Offseason Running Smoothly and Effectively. Team Shaping Up

[ESisback]

Chronic Cowboy problems boys?!

Not me! Rowdy’s got Viagra! How are you, girl?

 

[ESisback]

I like your post except for one thing: Witten is a horrible blocker. He may have some value on short yardage as a receiver but that's it. He hasn't even really made an effort to block. Just because it has been said repeatedly that Witten is a good blocker doesn't make it true. Watch him in games and then draw your own conclusions. The guy is horrible at blocking. Maybe even lazy.

Yep. It’s casual, “decoy” blocking IMO!

 

[817Gill]

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.

This guy isn’t even a fan. You’re a joke lol you think the team sucks you’re either in fantasy land or you think 2 out of 3 NFC championships and 3 straight winning seasons is terrible. Either way you’re the goof here

 

[Verdict]

Yep. It’s casual, “decoy” blocking IMO!

Man that's a great way of describing it! Lol. Well done!

 

[Whyjerry]

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

The Jerry funded autobots working overtime here...

 

[Sydla]

"This team has built itself through youth. It's stupid to add older players. Get younger, build through the draft, don't add these older players that can't play anymore........................................ we added Witten? Man, solid move, I think he still has something in the tank and he can coach the young guys!"

 

[Sydla]

This guy isn’t even a fan. You’re a joke lol you think the team sucks you’re either in fantasy land or you think 2 out of 3 NFC championships and 3 straight winning seasons is terrible. Either way you’re the goof here

This might explain why you think this team is better then they actually are.

You think they made the NFCCG two out of the last three years.

 

[DRella]

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.

If a Safety we can upgrade with Berry, IIoka, Phillips or Boston the need to draft a Safety becomes irrelevant. Why some on this forum do not understand this I don't know. We don't have a 1st rounder so why do we need to pick on need. Why not go for best player available whether that is a LB or CB or DL or whatever. The more solid depth we have the better we are. Getting one of these safeties also adds to current depth by dropping Heath down a slot. To cover for possible injuries.

Same goes with DE. There are players still available regardless of only 15 of top 60 that remain unsigned that upgrade the Cowboys at DE. Remember in Marinelli's system we don't need an every down end. We need a situational rotational type end. Plenty still available that are an upgrade on Gregory himself let alone the rest of the defensive line minus Lawrence.

Why some of you are so against filling what ever gaps we have in our team with players on FA is besides me. The Cowboys should put themselves in a position to draft the best players available and not draft on need. This is where we have failed in the past.

 

[dsturgeon]

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.

Everything is fine. We have a very good young team. They did well last year.

Taco is going to step up. He is developing. It is hard to get sacks when you are not on the field in those situations. The fact that he hasn't been on the field like a first round pick usually is, shows how well the cowboys did with other picks. Tank was a first round pick and Gregory should have been. He might not take over the league, but don't count him out. I still like his frame more than dlaw and Gregory. I think he might turn into a monster after a few more years. Hopefully he develops moves as well

Our team is full of impact players that were not first rounders.

 

[KingintheNorth]

"This team has built itself through youth. It's stupid to add older players. Get younger, build through the draft, don't add these older players that can't play anymore........................................ we added Witten? Man, solid move, I think he still has something in the tank and he can coach the young guys!"

You're dealing with the every-move-we-make-is-magic posse. We can do no wrong.

Who are you to argue with the brains behind the team that has won 2 out of the last 3 NFC EAST CHAMPIONSHIPS???

It's a glorious trophy. Hang on, I'l post a picture.

If you aren't content with NFC East Championships than I can't help you.

 

[DRella]

This might explain why you think this team is better then they actually are.

You think they made the NFCCG two out of the last three years.

We are not as far off as your making out to be. Some tweaks through FA and solid drafting we continue to be the superior team in the East. The Super Bowl is the toughest trophy to win unless your the Patriots!!!! Everyone else falls into the same tier. Who ever is hot makes it through and has a chance

 

[Risen Star]

I love it when a plan comes together.

 

[Sydla]

If a Safety we can upgrade with Berry, IIoka, Phillips or Boston the need to draft a Safety becomes irrelevant. Why some on this forum do not understand this I don't know. We don't have a 1st rounder so why do we need to pick on need. Why not go for best player available whether that is a LB or CB or DL or whatever. The more solid depth we have the better we are. Getting one of these safeties also adds to current depth by dropping Heath down a slot. To cover for possible injuries.

Same goes with DE. There are players still available regardless of only 15 of top 60 that remain unsigned that upgrade the Cowboys at DE. Remember in Marinelli's system we don't need an every down end. We need a situational rotational type end. Plenty still available that are an upgrade on Gregory himself let alone the rest of the defensive line minus Lawrence.

Why some of you are so against filling what ever gaps we have in our team with players on FA is besides me. The Cowboys should put themselves in a position to draft the best players available and not draft on need. This is where we have failed in the past.

For starters, Iloka and Phillips and Boston aren't long term solutions. They can be short term placeholders though. And that's the point. Bring in one of those guys and you now know you will get better S play in 2018 than you did with Heath and it gives you the flexibility to not HAVE to take a S in the draft if there isn't one there at your pick that you like. But if there is one, sure, take him because there's nothing wrong with taking the best player on your board.

Your last paragraph makes no sense accusing me of not wanting to use FA to fill gaps. I have been advocating the exact opposite of that.

 

[Sydla]

We are not as far off as your making out to be. Some tweaks through FA and solid drafting we continue to be the superior team in the East. The Super Bowl is the toughest trophy to win unless your the Patriots!!!! Everyone else falls into the same tier. Who ever is hot makes it through and has a chance

We have a coaching problem that factors in here as well but that's for another thread.

 

[DRella]

I like your post except for one thing: Witten is a horrible blocker. He may have some value on short yardage as a receiver but that's it. He hasn't even really made an effort to block. Just because it has been said repeatedly that Witten is a good blocker doesn't make it true. Watch him in games and then draw your own conclusions. The guy is horrible at blocking. Maybe even lazy.

Alright, maybe not the best blocker but definitely better then what we saw last season. His loss along with Fredrick last season proved to be huge in the running game last season. Especially in short yardage. Witten coming back in that area is a huge improvement.

 

[northerncowboynation]

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.

Then you must be a mind reader because how would you know that the FO thinks Heath is a really good S. I doubt your words that Thomas was going to replace Woods. Thomas was never really in our picture. Last year yes, until discussions revealed not only what the Seahawks wanted but also what the player would want going forward. SJ is not stupid.

They will probably spend a little money on S AND draft one. We always tip our hand that way. Positions filled or attempted to fill in FA over the past 3-4 years have been addressed in the draft too. That's not me reading minds, that's historical.

 

[Brax]

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

Best way to build a team, draft for need, In Free agency ignore upgrades. Delude yourself your players are all Elite and really improving so no need to worry. If you believe what is in your post you will be disappointed yet again next year this time.

 

[ESisback]

Man that's a great way of describing it! Lol. Well done!

3rd and 9, the lumbering fake, leaning “block”, 6 yard catch, the swarming, backward driving, 3 yard tackle. 4th and 3, let’s punt! Or go for it, with a 2 yard run from Zeke!

 

[DRella]

Best way to build a team, draft for need, In Free agency ignore upgrades. Delude yourself your players are all Elite and really improving so no need to worry. If you believe what is in your post you will be disappointed yet again next year this time.

Nothing on his post is totally incorrect. Posters enthusiasm is warranted. Anyone that thinks our Oline will not be better this season is incorrect. Fredrick loss killed us. Loney stepped up admirably and now having him as a backup only strengthens our unit. Bringing back Fleming was a strong move. He understands our schemes better and is a solid backup for our tackles and guards.

As for their other points, the team is young. They showed steps to getting better as last season progressed. No reason to not think that they will continue to develop and remain a strength.

Witten coming back doesn't hurt nothing. Its a plus which ever way you look at it.

Do we have gaps in our team. Yes. But growth is definitely in the cards. This team is one of the best young teams in the NFL. Add some components in FA and draft, they will still be tops in NFC East.

 

[Brax]

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.

it's not how it works.