Broaddus: Fixing the Cowboys: Find CB first, then draft defense

[WoodysGirl]

Jan 18
11:34
AM CT

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By Bryan Broaddus

This is the third installment of Fixing the Cowboys:

When the final whistle blew on that chilly night at MetLife Stadium, the season ended for the Dallas Cowboys. The hope of a division title died with a roster that wasn’t good enough to compete with the Giants for the second time in four weeks. If Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett are honest with themselves, they will look at this roster and say that it’s just not good enough to compete with the Giants and the Eagles. We can talk about the Super Bowl all we want, but if you are not playing well in your division, there are going to be problems.



When I worked for the Cowboys, the biggest issues I had during our final meeting of the season was that we were not honest with the makeup of our squad. When you go 5-11 for three straight seasons and the coaches talk about the players like we were 11-5, there are going to be problems. Garrett and these coaches can't keep Jerry from believing his roster is better than it really is. I'm not going to say that there isn't talent on this team, but I will say there were players on this roster that Jones and Garrett were counting on that just weren't good enough.

Here is what I would try and do to help it:

Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowbo...-draft-defense

[RS12]

It is like Broaddus is still reading this board.

[CoCo]

It's a good read IMO. But everyone knows the book on this team now. Not as talented as previously thought, and needs O-line, secondary, and pass-rush help.

[JoeCorrado]

Originally Posted by CoCo

It's a good read IMO. But everyone knows the book on this team now. Not as talented as previously thought, and needs O-line, secondary, and pass-rush help.

Agree. And my list of priorities, CB, D-Line, O-Line are about equal... aye, there's the rub.

[CoCo]

Originally Posted by JoeCorrado

Agree. And my list of priorities, CB, D-Line, O-Line are about equal... aye, there's the rub.

But should mitigate the temptation to "reach."

[28 Joker]

Protecting the QB and opening up holes for the running backs should be the number 1 priority in this off-season. Carl Nicks is the potential free agent who could make the biggest impact on the Cowboys, imso. Plus, Nicks is simply the BPA at a big time need position (OG) and the safest, best investment on the board for Dallas.

The Cowboys should follow the Jets model if they want to build a dominant offensive line. Dallas should continue to build off their now 21 year old, blue-chip cornerstone, Tyron Smith.

Cowboys:

1. Tyron Smith (# 9 pick of the 2011 draft)
2. Doug Free (FA retained 2011)

Jets:

1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson (# 4 pick of the 2006 draft)
2. Nick Mangold (#29 pick of the 2006 draft)
3. Alan Faneca (FA 2008; All-Pro guard)
4. Damien Woody (FA 2008)

The Cowboys have made two of the four moves by drafting a 20 year old, blue-chip offensive tackle (in the top 10) and locking up OT Doug Free. I think they should take another page out of the Jets playbook and pursue and sign Carl Nicks (if he hits the market). Nicks is your All-Pro guard (see step 3). At 14, David DeCastro would give you another young blue-chip talent and mirror the addition of Mangold's blue-chip talent in the interior.
(see step 2)

Smith
Nicks
center (TBD)
DeCastro
Free

I didn't address center, but I have added the undisputed best interior players from free agency and the draft. That should yield much better results than trying to force feed center. Perhaps, Costa, Kowalski, Arkin, or Kosier can man the center spot. You can always look for other options, but the best players (Nicks and DeCastro) are the priority, not a position.

[MichaelWinicki]

A very good read.

[Randy White]

" You might not want to trust Jerry Jones, but you should trust Jason Garrett. I think he gets it. ".... Bryan Broaddus

[28 Joker]

Here is another argument for going after the All-Pro guard.

In 2005, the Cowboys spent $ 30 million dollars in guaranteed money on three players:

Anthony Henry
Marco Rivera
Jason Ferguson

How did spreading the resources work out then?

I think all three players were busts.

Carl Nicks has at least 5 years of his prime ahead of him, and he will play at 27 years old next year. The Cowboys have three big needs in the interior of the offensive line, and Nicks should be one of the safest investments on the market and the best player available at a need position for the Cowboys. Dallas should be able to sign Nicks (if available) and still do some other things. New Orleans may find a way to keep him. Time will tell, but I sure hope he hits the market. Furthermore, I hope Bill Callahan points to the Jets blue-print of building a dominant offensive line. The Jets had three blue-chip talents in their offensive line, and Dallas has one right now, Tyron Smith. Woody was a force at RT, too.

Signing Nicks would give Dallas 3/4 of the moves that reflect the Jets blue-print.

Drafting David DeCastro would be 4/4 of the moves.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by 41gy#

Here is another argument for going after the All-Pro guard.

In 2005, the Cowboys spent $ 30 million dollars in guaranteed money on three players:

Anthony Henry
Marco Rivera
Jason Ferguson

How did spreading the resources work out then?

I think all three players were busts.

[View Full Quote]Carl Nicks has at least 5 years of his prime ahead of him, and he will play at 27 years old next year. The Cowboys have three big needs in the interior of the offensive line, and Nicks should be one of the safest investments on the market and the best player available at a need position for the Cowboys. Dallas should be able to sign Nicks (if available) and still do some other things. New Orleans may find a way to keep him. Time will tell, but I sure hope he hits the market. Furthermore, I hope Bill Callahan points to the Jets blue-print of building a dominant offensive line. The Jets had three blue-chip talents in their offensive line, and Dallas has one right now, Tyron Smith. Woody was a force at RT, too.

Signing Nicks would give Dallas 3/4 of the moves that reflect the Jets blue-print.

Drafting David DeCastro would be 4/4 of the moves.

It's not about spending money. It's about jeffro and his belief he's football savvy...at all. Plenty of hacks from coaches to players at his menical behest. It's a culture he has bred and it will never change.

[Randy White]

Originally Posted by 41gy#

Here is another argument for going after the All-Pro guard.

In 2005, the Cowboys spent $ 30 million dollars in guaranteed money on three players:

Anthony Henry
Marco Rivera
Jason Ferguson

How did spreading the resources work out then? I think all three players were busts.

No they weren't. 2 of them did well ( Henry and Ferguson ) while the other one just got injured and couldn't contribute much because of it. Henry provided the counter to T.O. and started many games for us. Feguson not only was stable in the middle for many games, but provided leadership and took players like Jay Ratliff under his wing. They just got old and their play declined just like about every other player that gets old.

Why fans think that if a FA doesn't become a pro bowl player he's automatically a bust is beyond me. Here's some breaking news: the majority of free agents do not become pro bowl players, but contribute in other ways. That was true in the Plan B free agency that was implemented during the Jimmah years, and it's true today.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by CoCo

It's a good read IMO. But everyone knows the book on this team now. Not as talented as previously thought, and needs O-line, secondary, and pass-rush help.

I agree and frankly I don't care in which order we address them in. Main thing is getting the quality players be it in the draft or FA to fill these areas.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by CoCo

It's a good read IMO. But everyone knows the book on this team now. Not as talented as previously thought, and needs O-line, secondary, and pass-rush help.

Yep. And the good news is that this is a good year in both FA and the draft for two of those positions. Unfortunately, the position we need to improve most is pass rush, and there aren't that many good options available out there. It'll be expensive if we're going to do it this offseason. Or we have to hope we can get lucky in the draft, or in FA the way the Eagles did with Jason Babin. Not likely.

[rocyaice]

Originally Posted by 41gy#

Here is another argument for going after the All-Pro guard.

In 2005, the Cowboys spent $ 30 million dollars in guaranteed money on three players:

Anthony Henry
Marco Rivera
Jason Ferguson

How did spreading the resources work out then?

I think all three players were busts.

[View Full Quote]Carl Nicks has at least 5 years of his prime ahead of him, and he will play at 27 years old next year. The Cowboys have three big needs in the interior of the offensive line, and Nicks should be one of the safest investments on the market and the best player available at a need position for the Cowboys. Dallas should be able to sign Nicks (if available) and still do some other things. New Orleans may find a way to keep him. Time will tell, but I sure hope he hits the market. Furthermore, I hope Bill Callahan points to the Jets blue-print of building a dominant offensive line. The Jets had three blue-chip talents in their offensive line, and Dallas has one right now, Tyron Smith. Woody was a force at RT, too.

Signing Nicks would give Dallas 3/4 of the moves that reflect the Jets blue-print.

Drafting David DeCastro would be 4/4 of the moves.

Henry and Ferguson were FAR from busts.

[28 Joker]

The Cowboys should look at CB Josh Norman from Coastal Carolina and CB Stephon Gilmore of South Carolina. If they like Kirkpatrick, they will probably like Norman and Gilmore. Mike Mayock stated that Norman is probably a top 100 pick and could rise into the 2nd round. Gilmore is a second round prospect now. Those are the two guys that I like.

I do see the need to fix LCB. I don't think Orlando Scandrick is close to being the answer, imo. In fact, the Cowboys could really use two new young CBs to pair with Mike Jenkins. I wouldn't overpay for Grimes or Finnegan. I've seen what Andre Johnson has done to Finnegan, and I don't think that move would be good against the Giants (Nicks). Finnegan would match-up better against the Eagles. I think the Titans believe that the Rams might make a play for Finnegan and Griffin. I've watched Finnegan, and (imo) he is not a number 1 caliber CB or shadow cover CB. Finnegan appeared to play better when he just played RCB. He will probably get overpaid. Finnegan would be an upgrade in Dallas, but you really need a pure number 1 CB at LCB. I would try to get bigger and younger at that spot, too.

David DeCastro is still >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all the 34 SOLBs who could be available at 14, imo. I don't see DeMarcus Ware or an Aldon Smith in this draft. Ware was drafted at 11. If I saw a guy like that, then the OLB crew would have a stronger argument, imo. Ware will play at 30 this year. Time will tell. That OLB being considered at 14 better have a significant distinction from Anthony Spencer if he wants to be in the mix at 14, imo. That player better have some serious explosion and burst, and that player better be a dynamic pass rusher.

In fact, Donte Hightower is the Alabama player who appears to have a good closing burst to the QB. Hightower appears to have more closing burst to the QB than anyone except for Ware on the defense. Ingram is no sure thing at SOLB, either. Although, I like him better than Upshaw. Nevertheless, I'm not sold on him at 14, either. I've seen the results of the evaluations on Kevin Burnett, Bobby Carpenter, and Anthony Spencer. Burnett should have at least been a good inside linebacker in Dallas. Burnett was moved inside.

David DeCastro is a blue-chip player and a safe investment. Plus, he fills a huge need in the interior.

Last year, it was Tyron Smith VS J.J. Watt, and Jason Garrett put a stop to the defensive draft happy tendencies of the organization (especially in round 1), and he took the undisputed most valuable, best player on the board (Tyron Smith) and stopped the under-valuing of the offensive line and filled a huge need at the same time. Garrett should have put his foot down and drafted Denarius Moore in round 5, too.

We shall see.

Stephon Gilmore (CB South Carolina) is a CB to watch. Perhaps, he rises and gets into the mix at 14.