Ranking an incredibly talented roster

JBS · Jul 11, 2019

A. Brown better than Dak..hahahah

guy says one of the steadiest guys on the team..this dude has been in the league for 3 years and for one full season he was absolutely garbage..yeah, super steady

M. Collins better than Dak?? lolololl I thought that idiot who did the power rankings and had the giants at 8 was bad

Praxit · Jul 11, 2019

.....now pin that roster with a little bit of good luck. We could finally get to the championship and even SB.

erod · Jul 11, 2019

Parcells4Life said:
If Maliek Collins is better than Dak this is a 5-11 team

When Maliek Colllins is fully healthy, he can be dominant. He's just rarely healthy. That foot is chronic.

I put the "healthy" qualifier in there for Lee, Collins, Frederick, Tyron, etc.

DFWJC · Jul 11, 2019

uvaballa said:
Is this roster more talented than the 2007 roster?

Good question. 2019 is certainly younger and livelier, and has a very dominant RB.
But overall, that would be the last team that compares, overall roster-wise.
That '07 team was overhyped--especially with the fans voting on Pro Bowl earlier in the season.
Late season they wore down and were not the same unit.

DFWJC · Jul 11, 2019

Diehardblues said:
That would be the one I’d consider too with what 13 Pro Bowlers .

They at least had a top 10 ranked offense. I’d argue in this era that was the year we totally blew advancing to championship game against a team we were at least on paper better than beating them twice during the regular season and how much different this era might of been had we accomplished such. We never really recovered as our team under Wade continued to dwindle without the good drafts we’d had under Bill. It wasn’t until 2014 that I thought we had another team capable of advancing.

I agree they were good
But maybe 5 of them earned Pro Bowl (Ware, Witten, Romo, Owens, maybe Newman).
The hype train was way off the rails during fan voting period and the team overall was kicking butt early.
The fans voted in a ton of guys that year that were good but certainly not great. Ken Hamlin, Roy Williams, Marion Barber and 975 yards rushing (seriously?), Nick Folk, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Not blaming you, but I get tired of people throwing out that 13 Pro Bowlers number. It's just not at all valid.

ItzKelz · Jul 11, 2019

erod said:
This is one helluva talented roster right now. Even a lot of the backups are damn good players. Many of the best players are 25 or younger. Probably only 3-4 spots on the roster even available. Great job by the personnel department.

So, let's play a game.

I'm going to rank the starters from best to least best (plus a few more guys that will see a lot of time). I'm going to assume everybody is fully healthy (Lee and Cobb), and some guys will be low just because they are young or just got here. No kickers, punters, specialty guys, or Randy Gregory.

And we're off......

1. Zack Martin - 2nd best Cowboys guard all time behind Larry Allen
2. Zeke Elliott - the heart and hammer of the offense
3. Tyron Smith - still as good as it gets even at 90%
4. Travis Frederick - hoping he's fully recovered to his former incredible self soon
5. Demarcus Lawrence - will handle the contract well
6. Amari Cooper - silky smooth routes are a pleasure to behold
7. Leighton Vander Esch - crazy athleticism and shadowed Lee all offseason
8. Chidobe Awuzie - finished strong last year and about to break out as our best corner
9. Jaylon Smith - if his lateral quickness would return, he could rocket to top five
10. Sean Lee - still the smartest dude on the team
11. Byron Jones - I need to see more, not totally buying it, but last year was good
12. Robert Quinn - bigger acquisition than we realize, will love being here
13. Jason Witten -will look the same steady guy as he did 3 years ago
14. Tyrone Crawford -way underappreciated, good football player
15. Anthony Brown - one of the steadiest players on the team
16. Maliek Collins - dominant at times when his foot is healthy
17. Dak Prescott - biggest year of his career, gotta make the WR corp fast and dynamic with Moore
18. Joe Looney - this is a tremendous backup and a good locker room guy
19. Randall Cobb - like Miles Austin, can he keep his legs together?
20. Jourdan Lewis - talented, but freelances too much
21. La'el Collins - fairly solid, but not as advertised out of college
22. Dorance Armstrong -will become more impactful this year with an offseason
23. Michael Gallup -could go way up the chart, but need to see it
24. Antuan Woods - love this guy, but he tailed off at the end
25. Jeff Heath - better than given credit for, but Iloka looms
26. Xavier Woods - could break out if he prepared to fend off Iloka
27. Connor Williams - will rise when he gets to RT eventually
28. Trysten Hill -who knows, but they're counting on him to get his head on right and play
29. Blake Jarwin - intriguing player late, the coaches love him
30. Taco Charlton - Dude.....

And there are still solid and intriguing guys like Frazier, Pollard, Covington, Thomas, Sua-Filo, Schultz and these track star rookie receivers on the team.

Some really good, promising players are about to get cut. That's a good sign.

IMO Jaylon is without question the most talented player we have......without question

erod · Jul 11, 2019

ItzKelz said:
IMO Jaylon is without question the most talented player we have......without question

Seriously?

He gets lost in space. A lot. He can run in a straight line and make a play, but his lateral quickness is still compromised.

DFWJC · Jul 11, 2019

Witten a bit high on that list at this stage in his career.

Iago33 · Jul 11, 2019

erod said:
This is one helluva talented roster right now. Even a lot of the backups are damn good players. Many of the best players are 25 or younger. Probably only 3-4 spots on the roster even available. Great job by the personnel department.

So, let's play a game.

I'm going to rank the starters from best to least best (plus a few more guys that will see a lot of time). I'm going to assume everybody is fully healthy (Lee and Cobb), and some guys will be low just because they are young or just got here. No kickers, punters, specialty guys, or Randy Gregory.

And we're off......

1. Zack Martin - 2nd best Cowboys guard all time behind Larry Allen
2. Zeke Elliott - the heart and hammer of the offense
3. Tyron Smith - still as good as it gets even at 90%
4. Travis Frederick - hoping he's fully recovered to his former incredible self soon
5. Demarcus Lawrence - will handle the contract well
6. Amari Cooper - silky smooth routes are a pleasure to behold
7. Leighton Vander Esch - crazy athleticism and shadowed Lee all offseason
8. Chidobe Awuzie - finished strong last year and about to break out as our best corner
9. Jaylon Smith - if his lateral quickness would return, he could rocket to top five
10. Sean Lee - still the smartest dude on the team
11. Byron Jones - I need to see more, not totally buying it, but last year was good
12. Robert Quinn - bigger acquisition than we realize, will love being here
13. Jason Witten -will look the same steady guy as he did 3 years ago
14. Tyrone Crawford -way underappreciated, good football player
15. Anthony Brown - one of the steadiest players on the team
16. Maliek Collins - dominant at times when his foot is healthy
17. Dak Prescott - biggest year of his career, gotta make the WR corp fast and dynamic with Moore
18. Joe Looney - this is a tremendous backup and a good locker room guy
19. Randall Cobb - like Miles Austin, can he keep his legs together?
20. Jourdan Lewis - talented, but freelances too much
21. La'el Collins - fairly solid, but not as advertised out of college
22. Dorance Armstrong -will become more impactful this year with an offseason
23. Michael Gallup -could go way up the chart, but need to see it
24. Antuan Woods - love this guy, but he tailed off at the end
25. Jeff Heath - better than given credit for, but Iloka looms
26. Xavier Woods - could break out if he prepared to fend off Iloka
27. Connor Williams - will rise when he gets to RT eventually
28. Trysten Hill -who knows, but they're counting on him to get his head on right and play
29. Blake Jarwin - intriguing player late, the coaches love him
30. Taco Charlton - Dude.....

And there are still solid and intriguing guys like Frazier, Pollard, Covington, Thomas, Sua-Filo, Schultz and these track star rookie receivers on the team.

Some really good, promising players are about to get cut. That's a good sign.

Dak behind Anthony Brown and just in front of Joe Loony? Are you trying to make this a Dak thread?

ItzKelz · Jul 12, 2019

erod said:
Seriously?

He gets lost in space. A lot. He can run in a straight line and make a play, but his lateral quickness is still compromised.

Hold on....let me get my popcorn. I didnt know it was story telling time.

Stash · Jul 12, 2019

DFWJC said:
I agree they were good
But maybe 5 of them earned Pro Bowl (Ware, Witten, Romo, Owens, maybe Newman).
The hype train was way off the rails during fan voting period and the team overall was kicking butt early.
The fans voted in a ton of guys that year that were good but certainly not great. Ken Hamlin, Roy Williams, Marion Barber and 975 yards rushing (seriously?), Nick Folk, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Not blaming you, but I get tired of people throwing out that 13 Pro Bowlers number. It's just not at all valid.

Well said. Those '13 Pro Bowlers' was the hype train running off the rails.

Stash · Jul 12, 2019

Iago33 said:
Dak behind Anthony Brown and just in front of Joe Loony? Are you trying to make this a Dak thread?

When isn't he?

Parcells4Life · Jul 12, 2019

erod said:
When Maliek Colllins is fully healthy, he can be dominant. He's just rarely healthy. That foot is chronic.

I put the "healthy" qualifier in there for Lee, Collins, Frederick, Tyron, etc.

The best ability is availability. If Romo never had back problems the NFC Championship drought might be over by now. But health is part of a players talent.

Chocolate Lab · Jul 12, 2019

Yep, this roster is incredibly talented -- the most talented I can remember since the Jimmy days. The only real question is Dak, and he should at least be solid. He shouldn't have to be elite to win with this roster.

This should be the year the Cowboys seriously contend for an actual title, not just one Wild Card round.

Sydla · Jul 12, 2019

ClappingCarrot said:
I keep telling you guys not to sleep on Tony Pollard.

Could be our own version of Tarik Cohen.

I was not a huge fan of that pick. I would have taken Johnson, the CB or Thompson the S from Alabama in that spot.

But, if the hype around Moore is all that, it will be interesting to see how and if can use Pollard's raw skill set in this offense.

Aerolithe_Lion · Jul 12, 2019

Diehardblues said:
Yep but more of the exception not the rule. Thanks

But it can be done. The Patriots are the living embodiment of an exception of hw a front office should operate. The 2007 and 2011 giants are the exception of exceptions. The 2015 Broncos are an exception, basically buying a super bowl through free agency. The Seahawks winning with a second year QB are an exception. The 2010 Packers were an exception, winning it as a wild card team.

There are more exceptions than rules, and anyone can be the next exception.

uvaballa · Jul 12, 2019

erod said:
Yes, I'd say so. It's younger with more elite potential. Too much Pat Watkins and Jacques Reeves in those days, as well as some old dudes that were losing their step. Good team though.

I just wish Parcells would have given it one more go. And can you imagine if he had a back like Barber to work with young Romo?

Wade sucked the life out of that team. "Let the Cowboys ride!" Puke.

You said this team has more potential. I will say this team is probably more balanced talent wise but it does have guys like Heath starting.

2007 had more top talent players but also more bottom talent. The QB and receiving corp with Witten in his prime and T.O. being very good was much better. I think I prefer that front 7 with D. Ware anchoring too. D Law isn’t the same force.

Diehardblues · Jul 12, 2019

Aerolithe_Lion said:
But it can be done. The Patriots are the living embodiment of an exception of hw a front office should operate. The 2007 and 2011 giants are the exception of exceptions. The 2015 Broncos are an exception, basically buying a super bowl through free agency. The Seahawks winning with a second year QB are an exception. The 2010 Packers were an exception, winning it as a wild card team.

There are more exceptions than rules, and anyone can be the next exception.

i wouldn’t consider Seattle , Denver or Green Bay exceptions as they had either a#1 defense or Elite QB. Giants would fall in the exception category. No doubt the greatest upsets in Cap era Super Bowls.

Stash · Jul 12, 2019

Sydla said:
I was not a huge fan of that pick. I would have taken Johnson, the CB or Thompson the S from Alabama in that spot.

But, if the hype around Moore is all that, it will be interesting to see how and if can use Pollard's raw skill set in this offense.

I feel the same way. I feel that they guessed wrong in thinking they could have gotten Johnson with their next pick, while I believe that Pollard would have still been available. It's something that can never be proven, but I will watch the trio of Pollard, Isaiah Johnson, and Michael Jackson closely to see how all three players develop.

Ranking an incredibly talented roster

JBS

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Praxit

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erod

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DFWJC

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DFWJC

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ItzKelz

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erod

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DFWJC

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Iago33

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ItzKelz

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Stash

Stash

Parcells4Life

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Chocolate Lab

Run-loving Dino

Sydla

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Aerolithe_Lion

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uvaballa

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Diehardblues

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Stash