Ayers off Market; signed by Giants

[The Natural]

Last year everyone was picking WAS to win the east and they finished last. Don't count on wins and losses so matter of factly.

I was talking about last year's schedule and the 8 losses they suffered last year.

 

[jnday]

Ayers is a JAG.

A JAG is an upgrade with the current DEs on the roster.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

On the list, I really don't see much in the way of DT's or DE's that fit what Marinelli does on the DL outside of maybe Spencer. I think we are going to get him back for one more year....just a feeling.

I do think we have around 6 guys that are pretty much set on DL....so Spencer and anyone we draft will be additions to that number. Rayford is a wild card.

Ayers is a JAG....no reason to cry over not getting him.

 

[jnday]

I still don't get these comments.

At the present time, the DL is in worse shape than last year. The draft may provide an upgrade or two, but nobody knows if help will come with draft picks.

 

[xwalker]

I would probably add Bass to the list leaving some combination of 2 DT 1 DE or 1 DT 2 DR depending on where they put Crawford.

Bass has been injured 2 years in a row. He's in the Matt Johnson category of just being a bonus if he contributes, but I'm not expecting anything from him. In my plan Bass just needs to show more upside than late round pick.

 

[xwalker]

Bass will be in that mix. I say at least 2 DL from draft, maybe 3 will make the team. Hayden with better talent surrounding him can be in that mix depending on the draft. But if they hit on 3 DL in the draft, he will be out.
Don't forget they have Ceasar Rayford they still want to see how he develops. But he may see another year on the PS.

Yes, I just don't see Rayford, Hayden, Bass or Martez Wilson as locks to make the roster. They should lean to keeping upside over stopgaps when possible this year, IMO. That puts guys like Hayden on the bubble. Their moves with Ware and free agency are geared towards taking a step back in 2014 and trying to peak in 2015.

 

[xwalker]

What's the chance those 7th rounders make it, maybe 2, but after the draft I'm sure we get some veterans on the cheap well at least I hope

The Cowboys moves with Ware and free agency indicate that they are taking a step back in 2014 with the idea of being more competitive in the future.

They should keep more 7th round types than they might in other years. With every roster decision, they should ask themselves "what helps us most in 2015?".

 

[Doomsday101]

Gmen will need all they can get when your QB throws for 18 TD and 27 ints. lol But he is elite LOL!!!!!!

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

The Cowboys moves with Ware and free agency indicate that they are taking a step back in 2014 with the idea of being more competitive in the future.

They should keep more 7th round types than they might in other years. With every roster decision, they should ask themselves "what helps us most in 2015?".

And honestly, this is really what I hoped they would do. Not completely clean house but get rid of the worst contracts. Target youth and depth in the free agent market. Hit a home run in the draft. 2-3 instant starters and depth.

Resign Smith and Bryant. Have money to play in FA next year.

 

[xwalker]

And honestly, this is really what I hoped they would do. Not completely clean house but get rid of the worst contracts. Target youth and depth in the free agent market. Hit a home run in the draft. 2-3 instant starters and depth.

Re-sign Smith and Bryant. Have money to play in FA next year.

Yes, so far they had made all of the moves that I wanted them to make.
Cut Ware - Check
Cut Austin - Check
Don't re-sign Hatcher - Check
Don't re-sign Spencer - Good so far.
Sign Melton to a low risk contract - Check
Pursue getting cap space back from Ratliff - In progress.
Add some bargain type free agents - Check with McClain and Mincey
Bring in a low cost veteran type QB to see if he can beat out Orton in training camp - In process.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Yes, so far they had made all of the moves that I wanted them to make.
Cut Ware - Check
Cut Austin - Check
Don't re-sign Hatcher - Check
Don't re-sign Spencer - Good so far.
Sign Melton to a low risk contract - Check
Pursue getting cap space back from Ratliff - In progress.
Add some bargain type free agents - Check with McClain and Mincey
Bring in a low cost veteran type QB to see if he can beat out Orton in training camp - In process.

That is going to make the draft interesting for you.

 

[Rockytop6]

For those who wanted him there it is signed with the nY

Is it my imagination or are the other teams in our division hitting FA pretty heavy?

 

[Idgit]

The Cowboys moves with Ware and free agency indicate that they are taking a step back in 2014 with the idea of being more competitive in the future.

They should keep more 7th round types than they might in other years. With every roster decision, they should ask themselves "what helps us most in 2015?".

I don't think that's necessarily the case. It's very possible they just looked at the likely return from the player for the money we were committed to pay him this year, and decided we could get similar bang for less buck elsewhere. They don't make that move if they're not convinced they can improve the DL even this coming season. They'd just rather have multiple players with that cap space than have it tied up into one great, declining player.

As to Bass, they IRd him because he was a role player who was going to miss a significant number of games and they needed the roster spot. He could have played later in the season as far as his health was concerned. I don't think you can look at two injuries and safely conclude you've got an injury trend. Now, he might just not be all that good when the bullets actually count, but it's very possible he just sustained two legitimate injuries in proximity to each other. Another significant injury in camp this year, and I'd agree we're seeing a trend and not a coincidence.

 

[manster4ever]

Bass has been injured 2 years in a row. He's in the Matt Johnson category of just being a bonus if he contributes, but I'm not expecting anything from him. In my plan Bass just needs to show more upside than late round pick.

Fair post, but he's shown enough ability that if he can stay healthy (big IF) then he can be a depth/bottom of rotation guy. The following is a decent article on him, but what I like is that the writer flat out says they'll draft 4-5 young Dlinemen. Doesn't mean they will, but if we draft 3 (which I HAVE to think we will) we will be fine.


http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014...n-bass-profile-defensive-line-3-tech-DE-DL-DT

Gonna sting for a couple years only winning 5-7 games but this had to be done IMO. I'm surprised JJ is actually holding back while Snyder continues to wallow in mediocrity in DC, but it appears someone has gotten in his ear and he's actually listening. I did want Ayers but now that it didn't happen, I can accept it.

 

[gimmesix]

Most 4-3 teams keep 8 and sometimes 9 DL on the 53. The Cowboys have about 5 that appear to be locks:
Selvie
Melton
Crawford
Mincey
McClain

I'm hopeful that they draft at least 2 DTs and 2 DEs even if a couple of them are 7th round picks. That would make 9 DL total.

I think it's a necessity for Dallas to use at least two of its first three picks on DL, even if it has to move around some to do it. This defense's improvement hinges on putting together a line that can put constant pressure on the quarterback.

 

[gimmesix]

And possibly Bass can be part of the rotation if he has fully healed. I suppose if Spencer heals, the Cowboys can make a move to try and pick him up too. That said, I hope we draft around 3 DL in May.

I think Spencer will end up staying on a one-year, prove-it deal simply because he doesn't seem to be getting better offers elsewhere ... and he's got to feel he can put up big numbers in this defense that at least will draw him a nice-size two-year deal next year.

 

[Alexander]

Is it my imagination or are the other teams in our division hitting FA pretty heavy?

It is not your imagination.

Dallas - Melton, Mincey, McClain
Philadelphia - Sproles (trade), Malcolm Jenkins, Nolan Carroll, Andrew Gardner, Brian Braman
Washington - Jackson, Ryan Clark, Andre Roberts, Shawn Lauvao, Mike McGlynn, Clifton Geathers, Daryl Sharpton, Akeem Jordan, Tracy Porter
Giants - Rashad Jennings, Geoff Schwartz, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jameel McClain, Ayers, Mario Manningham, Walter Thurmond, Trindon Holliday, John Jerry, Charles Brown, Zack Bowman, J.D. Walton

All in all, it looks like the Giants secured more starters, but also gave their depth a facelift. Washington added a good weapon in Jackson and got a starting SS with some depth. The Eagles, not too impressed as only Sproles is very good. Jenkins will start for them but based off how poor he was in New Orleans, not scary.

 

[Picksix]

At the present time, the DL is in worse shape than last year. The draft may provide an upgrade or two, but nobody knows if help will come with draft picks.

Well, I think a lot of it depends on guys coming off injury. If Melton comes back to form, he'll give us what Hatcher did. Ware was basically non-existent from week 4 on. If Crawford comes back well, he can play SDE and move Selvie over to RDE, where he could give us more than Ware did last year. Hayden was terrible. You have to believe McClain will be better. Mincey is nothing to shout about, but still better than what we had before. It's not great, and there are some if's, but last year we basically had Selvie and Hatch, and not much of anything else.

That said, we definitely need to improve through the draft, which I think is reasonable with the talent coming upt this year. And who knows, maybe we pick up another Selvie type during the summer.

 

[Alexander]

Hayden was terrible. You have to believe McClain will be better.

Nowhere to go but up, but it McClain is a starter for us, we will have issues just like we did with Hayden in there by default. The way they are talking about McClain scares me to be honest. It is almost like they are trying to convince us and themselves that he was some gem they unearthed.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

It is not your imagination.

Dallas - Melton, Mincey, McClain
Philadelphia - Sproles (trade), Malcolm Jenkins, Nolan Carroll, Andrew Gardner, Brian Braman
Washington - Jackson, Ryan Clark, Andre Roberts, Shawn Lauvao, Mike McGlynn, Clifton Geathers, Daryl Sharpton, Akeem Jordan, Tracy Porter
Giants - Rashad Jennings, Geoff Schwartz, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jameel McClain, Ayers, Mario Manningham, Walter Thurmond, Trindon Holliday, John Jerry, Charles Brown, Zack Bowman, J.D. Walton

All in all, it looks like the Giants secured more starters, but also gave their depth a facelift. Washington added a good weapon in Jackson and got a starting SS with some depth. The Eagles, not too impressed as only Sproles is very good. Jenkins will start for them but based off how poor he was in New Orleans, not scary.

Maybe they all are deep in FA because like Dallas they haven't drafted well?

Sproles is an upgrade for Philly, the rest don't seem like much to be worried about plus they have some key FA losses. Vick, Jackson, etc.

Washington...Jackson the biggest one obviously along with Hatcher. Not skeered.

Giants....let's face it, they were a pretty bad team a year ago in many phases...they need a lot of help. Not sure what they got is enough.

We in general lost players that really didn't do much for us a year ago and have at least added some bodies. I don't buy the gloom and doom.