A couple roster evaluations I don't understand

[Stash]

The plan was to use Dunbar and Murray more last year. Then Murray got hot and nobody was taking meaningful carries.

That happens sometimes.

Yeah, just like that plan to use a 2nd round draft choice on a backup TE and revolutionize the league with our cutting edge offense!

Oh wait...

 

[JBS]

He's returned 3 kicks in the last 2 years, which may as well be no kicks. Make no mistake, the team is not keeping Dunbar because they can't find a guy who can replace him. They're keeping him because they feel his potential is higher than anyone else who can give you 1-2 carries per week and a kickoff return every 10 games.

I was talking about returning kicks this season

 

[Stash]

which is kinda the point

I mean in the preseason. We're we getting repeatedly gashed in the preseason last year? I tried yo do a preliminary search, but those stats aren't readily available so I quickly stopped looking.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

IMO if a team calls for Hanna I think he's gone, he has developed well in the blocking department.

 

[jterrell]

Lance Dunbar

I would have moved on myself. Dunbar has better blocking than credited with here but he is definitely not more than a change of pace and he hasn't been healthy enough to even do that. He's a solid special teamer but you won't see that until the season starts. I won't count the awful lane abandonment last week against him as it was his first duty of the year. But the team decided to resign him after some consideration and Romo trusts him. I certainly think there are better RBs available.

Geoff Swaim and James Hanna

Hanna actually is a really good blocker. He turns guys and he gets to the 2nd level even regularly. He's a better pure blocker than Witten right now. He is really an enigma because his routes and hands are so poor given his insane athleticism. But he's been asked to develop as a special teamer and blocker for years and he's good in those roles. Hanna to be isn't even close to being cut. He's a lunch-pail guy who does the dirty work.

Swaim looks to have a lot of tools but he is under-developed coming out a soft period at UT. His blocking is average and his pass catching while nice and loaded with potential comes up short versus Witten or Escobar. You keep him if you can and if not you try to get him to the PS. But I'm not sure Swaim can handle special teams and if not it'll be tougher to keep him than most admit.

 

[jterrell]

I mean in the preseason. We're we getting repeatedly gashed in the preseason last year? I tried yo do a preliminary search, but those stats aren't readily available so I quickly stopped looking.

yes we were and yes they are readily available.
we were so bad last year in pre-season we had pretty much all accepted 4-6 wins on the year.
we were 0-4 and the first two games were insane blow outs.

 

[casmith07]

Dunbar is better than Fred Jackson apparently. That's all you need to know.

He's younger.

 

[jterrell]

IMO if a team calls for Hanna I think he's gone, he has developed well in the blocking department.

i agree on both fronts.
i think hanna can be had for the right price and last i saw which was some point last year, pff ranks him a top 10 blocking TE.
for team that values run blocking he is likely more valuable here than given credit for.
but he is also likely going to get bigger offers elsewhere next year so if a team will give up something more than a 7th i think he can be had.

 

[jterrell]

He's younger.

Younger and better on special teams.
The problem with discussing things like this is most fans don't actually think the points through.

Fred Jackson would have to beat out either DMC or Randle here. He isn't going to do that at 34.

 

[jterrell]

Yeah, just like that plan to use a 2nd round draft choice on a backup TE and revolutionize the league with our cutting edge offense!

Oh wait...

The Cowboys have arguably drafted better than any team in football the past 5 years but you are going to whine about the one weird pick that looks bad now??

I don't know if you noticed this or not but this is a pretty loaded Cowboys roster who are legit title contenders, not some spare mid 20s bunch to lament.
You have just about whined your way to ignore for me man. And I hate that because you have historically had many good takes.

 

[Stash]

yes we were and yes they are readily available.
we were so bad last year in pre-season we had pretty much all accepted 4-6 wins on the year.
we were 0-4 and the first two games were insane blow outs.

I didn't mean overall, I was referring specifically to the special teams and not the overall preseason record. If you can point me towards any preseason special teams rankings for last year, I would appreciate it.

 

[Stash]

The Cowboys have arguably drafted better than any team in football the past 5 years but you are going to whine about the one weird pick that looks bad now??

I pointed out facts. Too bad if you can't separate the good they've done from the fact that they've wasted three 2nd round picks on backup tight ends. I can.

I don't know if you noticed this or not but this is a pretty loaded Cowboys roster who are legit title contenders, not some spare mid 20s bunch to lament.

And I've said as much hundreds of times, but for some like you, it's all in, or all out with no in between.

You have just about whined your way to ignore for me man. And I hate that because you have historically had many good takes.

Go for it. Some people can't handle any opinion or viewpoint that differs from their own. You should just put everybody on Ignore and have your own forum and treat yourself to your own absolute opinions on a regular basis.

 

[jterrell]

I didn't mean overall, I was referring specifically to the special teams and not the overall preseason record. If you can point me towards any preseason special teams rankings for last year, I would appreciate it.

it was all of 4 games, the box scores and summaries for the games are easily found.
certianly possible someone has stats by team but who really cares.
dallas won more post-season games than pre-season ones.

 

[jterrell]

I pointed out facts. Too bad if you can't separate the good they've done from the fact that they've wasted three 2nd round picks on backup tight ends. I can.



And I've said as much hundreds of times, but for some like you, it's all in, or all out with no in between.



Go for it. Some people can't handle any opinion or viewpoint that differs from their own. You should just put everybody on Ignore and have your own forum and treat yourself to your own absolute opinions on a regular basis.

Marty B was a VERY GOOD player for us. He was worth his selection and was so far and above any other blocking TE over his Cowboys career it wasn't even close.

I, like everyone else, groaned when they selected Marty B and also Escobar... but Marty B was not a bad choice in a soft draft and right now Escobar may well be our 2nd TE and 3rd outside WR.

Stating things doesn't make them factual.

I disagree with the team's moves plenty.
But I also pay attention and realize over the past 24 months the teams' judgment has easily outpaced me, and it has shot so far past the board that it is hard to take complaints here seriously.

3rd round value Travis Frederick we REACHED for... only rated as best Center in football last year.
I am at least as sound a football man as they had here under the initial post-Jimmy regime... but Will McClay is smarter than myself and anyone else here. He has more access and knows a great deal more about players. If those guys get ranked highly for the most part they can flat out play.

 

[Stash]

it was all of 4 games, the box scores and summaries for the games are easily found.
certianly possible someone has stats by team but who really cares.
dallas won more post-season games than pre-season ones.

Yeah, thanks. You want to make a claim and then can't be bothered to support it.

 

[Stash]

Marty B was a VERY GOOD player for us. He was worth his selection and was so far and above any other blocking TE over his Cowboys career it wasn't even close.

I, like everyone else, groaned when they selected Marty B and also Escobar... but Marty B was not a bad choice in a soft draft and right now Escobar may well be our 2nd TE and 3rd outside WR.

Stating things doesn't make them factual.

Fasano was a good TE too, but when you invest a 2nd round draft pick and don't get the return on investment, it's a mistake.

I disagree with the team's moves plenty.

So why is it OK for you, and not OK for me?

But I also pay attention and realize over the past 24 months the teams' judgment has easily outpaced me, and it has shot so far past the board that it is hard to take complaints here seriously.

And I've never denied that. Overall, they've been great. Not infallible, but great. Not beyond question, but great. It's not an either/or absolute thing.

3rd round value Travis Frederick we REACHED for... only rated as best Center in football last year.
I am at least as sound a football man as they had here under the initial post-Jimmy regime... but Will McClay is smarter than myself and anyone else here. He has more access and knows a great deal more about players. If those guys get ranked highly for the most part they can flat out play.

But how does giving them credit for one move mean we're forbidden from disagreeing or questioning another?

 

[big dog cowboy]

The Cowboys have arguably drafted better than any team in football the past 5 years but you are going to whine about the one weird pick that looks bad now??

Truth be told that one weird pick wouldn't look so bad if JWitt didn't continue to be an iron man.

 

[dallasdave]

THere is some merit to this, but watching many other preseason games, I dont see other teams consistently looking as bad, that is why it is fair to pose the question. Granted, Hornsey really kneecapped alot of plays with horrendous line drive 35 yard punts

The backup should be playing harder, they are trying to make the team so they should be going all out !

 

[xwalker]

The Cowboys have arguably drafted better than any team in football the past 5 years but you are going to whine about the one weird pick that looks bad now??

I don't know if you noticed this or not but this is a pretty loaded Cowboys roster who are legit title contenders, not some spare mid 20s bunch to lament.
You have just about whined your way to ignore for me man. And I hate that because you have historically had many good takes.

People seem to hate having quality depth. If a player like Escobar is not playing a lot of snaps, then people get irritated that he was not worth the pick.

It's not as if Escobar has failed. He is a really good receiving TE when given the opportunity. He practically took over the game last year in the home game against the Giants but was not used much afterwards.

 

[dallasdave]

Difference is Harrison. And that 9er. McCray is not as good as either. And Dunbar should not even be in same sentence.