Bigger needs on defense or offense?

[theebs]

explain to me why would we consider releasing Jason Hatcher, our 3rd round pick ONE YEAR AGO?? Hatcher's future is secure with this team for the next couple of years. Hatcher can definitely contribute to this team. And I think Jamaica Rector can do something for us, but who knows. Rector could contribute in the future. We've seen flashes of him in the preseason.

yeah I just rolled my eyes at that post. Why in the world would you get rid of a high energy possible double digit sack guy in the second year of his rookie contract.

Obviously the guy didnt watch the team very closely.

 

[DallasEast]

NT ?

We already have a starting NT. He's also paid very well to play.

The problem is that, with the addition of Wade Phillips, we're going to stick with the 3-4 defense. The nose tackle is critical upfront in this defense. Certainly, we have Ferguson playing well, engaging two or three blockers and clogging up the middle of the line to contain the run up the middle, but what happens if he gets injured? Who do we depend upon then to do a satisfactory job keeping blockers off our inside linebackers and prevent our run defense from imploding?

Stanley?

That's not a very comforting thought and I agree with sago1's concern wholeheartedly. We need to shore up the depth behind Ferguson.

[edit] Ratliff has done a adequate job as a substitute though.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't get the logic that, "We've spent picks on D for x years, so now we should go offense." So for instance, if all those picks were busts, while later picks on O were hits, we should neglect D just to do something different now? No, you keep trying until you fix it. Our O was better than our D last year... I think it's that simple.

And besides, we've spent most of our FA money on the offense lately: Owens, Kosier, Colombo, Gurode, Davis.

Anyway, I think we need a passrusher most of all. Right now we have one proven one and one aging, injured one. I love the ability of Wade's scheme to free guys up, but we still need someone with a talent for getting to the QB.

I think we also need a cover safety so we can get Roy out of the deep zones on obvious passing downs. This is why the "But we have Watkins" posts are irrelevant, IMO... I like Watkins, too, but we need another one to pair with him situationally. Every other safety on the team is a strong safety type, and we need at least two guys who can cover -- Watkins and someone else.

We obviously need a NT, but that will probably be one of those developmental guys posted about recently. They won't go before the 3rd, maybe the 4th.

IMO wide receiver is an overrated position. I've rarely if ever seen WR be the key to a Super Bowl win. So I don't care too much if we're getting older there. Take another developmental guy and add Austin to whoever we get. Even if we got rid of both Glenn and Owens next year, there are always serviceable WRs in FA.

I wouldn't mind a big, mean guard or even a tackle if good value is there.

 

[FLcowboy]

explain to me why would we consider releasing Jason Hatcher, our 3rd round pick ONE YEAR AGO?? Hatcher's future is secure with this team for the next couple of years. Hatcher can definitely contribute to this team. And I think Jamaica Rector can do something for us, but who knows. Rector could contribute in the future. We've seen flashes of him in the preseason.

Well, for starters, and he isn't one, and isn't likely to become one on the Cowboys, he really hasn't made his mark. The fact you even suggest his future is only secure for a couple more years makes me wonder why he good enough to stay now, but not good enough to last 3 more years. Last year the pass rush from the defensive end postion was anemic. You can't even blame Hatcher for that, as he didn't see a significant amount of playing time.

Rector is a practice squad casualty. He is fodder for the camps. He is a 5'-10" 183 lb hopeful, in a time where taller and bigger WRs may becoming in vogue. Demarius Bilbo has the size, but apparently not the skill to beat out Hurd or Austin, who are 6'2" and 6'3" tall respectively.

 

[FLcowboy]

yeah I just rolled my eyes at that post. Why in the world would you get rid of a high energy possible double digit sack guy in the second year of his rookie contract.

Obviously the guy didnt watch the team very closely.

But I did. Spears, Canty, and Ratliff were all potential double digit sack artists, yet we all learned last year that defensive ends in a 3-4 defense aren't going to get many sacks, and therefore, Hatcher's potential may be best met on a 4-3 team.

 

[theogt]

But I did. Spears, Canty, and Ratliff were all potential double digit sack artists, yet we all learned last year that defensive ends in a 3-4 defense aren't going to get many sacks, and therefore, Hatcher's potential may be best met on a 4-3 team.

His potential may be best met shoveling llama poop in Ocavalo, Ecuador, but it don't mean he's gettin' cut.

 

[FLcowboy]

His potential may be best met shoveling llama poop in Ocavalo, Ecuador, but it don't mean he's gettin' cut.

Well, at least a base line for his potential has been set.:laugh2: