How Does Dallas' offseason stack up to other contenders?

[Section446]

Hard to imagine a better offseason of talent acquisition.

No doubt about it, in a couple of years, we'll look back on this draft and realize how special it was... just not this year.

 

[zrinkill]

I have no idea how this season is gonna play out ...... but the same people who are pissing on our offseason were doom and glooming at this time last year as well.

Last year proved that great teams beat teams with great players ...... unless teams with great players are also cheating ...... lol

 

[Stash]

I'll flip the question around and ask this:

Who's had a better offseason than the Cowboys have?



I don't think there's much debating it.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'll flip the question around and ask this:

Who's had a better offseason than the Cowboys have?



I don't think there's much debating it.

There are those who will argue to the end of the earth letting Murray go was a huge mistake so they won't agree with that. While I didn't agree with every move the Cowboys made it's pretty easy to see what they are doing and I am very happy with this off season. How it ranks compared to the other 31 teams I'll leave for the "experts" to decide but it's hard to imagine any team added more talent than we did.

 

[Stash]

There are those who will argue to the end of the earth letting Murray go was a huge mistake so they won't agree with that.

I wouldn't argue with anyone who felt it was a downgrade. I would be firmly in that camp myself, in fact. But, while I would consider the running back change a net 'minus', I would still say the net 'plusses' through other additions far outweigh it and make this a considerably more talented team than the one that finished last season.

While I didn't agree with every move the Cowboys made it's pretty easy to see what they are doing and I am very happy with this off season. How it ranks compared to the other 31 teams I'll leave for the "experts" to decide but it's hard to imagine any team added more talent than we did.

I don't think any of the 'experts' have any more informed or valid of an opinion than you or I do. In fact, many of them appear to be less informed.

I will stack up our talent added with anybody in the league.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't think any of the 'experts' have any more informed or valid of an opinion than you or I do. In fact, many of them appear to be less informed.

You got that right.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Dallas has had a debatably good offseason (probably debated more on other teams' forums than on here). Added strength to DL/DE - although how much we don't know due to several factors. Added depth to OL (although lost a good swing tackle). Added captain LB. Added potential good CB ("good" is optimistic for a rookie at that position). Lost good/very good RB.

However a lot of other teams had pretty good off seasons too.

1. Eagles improved QB (we are assuming no injuries in any of this analysis). Improved RB (depth at the very least). Improved LB. Improved Secondary.

2. Giants. Added Cruz back. Offense in 2nd year of new system with best potential receiver combo in league.

3. Seattle. Improved TE. Retain most key parts to championship.

4. GB. Improved receiving core while retaining most key parts to very good team.

5. Patriots. Retained parts to championship team.

6. Vikings. 2nd year for rising QB. Added Peterson. Improved good defense.

7. Cardinals. Retained major pieces to very good defense. Got QB back. Improved RB. Improved OL.

Other teams that improved - Jets, Bills and Dolphins (3 2015 opponents).

The level of play looks to be as high as ever this upcoming year in the battle for Superbowl 2015.

yah, I am really not getting this Eagles thing.

They downgraded at QB. Foles was great for them.

And in my opinion, McCoy is better than Murray. The guy has been tearing it up for the Eagles for years while Murray had one good year. Although, if you include Mathews and Murray in that conversation, then its a good argument.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I wouldn't argue with anyone who felt it was a downgrade. I would be firmly in that camp myself, in fact. But, while I would consider the running back change a net 'minus', I would still say the net 'plusses' through other additions far outweigh it and make this a considerably more talented team than the one that finished last season.



I don't think any of the 'experts' have any more informed or valid of an opinion than you or I do. In fact, many of them appear to be less informed.

I will stack up our talent added with anybody in the league.

I also hear no one mention that they lost Maclin. They had once good receiver and now they have none. Their passing game will scare no one.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I considered the Patriots pretty huge winners when they got their NT at the end of the first...after keeping that first and losing it next year. That was going to be a pretty huge loss for them. Dallas has to be looked at as the biggest improvement. I would expect a league wide vote to put them and Philly at the top of their lists, though I think Philly just did what all Philly teams do and invested in good players while paying them money that should go to great players over term that should go to no players.

The pats got killed in the offseason.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Well, much like the Giants addition of Cruz and the Cardinals getting their QB back, Dallas getting back Lee is a potential game changer.

I agree on the rookies. But Lee, Hardy and the potential development of Lawrence could make the Dallas defense significantly better just by themselves alone.

As for the running back position, I am not so concerned about "yards" as I am about physicality. Murray helped set a tone and an identity that had ripple effects on the team. Dallas needs to replace that "tone." I don't think replacing the yards is that difficult.

I do agree on the tone that Murray set. I believe they are putting that tone in the hands of the Oline to take the mantle.

 

[perrykemp]

The pats got killed in the offseason.

They do nearly every off-season. It doesn't seem to matter a whole lot. The beat goes on.

 

[Craig]

The pats got killed in the offseason.

I think this offseason went exactly as they hoped it would. Next one will hurt though.

 

[Stash]

I also hear no one mention that they lost Maclin. They had once good receiver and now they have none. Their passing game will scare no one.

Exactly right. I think Chip Kelly is getting way too much benefit of the doubt from many people. The team lost Desean Jackson and Maclin in back-to-back years and sent their best quarterback out the door. They lost a quality starting guard in Herremans and may lose another in Evan Mathis (who's not attending OTA's).
And they released their second best pass rusher in Trent Cole.

I don't see how Dallas losing Murray is a huge deal, but all of the losses the Eagles have had are seemingly glossed over? I'm not forgetting about them, that's for sure.

 

[Stash]

I do agree on the tone that Murray set. I believe they are putting that tone in the hands of the Oline to take the mantle.

And I think the opportunity is being dangled in front of the running backs they do have. Those guys should be told clearly what a great opportunity they have in front of them. 'The last guy to run behind this line led the league in rushing and got himself a huge payday. You want that? Do what he did.'

An oversimplification to be sure, but essentially, that's it. If any of these guys are capable of doing what Murray did, the accolades and rewards are sure to follow.

 

[daveferr33]

The Cowboys have had one of the best off-seasons I have seen a awhile. The Collins signing was a coup of epic proportions. I have been quite optimistic ever since.

 

[Aven8]

I love him. Some have this weird aggression towards him and pretend he quit on the team.

I'm still trying to figure that one out. All he did was come in and save this defense IMO.

 

[jazzcat22]

I haven't kept up with what most other teams have done this off season as I normally did. Of course I feel like Dallas has had one of the best, if not the best. But also have not much knowledge on most teams and their moves. But from what little I do know or have seen, it wasn't as good as what fell to us in the draft and UDFA in Collins. With 3 first round talent players plus Hardy, getting McClain back.

All teams get players back from IR. We get Lee, Giants get Cruz, and all teams have players going into their 2nd year. We get Lawrence.
Dolphins got Suh, but in us getting Hardy, who got any other true impact FA. I ask because I can't remember, if any. Maybe Murray to Eagles, but will he impact them with a lesser OL than he had with Dallas. Remains to be seen. He won't be no bum though.

I do know what the Eagles did, is overrated IMO. For reasons already mentioned. But I won't take it for granted they will be any worse either.
All teams at this time of the year are healthy. Well a few teams lost a player already. Broncos an OL, and I think the Jaguars lost a 1st round pick too from injuries already. But most teams at this time of year being healthy, feel good about their off season, and feel they improved.

It all starts way to far away....need to get through the next 7 weeks dang...too long....well, we have a week of OTA's, and mini camp, then the long drought.

 

[xwalker]

Yes, of course it included the draft.

You should have included names in your OP. Not everyone have other team's moves committed to memory.

 

[ErikWilliamsHeadSlap]

Dallas has had a debatably good offseason (probably debated more on other teams' forums than on here). Added strength to DL/DE - although how much we don't know due to several factors. Added depth to OL (although lost a good swing tackle). Added captain LB. Added potential good CB ("good" is optimistic for a rookie at that position). Lost good/very good RB.

However a lot of other teams had pretty good off seasons too.

1. Eagles improved QB (we are assuming no injuries in any of this analysis). Improved RB (depth at the very least). Improved LB. Improved Secondary.

Huh? QB is no sure improvement. As for the secondary, they signed the worst player of that particular unit in Seattle and it cost them a lot to do it.

2. Giants. Added Cruz back. Offense in 2nd year of new system with best potential receiver combo in league.

Cruz may or may not be back to his old self. Odell is not the biggest guy. We'll see if he can make it through an entire season. O-Line not ant better. Defense not any better.

3. Seattle. Improved TE. Retain most key parts to championship.

Lost Maxwell, but perhaps more importantly lost their aura of invincibility from their own point of view. Also, lost trust in coaching staff? Wilson was supposed to be an easy contract extension yet ...


4. GB. Improved receiving core while retaining most key parts to very good team.

Their receiving corp didn't need improving and they did not help themselves enough on defense. Aaron always gives them a chance but it wasn't enough last year, was it?

5. Patriots. Retained parts to championship team.

They only sniffed the Superbowl because they have a weak division, and a weak conference and oh yeah, Revis and Browner. Not only did they lose them, they lost pretty much every other CB on their roster and Wilfork, their anchor on defense.

6. Vikings. 2nd year for rising QB. Added Peterson. Improved good defense.

Forgive me if I don't raise the defcon level over the Viqueens just yet.

7. Cardinals. Retained major pieces to very good defense. Got QB back. Improved RB. Improved OL.

Uhm...lost the guy that made that defense what it was. And the defense made the team what it was.


Other teams that improved - Jets, Bills and Dolphins (3 2015 opponents).

Their QBs didn't improve any.

The level of play looks to be as high as ever this upcoming year in the battle for Superbowl 2015.
That's because everyone else will have to go through us.

 

[Doomsday101]

Outside of Philly and NY who both play us pretty tough I would say GB, Seattle and Cards are the teams I'm most concerned about. I would have added Det to the list but I think the hits that took on defense is going to come back and hurt them quite a bit