jday
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 9,321
- Reaction score
- 13,284
I'm divided on alot of the news coming out of Dallas Cowboys franchise right now.
1. Garrett, shoud he stay or should he go? On one hand, I've said coaches deserve, at least, three years to implement their scheme within a team and make it work. My problem is his scheme calls for alot more passing than running and with the tandem of backs we have and the way defenses can seriously exploit that approach, I wouldn't mind getting an old schooler who could effectively employ a run first mentality in this team. I mean innovation only gets you so far in this league, before you have to resort back to the fundamentals of football which all starts with the run game. If you don't run the ball you don't control the clock, you don't open up the passing lanes, and you don't allow your defense proper intervals of rest to effectively stop the opposing offense from doing the same throughout the game. That's football in a nutshell. So, on one hand I'm for finding someone else, on the other hand, I think Jason can be successful and I further think he recognizes now the need for balance in this offense. I mean, how could he not see that at this point?
2. Release of Pacman. I know what he was. I know his contribution wasn't worth the drama he caused this year. But giving up on him now makes the whole deal a complete bust. I realize that move saved us 1 million in cap space, but there are other players soaking up cap space who made less of a contribution. I'm not sure he received that much of a fair chance to succeed within this franchise. I could have done without his special teams contribution which was clearly lacking, but in coverage he was pretty decent even for being out of his previous 2006 shape. And in terms of his team persona, I definitely don't see him as a cancer or lockerroom divider. All of his issues were off the field away from other players. However, if more is to come of this recent piece from bspn, then maybe I'll have a better understanding of the move.
3. Wade Phillips - should he stay or should he go. Again, coaches deserve, at least, 3 years to implement their schemes into a team. To be honest, towards the end of the season, we did see a Wade defense in action. Trouble is that defense did not perform to expectation when it mattered most. Is that a stigma that Phillips carries along with his strategy. Because that is what showed on both sides of the ball. A team that doesn't play like a team.
When I was in the Army Infantry, our Drill Seargants incouraged comradarie through adversity. They forced us to see working together as our only way of pulling through the both physically and mentally demanding tasks put before us. Perhaps adversity from a figure head is what the Cowboys need. And you have to wonder if Wade could ever be that. I, personally, think he can do that, without changing his peronality. He needs to draw up a book of rules and the corresponding consequences for infraction, making each player read and sign an agreement that they understand them. Then all he has to do is police his policy and follow through with his perscribed punishment with a smile on his face. His demeanor does not have to change...but thats just my take on a possible solution that doesn't involve changing in a way that won't be taken seriously by the players. And I still wonder if he is going to figure that out or be tough enough to enforce his policy. Therein is where I remain divided.
4. Players and personnel: Who should the Cowboys draft 1st? What position is of the most dire need? What player of that position will be available late in the 2nd round? Should the Cowboys trade up? These questions are big and season defining. I've stated my vote to start Safety, depending on whose available, but according to the draft boards, Safety seems to be the heaviest basket for talent this year. There are several out there that could still be available without having to trade up. On the other hand, with the loss of Pacman and the possible move to Safety by Anthony Henry, I wonder if CB will top their list. Transversely from Safety, CB might be pretty thin by the time the Cowboys have a first pick. I don't see a player like Scandrick slipping even this far. These are the top cornerback prospects likely to declare for the 2009 draft:
1. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
2. Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
3. Vontae Davis, Illinois (Jr.)
4. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
5. Jairus Byrd, Oregon (Jr.)
Alphonso Smith may drop, depending on his columbine being a Junior and is a smallish CB that might have trouble matching up to the more physically imposing WR's in the NFL. But he has the stats to suggest otherwise, which might make him an interesting candidate for the Cowboys. But I'm still divided, because Anthony Henry doesn't strike me as an ideal Safety, particularly in run coverage. And I am definitely not a fan of using Anthony Henry in passing situations, alternating Roy Williams in for running situations. Telling the opposing offense what your expecting seems to me to be a conflict of interest. So, as of right now, I'm leaning towards Curtis Taylor a FS from LSU, who should still be available by the time the Cowboys pick in the second round.
1. Garrett, shoud he stay or should he go? On one hand, I've said coaches deserve, at least, three years to implement their scheme within a team and make it work. My problem is his scheme calls for alot more passing than running and with the tandem of backs we have and the way defenses can seriously exploit that approach, I wouldn't mind getting an old schooler who could effectively employ a run first mentality in this team. I mean innovation only gets you so far in this league, before you have to resort back to the fundamentals of football which all starts with the run game. If you don't run the ball you don't control the clock, you don't open up the passing lanes, and you don't allow your defense proper intervals of rest to effectively stop the opposing offense from doing the same throughout the game. That's football in a nutshell. So, on one hand I'm for finding someone else, on the other hand, I think Jason can be successful and I further think he recognizes now the need for balance in this offense. I mean, how could he not see that at this point?
2. Release of Pacman. I know what he was. I know his contribution wasn't worth the drama he caused this year. But giving up on him now makes the whole deal a complete bust. I realize that move saved us 1 million in cap space, but there are other players soaking up cap space who made less of a contribution. I'm not sure he received that much of a fair chance to succeed within this franchise. I could have done without his special teams contribution which was clearly lacking, but in coverage he was pretty decent even for being out of his previous 2006 shape. And in terms of his team persona, I definitely don't see him as a cancer or lockerroom divider. All of his issues were off the field away from other players. However, if more is to come of this recent piece from bspn, then maybe I'll have a better understanding of the move.
3. Wade Phillips - should he stay or should he go. Again, coaches deserve, at least, 3 years to implement their schemes into a team. To be honest, towards the end of the season, we did see a Wade defense in action. Trouble is that defense did not perform to expectation when it mattered most. Is that a stigma that Phillips carries along with his strategy. Because that is what showed on both sides of the ball. A team that doesn't play like a team.
When I was in the Army Infantry, our Drill Seargants incouraged comradarie through adversity. They forced us to see working together as our only way of pulling through the both physically and mentally demanding tasks put before us. Perhaps adversity from a figure head is what the Cowboys need. And you have to wonder if Wade could ever be that. I, personally, think he can do that, without changing his peronality. He needs to draw up a book of rules and the corresponding consequences for infraction, making each player read and sign an agreement that they understand them. Then all he has to do is police his policy and follow through with his perscribed punishment with a smile on his face. His demeanor does not have to change...but thats just my take on a possible solution that doesn't involve changing in a way that won't be taken seriously by the players. And I still wonder if he is going to figure that out or be tough enough to enforce his policy. Therein is where I remain divided.
4. Players and personnel: Who should the Cowboys draft 1st? What position is of the most dire need? What player of that position will be available late in the 2nd round? Should the Cowboys trade up? These questions are big and season defining. I've stated my vote to start Safety, depending on whose available, but according to the draft boards, Safety seems to be the heaviest basket for talent this year. There are several out there that could still be available without having to trade up. On the other hand, with the loss of Pacman and the possible move to Safety by Anthony Henry, I wonder if CB will top their list. Transversely from Safety, CB might be pretty thin by the time the Cowboys have a first pick. I don't see a player like Scandrick slipping even this far. These are the top cornerback prospects likely to declare for the 2009 draft:
1. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
2. Mike Mickens, Cincinnati
3. Vontae Davis, Illinois (Jr.)
4. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
5. Jairus Byrd, Oregon (Jr.)
Alphonso Smith may drop, depending on his columbine being a Junior and is a smallish CB that might have trouble matching up to the more physically imposing WR's in the NFL. But he has the stats to suggest otherwise, which might make him an interesting candidate for the Cowboys. But I'm still divided, because Anthony Henry doesn't strike me as an ideal Safety, particularly in run coverage. And I am definitely not a fan of using Anthony Henry in passing situations, alternating Roy Williams in for running situations. Telling the opposing offense what your expecting seems to me to be a conflict of interest. So, as of right now, I'm leaning towards Curtis Taylor a FS from LSU, who should still be available by the time the Cowboys pick in the second round.