Have you jumped to these conclusions?

[AtlCB]

Details, details.

Greg Ellis was cut by the Cowboys.

 

[gimmesix]

#6 - You may want to re-word this one. We still have no depth on the OL. Free was definity a nice surprise. After he played so bad in preseason, I though he would still need another year or two to develop. We would be in bad shape if he didn't turn the corner. With Columbo injured, we still have no depth anywhere on the OL. Does anyone actually want to see McQuistan, Preston, Proctor, or Holland see any significant playing time???

I'm not that concerned about Holland, because he's done well before. Proctor seems to do better at center than at guard, and Preston was a vet picked up for some insurance. I'm not sure about him simply because I haven't seen him.

Just like many were panicking about Free, I think we could be overreacting if we assume one of these others couldn't handle significant playing time. ... I never want to see Proctor at guard again, though. He proved that he's a liability there and it would surprise me if he could do any better now.

BTW, the word "no" means zero, zilch, nada. So by saying that Free is quality depth and possibly even starter material, that means we have "some" depth on the offensive line. So, I don't think it's worded wrong.

 

[gimmesix]

Greg Ellis was cut by the Cowboys.

Got it the first time. Thanks.

 

[7footer]

I'm guilty of #3,4,5,6....And very happy to be wrong!

I'm still not sure #6 is wrong yet though either, as having one qualified back-up in Free doesn't necessarily provide adequate depth. However, I like that Brewster will be available for us to look at next season, and Travis Bright who's currently on our practice squad should be able to beat out McQuistan for a spot on our roster next year...He was very impressive in pre-season!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

1) Keith Brooking is washed up and a bad free agent signing
I remember several on the boards I visit wanted to pay an exorbitant amount to sign Ray Lewis instead.

2) A kicker? Why in the world is Dallas drafting a kicker?
When Dallas selected David Buehler, the boos were plentiful for the Cowboys. Some didn't understand the purpose of having a second kicker; some simply didn't want Dallas to waste a second roster spot on a kickoff specialist.

3) No way Miles Austin should be relied upon to fill Terrell Owens' shoes.
I have to admit that I thought getting rid of Owens without signing a proven replacement was a bad idea. Many of us liked what we had seen of Austin in a limited role, but just were unsure it was smart to lay all hopes on him coming through in a starting role.

4) Orlando Scandrick should be the starting cornerback ahead of Mike Jenkins.
Many wrote of Jenkins pretty much based on his ole´ tackle against the Giants last year. They were absolutely sure that Scandrick should get the starting role after Anthony Henry was traded.

5) Cutting Greg Ellis isn't a good idea because Anthony Spencer's not good enough.
I'm not sure many were really against getting rid of Ellis because of his whining, but many felt Spencer couldn't get the job done.

6) Dallas has no depth on the offensive line.
Although Doug Free is a young lineman from a smaller program, many had already written him off as a bust before he really got a chance to prove himself. The same will probably be done with Robert Brewster, if it hasn't already.

The point of this is that every time a player has a bad play or game or doesn't immediately live up to expectations we want to bench him or cut him or call him a bust. Sometimes we might end up being right, but often we are wrong ... and if we just have patience and let things develop, we'll be rewarded as fans.

It amazes me how fast some fans attack a member of our team, when what fans are supposed to do is root, root, root for the home team. There is nothing wrong with critical analysis, but negativism is not critical analysis.

We need to stop jumping to conclusions and realize there are reasons the starters are the starters, maybe there are things the coaching staff sees in practice that tells them this player or this play will work the best. We need to stop jumping to conclusions in assuming that players this team has brought in won't eventually work out.

I know it won't happen because we live in an impatient society, but I just had to get on my soapbox for a minute. Thanks for listening.

I liked:
#1

I understood:
#2

Anyone who says they knew Austin would be this good based on such a small sample size is lying:
#3

It was too early to know anything about:
#4

I never gave up on Spencer:
#5

This is still an issue:
#6

 

[Idgit]

Not guilty of any of those. Generally, though, I've been preaching patience all off-season on almost every front. My biggest personnel complaint was that we didn't do anything of consequence to improve the interior OL, which was such an obvious weakness last season, but I wasn't down on Free, in particular.

Of your list, the closest I come is thinking cutting Ellis was a bad idea, but it wasn't b/c I thought Spencer wouldn't be good enough. It was b/c I didn't want to go through the year with only two experienced OLBs in our 3-4. And I still think we took an unnecessary risk. No matter how you slice it, though, this was the right year to start Spencer, and that was pretty obvious, I think.

 

[AtlCB]

I'm not that concerned about Holland, because he's done well before. Proctor seems to do better at center than at guard, and Preston was a vet picked up for some insurance. I'm not sure about him simply because I haven't seen him.

Just like many were panicking about Free, I think we could be overreacting if we assume one of these others couldn't handle significant playing time. ... I never want to see Proctor at guard again, though. He proved that he's a liability there and it would surprise me if he could do any better now.

Montrae Holland started a few games last season and was pathetic. Proctor was horrible at center and is now third string behind Preston. Duke Preston is the only real unknown on the line. He started 11 games last year for Buffalo, so he could be a decent backup.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm still not sure #6 is wrong yet though either, as having one qualified back-up in Free doesn't necessarily provide adequate depth. However, I like that Brewster will be available for us to look at next season, and Travis Bright who's currently on our practice squad should be able to beat out McQuistan for a spot on our roster next year...He was very impressive in pre-season!

I sometimes forget about Bright, but he really came on as the preseason progressed and might develop at least into an adequate backup guard.

 

[gimmesix]

Montrae Holland started a few games last season and was pathetic. Proctor was horrible at center and is now third string behind Preston. Duke Preston is the only real unknown on the line. He started 11 games last year for Buffalo, so he could be a decent backup.

Must be watching a different team. Holland played well once he was inserted into the lineup at guard last year. Proctor hasn't done anything to show that he's horrible at center. He was terrible at guard.

 

[gimmesix]

Of your list, the closest I come is thinking cutting Ellis was a bad idea, but it wasn't b/c I thought Spencer wouldn't be good enough. It was b/c I didn't want to go through the year with only two experienced OLBs in our 3-4. And I still think we took an unnecessary risk. No matter how you slice it, though, this was the right year to start Spencer, and that was pretty obvious, I think.

I was there with you on the risk. We were essentially counting on two rookies who were making the transition from DE. I understood the move, but it worried me from a backup standpoint.

I have to give Butler some credit for his play, but I'd still be very concerned if we lost either starter.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I bemoaned Keith Brookings's lack of speed, so you can charge me guilty on count 1

 

[cowboyeric8]

I will eat some of #5. It was one of the few who actually liked Ellis

 

[gimmesix]

Probably should have added Sensabaugh to the list. I know at least one forum member who said Sensabaugh would never amount to anything and would be beaten out by Mike Hamlin. But the consensus seemed to be that he couldn't be worse than Roy Williams.

 

[KingintheNorth]

#1 and #6 for me although I'm still rolling with #6. One man (Free) does not amount to OL depth. Cory Procter and Pat McQuistan are still garbage sauce and Montrae Holland and Duke Preston can't even make the active roster over those 2.

Counting on Brewster and 1 or 2 2010 draftees to improve OL depth.

 

[Idgit]

I was there with you on the risk. We were essentially counting on two rookies who were making the transition from DE. I understood the move, but it worried me from a backup standpoint.

I have to give Butler some credit for his play, but I'd still be very concerned if we lost either starter.

Yeah. Ellis was a tough one b/c he was expensive and such a huge whiner and most certainly wouldn't have taken losing his spot well, but I still think we took a huge risk going with two rookie backups at such key positions.

Props to Butler for the big plays he's made, but it's clear Wade still thinks he can be exploited. We're thinner at OLB than we should be.

 

[Preacha Mane]

great thread man!!!!!

And I honestly think this is whats happening with the whole Roy Williams bashing, but as with all things, only time will tell.

 

[gimmesix]

#1 and #6 for me although I'm still rolling with #6. One man (Free) does not amount to OL depth. Cory Procter and Pat McQuistan are still garbage sauce and Montrae Holland and Duke Preston can't even make the active roster over those 2.

Counting on Brewster and 1 or 2 2010 draftees to improve OL depth.

One man does amount to "some" OL depth. The point was people were panicking because we had NO line depth. Free has proven that wrong.

Holland doesn't make the active roster because he only plays guard. We have to have a center backup in the active roster mix, and then because Proctor also plays guard, we have to have a tackle backup.

Not sure why Preston has beaten out Proctor for the center/guard backup role. Might just be because Dallas knows what it has in Proctor ... although that could be a good reason to go with Preston.

 

[gimmesix]

Props to Butler for the big plays he's made, but it's clear Wade still thinks he can be exploited. We're thinner at OLB than we should be.

Possibly, but no one knows, not even Phillips, how these guys will respond when their feet are put to the fire. I wouldn't like to see that be necessary, though.

 

[Phoenix]

Although I'm sure I've missed some, these are several of the conclusions fans have jumped to during the course of this year. Are you guilty of any of these?

1) Keith Brooking is washed up and a bad free agent signing
I remember several on the boards I visit wanted to pay an exorbitant amount to sign Ray Lewis instead.

2) A kicker? Why in the world is Dallas drafting a kicker?
When Dallas selected David Buehler, the boos were plentiful for the Cowboys. Some didn't understand the purpose of having a second kicker; some simply didn't want Dallas to waste a second roster spot on a kickoff specialist.

3) No way Miles Austin should be relied upon to fill Terrell Owens' shoes.
I have to admit that I thought getting rid of Owens without signing a proven replacement was a bad idea. Many of us liked what we had seen of Austin in a limited role, but just were unsure it was smart to lay all hopes on him coming through in a starting role.

4) Orlando Scandrick should be the starting cornerback ahead of Mike Jenkins.
Many wrote off Jenkins pretty much based on his ole´ tackle against the Giants last year. They were absolutely sure that Scandrick should get the starting role after Anthony Henry was traded.

5) Cutting Greg Ellis isn't a good idea because Anthony Spencer's not good enough.
I'm not sure many were really against getting rid of Ellis because of his whining, but many felt Spencer couldn't get the job done.

6) Dallas has no depth on the offensive line.
Although Doug Free is a young lineman from a smaller program, many had already written him off as a bust before he really got a chance to prove himself. The same will probably be done with Robert Brewster, if it hasn't already.

Guilty on 2, 3, 6.

 

[gimmesix]

great thread man!!!!!

And I honestly think this is whats happening with the whole Roy Williams bashing, but as with all things, only time will tell.

I do, too, but I understand everyone's frustration.