DMN JJT Blog: More Senior Bowl (Vanderjagt and Hoffman) and Palmer

[WoodysGirl]

More Senior Bowl name dropping


• The agent for Indianapolis kicker Matt Vanderjagt sidled up to Stephen Jones yesterday at the Senior Bowl and talked about how much "The Idiot Kicker" would like to play for the Cowboys for a rate of much more than $1 million per season. Stephen was cordial but non-committal. The Joneses, however, have been adamant about not spending that much for a kicker.

• Speaking of kicking, former Cowboys assistant Steve Hoffman is in the house. Hoffman has been networking and trying to get college and pro teams to hire him as a kicking consultant. He's had some success.

• Talked to a couple of agents yesterday who said first-round picks are demanding between $100,000 and $150,000 to represent them. It is not a loan. It's a signing bonus for allowing the agents to negotiate their multi-million dollar deals.

• Nick Saban is 5-5. OK, he's 5-7 at the most.


Posted by Jean-Jacques Taylor http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 10:18 AM (E-mail this entry)
Chris Palmer


His reputation is OK. But the best thing you can say about Chris Palmer as it relates to the Cowboys is that coach Bill Parcells trusts him.

All I know is that he didn't seem to make quarterbacks Tim Couch or David Carr better. I'm also leery of the man who picked Couch over Donovan McNabb.

It would also scare me that he couldn't figure out how to get a mobile quarterback like David Carr protected. It makes me wonder how he's going to get Drew Bledsoe protected.

Posted by Jean-Jacques Taylor http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 10:03 AM (E-mail this entry)

 

[RCowboyFan]

It would also scare me that he couldn't figure out how to get a mobile quarterback like David Carr protected. It makes me wonder how he's going to get Drew Bledsoe protected.

Yeah, it would be concern, but I doubt he will be the incharge of offense anyway. It will be Parcells offense and it will be under his control.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

The agent for Indianapolis kicker Matt Vanderjagt sidled up to Stephen Jones yesterday at the Senior Bowl and talked about how much "The Idiot Kicker" would like to play for the Cowboys for a rate of much more than $1 million per season. Stephen was cordial but non-committal. The Joneses, however, have been adamant about not spending that much for a kicker.

I believe Jeff Robinson had a salary not too far from that number and was ultimately cut because of it. I think this guy's perfomances really warrant that type of money. Would greatly increase this teams' chances of winning and would go hand and hand with the way Parcells likes to win.

Chris Palmer


His reputation is OK. But the best thing you can say about Chris Palmer as it relates to the Cowboys is that coach Bill Parcells trusts him.

Couch was considered the safer pick at the time as Mcnabb was very unpolished and was even booed on draft day by Eagles' fans. People draft players they are familiar with and Couch's play was very familiar to him. Besides, Carmen Policy probably had alot to do with that pick too.

All I know is that he didn't seem to make quarterbacks Tim Couch or David Carr better. I'm also leery of the man who picked Couch over Donovan McNabb.

True. One of the knocks on Palmer is that he doesnt adjust his game plan and style according to the players he has on the field. His passing style, which requires and accurate QB and time to make reads is not very successful when you have a bad offensive line.

It would also scare me that he couldn't figure out how to get a mobile quarterback like David Carr protected. It makes me wonder how he's going to get Drew Bledsoe protected.

I agree with that assessment, which means the offensive line has to be a priority in the offseason. Palmer cut his teeth on his relationship with quarterbacks, grooming them.

 

[austintodallas]

It would also scare me that he couldn't figure out how to get a mobile quarterback like David Carr protected. It makes me wonder how he's going to get Drew Bledsoe protected.

Umm, lets see... gee, I don't know...upgrade the offensive line maybe?

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

All I know is that he (Palner) didn't seem to make quarterbacks Tim Couch or David Carr better.

It would also scare me that he couldn't figure out how to get a mobile quarterback like David Carr protected. It makes me wonder how he's going to get Drew Bledsoe protected.

JJT makes two valid points here. To the first point, does this say more about Couch and Carr or Palmer? If the lack of QB development has more to do with Palmer then I'd be weary of him coming here given the status of Romo and Hensen.

To the second point, this is a concern. I think I read somewhere that Plamer's offense uses a zone-blocking scheme - something that failed miserably here under Chan Gailey. Larry Allen was with Gailey then and he floundered in that scheme. Wasn't Flo with Gailey then also? Can our other O-linemen handle zone blocking duties?

Also, what does this say about our OL coach? Will Sporano stay in that role? He only has one year's of experience there and that involved coaching an underachieving OL. Is it wise to have an underachieving OL learn a new blocking scheme, and have it coached by someone who knows nothing about it? Food for thought!

**

 

[WoodysGirl]

To the second point, this is a concern. I think I read somewhere that Plamer's offense uses a zone-blocking scheme - something that failed miserably here under Chan Gailey. Larry Allen was with Gailey then and he floundered in that scheme. Wasn't Flo with Gailey then also? Can our other O-linemen handle zone blocking duties?

**

Well on the Zone blocking thing. It wasn't part of the original OL scheme when Houston first arrived. I believe that's something they've tried to implement in the last two years.

It wasn't the scheme it was the talent. Pure and simple.

Kubiak is expected to bring the Denver zone blocking scheme w/him to Houston. So we'll see how effective it'll be if the OL play doesn't improve.

 

[wileedog]

JJT makes two valid points here. To the first point, does this say more about Couch and Carr or Palmer? If the lack of QB development has more to do with Palmer then I'd be weary of him coming here given the status of Romo and Hensen.

Couch hasn't resurfaced anywhere, so I'm more inclined to believe he was simply a bust rather than he couldn't be coached. Jury is still out on Carr, but when you get sacked 7 times a game I'm not sure how anyone could expect any sort of development.

To the second point, this is a concern. I think I read somewhere that Plamer's offense uses a zone-blocking scheme - something that failed miserably here under Chan Gailey. Larry Allen was with Gailey then and he floundered in that scheme. Wasn't Flo with Gailey then also? Can our other O-linemen handle zone blocking duties?

Actually IIRC we tried it with Coslet under Campo.

Keep in mind besides Flo and Allen, we had guys like Soloman Page, Javier Collins, Matt Lehr and Tyson Walter all getting significant playing time. You could argue that the Coslet lines were worse from a talent perspective than this years bunch. If you can't block, you can't block - doesn't matter what system you're in.

That said, Larry hated it, and I'm pretty sure most of the others guys followed his lead and never really bought into the system. However I think Larry is potentially gone this season, certainly next, and I would bet guys like Al Johnson and Rivera would potentially thrive in a zone blocking scheme.

Does anyone know if Parcells has a history with it? I would assume he would like a more man-to-man scheme, but he also likes smarter, more athletic lineman.

 

[vicjagger]

Coslet under Campo.

Now that's both a scary thought and a painful memory.

"4th & 1? I don't have a play for 4th & 1."

 

[Alexander]

The agent for Indianapolis kicker Matt Vanderjagt sidled up to Stephen Jones yesterday at the Senior Bowl and talked about how much "The Idiot Kicker" would like to play for the Cowboys for a rate of much more than $1 million per season. Stephen was cordial but non-committal. The Joneses, however, have been adamant about not spending that much for a kicker.

I would take others over this player. He has shown he has an ego and a kicker with an ego is not really a good thing.

If his reaction to Jose Cortez is any indication, Larry Allen would kill him.

Besides, poor kickoffs are a no-no in Coach Parcells' book and the Colts removed him from those duties.

 

[alancdc]

If this year tought us anything to me it was that in todays NFL where every team is pretty equal you MUST have a kicker that wins you close games. How many important kicks did we miss this year from INSIDE 40 YARDS. We have to go get a kicker, and if that means that we have to pay to do it.... So be it, if not, we will be sitting here next year watching teams that we should have beaten like Seattle, Denver & bailed out against the Panthers make deep runs in the playoffs.

 

[Alexander]

If this year tought us anything to me it was that in todays NFL where every team is pretty equal you MUST have a kicker that wins you close games. How many important kicks did we miss this year from INSIDE 40 YARDS. We have to go get a kicker, and if that means that we have to pay to do it.... So be it, if not, we will be sitting here next year watching teams that we should have beaten like Seattle, Denver & bailed out against the Panthers make deep runs in the playoffs.

How is getting a kicker so crucial to our success?

How about scoring more TDs so we don't have to depend on a kicker?

You saw too many instances where even the well-paid ones made errors that cost their teams football games. Vanderjagt included. Vinateri had a costly miss against Denver. It happened all season long.

You should have perhaps two to three games tops each year that come down to a crucial FG kick to win. If it is more than that, you are probably doing something wrong or simply aren't good enough yet. Nobody makes a living playing games close and on the edge like that. You could sneak a playoff appearance, but champions rise above that. Everyone looks at the Patriots, but they did not have over half their wins or losses decided by slim margins like that on a consistent basis. They just happened to have the close wins in the high profile games.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Senior Bowl quick hits


• Talked to DeMarcus Ware's agent, Pat Dye, Jr., about the linebacker's rookie year. He said the Cowboys probably asked Ware to do a little too much last year instead of focusing solely on him chasing quarterbacks.

Dye is also Dexter Coakley's agent. He said the former Cowboys linebacker is recovering from the dislocated ankle he suffered at the end of last season and wants to play in 2006.

• Jimmy Sexton, Bill Parcells' agent, spends most of his time on the phone.

Posted by Jean-Jacques Taylor http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 12:06 PM (E-mail this entry)

 

[junk]

Senior Bowl quick hits


• Jimmy Sexton, Bill Parcells' agent, spends most of his time on the phone.

JJT is knocking them out of the park this week.

Reminds me of the movie Billy Madison.

"Billy likes to drink milk."

"Miss Lippy drives a green car."

 

[Kittymama]

More Senior Bowl name dropping


• The agent for Indianapolis kicker Matt Vanderjagt sidled up to Stephen Jones yesterday at the Senior Bowl and talked about how much "The Idiot Kicker" would like to play for the Cowboys for a rate of much more than $1 million per season. Stephen was cordial but non-committal. The Joneses, however, have been adamant about not spending that much for a kicker.

Can we emblazon that quote somewhere on this site? So that the next time people are howling as to "why doesn't Bill sign a kicker who can kick"--well, guess what? The GENERAL MANAGER (which Jerry is) doesn't want to pay for one. So, that leaves kickers like Billy the Kid or Cortez.

 

[Alexander]

Can we emblazon that quote somewhere on this site? So that the next time people are howling as to "why doesn't Bill sign a kicker who can kick"--well, guess what? The GENERAL MANAGER (which Jerry is) doesn't want to pay for one. So, that leaves kickers like Billy the Kid or Cortez.

I have never seen much of an indication that Parcells is inclined to spend much on a kicker either. It isn't just something you can blame on Jerry Jones.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

• Talked to a couple of agents yesterday who said first-round picks are demanding between $100,000 and $150,000 to represent them. It is not a loan. It's a signing bonus for allowing the agents to negotiate their multi-million dollar deals.

Wow.....I did not realize these players are getting in bidding wars with agents! Is this true?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Can we emblazon that quote somewhere on this site? So that the next time people are howling as to "why doesn't Bill sign a kicker who can kick"--well, guess what? The GENERAL MANAGER (which Jerry is) doesn't want to pay for one. So, that leaves kickers like Billy the Kid or Cortez.

:laugh2: Like clockwork.

 

[Bach]

I have never seen much of an indication that Parcells is inclined to spend much on a kicker either. It isn't just something you can blame on Jerry Jones.

True, but Jones is a proven idiot, at least when it comes to football matters.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Can we emblazon that quote somewhere on this site? So that the next time people are howling as to "why doesn't Bill sign a kicker who can kick"--well, guess what? The GENERAL MANAGER (which Jerry is) doesn't want to pay for one. So, that leaves kickers like Billy the Kid or Cortez.

and the only reason Hoffman was ever employed by an NFL team

I'm telling you, we were cheap at the K position well before Parcells arrived

 

[Bob Sacamano]

It isn't just something you can blame on Jerry Jones.

yes it is, we've been cheap for years at K