If Murray leaves & we dont sign Hardy / Ghost of Barber Moss

[ccb04]

At LDE, it won't take much to get better production. Spencer & Selvie combined for 3.5 sacks in 2014.

I'd love to add Hardy's talent. Just not sure it's even a real consideration. They've built their O-Line via the draft, and I think they may want to do mostly the same with the D-Line. Sheard was a guy that made sense & cents to me (and others), but he's now a Patriot on a 2 year/$11 mil. deal.

Not that it's ideal...but they could be looking at doing something like: LDE: Mincey ... RDE: Lawrence
Then perhaps signing a guy like Adrian Clayborn (visiting Atlanta) to add to the rotation...with Gardner back. Perhaps look to draft someone like Orchard to rotate at RDE...or a guy that could play LB & move to DE like Harold, McKinney, etc.

Was hoping to retain Murray to keep offensive continuity/relationships together...but don't want to get into a bidding war & overpay to do it. Murray being solid in all facets & Romo/Witten's windows is one of the main reasons. That said, not crazy about the Eagles/Bradford angle. Gurley, Gordon, Ajayi, Coleman, etc. come into play...perhaps with a Spiller or a lesser vet. Possibly also see what a guy like Forsett is looking for (how much for how long).

Be interesting to see how it all plays out. We should know with Murray pretty quick.

 

[ccb04]

Just like Dallas lost DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher and Sean Lee from their historically bad 2013 defense and so were going to be even that much worse?

It just doesn't work that way or Dallas would have had an all-time bad defense in 2014... but they didn't.

There are other factors that will add to the defense and not take away from it:

This year, Sean Lee will be back, so in essence they are exchanging Sean Lee for Bruce Carter.

DeMarcus Lawrence should provide a very nice pass rush (like he did in the playoffs) while he basically provided nothing for the entire 2014 regular season.

Probably at least two high round (1-3) defensive players will replace two back end roster types. For example, if Dallas picks DE Alvin Dupree at 27, then the top 4 DE's would be say, Lawrence, Dupree, Mincey, and Spencer. Last year with both Lawrence and Spencer out for almost the entire year, DE was Mincey, Selvie, and who then... maybe Lavar Edwards and Jack Crawford?

That could be an extremely upgraded DE unit with Lawrence and Spencer contributing for the whole season and Dupree (or another DE pick) added to Mincey.

Frankly, I'm not sure Dallas would just break even if they didn't sign even one DL free agent.

That's without taking into consideration that this will be year 2 of Marinelli being defensive coordinator. That is typically when defenses kind of take off with a new DC.

Very well said **!

 

[Galian Beast]

Just like Dallas lost DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher and Sean Lee from their historically bad 2013 defense and so were going to be even that much worse?

It just doesn't work that way or Dallas would have had an all-time bad defense in 2014... but they didn't.

There are other factors that will add to the defense and not take away from it:

This year, Sean Lee will be back, so in essence they are exchanging Sean Lee for Bruce Carter.

DeMarcus Lawrence should provide a very nice pass rush (like he did in the playoffs) while he basically provided nothing for the entire 2014 regular season.

Probably at least two high round (1-3) defensive players will replace two back end roster types. For example, if Dallas picks DE Alvin Dupree at 27, then the top 4 DE's would be say, Lawrence, Dupree, Mincey, and Spencer. Last year with both Lawrence and Spencer out for almost the entire year, DE was Mincey, Selvie, and who then... maybe Lavar Edwards and Jack Crawford?

That could be an extremely upgraded DE unit with Lawrence and Spencer contributing for the whole season and Dupree (or another DE pick) added to Mincey.

Frankly, I'm not sure Dallas would just break even if they didn't sign even one DL free agent.

That's without taking into consideration that this will be year 2 of Marinelli being defensive coordinator. That is typically when defenses kind of take off with a new DC.

Actually the team's decision not to upgrade the defensive line lead directly to the defense struggling the entire year and probably the loss in Green Bay.

We've gotten considerably worse on defense with the loss of the linebackers now as well. When you consider the fact that the secondary is probably the strongest group on defense now, you will realize that the Cowboys have dropped the ball here.

It should be noted that we still haven't re-signed McClain. And for what it matters we still haven't signed Spencer.

What makes matters worse is that we're also probably going to get worse on offense assuming we lose Murray.

Stop making excuses and ignoring the reality of the situation.

 

[therock1982]

Offseason isn't won in free agency.

Offseason is won with the draft.

but when you enter the draft with glaring holes you end up drafting for need which leaves you packaging picks to reach for players
So in order to draft well you need to fill your holes in free agency and draft bpa-thats how you build a strong roster

 

[CashMan]

Yes ghosts of X-mas past will play a role. Fact Murray under any work load gets nicked up. Yes he played 16 games last year he still got hurt, he only played those games hurt because he knew every yard he got would put him in elite territory. If this was the 2013 season I bet he sits most of those games if not all. MB3 was a closer RB, best suited to be in RBBC but Jerry payed him bonafide starter money and made him starter which destroyed his effectiveness in the 4th quarter. The same wear and tear they saw with MB3 they apparently see with Murray and with his injury history do you pay elite money to back that gets hurt every year and the only time he wants to nut up is in a contract drive. People point to the workload and that is part of the equation, his injury history is another. You can compare him to Emmitt or anyone else but the thing is Jerry does not want to invest in a RB that will only play 13-14 games a season.

Well said.

 

[windward]

Actually the team's decision not to upgrade the defensive line lead directly to the defense struggling the entire year and probably the loss in Green Bay.

We've gotten considerably worse on defense with the loss of the linebackers now as well. When you consider the fact that the secondary is probably the strongest group on defense now, you will realize that the Cowboys have dropped the ball here.

It should be noted that we still haven't re-signed McClain. And for what it matters we still haven't signed Spencer.

What makes matters worse is that we're also probably going to get worse on offense assuming we lose Murray.

Stop making excuses and ignoring the reality of the situation.

While we are telling others what to do why don't you stop freaking out three days into the league year?

 

[Galian Beast]

While we are telling others what to do why don't you stop freaking out three days into the league year?

Cut the hyperbole and stick with the facts.

 

[AsthmaField]

Actually the team's decision not to upgrade the defensive line lead directly to the defense struggling the entire year and probably the loss in Green Bay.

We've gotten considerably worse on defense with the loss of the linebackers now as well. When you consider the fact that the secondary is probably the strongest group on defense now, you will realize that the Cowboys have dropped the ball here.

It should be noted that we still haven't re-signed McClain. And for what it matters we still haven't signed Spencer.

What makes matters worse is that we're also probably going to get worse on offense assuming we lose Murray.

Stop making excuses and ignoring the reality of the situation.

You don't know the outcome of all this any more than you did last year.

 

[Stash]

I guess you haven't heard that there is thing called the NFL Draft and the rest of the offseason. Give me a break with this overreacting nonsense.

And you're aware that rookie DE's do nothing when they first enter the league, right?

 

[davey999]

By the time we build our D Line through the draft, Romo will be long gone.

 

[davey999]

And you're aware that rookie DE's do nothing when they first enter the league, right?

Plus how many holes are we going to fill with a low pick in a shallow draft?

 

[mldardy]

And you're aware that rookie DE's do nothing when they first enter the league, right?

Do nothing? No I'm not aware of that. And thanks for narrowing it down to DE's as if that is the only position on the field.

 

[Stash]

Do nothing? No I'm not aware of that. And thanks for narrowing it down to DE's as if that is the only position on the field.

Yeah, you can look that up. Rookie pass rushers do very little. And pass rush is the team's biggest need, but if you think adding another corner will fix that, more power to ya.

 

[mldardy]

Yeah, you can look that up. Rookie pass rushers do very little. And pass rush is the team's biggest need, but if you think adding another corner will fix that, more power to ya.

Yeah I don't need to look it up. You didn't get the sarcasm in my post. My point is instead of overpaying for a player that is probably going to be just as non-productive as a rookie save Greg Hardy the draft is more important to building your team without being hamstrung for years.

 

[supercowboy8]

Right now they've lost

Harris - ST ace w/ upside as WR
Carter - Solid LB w/ upside
Parnell - Good backup RT/LT w/ upside as a starter
Durant - Solid LB - even if it's just 1/2 the year
if they lose Murray too - Solid RB who fits with what Dallas does

These are all holes that now have to be filled as the roster currently doesn't have those just waiting in the wings. Plus, majority are players that still had upside, not just aging vets.

I'm not trying to say Dallas should have matched any of those deals the players got...but to think this team isn't CURRENTLY worse isn't smart money. Now, hopefully once all the smoke clears during FA, they will have plugged some of those holes back up. If not, relying on the draft to fill all those holes, on top of a non-existent pass rush is scary and a huge roll of the dice, when there is only bout a 2 year window with Romo.

That not a loss if the deals were to high and not of value. All those guys can easily be replaced.

 

[supercowboy8]

Yeah, you can look that up. Rookie pass rushers do very little. And pass rush is the team's biggest need, but if you think adding another corner will fix that, more power to ya.

Rookie DE do very little at first I agree. It takes time to adapt. But CB is the hardest position for a rookie.

 

[Stash]

Yeah I don't need to look it up. You didn't get the sarcasm in my post. My point is instead of overpaying for a player that is probably going to be just as non-productive as a rookie save Greg Hardy the draft is more important to building your team without being hamstrung for years.

And my point is that what's the sense in 'building' when your QB has two years left?

By the time the rookie is ready. he'll be attending Romo's retirement party.

 

[the_h0wey]

This offseason will be a failure IMO. Period. Either we should have signed Murray to "keep the band together" on offense, or we used the money we saved by not paying him to get the only difference-making DE left on the market, Hardy. If we lose both, what was the plan? Just rest on the laurels of a 12-4 season and make no serious effort to get better on D, or stay the same on O?

I think Jerry should fold the team. We should forfeit the entire season next year.

 

[mldardy]

And my point is that what's the sense in 'building' when your QB has two years left?

By the time the rookie is ready. he'll be attending Romo's retirement party.

You're always building whether your QB has 2 years left or not. Banking on a free agent to make an impact when their really aren't any out there, other than Hardy like I said, isn't any different than banking on a rookie to make an impact at this point.

 

[Stash]

You're always building whether your QB has 2 years left or not. Banking on a free agent to make an impact when their really aren't any out there, other than Hardy like I said, isn't any different than banking on a rookie to make an impact at this point.

My whole point revolves around Hardy. If you don't get him, you're stuck. You failed to address your team's biggest weakness - pass rush. Don't bother paying the Morgans or Clayborns for a measly 6 sacks. You can get that from a rookie for much cheaper. But you still haven't truly fixed your pass rush problem either way.