Kaiser
Well-Known Member
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As much as we love Dak, Zeke is the key to making this team what it is. It all starts with Zeke controlling the game on the ground. DMC is not a bad player but you saw what a huge dropoff it was with Elliot out of the game. The offense was a fraction of what it normally was.
It was good to see Romo being Romo, I think its 90% certain he is traded but it was great to see him in the game. Fittingly, what was likely his last pass as a Cowboy was a TD.
Mark Sanchez is a slightly below average NFL QB who is better than he showed today – and that should tell you how bad QB play in the NFL overall.
It should also make you thank the Football gods again for the lightning strike Dak Prescott in the 4th round represents - and the fact the team will go from Romo to Dak without a ten year stretch of Quincy Carters and Chad Hutchinsons.
So if the Cowboys treated this like a preseason game, I mostly have thoughts about backups for next year’s team.
We got longer looks at players that should be quality backups next year, most of whom will significantly improve with another year of experience. Next year we will have very good depth at LB (Hitchens, Nezeocha, Wilbur), Safety (Heath and Wilcox), and DL (Thornton, Gregory, Mayowa, Jack Crawford and either Irving or TCrawford).
David Irving didn’t do a lot in this game, but at this point I want the team to tell him he is the starting LDE in 2017 and plan his offseason accordingly.
Randy Gregory clearly showed the physical skills today (again). The play that jumped out to me was him chasing Sproles down on a screen pass. You could see Sproles jawing at Gregory and it may have been from something he said, but live it looked like Sproles was shocked that a DE could catch him. I think the issue on Gregory is expectations, he will clearly improve if he can spend the offseason in practice and the film room – but to me they should plan on him being a nickel package pass rush specialist next year. Let him spend a year or two in that role without any pressure.
Nzeocha looked good and will be the backup Mike next year, Gachkar looked good today but IMO he only helped himself get a FA contract next year with a different team.
Cleary didn’t get anyone killed today, which is newsworthy. I want to see how they grade him. If he can be a decent backup next year it’s a bonus.
Kavon Frazier had some plays and will be a better player next year – and a quality backup.
On the potential Free Agents and Salary Cap cuts, this is my take after this game –
Doug Free – bad game today but I think he probably comes back. He has had some good games this year but has been totally inconsistent. He isn’t worth the 5 Milllion he is owed next year, but I don’t think they can count on Chaz Green to replace him quite yet.
Terrance Williams – He made some plays today (mostly because Romo has his timing with him down pat) but I really don’t see him resigned. I think our #2 WR next year is a new FA or high draft pick.
Barry Church – likely to return at a lower cap hit than his current 5 Million number.
Ron Leary – resigned for his power and fit with the others, Collins possibly traded.
Alfred Morris – Morris is a high quality human being but if he looks like this at the end of the season from fatigue and not injuries (I don’t know the answer) then I don’t see him returning next year.
CBs – It makes sense for both sides for Claiborne to come back, Carr could return as well if the contract terms line up. Brown is the #2 CB next year but the team drafts a CB high next year.
My bottom line closing out the 2016 season is that we finish the year with dominant, young talent and no major holes to fill in the offseason. Given the fact that we will have a ton of cap money to spend this offseason and have drafted very well for the four years – the rich should get richer next season.
It was good to see Romo being Romo, I think its 90% certain he is traded but it was great to see him in the game. Fittingly, what was likely his last pass as a Cowboy was a TD.
Mark Sanchez is a slightly below average NFL QB who is better than he showed today – and that should tell you how bad QB play in the NFL overall.
It should also make you thank the Football gods again for the lightning strike Dak Prescott in the 4th round represents - and the fact the team will go from Romo to Dak without a ten year stretch of Quincy Carters and Chad Hutchinsons.
So if the Cowboys treated this like a preseason game, I mostly have thoughts about backups for next year’s team.
We got longer looks at players that should be quality backups next year, most of whom will significantly improve with another year of experience. Next year we will have very good depth at LB (Hitchens, Nezeocha, Wilbur), Safety (Heath and Wilcox), and DL (Thornton, Gregory, Mayowa, Jack Crawford and either Irving or TCrawford).
David Irving didn’t do a lot in this game, but at this point I want the team to tell him he is the starting LDE in 2017 and plan his offseason accordingly.
Randy Gregory clearly showed the physical skills today (again). The play that jumped out to me was him chasing Sproles down on a screen pass. You could see Sproles jawing at Gregory and it may have been from something he said, but live it looked like Sproles was shocked that a DE could catch him. I think the issue on Gregory is expectations, he will clearly improve if he can spend the offseason in practice and the film room – but to me they should plan on him being a nickel package pass rush specialist next year. Let him spend a year or two in that role without any pressure.
Nzeocha looked good and will be the backup Mike next year, Gachkar looked good today but IMO he only helped himself get a FA contract next year with a different team.
Cleary didn’t get anyone killed today, which is newsworthy. I want to see how they grade him. If he can be a decent backup next year it’s a bonus.
Kavon Frazier had some plays and will be a better player next year – and a quality backup.
On the potential Free Agents and Salary Cap cuts, this is my take after this game –
Doug Free – bad game today but I think he probably comes back. He has had some good games this year but has been totally inconsistent. He isn’t worth the 5 Milllion he is owed next year, but I don’t think they can count on Chaz Green to replace him quite yet.
Terrance Williams – He made some plays today (mostly because Romo has his timing with him down pat) but I really don’t see him resigned. I think our #2 WR next year is a new FA or high draft pick.
Barry Church – likely to return at a lower cap hit than his current 5 Million number.
Ron Leary – resigned for his power and fit with the others, Collins possibly traded.
Alfred Morris – Morris is a high quality human being but if he looks like this at the end of the season from fatigue and not injuries (I don’t know the answer) then I don’t see him returning next year.
CBs – It makes sense for both sides for Claiborne to come back, Carr could return as well if the contract terms line up. Brown is the #2 CB next year but the team drafts a CB high next year.
My bottom line closing out the 2016 season is that we finish the year with dominant, young talent and no major holes to fill in the offseason. Given the fact that we will have a ton of cap money to spend this offseason and have drafted very well for the four years – the rich should get richer next season.
