Colombo + Rogers + Tucker + Pettiti + Adams

[Galian Beast]

A line of

Adams - Allen - Mawae - Rivera - Colombo/Petitti/Tucker/Rogers

would probably take us to the super bowl next year, assuming we don't get there this year =0

 

[Hiero]

I would like to see us draft or sign a FA center......needless to say, maybe it's just that I am old and cranky, but I have not been overwhelmed with enthusiasm with the play of A. Johnson or A. Gurode.

I agree, would love to get Lecharles Bentley to play center for us. I really dont feel comfortable with al's strength, and gurode's mental mistakes.

 

[Eskimo]

I think we have to avoid letting this OL get too old - we already got 3 over the age of 30 and all 3 have had recent injury issues:

Allen - shoulder and ankle
Rivera - back and knees
Adams - ACL

I think we have to do what BP intended to do in 2004 - upgrade the OL with young talent in the draft. The only problem is that it was a weak draft for OL and our picks were bad. I think it just needs to be done now. We have too much money and too much age on the OL as is now. We have to think more long-term and we have to draft better. If we get the young guys in now, the vets can lead by example.

 

[JackMagist]

Two things about this thread. First I don't see Rogers ever being back in a Cowboys uniform I feel very certain about Rogers being gone.

Second I do not see Tucker getting his job back from Pettiti. It is always possible that he could but I think he will be kept to backup Flo on the left and as a swing guy to be active on gameday. I think the RT will be a battle between Pettiti and Columbo if Columbo gets right again. I am not so concerned about our tackle situation for next year if Flo returns healthy.

Where I think we need to concentrate our efforts is at Center and Guard. Our guards are both old and we need to get someone ready to take over for them. I don't hold a lot of confidence in Peterman though I have not given up on him. Peterman has just not overwhelmed me with his play but I like the nasty streak that he displays at times. And Noll is just a big question mark; is he any good or is he one of Parcells pipedreams?

Just how many shortarm snaps are we going to have to endure from Johnson? And how bad is Gurode doing that he can't take the job from Johnson? We need help at center bigtime.

 

[Cbz40]

I think we have to avoid letting this OL get too old - we already got 3 over the age of 30 and all 3 have had recent injury issues:

Allen - shoulder and ankle
Rivera - back and knees
Adams - ACL

I think we have to do what BP intended to do in 2004 - upgrade the OL with young talent in the draft. The only problem is that it was a weak draft for OL and our picks were bad. I think it just needs to be done now. We have too much money and too much age on the OL as is now. We have to think more long-term and we have to draft better. If we get the young guys in now, the vets can lead by example.

 

[silverbear]

I would like to see us draft or sign a FA center......needless to say, maybe it's just that I am old and cranky, but I have not been overwhelmed with enthusiasm with the play of A. Johnson or A. Gurode.

How 'bout we do both?? Bring in a LeCharles Bentley in free agency, then perhaps a Ryan Cook (a 340 pounder from New Mexico who can also play tackle) in the draft, on the second day...

 

[silverbear]

The difference between cundiff IIRC is that we actually settled with Cundiff, and I don't think we settled with Rogers.

Cbz, there is no way in my mind that we don't get Kevin Mawae. I don't think his stock will be way high coming off an injury, and I think he'll want to play for parcells again.

I'd only rate Mawae 4th on my free agent centers list, behind LeCharles Bentley of the Saints, Seth McKinney of the Fins and Justin Hartwig of the Titans... Kevin is 20-25 pounds lighter than those three, and considerably older (by NFL standards)...

I don't believe that Al Johnson will ever bulk up sufficiently to be a good NFL center... he's the kind of guy you don't mind keeping around as a backup, though...

 

[Eskimo]

How 'bout we do both?? Bring in a LeCharles Bentley in free agency, then perhaps a Ryan Cook (a 340 pounder from New Mexico who can also play tackle) in the draft, on the second day...

The problem becomes how much of your money you want to invest in one part of your team. We already have two players making LT money (Adams and LA) and one other highly paid player (Rivera - $4M/yr). The issue is that good OLs are requently built with only one premium player and without premium draft picks. You get production out of the group by good scouting and good coaching - two things that we have not had here in a long while.

There is only one true premium position on the OL - if we invest all our money here we will not be able to sign our premium players or guys at premium positions - Remember that we have to budget for upcoming salary increases for guys like Witten, Roy Williams and Terence Newman.

 

[visionary]

At first I believed we would have to draft a receiver. But I definitely think there will be a YOUNG free agent stud receiver in free agency next year. So I don't think you HAVE to go out in the draft and get one in the first round.

Free agents I'd like to pick up next year:

C - Mawae
WR - STUD =)
FS - Coverage Safety
K - Vanderjagt

I definitely think we can afford it all.

we are so close. we need upgrades but with an eye to the long term.

Free agency:

Center: bentley preferably or other young guy
Kicker: proven
Free safety

use money left over to resign our guys like witten

Draft:

Off guard
Linebacker
Corner
WR
Defensive tackle

add these to what we already have and we are set for a long time

end of storey

 

[Cbz40]

we are so close. we need upgrades but with an eye to the long term.

Free agency:

Center: bentley preferably or other young guy
Kicker: proven
Free safety

use money left over to resign our guys like witten

Draft:

Off guard
Linebacker
Corner
WR
Defensive tackle

add these to what we already have and we are set for a long time

end of storey

Excellent idea........Welcome to the board......enjoy.

 

[baj1dallas]

Flo/Tucker at left tackle sounds alright to me
Allen/Peterman I think is the plan
Johnson/Gurode I think is tougher to improve than most of you guys think...just because you can get a center that's 20 lbs heavier, doesn't mean he's 20 pounds better or 20 pounds stronger
River/whoever at right guard...not impressed with knoll
Petiti/Columbo at right tackle is a little dicey but Petiti has already shown he can play injured

 

[MichaelWinicki]

A serious upgrade on the O-line?

Personally I don't think it has been as bad as what many have suggested.

And we already have zillions of bucks tied up into 3 players so I just don't see us going apeshat on OL signings.

 

[burmafrd]

The only area of concern has been the center- If Al cannot improve, we have to look for better there. I don't know why he has regressed from last year, but he has. But realistically there should be a good center that we can get through the draft or FA that can do better without it costing an arm and a leg.

 

[burmafrd]

Now saying only area of concern- I mean that it looks like Pettiti will be able to do the job and improve and take care of RT. The Hotel will be back and Tucker is looking good at LT. So that is ok. Columbo might be a possibility- we shall have to see.
LA is good for another year or two; same with Rivera. We can get some projects to work on in the meantime. Have not given up on Peterman yet.

 

[followthestar]

if i'm not mistaken next years draft class is supposed to be deep in OL, while this years class was rather weak. since keeping Bledsoe intact is our first priority, i'm certain OL will be the our main target this offseason, starting as you've all said with a topflight veteran Center. a solid kicker, a good centerfield-type FS, and perhaps a LB and WR should put us over the top...

 

[Juke99]

A serious upgrade on the O-line?

Personally I don't think it has been as bad as what many have suggested.

And we already have zillions of bucks tied up into 3 players so I just don't see us going apeshat on OL signings.

Yeah...a serious upgrade. You lookin' to start something.

Johnson is pretty awful. The guards are old. Bledsoe (even though some of it is his fault) has been sacked 20 times. The running game only clicked into gear these last few weeks. I really do think we need to upgrade.

 

[CactusCowboy]

I don't think we will ask Rogers back. I happen to know that he non-motivated to play this game. Lets just say he is a joke at rehab........

 

[Yeagermeister]

Bring in Bentley and while we are at it bring back the OSU olineman that we drafted a few years (his name escapes me at the moment)

 

[Verdict]

Yes indeed this team is real close......it's fun watching it come together....put in a few more pieces to the puzzle and we will be there.

Then again, maybe we are already there.

 

[TheSkaven]

I would like to see us draft or sign a FA center......needless to say, maybe it's just that I am old and cranky, but I have not been overwhelmed with enthusiasm with the play of A. Johnson or A. Gurode.

What he said. Remember, "after the season is over" we'll have 7 more picks in the upcoming draft. Hopefully we can hit on a few kids on the offensive line and create some real depth on what has become a team making huge strides this year.