Nightman
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Investing in the Trenches
This has been one of the biggest discussions around here. Year after year we heard that building the OL and DL was the only way to become a perennial power.
Starting with TSmith the Boys finally started drafting OL in the first round. He was followed by getting a steal with RLeary because of his knees. Then we went TFred and ZMartin back to back. Add in LCollins for free last year and you can argue that it is the best unit in the League.
On the D we drafted TCrawford and saw him blossom after a couple injuries. DLawrence followed a similar path and RGregory slipped to our advantage. Add in GHardy and JMincey and big things were expected.
After going 12-4 and witnessing great years from Romo. Dez and DMurray, 2015 was going to be our time again. Then it all came crashing down in PHI last Sept. With 2 stout front lines we still couldn't muster but one win without Romo, Dez and Murray. Which begs the question is it the chicken or the egg? DId the skill players make the lines look good or did the lines make the talent look better? I for one believe that it showed for once and always that QB1 and QB2 are the two most important players on the team.
We can never be caught QB naked again. It will take a change in philosophy and a change in the way we draft. But we have to invest picks and money into the position. Romo only has a couple years left as a top QB and we have to make plans. We have to start prioritizing QBs early and often until we get a good one and shouldn't stop until we have a couple.
I would also sign a veteran back-up until we have a homegrown QB that can win. If it means paying a little extra to get a guy like Fitzgerald or RGIII or Bradford then so be it. If CLE wants to drop JF then we have to bring him in. But I think we should have 3-4 quality QBs in the pipeline at all times.
To sum up, our vaunted OL didn't mean squat when Romo went down. We got a decent year out of McFadden but nothing like 2014 TD or yardage-wise. I have seen teams like NE and GB get by with decimated OLs but not without a real QB. DEN and CIN were able to hang on because they drafted back-up QBs. We were left trading for scraps when Romo went down. It was arrogance or ignorance that led to us counting on Weeden. Cassel and Moore(sounds like a bad law firm). The trenches are safe picks but maybe too safe. We need to add some talent to the skill players on this team.
This has been one of the biggest discussions around here. Year after year we heard that building the OL and DL was the only way to become a perennial power.
Starting with TSmith the Boys finally started drafting OL in the first round. He was followed by getting a steal with RLeary because of his knees. Then we went TFred and ZMartin back to back. Add in LCollins for free last year and you can argue that it is the best unit in the League.
On the D we drafted TCrawford and saw him blossom after a couple injuries. DLawrence followed a similar path and RGregory slipped to our advantage. Add in GHardy and JMincey and big things were expected.
After going 12-4 and witnessing great years from Romo. Dez and DMurray, 2015 was going to be our time again. Then it all came crashing down in PHI last Sept. With 2 stout front lines we still couldn't muster but one win without Romo, Dez and Murray. Which begs the question is it the chicken or the egg? DId the skill players make the lines look good or did the lines make the talent look better? I for one believe that it showed for once and always that QB1 and QB2 are the two most important players on the team.
We can never be caught QB naked again. It will take a change in philosophy and a change in the way we draft. But we have to invest picks and money into the position. Romo only has a couple years left as a top QB and we have to make plans. We have to start prioritizing QBs early and often until we get a good one and shouldn't stop until we have a couple.
I would also sign a veteran back-up until we have a homegrown QB that can win. If it means paying a little extra to get a guy like Fitzgerald or RGIII or Bradford then so be it. If CLE wants to drop JF then we have to bring him in. But I think we should have 3-4 quality QBs in the pipeline at all times.
To sum up, our vaunted OL didn't mean squat when Romo went down. We got a decent year out of McFadden but nothing like 2014 TD or yardage-wise. I have seen teams like NE and GB get by with decimated OLs but not without a real QB. DEN and CIN were able to hang on because they drafted back-up QBs. We were left trading for scraps when Romo went down. It was arrogance or ignorance that led to us counting on Weeden. Cassel and Moore(sounds like a bad law firm). The trenches are safe picks but maybe too safe. We need to add some talent to the skill players on this team.
