Built Tough

[Galian Beast]

I have to say, I'm really liking this team and it's prospects.

Although I haven't agreed with everything the front office has done, I think they've done well in rebuilding this team over the last few years. I maintain that I just wish they had been smarter about a few things, because time is running out for Romo.

This offensive line is the real special treat for us. Just thinking about how young these guys are, and how long we're going to have them for. They might not be the best line in the NFL right now, but two or three years down the road? Even though we beat Seattle, Pete Carroll was absolutely right. You're going to have to feel bad for teams in the future going up against this offensive line. The biggest question that comes to mind is whether we should keep Doug Free moving forward.

Doug Free is 30... which isn't ancient for an offensive lineman, but it does bring into question a combination of cost and future continuity. Ronald Leary is the next oldest starter on the line at the age of 25. That 5 year gap is pretty significant. Imagine having this offensive line for 7-10 years... It might be prudent to replace Free with a rookie who would be cheaper now, and younger in the future, so that you could keep this line pretty much the same for a long time. Even if we re-sign Free we should draft his replacement no later than the 4th round in the next draft.

But there is another thing that has been pretty interesting, which is how young we are across the board. The oldest WR on the team? Dez Bryant (actually Dwayne Harris, but Dez has been here longer). The oldest RB? DeMarco Murray.

The biggest thing this team needs to do is control cost and continue building this defense which is showing more and more signs of turning the corner.

I still think the secondary needs to be almost entirely overhauled. I think we still need an edge rusher, maybe even two. The goal here should be to remove Selvie and Spencer from the roster. It'll be interesting to see if Jack Crawford can continue to develop and not regress like it appears Selvie has. It'll be interesting to see if Gardner can contribute next year on the strong side too. With Lawrence coming on, we should be able to start limiting Mincey's snaps more effectively, which should make him more productive when he is in.

Let me give you an updated breakdown of snap percentages on our defensive line

Mincey - 70.8%
T. Crawford - 59.1%
Hayden - 54.8%
Selvie - 50.1%
Melton - 44.8%
Spencer - 31.3%
McClain - 29.9%
J. Crawford - 19.4%
Lawrence - 11.2%
Brent - 0%

Bishop - cut
Coleman - They must really like him since he hasn't been cut yet.

I think Selvie is going to be the odd man out going forward.

The defensive tackle might be the most interesting position on our team right now from a competitive standpoint. We have Okoye coming back next year, we still need to see what Brent can offer, but one name not being looked at is McClain, who should be much healthier going into the Giants game.

I keep saying it, but our linebackers should be stacked next year.

Primary focus next year should be getting edge rushers, improving the secondary, and getting a future RT.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I would like to re sign free on the cheap for 2 years and like you said draft his eventual replacement middle rounds this year. I like Scandrick and Church as starters, and Moore as a backup. Wilcox is my pet cat so I still want to see more he hasn't been terrible and he lights up atleast one guy a game. I'm over Carr and his contract. Maybe it's all the family issues he's had these last few years but he is unwilling to tackle anymore. As for the DL, I'm hoping Melton, Crawford, and Lawrence are all starters for us next year but still feel we need to draft 2 lineman in the first three rounds. As for linebacker next year I would like to see Lee and McLain as starters and resign Durant. Let Durant and Hitch battle it out for the third spot. Screw Carter he's gone

 

[PoundTheRock]

I don't think the defensive line is that far away. I'd really like to see them do better at end, but Melton (if they keep him) and Crawford are a start at tackle. If they hit the DL strong in the draft and the players pan out, they're set there in a hurry. Even with Lawrence in the fold, I think they should pick an end high in this upcoming draft. You worry about whether Lawrence can play later because you want 2 effective ends anyway.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Primary focus next year should be getting edge rushers, improving the secondary, and getting a future RT.

All resources should be spent improving the pass rush. Once that is done I will be happy.

 

[conner01]

we have several decisions that will be key to the future and next year. free is a big one, and i think they would like to keep him but i don't know that we can afford to keep him. if he goes then we almost have to sign parnell. we could draft a ot and that would'nt shock me at all. i think we need to draft a cb too.it would'nt shock me if we toook a rt in the first rnd next year. not because its the biggest need, i think de or cb are both bigger needs. but because late in the first the quality of cb's and edge rusher is going to get thin and it very well could be much like martin where the oline guy was the best player availible. they great part about that is a very young oline, the bad part is each year you have another guy on the oline to sign in the future

 

[waving monkey]

They [FO] may view Free as a solution while there are
many holes to fill.He has been very serviceable.
Not that I wouldn't try to find a RT.
Like most here have already said, the pass rush and CB
appear to be needing upgrades.
This is one draft where you pick em as they fall to you.[BPA]

 

[xwalker]

I have to say, I'm really liking this team and it's prospects.

Although I haven't agreed with everything the front office has done, I think they've done well in rebuilding this team over the last few years. I maintain that I just wish they had been smarter about a few things, because time is running out for Romo.

This offensive line is the real special treat for us. Just thinking about how young these guys are, and how long we're going to have them for. They might not be the best line in the NFL right now, but two or three years down the road? Even though we beat Seattle, Pete Carroll was absolutely right. You're going to have to feel bad for teams in the future going up against this offensive line. The biggest question that comes to mind is whether we should keep Doug Free moving forward.

Doug Free is 30... which isn't ancient for an offensive lineman, but it does bring into question a combination of cost and future continuity. Ronald Leary is the next oldest starter on the line at the age of 25. That 5 year gap is pretty significant. Imagine having this offensive line for 7-10 years... It might be prudent to replace Free with a rookie who would be cheaper now, and younger in the future, so that you could keep this line pretty much the same for a long time. Even if we re-sign Free we should draft his replacement no later than the 4th round in the next draft.

But there is another thing that has been pretty interesting, which is how young we are across the board. The oldest WR on the team? Dez Bryant (actually Dwayne Harris, but Dez has been here longer). The oldest RB? DeMarco Murray.

The biggest thing this team needs to do is control cost and continue building this defense which is showing more and more signs of turning the corner.

I still think the secondary needs to be almost entirely overhauled. I think we still need an edge rusher, maybe even two. The goal here should be to remove Selvie and Spencer from the roster. It'll be interesting to see if Jack Crawford can continue to develop and not regress like it appears Selvie has. It'll be interesting to see if Gardner can contribute next year on the strong side too. With Lawrence coming on, we should be able to start limiting Mincey's snaps more effectively, which should make him more productive when he is in.

Let me give you an updated breakdown of snap percentages on our defensive line

Mincey - 70.8%
T. Crawford - 59.1%
Hayden - 54.8%
Selvie - 50.1%
Melton - 44.8%
Spencer - 31.3%
McClain - 29.9%
J. Crawford - 19.4%
Lawrence - 11.2%
Brent - 0%

Bishop - cut
Coleman - They must really like him since he hasn't been cut yet.

I think Selvie is going to be the odd man out going forward.

The defensive tackle might be the most interesting position on our team right now from a competitive standpoint. We have Okoye coming back next year, we still need to see what Brent can offer, but one name not being looked at is McClain, who should be much healthier going into the Giants game.

I keep saying it, but our linebackers should be stacked next year.

Primary focus next year should be getting edge rushers, improving the secondary, and getting a future RT.

Jack Crawford's best game by far was at DT.

If Josh Brent can get back to his 2012 ability, then he can replace Hayden at the 1-tech DT spot. If not, they Bishop looked like with some time to develop that he could be the answer there.

I expect Mincey to move to Strong Side DE with DLaw becoming the starter at Weak Side DE soon. Next season they need to draft another Weak Side DE.

LB will only be stacked if they can re-sign RoMc. In addition to RoMc, Durant and Carter are free agents. I wouldn't be surprised to see them draft a LB early.

I guess Carr will be a June 1st cut. They might offer him a pay cut, but either way they need another CB. I still think Claiborne has potential, but you can't count on it. Claiborne has to be considered the 5th CB until he proves otherwise. Moore is not a #2 CB.

They just need to re-sign Parnell at RT. He proved that he can play. He didn't give up any sacks and gave up minimal pressures. He is a bull in the running game. They must like Weems and Hawkins quite a bit considering that they carried Weems as an inactive developmental player on the 53 for all of 2013 and now are doing the same in 2014 with Hawkins (Weems on IR).

Bern is a good backup OG/OC, but I don't know if they have any developmental types at OG/OC unless they see Hawkins or Weems as options there. They almost drafted another OG in the 2014 draft, Trai Turner, but he got picked a few spots ahead of the trade that they had setup.

I have no idea if Murray gets re-signed. If not, I would expect to see a RB drafted.

Top needs, IMO:
DE (Weak Side). DLaw could eventually play the Strong Side if they develop another Weak Side guy.
CB unless they sign a free agent to replace Carr. Even with a FA, they need to get a higher upside developmental guy.
LB, especially if they can't re-sign RoMc.
RB if Murray is not re-signed.

Second tier needs:
They might have to consider a QB if one is available that they like.
They might need better depth at Safety. Hamilton might be the guy, but he's neither big nor overly fast.
Developmental OL.
WR seems to be an option for this team every year. I would like to see a deep threat type added to the roster, although I don't know who he replaces.
Kick/Punt returner. Has Harris run out of steam or is the blocking not good enough?

 

[jazzcat22]

Is Coleman still fighting through some injuries, or just has not been active?