LarryCanadian
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,815
- Reaction score
- 382
This happens to me almost every year, as the training camp reports start rolling in. And every year, I say "well this year things are different" when I make an optimistic post.................But, I think to a significant degree some things are different this year.
I just get the feeling we have a very nice mix of veterans and youth on this team. We still lack a couple very strong players that should have developed from the drafts of 3-6 years ago, but I think the team roster is improving significantly.
For a couple of examples:
This year we aren't desperate for a Gurode to be better than average at right guard. In fact, he is "competing" for starting center which may or may not just be a tool to motivate Al Johnson who has updside, but at worst is great news if Gurude truly feels comfortable there, because we have been one injury away from trouble at center for 5 years or so, and now we have the potential of having not just one developing one with upside but two good ones, both with different strengths. Heck we can give a guy a breather, we can put Gurode the road-grader in if we want some power and we put Johnson in if we want some pulling and more finesse. Options and depth and roleplaying all in one. Now this Gurode thing might be for competition purposes for Al Johnson and Tyson Walters, a shot at saving a draft pick, and the hype might be a confidence boost for Gurode, but I remember watching Gurode play that first half of his first year at center and didn't like it when he was moved to guard out of desperation. The guy hadn't played for a year before that if I remember correctly and got pretty good reviews for that first half of the season.
Kenyon Coleman and Kurt Vollers. I was at camp last year. Two guys that really physically stood out as significantly bigger and fitter than other players were these two guys. I watched 4 practices. Vollers ran better than any lineman and has a massive frame and Coleman looked strong and huge, both of them carry little to no fat particulary for their positions. Early minicamp and now camp reports indicate improvement. I'm not sure if either of these guys has the top notch football instincts, but, they sure make inexpensive backups with a tad of experience and are in those 3rd years where they could just have everything click for them. I think Vollers is gonna compete for right tackle and might hold the fort till or if Rogers or Petiti can knock him out. Tucker sounds like he has all the physical tools but isn't smart enough to be fit or instinctive enough to play at the level needed for this team to improve.
I see Coleman being a decent rotation guy/backup especially since the 3-4 fits him better. Ellis, Spears, Canty, Coleman at DE with Ware being the hybrid DE, but really taking a LB spot.
RB is another example. An emerging Star in Julius. A solid proven backup who isn't ancient in A Train. A talented multi purpose draft pick to groom in Barber, and a free agent with wheels who is creating talk already in Thompson. Hell keep all 4, that is 4 RB's, all with different strengths, and poor Bickerstaff moving to FB for a shot at roster.
CB, is obvious improvement with the additions of Henry and Glenn, that makes the guys who started last year out of necessity, the 4th and 5th guys that can still be groomed. Reeves who has shown some stuff, and Thornton who deserves a while yet to show his stuff. Instead of starting they are backing up. Depth with upside.
We will be cutting a few players this year that are NFL quality. That is a new feeling around Dallas I think, and I think it shows how improved the 53 man roster is. Oline in particular will be competitive this year.
LarryCanadian.
I just get the feeling we have a very nice mix of veterans and youth on this team. We still lack a couple very strong players that should have developed from the drafts of 3-6 years ago, but I think the team roster is improving significantly.
For a couple of examples:
This year we aren't desperate for a Gurode to be better than average at right guard. In fact, he is "competing" for starting center which may or may not just be a tool to motivate Al Johnson who has updside, but at worst is great news if Gurude truly feels comfortable there, because we have been one injury away from trouble at center for 5 years or so, and now we have the potential of having not just one developing one with upside but two good ones, both with different strengths. Heck we can give a guy a breather, we can put Gurode the road-grader in if we want some power and we put Johnson in if we want some pulling and more finesse. Options and depth and roleplaying all in one. Now this Gurode thing might be for competition purposes for Al Johnson and Tyson Walters, a shot at saving a draft pick, and the hype might be a confidence boost for Gurode, but I remember watching Gurode play that first half of his first year at center and didn't like it when he was moved to guard out of desperation. The guy hadn't played for a year before that if I remember correctly and got pretty good reviews for that first half of the season.
Kenyon Coleman and Kurt Vollers. I was at camp last year. Two guys that really physically stood out as significantly bigger and fitter than other players were these two guys. I watched 4 practices. Vollers ran better than any lineman and has a massive frame and Coleman looked strong and huge, both of them carry little to no fat particulary for their positions. Early minicamp and now camp reports indicate improvement. I'm not sure if either of these guys has the top notch football instincts, but, they sure make inexpensive backups with a tad of experience and are in those 3rd years where they could just have everything click for them. I think Vollers is gonna compete for right tackle and might hold the fort till or if Rogers or Petiti can knock him out. Tucker sounds like he has all the physical tools but isn't smart enough to be fit or instinctive enough to play at the level needed for this team to improve.
I see Coleman being a decent rotation guy/backup especially since the 3-4 fits him better. Ellis, Spears, Canty, Coleman at DE with Ware being the hybrid DE, but really taking a LB spot.
RB is another example. An emerging Star in Julius. A solid proven backup who isn't ancient in A Train. A talented multi purpose draft pick to groom in Barber, and a free agent with wheels who is creating talk already in Thompson. Hell keep all 4, that is 4 RB's, all with different strengths, and poor Bickerstaff moving to FB for a shot at roster.
CB, is obvious improvement with the additions of Henry and Glenn, that makes the guys who started last year out of necessity, the 4th and 5th guys that can still be groomed. Reeves who has shown some stuff, and Thornton who deserves a while yet to show his stuff. Instead of starting they are backing up. Depth with upside.
We will be cutting a few players this year that are NFL quality. That is a new feeling around Dallas I think, and I think it shows how improved the 53 man roster is. Oline in particular will be competitive this year.
LarryCanadian.
The the ZOne