How much better could we be after the draft?

[big dog cowboy]

How much better could we be after the draft?

I expect our team to be more improved by getting healthy more than any impact from the draft.

 

[BigStar]

I expect our team to be more improved by getting healthy more than any impact from the draft.

Are you talking about Romo? Lee I understand but who else, Crawford/Bass?

 

[Afigueroa22]

We can't get any worse, can we?

 

[JBS]

Who is Johnson?

Matty vanilla ice Johnson

 

[ChooChoo73]

The cynic in me (or realist) says 8-8. For optimism sake, if we hit on a pass rusher and defensive tackle and have some good fortune with health, we could blossom into a 9 or 10 win season. Yes....... blossom.

Any safety, receiver and RB in the draft to me is irrelevant to our success.

 

[T-RO]

We can't get any worse, can we?

From 8-8?

 

[T-RO]

I expect our team to be more improved by getting healthy more than any impact from the draft.

Again...25 teams are saying the same thing. Probably 30.

 

[rwalters31]

How much better could we be after the draft? It is quite possible we might be much better. What is the reason for today's optimism? Past history. We have drafted better lately, and lots of guys that we have had out eye on have turned out to be "ballers". Bobby Wagner comes to mind. Maybe this turns out to be the year, the cards fall our way for a change.

We could trade down a few spots and reasonably assume we could get a starter on the DL in the first. I'm not talking about just a player who fills a position ... I am talking about this year's Travis Frederick. This one isn't a stretch at all.

In the second round, is it that far fetched to believe that it is impossible for us to find a stud linebacker in the draft? It happened with Lee. It almost happened with Wagoner. It happens again for us this year. By round two, we could have a new defensive lineman, and a stud linebacker who can plug and play this year.

In round three it is all about value. If we acquire another pick in the third via a trade down, it isn't that far fetched to believe that this year's DeMarco Murry is setting there for the taking. A guy that we value as a first round pick is there for the taking .... and we take him. That gives us the option of keeping Murrray and having depth at running back, or if the price of keeping him is too steep to let him walk at the end of this year.

With the other third round pick, it is possible that this year's Terrance Williams is there for the taking, or maybe a guard falls to us there and we solidify the offensive line a bit more.

Is it that hard to believe with all the picks we have in the 4th through 7th rounds that we can't add another decent wide receiver (think Harris), a dt (think Ratliff) maybe a stud punter in the 7th round, and a guy like Millard who could help out the offense?

We're Screwed!!
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...er--More/f36d85a7-e5d3-4783-a0c2-974d16a505a6

 

[Afigueroa22]

From 8-8?

That statement was my attempt at humor. At 8-8 you can either get better the next year or worse. Me and OP would both be wrong since the last three years have been 8-8 and i'm hinting at a fourth. It's not really funny now that I write it out like this. ha.

 

[Next Years Champ]

Or maybe we have healthy safeties for the first time in forever and they turn out to be who we hoped they would be and we end up with (gasp) serviceable safety play at a low cap cost. Shudder. It is unthinkable!!

Coaching.

That will have to improve on defense with Marrinelli taking over.

That's a tall order.

And the safeties may indeed be serviceable if they learn the scheme better.

We heard alot of mention about them not understanding their playbook..

about them not getting enough about their assignments in classroom.

The coaches have to stop that immediately.

Whether its true or not..I think all the players need more classroom basics.

They make too many mental errors in games and that means they are poorly coached.

That is major IMO.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

We have some good young talent on the team (Smith, Murray, Frederick, Lee). Unfortunately, some of our best young talent (Murray and Lee) have injury issues. We also have a lot of young potential that has been underachieveing (Claiborne, Carter). We need a little luck that Murray and Lee can stay healthy and Claiborne and Carter can get their acts together. Honestly, I think there are too many if's though. The only really young superstar we have in Smith. I think our talent is very overrated.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Isn't the OP's question just another form of how high is up?

I'm certain there is a number for all the combinations of outcome. And with each, the results still have so many more aspects which will influence each individual's effectiveness.

Further, even if this board were to list out all the possibilities of the first round alone, most would be incorrect if for nothing else than the other teams drafting before Dallas.

Can you look on the bright side and suggest this will be a positive result?

Sure.

Is it likely?

At this point just about as likely as a negative one.

But then at this time of the year, as well as every other time of the year in regard to the Dallas Cowboys, there will always be those who hope. Fact is I bet all of us hope for the best.

 

[Bullflop]

Theoretically, if a successful draft transpired with d-linemen who are proven capable, we could possibly do much better. Also, much depends upon the sustained health of those like Ware, Bass and Crawford who missed time last season, assuming Ware returns, that is. What happens with Spencer remains to be seen. Hatcher will more than likely move on but even that isn't written in stone. We'll see. Another rash of injuries, however, could again threaten to be our ruination if sufficient depth doesn't materialize. It's a shaky proposition.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Its going to take at least 2 seasons to build the defense. Then maybe in the third we can contend. But that could be the do or die year for the boys. That could be romos last year. Then we could be looking at 4-5 years of 4-12, 5-11 until we get a decent qb again.

 

[AsthmaField]

This draft could have a significant impact on Dallas' fortunes. It is such a deep, fantastic draft that they should come away with three or four starters... particularly on defense.

Here is just one scenario on how it could very easily fall:

1. First round Dallas takes Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh. He should be able to make an impact right away for Marinelli from the 3-tech spot. Perfect for that position. Really a top 5 type talent but because he is a little small, many teams will pass on him early in round 1.
2. They could take Ryan Shazier, OLB Ohio State. This guy is all over the field, is one of the fastest LB's in years, and has DB like athleticism. What is great about him though is his toughness and his instincts. He is a natural LB and plays the position very, very well. Much like Donald, his talent should easily put him in the first round but he is a little small and many defenses will pass on him early. Reminds me very much of Lavonte David. He would step in day 1 at WLB and let Carter, Holloman, and Wilber fight it out of the SLB spot. If it clicks for Carter this year, he could win the SLB job and Shazier, Lee, and an improved Carter would be night and day from last year's unit.
3. A guy like Kelcy Quarles in the third round would put an athletic 1-tech next to Donald and the interior of the DL would be about a million times more athletic than last year's. Quarles is big enough and stout enough to play the 1-tech, but he is still very athletic for a big guy and could create problems for the offense unless they double him... which is of course what Marinelli wants.

The team stated that they want speed and quickness first and foremost on defense. If the draft fell this way, that is exactly what they would get, and it truly could fall this way.

Also, it is possible they get a DL in free agency, someone like Henry Melton who is coming off injury and his old team Chicago is changing schemes. Since Chicago probably won't try to resign him and he is coming off an ACL, I could see him being reasonable enough for Dallas to give him a 1 year deal.

Assuming that happens and they keep Ware, then the DL could look this way:

WDE - Ware/Selvie: Selvie plays much better on the weakside, and he would be more than good enough to back up Ware and give him 15-20 snaps off per game.
3-tech - Donald/Melton: A rotation of those two guys would be very hard to handle as they are both terribly disruptive and they would keep each other fresh. Melton would show Donald the ropes in Marinelli's defense.
1-tech - Quarles/Hayden: They both would be able to stay fresh and Quarles has the athleticism to do some damage on passing downs. Way, way better than Hayden starting and some guy off the street coming in a few times per game.
SDE - Crawford/Bass: Crawford has the potential to be very good and the coaches loved Bass. Both are plenty stout yet are pretty athletic for their size. Also, either could move inside on sure passing downs to help get a push inside.

They say Marinelli's defense begins and ends with the DL... and with two very possible draft picks and one doable free agent, the entire line would be infinitely better and infinitely more dynamic. It would be an astounding difference and one that could win some games for Dallas.

Adding Shazier to the LB unit would add a ton of athleticism there and if Lee stayed healthy and with the winner of the Carter/Holloman/Wilber fight, they wouldn't allow nearly as many plays as last year. Add in the improved DL in front of them and it could be a really big difference.

Of course we are expecting continued growth from Church, Claiborne, Wilcox, Johnson, Heath, Webb, and with the improved DL we should see a big jump in productivity.

Will it happen this way? Who knows, but it isn't far fetched and it would improve the defense a staggering amount, even if you don't factor in the natural improvement we will have from year 1 to yar 2 in this 43 defense.

 

[Nightman]

This draft could have a significant impact on Dallas' fortunes. It is such a deep, fantastic draft that they should come away with three or four starters... particularly on defense.

Here is just one scenario on how it could very easily fall:

1. First round Dallas takes Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh. He should be able to make an impact right away for Marinelli from the 3-tech spot. Perfect for that position. Really a top 5 type talent but because he is a little small, many teams will pass on him early in round 1.
2. They could take Ryan Shazier, OLB Ohio State. This guy is all over the field, is one of the fastest LB's in years, and has DB like athleticism. What is great about him though is his toughness and his instincts. He is a natural LB and plays the position very, very well. Much like Donald, his talent should easily put him in the first round but he is a little small and many defenses will pass on him early. Reminds me very much of Lavonte David. He would step in day 1 at WLB and let Carter, Holloman, and Wilber fight it out of the SLB spot. If it clicks for Carter this year, he could win the SLB job and Shazier, Lee, and an improved Carter would be night and day from last year's unit.
3. A guy like Kelcy Quarles in the third round would put an athletic 1-tech next to Donald and the interior of the DL would be about a million times more athletic than last year's. Quarles is big enough and stout enough to play the 1-tech, but he is still very athletic for a big guy and could create problems for the offense unless they double him... which is of course what Marinelli wants.

The team stated that they want speed and quickness first and foremost on defense. If the draft fell this way, that is exactly what they would get, and it truly could fall this way.

Also, it is possible they get a DL in free agency, someone like Henry Melton who is coming off injury and his old team Chicago is changing schemes. Since Chicago probably won't try to resign him and he is coming off an ACL, I could see him being reasonable enough for Dallas to give him a 1 year deal.

Assuming that happens and they keep Ware, then the DL could look this way:

WDE - Ware/Selvie: Selvie plays much better on the weakside, and he would be more than good enough to back up Ware and give him 15-20 snaps off per game.
3-tech - Donald/Melton: A rotation of those two guys would be very hard to handle as they are both terribly disruptive and they would keep each other fresh. Melton would show Donald the ropes in Marinelli's defense.
1-tech - Quarles/Hayden: They both would be able to stay fresh and Quarles has the athleticism to do some damage on passing downs. Way, way better than Hayden starting and some guy off the street coming in a few times per game.
SDE - Crawford/Bass: Crawford has the potential to be very good and the coaches loved Bass. Both are plenty stout yet are pretty athletic for their size. Also, either could move inside on sure passing downs to help get a push inside.

They say Marinelli's defense begins and ends with the DL... and with two very possible draft picks and one doable free agent, the entire line would be infinitely better and infinitely more dynamic. It would be an astounding difference and one that could win some games for Dallas.

Adding Shazier to the LB unit would add a ton of athleticism there and if Lee stayed healthy and with the winner of the Carter/Holloman/Wilber fight, they wouldn't allow nearly as many plays as last year. Add in the improved DL in front of them and it could be a really big difference.

Of course we are expecting continued growth from Church, Claiborne, Wilcox, Johnson, Heath, Webb, and with the improved DL we should see a big jump in productivity.

Will it happen this way? Who knows, but it isn't far fetched and it would improve the defense a staggering amount, even if you don't factor in the natural improvement we will have from year 1 to yar 2 in this 43 defense.

^^^^This would be incredible. I think the transformation would be fast and substantial.

 

[car351]

^^^^This would be incredible. I think the transformation would be fast and substantial.

Love the optimistic view described here and not totally impossible to see these specific players as available in these rounds. Could only hope that Jerry and company share your opinion for the team's success based on this defensive blueprint, or if not, at least something very similar. Thanks bro, you actually inspire a little hope with this kinda realistic talk. But is it realistic with these guys? I sure hope so.

 

[Nightman]

Love the optimistic view described here and not totally impossible to see these specific players as available in these rounds. Could only hope that Jerry and company share your opinion for the team's success based on this defensive blueprint, or if not, at least something very similar. Thanks bro, you actually inspire a little hope with this kinda realistic talk. But is it realistic with these guys? I sure hope so.

Asthma did all the hard work. I think a heavy DL draft, a big time DL Free Agent and bringing Ware back on a new deal will make a huge difference. Add in healthy Crawford and Bass to nice finds in Selvie and Hayden as rotational guys and the turn around will be quicker than normal. The OL is pretty set, as are the RBs, WRs, TEs and CBs. Tony and Garrett got an Offensive heavy draft last year, time for a Defense heavy one this year.

 

[ChooChoo73]

From 8-8?

It appears not.

 

[Next Years Champ]

We have some good young talent on the team (Smith, Murray, Frederick, Lee). Unfortunately, some of our best young talent (Murray and Lee) have injury issues. We also have a lot of young potential that has been underachieveing (Claiborne, Carter). We need a little luck that Murray and Lee can stay healthy and Claiborne and Carter can get their acts together. Honestly, I think there are too many if's though. The only really young superstar we have in Smith. I think our talent is very overrated.

Over-rated is not the word.

Its worst than that.

Since 2007 we have been oversold on what we had in talent and our top draft choices really failed to make any differences.

so now I think the fog has cleared..as Bill Parcells always reminded this team.."You are what your record says you are"..

Now, as fans, we have accept the reality that this team is still severely handicapped in talent and now with the cap problems..

even less help is on the way since FA is going to escape us as an avenue for improvement.

So..

if we as fans can lower our expectations and take more of a supportive, positive approach to the team..

..complete with being happy if we can just be competitive in our own division this year with all these new players..

it will be OK DTR.