News: DMN: Ranking the Dallas Cowboys roster, Nos. 10-1

[NewsBot]

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[DTown214]

Before I read this I made my own list and I had the exact same order except I had Lawrence at 10. So I guess you can say I agree with it.

 

[Floatyworm]

This right here is why we suck.....with evaluations like this...we will never get better.

Jason Witten, TE. Witten led the Cowboys with a team-high 77 receptions in his 13th NFL season. Last month he became only the second tight end in NFL history to catch 1,000 passes. Witten is currently 10th all-time with 1,020 receptions. "One of Wit's great strengths is he has an ability to do anything we ask him to do," Jason Garrett said. "He's a very good route runner. ... He makes a lot of little plays in the passing game. He's a good run blocker, but also a very good pass protector."

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

It's difficult to rank an entire NFL roster. It's far from an exact science. Try it some time. See how many times you move a player up three spots, only to move them back down five a few minutes later.
But it makes for good sports debate, so here's the final installment.

This ranking is a combination of a player's ability, what they've done recently in their career and their importance to the overall success of the franchise.

So here we go, round 6: numbers 10-1.

10.) Darren McFadden, RB. The fourth overall pick of the 2008 draft class turned in the second-best season of his career, rushing for 1,089 yards. McFadden opened the season as Joseph Randle's backup, but he ended up starting the final 10 games and finishing fourth in rushing behind only Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin and Todd Gurley. He was one of the few bright spots in a very disappointing season.

9.) Jason Witten, TE. Witten led the Cowboys with a team-high 77 receptions in his 13th NFL season. Last month he became only the second tight end in NFL history to catch 1,000 passes. Witten is currently 10th all-time with 1,020 receptions. "One of Wit's great strengths is he has an ability to do anything we ask him to do," Jason Garrett said. "He's a very good route runner. ... He makes a lot of little plays in the passing game. He's a good run blocker, but also a very good pass protector."

8.) DeMarcus Lawrence, DE. After not recording a sack during the regular season of his rookie year, Lawrence emerged as the Cowboys' top pass rusher in 2016. Lawrence led the team with eight sacks and was second with 31 QB pressures. Why did everything click in Year 2? Lawrence said he stopped thinking so much. "It was just me cutting it loose really," he said. "Just getting out there and just playing loose. It helped a lot."

7.) Dan Bailey, K. The most accurate kicker in NFL history was excellent again for the Cowboys, earning his first Pro Bowl invite. Bailey converted a career-high 93.8 percent of his kicks, including a perfect 19 for 19 from 39 yards or closer. He was 6 of 7 from 40 to 49 yards and 5 of 6 from 50-plus. "He's as prepared a player as we have on our football team," Jason Garrett said. "He's just a great football player."

6.) Sean Lee, LB. Moving Lee to weakside linebacker proved to be a wise decision by the Cowboys. After missing 31 games over the previous three seasons, Lee played in all but two in 2015, finishing with a career-high 156 tackles. He also led Dallas with 11 tackles-for-loss. Look for the Cowboys' defensive leader to remain on the weakside as long as Rod Marinelli is calling the team's defense.

5.) Travis Frederick, C. Frederick has started all 48 games over his his three seasons with the Cowboys. There was plenty of criticism when the Cowboys made the Wisconsin offensive lineman their first-round pick in 2013. Some didn't believe Frederick was worthy of being a first or second round pick. Fast-forward three years and he's headed to his second Pro Bowl.

4.) Zack Martin, RG. Another criticized pick at the time that has been a home run. Although Jerry Jones seems to enjoy recalling how he wanted Johnny Manziel in the first round of the 2014 draft, it's clear that Martin was the correct decision at No. 16 overall. In two seasons with the Cowboys, Martin has been named to two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.

3.) Tyron Smith, LT. One of the league's best offensive linemen was recently named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. The durable left tackle has only missed one game in his five NFL seasons. Good news for the Cowboys is that Smith is under contract through the 2023 season. So even after Tony Romo hangs up his helmet, his successor should be in good hands with Smith protecting his blindside.

2.) Dez Bryant, WR. It was obviously a disappointing season for 88. He broke his foot in the season opener and was never the same the rest of the season. Bryant played in only nine games, finishing with 31 receptions for 401 yards and three touchdowns. The players, coaching staff and front office will never blame injuries, but the reason the Cowboys were such a disaster in 2015 was because they were without their top two playmakers. If Bryant and Tony Romo were healthy, Dallas likely would have won the NFC East.

1.) Tony Romo, QB. There's no doubting that Romo is Dallas' most valuable player. When he was playing his best ball during the majority of the 2014 season, the Cowboys went 12-4 and won a playoff game. With Romo sidelined most of 2015 with a broken clavicle, the Cowboys went 4-12. Again in 2016, expect the Cowboys to go as Romo goes.

Click here for numbers 60 to 51.

Click here for numbers 50 to 41.

Click here for numbers 40 to 31.

Click here for numbers 30 to 21.

Click here for numbers 20 to 11.

Continue reading...

Witten is much too low. Lee is much too high.

 

[dallasdave]

Witten is much too low. Lee is much too high.

Glad Cassel was not on that list

 

[Doomsay]

Too many factors to consider, IMO. Just rank the players for how they graded out in their respective positions this season. Tony would have an incomplete, Dez perhaps as well. Bailey should be #1 followed by the good O Linemen, Lee, D Law McFadden, Hardy & Witten..

 

[big dog cowboy]

The players, coaching staff and front office will never blame injuries, but the reason the Cowboys were such a disaster in 2015 was because they were without their top two playmakers. If Bryant and Tony Romo were healthy, Dallas likely would have won the NFC East.

Exactly right. Yet some think we need to blow up our team and start over.

 

[Risen Star]

My top 10....

1. Tyron Smith
2. Tony Romo
3. Travis Frederick
4. Zack Martin
5. Sean Lee
6. La'el Collins
7. Dez Bryant
8. Demarcus Lawrence
9. Greg Hardy
10. Byron Jones

 

[Sydla]

Exactly right. Yet some think we need to blow up our team and start over.

Nah, just our coaching staff.

 

[tyke1doe]

Dez is not number 2.

I'm guessing if you asked 31 clubs who'd they choose between Tyron or Dez, 30 would likely say Tyron.

 

[fortdick]

My top 10....

1. Tyron Smith
2. Tony Romo
3. Travis Frederick
4. Zack Martin
5. Sean Lee
6. La'el Collins
7. Dez Bryant
8. Demarcus Lawrence
9. Greg Hardy
10. Byron Jones

This list is just crazy talk!