26 Reasons to be happy

[XxTDxX]

I posted something similar in another thread but I'm interested in what people have to say about this considering every day on this forum I see someone saying something along the lines of "We need to blow it up and get some young talent in here"

In my opinion we have the most young talent in our division and are among the leaders in the league in that department.

I encourage anyone to look at this list and try to compare it to that of the Eagles, Commanders, or Giants..

If your agenda is just anti Romo than go ahead and make all the posts you want about getting rid of Romo and getting a young guy in here but don't make it seem like we have no pieces and need to reboot this entire situation.

Players 26 and under we know can play at a high level as starters:

(These are guys that have already established themselves in the league as above average at their respective positions)

Dez Bryant
Sean Lee
Brandon Carr
Bruce Carter
Tyron Smith
Dan Bailey
Morris Claiborne
Demarco Murray

Players 26 and under we know can contribute and potentially more:

(These are guys who have proven they can contribute as rotation players and possibly start in the near future)

Barry Church
Dwayne Harris
Tyrone Crawford
James Hanna
Sean Lissemore
Orlando Scandrick

Players 26 and under who could surprise us:

(These are some guys who have some talent and could either be bench players/special teamers forever or possibly develop into good players)

* Next to players I expect to contribute this year

Sterling Moore *
Cole Beasley *
Danny Coale
Alex Albright *
Phil Costa *
Lance Dunbar
Matt Johnson *
Ronald Leary
Jeremy Parnell
Brian Price *
Darrion Weems
Kyle Wilber


If even 1 of the players from the last list develops that would give us 15 young guys who we can keep developing for years to come

 

[Titleist]

Inventive topic, I can tell you put a lot of thought into it. I completely agree as long as those young guys can remain healthy. There's a lot to be excited about.

 

[honyock]

Thanks for pulling that together. One other thing to add to that...in your first two lists, of those who can start/contribute, 12 of the 14 were drafted by the Cowboys or signed as UDFA's since 2010.

In the last list, the potentials, 8 of the 12 were drafted or UDFA's since 2010.

That's a pretty big influx of young players. I'm sure we can argue till the cows come home about what that means. But it's a pretty major overhaul of the roster since 2010, whether you like the talent level of the young guys or not (I do, and it's why I'm encouraged even with the back to back 8-8 season).

 

[XxTDxX]

Thanks for pulling that together. One other thing to add to that...in your first two lists, of those who can start/contribute, 12 of the 14 were drafted by the Cowboys or signed as UDFA's since 2010.

In the last list, the potentials, 8 of the 12 were drafted or UDFA's since 2010.

That's a pretty big influx of young players. I'm sure we can argue till the cows come home about what that means. But it's a pretty major overhaul of the roster since 2010, like it or not (I do, and it's why I'm encouraged even with the back to back 8-8 season).

Yup.. We are turning things around in terms of being able to evaluate and bring in young talent..

Not only have we drafted better than we had previously but it is my opinion that we have drafted better than anybody else in the division (including UFA's)

 

[mmillman]

Bruce Carter - maybe hasn't really proven it yet. potential is there definitely
Tyron Smith " "
Dan Bailey maybe above average but ................
Morris Claiborne - hasn't done anything yet
Demarco Murray - There are a dozen or more rbs that are either better or outperforming Murray.

the rest of your list is pure speculation

Fact is Dallas is looking at the downside of four of their best players. All on the physical downslope. Romo, Witten, Spencer, Ware.

 

[XxTDxX]

Bruce Carter - maybe hasn't really proven it yet. potential is there definitely
Tyron Smith " "
Dan Bailey maybe above average but ................
Morris Claiborne - hasn't done anything yet
Demarco Murray - There are a dozen or more rbs that are either better or outperforming Murray.

the rest of your list is pure speculation

Fact is Dallas is looking at the downside of four of their best players. All on the physical downslope. Romo, Witten, Spencer, Ware.

I do not agree with you.

Carter played extremely well in the games he played
Tyron Smith is already an above average left tackle
Dan Bailey is beyond above average
Claiborne is good enough to start for probably every team in the league already
Murray is easily top 15 RB's in the league when healthy and is probably top 7 or 8 of guys under 25

 

[mmillman]

I do not agree with you.

Carter played extremely well in the games he played
Tyron Smith is already an above average left tackle
Dan Bailey is beyond above average
Claiborne is good enough to start for probably every team in the league already
Murray is easily top 15 RB's in the league when healthy and is probably top 7 or 8 of guys under 25

Lets deal with reality
carter did play well but he has been hurt two out of the last three seasons and as yet hasn't done much more than flash potential

Smith may or may not be above average. He has tons of potential but hasn't done a lot, yet.

Bailey - heck I don't know. Good kicker but not really a game changing player

claiborne - you said above average. He was not an above average corner last season. That would imply that he was better than 12-16 corners? He wasn't the best on the team and Scandrick when healthy might have been better. Claiborne will probably be good. Last season no way.

Murray is good when healthy but when has that been?

you are doing a lot of projecting with the above.

Even Lee, while good, needs to string a whole season together. He is yet another player with an injury history that Dallas seems to grab on to.

 

[Idgit]

I do not agree with you.

Carter played extremely well in the games he played
Tyron Smith is already an above average left tackle
Dan Bailey is beyond above average
Claiborne is good enough to start for probably every team in the league already
Murray is easily top 15 RB's in the league when healthy and is probably top 7 or 8 of guys under 25

I don't think many will agree with him.

We'll also add a couple players to this list before the season starts.

 

[XxTDxX]

Lets deal with reality
carter did play well but he has been hurt two out of the last three seasons and as yet hasn't done much more than flash potential

Smith may or may not be above average. He has tons of potential but hasn't done a lot, yet.

Bailey - heck I don't know. Good kicker but not really a game changing player

claiborne - you said above average. He was not an above average corner last season. That would imply that he was better than 12-16 corners? He wasn't the best on the team and Scandrick when healthy might have been better. Claiborne will probably be good. Last season no way.

Murray is good when healthy but when has that been?

you are doing a lot of projecting with the above.

Even Lee, while good, needs to string a whole season together. He is yet another player with an injury history that Dallas seems to grab on to.

There are 64 starting corners in the league.. Can you name 32 better than Claiborne?

Regardless.. You are entitled to your own opinions and your own standards for what is average and what is above average or whatever.. All I ask is that you maintain these standards when you evaluate the other teams young talent because if you think Morris Claiborne, Tyron Smith, and Sean Lee haven't proved anything you are going to be beyond unimpressed when you stumble upon the likes of Prince Amakamura, James Brewer, and Jaiquon Williams

 

[mmillman]

with all these guys "above average" why was Dallas the epitome of average 8-8?

Believe me I wish you were correct, but the play on the field, when they could be on the field doesn't agree with you.

murray had 663 yards and averaged 4.1 carries. Missed several games. Very average

carter 70 total tackles no sacks and no ints. very average

Lee 58 total tackles no sacks 1 int. below average production above average talent, so far unable to remain healthy

claiborne 1 int and 8 passes defensed. below average production

bailey 124 points around average

Smith had some up and down games. He was absolutely abused in a couple.

 

[XxTDxX]

with all these guys "above average" why was Dallas the epitome of average 8-8?

Believe me I wish you were correct, but the play on the field, when they could be on the field doesn't agree with you.

murray had 663 yards and averaged 4.1 carries. Missed several games. Very average

carter 70 total tackles no sacks and no ints. very average

Lee 58 total tackles no sacks 1 int. below average production above average talent, so far unable to remain healthy

claiborne 1 int and 8 passes defensed. below average production

bailey 124 points around average

Smith had some up and down games. He was absolutely abused in a couple.

Because we had a TON of injuries and we lost some very winnable games

As for the players like I said you can have your opinion I am not going to argue just make sure you have the same standards when you evaluate other teams young players

 

[mmillman]

Because we had a TON of injuries and we lost some very winnable games

As for the players like I said you can have your opinion I am not going to argue just make sure you have the same standards when you evaluate other teams young players

a lot of teams have talent like you mentioned above. The good teams have fewer holes, maybe more elite talent, better coaching, more depth and a better GM.

this offseason Dallas has seen the playoff teams: Atlanta, SF, Seattle and Minn. improve while Dallas has not. Phil. has made some solid moves also.

 

[whynot]

a lot of teams have talent like you mentioned above. The good teams have fewer holes, maybe more elite talent, better coaching, more depth and a better GM.

this offseason Dallas has seen the playoff teams: Atlanta, SF, Seattle and Minn. improve while Dallas has not. Phil. has made some solid moves also.

Which makes Dallas the underdog, 27 reasons to be happy!

 

[Mansta54]

Excellent work by the OP and I totally agree with you, there's a lot to get excited about with this team. JG has also put together a awesome staff to get the job done too.

 

[Fmart322]

To OP, Good post. After the way the season ended in washington with Romo having one of his worst games as a pro, the way the Cowboys have what seems to be no money for FA's and only a few draft picks I needed something positive.

 

[9darter]

I like what you did here. That's some good sunshine pumping.

:starspin

 

[HoosierCowboy]

I'm excited but many are on CZ would rather wallow in despair -- if we won a SB they'd complain that we should have won more or that we won't win it again. If we can add maybe three average linemen and stay healthy, we'll win some games.

 

[burmafrd]

with all these guys "above average" why was Dallas the epitome of average 8-8?

Believe me I wish you were correct, but the play on the field, when they could be on the field doesn't agree with you.

murray had 663 yards and averaged 4.1 carries. Missed several games. Very average

carter 70 total tackles no sacks and no ints. very average

Lee 58 total tackles no sacks 1 int. below average production above average talent, so far unable to remain healthy

claiborne 1 int and 8 passes defensed. below average production

bailey 124 points around average

Smith had some up and down games. He was absolutely abused in a couple.

you are so far off calling Bailey Average it is not even funny? Do you ever watch a football game?

as regards a kicker not counting I have two words for you


Adam Vinatieri

 

[Mansta54]

I'm excited but many are on CZ would rather wallow in despair -- if we won a SB they'd complain that we should have won more or that we won't win it again. If we can add maybe three average linemen and stay healthy, we'll win some games.

Very accurate statement.

 

[CoCo]

Really great OP and one I do find a lot of hope in.

As the flip-side has suggested though the basis of concern for this team though is two high positions are manned by older vets. To boot, they have no candidate to succeed them currently on the roster and are VERY difficult to find replacements for - QB and RDE.

Another concern is the durability of three players on the < 26 list - Lee, Carter & Murray. Not at all dismissing them, just concerned.

Another concern is that Tyron & Tyrone are the ONLY lineman on the "can count on" lists. Lets hope we successfully add 2 to 3 more names to that list in 6 weeks.

All that said, more important than ever is the need to keep the pipeline of you talent flowing and clean up the cap where possible.