My two cents on the offseason and the future

[Galian Beast]

I don't think this team is as far away as people think. I think if healthy, this team is much better with a very productive Dez Bryant. I don't believe in trading Tony Romo, I can tell you that much.

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Franchise QBs don't grow on trees. They really don't. It's a miracle that Romo is as productive as he is and good as he is, despite not having an offensive line or running game to support him. He doesn't even have consistent wide receivers...

That's where I would start. I would try to trade Miles Austin for a 3rd round draft pick. And perhaps make moves to acquire free agent Wes Welker. Wes Welker gets open, he catches everything, and he moves the chains. Wes Welker was 6th in the nfl among WRs with 1st downs.

People think that we already have that with Jason Witten. Let me compare.

Jason Witten - 14th in the nfl in 1st downs, 56 first downs
Wes Welker - 6th in the nfl in 1st downs, 72 first downs

Miles Austin - 23rd in the nfl in 1st downs, 48 first downs.

That's how New England scores points. They move the ball down the field, efficiently and effectively.

More importantly however, we need to provide Romo with an offensive line. That doesn't just mean people who can pass block better. I think we were actually pretty decent in pass blocking later on in the year. What that means is we need to be able to run the ball.

Lets look at the most premier running back in the NFL

1. Adrian Peterson, 2,097 yards, 12 tds, 85 first downs

lets look at Murray and Jones combined, 1065 yards, 7 touchdowns, 62 first downs...

we had 6 runs of 20 yards or more. Adrian Peterson had 27.

You can really suggest that the problem is Romo, but this is an absolute ridiculous assessment, which has no truth in actuality or reality.

It's always possible that our home grown talent will also rise to fruition. I'm not convinced that we need to do something about receiver, as much as we need to do something about this running game. I think fixing that real issue, will help the passing game tremendously.

When it comes to defense, I think we struggled as a result of injuries and aging. I think we would have been a top 5 defense if Lee, Carter, Ratliff, and Church played this year. That being said, we struggle to get a pass rush with our current set of players. Basically we need to be better on both the lines, offensive and defensive.

I'd be willing to trade DeMarcus Ware if we could trade him for a 1st and 2nd or 1st and 3rd. I would be willing to trade Ratliff for a 3rd or a 4th.

Similar to our passing game, needing a running game, our secondary isn't going to be able to do anything if there is no pass rush to support it. I think we all really like Carter and Lee, and most of us would agree Carr and Claiborne would be okay with some pass rush helping them (and maybe better safety play).

So it really comes down to Ware, Spencer, Ratliff, Hatcher, and Coleman. We need to do better than that. We need an assortment of players who can pass rush. Whether they are OLB, DT, or DEs.

I'm also in favor of firing Coach D. And either we need to do something about the offensive coordination on the team. If the answer is bringing in Norv Turner to be a full powered OC, do it, I don't care, but this status quo with Garrett in charge... it's not working.

 

[Fastphilly]

So you get rid of Miles Austin an outside receiver for a slot machine like Wes Welker that in all fairness feeds off of Gronk that gets the better coverage personel on him. I can assure you Wes Welker is a one trick pony. There are more important positions to address before a one trick pony slot machine.

 

[Galian Beast]

So you get rid of Miles Austin an outside receiver for a slot machine like Wes Welker that in all fairness feeds off of Gronk that gets the better coverage personel on him. I can assure you Wes Welker is a one trick pony. There are more important positions to address before a one trick pony slot machine.

Let me respond to what you said.

You realize that Wes Welker has been successful without Gronkowski right? You also realize that Dez Bryant and Jason Witten take up coverage.

You have Bryant and Smith on the outsides, Witten and Welker on the inside, and you move the chains constantly and consistently. Welker can also play outside as well. He isn't just a slot receiver.

Welker gives this offense something it doesn't have. A receiver who consistently gets open, and gets open quickly.

 

[LittleD]

Let me respond to what you said.

You realize that Wes Welker has been successful without Gronkowski right? You also realize that Dez Bryant and Jason Witten take up coverage.

You have Bryant and Smith on the outsides, Witten and Welker on the inside, and you move the chains constantly and consistently. Welker can also play outside as well. He isn't just a slot receiver.

Welker gives this offense something it doesn't have. A receiver who consistently gets open, and gets open quickly.

Why would we need another 30 something on a team of 30 somethings. It's time to clean house, rebuild, get draft picks (if we can) and take out the trash. We've been thru 16 years of mediocre... Your prescription will just lead to another 16 years of mediocre. We are a long, long way from competing for a title in Dallas.
Now go back to bed, take two asprin, and call the shrink in the am.

 

[Fastphilly]

Let me respond to what you said.

You realize that Wes Welker has been successful without Gronkowski right? You also realize that Dez Bryant and Jason Witten take up coverage.

You have Bryant and Smith on the outsides, Witten and Welker on the inside, and you move the chains constantly and consistently. Welker can also play outside as well. He isn't just a slot receiver.

Welker gives this offense something it doesn't have. A receiver who consistently gets open, and gets open quickly.

Brady has a far better O-line than what is in Dallas. By the time you get a O-line in place to get Welker effective he will be ready for the scrap heap.

 

[Galian Beast]

Why would we need another 30 something on a team of 30 somethings. It's time to clean house, rebuild, get draft picks (if we can) and take out the trash. We've been thru 16 years of mediocre... Your prescription will just lead to another 16 years of mediocre. We are a long, long way from competing for a title in Dallas.
Now go back to bed, take two asprin, and call the shrink in the am.

I'm not suggesting that we don't need to focus on youth, but when a player presents a value to a team where one is desperately needed, and can still fit that need, it makes sense.

Your ad hominem and straw man aside, getting veterans who fit your needs does in fact work. Getting Terrell Owens was a huge boon for us in 2007. It simply was. He fit a need, and the result was one of the best seasons we've had going 13-3.

 

[Galian Beast]

Brady has a far better O-line than what is in Dallas. By the time you get a O-line in place to get Welker effective he will be ready for the scrap heap.

Despite what people says, its not hard to put together an offensive line. You simply have to try. You don't do it by getting bargain bin backups and castaway journeymen from other teams.

We went cheap on OL, and we got what we paid for.

Costa/Cook?
Livings?
Bernadeau?

What NFL teams could they start for?

 

[ufcrules1]

Brady has a far better O-line than what is in Dallas. By the time you get a O-line in place to get Welker effective he will be ready for the scrap heap.

You talk about Olines but Romo had plenty of time against Washington for most of that game. He only had pressure a handful of times and he still blew it big time. Brady makes his Oline look better than they are.

 

[Galian Beast]

You talk about Olines but Romo had plenty of time against Washington for most of that game. He only had pressure a handful of times and he still blew it big time. Brady makes his Oline look better than they are.

Brady doesn't make his oline look better than they are. The guy is a statue. He gets all day to pass in a clean pocket.

Romo had time against Washington, and receivers weren't getting open. The defense couldn't stop the run either.

When you start losing control, things can go badly, and they did. I'm not letting Romo off the hook, but you guys sound as if you thought this team was capable of a playoff run... it wasn't.

 

[LittleD]

I'm not suggesting that we don't need to focus on youth, but when a player presents a value to a team where one is desperately needed, and can still fit that need, it makes sense.

Your ad hominem and straw man aside, getting veterans who fit your needs does in fact work. Getting Terrell Owens was a huge boon for us in 2007. It simply was. He fit a need, and the result was one of the best seasons we've had going 13-3.

Welker won't help as much as you seem to think. He might if we went to a WCO which means getting rid of RHG. Until we fix ( & I mean fix) the offensive & defensive lines, we will languish in 3rd or 4th place in our division. We would have to have the 90's cowboys in order to succeed and that ain't happening with JJ at the helm.

 

[percyhoward]

We need to be able to run the ball.

Yes we do, but be prepared to hear that we don't, mostly from people who struggle with common sense.

 

[Galian Beast]

Welker won't help as much as you seem to think. He might if we went to a WCO which means getting rid of RHG. Until we fix ( & I mean fix) the offensive & defensive lines, we will languish in 3rd or 4th place in our division. We would have to have the 90's cowboys in order to succeed and that ain't happening with JJ at the helm.

#1 Welker isn't in a WCO right now.
#2 Welker isn't the priority of my post. The offensive and defensive lines are.
#3 We almost won the division Sunday with half of our defense injured...

 

[xwalker]

Yes we do, but be prepared to hear that we don't, mostly from people who struggle with common sense.

:laugh2:

 

[Fastphilly]

You talk about Olines but Romo had plenty of time against Washington for most of that game. He only had pressure a handful of times and he still blew it big time. Brady makes his Oline look better than they are.

You make a valid point. He does have a quick release and they have been running that short passing game in NE for quite some time now so it's fine tuned. That is why Welker would never work here in Dallas. The type of offence that JG runs is more of a vertical game something Welker would struggle with in Dallas. Welker's effectiveness has a short window after the snap but as the play develops his effectiveness gets less.

 

[Rynie]

So you get rid of Miles Austin an outside receiver for a slot machine like Wes Welker that in all fairness feeds off of Gronk that gets the better coverage personel on him. I can assure you Wes Welker is a one trick pony. There are more important positions to address before a one trick pony slot machine.

Serious question: Why are you even here?

 

[Fastphilly]

Serious question: Why are you even here?

To discuss football. What else?

 

[xwalker]

That's where I would start. I would try to trade Miles Austin for a 3rd round draft pick. And perhaps make moves to acquire free agent Wes Welker. Wes Welker gets open, he catches everything, and he moves the chains. Wes Welker was 6th in the nfl among WRs with 1st downs.

People think that we already have that with Jason Witten. Let me compare.

Jason Witten - 14th in the nfl in 1st downs, 56 first downs
Wes Welker - 6th in the nfl in 1st downs, 72 first downs

Miles Austin - 23rd in the nfl in 1st downs, 48 first downs.

That's how New England scores points. They move the ball down the field, efficiently and effectively.

Some good points; however:

Why would a team trade for Austin. They could get a similar and possibly better/healthier player for his salary in Free Agency.

It would be interesting to add Welker to the Cowboys if he is not too expensive; however, if he is not overly expensive then New England will probably just re-sign him.

Trading Ware would result in all of his prorated bonus money accelerating into the 2013 cap.

 

[Galian Beast]

You make a valid point. He does have a quick release and they have been running that short passing game in NE for quite some time now so it's fine tuned. That is why Welker would never work here in Dallas. The type of offence that JG runs is more of a vertical game something Welker would struggle with in Dallas. Welker's effectiveness has a short window after the snap but as the play develops his effectiveness gets less.

You don't see the problem. Romo needs that quick outlet. He needs someone who is open sooner, so he can get the ball out, rather than take sacks or force bad passes. This is the issue in Dallas on offense. We have offensive talent, but we aren't efficient or effective.

 

[zack]

You talk about Olines but Romo had plenty of time against Washington for most of that game. He only had pressure a handful of times and he still blew it big time. Brady makes his Oline look better than they are.

Brady never gets any pressure and when he does...see the past SB's that he's lost...

 

[Galian Beast]

Some good points; however:

Why would a team trade for Austin. They could get a similar and possibly better/healthier player for his salary in Free Agency.

It would be interesting to add Welker to the Cowboys if he is not too expensive; however, if he is not overly expensive then New England will probably just re-sign him.

Trading Ware would result in all of his prorated bonus money accelerating into the 2013 cap.

Why would a team sign Laurent Robinson for 32.5 million dollars? Teams that need receivers would trade for Austin. He was still 25th in the nfl in yards last year (includes 2 tight ends), 34th in receiving touchdowns. This includes 8 tight ends (receiving touchdowns).

That means he is certainly better than most teams #1 receivers.

A team like Kansas City or Minnesota would love to have Miles Austin. New York Jets perhaps. Bears, Dolphins... there are tons of teams out there. We might even be able to get a 2nd for him.

Patriots have already spent big money on their tight ends... doubt they pay welker.

Not sure how much ware's remaining bonus is.