Dallas offseason strategy

[dfense]

Not resigning:
1. Henry Melton - bone bruise may require microfracture surgery.
2. Rolando McClain - things got funny toward end even before concussion. Hitchens is your starter at MLB.
3. Doug Free - time to move on. Draft RT or FA. Not sold on Parnell also.
4. Anthony Spencer - gave us one good game against Lions...that was basically it.
5. George Selvie - gained weight during off season and didn't play with same fire.
6. Lance Dunbar - might be my biggest disappointment on offense this year.
7. Dwayne Harris - Fan of his but its time to move on to player with more speed.
8. Demarco Murray - difficult decision. This is contingent on Dallas drafting or bringing in RB who is good at picking up blitz. Defensive side needs his money. OL is already built for next RB.
9. Bruce Carter - I know he really came on at end but Dallas needs to rebuild DL so Carter and McClain are out (Lee, Hitchens, Durant are my LB starters in 2015).
10. Jeremy Parnell - when I watch him standing there on film I feel like I am looking at Hotel Adams but when play starts that comparisons ends quickly. Gets confused by blitzes and appears to have low football IQ.

Dallas should resign:
1. Ron Leary - big nasty guard who can pull has value in NFL. Was not mistake free but still young.
2. Cole Beasley - uncoverable on alot of plays. Is only going to get better.
3. Justin Durant - was co-MVP of defense before injury. Injury should lower asking price.
4. Sterling Moore - fierce competitor who should battle Claiborne to start (if we don't draft CB high).
5. Dez Bryant - just too freakish to let go. Franchise if price is unreasonable.

Dallas should release:
1. Mackenzy Bernadeau - $3 million for backup guard is just too much. That original contract was for him to be starter which he is not.
2. Brandon Carr - difficult decision as he had his best month as a cowboy. Still his price tag (almost $13 million for 2015) is outrageous. Doesn't create enough turnovers for steep price.

Restructuring:
1. Tony Romo
2. Tyron Smith

Dude, I don't think dumping half the team is a positive.

And Sterling Moore looked out of his league against the rookie Packer sunday.

 

[Cas2800]

My biggest concern for McClain is can he make it thru NFL season. Dallas has handcuffed themselves with MLBs who can't stay on field (Lee & McClain). Now some of this can be attributed to poor play at DT that is allowing OL to get to second level and punish LBs. You simply can't hand McClain a sizable contract. Ideally you sign him to friendly 2 year deal. Its going to be interesting to see what market price will be for McClain & Carter.

McClain never practiced. To me he seemed lazy and his heart wasnt in it 100%. In the past Garrett has hated players who dont practice. I think McClain is gone.

Also the OP wants to get rid of Free AND Parnell?? Yea so much for protecting Romo. Please tell me where you are going to get upgrades for cheap.

 

[CATCH17]

No way do you let Bruce Carter go.

I'd love to keep McClain as well but I want a very friendly contract with him.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Not resigning:
1. Henry Melton - bone bruise may require microfracture surgery.
2. Rolando McClain - things got funny toward end even before concussion. Hitchens is your starter at MLB.
3. Doug Free - time to move on. Draft RT or FA. Not sold on Parnell also.
4. Anthony Spencer - gave us one good game against Lions...that was basically it.
5. George Selvie - gained weight during off season and didn't play with same fire.
6. Lance Dunbar - might be my biggest disappointment on offense this year.
7. Dwayne Harris - Fan of his but its time to move on to player with more speed.
8. Demarco Murray - difficult decision. This is contingent on Dallas drafting or bringing in RB who is good at picking up blitz. Defensive side needs his money. OL is already built for next RB.
9. Bruce Carter - I know he really came on at end but Dallas needs to rebuild DL so Carter and McClain are out (Lee, Hitchens, Durant are my LB starters in 2015).
10. Jeremy Parnell - when I watch him standing there on film I feel like I am looking at Hotel Adams but when play starts that comparisons ends quickly. Gets confused by blitzes and appears to have low football IQ.

Dallas should resign:
1. Ron Leary - big nasty guard who can pull has value in NFL. Was not mistake free but still young.
2. Cole Beasley - uncoverable on alot of plays. Is only going to get better.
3. Justin Durant - was co-MVP of defense before injury. Injury should lower asking price.
4. Sterling Moore - fierce competitor who should battle Claiborne to start (if we don't draft CB high).
5. Dez Bryant - just too freakish to let go. Franchise if price is unreasonable.

Dallas should release:
1. Mackenzy Bernadeau - $3 million for backup guard is just too much. That original contract was for him to be starter which he is not.
2. Brandon Carr - difficult decision as he had his best month as a cowboy. Still his price tag (almost $13 million for 2015) is outrageous. Doesn't create enough turnovers for steep price.

Restructuring:
1. Tony Romo
2. Tyron Smith

Franchise Murray for one year.

 

[dupree89]

we need a proven back up QB, (not a rookie), any going to be available?

I would go get Matt Moore. This guy can handle things in short stretches. Obviously Sanchez is going to go someplace where he can compete to start. I would love it if they brought in Matt Moore, I think he is the next best QB available.

 

[xwalker]

.....

They need a free agent added to the DL. I prefer 1 top talent on the DL over multiple mid-level free agents added to the team.

They will need a free agent replacement if Carr is cut.

Not resigning:
1. Henry Melton - bone bruise may require microfracture surgery.
2. Rolando McClain - things got funny toward end even before concussion. Hitchens is your starter at MLB.
Only the team knows is something was going on with him. His price is probably much lower due to the way the season ended.

3. Doug Free - time to move on. Draft RT or FA. Not sold on Parnell also.
It would be dumb to let them both leave. They are both better than the vast majority of rookies, even high 1st round picks.

4. Anthony Spencer - gave us one good game against Lions...that was basically it.
He can come to camp as long as the money is not guaranteed.

5. George Selvie - gained weight during off season and didn't play with same fire.
6. Lance Dunbar - might be my biggest disappointment on offense this year.
He did fine when he got opportunities. RFA

7. Dwayne Harris - Fan of his but its time to move on to player with more speed.
He is a super special teams player even without being the returner.

8. Demarco Murray - difficult decision. This is contingent on Dallas drafting or bringing in RB who is good at picking up blitz. Defensive side needs his money. OL is already built for next RB.
Agree.

9. Bruce Carter - I know he really came on at end but Dallas needs to rebuild DL so Carter and McClain are out (Lee, Hitchens, Durant are my LB starters in 2015).
If the cost is low, then he can return.

10. Jeremy Parnell - when I watch him standing there on film I feel like I am looking at Hotel Adams but when play starts that comparisons ends quickly. Gets confused by blitzes and appears to have low football IQ.
You probably spend most of your time following the ball when watching the Cowboys. He has not had any more issues with the blitz or anything else than Free. Even Tyron had some problems at times. OLinemen will get beat on occasion. A big part of the problem with pressure was that Romo decided that he would take sacks over taking chances on INTs and Romo often held the ball too long. If you take out all of the pressure where Romo held the ball over 4 seconds, then the OLine looked quite good in Pass Pro this year.


Dallas should resign:
1. Ron Leary - big nasty guard who can pull has value in NFL. Was not mistake free but still young.
Yes, RFA.
2. Cole Beasley - uncoverable on alot of plays. Is only going to get better.
Yes, RFA.
3. Justin Durant - was co-MVP of defense before injury. Injury should lower asking price.
OK.
4. Sterling Moore - fierce competitor who should battle Claiborne to start (if we don't draft CB high).
Might be RFA despite being listed at UFA.
5. Dez Bryant - just too freakish to let go. Franchise if price is unreasonable.
Yes, the franchise tag guarantees that he returns for 2015.

Dallas should release:
1. Mackenzy Bernadeau - $3 million for backup guard is just too much. That original contract was for him to be starter which he is not.
He is only scheduled to make 1.5M in 2015. Anything over that number is the cap hit and that for money that has already been paid out. The cost to keep him is 1.5M.

2. Brandon Carr - difficult decision as he had his best month as a cowboy. Still his price tag (almost $13 million for 2015) is outrageous. Doesn't create enough turnovers for steep price.
The cost to keep him is 8M, the 13M is the unstructured cap hit. The 8M is too much. They free up 8M by making him a June 1st cut. They can probably get a better player for less than that 8M.

Restructuring:
1. Tony Romo
2. Tyron Smith
Yes. They could be in a situation where they only need the extra money to get past June 1st. Any remaining cap space can be forwarded to next season.

 

[xwalker]

Get rid of Demarco, Carr, and Jacques Reeves 2.0. Mo Clai

Claiborne's salary is guaranteed for 2015. He will be on the team.

 

[perrykemp]

No way do you let Bruce Carter go.

I'd love to keep McClain as well but I want a very friendly contract with him.

I just finished rewatching the game and while I don't the All-22 I can tell you that yesterday's game was not Bruce Carter's finest hour.

He was burned repeatedly on big passes to Quarless (TD) Cobb (out of the back field for a big first time) and really seemed to get blown back against the run vs Lacy and the Packers OL.

He looked a bit sluggish to me. I don't know if he was hurt or what, but I was surprised how uninspiring his play looked.

My uneducated $0.02 is Bruce Carter is pretty good when asked to run towards the ball but is subpar when manned up on LBs, RBs, etc.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Leary was getting worked yesterday.

 

[Nightman]

Leary was getting worked yesterday.

Continuity is important for an OL. I would try to bring everyone back. Either Parnell or Free for RT, whichever is a better deal. Leary is a RFA and no-brainer. Bring back Weems for depth. Cut Bern if they need the cap space(1.5m) and can draft a replacement.

 

[Frozen700]

Claiborne's salary is guaranteed for 2015. He will be on the team.

Sit him on the bench.

 

[manster4ever]

Id rather keep Carter then Durant. Durant played well VS the run at WILL but was a liability in coverage and was rather poor at SAM when he played there in 2013. Wilber was a better SAM in 2013 then Durrant

Me too...heck anyone with a decent football IQ would. BUT....I think the OP thinks Carter will just be too much to re-sign. Sadly, so do I. No question he's a keeper over Durant. But $$$$$$$ is the bugaboo.

 

[manster4ever]

Sit him on the bench.

Man, what a disaster that trade has turned out to be. He's just.......too soft.

 

[Frozen700]

Man, what a disaster that trade has turned out to be. He's just.......too soft.

Seriously.....that, and he loves to fondle and touch up on other men when he can't see the ball.

 

[Muhast]

I'll be honest -- until today I thought Sterling Moore was having a real fine season.

He picked an awful time to have his worst game of the season. Having said that, I saw Adams beat Oscan also and in general make most of the DBs look bad. He looks like the real deal.

Yep I really liked Moore's performance this year, he laid an egg yesterday.

 

[Nova]

I haven't started studying yet. But the philosophy should be to reallocate resources on defense.

You can't keep everyone, so you need to let some players go in exchange for getting a potential equivalent (or ideally better) piece on the DL.

Like... Don't pay Carter, pay someone else of his caliber that plays DL.

Way Easier said than done, but this has to be the idea.

Only untouchables (or players it just makes send to keep) on defense:
Scandrick
Hitchens
Crawford
Lawrence
(Lee)

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I had not heard that Melton may need microfracture surgery.

 

[BAT]

I just finished rewatching the game and while I don't the All-22 I can tell you that yesterday's game was not Bruce Carter's finest hour.

He was burned repeatedly on big passes to Quarless (TD) Cobb (out of the back field for a big first time) and really seemed to get blown back against the run vs Lacy and the Packers OL.

He looked a bit sluggish to me. I don't know if he was hurt or what, but I was surprised how uninspiring his play looked.

My uneducated $0.02 is Bruce Carter is pretty good when asked to run towards the ball but is subpar when manned up on LBs, RBs, etc.

He was playing hurt, and he does not play well hurt.

 

[MikeHoncho]

You are counting on Sean Lee. Really?

You will eat them words

 

[Irvin88_4life]

You are counting on Sean Lee. Really?

And Durant. .... both can't stay on the field.

Big mistake cutting Carter