Cowboys going old school?

[Verdict]

Prior to free agency every team built their team through the draft. There were a lot more than seven rounds and no no free agency so you either built the team with draft picks or you sucked.

Now teams have become a lot more reliant on free agents to fill holes that 7 draft picks can't/won't fill. Free agency has become a high priced crap shoot with high priced/high risk lower reward players for the most part.

There is no doubt that the Cowboys have been avoiding the upper tier over priced free agents ever since the Brandon Carr signing several years ago. Whether they learned their lesson, just don't have the money or it is some other reason is somewhat irrelevant because the result is the same.

But the Cowboys of late seem to be taking this one step farther than even we thought they might. We resigned Williams and Butler to team friendly deals, and may by looking internally for a replacement through our practice squad.

We really seem Hell bent on not bringing in new free agents. We have been working on turning Showers into a safety. We have let many players walk which I know was the plan, but I really didn't see us refusing to plug any holes with free agency.

Maybe they will wait until after the draft to plug hoes with even cheaper free agents cut after the draft has been completed. Again, I knew this was the plan to let guys walk, but they seem to be taking it much farther than I thought they would in resigning free agents to replace the players lost.

The question I have internally is whether or not this signals a new way of thinking internally. Is this salary cap driven, a lack of talent in free agency, comp pick driven, or just situational due to what is on the market this year.

This is definitely different than any year in recent memory. .

 

[Zordon]

I think this franchise made a conscience decision to marry itself to this defensive scheme in the offseason. So instead of making comfort choices they've decided to start over and go after actual scheme fits.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I like the idea for the most part of trusting your drafts but the fan in me would like to have at least seen one impact signing. This defense can be one really good draft away this April from making noise but that's under the assumption we hit on like 3 defensive players and that our current guys also improve

 

[haleyrules]

Interesting. The draft has always been the road ahead. FA have always been great for excitement and hope but seldom work out as planned. The Cowboys are heading in the right direction...it takes patience. If a high value FA was available, like a Sanders, at the right time thats different. But, basically, good drafting is the real road to the SB. The FO has finally learned this lesson.

 

[conner01]

I think it's a much about the cap as free agency

 

[Bowdown27]

For years we picked up other teams cast offs and paid them big. We're doing the right thing now. Draft well and be set up for years to come.

 

[Ranching]

I think this franchise made a conscience decision to marry itself to this defensive scheme in the offseason. So instead of making comfort choices they've decided to start over and go after actual scheme fits.

They should have started over after going 4-12, not 13-3. I know, people will say we did because of Dak and Zeke, but Dak was not planned, he was a gift from above. Luckily, Jerry left the roof open that day so that God could watch his favorite teams war room.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

It can be argued the Cowboys have just as much cap mismanagement by restructuring players as they have when they mismanaged the cap by splurging on guys

 

[robjay04]

I think it's a much about the cap as free agency

I believe we could be more active if we wanted to, we just don't feel it's the right route to go to have long term success.

The Patriots are on another level with cap management, typically they are timid in free agency but this year they made some splashes. Besides the Patriots, the other two teams that have continued playoff success every year would be the Packers and Steelers. Both of those teams have been very timid in free agency. Sure they may make a move every now and then, but they don't rely on spending big money in free agency for their team upgrades.

 

[dallasfan4lizife]

I think this franchise made a conscience decision to marry itself to this defensive scheme in the offseason. So instead of making comfort choices they've decided to start over and go after actual scheme fits.

It took us 6 years to rebuild the offense. Another 6 years to rebuild the defense? By that time, the offense will need to start being rebuilt because players from the original rebuild will be retiring.

This is not how a successful organization is ran.

 

[Diehardblues]

Interesting. The draft has always been the road ahead. FA have always been great for excitement and hope but seldom work out as planned. The Cowboys are heading in the right direction...it takes patience. If a high value FA was available, like a Sanders, at the right time thats different. But, basically, good drafting is the real road to the SB. The FO has finally learned this lesson.

Totally agree. The fact we aren't going nuts in FA is a good sign. The draft and UDFA are the more sound solutions.

Big FA signings are for teams who might actually just be lacking that one player or filling an unexpected hole.

Smart teams look for bargains in FA not risk.

 

[Reality]

I think this franchise made a conscience decision to marry itself to this defensive scheme in the offseason. So instead of making comfort choices they've decided to start over and go after actual scheme fits.

I think this is most likely the strategy they are using. They may have wanted to keep one or two players they lost on defense, but not at what other teams were willing to pay them, especially when they can start rebuilding.

We've been so used to the "We have Romo, we need to win before its too late!" mindset in recent years that we forget that outside of Jason Witten, we have a young team. This is the perfect time to rebuild the defense as well. Yes, it may make the road to the Super Bowl harder this season, but if the Cowboys can build a solid defense over the next couple of years, they could be highly competitive for several years.

 

[Denim Chicken]

It took us 6 years to rebuild the offense. .

We have had a competitive offense since Romo took over in 06'.

 

[DogFace]

Replacing four players who'd reached their mediocre, at best, potential isn't rebuilding.

 

[DBOY3141]

I believe we could be more active if we wanted to, we just don't feel it's the right route to go to have long term success.

The Patriots are on another level with cap management, typically they are timid in free agency but this year they made some splashes. Besides the Patriots, the other two teams that have continued playoff success every year would be the Packers and Steelers. Both of those teams have been very timid in free agency. Sure they may make a move every now and then, but they don't rely on spending big money in free agency for their team upgrades.

It will be interesting to see what the Pats do next year. I think Brooks/Ealy are FA's and I'm sure Brooks will want a good bit of dough. I can see both of those players being 1 year rentals for the Pats.

 

[TheFinisher]

They should have started over after going 4-12, not 13-3. I know, people will say we did because of Dak and Zeke, but Dak was not planned, he was a gift from above. Luckily, Jerry left the roof open that day so that God could watch his favorite teams war room.

i think they did begin the rebuild of the D last year considering 3 of their top 4 draft choices were a LB, 3T, and RE who all have physical traits that cater to this scheme. Not to mention hitting on a 6th round CB that wound up earning a starting job.

 

[Ranching]

i think they did begin the rebuild of the D last year considering 3 of their top 4 draft choices were a LB, 3T, and RE who all have physical traits that cater to this scheme. Not to mention hitting on a 6th round CB that wound up earning a starting job.

That LB and RE will be a great addition this year, IF they can get and stay healthy.

 

[erod]

I see a semi-rebuilding going on. They believe Dak will get the league figured out in 3-4 years, which is when they'll have to pay him handsomely. They're aiming at those years primarily.

They know the defense is a bucket of yuck right now. Build it to coincide with Dak's maturation.

By then, gone will be Romo, Witten, Dez, Lee, (Free), and everybody on defense accept Jones, Smith, and a couple of others.

Youth will prevail by then, and the offensive line will still be in its prime.

 

[robjay04]

I see a semi-rebuilding going on. They believe Dak will get the league figured out in 3-4 years, which is when they'll have to pay him handsomely. They're aiming at those years primarily.

They know the defense is a bucket of yuck right now. Build it to coincide with Dak's maturation.

By then, gone will be Romo, Witten, Dez, Lee, (Free), and everybody on defense accept Jones, Smith, and a couple of others.

Youth will prevail by then, and the offensive line will still be in its prime.

Dez will get another contract when he explodes next season with his first healthy offseason in two years.

Plus it'll be his first offseason with Dak as his QB.

I'm looking forward to it!

 

[erod]

Dez will get another contract when he explodes next season with his first healthy offseason in two years.

Plus it'll be his first offseason with Dak as his QB.

I'm looking forward to it!

I'll give him 2-3 more years before he becomes just a guy. His speed is gone, he runs unpredictable and terrible routes, and his body is failing.

If he sees another contract here, it'll be a discount deal.