Improvement in 2008

[Hostile]

I always hope we score more points and allow less when it comes to Offense and Defense. However, I think I'm looking for Special Teams improvement more than any other area in 2008.

I like both our kickers. They are young and obviously talented. I feel we are set here for a long time. In college Folk drove kickoffs deep into the endzone. I'd like to see him figure out the shorter NFL tee and get more depth on his kicks. I like the height he gets. It allows the coverage teams to get down the field.

That's where an obvious problem exists to me. It's almost like our Special Teams coverage units only have one or two guys who can tackle. We have a Punter who can pin teams deep and yet we constantly allow them good field position because our Punt Coverage teams it seems like the first 3 guys always miss the tackle. They're pretty good at downing the ball and keeping it out of the endzone, but the tackling is atrocious.

Last week the Giants started beyond their own 40 yard line so many times it was like it was a birthright for them. Meanwhile they were pinning us inside our own 20 with regularity. Eventually the field position battles will doom you and last week is no exception.

There's not a doubt in my mind that Dallas is the better team than the Giants. Line up up against them for all 16 weeks and our record is 12-4 or better. But all it takes is one game of losing the field position battle to keep an inferior team in the game to where they can steal one away.

Our Return men are not good enough. Our coverage teams are not good enough. Our Kick blocking units don't seem to have existed to me in forever. Can anyone remember the last time we blocked a punt? We used to have a guy named Benny Barnes who seemed to get at least one of those per year. Hell it's not like we can return the ball great, why not try and block them?

Special Teams is a 2008 focus I'd like to see improve a lot. If that means some of our starters need to play on the coverage teams then by all means get them out there. It sure didn't hurt or demean Darren Woodson to be on every Special Teams unit we had.

I expect us to look at CB and WR and RB on day 1 of the Draft. Guys who can add return skills would be welcome.

 

[Cowboyz88]

Absolutely agree.

ST gave us fits last year, and we have a big need for improvement.

Poor coverage, weak KO's, Crayton as PR —*lots to work on/change.

 

[theogt]

I think Austin is more than adequate. He only had a handful of players ahead of him in terms of average that had as many attempts. Folk has to do something about his kickoffs. They're embarrassingly short at times.

 

[Achozen]

Antoine Cason can be our 3rd Corner and Punt Returner from day one!

 

[Hostile]

Antoine Cason can be our 3rd Corner and Punt Returner from day one!

That is why he has been the obvious focus of our Cleveland pick from day for me. As soon as I knew McFadden was never going to wear a star I focused on him.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I am with you on special teams...but this biggest adjustment this team needs is it's attitude. And it starts with the owner...this circus like atmosphere leads to guys with agendas that do not lend itself to winning big time. The season was barley over before Greg starts crying about his place on the team. The season was barley over before Jerry has to answer question about Wades job security. The season was barley over before Jerry has to make his offensive coordinator the highest paid assistant in the history of the NFL. This and many other things that went on this year the HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOTBALL has to end or all we will be is a team that looks pretty on paper with the heart of a scarecrow.

 

[Goldenrichards83]

Drafting Cason, Mckelvin and Chris Johnson would give our special teams unit the shot that we so desperately need. We haven't had a viable threat since the days of Kevin Williams. Whoever we take with that 1st pick IMO has to not only be our future corner but our #1 return guy as well. I was leaning toward Cason but McKelvin is growing on me.

 

[5Stars]

I think Austin is more than adequate. He only had a handful of players ahead of him in terms of average that had as many attempts. Folk has to do something about his kickoffs. They're embarrassingly short at times.

Austin is pretty good at returns, theogt, he just has a fear of the kicker for some reason! I would bet that there were at least 3 times this season that he could have returned the ball for a TD...except he could not get out of the kickers way!

 

[Teague31]

talib from kansas would be a good pick as well... he is a great return man as well as a pretty good corner.

 

[cowboyjoe]

BBaily and Hostile, I totally agree, first if you guys listened to Nate Newton and the Rocket on gameday out of dallas which is on channel 38 fs sports, you would hear Rocket say what this team needs is a super punt returner and kickoff guy that will take this team to another level, kinda like hester does with the bears and spoles does with the chargers. If you remember in 93 i believe we drafted kevin williams to do that and he helped us win 2-3 games that year just on punt and kickoffs.

Next, I dont want Nate Jones back there blocking for our kickoff guy ever again, and hopefuly nate jones is gone, he hasnt done anything really now in 4 years. We will get Deion Anderson back, which will help on special teams, and if somehow we can get that FB Schmidt in the draft, even better he is a superior blocker and he can help us on special teams.

What I think this team needs is this;
we need some in your face, swagger type players on this team, with that said, I dont want Greg Elllis on this team ever again, with his whining and griping, do you guys remember Jim Jeffcoat, well he took a back seat to Charles Haley when he came here, but he didnt grip, *****, and moan, he played and he helped us become the # 1 defense in the league in 92. Thats what you need team players.

Now, if i was Jerry Jones I would call him greg ellis into my office and tell him look this is a team game, either you get on board, and quit your nagging, and complaining, besides did you make any big plays in the plaffoff game, no, so shup up or i will trade you, I gave you your money that you demanded, now shut the blankety up and play or get ready to be traded. If you wake up and relaize that with Wade Phillips coming back and he always improves on defense,he can style you to be get more sacks, and have impact in the game. Do you want a championship for Dallas or are you just interested in your stats. By playing Spencer, you wont get worn down so much, and you will be fresher come playoffs, but youve got to be a leader and help this team.

Now, if greg ellis doesnt want to adhere to that then trade him to Denver or Buffalo, they need pass rushers bad, and yes, you should be able to get a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him, then if you have to do that, before u trade greg, i would see how much jason taylor would cost for a draft picks, i think jason taylor would evoluntize this defense, and make it more nastier with sacks and in playoffs.

With that also, I would see about getting either bennihan the bears wr or roy wiliams wr with detroit, then if still have cap room after signing barber, canty, snapper, newman, hamlin, i would then see if you can go get asanutai cb for patiroits, we need a guy with swager and attitude to rub off on this team.

as far as special teams coach, i doubt that wade phillips willl go get another guy, remember he got fired in buffalo for not cutting his special teams coach by the owner, but way u improve on special teams for this team is get deion anderson back, a super punt returner so that newman doesnt have to return punts, stanback is suppose to be our next great kickoff return guy, but we neeed a good blocker in front of him on kickoffs.

then in draft i would which depends on what u do in free agency, go get a good rb,, which this year team is loaded in first 2 rounds in the draft, but we need a home hitter or a guy like the eagles running back that is shifty and elisuive make u miss with a 2nd gear in running to offset barber. Get that then this team will be back.

what i would do after that, i would get owner jerry jones to realize that camp cupcake was in force in december, and after the bye weekend, and nate newton said that the offensive linemen werent in their pads which if you guys didnt know,they didnt practice in pads at all in december and the bye week, newton said all pro guard, said as an offensive linemen u need to keep your rhythm up and unison, and you need to work on the staircase for your cardivacular system 45 minutes a day, the offensive linemen didnt do that newton said, get that news to jerry jones so he sees it never happens again, and i think there was way too many distractions in december, the jessica simpson thing, the social functions cowboy players had to attend in december, christmas and all, the not working in pads in december and after the weekend all players were alllowed to go home and party, the new years game that 11 cowboy players went to attend, those players should have been intent on football in dallas, not some other college game, the distractions of losing jeff ireland, sparano, etc, garrett, you cant have coheviseness like that, the DARN COTTON PICKING DISTRACTIONS THAT JERRY JONES AND HEAD COACH ALLOWS IN DALLAS HAS GOT TO STOP,

FINALLY PLAYERS LIKE NEWMAN, WITTEN, ROMO-no partying with gf at games romo work on football, roy williams safety getting in better shape something that the trainers have been begging him for the last 3 years now in offseason, gurode, leonard davis, canty, ratliff, bradie james, better conditioning by bobby carpenter in offseason, he is way too weak on blocking and fending off blocks, demarcus ware getting more intense and nasty when playing, and hopefully getting 2 free agents that have been on a superbowl and knows what it takes to win to show the dallas cowboy players what extra you have to do to win and be a super bowl champion,

then finally yes, folk needs to work on his kickoffs, do all of that, and i think you will have a champion in dallas for years to come,

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Antoine Cason can be our 3rd Corner and Punt Returner from day one!

or Leodis McKelvin

 

[cowboyjoe]

i forgot to add guys, besides rb hopefully in first round, we need another shut down cornerback and we need a speedy wr that is good at returning punts and kickoffs too, get that and this team is back, and we need to keep jason fergueson and if flozell adams will accept a fair 2 year or 1 year deal, then go for him to resign too, do all of that and what i mentioned above, and i think the cowboys will be back in the superbowl for years to come at least a 5-7 year window

 

[Tyronosaurus77]

Cason, McKelvin, Talib Id like any of those three in that order. All would be able to make an impact as a returner and on other ST packages. I cant wait for the Senior bowl coming up I know Jenkins from USF is going to be there and Im eager to see him too.

I say we have to go CB with the 22nd pick. With Jenkins going back to ohio state every corner goes up a pick on draft boards. We will definately be able to land someone special at 22, and a rb at 29

 

[cowboyjoe]

unless felix jones falls which i doubt, i say no, we need to draft a rb with the 22nd pick, then cb with 29th.

you always go with strength and best player at position when u draft, the stength this year is rb, then cb, then wr, the ot, so always go with strength

i say draft someone like justin king, he had an off year, and can be a super plyer and he might be the kind of player that will be ticked off for dropping so far, or look at cb and safety from oklahoma, i heard he is good too, just not that great, id rather you go after a guy that had a subpar year from his year before,

with king, the way he was played, which wasnt allowing defense to go for football, and he is a super returner too,

talib i have read is real slow in 40's like 4.53 and i have heard that he is better suited for safety, that talib needs to keep plays in front of him, that he gambles way too much and with that kind of speeed, he can get burned by good wrs

just dont reach for a player with 22nd pick, when you always reach and u pass on a player like we did with cromie of chargers when we took bobby carpenter, and the previous year when we passed on McNeil OT, dont pass on superior players over reaching for a player to fill a need,

 

[Bob Sacamano]

just dont reach for a player with 22nd pick

Leodis McKelvin at 22 wouldn't be a reach

 

[Tyronosaurus77]

I think that Cason will be a reach at 22. With Jenkins not entering the draft Id say that Cason is the best prospect at CB. He has good size speed and skills. He has plenty of playing time at college, excellent return skills and is a "charecter" type guy. I think hes easily gone by the top 15 picks.

I think McKelvin if we got him would have to be at 22. RB is so deep this year with sturdy fast RB. Only prodays and combines will tell. I think theyll go with whoever is best at the time, say mendenhall and stewart are gone theyll go CB 22. If Cason and McKelvin are gone at 22 vice versa. Talib I think will be there at 29.

 

[jackrussell]

Considering I've been advocating a WR/KR for the last 3 freaking years...this is no revelation to me.

But welcome aboard nonetheless.