What hole can we live with this year?

[Macnalty]

As the week goes on it becomes clear Cox has fallen off our probables along with DeCastro, lots of eager pursuers ahead of us for their skill set if we are to believe the media. Seems with the rise of those two it has pushed Coples and a mystery man thinking Reilly Reiff (Like the kid from Boulder last year that the Pats took with their first Nate Solder) down into our grasp. I am starting to wonder if we should start thinking what hole can we live with this year? Weak(band-aid) safety, lack of interior OLine quality(Tony's replacement is on the horizon and a palladium is long overdo), out of balance set of OLB's, average DL, injury prone CB's position(think RG3, Eli, Vick), TE depth(really nitpicking here), Injury prone RB's position (consider all were injured last year). Just the broad strokes for this quick list. Do we waste another year of Demarcus Ware's ability or Romo's? The clock is ticking who gets replaced first?
I ask you to consider when was the last time Jerry mentioned the phrase Romo friendly? Have you started to notice Demarcus's neck is a reoccurring melody?

I like Romo and his position is the key to this team's record. DeMarcus is just a tick below him in value only because the drop off to his replacement is not as far. My 2cents build the palladium for Tony (think of Miles and Dez with one more tic in their routes), and do what we can to maximize DeMarcus's rare talent (think of Eli, Vick, RG3 with one less tic for their routes). Which one do you want to live without this year?

[Risen Star]

CB. But we already wasted a ton of money addressing that "need".

[dez_for_prez]

Safety. Not a fan of Barron.

[Macnalty]

Originally Posted by dez_for_prez

Safety. Not a fan of Barron.

With you brother on that one, just cannot make that leap of faith with him. He is winning by default an looks like our choice of the week.

[burmafrd]

anyone that puts any cred on any rumor spread in the last two weeks before the draft is a moron. This bs about those going up or going down are exactly that.

[johnnyd]

OLB = Live with another year of Spencer and find his replacement next offseason.

[JBell523]

These are the projected starters at our "holes" right now.

Offense:
TE2 - Phillips
WR3 - Ogletree
LG - Livings
RG - Bernadeau
C - Costa

Defense:
DE - Coleman
OLB - Spencer
S - Brodney Pool



The reality is that we're not going to be able to replace all of those guys with one draft. If we can come out of this draft with 2-3 guys that can immediately knock some of the above guys to the bench then we'll be in good shape.

[cowboysooner]

Counting a recently signed 3 million dollar player as a hole when it was a competitive situation is quite a loose definition of a hole.

[Macnalty]

Originally Posted by cowboysooner

Counting a recently signed 3 million dollar player as a hole when it was a competitive situation is quite a loose definition of a hole.

I will bite with existing personnel do you think we will grade out as average on the 3 million dollar player? What would you take over or under? I understand your point but I have less faith in the "coach up" philosophy we seem to sling around on the zone, wish we could of coached up Bennett.

[Hostile]

DE.

If we can fix the OL, we will become one of the best Offenses in the game. Ware and the other LBs will be solid enough to push the Defense. DL in a 3-4 are not pass rushers and ours do a decent job stuffing the run.

[btcutter]

2nd TE.

We need to fix the DL if we really want to compete.

[btcutter]

Originally Posted by Hostile

DE.

If we can fix the OL, we will become one of the best Offenses in the game. Ware and the other LBs will be solid enough to push the Defense. DL in a 3-4 are not pass rushers and ours do a decent job stuffing the run.

I am not sure that's entirely true.

DE needs to be good enough in the 3-4 to warrant attention from the T's. This frees up the OLB to go against TE and RB's. That's how Pitt and SF gets so much pressure. If DE can be handled by G then your OLBs get swallowed by the Tackles...unless you have PierPaul or Ware on both sides.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by btcutter

I am not sure that's entirely true.

DE needs to be good enough in the 3-4 to warrant attention from the T's. This frees up the OLB to go against TE and RB's. That's how Pitt and SF gets so much pressure. If DE can be handled by G then your OLBs get swallowed by the Tackles...unless you have PierPaul or Ware on both sides.

Yeah, that's true. However, if we can just fix the OL we can contend this season. The Packers did it, the Patriots did it. So if you're asking me what can we live with for next season, my answer would definitely be on the defensive side of the ball.

Now having said that, it looks like our "brain"trust has decided to live with the OL. I'm expecting a defensive heavy draft and trotting out top talents like Nate Livings, MacKenzie Bernadeau and Phil Costa/Kevin Kowalski in front of our franchise QB.

[Macnalty]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

Yeah, that's true. However, if we can just fix the OL we can contend this season. The Packers did it, the Patriots did it. So if you're asking me what can we live with for next season, my answer would definitely be on the defensive side of the ball.

Now having said that, it looks like our "brain"trust has decided to live with the OL. I'm expecting a defensive heavy draft and trotting out top talents like Nate Livings, MacKenzie Bernadeau and Phil Costa/Kevin Kowalski in front of our franchise QB.

You have not been drinking the Kool aid this year, I can really tell a difference in you opinions this off season. I think we are much closer to getting it right on offense than on defense, in fact I think we are just a couple players away from no excuses. You may feel different, on defense I can see four of five easy(good draft) upgrades needed, draft me some O and hope to hit on some third and fourth rd people on D, leave the excuses for Ryan this year.

[Bluefin]

Originally Posted by btcutter

I am not sure that's entirely true.

DE needs to be good enough in the 3-4 to warrant attention from the T's. This frees up the OLB to go against TE and RB's. That's how Pitt and SF gets so much pressure. If DE can be handled by G then your OLBs get swallowed by the Tackles...unless you have PierPaul or Ware on both sides.

Sean Lissemore, who is expected to challenge to start next season, and Jason Hatcher can give the defense some rush from DE in 3-4 looks.

Josh Brent should also be ready for increased snaps at NT, he dealt with injuries last year, and that will hopefully help keep Jay Ratliff fresh for passing downs.

The team could still use help on the DL, and it's a first round possibility, but the unit doesn't have a glaring weak link like the OL does in Phil Costa.

Maybe he'll improve with a year's starting experience, maybe bigger bodies at guard will help.

What if those things don't happen?

What if Costa's ceiling simply isn't high enough to be a starter?

What's the plan?