Cowboys in talks with Eric Winston per Schefter...(C. Hill disputes report Post #60)

[Idgit]

I think Leary is gonna make some noise at one of those OG spots. He's big, strong, mobile, and now he has a year of the system under his belt. He's gonna open some eyes!

I think the team's half-expecting to see that, too. It's also going to be fun to watch, because Leary (along with Parnell) is one of those guys where the constant complaint that we don't play our young guys is going to come into directly conflict with the constant complaint that the OGs on the roster can't play. I already know which constant complaint wins in that case, but it'll still be fun to trot that out in camp amongst the many our-OL-stinks threads.

Can you imagine, for example, if we were to blow our first and second round picks this year on OLs when we've got our future starters already on the roster from bargain-bin FA signings? If that were the case, we could sit tight, sign an inexpensive backup OT and use the picks to address our aging DL, giving Marinelli exactly what he needs for a deep and successful trench campaign.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Not sure why we are ruing not signing a mediocre RT.

Then again, most were thrilled with the mediocre performance of our LT this year, too.

I think Leary is gonna make some noise at one of those OG spots. He's big, strong, mobile, and now he has a year of the system under his belt. He's gonna open some eyes!

Obviously this Team, not unlike the Fan base, doesn't have the mentality of winning football.

Real Dallas Cowboys Football is something that happened in the ancient past.

While the sad ramifications of Jerrys tyranny sits here on high alert rearing it's ugly head and pointing the finger every single time you turn around.

 

[Picksix]

I think the team's half-expecting to see that, too. It's also going to be fun to watch, because Leary (along with Parnell) is one of those guys where the constant complaint that we don't play our young guys is going to come into directly conflict with the constant complaint that the OGs on the roster can't play. I already know which constant complaint wins in that case, but it'll still be fun to trot that out in camp amongst the many our-OL-stinks threads.

Can you imagine, for example, if we were to blow our first and second round picks this year on OLs when we've got our future starters already on the roster from bargain-bin FA signings? If that were the case, we could sit tight, sign an inexpensive backup OT and use the picks to address our aging DL, giving Marinelli exactly what he needs for a deep and successful trench campaign.

In a perfect world, you'd like be able to foresee that, but there's too much uncertainty right now. Besides, even if we ended up with 4 starting-caliber guards, that wouldn't be a bad thing. You could possibly either move one to a different position (C,OT), or if nothing else, you'd have great depth at an important position.

 

[Idgit]

In a perfect world, you'd like be able to foresee that, but there's too much uncertainty right now. Besides, even if we ended up with 4 starting-caliber guards, that wouldn't be a bad thing. You could possibly either move one to a different position (C,OT), or if nothing else, you'd have great depth at an important position.

I think we need to address OL, too. I'd do with with a FA and one of the high picks, though. I also think we need another young DL player if one's available. I'm just playing Devil's Advocate because I do think the team likes both Leary and Parnell as potential starters.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

We signed Will Allen, who started 7 games last year, and was very solid in those 7 starts for the Steelers. He wasn't signed to be the starter, they hope that Matt Johnson can stay healthy and for him to be the starter, but they signed someone who is very capable of starting if need be.

Well, I know that Football Forums are not always the most balanced of opinioned sites out there in a lot of cases but I would say that if you asked the Steelers about Allen, they would say that he really didn't play all that well for them last year. Many were very happy to see him go. While I do believe he can bring a lot to the team in the area of knowing and understanding the new scheme, his actual ability to play the position at a high level is questionable. I am not sure what we will see from him.

 

[Cowboys22]

Well, I know that Football Forums are not always the most balanced of opinioned sites out there in a lot of cases but I would say that if you asked the Steelers about Allen, they would say that he really didn't play all that well for them last year. Many were very happy to see him go. While I do believe he can bring a lot to the team in the area of knowing and understanding the new scheme, his actual ability to play the position at a high level is questionable. I am not sure what we will see from him.

I saw the exact opposite on Steeler boards. No one claimed he was a big time star but almost all of them were not happy to see him go. From what I saw, most said he played very well when pressed into duty and they felt he provided great depth at the position.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=68&f=1897&t=11415663&p=1

If you read through that thread, not one steeler fan says they are glad to see him go.

Here's another one: http://www.planetsteelers.com/forums/showthread.php/40348-S-Will-Allen-sign-with-the-Dallas-Cowboys

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I saw the exact opposite on Steeler boards. No one claimed he was a big time star but almost all of them were not happy to see him go. From what I saw, most said he played very well when pressed into duty and they felt he provided great depth at the position.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=68&f=1897&t=11415663&p=1

If you read through that thread, not one steeler fan says they are glad to see him go.

I like the Allen signing for two reasons: First, he is a solid backup who can start if necessary; second, his presence will allow McCray to do what he does best which is play special teams, not safety.
.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Top ten pick, with full year under his belt to adjust to the NFL speed, after his second training camp.

There are lots of reasons to give him a pass, if you want them. I do expect it was a bit of a sophomore slump, and he'll get better. But similar excuses can be made at the other OL positions. He still tailed off a bit after a good freshman campaign.

I agree with this.

He went from the 3rd best OT in the NFL (rookie season no less) to the 40th.


The fact is the Cowboys had much better OT play in 2011 than they did in 2012.

 

[Vintage]

I agree with this.

He went from the 3rd best OT in the NFL (rookie season no less) to the 40th.


The fact is the Cowboys had much better OT play in 2011 than they did in 2012.

Agreed. People talk about how bad the OL was last year... Well, Smith was a part of that. He didn't exactly light the world on fire. He struggled. The whole OL did.

I expect him to get better. I still have high hopes he develops into a very good LT.

But he wasn't one last year.

 

[blindzebra]

I agree with this.

He went from the 3rd best OT in the NFL (rookie season no less) to the 40th.


The fact is the Cowboys had much better OT play in 2011 than they did in 2012.

I think a large part of it is how bad we were inside.

Too many times the OTs would do their jobs but still give up the sack because Romo could not step up into the pocket.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Agreed. People talk about how bad the OL was last year... Well, Smith was a part of that. He didn't exactly light the world on fire. He struggled. The whole OL did.

I expect him to get better. I still have high hopes he develops into a very good LT.

But he wasn't one last year.

The good news is that his play at the end of the year was on the up-swing. His last two games were very good.

No, he wasn't very good last year, but I think the kid will have a very good 2013.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I saw the exact opposite on Steeler boards. No one claimed he was a big time star but almost all of them were not happy to see him go. From what I saw, most said he played very well when pressed into duty and they felt he provided great depth at the position.

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=68&f=1897&t=11415663&p=1

If you read through that thread, not one steeler fan says they are glad to see him go.

Here's another one: http://www.planetsteelers.com/forums/showthread.php/40348-S-Will-Allen-sign-with-the-Dallas-Cowboys

That's cool. It's not at all what I heard but hey, different opinions I suppose. The season will be here soon enough and we will see for ourselves. Will just say that when this signing was announced, one of my best friends (lives out in Tucson), called me up and laughed at me for like 5 minutes. He's a Steeler fan, of course.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think a large part of it is how bad we were inside.

Too many times the OTs would do their jobs but still give up the sack because Romo could not step up into the pocket.

There's some merit to that.

But in both "Laz-y-boy evaluation" and using PFF rankings, there wasn't a lot of difference between in the G-C-G play between 2011 and 2012.

Kosier-Costa-Holland/Nagy

Livings-Cook-Bern

Bern and Kosier were awful.

Cook was better vs the pass than Costa, but worse vs the run.

Livings was our best performing lineman. Holland was also very good in 2011. Nagy was awful for the first few games that he started.

Honestly you could make an argument that at least when it comes to pass protection the 2012 interior was a wee-bit better than the 2011 interior.

 

[tm1119]

We signed Will Allen, who started 7 games last year, and was very solid in those 7 starts for the Steelers. He wasn't signed to be the starter, they hope that Matt Johnson can stay healthy and for him to be the starter, but they signed someone who is very capable of starting if need be.

We aren't talking about a 24, 25 year old who just hasn't had a chance to start yet. Allen is 30 years old with 9 years of playing experience on 2 different teams. He is what he is. Which is a good backup to both safety positions who can step and do just enough when injuries occur. In all honesty he's not even an upgrade to Sensabaugh. And defense is sure going to struggle if all we have at safety is Allen, Church, and Johnson.

 

[DFWJC]

We aren't talking about a 24, 25 year old who just hasn't had a chance to start yet. Allen is 30 years old with 9 years of playing experience on 2 different teams. He is what he is. Which is a good backup to both safety positions who can step and do just enough when injuries occur. In all honesty he's not even an upgrade to Sensabaugh. And defense is sure going to struggle if all we have at safety is Allen, Church, and Johnson.

1) In this scheme, my guess is that Allen is the same or a slight upgrade over Sensy
2) Church is a good player and missed the entire 2012 season. So that is an upgrade by default. maybe a huge one
3) We don't know how good Johnson is. For all we know, he's the best safety we have and abig upgrade vs last year. Maybe not. Guess we'll find out.

Dallas will draft a safety.
That would mean they basically have at least two rookies with the this year's draft pick and Johnson.
Sterling Moore may play some safety as well.

 

[Bowdown27]

@Edwerderespn: No developments on Cowboys efforts to reduce Doug Free's salary. If Cowboys offering fair number, I don't think he has much choice

 

[tm1119]

1) In this scheme, my guess is that Allen is the same or a slight upgrade over Sensy
2) Church is a good player and missed the entire 2012 season. So that is an upgrade by default. maybe a huge one
3) We don't know how good Johnson is. For all we know, he's the best safety we have and abig upgrade vs last year. Maybe not. Guess we'll find out.

Dallas will draft a safety.
That would mean they basically have at least two rookies with the this year's draft pick and Johnson.
Sterling Moore may play some safety as well.

1. Same, maybe. But Allen is a career backup for a reason. He's not going to be an upgrade at all.

2. I already know I'm going to catch crap for this, but Church is overrated here. In very little playing at safety ge proved to be a very limited in the box safety. He sure as heck isn't covering any WR or even TE and he's going to be burned in single deep coverage as well. And this was prior to a very serious achilles injury. Church is Roy Williams 2.0 who we all ran out of town.

3. Sure, Johnson could be good, he could also be added to the long list of mid round busts by the Cowboys. He was a 6th or 7th round pick that we drastically reached on. Not to mention he can't stay healthy. Counting on him at all is a huge mistake. Anything we get out of him should be considered a luxury.

 

[DFWJC]

3. Sure, Johnson could be good, he could also be added to the long list of mid round busts by the Cowboys. He was a 6th or 7th round pick that we drastically reached on. Not to mention he can't stay healthy. Counting on him at all is a huge mistake. Anything we get out of him should be considered a luxury.

Johnson was a 4th round pick.

He measured out like a 1st or 2nd rounder and shows balls skills of an advanced player.
Because he was hurt and played in D-2, he was considered by some (mainly those who did not know of him) as a reach.
I would not count on any rookie outside of the 1st round--and he is basically a rookie.
On tape, he looks as good as most of the guys in this year's draft though....and they love him at Valley Ranch.

becasue of the uncertainty, they will draft a safety.

 

[Cowboys22]

That's cool. It's not at all what I heard but hey, different opinions I suppose. The season will be here soon enough and we will see for ourselves. Will just say that when this signing was announced, one of my best friends (lives out in Tucson), called me up and laughed at me for like 5 minutes. He's a Steeler fan, of course.

He may have had a point if they had signed him for $3-4 million a year and proclaimed him the starter. What they did do is sign a solid but not spectacular veteran at a position with no veteran presence for near the league minimum. Not to mention he has experience in the new defensive scheme they will install.

 

[The Natural]

1. Same, maybe. But Allen is a career backup for a reason. He's not going to be an upgrade at all.

2. I already know I'm going to catch crap for this, but Church is overrated here. In very little playing at safety ge proved to be a very limited in the box safety. He sure as heck isn't covering any WR or even TE and he's going to be burned in single deep coverage as well. And this was prior to a very serious achilles injury. Church is Roy Williams 2.0 who we all ran out of town.

Agreed. But he has a nice football name so he must be the answer.