I just don't get the Zach Thomas signing.

[superpunk]

yes, and still no. Wade said all summer long last year that Hamlin came in and became the QB of the secondary, not only by calling the secondary but also by making sure people lined up properly.

That's not going to happen just because people 'like you'. They are only going to listen to things like that if they respect you and see you as a leader.

I'm not saying that will for sure happen for Zach but it's also not impossible.

We've taken a very small risk for a potentially fantastic reward. That's how you want to play it, every time.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Hamlin calls the secondary because of his position that does not make him a team leader. He is liked by the other players and I'm sure Thomas will be liked as well but when you enter a team as the newest member you have to prove yourself no one follows you based on what you did some where else.

And I could see a couple of guys on the team (ahem, Bradie "I Am a Leader" James ) thinking that they've been here for years and this new guy just arrived. But I have a feeling that for those who aren't clear on the matter, Wade -- given his obvious admiration for the player -- is going to emphasize that this guy is one of the better linebackers and smartest players in the entire league over the last decade, and you'd best put aside your ego and study and copy the way this guy goes about his business.

 

[Doomsday101]

Of course they know who Zach Thomas is, he isn't coming off the streets either. Hamlin became the leader of the secondary last season.

They know who he is that is not the same as actually knowing the guy. No one just steps into a locker room and becomes the leader, people do not just follow you have to prove yourself and that is not a 1 year deal and when I say streets I mean he has been in Miami he is new to this team there is no background. Thomas became a leader in Miami over the years and rightfully so but you don't walk in to a team and assume leadership. As for Hamlin he called the secondary that is part of the job he has at safety and yes by the end of the year he earned the teams respect but no one comes in and is just handed the role of leader.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

We've taken a very small risk for a potentially fantastic reward. That's how you want to play it, every time.

I do agree that the deal is structured in a nice way to keep us too bad. If he winds up hurt a lot and can't play then it's really only a 2 million dollar deal which is not a huge risk to take on a guy who possibly (Hopefully anyway) will return to his 2006 form and be a tackle machine for ya.

 

[LarryCanadian]

Answer to original question:

Veteran Leadership and Brains! Ignoring his history of executing and making text book technique tackles. It's the smarts and the leadership he brings that the defense needs.

Compare his attitude to the sulker Greg Ellis. One guy wants to win, the other guy wants to play somewhere else, because there is some young competition at his position.

Now I don't know if Thomas can hold up with the concussion problems, but if he can help the short pass defense and yell at the guys in there on defense, he will help, even if not on the field all the time.

I was a bit surprised when they signed him, as I didn't think that is where we would spend our "limited" money, but.....

remember the Toomer touchdown in our playoff loss to the Giants. Ellis missed a tackle he would normally make, Roy took a bad angle (I don't think he'd have caught him anyway) and tripped over a foot forcing a weak diving attempt. Somehow, I just had an image of Thomas catching him and making the sure tackle, saving the TD. Might be total fantasy.

I think Thomas has the anticipation and quick judgement (has a ton of experience and savy) to help the D still.

LarryCanadian

 

[AsthmaField]

We've taken a very small risk for a potentially fantastic reward. That's how you want to play it, every time.

That pretty much sums it up, SP. This could really, REALLY help us, at best. At worst, it could turn out where he's hurt again and we'll just be like we were last year at WILB (Akin and Burnett), which isn't too bad.

It's a WIN/win with the worst case leaving us as good as last year. I'll take that.

 

[Doomsday101]

And I could see a couple of guys on the team (ahem, Bradie "I Am a Leader" James ) thinking that they've been here for years and this new guy just arrived. But I have a feeling that for those who aren't clear on the matter, Wade -- given his obvious admiration for the player -- is going to emphasize that this guy is one of the better linebackers and smartest players in the entire league over the last decade, and you'd best put aside your ego and study and copy the way this guy goes about his business.

Thomas has to prove he can even play an entire season he has not done anything in Dallas so he has earned nothing yet with the Cowboys and did close to nothing last year due to his injury. He was just released from his own team and you think he will just walk in and take over as the leader of the defense? You got to be kidding, leadership is earned on a team not leadership because I was the leader at another team. Thomas was brought here because they feel he can still contribute as a player, we are not bring him here to be a coach.

 

[superpunk]

And I could see a couple of guys on the team (ahem, Bradie "I Am a Leader" James ) thinking that they've been here for years and this new guy just arrived. But I have a feeling that for those who aren't clear on the matter, Wade -- given his obvious admiration for the player -- is going to emphasize that this guy is one of the better linebackers and smartest players in the entire league over the last decade, and you'd best put aside your ego and study and copy the way this guy goes about his business.

He's not going to come in and be made captain.

He's going to come in and "lead" by example, and show the players on this team what it takes to be one of the best LBs of his generation. People can ramble on about whether that makes him a leader of this team upon his arrival, but I don't think that matters. He's an intense guy who leads by his example. If we have players who are too stupid to recognize it and emulate it, then they probably won't be Cowboys too much longer.

Thomas has to prove he can even play an entire season he has not done anything in Dallas so he has earned nothing yet with the Cowboys and did close to nothing last year due to his injury. He was just released from his own team and you think he will just walk in and take over as the leader of the defense? You got to be kidding, leadership is earned on a team not leadership because I was the leader at another team. Thomas was brought he because they feel he can still contribute as a player, we are not bring him here to be a coach.

blah blah blah blah blah

That pretty much sums it up, SP. This could really, REALLY help us, at best. At worst, it could turn out where he's hurt again and we'll just be like we were last year at WILB (Akin and Burnett), which isn't too bad.

It's a WIN/win with the worst case leaving us as good as last year. I'll take that.

We win no matter what. That's always good.

 

[YosemiteSam]

He's not going to come in and be made captain.

Captain, turbulence two times! (((Uwa))) (((Uwa)))

 

[AsthmaField]

And I could see a couple of guys on the team (ahem, Bradie "I Am a Leader" James ) thinking that they've been here for years and this new guy just arrived. But I have a feeling that for those who aren't clear on the matter, Wade -- given his obvious admiration for the player -- is going to emphasize that this guy is one of the better linebackers and smartest players in the entire league over the last decade, and you'd best put aside your ego and study and copy the way this guy goes about his business.

I agree. While I do think that he'll have to come in and prove himself, like Dooms101 is saying... it won't take long for the players to see what he brings to the table and look to his decade plus of experience for advice, etc. I don't think it will take long at all. His name and the respect he garners around the NFL will speak volumes.

If we had an older defense with a lot of wiley vets, then I wouldn't be for this pick-up as much as I am. I'd want younger, fresher legs on defense.

However... with as many young, inexperienced guys as we have on that side of the ball, I think one of the few things we were missing last year on defense was some fire and a guy like Zach who leaves it all out on the field. When guys see their teammate giving it everything he has... playing with a fire and passion for the game, it can't help but be a positive influence.

When they have a guy with that much experience to draw upon and who has that much saavy in the defensive huddle, it can't be anything other than a huge help.

We have a defense full of young guys who have all the athleticism you could want. What we lacked was exactly what Thomas will bring.

 

[khiladi]

Hamlin calls the secondary because of his position that does not make him a team leader. He is liked by the other players and I'm sure Thomas will be liked as well but when you enter a team as the newest member you have to prove yourself no one follows you based on what you did some where else.

Per the words of Wade, as soon as he stepped foot on the practice field, he was a leader and started taking command.

 

[Doomsday101]

He's not going to come in and be made captain.

He's going to come in and "lead" by example, and show the players on this team what it takes to be one of the best LBs of his generation. People can ramble on about whether that makes him a leader of this team upon his arrival, but I don't think that matters. He's an intense guy who leads by his example. If we have players who are too stupid to recognize it and emulate it, then they probably won't be Cowboys too much longer.


blah blah blah blah blah

I said he may be able to lead by example that is a bit different than being looked at by others as a team leader. Thomas like any player has to earn that from his teammates; it is not handed to you and does not follow you. Right now Thomas is the guy who was just released by his former team he comes in with a lot to prove.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

He was just released from his own team and you think he will just walk in and take over as the leader of the defense? You got to be kidding, leadership is earned on a team not leadership because I was the leader at another team.

So let's say Tom Brady or Peyton Manning were traded to the Cardinals. You don't think they would become instant leaders on offense because the Cards players would have the mindset that the new QB hadn't done anything with a scowling red bird on his hat?

Like Superpunk suggested, if players aren't smart enough to realize that hey, this guy has done far more in this league than I have in my career, he's a future hall of famer and a consummate professional, and I'd better emulate him as much as I can... Then they're either too stupid or too egotistical to ever be very good players.

 

[Hostile]

I have only one regret about the acquisition of Zach Thomas. It probably means by Zach Thomas clone ILB prospect, Spencer Larsen won't be drafted.

Of course that's always a 1 in 32 proposition anyway. Who better for him to learn from though? Perfect fit.

 

[Dallas]

Thomas will be trying to fit in with Dallas anyone thinks he steps in and takes over leadership is kidding themselves. If what people mean is leading by example I would agree but I doubt players will look to the newest member of the team as the leader of the defense.

You do realize Ken Hamlin came in and took over the leadership of this defense last year? I think that it was also his 1st year in Dallas?


Just saying.

 

[Doomsday101]

Per the words of Wade, as soon as he stepped foot on the practice field, he was a leader and started taking command.

To who? Our players are off who is he leading? I'm sure Wade has many great things to say about Taylor but you earn it and he will have to earn it. If he ends up dealing with continued injury problems he would not have earn jack from teammates. Taylor is the one who was let go from Miami he has a lot to prove right now, Dallas did not give him a big contract why? How long is this contract? 1 year so he will be the leader of the defense for 1 whole year? Get a clue leadership is earned over a period of time. Thomas job with Dallas will be to come in and contribute to this team based off his play, no one brings in a guy to be a team leader for 1 season.

 

[AsthmaField]

I have only one regret about the acquisition of Zach Thomas. It probably means by Zach Thomas clone ILB prospect, Spencer Larsen won't be drafted.

Of course that's always a 1 in 32 proposition anyway. Who better for him to learn from though? Perfect fit.

Where did Larsen play Hos?

I've been busy and haven't been able to pay that much attention to the pre-draft info this year.

I'm about to rectify that though.

 

[YosemiteSam]

To who? Our players are off who is he leading?

He is refering to Hamlin last year in reference to the fact that Thomas could do it also.

 

[Hostile]

Where did Larsen play Hos?

I've been busy and haven't been able to pay that much attention to the pre-draft info this year.

I'm about to rectify that though.

Arizona Wildcats. Check him out on youtube. The guy is always around the ball.

 

[Dallas]

Arizona Wildcats. Check him out on youtube. The guy is always around the ball.

heheh!!


HOMER !! You don't see me linking youtube videos when talking about Malcomb Kelly.

I suppose I could. I bet there are some goodn'z.