Any update on OT Josh Ball?

_sturt_

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,770
Reaction score
3,733
they have just recently invested in Ball and Matt Waletzko

I choke on the term "invested" a bit... they spent a 4th and a 5th... you usually aren't counting on those guys quite so soon to fill an important role. Give those two a year (Ball obviously having effectively redshirted, he's not earned any regard yet as meriting an important role), and see if one or both emerge as legit.

Good is a UFA next off-season, so there's no long-term obligation. The bigger question as you suggest is whether to pursue him in a trade--keeping him off the market for some other team that might have a clearer path to playing time for him, but having to take-on that salary number--or to wait to see if the Raiders release him so you can pay him what you'd prefer, but at the risk that he and another team might work out a deal instead.

The other thing is... as you said, Joneses can wait. They can wait to see if some other player emerges that is a similar fit, and can wait to see if their young bucks are more ready than history would suggest guys that young (our 21 yr-old projected LG) or drafted that late (our 4th and 5th round OTs) ordinarily would be.

If I'm betting, of course, waiting seems to be the best bet for what will happen. I'm just engaging the conversation from the what should happen angle.
 
Last edited:

75boyz

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,963
Reaction score
9,599
I choke on the term "invested" a bit... they spent a 4th and a 5th... you usually aren't counting on those guys quite so soon to fill an important role. Give those two a year (Ball obviously having effectively redshirted, he's not earned any regard yet as meriting an important role), and see if one or both emerge as legit.

Good is a UFA next off-season, so there's no long-term obligation. The bigger question as you suggest is whether to pursue him in a trade--keeping him off the market for some other team that might have a clearer path to playing time for him, but having to take-on that salary number--or to wait to see if the Raiders release him so you can pay him what you'd prefer, but at the risk that he and another team might work out a deal instead.

The other thing is... as you said, Joneses can wait. They can wait to see if some other player emerges that is a similar fit, and can wait to see if their young bucks are more ready than history would suggest guys that young (our 21 yr-old projected LG) or drafted that late (our 4th and 5th round OTs) ordinarily would be.

If I'm betting, of course, waiting seems to be the best bet for what will happen. I'm just engaging the conversation from the what should happen angle.

Nice post.
 

buybuydandavis

Well-Known Member
Messages
23,699
Reaction score
20,776
Dallas has done a good job of "stashing" players on the IL lately.. I commend them.. Josh Ball just took a redshirt year. If he really was injured, it wasn't a year long injury.. Why take up a roster spot if he's not ready to contribute..

I think they have a conscious plan to expand the effective roster using IR. Both season long, and partial season. Guys starting on IR get brought back to replace players that get injured during the season. It's a way to have a little extra depth. Even easier with guys you can IR the full season. Perfect for rookies. Let them get a year of NFL training before they count toward the roster.
 

conner01

Well-Known Member
Messages
27,889
Reaction score
25,808
Dallas has done a good job of "stashing" players on the IL lately.. I commend them.. Josh Ball just took a redshirt year. If he really was injured, it wasn't a year long injury.. Why take up a roster spot if he's not ready to contribute..
Our second practice squad
Just don’t get to practice
But they can study, watch, workout and learn a lot
He had the worlds worst sprained ankle lol
 

conner01

Well-Known Member
Messages
27,889
Reaction score
25,808
i just heard Broaddus on 105.3 the Fan radio said Bobby Belt made mentioned that there may be some inside the Star that are starting to
have their questions about Jon Ball.

Take it for what you make what that means.
Not sure what it means but probably nothing good
 

conner01

Well-Known Member
Messages
27,889
Reaction score
25,808
The OL depth got deeper as well as back 7 prospects, I agree.
Alarcon is an interesting hold still, considering the familiarity aspect, and no roster burden.
Coyle will need an exceptional camp to get noticed.
Isn’t his roster exemption expired this year?
 

conner01

Well-Known Member
Messages
27,889
Reaction score
25,808
Anyone "pricey" is gonna be an huge obstacle with " Moneyball " Stephen Jones - A free agent guy would have to be veteran minimum wages and a one year rental.
and because they have just recently invested in Ball and Matt Waletzko, as swing tackles, i'm thinking they want those young cats to develop and gain the necessary
experience.

- And if i had to guess with Stephen Jones & Co, ..they will wait it out while closely observing those two green-grassers.

- And that's a big gamble as other NFL teams will snatch up these experienced vets as backup assurance.
I like video I seen on Waletzko but he needs to really develop physically I looked to me
A pricey vet only gets cheap if he feels he can do a one year deal and parlay that into a nice deal the following year
I think that’s what they will look for
 

conner01

Well-Known Member
Messages
27,889
Reaction score
25,808
I choke on the term "invested" a bit... they spent a 4th and a 5th... you usually aren't counting on those guys quite so soon to fill an important role. Give those two a year (Ball obviously having effectively redshirted, he's not earned any regard yet as meriting an important role), and see if one or both emerge as legit.

Good is a UFA next off-season, so there's no long-term obligation. The bigger question as you suggest is whether to pursue him in a trade--keeping him off the market for some other team that might have a clearer path to playing time for him, but having to take-on that salary number--or to wait to see if the Raiders release him so you can pay him what you'd prefer, but at the risk that he and another team might work out a deal instead.

The other thing is... as you said, Joneses can wait. They can wait to see if some other player emerges that is a similar fit, and can wait to see if their young bucks are more ready than history would suggest guys that young (our 21 yr-old projected LG) or drafted that late (our 4th and 5th round OTs) ordinarily would be.

If I'm betting, of course, waiting seems to be the best bet for what will happen. I'm just engaging the conversation from the what should happen angle.
Very small investment lol
A 4th you expect to be able to develop when he was talent wise worth a higher pick (ball) but the question is did he buy in and do the work he could last year and have the right attitude about it
Dropping to the 4th was on him and should have been the motivation to do everything he could to get as much knowledge as he could and workout like he was hungry for a roster spot. Hopefully he did and the are just keeping it top secret lol
But taking two guys they seen as tackle prospects doesn’t seem like they are beaming with confidence in ball
 

quickccc

Well-Known Member
Messages
16,062
Reaction score
13,979
I like video I seen on Waletzko but he needs to really develop physically I looked to me
A pricey vet only gets cheap if he feels he can do a one year deal and parlay that into a nice deal the following year
I think that’s what they will look for

Just like cam Irvin did here a couple years ago. En route to signing with Carolina I think
 

buybuydandavis

Well-Known Member
Messages
23,699
Reaction score
20,776
Our second practice squad
Just don’t get to practice
But they can study, watch, workout and learn a lot
He had the worlds worst sprained ankle lol

This. Development squad. Reserve bench.

Guys on IR effectively expand the number of players we can keep the rights to.
 

quickccc

Well-Known Member
Messages
16,062
Reaction score
13,979
Very small investment lol
A 4th you expect to be able to develop when he was talent wise worth a higher pick (ball) but the question is did he buy in and do the work he could last year and have the right attitude about it
Dropping to the 4th was on him and should have been the motivation to do everything he could to get as much knowledge as he could and workout like he was hungry for a roster spot. Hopefully he did and the are just keeping it top secret lol
But taking two guys they seen as tackle prospects doesn’t seem like they are beaming with confidence in ball


I choke on the term "invested" a bit... they spent a 4th and a 5th... you usually aren't counting on those guys quite so soon to fill an important role. Give those two a year (Ball obviously having effectively redshirted, he's not earned any regard yet as meriting an important role), and see if one or both emerge as legit.

Good is a UFA next off-season, so there's no long-term obligation. The bigger question as you suggest is whether to pursue him in a trade--keeping him off the market for some other team that might have a clearer path to playing time for him, but having to take-on that salary number--or to wait to see if the Raiders release him so you can pay him what you'd prefer, but at the risk that he and another team might work out a deal instead.

The other thing is... as you said, Joneses can wait. They can wait to see if some other player emerges that is a similar fit, and can wait to see if their young bucks are more ready than history would suggest guys that young (our 21 yr-old projected LG) or drafted that late (our 4th and 5th round OTs) ordinarily would be.

If I'm betting, of course, waiting seems to be the best bet for what will happen. I'm just engaging the conversation from the what should happen angle.

Yes, they are mid to late round draft picks, these are rounds and players usually for suitable backups, developmental projects, or high risk players (medical/character)
- but if the club sees where their development can match their physical traits,.. if they emerge to much more than that, as eventual starters ala Tyler Biadasz.
and even more such as undrafted Terrence Steele... then that's low risk/high reward.

And apparently Cowboys immediate plan seems to be aiming to investing more in these developmental types than experienced, ready made vet swing- utility types.
i don't like gambling that kind of risk, when it comes to my franchise starting QB.
 

fivetwos

Well-Known Member
Messages
19,056
Reaction score
25,880
i just heard Broaddus on 105.3 the Fan radio said Bobby Belt made mentioned that there may be some inside the Star that are starting to
have their questions about Jon Ball.

Take it for what you make what that means.
I tend to believe there's at least some truth to things like this, but it also doesn't fall into line with the team thinking they don't need a vet swing.

If they truly DO think Tyler is an acceptable backup option to Tyron, that's scary, and should not happen for several reasons, including that he needs to develop as a guard, not be thrown into the LT fire.

There's plenty of cap room and I can't at all see chancing your QB health when you can get a vet backup for like 1/3m....but yacht fuel ain't cheap these days, and a bad season nets Jerry another star top ten pick next year. Guess it's win-win for him.
 

Bobhaze

Staff member
Messages
16,412
Reaction score
62,473
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
Josh Ball certainly has talent. He started out at Florida State but his off field issues got him kicked out at FSU. He then landed at Marshall where he played very well.

The question on Ball has always been whether or not he can keep off field issues from becoming an impediment to his playing. He had a domestic violence incident in college and many NFL teams avoided him despite his talent. From what I’ve read, he doesn’t have a serious injury issue.

I hope he gets his life together and contributes here. But he’s another example of a project player Jerry loves to take. I’ve always believed those kind of projects should be in late round selections. We will see. Maybe Ball turns into an excellent swing T.
 

john van brocklin

Captain Comeback
Messages
38,188
Reaction score
42,948
I choke on the term "invested" a bit... they spent a 4th and a 5th... you usually aren't counting on those guys quite so soon to fill an important role. Give those two a year (Ball obviously having effectively redshirted, he's not earned any regard yet as meriting an important role), and see if one or both emerge as legit.

Good is a UFA next off-season, so there's no long-term obligation. The bigger question as you suggest is whether to pursue him in a trade--keeping him off the market for some other team that might have a clearer path to playing time for him, but having to take-on that salary number--or to wait to see if the Raiders release him so you can pay him what you'd prefer, but at the risk that he and another team might work out a deal instead.

The other thing is... as you said, Joneses can wait. They can wait to see if some other player emerges that is a similar fit, and can wait to see if their young bucks are more ready than history would suggest guys that young (our 21 yr-old projected LG) or drafted that late (our 4th and 5th round OTs) ordinarily would be.

If I'm betting, of course, waiting seems to be the best bet for what will happen. I'm just engaging the conversation from the what should happen angle.
Good points there my friend.
Seems strange to me that have not signed an experienced vet to hedge their bets at the Tackle position.
Tyrone has not played an entire season in ages.
 

_sturt_

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,770
Reaction score
3,733
The question on Ball has always been whether or not he can keep off field issues from becoming an impediment to his playing. He had a domestic violence incident in college and many NFL teams avoided him despite his talent. From what I’ve read, he doesn’t have a serious injury issue.

He's years removed now from any off-the-field issue... the incident happened at FSU. Seems safe to say it's all about his on-the-field issues or progress at this point.
 
Top