Unlikely, but possible scenario...

[cobra]

Originally Posted by Joe Rod

He would be an upgrade as a pass-rusher over Spencer.

Obviously, either (a) you did not watch Ingram or (b) you have never watched Spencer. Because your statement is completely ridiculous and false.

Spencer is a better pass rusher than Ingram. Spencer was more productive in college and got more sacks. Spencer has better athleticism. Spencer did better in the pre-draft process (and will have better Combine numbers once Ingram does it). All the scouting reports about Spencer talked about his explosion off the ball and his elite pass-rushing skills. With Ingram the book is he is slow to react and no one says he has elite or plus pass-rushing skills. There is absolutely no objective basis from which to conclude that Ingram would be more productive than Spencer. All of the objective evidence indicates the contrary.

Drafting Ingram to replace Spencer is a waste of the 14th pick because the defense gets worse by playing Ingram instead of Spencer. The smarter thing to do is improve at Guard, CB or D-line where the team would be better when we draft someone at 14.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by cobra

Obviously, either (a) you did not watch Ingram or (b) you have never watched Spencer. Because your statement is completely ridiculous and false.

Spencer is a better pass rusher than Ingram. Spencer was more productive in college and got more sacks. Spencer has better athleticism. Spencer did better in the pre-draft process (and will have better Combine numbers once Ingram does it). All the scouting reports about Spencer talked about his explosion off the ball and his elite pass-rushing skills. With Ingram the book is he is slow to react and no one says he has elite or plus pass-rushing skills. There is absolutely no objective basis from which to conclude that Ingram would be more productive than Spencer. All of the objective evidence indicates the contrary.

[View Full Quote]Drafting Ingram to replace Spencer is a waste of the 14th pick because the defense gets worse by playing Ingram instead of Spencer. The smarter thing to do is improve at Guard, CB or D-line where the team would be better when we draft someone at 14.

a lot will depend on what Spencer agent is asking for. I don't dislike the guys but he is not producing. Hell Greg Ellis was a lot more productive working opposite of Ware. Spencer was suppose to be an upgrade to Ellis he has not been that. If Spencer can be resigned at a reasonable cost fine but if he is looking for top dollar then Dallas should let him walk

[ABQcowboyJR]

Coples and it isn't close. I've been on the trade up and get Coples train. I think he might be top five pic though.

[cobra]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

a lot will depend on what Spencer agent is asking for. I don't dislike the guys but he is not producing. Hell Greg Ellis was a lot more productive working opposite of Ware. Spencer was suppose to be an upgrade to Ellis he has not been that. If Spencer can be resigned at a reasonable cost fine but if he is looking for top dollar then Dallas should let him walk

Spencer is an upgrade over Ellis, once you realize that a SOLB has value beyond sack totals. A SOLB in a 3-4 is not all about pass rushing.

I'd like to see Spencer get more sacks and think he is capable of it, but he has been ok. He has been very good in the other responsibilities of a SOLB.

Obviously it is correct to say that if he demands a crazy contract, we shouldn't give him one. But he deserves to be paid like a solid starting OLB.

I don't think many of you realize that it is going to be very difficult to improve on Spencer. As a 3-4 SOLB, there are just a handful of guys who are better than him, and none of those guys are available or affordable. Certainly no one in this draft will be an improvement on Spencer.

The smarter thing to do, if he is reasonable, is to keep Spencer and look to improve the lines. It will be substantially easier to improve at DE and NT than it will be to improve on Spencer. We should look in Free Agency and the Draft to improve the DL and that will help on the pass rush.

But if you think letting Spencer walk and plugging in Ingram or Upshaw will make this team better, I think you are in for a rude awakening when you realize we are no better (and possibly worse) at SOLB and were not able to improve at OG or DL with that first round pick. That's a bad draft.

[BraveHeartFan]

If we wound up with Grubbs or more importantly Nicks and then this happened I wouldn't be upset, in the least, to go after Coples.

If not then I'd want DeCastro without a doubt.

[Joe Rod]

Originally Posted by cobra

Obviously, either (a) you did not watch Ingram or (b) you have never watched Spencer. Because your statement is completely ridiculous and false.

Spencer is a better pass rusher than Ingram. Spencer was more productive in college and got more sacks. Spencer has better athleticism. Spencer did better in the pre-draft process (and will have better Combine numbers once Ingram does it). All the scouting reports about Spencer talked about his explosion off the ball and his elite pass-rushing skills. With Ingram the book is he is slow to react and no one says he has elite or plus pass-rushing skills. There is absolutely no objective basis from which to conclude that Ingram would be more productive than Spencer. All of the objective evidence indicates the contrary.

[View Full Quote]Drafting Ingram to replace Spencer is a waste of the 14th pick because the defense gets worse by playing Ingram instead of Spencer. The smarter thing to do is improve at Guard, CB or D-line where the team would be better when we draft someone at 14.

I don't know exactly has caused your posts to spiral down to venemous drivel lately, but can you please consider coming back to the world of posters who actually contribute thoughts rather than someone who tries to place them in around insults and attacks? No one minds responses and critques, but the borderline personal attacks you have posted lately are beneath what I used to think about when your name came up. When you were throwing out insults at idgit the other day I just chalked it up to your having an off day, but that is obviously not the case.

I live in South Carolina. I am in a neighborhood with a massive amount of SC alumns and watched every single game of Ingram the last two seasons. All of them. I was offered tickets a few times to watch them live, but could not spare the travel time due to some things I had already planned with my kids. Now, your comments make it seem that you are an authority on Ingram's game-by-game performances, so I would welcome your thoughts on a few of them. How about the ECU, Auburn or Georgia game? Please provide me with a breakdown of his play and your thoughts on his highs and lows. I would not ask but for the fact that your attempts to insult must be accompanied by some scathing reviews of his play on a game to game basis.

I think Dallas will resign Spencer. I would welcome it. I would want Ingram only if they can't resign him and they need a replacement. Guard and DB are the first two options on my list, so I am not sure why you even posted your comment about the order of preference unless you simply did not read my post through. Having said all of this, I also stand by what I said with Ingram. I am not going to add any additional thoughts on why until I get the requested game by game critique. Given your scathing response, you must have watched a lot so I am very interested in your negatives in his game on a weekly basis.

Thanks.

[natedoug]

Originally Posted by Bigdog

DeCastro even if we sign Grubbs or Nicks in FA. I want a strong OL that will protect Romo so he has time to get the ball to our playmakers. Also our running game will vastly improve which means we can keep the ball away from other teams. Can't score if don't have the ball.

[Sandyf]

Based on no free agency, would have to go with the highest guy on the board which would probably be Coples.

But the perfect world would be you have the same grade on all of them and then able to trade down 3 or 4 spots and still get one of them along with picking up an extra third.

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by Joe Rod

I don't know exactly has caused your posts to spiral down to venemous drivel lately, but can you please consider coming back to the world of posters who actually contribute thoughts rather than someone who tries to place them in around insults and attacks? No one minds responses and critques, but the borderline personal attacks you have posted lately are beneath what I used to think about when your name came up. When you were throwing out insults at idgit the other day I just chalked it up to your having an off day, but that is obviously not the case.

[View Full Quote]I live in South Carolina. I am in a neighborhood with a massive amount of SC alumns and watched every single game of Ingram the last two seasons. All of them. I was offered tickets a few times to watch them live, but could not spare the travel time due to some things I had already planned with my kids. Now, your comments make it seem that you are an authority on Ingram's game-by-game performances, so I would welcome your thoughts on a few of them. How about the ECU, Auburn or Georgia game? Please provide me with a breakdown of his play and your thoughts on his highs and lows. I would not ask but for the fact that your attempts to insult must be accompanied by some scathing reviews of his play on a game to game basis.

I think Dallas will resign Spencer. I would welcome it. I would want Ingram only if they can't resign him and they need a replacement. Guard and DB are the first two options on my list, so I am not sure why you even posted your comment about the order of preference unless you simply did not read my post through. Having said all of this, I also stand by what I said with Ingram. I am not going to add any additional thoughts on why until I get the requested game by game critique. Given your scathing response, you must have watched a lot so I am very interested in your negatives in his game on a weekly basis.

Thanks.

I'm sure Cobra doesn't mind you standing your ground. I know I respected and liked your response as well.

OK, we're talking football now. So does the addition of Flannagan and Tyvon Branch do it for you as to settling starter issues in the Dallas secondary?

It does it for me. I would smack my lips on a pair of 4.3 additions to Sensabaugh and Jenkins. Leaving Scandrick in the slot. I would then pick up a corner by the 3rd round in the draft. I'm on Cas's brandwagon player, Minnifield.

I would resign Spencer and Robinson before the start of actual free agency. And leave Mike Jenkins contract to mid-way in the season.

If that happened, then I would be very tempted to grab:

02 Luke Kuechly ILB 6-3 237 Boston College 7.0 J

[Joe Rod]

Originally Posted by CCBoy

I'm sure Cobra doesn't mind you standing your ground. I know I respected and liked your response as well.

OK, we're talking football now. So does the addition of Flannagan and Tyvon Branch do it for you as to settling starter issues in the Dallas secondary?

It does it for me. I would smack my lips on a pair of 4.3 additions to Sensabaugh and Jenkins. Leaving Scandrick in the slot. I would then pick up a corner by the 3rd round in the draft. I'm on Cas's brandwagon player, Minnifield.

I would resign Spencer and Robinson before the start of actual free agency. And leave Mike Jenkins contract to mid-way in the season.

If that happened, then I would be very tempted to grab:

02 Luke Kuechly ILB 6-3 237 Boston College 7.0 J

CC. Do you mean Finnegan (or Flannagan, the C from the Texans)? Could be that I am being dense, but a Free Agent secondary player named Flannagan is simply escaping me at the moment.

Kuechly is a tackling machine and, quite honestly, the type of nasty player that can put some attitude in the defense. He was all over the field against FSU and Miami. I personally think he is a little more suited for a 4-3, because one thing I see is he has some troubles disengaging from blockers. He may end up making too many tackles downfield unless Dallas makes a few changes to suit his style (like bringing in a bigger NT like Soliai). His blitzing tends to remind me of the older Keith Brooking, so he would not be much help there. Not sure if that is the route they want to go or if they want to see how Carter develops.

[visionary]

Originally Posted by cobra

Spencer is an upgrade over Ellis, once you realize that a SOLB has value beyond sack totals. A SOLB in a 3-4 is not all about pass rushing.

I'd like to see Spencer get more sacks and think he is capable of it, but he has been ok. He has been very good in the other responsibilities of a SOLB.

Obviously it is correct to say that if he demands a crazy contract, we shouldn't give him one. But he deserves to be paid like a solid starting OLB.

I don't think many of you realize that it is going to be very difficult to improve on Spencer. As a 3-4 SOLB, there are just a handful of guys who are better than him, and none of those guys are available or affordable. Certainly no one in this draft will be an improvement on Spencer.

[View Full Quote]The smarter thing to do, if he is reasonable, is to keep Spencer and look to improve the lines. It will be substantially easier to improve at DE and NT than it will be to improve on Spencer. We should look in Free Agency and the Draft to improve the DL and that will help on the pass rush.

But if you think letting Spencer walk and plugging in Ingram or Upshaw will make this team better, I think you are in for a rude awakening when you realize we are no better (and possibly worse) at SOLB and were not able to improve at OG or DL with that first round pick. That's a bad draft.

i agree with this
the other plus with keeping spencer is that he already knows the system
the caveat is that we have to improve NT and DE positions along with CB and FS

if we do all that, i am OK with keeping spencer as long as he does not break the bank

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by Joe Rod

CC. Do you mean Finnegan (or Flannagan, the C from the Texans)? Could be that I am being dense, but a Free Agent secondary player named Flannagan is simply escaping me at the moment.

Kuechly is a tackling machine and, quite honestly, the type of nasty player that can put some attitude in the defense. He was all over the field against FSU and Miami. I personally think he is a little more suited for a 4-3, because one thing I see is he has some troubles disengaging from blockers. He may end up making too many tackles downfield unless Dallas makes a few changes to suit his style (like bringing in a bigger NT like Soliai). His blitzing tends to remind me of the older Keith Brooking, so he would not be much help there. Not sure if that is the route they want to go or if they want to see how Carter develops.

I was wishing on Cortland Finnegan, the CB with the Titans. He ran a 4.3 at his Combine. Just a few years back, he made the All Pro team and was at the Pro Bowl. He has maintained a high number of interceptions through his years in the NFL. He is still young at 28. He is known for laying the wood upon any and all with the ball...and that attitude is as much a reason for my liking him.

Durn, when typing in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I get a bit brick headed on names. Never was much good at remembering a ton of them. I struggle mightily there. My apologies for my denseness on that issue.

On the humorous side, there's not a set of breasts that I don't recall...

On Kuechly, I feel that he is the dominant force that would pair with Sean Lee in the middle. A strong side and weakside type is paired and used just like that. I think the pairing of the two, would be ideal for the needs of Dallas. The need for a large and double team nose tackle would still remain as long as Jay is in the middle. As long as he's there, that problem of a guard moving to the second level and creating initial gain will remain. That is trainable as to skills at the professional level, when a linebacker adjusts and learns the higher levels of pad height, short and straight line explosions, and standing up an offensive guard physically. I have no doubt in the skillset of Kuechly. He will gain some additional strength and even size once he would hit the Dallas conditioning program in effect at Valley Ranch now. But unlike Bradie James, who's initial skillset no where approached that of Kuechly coming in, Kuechly also is not the defined burden in pass coverage as well.

I would make the adjustment at nose, either in free agency or the draft, and never look back to turn into a pillar of salt from Kuechly's selection there. He will have to adjust his reads on offensive line and their size, strength, and speed levels...but that isn't building again, simply recognizing pulling techniques and zone blocking reads. He will adjust pretty rapidly, and already has the skillset to counter big ugglies. He will be faster, although, and will quickly arrive at defeating linemen in the NFL.