ESPN Mosley: Cowboys like the look of DE Tyson Jackson

[Alexander]

What makes you think RW will be on the open market in a few months? I'm curious? Or was this a throw away line?

He is referring to the trade itself. We traded a first and third round choice for a player last year who would be on the open market in a couple of weeks.

 

[Woods]

One player in this year's draft who intrigues me is Sammie Hill from Stillman.

He's got massive size, and I think he may be able to rotate along the DL eventually.

We should be able to get him around the 4th round, I think.

 

[Stash]

I don't think he is saying any of them are huge losses. But the defensive line is going to be a very real need soon if Canty leaves. Since we are unlikely to make a big FA signing like Olshansky, we will need to secure a starter. And no, I do not believe Hatcher is capable.

Regardless of who we draft at 51, we will have to get fortunate with a quality starting type picking that late. That is where the Roy Williams trade hurts, regardless if he is going to actually start producing or not.

I guess my feeling is that 3-4 DE's aren't that high on my priority list. The playmaking 3-4 end is rare - especially here in Dallas!

In my opinion, the smarter move would be to get a true NT and move Ratliff to DE.

I think he would be a significant upgrade over Canty there.

 

[wileedog]

In my opinion, the smarter move would be to get a true NT and move Ratliff to DE.

I think he would be a significant upgrade over Canty there.

I agree with that, plus I think most 'rumors' that come out of the combine are smoke at this point.

 

[theogt]

In my opinion, the smarter move would be to get a true NT and move Ratliff to DE.

I think he would be a significant upgrade over Canty there.

Edge pressure comes from the OLBs. We need to keep the pressure up the middle that we were able to obtain last year and moving Ratliff outside would destroy that.

We led the league in sacks. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Stash]

Edge pressure comes from the OLBs. We need to keep the pressure up the middle that we were able to obtain last year and moving Ratliff outside would destroy that.

We led the league in sacks. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I wasn't speaking strictly about pressure, but I think Ratliff would provide more than Canty did, especially facing more single blocking.

But I also think having a true nose tackle would help in run defense as well.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Who out of that list would you consider a big loss?

Bowen is a journeyman restricted free agent who I think will be back.

The Cowboys will happily let Tank Johnson leave, the guy talked more than he ever produced.

And Canty is a solid player, but hardly a world-beater. And he's definitely not worth his reported asking price.

I'd like to see the team draft a true NT type in Brace and move Ratliff to DE to replace Canty. I see that as a net gain up front.

None of them are huge losses. It still doesn't change the fact that we have possibly 3 roster spots to fill, including one starting position, with not many resources available to fill them with.

Moving Ratliff to DE just means the Cowboys have to find two noseguards this offseason instead of just 1. 1 starting caliber NT (good luck) and one backup.

Brace is a nice idea, until you realize he probably doesn't last to 51. Then what? Just reach for whatever NT is next on the board, even if he's a projected 4th rounder, and hope and pray he's ready to play as a rookie?

 

[tunahelper]

if the cowboys do this,this is why they are dumb, when canty got hurt, the defense suffered, now your talking about using a top draft pick on a position that takes 2 to 3 years to learn, and you could have signed canty and used that top pick on a need,

we need more help at offensive line, safety and linebacker, not at defensive end

and most likely a young speedy wr and punt returner

When did Canty get hurt? He hasnt missed a game due to injury.

 

[AbeBeta]

I'm sick of LSU products that don't pan out

We've got two pretty good ones on D.

 

[speedkilz88]

There are probably 30+ players they would love to pick at 51. I really don't think its wise to draft 3-4 ends that high. You should be able to find capable DL to stop the run without using your premium picks.

 

[Stash]

None of them are huge losses. It still doesn't change the fact that we have possibly 3 roster spots to fill, including one starting position, with not many resources available to fill them with.

Moving Ratliff to DE just means the Cowboys have to find two noseguards this offseason instead of just 1. 1 starting caliber NT (good luck) and one backup.

Brace is a nice idea, until you realize he probably doesn't last to 51. Then what? Just reach for whatever NT is next on the board, even if he's a projected 4th rounder, and hope and pray he's ready to play as a rookie?

They'd need to get a starter for sure, but Ratliff would still be a rotational option at NT too.

And don't get me wrong, the team does need to restock up-front, but I'm not crazy about using their top pick for a 3-4 DE.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Who out of that list would you consider a big loss?

Bowen is a journeyman restricted free agent who I think will be back.

The Cowboys will happily let Tank Johnson leave, the guy talked more than he ever produced.

And Canty is a solid player, but hardly a world-beater. And he's definitely not worth his reported asking price.

I'd like to see the team draft a true NT type in Brace and move Ratliff to DE to replace Canty. I see that as a net gain up front.

I think you're right on that. I'd look for Brace at #51 and Ratliff moving to DE.

 

[NextGenBoys]

With Canty on the way out the door, Tank already gone and Bowen a possible RFA defection, the Cowboys are going to have to replace 3 of their 6 defensive linemen from last year's roster. I don't see how anyone could say DL isn't a need. Is there another area on the team where we're having to replace half of the players from last year's roster?

This is why the 2007 playoff loss to the Giants was such a killer. The sweet spot of opportunity doesn't stick around long. Pretty soon the holes start opening up faster than you can fill them. Then again, it doesn't help filling holes when you give away a 1st and a 3rd for a WR who is going to be on the open market in a few months anyway.

Which is why I say that trade was made for a Super Bowl run this past season.

Needless to say, it failed miserably.

 

[TNCowboy]

With Canty on the way out the door, Tank already gone and Bowen a possible RFA defection, the Cowboys are going to have to replace 3 of their 6 defensive linemen from last year's roster. I don't see how anyone could say DL isn't a need. Is there another area on the team where we're having to replace half of the players from last year's roster?

This is why the 2007 playoff loss to the Giants was such a killer. The sweet spot of opportunity doesn't stick around long. Pretty soon the holes start opening up faster than you can fill them. Then again, it doesn't help filling holes when you give away a 1st and a 3rd for a WR who is going to be on the open market in a few months anyway.

Dead on.

 

[AKATheRake]

They're just showing Canty and his agent there is just another option if need be. The perception out there is this:

1) Cowboys can keep Canty for the right price

If not;

2) Igor Olshansky is an option

3) Getting a NT via free agency or the draft andmoving Raltiff to DE is an option

4) Drafting Tyler Jackson fromLSU is an option

Really, the 2 best ones are keepng Canty or getting a guy like Haynesworth (cap crunching) andmoving Ratliff to DE. But in negotiations you have to garner as much of the leverage as possible and that's done by having themost options in this case.

 

[TNCowboy]

I think DL & OL are our most pressing player personnel needs (our most pressing need period is for a new GM, but I digress). Jimmy Johnson said years ago that he believed first in finding a QB, then building a pass-rushing DL, and then your OL. Everything else is secondary to those 3 areas.

As IR said, we may lose 3 of our 6 DL. We may very well need to sign a couple of cheap guys plus draft someone. I wouldn't be surprised to see Parcells get Bowen, since we can't really protect him. And given salary demands, bringing back Canty isn't even an option. People scoff at losing Bowen, but he's not a bad player. I love the idea of getting Brace and moving Ratliff to DE. Problem is, as promising as Brace may look, there's always the possibility he can't play, and you'd be stuck, having built your offseason plan on the notion he can start for you.

OL is also a pressing need, whether anyone believes it or not. Our starting OL will all be 30+. Having your OL play most of the season unhurt is the exception, rather than the rule. Last year wasn't an aberration. One or more of them will likely miss significant time due to injury in '09, and it appears we have one decent backup guard and that's it; the rest of the guys are evidently not NFL-caliber players. We desperately need to not only find someone who can be a solid backup, but also need someone to replace Flozell. He's a ticking time bomb at LT. He's old, doesn't take great care of himself, and if he gets hurt, we apparently don't have anyone we trust out there anymore than they do Flo with one arm.

 

[TNCowboy]

They're just showing Canty and his agent there is just another option if need be. The perception out there is this:

1) Cowboys can keep Canty for the right price

If not;

2) Igor Olshansky is an option

3) Getting a NT via free agency or the draft andmoving Raltiff to DE is an option

4) Drafting Tyler Jackson fromLSU is an option

Really, the 2 best ones are keepng Canty or getting a guy like Haynesworth (cap crunching) andmoving Ratliff to DE. But in negotiations you have to garner as much of the leverage as possible and that's done by having themost options in this case.

Giving Canty a huge contract would be ridiculous. He's yet to prove he's anything more than an average player.

Good teams draft replacements, plug them in, and let teams like Dallas overpay for their mediocre free agents.

 

[jazzcat22]

if the cowboys do this,this is why they are dumb, when canty got hurt, the defense suffered, now your talking about using a top draft pick on a position that takes 2 to 3 years to learn, and you could have signed canty and used that top pick on a need,

we need more help at offensive line, safety and linebacker, not at defensive end

and most likely a young speedy wr and punt returner

I wouldn't be too concerned over this report. A lot of time between now and the draft. Way to much posturing and BS flying to throw other teams off.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

As IR said, we may lose 3 of our 6 DL.

Well, we might lose three of our four ILBs.

And I don't think we lose Bowen. He's an RFA, so he only goes if we don't care about him leaving. But even if we do let him go, who's to say another undrafted guy like Dixon can't be as good as him?

Honestly, people see guys like Bowen and become terrified that just because he played for Parcells, he'll go to Miami and make us look stupid. If Parcells weren't in the league, they wouldn't even care much about losing role players like Stephen Bowen.

All this is not to say that I don't think we could use a good defensive lineman, because that's always true IMO.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

We've got two pretty good ones on D.

Spears hasn't lived up to his 1st round potential and James, although he had a solid year last year, doesn't really scare opposing offenses. That's all I'm saying.