DMN Blog: Cowboys focus on draft over free agency

[WoodysGirl]

8:51 AM Fri, Feb 26, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Executive vice president Stephen Jones characterizes the Cowboys approach to free agency this year as opportunistic rather than aggressive. If something makes sense _ and cents _ they will do it, but the club will not actively pursue a player once hunting season begins on March 5.

The Cowboys put their energy and resources into keeping the nucleus of this team intact so they didn't have to depend on free agency in this uncapped off-season.

"Obviously, we feel like we have a really good football team and don't have a lot of needs,'' Jones said. "We're not really losing anybody off what we believe is a really good football team.

"You've got places you'd always like to improve. When we analyzed the 2009 season, there were areas that we'd like to be better. But I certainly don't think that we have any type of needs that would get us to a point where we have to focus on a position, which normally leads to you having a hell of a draft.

"We'll take the best football player up there in most cases.''

 

[TheCount]

Oh boy, this is what we heard last year when we ended up drafting 60 backups. No needs.

Well we won a playoff game, so I guess we could use a few more special team players and I.R. fodder.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Hmm.... Interesting, this team has holes.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

Hmm.... Interesting, this team has holes.

Dont want to show their cards....yet.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Stephen Jones expects 'hell of a draft'
February, 25, 2010 Feb 255:56PM CT

By Tim MacMahon

INDIANAPOLIS -- An afternoon of searching for Stephen Jones ended with the Valley Ranch media mini-contingent chatting with the Cowboys executive vice president on the team's luxury bus.

Jones, who will be joined by father Jerry Jones and head coach Wade Phillips at the scouting combine Friday, said this weekend marks the time when the team's brass really starts studying the draft.

What Jones does know about this draft, based on conversations with scouting director Tom Ciskowski, is that it's deep due to a large number of early entrants. The Cowboys' scouting department already has a preliminary draft board, but it hasn't completed player grades yet.

Jones acknowledged that the Cowboys have certain position needs, but none so glaring that they will dictate their early-round picks.

"We’re not really losing anybody off what we believe is a really good football team," Jones said. "You’ve got places you’d always like to improve. When we analyzed the 2009 season, there were areas that we’d like to be better. But I certainly don’t think that we have any type of needs that would get us to a point where we have to focus on a position, which normally leads to you having a hell of a draft. We’ll take the best football player up there in most cases."

Much, much more coming from the Cowboys' second in charge throughout the next couple of days.

 

[Four]

out of curiosity, did the players who were drafted play on special teams?

I know our special teams were much better, so was that all the coaching or did any of those rookies play on special teams? I know the buehler did, what about the other guys?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Oh boy, this is what we heard last year when we ended up drafting 60 backups.

Interesting take. I still loved last years draft.

 

[sonnyboy]

Oh boy, this is what we heard last year when we ended up drafting 60 backups. No needs.

Well we won a playoff game, so I guess we could use a few more special team players and I.R. fodder.

So much for your name.

You think the Cowboys were drafting to fill the IR?

The 2009 draft may turn out to be a very good one....time will tell.

One thing is safe to say about that draft just on the surface of it.....it does look like they truely went after BPA. Now well see if their board was worth the paper they used.

OMT When you go volume as they did in 2009, it does make it easier to trade up and go quality the following year.

 

[Stash]

Interesting take. I still loved last years draft.

Honest question:

What did you love about it?

 

[dbair1967]

Oh boy, this is what we heard last year when we ended up drafting 60 backups. No needs.

Well we won a playoff game, so I guess we could use a few more special team players and I.R. fodder.

Its a talented team, how many first year starters did you expect we'd draft?

 

[Stash]

Its a talented team, how many first year starters did you expect we'd draft?

'Starters'? How about simply 'contributors'?

 

[Achozen]

Honest question:

What did you love about it?

Teh Beelerrrz.

 

[TheCount]

Interesting take. I still loved last years draft.

The jury is still out for me. I like a few players to contribute this year.

So much for your name.

You think the Cowboys were drafting to fill the IR?

The 2009 draft may turn out to be a very good one....time will tell.

One thing is safe to say about that draft just on the surface of it.....it does look like they truely went after BPA. Now well see if their board was worth the paper they used.

OMT When you go volume as they did in 2009, it does make it easier to trade up and go quality the following year.

You need a better sense of humor.

I don't think they went after BPA last year, really. Seems to me they knew who they wanted and just got those guys, which is a good thing, I suppose.

 

[superpunk]

Well we won a playoff game, so I guess we could use a few more special team players and I.R. fodder.

wat .

 

[burmafrd]

Last years draft was weak at the top. Everyone knew that. Jerruh and company decided that with a fairly late second rd pick as the best they had it was better to trade down and go for potential and projects.

 

[dbair1967]

'Starters'? How about simply 'contributors'?

Too many injuries.

Some guys did contribute though. Buehler's addition was a big positive. Ogletree played a decent amount and clearly has a role for the future. Butler some.

 

[Screw The Hall]

The verdict is still out on last year's draft but I am very hopeful especially at the LB position. I think the best player out of it could very well be Brandon Williams before it's all said and done, I'm very high on that kid.

When you add in Butler and Jason Williams I think there's a lot to be excited about as far as added depth and potential starters down the road in our LBing core.

 

[AdamJT13]

out of curiosity, did the players who were drafted play on special teams?

I know our special teams were much better, so was that all the coaching or did any of those rookies play on special teams? I know the buehler did, what about the other guys?

Official playing time:

Jason Williams -- 76 snaps on special teams
Victor Butler -- 287 snaps on special teams
Michael Hamlin -- 78 snaps on special teams
David Buehler -- 121 snaps on special teams
John Phillips -- 271 snaps on special teams

 

[Bob Sacamano]

out of curiosity, did the players who were drafted play on special teams?

I know our special teams were much better, so was that all the coaching or did any of those rookies play on special teams? I know the buehler did, what about the other guys?

Victor Butler. Jason Williams for a few games. Ogletree late, remember him knocking Victor Macho Harris on his head? That's all that I can recall. I think I may have caught a glimpse of John Phillips on some kick-coverage units.

edit: oops, you said drafted players.

 

[Stash]

Too many injuries.

Some guys did contribute though. Buehler's addition was a big positive. Ogletree played a decent amount and clearly has a role for the future. Butler some.

Yeah, we can't really criticize them for injuries. They played a huge role.

Buehler was a key weapon for special teams units, no doubt.

I don't count Ogletree in the list because he wasn't actually drafted. But kudos to the scouts (and likely John Garrett) for getting him.

I can't think of a team that's done a better job in the undrafted free agent market than the Cowboys have.

On the negative side, I still regret the team not being proactive enough in going after Max Unger last season. That would be one less hole to have to fill this season.

Taking the positive approach, I look forward to reaping the rewards of two drafts worth of young players in 2010.