2018 vs 2017 Cowboys

[xwalker]

My unorganized thoughts on comparing coaches/players from 2017 to 2018.

Safety
They have the same players on the roster. Worst case Jones moves back and they're the same as last year.

Woods likely an upgrade.

CB
Their best games were at the end of last season. Scandrick was out then. All other players that played remain on the roster plus Jones now at CB.

MLB
They started the season without Hitchens.

2017: Hitchens, Jaylon, Durant
2018: Vander Esch, Jaylon, Thomas

Jaylon was a mess mentally and physically to start the season. Long layoff, apprehensive about the injury, wearing the brace, etc..

Durant signed around the start of camp but stayed on NFI until around game 1. He was toast.

Now Jaylon is healthier. We saw progress on that by the end of last season. He now has a year of playing in NFL games including several starts. He is practicing without the brace.

Thomas has started NFL games and is good in coverage. He is better than the 2017 version of Durant.

Vander Esch vs 2017 Hitchens. Hitchens missed the first 4 games and played reduced snaps in several more while recovering from the injury.

WLB
Same with more depth.

SLB
Same with more competition.

DL
Irving was suspended the first 4 games and out the last 4 with injury.

Irving now: Healthy, not suspended. Out of shape but probably out of shape to start last year.

Paea had been dealing with a knee issue since the Spring.

Price was new to the scheme then out with injury.

Now Price (Paea): Price replaces Paea and now has experience in the scheme.

Taco was a rookie.

Now Taco: More experienced. A year in an NFL training program.

Mayowa was on the team.

Now Ealy or Armstrong replaces Mayowa. Hard not to be better.



Datone Jones came in during the season and jumped into action with minimal practice time. He played decent.

Datone Jones now: Has experience in the scheme.

Other DL options
Ward vs noname.
Ash got some experience.
Tapper should be equal or better than he was last year.

OL
Williams >> Cooper/Green
Fleming >> Green/Bell
La'el with experience at RT.

TE
It seems like a downgrade; however, it's not just a player to player comparison. They'll run some packages with no TE now (Austin/Beasley together, etc.)

More speed. Witten could barely run anymore. Hanna didn't need speed to block.

One of Jarwin, Rico, Shultz the likely starter, not Swaim.

WR
The 2017 version of Dez was terrible. His catch rate was 52%. TWill and Butler were at 65% with the same QB. Dez only caught 21% of 20+ yard passes vs 67% for Butler with the same QB.

Hurns. With way less targets, Hurns had similar numbers to Dez the past 3 years.

Thompson replaces Butler. Break Even.

Austin (as a WR) >> Switzer

TWill. Same or replaced by Gallup.

Gallup vs Noah Brown. Gallup much more developed as a college WR.

Beasley vs Beasley. Linehan/Lal say they'll change some things with him in the scheme to offset the double teams. That's easier now that other WRs can run the full route tree.

RB
Zeke not suspended.
Rod Smith break even.
If Austin is a RB, then Austin >> Morris
Otherwise Bo vs Morris ?

QB
Dak 3rd year.
Another option at the backup spot.

Coaches
WR - Definitely a better fit.
OL - Definitely more experience.
DBs - Huge Upgrade.
ST - Possible downgrade but he's been the assistant for a few years.
LB - Downgrade but Kris Richard as the pass defense coordinator will be very involved with LBs.

 

[waldoputty]

My unorganized thoughts on comparing coaches/players from 2017 to 2018.

Safety
They have the same players on the roster. Worst case Jones moves back and they're the same as last year.

Woods likely an upgrade.

CB
Their best games were at the end of last season. Scandrick was out then. All other players that played remain on the roster plus Jones now at CB.

MLB
They started the season without Hitchens.

2017: Hitchens, Jaylon, Durant
2018: Vander Esch, Jaylon, Thomas

Jaylon was a mess mentally and physically to start the season. Long layoff, apprehensive about the injury, wearing the brace, etc..

Durant signed around the start of camp but stayed on NFI until around game 1. He was toast.

Now Jaylon is healthier. We saw progress on that by the end of last season. He now has a year of playing in NFL games including several starts. He is practicing without the brace.

Thomas has started NFL games and is good in coverage. He is better than the 2017 version of Durant.

Vander Esch vs 2017 Hitchens. Hitchens missed the first 4 games and played reduced snaps in several more while recovering from the injury.

WLB
Same with more depth.

SLB
Same with more competition.

DL
Irving was suspended the first 4 games and out the last 4 with injury.

Irving now: Healthy, not suspended. Out of shape but probably out of shape to start last year.

Paea had been dealing with a knee issue since the Spring.

Price was new to the scheme then out with injury.

Now Price (Paea): Price replaces Paea and now has experience in the scheme.

Taco was a rookie.

Now Taco: More experienced. A year in an NFL training program.

Mayowa was on the team.

Now Ealy or Armstrong replaces Mayowa. Hard not to be better.



Datone Jones came in during the season and jumped into action with minimal practice time. He played decent.

Datone Jones now: Has experience in the scheme.

Other DL options
Ward vs noname.
Ash got some experience.
Tapper should be equal or better than he was last year.

OL
Williams >> Cooper/Green
Fleming >> Green/Bell
La'el with experience at RT.

TE
It seems like a downgrade; however, it's not just a player to player comparison. They'll run some packages with no TE now (Austin/Beasley together, etc.)

More speed. Witten could barely run anymore. Hanna didn't need speed to block.

One of Jarwin, Rico, Shultz the likely starter, not Swaim.

WR
The 2017 version of Dez was terrible. His catch rate was 52%. TWill and Butler were at 65% with the same QB. Dez only caught 21% of 20+ yard passes vs 67% for Butler with the same QB.

Hurns. With way less targets, Hurns had similar numbers to Dez the past 3 years.

Thompson replaces Butler. Break Even.

Austin (as a WR) >> Switzer

TWill. Same or replaced by Gallup.

Gallup vs Noah Brown. Gallup much more developed as a college WR.

Beasley vs Beasley. Linehan/Lal say they'll change some things with him in the scheme to offset the double teams. That's easier now that other WRs can run the full route tree.

RB
Zeke not suspended.
Rod Smith break even.
If Austin is a RB, then Austin >> Morris
Otherwise Bo vs Morris ?

QB
Dak 3rd year.
Another option at the backup spot.

Coaches
WR - Definitely a better fit.
OL - Definitely more experience.
DBs - Huge Upgrade.
ST - Possible downgrade but he's been the assistant for a few years.
LB - Downgrade but Kris Richard as the pass defense coordinator will be very involved with LBs.

hey X

agree with u.
all positions are improved or roughly the same.
biggest improvements: lb, cb, ot, rb, wr
some improvement: qb, fb, dt, de, og
roughly the same: s, st, c
we will go as far as dak takes us and as far as the coaching does not screw up big time.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The disaster that was 2017 went 9-7 with TWill and Switzer giving away games.

It's hard not to be excited about this season, the roster upgrades in FA and the young talent.

 

[tm1119]

WLB has more depth...who do you think plays WIL if/when Lee goes down? Honest question...


And this crazy thing called sample size says hi in your little wr blip

 

[xwalker]

WLB has more depth...who do you think plays WIL if/when Lee goes down? Honest question...


And this crazy thing called sample size says hi in your little wr blip

It a full season of 52% catch rate vs 65% for TWill and Butler.

Jaylon and Thomas likely get practice time at WLB.

 

[Ranching]

My unorganized thoughts on comparing coaches/players from 2017 to 2018.

Safety
They have the same players on the roster. Worst case Jones moves back and they're the same as last year.

Woods likely an upgrade.

CB
Their best games were at the end of last season. Scandrick was out then. All other players that played remain on the roster plus Jones now at CB.

MLB
They started the season without Hitchens.

2017: Hitchens, Jaylon, Durant
2018: Vander Esch, Jaylon, Thomas

Jaylon was a mess mentally and physically to start the season. Long layoff, apprehensive about the injury, wearing the brace, etc..

Durant signed around the start of camp but stayed on NFI until around game 1. He was toast.

Now Jaylon is healthier. We saw progress on that by the end of last season. He now has a year of playing in NFL games including several starts. He is practicing without the brace.

Thomas has started NFL games and is good in coverage. He is better than the 2017 version of Durant.

Vander Esch vs 2017 Hitchens. Hitchens missed the first 4 games and played reduced snaps in several more while recovering from the injury.

WLB
Same with more depth.

SLB
Same with more competition.

DL
Irving was suspended the first 4 games and out the last 4 with injury.

Irving now: Healthy, not suspended. Out of shape but probably out of shape to start last year.

Paea had been dealing with a knee issue since the Spring.

Price was new to the scheme then out with injury.

Now Price (Paea): Price replaces Paea and now has experience in the scheme.

Taco was a rookie.

Now Taco: More experienced. A year in an NFL training program.

Mayowa was on the team.

Now Ealy or Armstrong replaces Mayowa. Hard not to be better.



Datone Jones came in during the season and jumped into action with minimal practice time. He played decent.

Datone Jones now: Has experience in the scheme.

Other DL options
Ward vs noname.
Ash got some experience.
Tapper should be equal or better than he was last year.

OL
Williams >> Cooper/Green
Fleming >> Green/Bell
La'el with experience at RT.

TE
It seems like a downgrade; however, it's not just a player to player comparison. They'll run some packages with no TE now (Austin/Beasley together, etc.)

More speed. Witten could barely run anymore. Hanna didn't need speed to block.

One of Jarwin, Rico, Shultz the likely starter, not Swaim.

WR
The 2017 version of Dez was terrible. His catch rate was 52%. TWill and Butler were at 65% with the same QB. Dez only caught 21% of 20+ yard passes vs 67% for Butler with the same QB.

Hurns. With way less targets, Hurns had similar numbers to Dez the past 3 years.

Thompson replaces Butler. Break Even.

Austin (as a WR) >> Switzer

TWill. Same or replaced by Gallup.

Gallup vs Noah Brown. Gallup much more developed as a college WR.

Beasley vs Beasley. Linehan/Lal say they'll change some things with him in the scheme to offset the double teams. That's easier now that other WRs can run the full route tree.

RB
Zeke not suspended.
Rod Smith break even.
If Austin is a RB, then Austin >> Morris
Otherwise Bo vs Morris ?

QB
Dak 3rd year.
Another option at the backup spot.

Coaches
WR - Definitely a better fit.
OL - Definitely more experience.
DBs - Huge Upgrade.
ST - Possible downgrade but he's been the assistant for a few years.
LB - Downgrade but Kris Richard as the pass defense coordinator will be very involved with LBs.

My unorganized thoughts on comparing coaches/players from 2017 to 2018.

Safety
They have the same players on the roster. Worst case Jones moves back and they're the same as last year.

Woods likely an upgrade.

CB
Their best games were at the end of last season. Scandrick was out then. All other players that played remain on the roster plus Jones now at CB.

MLB
They started the season without Hitchens.

2017: Hitchens, Jaylon, Durant
2018: Vander Esch, Jaylon, Thomas

Jaylon was a mess mentally and physically to start the season. Long layoff, apprehensive about the injury, wearing the brace, etc..

Durant signed around the start of camp but stayed on NFI until around game 1. He was toast.

Now Jaylon is healthier. We saw progress on that by the end of last season. He now has a year of playing in NFL games including several starts. He is practicing without the brace.

Thomas has started NFL games and is good in coverage. He is better than the 2017 version of Durant.

Vander Esch vs 2017 Hitchens. Hitchens missed the first 4 games and played reduced snaps in several more while recovering from the injury.

WLB
Same with more depth.

SLB
Same with more competition.

DL
Irving was suspended the first 4 games and out the last 4 with injury.

Irving now: Healthy, not suspended. Out of shape but probably out of shape to start last year.

Paea had been dealing with a knee issue since the Spring.

Price was new to the scheme then out with injury.

Now Price (Paea): Price replaces Paea and now has experience in the scheme.

Taco was a rookie.

Now Taco: More experienced. A year in an NFL training program.

Mayowa was on the team.

Now Ealy or Armstrong replaces Mayowa. Hard not to be better.



Datone Jones came in during the season and jumped into action with minimal practice time. He played decent.

Datone Jones now: Has experience in the scheme.

Other DL options
Ward vs noname.
Ash got some experience.
Tapper should be equal or better than he was last year.

OL
Williams >> Cooper/Green
Fleming >> Green/Bell
La'el with experience at RT.

TE
It seems like a downgrade; however, it's not just a player to player comparison. They'll run some packages with no TE now (Austin/Beasley together, etc.)

More speed. Witten could barely run anymore. Hanna didn't need speed to block.

One of Jarwin, Rico, Shultz the likely starter, not Swaim.

WR
The 2017 version of Dez was terrible. His catch rate was 52%. TWill and Butler were at 65% with the same QB. Dez only caught 21% of 20+ yard passes vs 67% for Butler with the same QB.

Hurns. With way less targets, Hurns had similar numbers to Dez the past 3 years.

Thompson replaces Butler. Break Even.

Austin (as a WR) >> Switzer

TWill. Same or replaced by Gallup.

Gallup vs Noah Brown. Gallup much more developed as a college WR.

Beasley vs Beasley. Linehan/Lal say they'll change some things with him in the scheme to offset the double teams. That's easier now that other WRs can run the full route tree.

RB
Zeke not suspended.
Rod Smith break even.
If Austin is a RB, then Austin >> Morris
Otherwise Bo vs Morris ?

QB
Dak 3rd year.
Another option at the backup spot.

Coaches
WR - Definitely a better fit.
OL - Definitely more experience.
DBs - Huge Upgrade.
ST - Possible downgrade but he's been the assistant for a few years.
LB - Downgrade but Kris Richard as the pass defense coordinator will be very involved with LBs.

We're just exacberating the problem with all this football talk.

 

[waldoputty]

We're just exacberating the problem with all this football talk.

especially by a legendary football coach!

 

[Risen Star]

This just in. Tavon Austin is a better RB than Alfred Morris.

 

[Billyd]

My unorganized thoughts on comparing coaches/players from 2017 to 2018.

Safety
They have the same players on the roster. Worst case Jones moves back and they're the same as last year.

Woods likely an upgrade.

CB
Their best games were at the end of last season. Scandrick was out then. All other players that played remain on the roster plus Jones now at CB.

MLB
They started the season without Hitchens.

2017: Hitchens, Jaylon, Durant
2018: Vander Esch, Jaylon, Thomas

Jaylon was a mess mentally and physically to start the season. Long layoff, apprehensive about the injury, wearing the brace, etc..

Durant signed around the start of camp but stayed on NFI until around game 1. He was toast.

Now Jaylon is healthier. We saw progress on that by the end of last season. He now has a year of playing in NFL games including several starts. He is practicing without the brace.

Thomas has started NFL games and is good in coverage. He is better than the 2017 version of Durant.

Vander Esch vs 2017 Hitchens. Hitchens missed the first 4 games and played reduced snaps in several more while recovering from the injury.

WLB
Same with more depth.

SLB
Same with more competition.

DL
Irving was suspended the first 4 games and out the last 4 with injury.

Irving now: Healthy, not suspended. Out of shape but probably out of shape to start last year.

Paea had been dealing with a knee issue since the Spring.

Price was new to the scheme then out with injury.

Now Price (Paea): Price replaces Paea and now has experience in the scheme.

Taco was a rookie.

Now Taco: More experienced. A year in an NFL training program.

Mayowa was on the team.

Now Ealy or Armstrong replaces Mayowa. Hard not to be better.



Datone Jones came in during the season and jumped into action with minimal practice time. He played decent.

Datone Jones now: Has experience in the scheme.

Other DL options
Ward vs noname.
Ash got some experience.
Tapper should be equal or better than he was last year.

OL
Williams >> Cooper/Green
Fleming >> Green/Bell
La'el with experience at RT.

TE
It seems like a downgrade; however, it's not just a player to player comparison. They'll run some packages with no TE now (Austin/Beasley together, etc.)

More speed. Witten could barely run anymore. Hanna didn't need speed to block.

One of Jarwin, Rico, Shultz the likely starter, not Swaim.

WR
The 2017 version of Dez was terrible. His catch rate was 52%. TWill and Butler were at 65% with the same QB. Dez only caught 21% of 20+ yard passes vs 67% for Butler with the same QB.

Hurns. With way less targets, Hurns had similar numbers to Dez the past 3 years.

Thompson replaces Butler. Break Even.

Austin (as a WR) >> Switzer

TWill. Same or replaced by Gallup.

Gallup vs Noah Brown. Gallup much more developed as a college WR.

Beasley vs Beasley. Linehan/Lal say they'll change some things with him in the scheme to offset the double teams. That's easier now that other WRs can run the full route tree.

RB
Zeke not suspended.
Rod Smith break even.
If Austin is a RB, then Austin >> Morris
Otherwise Bo vs Morris ?

QB
Dak 3rd year.
Another option at the backup spot.

Coaches
WR - Definitely a better fit.
OL - Definitely more experience.
DBs - Huge Upgrade.
ST - Possible downgrade but he's been the assistant for a few years.
LB - Downgrade but Kris Richard as the pass defense coordinator will be very involved with LBs.

SWAIM is your starter and is mor experienced in this offense plus he has better hands and catches better than the rest..I know you probly were not able to find much on him, but he is much better than you know!

 

[xwalker]

SWAIM is your starter and is mor experienced in this offense plus he has better hands and catches better than the rest..I know you probly were not able to find much on him, but he is much better than you know!

I watched multiple of his college games after they drafted him.

You must be new here...

 

[Billyd]

I watched multiple of his college games after they drafted him.

You must be new here...

No, But thank you for not noticing me..Swaim Way more solid than you know..And they trust him, unlike Rico and the others..Cowboys are anal about tight ends..Rooks dont usually get many snaps, no matter where they are draftd..I think they like shultzy, Not even sure why the like Jarwin so much..He has done nothing..

SWAIMs rookie year in preseason or second year..Also in 2016 before he got hurt @ pitt, he played very well..Not sure why they didnt use swaim much last year, other than Hanna having more experience...

 

[zerofill]

I think the secondary is going to surprise a lot of people this season.

 

[Billyd]

I think the secondary is going to surprise a lot of people this season.

I hope so Zerofill..id like to see woods Tear it up at Free safety, hope he put on some muscle in the offseason..

 

[waving monkey]

All of this enormous change will require a big effort from staff and players.
The Oline must click. Lee and company also have to come together.
Just those two things will improve the team.
The plus is that the new influx of WR looks promising.
TE I have no idea.
Dline I like the new talent
someone already said up line the secondary will be boss.
Good new coaches. Whats not to be excited about.

 

[Billyd]

All of this enormous change will require a big effort from staff and players.
The Oline must click. Lee and company also have to come together.
Just those two things will improve the team.
The plus is that the new influx of WR looks promising.
TE I have no idea.
Dline I like the new talent
someone already said up line the secondary will be boss.
Good new coaches. Whats not to be excited about.

I THINK the DENDS and three techs may play better together, But Collins instability with his foot, potential drag on to healing in season, and no true solid one tech will bite us..Maybe sa player emerges..But you dont hide a weakness at one tech with a lbr..And a good one tech will keep your lbrs clean.. Thats really the only concern i have..Hankins be in my wheelhouse already but Martin and a longterm deal for dlaw probly their focus...

 

[jazzcat22]

No, But thank you for not noticing me..Swaim Way more solid than you know..And they trust him, unlike Rico and the others..Cowboys are anal about tight ends..Rooks dont usually get many snaps, no matter where they are draftd..I think they like shultzy, Not even sure why the like Jarwin so much..He has done nothing..

SWAIMs rookie year in preseason or second year..Also in 2016 before he got hurt @ pitt, he played very well..Not sure why they didnt use swaim much last year, other than Hanna having more experience...

I have Swaim as the starter until proven otherwise. He and Dak have a good rapport on some passes. Especially when he runs a crossing pattern from left to right, and Dak rolls out to the right. Seems to always gains some decent yards and can actually get a 1st down.

They just got to use it as much because Witten would not come off the field, or be taken off the field.
Rico has done nothing, Schultz is a 4th round draft pick. And Garrett does not trust rookies all that much to play them right away. Well, except for your 1st and 2nd rounders. But they are supposed to start.

I think they like Jarwin because he can do a lot of things, but needs the experience.

so IMO, it is Swaim's job to lose at this point in time. This will be one of the many interesting things to watch in TC.