Dallas Cowboys 2015 Offseason: What We Learned At The NFL Combine

[waving monkey]

During the Combine, we learned a lot about myriad draft prospects. But we also heard from members of the Cowboys organization. What do we take away if we synthesize all this information? Read on, loyal BTBers, read on...

Now that the NFL has wrapped up its annual Underwear Olympics, all 32 teams' scouting types have rushed back home to digest all the information (and misinformation) they gleaned in Indianapolis. Yes, it's a bad idea to allow Combine results to outweigh - or even seriously alter - the tape review that is the basis for establishing player grades. Nevertheless, a lot can be learned from watching guys run around in skin-tight and neon-bright Under Armour togs. For Cowboys fans, some players at positions of interest emerged, secured their draft status, or presented questions that must be answered.

Most importantly, members of the Cowboys' organizational triumvirate met seriously with the media for the first time in a long while. On Saturday, aboard the Cowboys team megabus, Jerry Jones held court with Dallas area reporters, and supplemented opinions we had heard from Jason Garrett and Stephen Jones earlier in the week. What happens when we parse some of their quotes and mix them up with a heapin' spoonful of Combine test results? A useful addendum to our "Offseason Plan" series, of course!

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015...-offseason-what-we-learned-at-the-nfl-combine

 

[waving monkey]

he Cowboys wlll try to balance short-term and long-term thinking, with short term perhaps winning out. When asked about decision making vis a vis the age of his franchise quarterback, Jerry told reporters that he and Romo are both short-termers in their thinking, and confessed that he is factoring that into his decisions. The question is: to what degree. When pressed by Todd Archer about whether that would mean getting back into cap jeopardy, Jerry backpedaled a bit, suggesting he'd prefer not to go that route.

 

[LatinMind]

During the Combine, we learned a lot about myriad draft prospects. But we also heard from members of the Cowboys organization. What do we take away if we synthesize all this information? Read on, loyal BTBers, read on...

Now that the NFL has wrapped up its annual Underwear Olympics, all 32 teams' scouting types have rushed back home to digest all the information (and misinformation) they gleaned in Indianapolis. Yes, it's a bad idea to allow Combine results to outweigh - or even seriously alter - the tape review that is the basis for establishing player grades. Nevertheless, a lot can be learned from watching guys run around in skin-tight and neon-bright Under Armour togs. For Cowboys fans, some players at positions of interest emerged, secured their draft status, or presented questions that must be answered.

Most importantly, members of the Cowboys' organizational triumvirate met seriously with the media for the first time in a long while. On Saturday, aboard the Cowboys team megabus, Jerry Jones held court with Dallas area reporters, and supplemented opinions we had heard from Jason Garrett and Stephen Jones earlier in the week. What happens when we parse some of their quotes and mix them up with a heapin' spoonful of Combine test results? A useful addendum to our "Offseason Plan" series, of course!

link/http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015...-offseason-what-we-learned-at-the-nfl-combine

I think what we learned is there is not a single DE who is a day 1 starter for Dallas IMO. Too many DE's in college that are OLBs in the NFL. Most are all too light and have some issues vs the run. The closest ones might be Odighizuwa and Mario Edwards. But neither should be considered starters over a player like Spencer. A dark horse might be a player like Arik Armstead. He has the size and skills, but raw. And i dont think he makes it out of the top20 picks.

 

[Bullflop]

I liked what I saw of CB Jalen Collins in the Indy Combine. Who knows exactly what the Cowboys are going to do once the upcoming draft presents itself for pick #27? If the D-line isn't there to their satisfaction, perhaps drafting a CB wouldn't be out of the question. If Jalen Collins turned out to be that choice, I'd be OK with it.

 

[Hoofbite]

Jerry admitted that the team did a study in which they looked at the last time the team had three All-Pro offensive linemen - Marion Barber and Felix Jones were the primary backs - and they concluded that, as a team, they had roughly the same yardage as the 2014 Murray-led Cowboys did. The implication is that it's the O-line, not Murray, that most strongly impacts the running game; as Jones the Elder noted, "you're getting about the same number of yards with either back..."

Interesting, but those two guys required significant investment and both were performing up to those investments at the time and given their role. Pre-decline Barber and the best Felix we saw in Dallas may get you similar overall output, but they spent big money on Barber and a 1st on Felix to get it.

Dallas doesn't currently have a RB who's shown much of anything outside of occasional relief work, and may be counting on coming up with 2 backs who complement each other to the same degree that Barber and Felix and who can produce? Iffy, at best.

If you're worried about Murray's long term ability to produce that's one thing. Assuming you can get similar production from 2 yet-to-be named players because 2 other guys of significant investment did it at one point or another is a completely different story.

 

[Stash]

I think what we learned is there is not a single DE who is a day 1 starter for Dallas IMO. Too many DE's in college that are OLBs in the NFL. Most are all too light and have some issues vs the run. The closest ones might be Odighizuwa and Mario Edwards. But neither should be considered starters over a player like Spencer. A dark horse might be a player like Arik Armstead. He has the size and skills, but raw. And i dont think he makes it out of the top20 picks.

Not a single rookie DE, for sure. That's why it's imperative to fill that need in free agency if you want this team to contend for a championship in 2015.

It won't be cheap and it won't be easy because half of the league needs the help there and the other half is working hard to keep or tag the players they currently have.