splitting them, not by absorbing them like a 2-gap player.

Brent is not a gap penetrating type of DLineman, IMO. He is better at occupying the double-team than splitting it.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by erod

I, you, we....all of us are squawking for offensive lineman, and rightly so. Don't want to watch Tyron Smith and the four traffic cones again. Never again. I still flinch when I read the names Bernadeau or Free. Romo must be in shock therapy this very minute.

We mention defensive lineman, too, and safety sometimes. But the blinding spotlight is trained to the big fat guys who's jerseys you can't buy on the website without special order and 250 bucks.

The cure to the Cowboy ills, however, is going to be far trickier than that.

Amidst the ongoing coaching lottery drawings and shift back to the 4-3, there remain these nagging backstories that we know of and make a passing post about, yet we somewhat dismiss as just idle noise in the offseason background.

[View Full Quote]Felix Jones is as good as gone. Same for Mike Jenkins and perhaps Anthony Spencer. Tough decisions ahead on Doug Free, Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin, and a few others, especially with Tony Romo's contract situation looming. We can't have Romo counting $17 million against the cap.

As always, the salary cap noose is tight, though there seems to be some wiggle room with restructuring and whatnot, especially if Jerry kicks the can down the road again and borrows from future cap space as allowed.

Then there's the other half of the league penalty. Another $5 million dead bones right there.

So, while a new cast of lineman is assembled (hopefully), very key free agent decisions will have to be made all about the roster, especially on the cheap for one or two. Duct tape and super glue in the right spots is in order.

Meanwhile, the decision on Spencer looms, and not helping matters is the flagrant stupidity of our interior defensive linemen, Ratliff and Josh Brent. Both would have helped, and now Ratliff could be looking at a suspension while Brent sits in the pokey. I'm praying Dez learned a lesson about mama last year and stays out of the fray this go-round.

No more drama from anyone, please. Wrap 'em all in bubble wrap and lock 'em in the training room.

So the grocery list includes more than just beef. How about a corner, a backup for our oft-injured tailback, perhaps a strong-side linebacker, as well as safeties with hands instead of oven mits. Maybe even a receiver.

This team COULD be very close, because key players in key positions are certainly in place. But this is as critical of an offseason as I can remember in a long time. No room for error in free agency, or in the top picks.

I hope Ciskowski, Garrett, and company have their eye on the ball this crazy offseason.

Free I think is gone unless he restructures. Miles could be gone anyway; I just have a hunch that Red Ball and Jerruh are thinking hard about his inability to ever stay healthy. Yes he has not missed many games but how often was he even close to 100%?

Spencer I think is gone unless we try and franchize then trade him.

[TheCount]

We aren't winning the superbowl next year, so I don't think it has to be perfect. We just can't screw it up. I think Dungy is right when he says we're two offseasons away from even having the D together, that's before fixing all the offensive problems.

[DenCWBY]

Originally Posted by erod

I, you, we....all of us are squawking for offensive lineman, and rightly so. Don't want to watch Tyron Smith and the four traffic cones again. Never again. I still flinch when I read the names Bernadeau or Free. Romo must be in shock therapy this very minute.

We mention defensive lineman, too, and safety sometimes. But the blinding spotlight is trained to the big fat guys who's jerseys you can't buy on the website without special order and 250 bucks.

The cure to the Cowboy ills, however, is going to be far trickier than that.

Amidst the ongoing coaching lottery drawings and shift back to the 4-3, there remain these nagging backstories that we know of and make a passing post about, yet we somewhat dismiss as just idle noise in the offseason background.

[View Full Quote]Felix Jones is as good as gone. Same for Mike Jenkins and perhaps Anthony Spencer. Tough decisions ahead on Doug Free, Jay Ratliff, Miles Austin, and a few others, especially with Tony Romo's contract situation looming. We can't have Romo counting $17 million against the cap.

As always, the salary cap noose is tight, though there seems to be some wiggle room with restructuring and whatnot, especially if Jerry kicks the can down the road again and borrows from future cap space as allowed.

Then there's the other half of the league penalty. Another $5 million dead bones right there.

So, while a new cast of lineman is assembled (hopefully), very key free agent decisions will have to be made all about the roster, especially on the cheap for one or two. Duct tape and super glue in the right spots is in order.

Meanwhile, the decision on Spencer looms, and not helping matters is the flagrant stupidity of our interior defensive linemen, Ratliff and Josh Brent. Both would have helped, and now Ratliff could be looking at a suspension while Brent sits in the pokey. I'm praying Dez learned a lesson about mama last year and stays out of the fray this go-round.

No more drama from anyone, please. Wrap 'em all in bubble wrap and lock 'em in the training room.

So the grocery list includes more than just beef. How about a corner, a backup for our oft-injured tailback, perhaps a strong-side linebacker, as well as safeties with hands instead of oven mits. Maybe even a receiver.

This team COULD be very close, because key players in key positions are certainly in place. But this is as critical of an offseason as I can remember in a long time. No room for error in free agency, or in the top picks.

I hope Ciskowski, Garrett, and company have their eye on the ball this crazy offseason.

Just 3 points to make of which you touched on:
1. We'll need 2 good solid RB's (along with Murray) to rely on a healthy running game for the full extent of the season. Not saying to get them in the first few rounds of the draft but so many of the top teams right now carry and use 3 backs throughout each game. No more FJonesing around!!
2. Austin Miles - Something about this guy makes me think he still has a good 1 or 2 years left. My nightmare is we let him go and he gets picked up by NE or Den and averages 70 catches and 9 TD's the next couple of years. Just sayin he's good possession guy. Just needs to stay healthy.
3. Please find one Safety that's not afraid to man up on the LOS wrap up and tackle. Someone half the player Bernard Pollard is would be nice. I HATE when our secondary just thows a shoulder and spins off like a pansy. I need me some D.Woodson
My 2 bits.

[zack]

Originally Posted by DenCWBY

Just 3 points to make of which you touched on:
1. We'll need 2 good solid RB's (along with Murray) to rely on a healthy running game for the full extent of the season. Not saying to get them in the first few rounds of the draft but so many of the top teams right now carry and use 3 backs throughout each game. No more FJonesing around!!
2. Austin Miles - Something about this guy makes me think he still has a good 1 or 2 years left. My nightmare is we let him go and he gets picked up by NE or Den and averages 70 catches and 9 TD's the next couple of years. Just sayin he's good possession guy. Just needs to stay healthy.
3. Please find one Safety that's not afraid to man up on the LOS wrap up and tackle. Someone half the player Bernard Pollard is would be nice. I HATE when our secondary just thows a shoulder and spins off like a pansy. I need me some D.Woodson
My 2 bits.

I think you make a good point on Miles. He probably would be good for another team. But I am really tired of him not running his routes hard. Tired of him giving up on plays and hanging Romo out to dry. Someone like the Pats would work because they wouldn't tolerate him jogging on routes. He would be gone if he did that in NE.

[Chocolate Lab]

Originally Posted by xwalker

Generally, in the Kiffin defenses, the 1-tech tries to defeat double teams by splitting them, not by absorbing them like a 2-gap player.

Brent is not a gap penetrating type of DLineman, IMO. He is better at occupying the double-team than splitting it.

The 1 is usually the more what you think of a NT, though, like Pat Williams in Minnesota as opposed to Kevin Williams. Unless I'm missing something in what you're saying.

[Bluestang]

Originally Posted by xwalker

Generally, in the Kiffin defenses, the 1-tech tries to defeat double teams by splitting them, not by absorbing them like a 2-gap player.

Brent is not a gap penetrating type of DLineman, IMO. He is better at occupying the double-team than splitting it.

In the over defense front, the 1-tech will attack the "open" A-gap (weak side)

In the under front, the 1-tech will attack the "closed" A-gap (strong side)

This defense is all 1-gap football, in the Kiffin play book it's the second item addressed in his defensive scheme philosophy.

[erod]

Originally Posted by TheCount

We aren't winning the superbowl next year, so I don't think it has to be perfect. We just can't screw it up. I think Dungy is right when he says we're two offseasons away from even having the D together, that's before fixing all the offensive problems.

I think Dungy is an overrated hack. A lot of experts think the 4-3 suits Dallas' personnel well.

Dungy won because of Peyton Manning. It took Gruden to finish in Tampa what Dungy couldn't.

[Disturbed]

The Cowboys were not that close. They trailed in almost all games this year. I would like to see them take all monetary hits now and get it over with...than to keep mortgaging the future which ensures 8-8 or worse forever.

Take the hit, clear the books, get rid of all dead weight (players and money) and old guys...trade for draft picks....then rebuild through the draft with young guys. No free agents. None, cost too much and always perform poorly.

Start rebuilding in the trenches, not flashy but it is the way to do it. I would rather see two years of 2-14 while rebuilding than another five years of 8-8. At least taking the hit and bad record allows the team to rebuild with high picks and get out of the hell we are in today.

[Future]

Originally Posted by xwalker

Miles Austin: I don't really see cutting him as an option unless they sign a significant Free Agent to replace him; however, I don't really see him here in 2014 unless he has a great year in 2013 and is injury free.
Right, Austin injury free for a year.

FWIW, I understand that Austin is nicked up a lot, and its annoying, but he's played 16 games in 3 of the last 4 seasons.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by Future

FWIW, I understand that Austin is nicked up a lot, and its annoying, but he's played 16 games in 3 of the last 4 seasons.

so? How often was he worth anything because his hammy was bad?
When you are not even say 80% what is the point?