Babe Laufenberg's thoughts...going from good to great.

[Gaede]

I agree that he's overrating Ogletree. I really doubt he would've been a star if he took over Roy's spot. Probably would've given just the same amount of production.

But, next year, that #2 spot absolutely should be open to competition. If Roy and Romo don't connect, put in Ogletree and see if he does any better. Why not? He's produced in the time that he's been given. Roy hasn't. Make him fight for it. The better player wins=the team wins too.

 

[Doomsday101]

This struck me as odd as well. I'm no scout, but what has Babe seen that I haven't?

I'm not defending Roy, but which ones of Ogletree's 7 receptions (most were screens) were so impressive that you can definitively say he was head and shoulders better than Roy.

And how can you be so high on Ogletree, with Austin already a premier #1, and solid production from Crayton, and still suggest we need to take a receiver in the first.

I'd love for Ogletree to emerge. I had high hopes for RW, and I still think he'll be a good player for us, but I hold no allegence to the kid. I'm just confused where Babe is coming from on this.

It may be because of the rave reviews Ogletree was getting coming out of training camp and in the limited action he saw during the season. Ogletree will have this off season with OTA and mini camps as well as training camp to improve and learn this offense. The kid looks to have the physical talents and skills to be a very good player now he will be able to have a better grasp of the offense with an offseason under his belt.

 

[burmafrd]

Jets and Minn have top run defenses and highly graded run offenses so his point about rushing is pretty much shot down. Maybe its not as important as it once was, but its clear you can still make it to the big games that way.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

It may be because of the rave reviews Ogletree was getting coming out of training camp and in the limited action he saw during the season. Ogletree will have this off season with OTA and mini camps as well as training camp to improve and learn this offense. The kid looks to have the physical talents and skills to be a very good player now he will be able to have a better grasp of the offense with an offseason under his belt.

You may be right, but we all know about training camp hero's. Bennett certainly comes to mind.

I will say, I thought it was telling that we virtually ignored RW during the first Eagles game, but called that deep post for Ogletree in the second half.

Then again, we followed it up the next week with getting RW involved early (5 catches in the first half I believe).

Who knows. I'll be rooting for the kid, no question.

 

[Doomsday101]

You may be right, but we all know about training camp hero's. Bennett certainly comes to mind.

I will say, I thought it was telling that we virtually ignored RW during the first Eagles game, but called that deep post for Ogletree in the second half.

Then again, we followed it up the next week with getting RW involved early (5 catches in the first half I believe).

Who knows. I'll be rooting for the kid, no question.

I'm not trying to put Ogletree into the HOF just yet. :laugh2: He has shown some very good ability he has the oppertunity to have a better grasp of the offense and the NFL in general during the off season. If he goes out and works hard he has a chance to come into camp and prove himself and try to earn a starting role or at least much more playing time.

I have been an RW supporter from day 1 and still am but I also think he has to step up and show himself and earn it.

 

[gbrittain]

So who has a Babe Laufenberg connection? Lets get him on here to do some Q and A?

Babe is awesome. I believe he has more insight about the Cowboys than anyone else out there in the media right now.

 

[cowboyjoe]

http://pod08.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=ktvt_bullpen

How Can The 'Boys Go From Good To Great?


3) Roy Williams? Wow, He was simply unproductive, and the Cowboys are going to have to make the hard decision. Do we play Roy because of what we gave him and what we gave up to get him, or do we play the best player? Kevin Ogletree was so much better than Roy this year that it wasn’t even close. The kid may be a real player. They waited four years to unleash Miles Austin on the rest of the league. They can’t wait that long for Ogletree. I was really hoping that someone (Jerry? Wade? Jason Garrett?) would go to Roy and say, “We have to play the best player right now, and that is Kevin Ogletree.” That didn’t happen. Roy Williams is a limited player. The Cowboys need to accept that it was a bad trade, and not be burdened by that trade. Bad trades happen. Bad drafts happen. You move on. Organizations have to make the hard decision. They made it with Terrell Owens. Now they need to make it with Roy. That doesn’t necessarily mean release him, but it does mean you tell him he will have to earn his spot next year, that his starting role is not a Supreme Court Lifetime Appointment. Moreover, while we are on the wide receiver position, they need to take one high in this year’s draft. The NFL has become a passing league, and you have to have somebody to throw it to. The greatest contribution…and let me make this clear…you do not want to see an injury to anyone…was Roy getting hurt in Denver and missing the Kansas City game, allowing Miles Austin to let people know that he could play a little. No injury, no Miles, and maybe, no playoffs.



5) I know it has been given the once over, but really, what were the Vikings doing going play action and throwing a touchdown pass on fourth and three? Yes, the Cowboys are big boys, and yes they are getting paid to stop the other team, but really? It just showed a lack of respect for the game and their opponent. I like Brad Childress, I really do. But it sounds like he was mad at the national media for picking Dallas over his football team, so he took the opportunity to rub it in. In psychology, it’s called displacement. You know, bad day at the office, so you go home and kick the dog. That one had me scratching my head. And spare the lame stuff about the Cowboys using their time outs. That was with 6 minutes to go in the game. Improbable that they could make up 24 points in 6 minutes? Yes. Impossible? No.

Babe Laufenberg

someone needs to highlight this and save and keep it, while sending this to all the dallas media writers, and having either Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, Wade or Jason step and tell Roy Williams point blank, the number 2 wr position is not yours, you have to earn it now;

Ogletree and if we draft a wr high in the draft, they will be given an opportunity to play at that number 2 wr position, if you dont work harder, study harder, work with the juggs machine more to catch the balls, then you wont be here after this year. No more excuses! Roy Williams time to put up or shut up.

Also, i would see what trade values there are for marion barber, and if you can get a high draft choice, go get it.

One of our new mottos for the team now should be, either you produce or your not here, you had better contribute or someone else will take your job.

 

[YosemiteSam]

+1 Babe

 

[YosemiteSam]

So who has a Babe Laufenberg connection? Lets get him on here to do some Q and A?

Babe is awesome. I believe he has more insight about the Cowboys than anyone else out there in the media right now.

I'm guessing that shouldn't be to difficult. From what I have heard of Babe, he is a really good guy and accessible.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

When Babe talks about Wade he largely seems to make sense.
Nobody here, I believe, hates Wade, they just don't get inspired (like Babe says) by him.

Best of luck of Wade next year, but the pressure is on to get a Lombardini trophy in 2011.

As for Roy, I don't think it has entered Jerra's mind to release him but like Babe says, he has to be told he will have to compete for his job.

Good job, Babe!

And whodathunk Babe would fully read "I Have a Dream"? I've read it many times and each time there is a revelation. If you read it while hearing the actual voice of MLK it really comes to life and it leaves me startled at his genius. Well enough.

In my heart of hearts I didn't think we'd go this far in the playoffs. I was thinking 9-7 and missing the playoffs with Wade at the Helm. Wade and this team suprassed whatever expectations I had. that's great and next year should be greater.

I will be traveling in Portugal soon, hoping to create some international incident, and will be back in several weeks to see what the Cowboys braintrust is thinking and or doing. Good luck to all and podem nossos melhores dias estar adiante.

 

[Stash]

I'd definitely open up the #2 WR position for whoever steps up.

Williams needs to know that early on too.

He needs to know that he's not "entitled" to anything and that he's not being "given" anything at this point.

I don't think there's any doubt that the struggles between he and Romo hurt this offense and prevented it from realizing its' full potential.

In an effort to "fix" him, I would strip down the number of routes he's running and completely remove any adjustments from him.

He's obviously struggling with route adjustments and he and Romo are definitely not seeing the same things out there - time after time.

I would take that part out of the equation and build from scratch.

 

[craig71]

I might be in the minority and likely am but I don't think many teams have a #1 receiver.With as much passing that goes on in the league today it takes 2 good receivers to have a decent passing game and 3 to have a premier passing game.I think Miles has shown some good things but still is a raw receiver that needs to work on being a complete player.Roy needs to come into camp with a chip on his shoulder and get back to the basics.Crayton is still a good slot receiver but I think Ogletree can push him for the position.I don't think Ogletree is as good as Babe believes but I do believe he has some potential.I think Hurd is gone if they draft a receiver in the first three rounds.


Craig

 

[BAT]

I like Babe's opinions, too, and more than anything I like all the attention channel 11 gives to the Cowboys, but he has a HUGE ego and thinks he's Ron Wolf reincarnate in his scouting abilities. So that's part of his push for Ogletree -- that's his boy and he's going to prop him up constantly.

I mean, I like Ogletree too, and I was very disappointed in Roy. But to act like an undrafted rookie should be given that much playing time over a vet like Roy is a little crazy. The modern passing game is very complicated with all its checks and adjustments -- we saw miscues between Miles and Tony cost us INTs and critical incompletions against Denver and KC, and Miles has been here for years now. So let's not act like a raw rookie like Ogletree could handle all that being put on his plate.

And BTW -- anyone notice his comments on the last score? Yeah, someone who actually played the game. It's not about "mercy", it's about respect for your opponent and, even more, the game. Too bad he's not as smart as a bunch of MMA fans, I guess.

Babe may have an ego, but he's no Steve Dennis. Babe has been spot on about most everything he's championed. Babe was also high on another undrafted FA WR, Miles Austin. He was also one of the first to recognize the QB that Romo could be. Not sure that Babe considers himself a scouting savant, but he keeps his eyes and ears open, especially considering how close he is the organization and former players.

Maybe I'm just blind to his flaws, b/c I really like Babe as an analyst. Hated his guts as a player though.

 

[diehard2294]

I listening to Babe and his shows, I know he likes Ogeltree alot, cant say I disagree about open competiton for #2 wr spot,just so long as the best man wins and not the biggest contract wins.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Roy Williams is limited. He needs to be told this and that he needs to step up.

Roy Williams should not be starting because of the draft picks used to get him or his salary. He needs to be told this and he needs to step up.

If we have WR's that are out performing Roy that is simply to bad for Roy. Make the tough decision and tell him is no longer the starter and move on.

We need our best players on the field more than we need to pamper any player on our roster regardless of the position they play.

 

[BHendri5]

I like Babe's opinions, too, and more than anything I like all the attention channel 11 gives to the Cowboys, but he has a HUGE ego and thinks he's Ron Wolf reincarnate in his scouting abilities. So that's part of his push for Ogletree -- that's his boy and he's going to prop him up constantly.

I mean, I like Ogletree too, and I was very disappointed in Roy. But to act like an undrafted rookie should be given that much playing time over a vet like Roy is a little crazy. The modern passing game is very complicated with all its checks and adjustments -- we saw miscues between Miles and Tony cost us INTs and critical incompletions against Denver and KC, and Miles has been here for years now. So let's not act like a raw rookie like Ogletree could handle all that being put on his plate.

And BTW -- anyone notice his comments on the last score? Yeah, someone who actually played the game. It's not about "mercy", it's about respect for your opponent and, even more, the game. Too bad he's not as smart as a bunch of MMA fans, I guess.

you just confirmed what Babe is saying, Ogletree came in as an undrafted raw rookie and he picked up the nuances of running routes in this offense, Roy has been here 2yrs as has Bennett and Phillips another raw undrafted rookie came in and picked up the adjustments of running routes in this offense.
Yes, Ogletree greatly outplayed Roy and should have been starting instead of Roy, or they could have started Crayton and used Ogletree in the slot.

Someone will give up there spot during either OTAs, Training Camp this upcoming season.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

No way, running the ball is not as big as some on here make out? No way.

 

[Da Hammer]

Honestly Roy deserves a shot to prove himself again this year but if he can't then i agree that the coaching staff shouldnt be afraid to pull the trigger if it doesnt happen. I love Roy but whatever the reason for him being unproductive, it just can't keep happening. Hopefully with another training camp he and Romo will develop some chemistry and become a great compliment opposite of miles!

 

[Bluestang]

No way, running the ball is not as big as some on here make out? No way.

You definitely have to be able to run the ball to keep a defense honest. Sure the NFL these days is all about PASS PASS PASS but an effective running game allows the coordinator to run multiple plays from the same formations which is the key to an effective offense.

 

[Fletch]

By the way, not that I'm one to always say trade this or that player on the roster, etc.

but, wasn't KC interested in trading their WR Bowe at some stage this season?

I'm not sure what they were looking for in terms of pick(s). but, if the Cowboys are looking for a WR, maybe they take a look at facilitating a trade or giving up a reasonable pick.

that said, as much as i would like to get another WR who could stretch the field along with austin (and that WR is probably not Bowe, by the way, i'm just throwing this out there), i'm not sure this ranks that highly in terms of personnel priorities, though i think it would really add a new dimension to our offense.

We do need another big and fast WR to compliment Austin. I like Ogletree, but who knows if he'll become a legit threat. In limited snaps, Ogletree excelled. But again, who knows?

I would be happy if we selected a WR in the top three rounds. Probably not the first round, but the second would be fine.

Does anyone know what this year's WR class looks like? Deep enough?