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The Cowboys have missed the playoffs the last three seasons which is an unacceptable mark given the tradition the franchise has, not to mention a waste of the prime years of their Pro Bowl players. While the Super Bowl drought is a harsh reality the ESPN narrative still remains – there is talent on the Dallas Cowboys roster. Tony Romo leads the way at quarterback, Dez Bryant is a superstar in the making, Jason Witten remains reliable, DeMarco Murray is a great running back when healthy, and Tyron Smith is continuing to develop into a franchise left tackle. On defense, DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer compliment a young core of Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Morris Claiborne, and Brandon Carr.
There are still plenty of holes though at less-sexy positions. And limited resources that exist to plug those spots. Even if we extend Romo (all for it) and Spencer (I'd let 2013 be his last year) we are still unlikely to make a splash in free agency. Unlike 2006-2009, our 2010 & 2011 drafts have a core of players that we'll want to extend. And we've all learned by now the way to win in the salary cap era is to draft well and pay your own.
Fortunately this free agent class is deep with mid-level players at positions of need and the draft has a lot of talent at our weak spots as well. I got this idea from a column in the Boston Globe looking at the Patriots. My task at hand was taking the Cowboys current roster, assembling a current depth chart, and then figuring out how to fill that depth chart with our limited resources.
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http://img844.*************/img844/1517/screenshot20130312at604.pnghttp://img844.*************/img844/1517/screenshot20130312at604.png
No. 1 need: starting right tackle. This is Doug Free’s spot, and while Free had a solid final 3 games when he started to see competition for his spot, but his performance has not come close to justifying his price tag. Because of his remaining bonus amortization on the salary cap he will likely be a June 1st cut so he can be kept on as an emergency option until the actual draft and then make the move when we need to sign our picks. Sebastian Vollmer and Andre Smith will likely cost too much for the Cowboys current budget, and there is a big drop from there on.
How to fill: Use first round pick on the position to draft DJ Fluker from Alabama, ideally doing so by dropping down a few spots from the late teens to the mid-20's and picking up an early day three pick in the process.
No. 2 need: starting right guard. I watched every snap of Phil Costa from 2012, and came away impressed. If he's healthy in 2013 he is more than sufficient as a #4/5 starter on an offensive line, and I'd say the same for Nate Livings. I can't say the same for Mackenzy Bernadeau and I have my doubts that moving him from guard to center is going to help the team at all.
How to fill: Larry Warford (Kentucky) or Dallas Thomas (Tennessee) with a day two draft pick. Barrett Jones is another possibility but he might be a better center than guard.
No. 3 need: Competition at safety. Given the fact that the tight end's on the strong side of the field are going out to catch passes more than block, there is less of need to designate between strong and free safeties in the 2013 NFL and it is more about what side of the field they'll be playing. The players the Cowboys probably want to win the jobs (Barry Church and Matt Johnson) were never healthy last year and are probably best served being penciled in splitting the same spot given injury risks. Supposedly we are going to use multiple cover strategies and not just a straight Tampa 2, so a deep safety need still exists.
How to fill: Use a day two draft pick on one of surplus of day two safety prospects that are out there, i.e. Jonathan Cyprien (Florida International), or Eric Reid (LSU)
No. 4 need: Starting SAM Linebacker. Given our salary cap situation I initially thought that this one would be Albright and Wilbur battling through the offseason with the loser backing up the winner. Having thought things over though I think with Lee and Carter being new to their positions (at the NFL level) that we are best served slotting in a veteran here.
How to fill: Free agent Outside linebacker Justin Durant on a two-year, $7.5 million contract. He's a very solid thumper in run support and could fill in at the other LB positions in a pinch.
No. 5 need: One Technique NT. Lissemore and Calloway are the favorites to fill the less-sexy one tech of the Dallas-2, but they could use some help. With sizing in mind I'd sign and draft a couple of big boys that can spell them and develop, maybe even looking at some traditional nose tackles. My thought process there is with the Commanders read-option, Chip taking over the Eagles, and the Giants looking to improve their run game as well that we can't be weak here and gashed like we were in Week 17.
How to fill: Joe Vellano (Maryland) would be my pick as a draft pick with an early day three pick. Roy Miller (Bucs), Casey Hampton (Steelers), and Sione Pouha (Jets) are guys that may come average-cheap.
No. 6 need: Third Pass Rushing DE. This would be higher on my personal list, but the Cowboys have more pressing need unfortunately. Pass rushers cost money in free agency, and ready-to-play pass rushers cost early first round picks in the draft. I'm operating under the assumption that we don't extend Romo or Spencer, so we're going to fill this one with a developmental player.
How to fill: Day Three draft pick on Quanterus Smith (Western Kentucky). This would be in the mold of the Sean Lee and Bruce Carter picks, trying to get someone who can be a steal in 2014. Smith had 12.5 sacks before a late season ACL tear, and we'll fill out this need in 2013 with a low-cost free agent who is still left after a deep free agent class begins to sign.
No. 7 need: #2 Running Back. Tanner and Dunbar are better served as number three backs who contribute on special teams. Murray remains an injury risk but is a dynamic player when healthy. In 2013 this isn't a position you need to spend big dollars on thankfully.
How to fill: Use a day three draft pick on a running back. My choice would be Christine Michael from A&M. He was part of a RBBC with Manziel and Malena but had a great showing at the East-West Shrine and is a sleeper back with a good chance to surprise pairing 4.54 speed with great power.
No. 8 need: Three Technique DT. The big question here is what the hell we have already on the roster. Ratliff and Hatcher should be good enough to get the job done, but there are still questions about whether either is a perfect fit in a 4-3, and both are on the wrong side of 30. The problem is we only have issues on both our offensive & defensive lines, and only so many resources to fix them.
How to fill: Ride or Die with what we have on the roster currently. Address this spot with a premium pick in the 2014 draft.
No. 9: Developmental Tight End. Jason Witten is forever-reliable both in terms of injury and skillset. Even as he has lost some athleticism he has found ways to get open with his brain and connection with Romo. With Josh Phillips a free agent and James Hanna more of a flex tight end we at least need a blocking option here for 2013 and someone that can take some snaps away from him in 2014/15.
How to fill: Numerous late-round options exist. Michael Williams (Alabama) is already an excellent run-blocker but probably doesn't have much receiving upside. Ben Cotton (Nebraska) and Philip Lutzenkirchen (Auburn) are options as well.
No. 10: Additional depth at Defensive End.
How to fill: Israel Idonije on a two-year, $4 million contract. This may be a little optimistic for an end that can play the run and rush from our three-technique, but hopefully the combination of his age and Marinelli would make it a possibility.
There are still plenty of holes though at less-sexy positions. And limited resources that exist to plug those spots. Even if we extend Romo (all for it) and Spencer (I'd let 2013 be his last year) we are still unlikely to make a splash in free agency. Unlike 2006-2009, our 2010 & 2011 drafts have a core of players that we'll want to extend. And we've all learned by now the way to win in the salary cap era is to draft well and pay your own.
Fortunately this free agent class is deep with mid-level players at positions of need and the draft has a lot of talent at our weak spots as well. I got this idea from a column in the Boston Globe looking at the Patriots. My task at hand was taking the Cowboys current roster, assembling a current depth chart, and then figuring out how to fill that depth chart with our limited resources.
http://img195.*************/img195/1517/screenshot20130312at604.pnghttp://img195.*************/img195/1517/screenshot20130312at604.png
http://img844.*************/img844/1517/screenshot20130312at604.pnghttp://img844.*************/img844/1517/screenshot20130312at604.png
No. 1 need: starting right tackle. This is Doug Free’s spot, and while Free had a solid final 3 games when he started to see competition for his spot, but his performance has not come close to justifying his price tag. Because of his remaining bonus amortization on the salary cap he will likely be a June 1st cut so he can be kept on as an emergency option until the actual draft and then make the move when we need to sign our picks. Sebastian Vollmer and Andre Smith will likely cost too much for the Cowboys current budget, and there is a big drop from there on.
How to fill: Use first round pick on the position to draft DJ Fluker from Alabama, ideally doing so by dropping down a few spots from the late teens to the mid-20's and picking up an early day three pick in the process.
No. 2 need: starting right guard. I watched every snap of Phil Costa from 2012, and came away impressed. If he's healthy in 2013 he is more than sufficient as a #4/5 starter on an offensive line, and I'd say the same for Nate Livings. I can't say the same for Mackenzy Bernadeau and I have my doubts that moving him from guard to center is going to help the team at all.
How to fill: Larry Warford (Kentucky) or Dallas Thomas (Tennessee) with a day two draft pick. Barrett Jones is another possibility but he might be a better center than guard.
No. 3 need: Competition at safety. Given the fact that the tight end's on the strong side of the field are going out to catch passes more than block, there is less of need to designate between strong and free safeties in the 2013 NFL and it is more about what side of the field they'll be playing. The players the Cowboys probably want to win the jobs (Barry Church and Matt Johnson) were never healthy last year and are probably best served being penciled in splitting the same spot given injury risks. Supposedly we are going to use multiple cover strategies and not just a straight Tampa 2, so a deep safety need still exists.
How to fill: Use a day two draft pick on one of surplus of day two safety prospects that are out there, i.e. Jonathan Cyprien (Florida International), or Eric Reid (LSU)
No. 4 need: Starting SAM Linebacker. Given our salary cap situation I initially thought that this one would be Albright and Wilbur battling through the offseason with the loser backing up the winner. Having thought things over though I think with Lee and Carter being new to their positions (at the NFL level) that we are best served slotting in a veteran here.
How to fill: Free agent Outside linebacker Justin Durant on a two-year, $7.5 million contract. He's a very solid thumper in run support and could fill in at the other LB positions in a pinch.
No. 5 need: One Technique NT. Lissemore and Calloway are the favorites to fill the less-sexy one tech of the Dallas-2, but they could use some help. With sizing in mind I'd sign and draft a couple of big boys that can spell them and develop, maybe even looking at some traditional nose tackles. My thought process there is with the Commanders read-option, Chip taking over the Eagles, and the Giants looking to improve their run game as well that we can't be weak here and gashed like we were in Week 17.
How to fill: Joe Vellano (Maryland) would be my pick as a draft pick with an early day three pick. Roy Miller (Bucs), Casey Hampton (Steelers), and Sione Pouha (Jets) are guys that may come average-cheap.
No. 6 need: Third Pass Rushing DE. This would be higher on my personal list, but the Cowboys have more pressing need unfortunately. Pass rushers cost money in free agency, and ready-to-play pass rushers cost early first round picks in the draft. I'm operating under the assumption that we don't extend Romo or Spencer, so we're going to fill this one with a developmental player.
How to fill: Day Three draft pick on Quanterus Smith (Western Kentucky). This would be in the mold of the Sean Lee and Bruce Carter picks, trying to get someone who can be a steal in 2014. Smith had 12.5 sacks before a late season ACL tear, and we'll fill out this need in 2013 with a low-cost free agent who is still left after a deep free agent class begins to sign.
No. 7 need: #2 Running Back. Tanner and Dunbar are better served as number three backs who contribute on special teams. Murray remains an injury risk but is a dynamic player when healthy. In 2013 this isn't a position you need to spend big dollars on thankfully.
How to fill: Use a day three draft pick on a running back. My choice would be Christine Michael from A&M. He was part of a RBBC with Manziel and Malena but had a great showing at the East-West Shrine and is a sleeper back with a good chance to surprise pairing 4.54 speed with great power.
No. 8 need: Three Technique DT. The big question here is what the hell we have already on the roster. Ratliff and Hatcher should be good enough to get the job done, but there are still questions about whether either is a perfect fit in a 4-3, and both are on the wrong side of 30. The problem is we only have issues on both our offensive & defensive lines, and only so many resources to fix them.
How to fill: Ride or Die with what we have on the roster currently. Address this spot with a premium pick in the 2014 draft.
No. 9: Developmental Tight End. Jason Witten is forever-reliable both in terms of injury and skillset. Even as he has lost some athleticism he has found ways to get open with his brain and connection with Romo. With Josh Phillips a free agent and James Hanna more of a flex tight end we at least need a blocking option here for 2013 and someone that can take some snaps away from him in 2014/15.
How to fill: Numerous late-round options exist. Michael Williams (Alabama) is already an excellent run-blocker but probably doesn't have much receiving upside. Ben Cotton (Nebraska) and Philip Lutzenkirchen (Auburn) are options as well.
No. 10: Additional depth at Defensive End.
How to fill: Israel Idonije on a two-year, $4 million contract. This may be a little optimistic for an end that can play the run and rush from our three-technique, but hopefully the combination of his age and Marinelli would make it a possibility.
