Meanderings of a bored man

jday said:
Then you sir have no imagination.

Scenarios that could lead to Christine Michaels not being on the game day roster (excluding injury).

1. He continues to be a knucklehead.
2. He continues to fumbles alot.
3. He doesn't know the playbook.
4. He is a liability in pass protection.
5. Joe Ran and/or McFadden turn out to be great running behind that offensive line.
6. He dies.
7. The coaches may consider him as a "in case of emergency, break glass" option, that they will only entertain using should Dunbar/Randle/McFadden get injured.
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You forgot 8. He gets abducted by aliens
 
Derinyar said:
Michael very well may not be active this week. I'd imagine he'd be hard pressed to learn the terminology and get any comfort level for him or the coaches in a short handful of walk through practices. I wouldn't expect Mills likely to be active either.
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You very well may be right about this week... but man would I love it if he lit up the Giants.
 
Kaiser said:
I agree on Claiborne, I do think he is perfectly capable of being an average CB or better. A silver lining on the situation is that if he is an average CB or better he will sign a much bigger FA contract than we want to pay (like Jermey Parnell) and we will get a 5th round compensation draft pick, maybe better.
The DT depth is fun to think about, two years ago Hayden was our best DT (cue horror movie sound effect of teenage girl screaming) and now we have six guys that can play, plus Hardy and Mincey getting some reps at DT. Two years ago we had so many injuries and such poor depth to start with that the 2015 version of LaVar Edwards would have been starting for us, maybe Ben Gardner as well. Fast forward to today, neither guy can hold a roster spot.
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Coleman, in particular, is really a good player. He has completely changed my mind about him this preseason.

If he keeps his head on straight he could be very, very good. He has blue chip explosiveness to go along with some really nice physical traits.
 
Kaiser said:
I agree on Claiborne, I do think he is perfectly capable of being an average CB or better. A silver lining on the situation is that if he is an average CB or better he will sign a much bigger FA contract than we want to pay (like Jermey Parnell) and we will get a 5th round compensation draft pick, maybe better.
The DT depth is fun to think about, two years ago Hayden was our best DT (cue horror movie sound effect of teenage girl screaming) and now we have six guys that can play, plus Hardy and Mincey getting some reps at DT. Two years ago we had so many injuries and such poor depth to start with that the 2015 version of LaVar Edwards would have been starting for us, maybe Ben Gardner as well. Fast forward to today, neither guy can hold a roster spot.
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I honestly can not remember a time in the last 15 or so year where I was more happy with the moves the Cowboys made over the course of one offseason and/or collectively the last 4 years. This offseason in particular, though, was incredible. It was smart and savvy moves teamed with alot of lucky bounces - Randall Gregory falling into the second, La'el Collins completely falling out of the draft and picking the Cowboys, Greg Hardy signing with Dallas and his suspension being reduced, etc. In terms of the defense, I'm not sure there was much more the Cowboys brass could have done to improve that side of the ball.
 
Yep, stats say one fumble in 2 seasons and the Seahawks retained possession because there are zeroes in the "lost" columns.
 
jday said:
I honestly can not remember a time in the last 15 or so year where I was more happy with the moves the Cowboys made over the course of one offseason and/or collectively the last 4 years.
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That's true. Getting a break like Hardy, Collins or Gregory generally happens once every couple of years. Three is one offseason is winning the lottery.
 
jday said:
I honestly can not remember a time in the last 15 or so year where I was more happy with the moves the Cowboys made over the course of one offseason and/or collectively the last 4 years. This offseason in particular, though, was incredible. It was smart and savvy moves teamed with alot of lucky bounces - Randall Gregory falling into the second, La'el Collins completely falling out of the draft and picking the Cowboys, Greg Hardy signing with Dallas and his suspension being reduced, etc. In terms of the defense, I'm not sure there was much more the Cowboys brass could have done to improve that side of the ball.
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I have followed the Cowboys since 1970. I cannot remember an off season quite like this one. I remember being excited in 1977 when Dallas pulled off a trade that got Tony Dorsett. As excited as I was, that was only one player.

Then there was the Hershel Walker trade. I was excited over the draft picks, but as many others can tell you, we fans had to be patient for the returns. Jimmy Johnson capitalized on that windfall.

I was excited in 2002 when Dallas got Roy Williams and Andre Gurode. The ten Pro Bowls combined between the two of them got the Cowboys out of the 5-11 doldrums and a had a few playoff games.

The 2005 draft assisted in Dallas playing in the post season in 2007 and 2009 also.

The drafts from 2010 to the present have gradually formed the team Jason Garrett envisioned. This past off season should launch this franchise into an era of the highest success. It is not just one draft that made this team what I think this team is - a champion. Dallas has had an above average draft in 5 of the last 6 seasons. This matches the rebuilding Jimmy Johnson did from 1989-1992 (further solidified in 1993). The Cowboys had obstacles in rebuilding the offensive line, lost serious salary cap dollars, and rebuild a defense that has to use 60 different players in a two-year span (absolutely no continuity). Then they bring in Marinelli and Linehan.

There is not a doubt in my mind that the best is yet to come!
 
jday said:
I stand corrected. But listening to the radio and reading the various articles on him, you would think fumbling was an issue. I guess I was misled. My bad.
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It's the rate of fumbling that's at issue for him. He had three others in his preseason carries, too. It's a legit concern.
 
windjc said:
People need to give this all a rest.

Let the man play. Drop all the blah blah about fumbles, coaches and blocking. Just let him play.

At the end of the day the best RB will get the bulk of the carries. Its all going to play out on the field.

Expect all 3 RBs to run hard, because they are all competing for their football careers. Its basically do or die time for all three.
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And you need to "give this all a rest".

What are you this guys BFF or something? Somehow, actually doing his job as a running back is "blah blah"? Knowing the playbook, holding onto the football, and not getting the QB injured by forgetting a block is somehow unimportant?

"Just let him play". What a bunch of nonsense! He'll play when he's ready and when he's earned it and not before. He's not entitled to a thing except an opportunity. And he should be grateful for that and doing everything he can to prove himself.

But any pressure and onus to get on the field is on him and not anyone else.
 
Idgit said:
It's the rate of fumbling that's at issue for him. He had three others in his preseason carries, too. It's a legit concern.
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Yeah it is. The number might be low, but so are his actual number of carries.
 
Manster68 said:
I have followed the Cowboys since 1970. I cannot remember an off season quite like this one. I remember being excited in 1977 when Dallas pulled off a trade that got Tony Dorsett. As excited as I was, that was only one player.

Then there was the Hershel Walker trade. I was excited over the draft picks, but as many others can tell you, we fans had to be patient for the returns. Jimmy Johnson capitalized on that windfall.

I was excited in 2002 when Dallas got Roy Williams and Andre Gurode. The ten Pro Bowls combined between the two of them got the Cowboys out of the 5-11 doldrums and a had a few playoff games.

The 2005 draft assisted in Dallas playing in the post season in 2007 and 2009 also.

The drafts from 2010 to the present have gradually formed the team Jason Garrett envisioned. This past off season should launch this franchise into an era of the highest success. It is not just one draft that made this team what I think this team is - a champion. Dallas has had an above average draft in 5 of the last 6 seasons. This matches the rebuilding Jimmy Johnson did from 1989-1992 (further solidified in 1993). The Cowboys had obstacles in rebuilding the offensive line, lost serious salary cap dollars, and rebuild a defense that has to use 60 different players in a two-year span (absolutely no continuity). Then they bring in Marinelli and Linehan.

There is not a doubt in my mind that the best is yet to come!
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Excellent post! Thanks for contributing.

To your point, your response really got me thinking. I threw out that "15 year" number with out really considering how far back I have to go to remember feeling this good about an offseason...and to be honest I'm not sure such an offseason has occurred in my lifetime (I was born in 1978). I guess if I knew what the Herschel Walker trade would lead to I would have felt awesome, but like you said that move did take patience.

I feel good about what is on paper, which to be honest isn't saying a whole lot. Three years from now I'll be able to speak more intelligently on the matter, but for now, this offseason looks like one of those once in a lifetime offseason that can put a team in playoff contention for years to come. You might even call it a dynasty starter. To be fair, it started in the draft that landed Tyron Smith...but still, this offseason will be the offseason that future football historians will point to should the Cowboys win the Super Bowl in the next 3 years.
 
jday nailed the Michael pick up!

I think the timing of the Michael acquisition was the difference.
The original panic way back in May/June was people saying we had to get someone right away.

Many here thought if the price was right, that we might grab someone on the cheap after final cuts to fortify the troops.
That's not the same as a panic acquisition costing maybe a 3rd rounder back in May/June.

By waiting it out, we got Michael for almost free.
 
Hardline said:
Please show me where he fumbles a lot.
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I know that wasn't for me, but since he played so few snaps in the regular season, you may want to look at his preseason games too.

I'd heard he did better this preseason
 
The amount of times Hayden gets blown off the ball looking like he is on roller skates negates any of this crap about hidden production.
 
burmafrd said:
The amount of times Hayden gets blown off the ball looking like he is on roller skates negates any of this crap about hidden production.
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Sometimes you have to give ground to maintain gap discipline. If he tried to blow by the offensive lineman, he might go around him and be giving the runner a huge hole to run through. Whereas, if he gives a little ground, at least, he is still in position to make the stop or force the running back to search for holes to the outside, where the linebackers/corners/safety can make a play.
 
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