Offense vs Defense

[Eskimo]

You mean Wade Phillips? Anyways, Ryan was the one hyping up all the talent on the team. He said multiple times he never had this much talent and he came up lame.

Yes, thank you, Wade Phillips.

It is well known that the Ryans often try to talk up their players to give them confidence and elevate their level of play.

I would say we had some very good players (Ware, Lee, Jenkins when he wants to play hard) but we also had some pretty bad players (Keith Brooking, Bradie James, TNew). The thing is that you will often have trouble hiding a weak player on defense so you are often only as strong as your weakest link on defense. So getting those players replace with Claiborne, Connor and Bruce Carter should hopefully make a big difference. I would argue the weakest spot on the current defense is the open competition at safety between Pool, Church and Matt Johnson.

I do expect to see a better defense on the field but how much better remains to be seen, of course. I happen to agree that many here overrate Ryan but I don't think he is a bad coordinator. I do think he has coached defensive teams challenged on the talent front.

 

[Eskimo]

With the new additions, the defense might be better than the offense, but it wasn't last year.

So until the defense proves it, I can't say it's in better shape than the offense, which has some things to prove as well.

When the OL played well in the middle of the season this offense was really, really good. However, when Nagy was in there we struggled and later in the season when Kosier's legs began to give way we really struggled.

It is unfortunate that we needed to invest so much in CBs this offseason from what had been a really good pair of players in 2009 but between TNew's legs going and Jenkins shoulder going we were up the creek and needed to get better desperately. Otherwise we could have dropped back into the early 20s and got DeCastro and used the extra pick we acquired to get ourselves another OG in the second round and the OL problem could have been solved. Losing the $5M of cap space also really bit us because otherwise we could have spent more on OG in FA. At this point we have to hope that Callahan found us some bargains who will work well in his system. I am still not convinced Costa can get the job done at Center in a zone blocking scheme. I remember CS saying that Costa could not snap the ball and move to make a block last season and this necessitated a whole set of compensations to get the running game going.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It is unfortunate that we needed to invest so much in CBs this offseason from what had been a really good pair of players in 2009 but between TNew's legs going and Jenkins shoulder going we were up the creek and needed to get better desperately. Otherwise we could have dropped back into the early 20s and got DeCastro and used the extra pick we acquired to get ourselves another OG in the second round and the OL problem could have been solved.

I'm not convinced the OL was ever that high of a priority inside VR.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm not convinced the OL was ever that high of a priority inside VR.

In the draft, no. In free agency, it appears Dallas targeted and got who it wanted.

I don't agree with the direction the Cowboys went, but I think they executed their plan for the O-line. Now, we have to see how it plays out.

After Dallas got the two linemen, defense clearly was the plan for the draft, even if the Cowboys hadn't traded up for Claiborne.

 

[jobberone]

I think they are working on the OL but I don't think they view it as the magnitude of problem that many here do.

Callahan was brought in to help the OL, sure. But also to help Garrett with the offense and game management.

They have more confidence in Costa than 90% here do.

They picked the Gs they could afford and they thought would help the team. I think they believe the interior line is good enough although I suspect they will look to improve it. But that's the case of more than one position on this team even if its only depth.

They are working on improving the depth and I think they have done a decent job esp considering the resources needed elsewhere.

 

[Eskimo]

I'm not convinced the OL was ever that high of a priority inside VR.

I do think it is one area of the team where you don't have to spend a lot of resources to be competitive. You don't really need dominant players at these positions but you do need players who can work well as a unit. I don't know whether our group will but at least they do have a good coach who isn't constantly pondering retirement working with them now.

To be honest, I was never a fan of spending money on a guy like Nicks or spending a first rounder but I was in favour of looking for some guys in rounds two to four to bring in more talent. I really do believe we had one answer amongst the kids from last season in Killer. I do also suspect one of the others should develop into a league average OG between Leary, Costa, Nagy and Arkin. I would have been okay spending a second rounder to get a higher ceiling player to plug in and also would have been okay with a mid-tier vet to act as an insurance policy. I am not sure of their choices in Livings and Bernadeau but do agree with not spending premium dollars at OG. It is much more important to spend them at OT, QB, pass rushers, CB and pass catchers.

I also think that $5M penalty really changed our priorities this offseason.\

 

[big dog cowboy]

I do think it is one area of the team where you don't have to spend a lot of resources to be competitive. You don't really need dominant players at these positions but you do need players who can work well as a unit. I don't know whether our group will but at least they do have a good coach who isn't constantly pondering retirement working with them now.

To be honest, I was never a fan of spending money on a guy like Nicks or spending a first rounder but I was in favour of looking for some guys in rounds two to four to bring in more talent. I really do believe we had one answer amongst the kids from last season in Killer. I do also suspect one of the others should develop into a league average OG between Leary, Costa, Nagy and Arkin. I would have been okay spending a second rounder to get a higher ceiling player to plug in and also would have been okay with a mid-tier vet to act as an insurance policy. I am not sure of their choices in Livings and Bernadeau but do agree with not spending premium dollars at OG. It is much more important to spend them at OT, QB, pass rushers, CB and pass catchers.

I also think that $5M penalty really changed our priorities this offseason.\

One thing for sure, we'll know a lot more in January and if there isn't much improvement Jerry will hear about it every day.

 

[Bluestang]

Stephen Jones alluded to somehing very interesting when he was interviewed on Talkin Cowboys with Spagnola, Broaddus, Phillips, and Sunni.

They asked him about the trade w/ St. Louis and he said that was the only scenario that they had simulated where they would trade up and would be ok with losing a pick in the process because they had other needs like Guard (and then named-dropped DeCastro and Zeitler), Safety, and Defensive Line.

 

[Prossman]

I dont think we had the right type of corners to run ryans defense. You need guys who can press and play man to man. Neither Newman or jenkins fit that bill at all. Take out Lee and our linebackers we flat out awful. Old slow and lost. Throw in the fact that Coleman faded down the stretch and you have a recipee for disaster. It is hard to generate pressure when wrs get open in 3 seconds. Dallas has made good moves to solidify all those things.

Offensively we rack up yards and points at times but struggle in the redzone and short yardage situations. The oline was the biggest culprit here. When murray ws healthy and we had balance the offense was extremely effective. When murray went down and everything fell on Romos shoulders we didnt win nearly as much, collapsing at the end of the season and missing the playoffs.

Overall the boys made alot of improvements this offseason especially on the defensive side of the ball. Is biggest question still remains our interior oline. The good news about them is they are young and very hard working so i believe they will be better than a year ago. How much better remains to be seen. With the offseason moves we made and didnt make, the success win , lose , or draw rests on the progress of those young offensive lineman.
TBH that makes me very nervous, and would love to grab a veteran if one comes available that can help us.

 

[28 Joker]

I think the Cowboys should be significantly better in the offensive line this year. The Leary vs Bernadeau battle will be key and interesting to watch. The Cowboys should be able to win games when their offensive line is in transition. I think they proved that last season. It may take some time to gel, but that is to be expected. In transition or not, the Cowboys have Tyron Smith, but the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders, don't. I think Bill Callahan will be the biggest acquisition of the year.