Offseason Running Smoothly and Effectively. Team Shaping Up

Falco78

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This is a sickening post. We aren’t shaping up at all. We have lost our best slot receiver, our best DT quit the league, our best pass rusher is holding out and feels disrespected, our second best pass rusher is suspended, our starting SLB is gone and Jeff Heath is still our starting SS.

We’ve added a depth DT and a 37 year old TE that didn’t play last season.

We’d better have an awesome draft, somehow, without a first round pick.
I don't see how we lost our best DT as he was never around last year
 

Rockport

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People like to act like this team is barely average when in fact this team will be in the playoffs again.
These haters are very entertaining. This time of year is the best for reading the forum. Lots of laughs. Lots of ignorance.
 

Chuck 54

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Crazy idea.

Spend a little bit of money on S and bring in someone better than Heath. There are guys still sitting out there that are better. That way, you don't have to force yourself to have to take a S in the 2nd or 3rd round. It does this franchise no good to have to force a pick there because you have a need.

The Cowboys have typically drafted well when they have shied away from picking for need. They took the best player on their board when Frederick was up and when Martin was up and when they took Gregory in the 2nd round and when they took Smith, despite the leg injury. Those guys were the best players on their board. Two years ago, it was reported Taco wasn't the best player on their board but they took him because they needed a DE. If their thinking is hey, we'll get our starting S in the draft so we don't have to sign any Ss in FA is a really dumb decision on their part. They are frankly, banking on them getting lucky that the draft lines up with a safety they really like.

Although what scares me more than anything................. this coaching staff and FO think Heath is a really good safety. The fact they seemingly went after Thomas to replace Woods and allow Heath to remain a starter is scary.
It’s not forcing a pick when the draft is loaded at S and DT. It’s smarter than using that pick on a position that won’t start. You get younger and cheaper at the position...better too. You have to churn the positions without superstars in the draft to keep your payroll under control while improving.
 

ChronicCowboy

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I don't see how we lost our best DT as he was never around last year

Because people assumed all year he was close to a return. We have a weakness at DT and everyone just said “wait until we get Irving back”. Well he’s never coming back and our DTs are still below average.

It’s really sad that last seasons performance encouraged people. Because this team isn’t very good. It needs serious roster changes.

I guess the FO refuses to do so because they realize this is Garrett’s team and it’s do or die. They want the cap room for a new coach in 2020.
 

Chuck 54

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Nobody wants to hear this type of nonsense right now where some guy comes in and says everything is just fine. LOL

You glossed over TE, backup RB, DT, safety, 3rd lber, DE (no gregory). And lets be honest here, we really don't have a quality backup QB either.

Im sure the FO will fill most of these with bargain basement scrubs like they always do. The draft we really have ONE shot to get a guy of impact and thats with the 2nd rounder. Will they reach and blow it? I personally dont have a lot of confidence. After taking the horrid Taco last year, by confidence in them is blown.
We won’t draft a QB. That would be stupid when we drafted one last year. You have to give him at least two years. I didn’t gloss over TE. If there’s a stud there inthe draft, we may jump. I simply said the TE position, like WR and OL, is better going into this wpseason than it was going into last season when we all knew out TE and WR positi9ns were garbage. And I focused DT and S as positions that are going to be emphasized in the draft.
 

Sydla

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It’s not forcing a pick when the draft is loaded at S and DT. It’s smarter than using that pick on a position that won’t start. You get younger and cheaper at the position...better too. You have to churn the positions without superstars in the draft to keep your payroll under control while improving.

You can't say this because you have no idea how the draft will fall.

That's the folly of thinking the draft will fill all your needs in a given year. If there is a run on Ss before the Cowboys pick at 58, they absolutely could be forced into a situation where they then have to reach for a S at 58 or 90. Just because a draft is "deep" at a position it doesn't mean you are going to get the guy you want at your pick.

And that's a total canard about getting younger and cheaper. The sheer fear some of you have of adding older players is bizarre. Every year there are options out there on veterans that can help a team and come on friendly contracts. And that's the beauty of some of these older vets who can still play. They often are on short term, cheaper contracts that don't hamstring your cap. For example, we don't have cap problems where we couldn't sign an Iloka or a Phillips at S to like a 1-2MM one year deal. To not utilize that is just a mistake on the part of this franchise.
 

G2

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Crazy idea.

Spend a little bit of money on S and bring in someone better than Heath. There are guys still sitting out there that are better. That way, you don't have to force yourself to have to take a S in the 2nd or 3rd round. It does this franchise no good to have to force a pick there because you have a need.

The Cowboys have typically drafted well when they have shied away from picking for need. They took the best player on their board when Frederick was up and when Martin was up and when they took Gregory in the 2nd round and when they took Smith, despite the leg injury. Those guys were the best players on their board. Two years ago, it was reported Taco wasn't the best player on their board but they took him because they needed a DE. If their thinking is hey, we'll get our starting S in the draft so we don't have to sign any Ss in FA is a really dumb decision on their part. They are frankly, banking on them getting lucky that the draft lines up with a safety they really like.

Although what scares me more than anything................. this coaching staff and FO think Heath is a really good safety. The fact they seemingly went after Thomas to replace Woods and allow Heath to remain a starter is scary.
Who ya got that's available in FA that's better than what we have?
 

Chuck 54

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This is a sickening post. We aren’t shaping up at all. We have lost our best slot receiver, our best DT quit the league, our best pass rusher is holding out and feels disrespected, our second best pass rusher is suspended, our starting SLB is gone and Jeff Heath is still our starting SS.

We’ve added a depth DT and a 37 year old TE that didn’t play last season.

We’d better have an awesome draft, somehow, without a first round pick.
Try reading again....I said certain positions are better right now than when last season began....wr, TE, ol.
DL and safety are our draft needs and deep in this draft, where we will address that. Rifpdiculous to say we lost our best DT?! When was the last time that bum even played football? We lost nothing from last year.
 

Sydla

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We won’t draft a QB. That would be stupid when we drafted one last year. You have to give him at least two years. I didn’t gloss over TE. If there’s a stud there inthe draft, we may jump. I simply said the TE position, like WR and OL, is better going into this wpseason than it was going into last season when we all knew out TE and WR positi9ns were garbage. And I focused DT and S as positions that are going to be emphasized in the draft.

But can we? You just said we will probably use our top picks on DL and S. That's the problem with largely ignoring FA. You often don't give yourself any flexibility in the draft.

I also find it hilarious that people lament adding older players and that we should use the draft to get younger, but those same people don't seem to have much of problem bringing Witten back. I mean it's funny.............. bring back an old, aging veteran in Witten, no big deal. Bring in a veteran S who likely would be as cheap or cheaper than Witten? WOAH. That's dumb. You can't bring in older players.
 

Verdict

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Despite all the clamoring for a huge payout to an aging safety, wr, or DL, look at where we are.

The offense is now set to be better than what it was going into last season.
  • O-Line...Williams stronger and experienced in 2nd year; Fleming in second year in system; Frederick returns, improving center and backup across interior; offseason and full season with the right coach...Columbo.
  • WR...Cooper gets a full camp in system and with Dak while coaches plan around him; Austin second year in system; Gallup with a year’s experience and strength; Wilson returns in 2nd year.
  • TE...young guys have a year of experience and Schultz has first full offseason of work. Witten is old, but he still knows how to get open, is reliable, cannot be covered by a LB, and will probably lean more to coaching the youngsters than ever before.
  • RB...we have the stud and I’ll be shocked if we don’t add one in next wave of free agency, the draft, or a veteran cut after draft
We will still go best player available most of the time, but the emphasis will be on defense in the draft.
  • DE...D-Law, Taco, maybe Gregory...Armstrong will be stronger and more confident in second year. Crawford can start or rotate at RDE.
  • DT....Woods, Collins, Crawford, Ross.
  • LB...Smith continues to improve in every way. LVE will be stronger and better in 2nd year. Lee will be rationed and used in impactful situations...best 3rd guy in years. We know Thomas can play, and Covington/March-Lillard gets chance to earn a spot.
  • CB....Jones in second year at position in system...look for more confidence and picks. Awuzie continues to grow and improve. Brown and Lewis both very good in slot.
  • S....Heath is Heath...not our best, but he won’t be worse than he was. Woods in second year as a starter and in Richards secondary will be better.
We may still look at free agency, but I think moreso at RB or camp bodies or competition.
Draft will focus on the two deepest positions, safety and DL.

I’m excited about the draft.
Round 2– DT/S
Round 3–S/DT
Round 4–RB/DL
Round 5–WR/DB
Rest—Round out the roster...OL, LB, Special Teams

I won't be surprised if we franchise Tank and force a high DE pick. If we franchise Tank and he waits to get the surgery until after he signs the tag that puts him getting surgery in July.

The team could file a grievance regarding his missed games, cut his salary in half and have Tank for the playoff run and get the benefit of playing the other guys early in the year to know if they can do without Tank or not.

Tank could be traded mid season for half his salary. That may even elevate the value of him in a trade.
 

ChronicCowboy

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Try reading again....I said certain positions are better right now than when last season began....wr, TE, ol.
DL and safety are our draft needs and deep in this draft, where we will address that. Rifpdiculous to say we lost our best DT?! When was the last time that bum even played football? We lost nothing from last year.

I don’t need to read your drivel again. It’s stupid. Better at WR? Better at OL? Because our seriously ill C is making a comeback? Because Copper has a full offseason of Dak throwing him ducks? Your post is a joke.
 

Sydla

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Who ya got that's available in FA that's better than what we have?

Iloka, Boston, Phillips are all better SS than Heath, for starters. All three would likely be cheap, one year type deals that allow you the flexibility to still take a S if one presents itself to you in the draft and you aren't handcuffed to the veteran beyond this year.

We added Covington, but I would totally look at Suh if he's willing to do another 1 year deal. Suh would immediately be our best interior player.

We have a problem at DE as well with Gregory being a likely suspension again and who knows what is going on with Lawrence. There are some guys out there that are better than what we currently have. You confident counting on Taco and Armstrong to pick up the slack?

When people see me ranting about FA, I guess they assume I am pounding the table for guys like Collins at $84MM or whatever he got. That's never been my point or my desire. My focus has always been on these mid-level FAs who often come on cheaper deals and present solid, short term upgrades that don't hurt the cap down the road.

We gloss right over those guys too and head right for the bargain bin looking for retreads, backups and hoping to find the guy who just blossoms with more PT in Dallas.
 
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