FWST Blog: What the Cowboys are looking at this weekend

[WoodysGirl]

You Can't Spell Party Without NFL Combine

Myself and the rest of the NFL media along with the official NFL types are either in Indianapolis or are traveling there on Thursday for the annual meat market, also called the combine.

How the cold-weather climate of Indianapolis landed this "event" still boggles the mind (not a lot of the NFL types are thrilled about spending four days in 38-degree weather), but this is where the next great whatevers come to impress, or to blow off, scouts, coaches and execs.

With technology being what it is these days, there is less of a need for the combine the way there was 20 years ago. And the top players often skip working or running in the combine to do it at their "pro day" at their college.

By now, just about all of these players who attend have been interviewed at least once, and scouts have reviewed probably all of their snaps taken in college.

Still, it's a place where the NFLers meet to congratulate themselves and prepare for the next season.


This is what the Cowboys are looking at this weekend:


Safeties. Pat Watkins has hit a ceiling, Keith Davis is OK but limited, Roy Williams may not be on the team next season and Ken Hamlin took a major step back in 2008.

Quarterback. Tony Romo is the starter, but who is the backup? Brad Johnson is gone, and Brooks Bollinger may be re-signed to compete as the No. 3. The Cowboys have to find somebody.

Backup offensive line: It doesn't appear as if Pat McQuistan will ever do anything other than backup. The same for Doug Free. Cory Procter is a fine backup on the interior, but he may be gone. They need someone to develop.

Defensive End: Chris Canty can be a free agent, and if the Cowboys elect not to re-sign him they have to find his replacement. His replacement may not be on the roster. Marcus Spears has one year left on his contract, and he'll likely be back as the starter.

Linebacker: It's true, after selecting a linebacker for each of the past 76 drafts they need someone in the middle, or maybe at the end to backup Greg Ellis/Anthony Spencer.


- Mac Engel

Posted at 07:56 PM | Permalink

 

[28 Joker]

Greg Ellis better not be on this team, imvso.

Cory Procotor is terrible. He can't anchor. Antoine Caldwell is looking better and better in this draft. He may be the BPA at # 69.

Flozell Adams needs his replacement on the team, ASAP. That guy needs to be ready by 2010. The pickings will be slim for the Cowboys, but Jason Watkins fits the profile. LG can be upgraded with a younger, stronger player. The left side of the line needs starting caliber players who can be put in the pipeline and prepared for 2010 or compete at LG in 2009.

The safety I like is Rashad Johnson. Delmas has some concussion issues, and I want to see how that plays out at the combine.

 

[ethiostar]

You Can't Spell Party Without NFL Combine

Safeties. Pat Watkins has hit a ceiling, Keith Davis is OK but limited, Roy Williams may not be on the team next season and Ken Hamlin took a major step back in 2008.


Backup offensive line: It doesn't appear as if Pat McQuistan will ever do anything other than backup. The same for Doug Free. Cory Procter is a fine backup on the interior, but he may be gone. They need someone to develop.

A bit premature, especially about Free.

 

[WoodysGirl]

A bit premature, especially about Free.

Not with regard to Watkins. I'd say he has.

Re: Free. How would one even know?

 

[KingintheNorth]

Improved safety play is a must but the team has a lot of money tied up there. As of now, we only have two starting spots open..RDE (Canty) and RILB (Thomas and Burnett), so they have to be addressed.

If the Cowboys somehow land Peppers, I think they are going to be able to get a reduced-price veteran ILB ("looking for a ring") who will want to come here. I think a big time signing does two things.. 1) it completely limits anything else we can do in free agency and 2) makes those holes a little less noticeable. Jason Hatcher and Bobby Carpenter would be able to get by.

That being said, we really need to go Best Player Available in the draft. Who knows who will be there at 51. Just take the best player with the exception of RB or TE. I think Jerry falls in love with players and then overspends (in draft picks) to move up and get them. Every other position can be addressed.
T - Yes, Flozell and Colombo are getting up there in age.
G - Yes, Kosier and Holland have one year left on their deals.
C - Yes, did you see Cory Proctor???
WR - Yes, TO is one incident away from being gone. Austin, Stanback, and Hurd are unproven.
QB - Yes, Bollinger is awful and Romo takes a lot of hits.
NT - Yes, Tank Johnson is gone.
DE - Yes, Canty is probably gone and Spears is in last year of deal.
ILB - Yes, Thomas and Burnett are gone. Carpenter hasn't shown he can win the job.
OLB - Yes, Ellis may be gone. Spencer is a knuckle head. Pass rushers are always welcome.
CB - Yes, Henry is in last year of contract, Newman is always hurt, and Pacman was a disaster.
S - YES. I'd even look at the Michael Irvin show if it would find us some safety help.

Best Player Available.

 

[Marktui]

Yeah, Pat Watkins definetly has not done anything these last 3 years....Doug Free, well give him one more year, I think OL take a little bit time to mature.

 

[ethiostar]

I'm a little hesitant to say a player has hit a ceiling after only two and a half years of limited play. He hasn't done much except on special teams so far and he might not amount to anything in the end but i wouldn't say he has hit a ceiling. James Harrison was cut by at least two teams until he landed in Pitt.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I'm a little hesitant to say a player has hit a ceiling after only two and a half years of limited play. He hasn't done much except on special teams so far and he might not amount to anything in the end but i wouldn't say he has hit a ceiling. James Harrison was cut by at least two teams until he landed in Pitt.

There are always exceptions, but the fact that Warkins had an opportunity to really shine with Roy W. being out and he didn't quite do the job. Add to his inability to stay healthy, I think his play level is about where he's going to be in his career.

 

[ethiostar]

There are always exceptions, but the fact that Warkins had an opportunity to really shine with Roy W. being out and he didn't quite do the job. Add to his inability to stay healthy, I think his play level is about where he's going to be in his career.

Maybe so.