ESPND: Five Wonders: Can Cowboys go deep in 2014?

[ShiningStar]

Well, if there are polyannas all over the place why rain on their parade with doom and gloom? At least throw us a bone as to why YOU think we'll have problems. I'll start it for you. I think the D could be in trouble again. Too many holes and questions for all of them to go our way IMO. Hope I'm wrong and I could easily be wrong but there is legitimate concern on that side of the ball. So I don't think 8-8 is an absurd prediction.

if you cant see the problems by now, no one is going to be able to help certain people who just think, new year, new record. Regardless of what the team keeps you showing you and a head coach who continues to prove hes a mistake. And this year was a gift because the whole division was terrrible and we couldnt take advantage of it. We couldnt take advantage of a team with a new qb and a new scheme.

We sat on a qb for a whole year and just used the plan of "We just hope Romo can make a season" and that panned out well.

We kept sitting on excuses for the defense, even when proven those excuses can not keep working, and that panned out well.

We sat on an offense, that continued to abandon the run even when it was working and said to ourselves, "this is working, why the hell are we still using it" and that panned out well.

The only thing that worked well, was ST, at least when things went wrong, they got fixed, and if they werent wrong they werent fixed.

So excuse many of us who look at the evidence and say, wow, what are we getting excited over.

 

[jobberone]

if you cant see the problems by now, no one is going to be able to help certain people who just think, new year, new record. Regardless of what the team keeps you showing you and a head coach who continues to prove hes a mistake. And this year was a gift because the whole division was terrrible and we couldnt take advantage of it. We couldnt take advantage of a team with a new qb and a new scheme.

We sat on a qb for a whole year and just used the plan of "We just hope Romo can make a season" and that panned out well.

We kept sitting on excuses for the defense, even when proven those excuses can not keep working, and that panned out well.

We sat on an offense, that continued to abandon the run even when it was working and said to ourselves, "this is working, why the hell are we still using it" and that panned out well.

The only thing that worked well, was ST, at least when things went wrong, they got fixed, and if they werent wrong they werent fixed.

So excuse many of us who look at the evidence and say, wow, what are we getting excited over.

I don't think it's a matter of anyone being a polyanna vs a negative nanny.

I don't see things the way you do. I look at them thinking the coaches are professionals who know how to do their job. If they do something that makes me scratch my head I wonder why are they doing that. My first thought is not they are foolish. I do think they are making a mistake but that's really a bit arrogant when I know they have a lot more information on hand. And I still think in the end at times they're making a mistake after reflection. There are more than a few here like me including those who we seldom hear from. We don't think everything is ok and as long as Garrett or whomever is doing it, it will turn out the way we all want.

As far as the future I have no problem saying something critical. If you hear me say I'm concerned about something I mean I'm really concerned. I just shy away from injecting too much into words on a screen and hope a reader understands. If I repeatedly say I'm concerned with the defense then from my standpoint you should listen. That's up to the reader and it's fine to disagree.

 

[jobberone]

Weems has practiced at Guard but I don't know to what extent.

I tend to think Weems and Parnell are too tall speaking in general. I don't think that means neither can play there for that reason. Personally I would rather have a player built like those two at tackle but if tackle is good then play them elsewhere. I think Parnell would be great pulling or moving in general. I'd put the best OL I could out there. They need to find some snaps for Parnell if he's healthy. JMO.

 

[CyberB0b]

Yes, you've probably seen my explanation of how they altered the scheme to compensate for Free's weaknesses.

I would love to see Parnell win the job. It's a difficult decision because an inexperienced player like Parnell will make some mistakes, but I'm convinced that if he was starting, that after a few games he would completely surpass Free in both run and pass blocking. Parnell is already a better run blocker than Free.

Oddly, Weems could be the key to Parnell possibly getting the job. If they were convinced that Weems was ready to be the backup swing OT, then Parnell winning the job would allow them to move on from Free. Without a legit backup, they would have to keep Free. The front office probably figures that if they're paying Free that he might as well be the starter.

Parnell has been your pet cat for years, but so far, the only playing time he has been able to get is splitting time with Doug Free, who was the worst tackle in the league. What does that say about Parnell?

 

[BoysFan4ever]

I think the Cowboys will be lucky to even be in the mix for the playoffs next year. Same as usual.

 

[jobberone]

Parnell has been your pet cat for years, but so far, the only playing time he has been able to get is splitting time with Doug Free, who was the worst tackle in the league. What does that say about Parnell?

I can't answer for him but I can for me. First of all Free was never the worst tackle in the league except in the minds of some here. No one had him ranked near the bottom of the league in 2012. Last year Parnell was injured and lost to Free in TC. Then Free has a pretty good year especially early on when he was the top rated tackle overall in the entire league for several games. I hardly think Free went from total suckage in 2012 then suddenly became a good player. And I say that because I saw every snap Free had that year-multiple times in addition to the above.

While looking at Free I got a chance to see Parnell in 2012. And I thought he was not much but wow. He pops off the screen at you. I agree with @xwalker that Parnell has some significant tools. He moves well, has very good feet, explosive punch, good hands. I never saw him get beat once he engaged a player. He plays the outside move well, inside and bullrush. He can momentarily have a problem with a swim move but recovers quickly without losing much ground. Where he has problems is letting players go by him like they were offsides or something. I have no idea what causes that problem. Perhaps it's a mental one.

 

[noshame]

I Romo throws deep you will see the same results as you did in 2012 the TD to Int ratio will be almost even. Or worse.

 

[jobberone]

I Romo throws deep you will see the same results as you did in 2012 the TD to Int ratio will be almost even. Or worse.

That's been shown to not be true at all multiple times, too.

 

[ShiningStar]

I Romo throws deep you will see the same results as you did in 2012 the TD to Int ratio will be almost even. Or worse.

this i dont agree with., There is sometimes more to an interception, and even tho Romo has his faults, i cant agree with this statement.

 

[percyhoward]

I Romo throws deep you will see the same results as you did in 2012 the TD to Int ratio will be almost even. Or worse.

From 2012...

pass thrown 31+ yards
Rodgers 6 of 16 268 yd 3 td 1 int 99.0
Brady 6 of 21 256 yd 3 td 1 int 97.6
Brees 13 of 33 584 yd 4 td 3 int 88.7
Romo 10 of 29 441 yd 5 td 3 int 82.9

pass thrown 31-40 yards
Rodgers 5 of 9 216 yd 3 td 0 int 140.0
Romo 8 of 17 327 5 td 1 int 108.5
Brady 6 of 15 256 yd 3 td 1 int 99.3
Brees 8 of 26 310 yd 2 td 3 int 63.5

 

[Redball Express]

Five Wonders: Can Cowboys go deep in 2014?
February, 4, 2014



By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- Not necessarily by popular demand, but Five Wonders is back and we'll look at a number of issues the Dallas Cowboys face in the offseason.

Jeremy Parnell

On to the Wonders:

• I wonder how different the Cowboys' offense will look in 2014 with the addition of Scott Linehan. He will call the plays, but they will be Jason Garrett's plays in the pass game and Bill Callahan's plays in the run game. If there is a change, I wonder if it will be in the deep passing game. He was unafraid to take shots down the field. That's easy to do when you have a receiver like Calvin Johnson and a quarterback with an arm like Matthew Stafford. The Cowboys did not force the issue down the field with the 51-48 loss to the Denver Broncos as the only real exception. Tony Romo averaged a career low 7.2 yards per attempt in 2013. As an offensive line coach, was Callahan protecting his guys from having to hold the fort a little longer by not calling the deep ball as much? Was Romo protecting himself in some ways because he has taken a beating in recent years with an offensive line that had too many holes? Maybe it's partly both. Linehan will have to boost the confidence in the deep passing game to make a real difference.
• I wonder if the Cowboys look at extending Doug Free's contract. He is set to make $3.5 million in 2014 and the final two years of his deal voids after the season. Free, who had a bounce back season in 2013, will count $6.520 million against the cap and if the Cowboys choose to extend Free, they would gain cap space as well as have one of their tackles in place for 2015 and beyond. The Cowboys will have to make it worth Free's while after they cut his pay in half the last two seasons. He will be under no obligation to get do something “team friendly,” but he is not in a hurry to leave. He just turned 30 last month and is entering his eighth season. His backup, Jermey Parnell, is about to enter the final year of his deal. He was supposed to press Free in training camp last summer, but he never did in part because Free never really allowed it.

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/files/2013/08/DOUGFREE-620x586.jpg
Doug Free

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4724117/five-wonders-can-cowboys-go-deep-in-2014

Yes..

Yes..

Yes.

Sign him soon and give him a better deal that if he meets some playing goals..

he will then be making what he was supposed to be making under the old deal.

He'd probably jump at that and it in the end would be fair.

I really think we need to avoid trying to replace him just when we have the basic prices in place with Smith and Frederick.

 

[DFWJC]

I Romo throws deep you will see the same results as you did in 2012 the TD to Int ratio will be almost even. Or worse.

His TD to Int ratio has never been even or even close to that for a full season
No reason to make stuff up.

Even in 2012 when he had a bunch of picks early in the season, but went on a tear throwing deep late in the year, he still had 9 more TDs than ints for the year

 

[jobberone]

Weems has practiced at Guard but I don't know to what extent.

I think they tried Free, Weems and Parnell at G some but most of that was Free at RG and Parnell at RT. Weems has played some snaps in regular season games with mixed results.

 

[starfrombirth]

Well, if there are polyannas all over the place why rain on their parade with doom and gloom? At least throw us a bone as to why YOU think we'll have problems. I'll start it for you. I think the D could be in trouble again. Too many holes and questions for all of them to go our way IMO. Hope I'm wrong and I could easily be wrong but there is legitimate concern on that side of the ball. So I don't think 8-8 is an absurd prediction.

I tend to agree with you on every point and will expand with some of my own thoughts...
1. I have never seem a defense with so many holes
2. Our star player on defense (DWare) is done. He is a great ambassador for the team and for football but he is no longer a force and can be handled 1 on 1 by any LT in the league.
3. Our BEST player on defense (Sean Lee) Cant stay healthy and when he is on the field he is trying to cover for so many other players deficiencies he sometimes blows his own assignments. It's hell when you cant count on your guys to do their jobs.
4. The one bright star on the DLine (Hatcher) faded bad down the stretch and caught Ratliff-itis.
5. Our big money free agent CB got completely PWn'd (Do they still say that?) last year.
6. Our super draft pick CB is proving the naysayers right by having any injury riddled / regression addled 2nd season. The jury is still out but so far it isn't promising.
7. Do we even have safeties?.... Please don't say Barry Church. His first, middle, and last names are toast, buttered, and extra crispy.

If we spent every draft pick on the defense it wouldn't be enough. The only hope I have is that our 2 first picks will be on Interior lineman *(and that they pan out) that can at least make the qb move. and then all the rest of the picks on defense as well.

Scott Linehan will tell you, our defense can be had by anybody.

 

[jobberone]

I tend to agree with you on every point and will expand with some of my own thoughts...
1. I have never seem a defense with so many holes
2. Our star player on defense (DWare) is done. He is a great ambassador for the team and for football but he is no longer a force and can be handled 1 on 1 by any LT in the league.
3. Our BEST player on defense (Sean Lee) Cant stay healthy and when he is on the field he is trying to cover for so many other players deficiencies he sometimes blows his own assignments. It's hell when you cant count on your guys to do their jobs.
4. The one bright star on the DLine (Hatcher) faded bad down the stretch and caught Ratliff-itis.
5. Our big money free agent CB got completely PWn'd (Do they still say that?) last year.
6. Our super draft pick CB is proving the naysayers right by having any injury riddled / regression addled 2nd season. The jury is still out but so far it isn't promising.
7. Do we even have safeties?.... Please don't say Barry Church. His first, middle, and last names are toast, buttered, and extra crispy.

If we spent every draft pick on the draft it wouldn't be enough. The only hope I have is that our 2 first picks will be on Interior lineman *(and that they pan out) that can at least make the qb move. and then all the rest of the picks on defense as well.

Scott Linehan will tell you, our defense can be had by anybody.

Like I've said it all depends on health, development of existing players and who is kept or acquired.

 

[starfrombirth]

Like I've said it all depends on health, development of existing players and who is kept or acquired.

Who besides Sean Lee and possibly Selvie is currently on the roster that you think is worth keeping and developing (realistically) if I may ask. Seriously, I'm not an expert even though I've watched my whole life. I can only state my opinion as I see it and I don't see a single person on this defense worth keeping besides those two and possibly Mo, but that's only because he is so young. I saw nothing out of our young draft class last year to give me hope. No speed, tackling ability, or athleticism to speak of. I'm hoping you can shed some light for me.

 

[jobberone]

Who besides Sean Lee and possibly Selvie is currently on the roster that you think is worth keeping and developing (realistically) if I may ask. Seriously, I'm not an expert even though I've watched my whole life. I can only state my opinion as I see it and I don't see a single person on this defense worth keeping besides those two and possibly Mo, but that's only because he is so young. I saw nothing out of our young draft class last year to give me hope. No speed, tackling ability, or athleticism to speak of. I'm hoping you can shed some light for me.

I posted in another thread. I'll try and find the link.

EDIT: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/safe...-one-in-this-draft.282619/page-6#post-5439898

 

[starfrombirth]

I posted in another thread. I'll try and find the link.

EDIT: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/safe...-one-in-this-draft.282619/page-6#post-5439898

Ware stays injured and not at normal playing efficiency. There's a hole. Selvie is IMO probably going to get significant snaps. At 270 and not that strong he gets hurt in the run. Spencer is a huge ? mark. There's no way to know his status and how likely he is to play nor where.

Bass and Crawford will be solid to better. Brent could play a 1 and I don't want the thread to deteriorate into a Brent is a pig no he's not one. Huge question mark. Hatcher is a FA and likely gone. I hope they don't throw too much money at him although a 3 year contract voidable after two would be okay with me at the right price. The rest are ???????

Carter was lost last year. Holloman could push although I suspect Carter will come around albeit still inconsistent to what degree I don't know. Lee is an injury concern not his play. Wilbur is a marginal starter. Durant is a two down Sam. He could start or be gone. I don't know his cap status.

Claiborne is a ?. Carr needs to be used properly. He's marginal to average+. OScan is good. Then you have question marks.

Church is average. Johnson has never played a snap I think. If so I've forgotten. At best he's a ?. Wilcox is inexperienced so who knows. Heath is inexperienced +. McCray should leave.

So for the most part we agree. I did forget about OScan tho. I would take him on my team any day, personality aside. I don't think their is a chance in Hades that Brent is here. I'm not convinced he would be a difference maker if he was. If Crawford pans out as advertised.... maybe but not many people come back from an injury like that at least not right away. I think they ask Selvie to gain 10 pounds to hold up better. This is ok if they concentrate on a serious upgrade in the middle. I think Hatcher spent his wad in the early part of the year to try and make a name for himself. I truly believe he is another rat or spencer waiting to happen.

Thanks for the insights.... it is much appreciated. Hope I didn't hijack anything.

 

[Risen Star]

We won't be going anywhere until there are some major changes to the roster and coaching staff.

We won't go anywhere until the Owner changes and empowers his head coach once again.

 

[xwalker]

I think they tried Free, Weems and Parnell at G some but most of that was Free at RG and Parnell at RT. Weems has played some snaps in regular season games with mixed results.

I don't think Weems played any regular season games. All of his snaps in preseason games were at LT.

Free played part of 1 preseason game at OG.

I have not heard any reports on Parnell practicing OG.