An aggressive two year plan to be competitive

[gimmesix]

Guyton has a ton more upside. Smith is a holding penalty waiting to happen at OLT. I know you guys convinced yourself he was OLT material, but he's not. However, he is a top 5 OG. Why do you want to ruin his career by playing him out of position?

Guyton has a natural feel for ORT? Honestly, where did you get that from? I don't think it's true at all.

He played ORT in college and that got him drafted. Why would he not have a more natural feel for the position he played and succeeded at than the one he did not?

Tyler Smith had 15 penalties (four declined) his rookie year playing 17 games at LT, and starting all 17. Ten of his were holds. Tyler Guyton had 18 penalties (two declined) in 15 games, with 11 starts. Eight of Guyton's penalties were holding. So it looks like either player was a holding penalty waiting to happen as a rookie LT.

I prefer that Tyler stay at guard IF Richards can play LT, but I see no reason to think Guyton is a better LT than Smith. Both of them had typical rookie struggles. Again, because Steele's play has deteriorated some, I'd rather see us try Richards at LT and Guyton at RT because it may be a better combination that Guyton-Steele. I want the best line combo. It's possible that Steele would outplay Guyton at RT and maybe Guyton would prove to be the best LT choice. You seem to be bent on thinking he's a better LT choice than Smith, even though evidence doesn't really support that one way or the other, so if that's what you want to believe, have at it.

I just want the best line group out there out of Richards, Smith, Beebe, Hoffman, Guyton, Steele and Bass. I don't think we need to draft another OL early this year, but we need to be willing to provide competition for every spot. I don't think Richards can compete at RT because he's never played it. Guyton can. However, going into his second season, I don't think we need to work him on both sides because that might be too much for him. I'd rather see him start out at RT competing against Steele. Tyler is far enough along in his career that he can split his reps between LG and LT without it affecting his play at LG IMO.

To me, the competitions should be:
Richards-Smith at LT
Smith-Richards at LG
Beebe-Hoffman at C
Hoffman-Bass at RG (add Beebe if Hoffman is looking better than him at C)
Guyton-Steele at RT

However, I see all that as kind of fluid since three of our linemen can play left tackle and four can play guard. If the best combo was Guyton-Smith-Hoffman-Beebe-Steele, I'd have no problem with that, just like I wouldn't with Richards-Smith-Beebe-Bass-Guyton or Smith-Richards-Hoffman-Beebe-Steele.

One of the main reasons to have Richards-Smith be the initial pairing at LT for me is I believe Richards will be a very solid LT. He was better than Guyton at the position Richards' rookie year and he was better than him last year. Guyton is more physically gifted than Richards, but Richards has shown good strength and movement skills when he has been out there. Now, maybe the flaws in Richards' game would get exposed if he was the starter, but I'd like to see him get that shot.

 

[GMO415]

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 we 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!

BULLET!!!!
We drafted Mazi and he sucks. It appears that this team has knowledge about the OL draft, but they fail on the DL.

 

[CowboyoWales]

BULLET!!!!
We drafted Mazi and he sucks. It appears that this team has knowledge about the OL draft, but they fail on the DL.

Any short term plan needs to start on the D-Line. At present we never get to third and long and with an offense that works better with a lead (or with time on the clock)....we've got to find a way to stop teams running.

 

[kskboys]

He played ORT in college and that got him drafted. Why would he not have a more natural feel for the position he played and succeeded at than the one he did not?

Tyler Smith had 15 penalties (four declined) his rookie year playing 17 games at LT, and starting all 17. Ten of his were holds. Tyler Guyton had 18 penalties (two declined) in 15 games, with 11 starts. Eight of Guyton's penalties were holding. So it looks like either player was a holding penalty waiting to happen as a rookie LT.

I prefer that Tyler stay at guard IF Richards can play LT, but I see no reason to think Guyton is a better LT than Smith. Both of them had typical rookie struggles. Again, because Steele's play has deteriorated some, I'd rather see us try Richards at LT and Guyton at RT because it may be a better combination that Guyton-Steele. I want the best line combo. It's possible that Steele would outplay Guyton at RT and maybe Guyton would prove to be the best LT choice. You seem to be bent on thinking he's a better LT choice than Smith, even though evidence doesn't really support that one way or the other, so if that's what you want to believe, have at it.

I just want the best line group out there out of Richards, Smith, Beebe, Hoffman, Guyton, Steele and Bass. I don't think we need to draft another OL early this year, but we need to be willing to provide competition for every spot. I don't think Richards can compete at RT because he's never played it. Guyton can. However, going into his second season, I don't think we need to work him on both sides because that might be too much for him. I'd rather see him start out at RT competing against Steele. Tyler is far enough along in his career that he can split his reps between LG and LT without it affecting his play at LG IMO.

To me, the competitions should be:
Richards-Smith at LT
Smith-Richards at LG
Beebe-Hoffman at C
Hoffman-Bass at RG (add Beebe if Hoffman is looking better than him at C)
Guyton-Steele at RT

However, I see all that as kind of fluid since three of our linemen can play left tackle and four can play guard. If the best combo was Guyton-Smith-Hoffman-Beebe-Steele, I'd have no problem with that, just like I wouldn't with Richards-Smith-Beebe-Bass-Guyton or Smith-Richards-Hoffman-Beebe-Steele.

One of the main reasons to have Richards-Smith be the initial pairing at LT for me is I believe Richards will be a very solid LT. He was better than Guyton at the position Richards' rookie year and he was better than him last year. Guyton is more physically gifted than Richards, but Richards has shown good strength and movement skills when he has been out there. Now, maybe the flaws in Richards' game would get exposed if he was the starter, but I'd like to see him get that shot.

Well, it appears the understanding here isn't happening!!!!

 

[CCBoy]

The Cowboys went 7-10 in the clusterfest of what was last season. Just one good off season and they can be competitive again.

It's all up to the Jones clan. Which path are they going to take? Another 2024 approach to FA would likely give the Cowboys a top 4-5 pick.

And I'm not drafting a RB at 12 either. I'd prefer a trade down and stock up on day 2 picks.

Trade a bunch of picks after 3rd round and a couple of next year's picks to end up with 5 picks in the first 3 rounds. Great depth and talent added.

 

[CCBoy]

BULLET!!!!
We drafted Mazi and he sucks. It appears that this team has knowledge about the OL draft, but they fail on the DL.

Not yet and this year's draft has some really attractive defensive tackles. Trade some picks and grab two.

 

[kskboys]

Trade a bunch of picks after 3rd round and a couple of next year's picks to end up with 5 picks in the first 3 rounds. Great depth and talent added.

Draft picks after 4 rounds have very little value. I doubt if you could get even one 3rd if you bundled up all our picks after the 4th. Value fades sharply after every round in the draft.