gimmesix
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
- Messages
- 40,028
- Reaction score
- 37,185
LONG SNAPPER L.P. Ladoucer doesn't get near enough credit for the job he does. He has provided consistency to the position and will likely hold the job for years to come. He's also an exclusive rights free agent, so Dallas has more time to look at him before having to offer a multiyear contract. If Dallas brings in any competition for his spot, it will be undrafted or street free agents.
KICKER Martin Gramatica provided what Mike Vanderjagt couldn't, some consistency on field goals, and Dallas should make it a priority to sign him to at least a one-year contract. After missing his first field-goal attempt, he only missed one more for the remainder of the season, and his only misses were from 40 yards or more. His kickoffs leave a lot to be desired, but finding a field-goal kicker was the priority, and it looks like Gramatica has returned to his preinjury form.
PUNTER Dallas has to either make a first-round tender or a multiyear offer to Pro Bowler Mat McBriar. McBriar was the best in the league this year, and if he can add kickoffs to his arsenal, then he'll be well-worth any money spent. The Cowboys do not need to return to their former ways of letting good kickers go when they get expensive and developing new ones ... and without Steve Hoffman, it's less likely that they will.
RETURNER Dallas has kick returns covered with Tyson Thompson and Miles Austin, but punt returns are still a problem. The only threat Dallas has as a punt returner is Terence Newman, and Dallas doesn't want to use its starting corner there on every punt. The attempt to draft a returner failed last year, but it wouldn't surprise me for Dallas to try again in the later rounds of the draft if one of the position players it drafts isn't also a return man.
KICKER Martin Gramatica provided what Mike Vanderjagt couldn't, some consistency on field goals, and Dallas should make it a priority to sign him to at least a one-year contract. After missing his first field-goal attempt, he only missed one more for the remainder of the season, and his only misses were from 40 yards or more. His kickoffs leave a lot to be desired, but finding a field-goal kicker was the priority, and it looks like Gramatica has returned to his preinjury form.
PUNTER Dallas has to either make a first-round tender or a multiyear offer to Pro Bowler Mat McBriar. McBriar was the best in the league this year, and if he can add kickoffs to his arsenal, then he'll be well-worth any money spent. The Cowboys do not need to return to their former ways of letting good kickers go when they get expensive and developing new ones ... and without Steve Hoffman, it's less likely that they will.
RETURNER Dallas has kick returns covered with Tyson Thompson and Miles Austin, but punt returns are still a problem. The only threat Dallas has as a punt returner is Terence Newman, and Dallas doesn't want to use its starting corner there on every punt. The attempt to draft a returner failed last year, but it wouldn't surprise me for Dallas to try again in the later rounds of the draft if one of the position players it drafts isn't also a return man.
