DMN: Cowboys coach Jason Garrett dishes on free-agent acquisitions, changes on defense and new play

[TheSport78]

Oh, Garrett is excited about Mincey and McClain? I feel so much better about the DL now.

 

[OhSnap]

I'm not a huge Melton fan (220lbs with my pockets empty) but he is one of those interesting players that you wanna see break into the secondary against the giants and watch their safeties crack their collarbones and dislocate their fingers trying to get him down. Plus I found an old article with some of his old tweets that sounded pretty funny.

 

[Rockport]

The mistake lies in thinking that we have the same DL returning from last year. Including the 3 players signed in free agency we have 2 more coming back from IR which is 5 players that were not a part of the "scrubs" we trotted out there last year. Jerry'esque would be drafting players because we need DL. We need good players, especially at FS, LB, OG and DL and to me which order they come in is insignificant you take the best player available. Add that with the confidence I have in Marinelli to find his type of Lineman in the later rounds. I stand by my original post, the addition of the defensive lineman in free agency softens our need to address the defensive line early in the draft.

I stand by my assessment that adding 2 scrubs and a player recently coming off a torn ACL does very little to improve the 3rd worst NFL defense of all time. Let's wait and see what the draft offers up. I hope they focus on both the defensive and offensive lines early in the draft as that's where championship teams are built.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Maybe the DL is in better shape predraft than we're giving it credit for???

Nope. We have the worst DL in NFL history. Ever. I read it here first.

 

[4lifecowboy]

Never did I state that we didn't need more lineman, defensive or offensive. I just stated the addition of DL in free agency has made the need to draft DL exclusively in the first few rounds less of a priority. To ignore good players at other positions because we have a perceived "need" is the philosophy that keeps us in mediocrity. That's "Jerry'esque"

 

[xwalker]

He's gonna be 31.

Why not develop someone who can actually play a couple years if he's going to pan out.

I think they are just taking a free look at Weeden to see if he can replace Orton which was be a net savings of 2.75M.

 

[waving monkey]

It really is, and it softens the need to go DL heavy early in the draft. Unless Donald falls in our lap, I really believe another position(s) will be our first and possibly second round picks. Look at Marinelli's history he prides himself at finding rushman in later rounds.

4life here if I may, i must disagree. Our defensive line was as bad as were the offensive line was two years before .
We must rebuild almost from scratch. Three defensive lineman at least. Early,middle and late.

 

[waving monkey]

This is an exceptional year where need trumps value.

 

[skinsscalper]

I think they are just taking a free look at Weeden to see if he can replace Orton which was be a net savings of 2.75M.

Which, if what was rumored as Orton wanting to retire is true, I think would suit Orton just fine. He doesn't have to "retire" and pay back any bonus money and he gets what (emphasis on rumored) he wanted in the first place.

 

[xwalker]

The mistake lies in thinking that we have the same DL returning from last year. Including the 3 players signed in free agency we have 2 more coming back from IR which is 5 players that were not a part of the "scrubs" we trotted out there last year. Jerry'esque would be drafting players because we need DL. We need good players, especially at FS, LB, OG and DL and to me which order they come in is insignificant you take the best player available. Add that with the confidence I have in Marinelli to find his type of Lineman in the later rounds. I stand by my original post, the addition of the defensive lineman in free agency softens our need to address the defensive line early in the draft.

They had 2 problems last season.

1. Lack of talent due to replacing injured starters with street free agents.

2. Lack of cohesion from too many new players that were not in training camp coupled with a new scheme for everyone on defense.

Even if they only marginally upgrade the talent, solving issue 2 is very important. They need to play with the players that are on the team in the off-season and during training camp.

 

[xwalker]

Which, if what was rumored as Orton wanting to retire is true, I think would suit Orton just fine. He doesn't have to "retire" and pay back any bonus money and he gets what (emphasis on rumored) he wanted in the first place.

Good point.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Weeden is a developmental guy?

A 31 yr old developmental QB.....................LMAO

 

[Beast_from_East]

I am so relieved that the guy who has never coached one down of defense in his entire life is going to be telling Marinelli how to "play better defense".


LMAO...............sorry, hard to get a straight face reading how our offensive guru is going to be spending all his time with the defense "in training camp, in preseason, and in the regular season" because we have to play better defense!!!

Apparently Garrett doesn't think Marinelli can get the job done without his oversight and mentoring............"Hey Rod, I don't think that blitz package is designed right, let me draw it up for you"

 

[casmith07]

Maybe the DL is in better shape predraft than we're giving it credit for???

Preposterous! This is the worst free agency acquisition period in the history of professional athletics!!!!

 

[4lifecowboy]

This is an exceptional year where need trumps value.

There is no such year, needs should never trump value. Good drafting is finding good value.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I give McClain and Mincey a big ?.

I don't consider either guy a quality starter nor the equivalent of type of lineman the Cowboys trotted out there last outside of Hatcher, Ware and to a lesser extent Selvie.

I would be thrilled if Mincie could play 300 snaps this year and contribute 4 sacks.

If McClain could play 400 snaps as a #1 technique DT and contribute a couple sacks and 10 pressures he would be a welcome addition.

 

[waving monkey]

There is no such year, needs should never trump value. Good drafting is finding good value.

we differ

 

[ShiningStar]

Nope. We have the worst DL in NFL history. Ever. I read it here first.

oh stop it, they proved they were the worst, they havent even proven they are decent with the new signings. I know year to year you think a wand is waved and magically the team gets better. Well if last year didnt teach you, nothing will. But for the heck of it, lets just try the ol "wait and see approach " before even thinking of mocking people who dont drink the kool aid.

 

[big dog cowboy]

But for the heck of it, lets just try the ol "wait and see approach " before even thinking of mocking people who dont drink the kool aid.

Well, it wasn't mocking because I believe what he said. Perhaps I should have included the rolled eyes thingy next time.

 

[Doomsday101]

Oh, Garrett is excited about Mincey and McClain? I feel so much better about the DL now.

I feel better that they will be with Marinelli who showed even with a lack of talent he could get them to play hard. I think Marinelli will get the best out of Mincey and McClain while neither are stars they can be solid addition to the defense