An aggressive two year plan to be competitive

[big dog cowboy]

We will be battling the Giants for the cellar

Gonna disagree with that. The Cowboys are just a better team.

 

[Diehardblues]

It can’t be done yet. If that was a viable option I would have included it. That ship has sailed until at least 2026 or 27 at the earliest. That contract was a mistake in my view but we can’t wave a magic wand and make him go away…yet.

Yep. And that places some limitations . Throw in a FO incapable of managing or building a better supporting cast which takes into consideration the over evaluations of our QB. It’s a tough sled .

Maybe if we address a couple weaknesses in draft and FA we could be closer to .500, assuming we can stay healthy.

 

[Diehardblues]

I’m hopeful we will be in position in a couple years to draft our heir apparent QB.

It’s fun to possibly think about Arch Manning draft 2027 or 2028.

How do we get in position for that.

 

[mote]

I did remember Guyton at TCU as an H-Back and also a TE if memory serves me. He never did anything at those positions but you’re right he was athletic enough for them.

I’m hopeful Guyton can develop. Last year was such a ridiculous throw away by our GM. Just a tossed aside season.

When you take a "raw talent" it's high risk to then play them at likely the most important position on the OL. The Eagles drafted "raw talent" LT Mailata as a project IN THE SEVENTH ROUND, and then let him learn how to play the position over several years behind veteran leadership and a great OL coach. If they had thrown him to the wolves his first season, it's unknown what would have happened to his development.

And on Jeanty, that seems like a wasted pick. Whether he's a "generational talent" isn't clear, and without a good OL he would be much less effective. Penn State held him to 100 yards on 30 carries in their playoff game using a strong DL and good LB play to contain his big plays.

 

[fivetwos]

I agree with the Atlanta reference. That team is frustrating as they should be feeding Bijan every chance they get even with the Oline.

We do have some pieces on the Oline it just needs better coaching. Lots of questions as well. Guyton can he really play and stay consistent? What is Martin going to do? Once Martin went down the running game went off and Dowdle one of the highest yards per rush average in football.

We have so many needs that it’s hard to get everything. But we can’t just have Dak and Lamb again. It’s been two seasons of Dak and Lamb and no other offensive weapons.

I agree we need a DT. But we also need a DE and LB. IMO Guyton is the scariest player we have because what do you do with him if he can’t play?

Your final sentence says a lot.

Every single team has first round busts, but when it’s your biggest attempt to improve every off-season, it’s that much more pronounced.

If you hit on 7/10 you’re doing well, but that means three players you were counting on the be solid starters are crap, and it’s going to show itself on the field eventually.

It’s why their plan of outsmarting the league with their cheapo approach will never work, but don’t go telling billionaire narcissists they are wrong. You’d lose your job if you tried.

 

[big dog cowboy]

otherwise they may blow it up

No matter what happens it won't ever get blown up.

Name all the NFL teams that has been blown up in the last 20 years.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Who else was shocked this list didn't include letting the quarterback go?

The correct answer should be NO ONE.

 

[gimmesix]

The roster Brian Schottenheimer has inherited as of this moment is not going to strike fear in any opponents eyes. There are obviously a few talented players here but if we plan on getting to at least that elusive conference championship, here‘s a mini-vision to get that done. Holes are abundant but they can be addressed fairly quickly. I think it will realistically take two years to develop.

Heres the big picture plan and it starts in the trenches where all great teams are built. Quite simply, the Cowboys need to get waaaaaay more physical. The two teams playing the SB this year (and most years) have a dominant DT (chiefs have Chris Jones, egirls have Jalen Carter) Time for us to recognize this and take action.

• Here’s a truth long forgotten in Dallas: The fastest way to build a great roster is to start with the trenches. A dominant OL/DL is a foundation! Focus on developing a monster of an OL and DL. We need at least 2 new starting OL and at least 2 beast DL run stoppers/pocket collapsers. This year’s draft is deep in DTs who could immediately have an impact.
• Don’t take the bait in drafting a RB at 12. Don’t do it. This is a deep draft for RBs and we can get a really good one on Day 2. Drafting a RB in round one is a waste because unless you find a generational talent, they will be washed in 5-6 years. Hello Zeke.
• Add at least two upgrades a year with FAs. I don’t care what a talking Jones guy tells us that we are a “draft and develop” team only, without at least 2-3 mid-level FAs a year added to your roster, you cannot be a serious contender. The next two years we should look at adding help at LB, WR, and perhaps OL if the draft doesn’t give us immediate impact.
• Since are stuck with Dak for at least 3 years, build a monster OL and running game. The top 6 rushing teams in this league all made the playoffs in 2024 and it‘s a trend. A strong running game is exactly what Dak needs. A great running game opens play action back up, something we haven’t been able to use effectively in a while.
• Consider two key June 1 cuts that can save future cap space. Many won’t like this but I would release Trevon Diggs as a June 1 cut and Terance Steele in 2026 as a June 1 cut. Diggs IMO will never be the same with his knee and he costs way too much to be just above average. Deron Bland is better anyway. Steele is already in decline and we could possibly move Tyler Guyton to RT at some point which is a more comfortable position for his skills. Tough decisions have to made and this FO isn’t ruthless enough with its roster.

Amazingly, the fundamentals of football still matter, especially if you don’t have an elite QB, which very few teams do. (Jalen Hurts is nothing special but he’s surrounded by a great OL and running game) The teams that can block and tackle the best are always going to be competitive. So let’s build a big, physical monster of a team the next two years!

I'm not with you on the OL. Two of our last three first-round picks have been OL, and if you throw in Beebe, we've added three starting linemen in those drafts. I'd rather give the linemen we have this year to show if they can be the answer before doing anything more to the OL. We've got young players there, so let's give them a chance.

I would like to see Guyton switch over to right tackle, though, and for Richards to be given first crack at left tackle, with Smith being the fallback. If they want to bring in a free agent guard to compete with Bass, Hoffman (and possibly Beebe) at right guard, I'd also be good with that.

I just feel that we can find a line combination that works from among Richards, Smith, Beebe, Bass, Hoffman, Guyton and Steele. Throw in Nathan Thomas who we know nothing about and maybe Matt Waletzko, who should be moved back to LT, and we may be good to go for now. I'd even consider bringing back Edoga for cheap, but with the idea that he's mainly a backup guard/right tackle and not any kind of contender at LT.

 

[gimmesix]

I hope things turn around quickly. But I still think the biggest overall problem for our Cowboys is we are soft. Big physical monsters like Filly and Det this year just slapped us around like the JV scout team. The egirls do have some great skill position talent but without a great OL they wouldn’t be that great. Hurts is just ok. But he has a great OL and running game which maximizes his talent.

We could have a great RB like Jeanty but w/out a great OL he gets wasted. (I think of Atl and Bijan Robinson. That guy is a top shelf talent but their OL is not that great) It is waaay harder to find a great DT than a great RB. And this draft is loaded with some good DTs.

The problem with the DTs is no one seems to have any of them valued as high as our first-round pick, except Graham, who is valued too high and will be gone. So do we reach for a DT over drafting an RB who is universally rated top 5 to top 10? I'd have trouble doing that, and I really want Harmon and Nolen.

Now, if we have either rated in the top 12, I'd have no problem with that, but if we have them rated 20 or later, then we'd need to trade down slightly before taking them.

I don't think we could go wrong, though, taking Jeanty at 12 and spending the second-round pick on a DT. Both positions appear to be fairly deep. But I'd love to get Harmon or Nolen, so I have no problem with those picks. It just really depends on their values.

My hope is either RB/DT or DT/RB in the first two rounds. The only other position that I think we absolutely have to have is No. 2 WR, but I'm hopeful that we use free agency to fill that need.

 

[gimmesix]

Gonna disagree with that. The Cowboys are just a better team.

I do think injuries have to be taken into account. We started the season without our projected No. 2 DE and No. 1a CB. Then, we lost our top pass rusher for a while, our No. 1 DE for the season, our other No. 1a CB, our No. 2 WR for a while, our No. 1 TE for a while, our top LB, our starting QB ... that's a lot for anyone to overcome.

Unless this coaching staff is bad, just getting back those players (or finding quality replacements) should help us stay out of the cellar. That doesn't mean it would make us contenders, but we had winning-season talent before the injuries so we should have winning-season talent without them. Of course, we're already starting off behind the eight-ball with the possibility that Overshown and Diggs' injuries could linger into and possibly through next season.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Yes, but we needed a football guy in charge to avoid mistakes such as Mazi and to closely examine picks of raw players such as Guyton.

Oh, and a simple evaluation of his skillset/play easily pointed toward Tyler being an OG. Do you really want to take your OGs in the 1st?

That would presumably be Mr. McClay

 

[rambo2]

I understand your feeling about not taking Jeanty but that dude is a generational talent and would be hard to pass on if he was sitting there at 12. I know that most RBs only last 5-6 years at most but Derrick Henry just played his ninth season and was fantastic so there are exceptions. A compromise would be to trade down to 15 or 16, still get Jeanty because the teams from 13 to 15 already have their RB and move up in the second or third round or get an extra pick in the first few rounds and get your DT or offensive lineman

It's up to the football gods. Jeanty may or may not be available at 12. To me, you have to take bpa at 12 and if Jeanty is available he is bpa and you have to take him and see how it plays out. I'd say it's 50/50 on whether he is available or not. It will be interesting, say he is gone and Mike Green goes ahead of us as well. That would mean that there will be other highly ranked players available. In the long run it will come down to luck on how good or bad the pick becomes over time. Your pick could play very well for years like Lamb or blow their knee out like Diggs.

 

[rambo2]

If Jeanty had done what he did in the B1G or SEC, maybe he could be looked as a “generational talent”. He played in the Mountain West Conference. And I’m a big MWC (UNR) fan, it’s better than its reputation, but it’s a gamble thinking Jeanty is going to be very productive in the NFL. Certainly too big a gamble for a top 20 pick in the draft.

If he is healthy Jeanty will be a very good player. He is a top 10 player in the draft.

 

[Ranching]

I understand your feeling about not taking Jeanty but that dude is a generational talent and would be hard to pass on if he was sitting there at 12. I know that most RBs only last 5-6 years at most but Derrick Henry just played his ninth season and was fantastic so there are exceptions. A compromise would be to trade down to 15 or 16, still get Jeanty because the teams from 13 to 15 already have their RB and move up in the second or third round or get an extra pick in the first few rounds and get your DT or offensive lineman

Bob just doesn't want him because JJ likes him. Lol

 

[fivetwos]

We are so far away from the top teams in NFL like KC, Phil, Det, Buff and Balt.

And probably even a ways behind many others like Wash, LAR, GB &Minn..

Our greatest hope is probably beyond the Shotty and Dak era.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly how I see it.

 

[Chasing6]

I understand your feeling about not taking Jeanty but that dude is a generational talent and would be hard to pass on if he was sitting there at 12. I know that most RBs only last 5-6 years at most but Derrick Henry just played his ninth season and was fantastic so there are exceptions. A compromise would be to trade down to 15 or 16, still get Jeanty because the teams from 13 to 15 already have their RB and move up in the second or third round or get an extra pick in the first few rounds and get your DT or offensive lineman

If he is a generational talent he want be there at 12.

 

[TequilaCowboy]

One thing you can’t say about these two numbnuts is being aggressive in player acquisition. This is what happens when you have a lifetime contract. No urgency or creativity required. Relying primarily on the draft which doesn’t get you much and weaknesses are left for the next draft. FA obtained cheaply on one year deals by dumpster diving and as long as there is a pulse and can fill out a uniform.

Don’t expect them to alter their habits and MO anytime soon.

 

[Chasing6]

I've never understood why this FO has had so much sucess with the offensive line yet has failed building the interior defensive line.

Part of it has been the 30 year drought of taking a DT in the 1st round and the other part is the refusal to aquire a blue chip DT via free agency and the last part is whiffing on the ones they have drafted.

Those alleged top 10 defenses under Quinn were fools gold as they ran up stats with the easiest schedules in the NFL for years but we're exposed badly by the better teams.

Having said that, don't be surprised when Jerry takes his RB with our first pick as you warned against

Jerry wants to sell jerseys.

 

[Chasing6]

We were literally dog walked on the ground in our big losses. I posted this in another thread. It's ugly. We need a big bad DT now. If you draft Jeanty, you must fix the o-line as well. The #1 reason the Eagles is in the Super Bowl is not Barkley. They actually scored more points during their last Super Bowl run. The Eagles are in the Super Bowl because their defense gave up 125 less points than they did in 2023.

Which has a lot to do with dominating the clock with their run game and keeping their defense off the field and with tremendous field position advantage.

 

[rambo2]

If he is a generational talent he want be there at 12.

He want? Ok Ricky, how does Lucy feel about it?