- Messages
- 79,281
- Reaction score
- 45,652
Austin (St. Louis): Which running back in the NFCE will be hurt the most by the new helmet rule?
DG: Whichever one stupidly insists on leading with the top of his helmet in the open field. That RB could be hurt very badly, and quite literally. But I will say that, at those meetings, a few people told me DeMarco Murray was held up as an example of a back that did that too much.
Mike (Easton, PA)
Here's a Cowboys draft scenario: The top 5 o-linemen are gone, Vacaro is gone, and Sheldon Richardson is gone. DJ Fluker, Ziggy Ansah, and Sylvester Williams are available. Who are you picking and why?
Dan Graziano (12:03 PM)
Well, all right. In that scenario you take Ansah, because he's a top-5 player who somehow fell to 18. But I don't think that's realistic. I also don't think it's realistic to believe five offensive linemen are going in the first 17 picks, since that's only happened once in the last 15 years. My persistent belief is that the Cowboys have to get a starting offensive lineman in the first round -- assuming, of course, a top-5 talent at an impact position like DE doesn't fall into their lap as he did in your scenario.
I think Fluker would be a fine pick for Dallas at 18, if for some reason the top 5 OLs are all gone by then.
Missing question in Chat
Dan Graziano (12:10 PM)
Yeah, look. I've personally never found Dez to be anything but pleasant to interview. And his coaches and teammates like working with him. It's the off-field stuff that bothers people, and truthfully you can see why. It's punk kind of stuff that tends to bother people. But he's still VERY young and has time to put it all in his past.
Tony (Richmond, CA)
Isn't the huge Romo contract another example of why the Cowboys will never contend with Jerry Jones as the helm? Romo has only one playoff victory and has not made postseason in three years. Choking twice with match point on his racket at the end of the season.
Dan Graziano (12:16 PM)
"Never contend" is a funny thing to say about a team that has played in a division title game each of the last two Week 17s.
Anthony (Iowa)
Who's the forerunner to win the 3rd LB spot for Dallas? Albright, Durant, Sims, or a draft pick?
Dan Graziano (12:17 PM)
I think Durant was signed to be the starter there.
Matt (Kansas City)
You are at the point where you can't see the Cowboys drafting anything but an OL in the 1st round? If the texas safety is there, you'd still have them pick Fluker? I just feel like its not going to matter, after a certain point, the draft is filled with "depth" ie tons of players who rate out about the same
Dan Graziano (12:22 PM)
I could SEE them doing it, of course, because it's always easy to imagine the Cowboys making bad draft decisions. But yes, I'd take Fluker over Vaccaro if I were them.
Weech (SoCal)
Dan, don't you think that recent QB's movements (Kolb, Flynn, Palmer, et. al) are all further proof that Dallas HAD to make that extension for Romo?
Dan Graziano (12:39 PM)
Yes. Romo is obviously underappreciated by a significant segment of the Cowboys' fan population. But yes, when you look at it that way, would you rather be stuck with Romo for the next seven years or be one of these teams that plays around with Kolb, Flynn and Palmer every year? Perspective.
Bryan (Springdale,AR)
I am a huge Romo supporter Dan, but I am troubled by the salary that Romo agreed to. He is now no different than Flacco and Brees in his effort to handicap this franchise. Sickens me that a player I love to cheer for is ok with taking some much money that keeps the franchise from being able to acquire key pieces via free agency that could really help this team get over the hump. This will probably force them to not be able to resign a few emerging players on the team a few years from now as well.
Dan Graziano (12:43 PM)
Seems like the way they did the deal, he'll restructure after 2014 anyway. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
bored marine (miramar, CA)
whats your feelings about the cowboys and their center situation. will they do well with phil costa if hes healthy or do they need to look elsewhere?
Dan Graziano (12:49 PM)
I think Costa can be OK if he's healthy and they improve the quality of their guard play on either side of him. But those are some big ifs.
Corey (D.C.)
Im sorry for asking this again, but its been 30 minutes and you get so many questions I didnt think it hurt to try again. Do you think Bruce Carter will transition well to OLB?
Dan Graziano (12:51 PM)
Yeah, I think Carter and Lee will thrive in the 4-3 alignment. I think they'll make a ton of plays.
Tom (Donnellson)
Did the cowboys plan ahead for this switch to 4-3 with last year's draft?
Dan Graziano (12:52 PM)
I don't know. Did they? You'd be thinking of Crawford, specifically, right? Claiborne and Johnson are defensive backs, so the way the front 7 lines up doesn't really impact them. I doubt they drafted Crawford expecting they'd be in a 4-3. I'm not even 100 percent sure what position he plays in a 4-3. Maybe DE, but he has to get bigger.
Eddie (Manassas VA)
Dan - What kind of year does Mo Caliborne have this season?
Dan Graziano (12:53 PM)
I think a very good one. Claiborne is a top talent and showed it at times last year. He'll only get better.
DG: Whichever one stupidly insists on leading with the top of his helmet in the open field. That RB could be hurt very badly, and quite literally. But I will say that, at those meetings, a few people told me DeMarco Murray was held up as an example of a back that did that too much.
Mike (Easton, PA)
Here's a Cowboys draft scenario: The top 5 o-linemen are gone, Vacaro is gone, and Sheldon Richardson is gone. DJ Fluker, Ziggy Ansah, and Sylvester Williams are available. Who are you picking and why?
Dan Graziano (12:03 PM)
Well, all right. In that scenario you take Ansah, because he's a top-5 player who somehow fell to 18. But I don't think that's realistic. I also don't think it's realistic to believe five offensive linemen are going in the first 17 picks, since that's only happened once in the last 15 years. My persistent belief is that the Cowboys have to get a starting offensive lineman in the first round -- assuming, of course, a top-5 talent at an impact position like DE doesn't fall into their lap as he did in your scenario.
I think Fluker would be a fine pick for Dallas at 18, if for some reason the top 5 OLs are all gone by then.
Missing question in Chat
Dan Graziano (12:10 PM)
Yeah, look. I've personally never found Dez to be anything but pleasant to interview. And his coaches and teammates like working with him. It's the off-field stuff that bothers people, and truthfully you can see why. It's punk kind of stuff that tends to bother people. But he's still VERY young and has time to put it all in his past.
Tony (Richmond, CA)
Isn't the huge Romo contract another example of why the Cowboys will never contend with Jerry Jones as the helm? Romo has only one playoff victory and has not made postseason in three years. Choking twice with match point on his racket at the end of the season.
Dan Graziano (12:16 PM)
"Never contend" is a funny thing to say about a team that has played in a division title game each of the last two Week 17s.
Anthony (Iowa)
Who's the forerunner to win the 3rd LB spot for Dallas? Albright, Durant, Sims, or a draft pick?
Dan Graziano (12:17 PM)
I think Durant was signed to be the starter there.
Matt (Kansas City)
You are at the point where you can't see the Cowboys drafting anything but an OL in the 1st round? If the texas safety is there, you'd still have them pick Fluker? I just feel like its not going to matter, after a certain point, the draft is filled with "depth" ie tons of players who rate out about the same
Dan Graziano (12:22 PM)
I could SEE them doing it, of course, because it's always easy to imagine the Cowboys making bad draft decisions. But yes, I'd take Fluker over Vaccaro if I were them.
Weech (SoCal)
Dan, don't you think that recent QB's movements (Kolb, Flynn, Palmer, et. al) are all further proof that Dallas HAD to make that extension for Romo?
Dan Graziano (12:39 PM)
Yes. Romo is obviously underappreciated by a significant segment of the Cowboys' fan population. But yes, when you look at it that way, would you rather be stuck with Romo for the next seven years or be one of these teams that plays around with Kolb, Flynn and Palmer every year? Perspective.
Bryan (Springdale,AR)
I am a huge Romo supporter Dan, but I am troubled by the salary that Romo agreed to. He is now no different than Flacco and Brees in his effort to handicap this franchise. Sickens me that a player I love to cheer for is ok with taking some much money that keeps the franchise from being able to acquire key pieces via free agency that could really help this team get over the hump. This will probably force them to not be able to resign a few emerging players on the team a few years from now as well.
Dan Graziano (12:43 PM)
Seems like the way they did the deal, he'll restructure after 2014 anyway. I wouldn't worry too much about it.
bored marine (miramar, CA)
whats your feelings about the cowboys and their center situation. will they do well with phil costa if hes healthy or do they need to look elsewhere?
Dan Graziano (12:49 PM)
I think Costa can be OK if he's healthy and they improve the quality of their guard play on either side of him. But those are some big ifs.
Corey (D.C.)
Im sorry for asking this again, but its been 30 minutes and you get so many questions I didnt think it hurt to try again. Do you think Bruce Carter will transition well to OLB?
Dan Graziano (12:51 PM)
Yeah, I think Carter and Lee will thrive in the 4-3 alignment. I think they'll make a ton of plays.
Tom (Donnellson)
Did the cowboys plan ahead for this switch to 4-3 with last year's draft?
Dan Graziano (12:52 PM)
I don't know. Did they? You'd be thinking of Crawford, specifically, right? Claiborne and Johnson are defensive backs, so the way the front 7 lines up doesn't really impact them. I doubt they drafted Crawford expecting they'd be in a 4-3. I'm not even 100 percent sure what position he plays in a 4-3. Maybe DE, but he has to get bigger.
Eddie (Manassas VA)
Dan - What kind of year does Mo Caliborne have this season?
Dan Graziano (12:53 PM)
I think a very good one. Claiborne is a top talent and showed it at times last year. He'll only get better.
