ESPN-Archer: Five issues from Cowboys preseason

[jobberone]

Five issues from Cowboys preseason
August, 30, 2013
AUG 30
1:15
PM ET
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- We gave you some of what we learned in the preseason, now we bring you the issues that remain as the Cowboys prepare for the regular season.

Who’s on the line? The Cowboys did not have any continuity on the offensive line going into last year and they will not have it this year. They aren’t even sure who will start the Sept. 8 opener against the New York Giants. All indications are that Doug Free will play right guard and Jermey Parnell will play right tackle, but that will depend on the health of Ronald Leary, who had knee surgery and has yet to play in a game in his career.


AP Photo/Gus RuelasJay Ratliff is going to miss at least the first six games of the season.

Defensive line depth: The Cowboys insisted the D-line was a position of strength all offseason, but Jay Ratliff is out at least the first six weeks, Tyrone Crawford is out for the year and Anthony Spencer is not 100 percent from July 25 knee surgery. The Cowboys ignored the position in the draft and it could come back to haunt them. It is possible the Cowboys will have three players who were not on the team when camp started as key reserves up front.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4713793/5-issues-from-cowboys-preseason

 

[jblaze2004]

yeah we ignored the dline in the draft (i wanted to draft a lineman DE or DT in the 2nd or 3rd). But i don't think we counted on crawford, spencer and ratliff being out already. I still wanted to go DE or DT if no good DE was available in the 2nd. I had a feeling we might go TE but I was hoping not in the second when we had more pressing needs. But the cowboys stuck to THEIR board so I guess we are going to have to see how this plays out.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I had a feeling we might go TE but I was hoping not in the second when we had more pressing needs.

You don't draft players with 3rd (or lower) round grades at 47 when you have higher rated players still available. That is what we faced.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

yeah we ignored the dline in the draft (i wanted to draft a lineman DE or DT in the 2nd or 3rd). But i don't think we counted on crawford, spencer and ratliff being out already. I still wanted to go DE or DT if no good DE was available in the 2nd. I had a feeling we might go TE but I was hoping not in the second when we had more pressing needs. But the cowboys stuck to THEIR board so I guess we are going to have to see how this plays out.

Yup, We'll have to see how it plays out.

Dallas had to pick their poison and determine which was more valuable, a d-lineman or o-lineman, in the draft. They went with o-lineman.

All off-season I have argued that Dallas needed an influx of youth on the d-line because their projected starting four was ready to collect Social Security. Now three out of the four are ailing and one is questionable for the first half of the season.

We can only hope that the defensive staff can work some magic with the backups or the season could get ugly again just like last year.

 

[CATCH17]

For every 5 issues the Cowboys have some other team has 5 or more as well.

No excuses . This team is ready to roll.

 

[jobberone]

No one denies the DL needs an influx of youth and talent. The problem was the D gave up 25 ppg last year but I think they believe that will improve significantly if the starters can stay healthy without throwing all resources at it. The offense has failed this team since the end of 2007 although you could argue 2011 was OK. That's why they went after improving the O over the D and esp looked at players who could not just help move the ball but improve RZ scoring and Scoring %. We'll see if they went the best way. In the end they also took the highest rated player although we'll need to wait a few years to see if that was the right decision.

Needs come and go and injuries magnify weaknesses and create new ones. They also create opportunity. So you draft for not just this year but down the line as well and try to compromise that with need yada. You want to grow to the point you don't have to draft much need and draft the best talent.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

yeah we ignored the dline in the draft (i wanted to draft a lineman DE or DT in the 2nd or 3rd). But i don't think we counted on crawford, spencer and ratliff being out already. I still wanted to go DE or DT if no good DE was available in the 2nd. I had a feeling we might go TE but I was hoping not in the second when we had more pressing needs. But the cowboys stuck to THEIR board so I guess we are going to have to see how this plays out.

Spence isn't a problem and they should have known Rat was iffy at best. The only unforeseen issue was Crawford going down. If that's all it takes to leave the DL in shambles then it really wasn't a position of strength.