5Stars
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lol...Does your boss know you are here hanging out instead of working?
(just pulling your leg)
CFZ Comparing the strengths and weaknesses of 23 and 24 rosters
- Thread starter Bobhaze
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(just pulling your leg)
Aerolithe_Lion
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Don’t forget Breeland vs Dorance, Fowler, and Sam Williams
AstroPilota
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Nice thread! As of right now, here's my take:
- OL room will show some growing pains, but I think by mid-season, the OL will be better than the 23 version. Nod to the 24 roster.
- RB room is weak, but good blocking up front can make up for a lot. If Cook has anything left in the tank, we might be in for a surprise. To be fair, Pollard got no blocking last year. Wash
- WR room has improved. This group is solid. Lets hope that Lamb can hit the ground running, if not, it'll be a little rough the first couple games. Nod to the 24 roster.
- TE room is about the same. Ferg is developing into an upper-tier TE. Spann-Ford looks very promising. Nod to the 24 roster.
- QB room is the same. Wash
- DL room got a little weaker via losses, but hopefully Kneeland can step up. Nod to 23 roster.
- LB room. Huge upgrades here, we will actually have LB's play at the position. Nod to 24 roster.
- Secondary room is solid. Will miss Bland until he gets back, but this group is very good, and shouldn't have to do all the tackling. Nod to 24 roster.
Special teams would be a Wash.
I think overall - the '24 roster is a little better. IMO, the biggest denominator for this season will be the coaching staff. We had a much easier schedule for '23. What will Zimmer's impact be? We will need to see 4-5 games to get a handle on this team. I wish Nick Chubb was active for the Cleveland game so we could get a better look at the DL.
- OL room will show some growing pains, but I think by mid-season, the OL will be better than the 23 version. Nod to the 24 roster.
- RB room is weak, but good blocking up front can make up for a lot. If Cook has anything left in the tank, we might be in for a surprise. To be fair, Pollard got no blocking last year. Wash
- WR room has improved. This group is solid. Lets hope that Lamb can hit the ground running, if not, it'll be a little rough the first couple games. Nod to the 24 roster.
- TE room is about the same. Ferg is developing into an upper-tier TE. Spann-Ford looks very promising. Nod to the 24 roster.
- QB room is the same. Wash
- DL room got a little weaker via losses, but hopefully Kneeland can step up. Nod to 23 roster.
- LB room. Huge upgrades here, we will actually have LB's play at the position. Nod to 24 roster.
- Secondary room is solid. Will miss Bland until he gets back, but this group is very good, and shouldn't have to do all the tackling. Nod to 24 roster.
Special teams would be a Wash.
I think overall - the '24 roster is a little better. IMO, the biggest denominator for this season will be the coaching staff. We had a much easier schedule for '23. What will Zimmer's impact be? We will need to see 4-5 games to get a handle on this team. I wish Nick Chubb was active for the Cleveland game so we could get a better look at the DL.
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They didn't fail. Williams was supposed to be that guy.
thunderpimp91
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And you dont see the flaw in that strategy though? I actually like the upside Williams has, but one injury to a middle of the road player has completely destroyed our depth for pass rushers. This is exactly why the Cowboys have to be more active in at least the later stages of free agency to bring in guys to camp to compete with guys like Wheat and Golston for those final spots for just $2-3M. That is where they have failed. We gloss over it because we are so excited about many of the young guys and what they've done in camp, but this team has some serious depth issues at multiple positions this year.
Creeper
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I think you hit all the key points. The weaknesses last year were stopping the run and running the football. I think last year's struggles running the football were more offensive line than the RBs. This year I think the OL will be better, but is there a RB who can step up and give us a running game?
Last year, guys like Steele, Biadasz and even Tyron struggled opening holes for the RB.. I don't think the WRs and TEs did a good job blocking either. We'll have to see if Steele is really back to form, if Beebe gives us more than Biadasz, and how Guyton does, but I think given time these guys will improve the running game some. I do not anticipate any long gains on the ground from any of these RBs. I suspect it will be more of a grind it out ground game.
The Cowboys made some changes to the defense to stop the run. They have legitimate LBs now, which should help. They added some bigger players to the middle of the DL. Kneeland already seems like a good run defender. However, Joseph is 35 and on the downside of his career. I don't know what Phillips has left, and then there is Mazi. He didn't play much in the preseason ad when he did he only looked marginally better than last year. But the biggest problem for the Cowboys stopping the run was outside. I do think having LBs instead of safeties to take on the blocks of TEs and WRs will help. I hate to say it but when all is said and done the run defense is going to come down to how Mazi plays.
For Dallas this year there are two players that need to step up and play well. Mazi and Tolbert.
Last year, guys like Steele, Biadasz and even Tyron struggled opening holes for the RB.. I don't think the WRs and TEs did a good job blocking either. We'll have to see if Steele is really back to form, if Beebe gives us more than Biadasz, and how Guyton does, but I think given time these guys will improve the running game some. I do not anticipate any long gains on the ground from any of these RBs. I suspect it will be more of a grind it out ground game.
The Cowboys made some changes to the defense to stop the run. They have legitimate LBs now, which should help. They added some bigger players to the middle of the DL. Kneeland already seems like a good run defender. However, Joseph is 35 and on the downside of his career. I don't know what Phillips has left, and then there is Mazi. He didn't play much in the preseason ad when he did he only looked marginally better than last year. But the biggest problem for the Cowboys stopping the run was outside. I do think having LBs instead of safeties to take on the blocks of TEs and WRs will help. I hate to say it but when all is said and done the run defense is going to come down to how Mazi plays.
For Dallas this year there are two players that need to step up and play well. Mazi and Tolbert.
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Other than DE, what all those multiple positions? I just don't see that at all and can't name one other position that needs more depth now. Are there positions that could use a talent upgrade? Of course. Every team does. But the depth is there for the Cowboys. I especially think the Cowboys are pretty deep at OL, WR, LB, S, CB, QB, TE and even RB after the Cook addition.
thunderpimp91
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You're absolutely right that its unrealistic for any team to be completely covered at every position. But I do worry about
WR - I think this team is CeeDee or bust at the position. Cooks is OK, but seems to be in decline for his career. I'd rather him be the 3rd option at WR instead of the #2. If Tolbert really can step up and be that #2 type receiver I'll change my tune on the position, but I think we are expecting a lot counting on him going from a possible cut candidate to end last season to legitimate starter caliber player after camp.
RB - I guess it's fair to say they have depth at the position, my bigger issue is that the top of the depth chart are guys that would be considered depth on pretty much every other team in the league.
TE - From a blocking perspective I think they are in good shape. If anything happens to Ferg though I think Dak losing his security blanket underneath could be a major factor. I'm just not confident in Schoon the receiver to be that guy. Granted this is probably true of most teams at the TE position, I think its more important for the Cowboys this year for a couple reasons.....1 I simply dont trust the receivers outside of Lamb so TE could be a major factor in the pass game. 2 I can see a lot of two TE sets this year with a rookie LT so both Schoon and Stephens could be expected to see a higher volume of snaps than most other teams backups.
CB - This one worries me more so with Bland being out. Reports are that Diggs has looked pretty good, but I do worry still simply because he hasnt played football in nearly a year now. Not saying he wont have a great season by the time its all over, but I'm not expecting him to be 100% out of the gate. Carson I get has potential, but CB often takes rookies time to adjust to the NFL, even Diggs as a high pick and as talented as he was got burnt often his rookie year. As mentioned though by end of season this could be a top unit in the league, but I expect this unit to take some lumps early on.
The good news is there is potential for all these positions to work out OK, I would have just loved for this team to have looked at getting a few extra veteran bodies in camp at some of these positions. RB I would have preferred a better starter, but if the OL can hit its potential they should be OK.
Hawkeye19
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Not better IMO.
Depth at pass rusher and RB is concerning. Rookies along the OL and lots of turnover at DL creates question marks. They could be better— but there could be some rough spots.
New defensive scheme will likely take some time to adjust and install.
Another big concern is the hangover effect from the GB dismantling? Where is this team’s confidence and chemistry? Do they believe or have they basically settled for individual glory stats and hoping to get their bag?
Lame duck HC and distractions with contracts can also create issues.
Just my opinion— but this team has played things wrong from the moment they took the field against GB, and I don’t expect more than 10 wins this season.
Bobhaze
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I agree with every one of your points.
Teams that lose in humiliating fashion in the playoffs as a home favorite often have a lingering hangover to overcome. And with the entire coaching staff on one year contracts, the uncertainty of the contract status of the QB, the lack of a handle on how to manage the cap….the FO has made this year have some really unnecessary hurdles.
shabazz
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Make sure to factor in the major roster improvements our rivals have made through REAL FA acquisitions and the draft.
It's very relevant when gauging where we truly stand from 2023 to 2024
Nearly every sports media outlet has pointed out that we largely stood pat while the other teams ascended on paper
Just something to consider
Bobhaze
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Excellent point. FA additions do not always translate to major improvements but in our case doing nothing gives you less of a chance than trying.