CCBoy
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 53,028
- Reaction score
- 25,008
Let's see...the media does a shock analysis as to a Cowboy need. If Dallas doesn't grasp upon someone who has league leading stats all hinging upon interceptions, then there is a huge void label attached to the team.
Even without the interceptions, last season the secondary was progressively better at shutting down the long pass play. It improved steadily in run defense as well.
Once Anthony Spencer started to kick into consideration with a strong run of sacks, and DeMarcus was elevated in the process...then overall team defense improved as well.
It wasn't until a disfunctional offense against Minnesota, that the defense was not able to handle overall opponent strengths and allow the potent offense to win games.
When Ken Hamlin was not on the active roster, Ball plugged into this equation at an equal level of play. A talented Mike Hamlin might step up in his second year, and show a slight increase in ballhawk skills. Now that a very speedy Akwasi Owusu-Ansah has been added to the mix, the ingredients that can be made into an 'improvement' are already there.
This is coach-up and integrate to team play time. This is a group of quality and long experienced in the Cowboy staff. It's time to develop from inside, those qualities desired.
The character of this unit is being brought out. One can now look to an added strength in the Cowboy linebackers. Bradie James and DeMarcus Ware were functional quality and consistent play. With the additions of Keith Brooking and now, Sean Lee, the aggressive nature that top defenses exhibit is being infused into this unit. The experience of a NFL hardened linebacker and that of a spirit filled young player are hitting the field together this year.
Depth in the defensive side has reached a sustainable level of talent.
Jerry's 'red shirt' brigade from last year's draft, will in deed hit the field this season. Jason Williams, Victor Butler, and Brandon Williams all will add some rotational consistency and spark as they gain more of a veteran status now. With Lee added to this second tier of talent, Bobby Carpenter will be FORCED to step up his game even more, or the 'ol Turk will be visiting him before the start of this next season.
The defensive line, consisting of Igor Oshansky, Jay Ratliff, and Marcus Spears are as talented and consistent as is needed. They are strongly supported by Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen. Even here, there is outside youth being added in practice squader Marcus Dixon and drafted 'rook,' Sean Lissemore.
Now, from where this Cowboy fan sits, the team didn't just drop the ball on the secondary. There is a strong blend of veterans and younger players at both the corner and safety positions.
I know, contract consideration is there for Gerald Sensabaugh, but he is a veteran presence and active in the secondary. Sensabaugh and Alan Ball held up well while sharing the load. As much value can be seen in the fact that this pair is younger than when Ken Hamlin was in the mix, strictly on injury considerations.
In today's NFL, packages are increasingly on the field more. That means the drain on personnel will tend towards the corners and not the safety position. Here, Dallas already has a very strong trio in Terrence Newman, Mike Jenkins, and Orlando Scandrick. That well should hold up to the receiver units it has to match-up with. To this group was added a very stable rookie in this past draft, Jamar Wall.
Beyond special team considerations, Pat Watkins gives a little added stability to the secondary, by allowing Ball to be flexible enough to be able to switch to the corner position if injuries demanded the need. That adds an additional strength to the secondary.
The defense is strong enough to when added to the quality special team's play, now infused with quality return men in Dez Bryant and Owusu, will tend to optomize potentials for the Dallas offense.
Jerry added a final piece to the offense already. With the addition of Dez Bryant, the Dallas offense is chunked full of youth and now, game breaking ability both at running back and receiver.
Yea, there are a few things that can be 'tweaked' as to adding the presence of a veteran or two. They had best be econimical in projection...such as a Greg Ellis, Flozell Adams, or even a Sharper or Atogwe around the June 1 mark.
The team has now been laid placing full view to character, talent, as well as youth. Yea, 'ol bumbling, stumbling Jerry has put together a team that presents developing youth coming to play. He has put in place a transitional team that is not overly encumbered by price tags and top ceiling dangers.
When much of the rest of the league is slamed into the wall of a new labor agreement and ramifications, Dallas has already gone youth and can merely walk through the transition, measuring on accomplisments and contributions on the field now.
Thank you Jerry....and of course, the whole management team, inclusive of Stephen.
No, there aren't any huge caverns of blackhole abysses for this team to climb through now. What we fans now see, is where the players themselves have to take it to the field and sustain accomplishments. As with all championship teams, there has to be some individual growth up to the demands, but that is the sport of it. Father time doesn't wait upon any franchise and favor beyond those accomplisments on the field. Here, this team is set up to win. And we as fans can watch it all evolve...but for this fan, things are looking mighty favorable in a Cowboy traditional manner.
Even without the interceptions, last season the secondary was progressively better at shutting down the long pass play. It improved steadily in run defense as well.
Once Anthony Spencer started to kick into consideration with a strong run of sacks, and DeMarcus was elevated in the process...then overall team defense improved as well.
It wasn't until a disfunctional offense against Minnesota, that the defense was not able to handle overall opponent strengths and allow the potent offense to win games.
When Ken Hamlin was not on the active roster, Ball plugged into this equation at an equal level of play. A talented Mike Hamlin might step up in his second year, and show a slight increase in ballhawk skills. Now that a very speedy Akwasi Owusu-Ansah has been added to the mix, the ingredients that can be made into an 'improvement' are already there.
This is coach-up and integrate to team play time. This is a group of quality and long experienced in the Cowboy staff. It's time to develop from inside, those qualities desired.
The character of this unit is being brought out. One can now look to an added strength in the Cowboy linebackers. Bradie James and DeMarcus Ware were functional quality and consistent play. With the additions of Keith Brooking and now, Sean Lee, the aggressive nature that top defenses exhibit is being infused into this unit. The experience of a NFL hardened linebacker and that of a spirit filled young player are hitting the field together this year.
Depth in the defensive side has reached a sustainable level of talent.
Jerry's 'red shirt' brigade from last year's draft, will in deed hit the field this season. Jason Williams, Victor Butler, and Brandon Williams all will add some rotational consistency and spark as they gain more of a veteran status now. With Lee added to this second tier of talent, Bobby Carpenter will be FORCED to step up his game even more, or the 'ol Turk will be visiting him before the start of this next season.
The defensive line, consisting of Igor Oshansky, Jay Ratliff, and Marcus Spears are as talented and consistent as is needed. They are strongly supported by Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen. Even here, there is outside youth being added in practice squader Marcus Dixon and drafted 'rook,' Sean Lissemore.
Now, from where this Cowboy fan sits, the team didn't just drop the ball on the secondary. There is a strong blend of veterans and younger players at both the corner and safety positions.
I know, contract consideration is there for Gerald Sensabaugh, but he is a veteran presence and active in the secondary. Sensabaugh and Alan Ball held up well while sharing the load. As much value can be seen in the fact that this pair is younger than when Ken Hamlin was in the mix, strictly on injury considerations.
In today's NFL, packages are increasingly on the field more. That means the drain on personnel will tend towards the corners and not the safety position. Here, Dallas already has a very strong trio in Terrence Newman, Mike Jenkins, and Orlando Scandrick. That well should hold up to the receiver units it has to match-up with. To this group was added a very stable rookie in this past draft, Jamar Wall.
Beyond special team considerations, Pat Watkins gives a little added stability to the secondary, by allowing Ball to be flexible enough to be able to switch to the corner position if injuries demanded the need. That adds an additional strength to the secondary.
The defense is strong enough to when added to the quality special team's play, now infused with quality return men in Dez Bryant and Owusu, will tend to optomize potentials for the Dallas offense.
Jerry added a final piece to the offense already. With the addition of Dez Bryant, the Dallas offense is chunked full of youth and now, game breaking ability both at running back and receiver.
Yea, there are a few things that can be 'tweaked' as to adding the presence of a veteran or two. They had best be econimical in projection...such as a Greg Ellis, Flozell Adams, or even a Sharper or Atogwe around the June 1 mark.
The team has now been laid placing full view to character, talent, as well as youth. Yea, 'ol bumbling, stumbling Jerry has put together a team that presents developing youth coming to play. He has put in place a transitional team that is not overly encumbered by price tags and top ceiling dangers.
When much of the rest of the league is slamed into the wall of a new labor agreement and ramifications, Dallas has already gone youth and can merely walk through the transition, measuring on accomplisments and contributions on the field now.
Thank you Jerry....and of course, the whole management team, inclusive of Stephen.
No, there aren't any huge caverns of blackhole abysses for this team to climb through now. What we fans now see, is where the players themselves have to take it to the field and sustain accomplishments. As with all championship teams, there has to be some individual growth up to the demands, but that is the sport of it. Father time doesn't wait upon any franchise and favor beyond those accomplisments on the field. Here, this team is set up to win. And we as fans can watch it all evolve...but for this fan, things are looking mighty favorable in a Cowboy traditional manner.
