How to get through the brick wall

[Irvin88_4life]

So the season is over and we are left to think about what could have been. I have heard comparisons to the 91 team. While our team was the youngest in the playoffs this year what did the 91 team do to get over the hump? They went out and got Haley. Ask the question who can be this teams Haley?

First we also have to remember this team has more holes then the 91 team. We could use an upgrade at DT and safety spot at least on defense. Offense, perhaps another running back but I don't think a backup running back takes the team over the top. TE is a very good choice, a guy like Travis Kelce could really make this offense go. Perhaps another receiver to go with Gallup and Cooper. OL could be helped as well, getting Frederick back will be a boost and I think Williams will be a much better player.

Let's with the offense first. Many guys have debated that Williams should go to RT and Collins should go back to LG. Getting Frederick back really helps this OL but with the picks invested in this group they have to play much better. TE is needing upgraded the most, Jarwin and Shultz were decent. Rico needs to go, he dropped a pass against the Rams on 3rd and long that would have been a first down. Swaim has a hard time staying healthy so I would move on when we can. At receiver I would let Beasley walk and draft another guy. At QB we are in a great spot with the franchise guy in Dak on the roster. I want to see how White has developed but with Moore most likely not very much. Backup QB is a question but luckily we have a tough grown man as the starter.

Defense played well this season. Had a big let down against the Rams but still a solid group. Our Haley will need to be at DT or safety. That's the weak spots right now. Heath is a backup guy but I like Woods a ton. At DT I would say go ahead and grab 2 maybe 3. Irving can be dependable, Collins is hurt and Woods played above his ability. At LB we have 2 really solid starters in Jaylon and Leighton. Need some depth there as I expect Lee to be gone. Could look to FA and maybe the draft.

Kicker and punter needs to be looked at this offseason. Jones didn't look good at all this year and Mayer looks great sometimes and then looks like a middle school girl the other times. He did make a game saving tackle though but getting competition in camp will be huge. Only way we should keep him is if he beats out his competition.

That leaves us to coaching. This is most likely the main thing we can do to help the team the most. Garrett I'm ok with staying as head coach but both coordinators have to go. Not only is Linehan gone but Moore can hit rocks as well unless he wants to learn under a real QB coach for a few years to learn the position.

In conclusion this team needs some work but not as many think. Some depth on defense but a new safety and DT or 2 will put this team in elite status. Offense also need depth but a new starter at TE and some fixing on this OL. Let's have a very good offseason folks, this is a very important one. It will decide if we make another run or fall off and miss the playoffs again. We shall see

 

[Willfreedom909]

We get our o-line back and a REAL tight end... our offense will be better than 2016.

We accomplished this much with a depleted WR core, duct tape O-line, and no tight end.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

We get our o-line back and a REAL tight end... our offense will be better than 2016.

We accomplished this much with a depleted WR core, duct tape O-line, and no tight end.

I agree. Without Dak this team would have had a top 5 pick

 

[Fritsch_the_cat]

We get our o-line back and a REAL tight end... our offense will be better than 2016.

We accomplished this much with a depleted WR core, duct tape O-line, and no tight end.

I thought the TE's came on pretty strong late in the year, I'm not overly concerned with that position. I agree the O-line has to get healthy. It's essential to the Cowboys power run scheme. It's what hurt them late in the year. The O-line used to have opposing D's beaten down late in the game but that got turned around.

 

[jazzcat22]

Agree OC and DC to an extent needs to be changed. OC, we all debated that over and over. DC, I hope if Richard does take over, he does not have the 1-tech / 3-tech philosophy. That has to go.

We really aren't that many players away from getting there. Can't fix it all in one year. But look t the last 2 years. They tried to maintain the OL, but injuries don't help. Witten retired at the draft, and that hurt. But the TE's were improving. I am ok with them, except the Rico experiment must end.
If there is a sure fire can't miss TE there, and is the BPA so far above all other, take him. If it is close, go S or DT one the 2nd, and the other in the 3rd.

Sign ET, draft a S and DT. Those are the biggest areas of concern. Look at the past 2 years, they fixed CB's, tried at S, and fixed LB too.

S, DT, TE, OL depth, shifty RB. Maybe another WR, depending what happens with Beasley and Austin.

 

[CPanther95]

They need to be very active in FA.

The draft is for next year's depth, not for filling holes. Any production from rookies should be gravy, not part of the game plan entering the 2019 season - especially without a 1st rd. pick.

EDIT: LOL - as soon as I entered this post, I saw the thread on the forum someone just posted with Stephen Jones' FA comments.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Agree OC and DC to an extent needs to be changed. OC, we all debated that over and over. DC, I hope if Richard does take over, he does not have the 1-tech / 3-tech philosophy. That has to go.

We really aren't that many players away from getting there. Can't fix it all in one year. But look t the last 2 years. They tried to maintain the OL, but injuries don't help. Witten retired at the draft, and that hurt. But the TE's were improving. I am ok with them, except the Rico experiment must end.
If there is a sure fire can't miss TE there, and is the BPA so far above all other, take him. If it is close, go S or DT one the 2nd, and the other in the 3rd.

Sign ET, draft a S and DT. Those are the biggest areas of concern. Look at the past 2 years, they fixed CB's, tried at S, and fixed LB too.

S, DT, TE, OL depth, shifty RB. Maybe another WR, depending what happens with Beasley and Austin.

I agree with everything you said

 

[Crown Royal]

We get our o-line back and a REAL tight end... our offense will be better than 2016.

We accomplished this much with a depleted WR core, duct tape O-line, and no tight end.

I want to be able to Super-Like this post.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

The one thing to remember is that in 1991, people wanted the backup over the starter QB

 

[Direwolf63]

With this head coach the divisional round is the ceiling.

There is no getting better.

 

[Clove]

Jerry needs to rediscover his balls IMO. This is not the time to be conservative.

 

[JustChip]

I thought the TE's came on pretty strong late in the year, I'm not overly concerned with that position. I agree the O-line has to get healthy. It's essential to the Cowboys power run scheme. It's what hurt them late in the year. The O-line used to have opposing D's beaten down late in the game but that got turned around.

I agree on both the TE and the OL. The Rams validated our running game emphasis philosophy and they were successful in no small part because they were able to start the same 5 guys every game.

 

[Creeper]

I'd bring Beasley back. It so easy to say "we'll draft another guy", but the guy has to be available then he has to be able to play at the pro-level. Let's see what Beasley wants and if its not ridiculous, I'd make him an offer. I was listening to Pat Kerwin on the radio earlier and he said he is starting to love the Cowboys receivers with Gallup, Beasley and Cooper. So we get a group that can make plays and the first thing we do is blow it up? This is how we go from 13-3 one year to 6-10 the next. Can we get TWill on the field next year? At him to Cooper, Gallup and Beasley and we have something to fear. I also believe the OL will be better when Frederick comes back and Williams has a year to get bigger and stronger. My prediction for most improve Cowboys in 2019 is Dalton Schultz. You heard it hear first!

We need to fix the problems without creating new ones. This team does not need a rebuild, it just need a few gaps filled and a few players to develop. Keep this team in place if possible and get a stud DT. I Love A Woods too, as a rotational guy. I would love a guy like Hicks of the Bears or Chris Jones of the Chiefs, or Fletcher Cox even more. Let's look at the free agents and see if we can find one. Fill that hole. Fill the weakness at safety. I like Jeff Heath too. Good guy, but not good enough for me. Bad instincts. Are we willing to pay Landon Collins? Would he come here? Will the Giants franchise him? Give me two players on defense and I will guarantee the Rams are not running for 273 next year.

As for QB, Dak is young and inexperienced. He has his flaws and we saw it Saturday during the 2nd quarter. But he was a lot better Saturday than he was earlier int he year. I'd give him another year before I give up on him. He has something. He can make things happen. I would try to coach him to use his legs more when he sees the opportunity and have him run those options with Zeke more but overall, I see improvement and I hope to see even more next season. Earlier in the year I said this team could not win with Dak at QB, but I have changed my mind. He has his flaws but he is good enough if they solve the other problems. And I do think Dak is going to get better.

The biggest improvement this team could make is to update their playbook. But we know that's not going to happen so we have to have better players than everyone else.

 

[JustChip]

I'd bring Beasley back. It so easy to say "we'll draft another guy", but the guy has to be available then he has to be able to play at the pro-level. Let's see what Beasley wants and if its not ridiculous, I'd make him an offer. I was listening to Pat Kerwin on the radio earlier and he said he is starting to love the Cowboys receivers with Gallup, Beasley and Cooper. So we get a group that can make plays and the first thing we do is blow it up? This is how we go from 13-3 one year to 6-10 the next. Can we get TWill on the field next year? At him to Cooper, Gallup and Beasley and we have something to fear. I also believe the OL will be better when Frederick comes back and Williams has a year to get bigger and stronger. My prediction for most improve Cowboys in 2019 is Dalton Schultz. You heard it hear first!

We need to fix the problems without creating new ones. This team does not need a rebuild, it just need a few gaps filled and a few players to develop. Keep this team in place if possible and get a stud DT. I Love A Woods too, as a rotational guy. I would love a guy like Hicks of the Bears or Chris Jones of the Chiefs, or Fletcher Cox even more. Let's look at the free agents and see if we can find one. Fill that hole. Fill the weakness at safety. I like Jeff Heath too. Good guy, but not good enough for me. Bad instincts. Are we willing to pay Landon Collins? Would he come here? Will the Giants franchise him? Give me two players on defense and I will guarantee the Rams are not running for 273 next year.

As for QB, Dak is young and inexperienced. He has his flaws and we saw it Saturday during the 2nd quarter. But he was a lot better Saturday than he was earlier int he year. I'd give him another year before I give up on him. He has something. He can make things happen. I would try to coach him to use his legs more when he sees the opportunity and have him run those options with Zeke more but overall, I see improvement and I hope to see even more next season. Earlier in the year I said this team could not win with Dak at QB, but I have changed my mind. He has his flaws but he is good enough if they solve the other problems. And I do think Dak is going to get better.

The biggest improvement this team could make is to update their playbook. But we know that's not going to happen so we have to have better players than everyone else.

Excellent post. The most important sentence is "We need to fix the problems without creating new ones." I like Beas too, but they could get backed into a relative value corner vs. another position (e.g., safety). We just have to see how this plays out.

I wouldn't mind a new playbook, but a total rewrite means everyone has to start over learning anew. I think an augmentation with some wrinkles makes more sense; after all, the run emphasis philosophy was just validated by the Rams. Along with the wrinkles though, is a change in play-calling. It just seems we don't have a feel for what's happening in the game and adjusting accordingly. The 4th down where Zeke was stuffed for a loss is an example. Yes, we made it with Zeke earlier on basically the same play to the other side, but we weren't just killing it running the ball, particularly inside. I was really hoping to see something that would catch the Rams defense completely off-guard like the Aikman to Ishmail on 3rd and 2 in the Washington OT game in 99.

 

[MCMetal69]

Another important acquisition before the start of the glorious 1992 season was Thomas Everett to play strong safety in addition to Haley.............