Galian Beast
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 14,735
- Reaction score
- 7,457
I think I got caught up in the dream of having Williams and Ware opposite each other, but I'm coming back to reality now. While I would certainly want Williams over Spencer, I think the most logical thing would include signing Spencer to an affordable medium-long term contract. I think we're way too down on Anthony Spencer. Do I think he was worth the franchise tag? Absolutely not, but again like I've said in other topics; I don't see any way he plays this year under the franchise tag. It was a bargaining chip, one way or another.
That brings me back to what our true priorities should be.
Fixing our biggest holes. And what are they?
#1 Offensive Line
#2 Secondary
#3 Linebacker Corps
The offensive line finally needs to be fully retooled. We got rid of Columbo, Davis, Gurode, and Flozell Adams. It's time to get rid of Kosier, replace Costa, and replace Holland.
Carl Nicks is absolutely the answer here. He is consistently one of the best offensive linemen in football. This is a true to earth long term fix at the guard position.
Ben Grubbs is also an acceptable replacement if for some reason we can't get Nicks. But that is absolutely who I think we need to get.
The center position needs to be upgrading. Costa is one of the worst centers in the nfl. Could he improve in year 2? Maybe, but enough not to cost Romo another year of his career? Let's not bet on Alan Ball 2.0.
Chris Myers, Scott Wells, Dan Koppen, Nick Hardwick, Samson Satele... ONE of these guys needs to be a Dallas Cowboy next year.
And like I said before we need to upgrade BOTH guard spots. DeCastro is a walk on starter. He will be next years version of Tyron Smith, expect he will be the only rookie on the field. Play him at RG between a veteran tackle (Free) and veteran center.
And there you have it, and offensive line where EVERY player in a strength, not a liability. And you still try and develop Arkin, Nagy, maybe Costa or Kuwalski(?).
That brings me to the secondary. I don't even think I would mind resigning Abram Elam. He played really well early on in the season. I would like to see us draft a safety relatively high though. The real issue is getting Brandon Carr. Yes I am advocating signing two of the top 10 free agents in the NFL this year. We have not been a player in free agency for 2 or 3 years now, and we have felt the impact of that.
I think we need to draft a cornerback high as well. I'd basically go DeCastro, CB/S, CB/S.
Signing Carr, and getting some young talented secondary players in the draft should help fix this secondary. Terrence Newman was really in my opinion the biggest cause for concern in the secondary. I'd love to replace Scandrick at some point, but hopefully if he can stay in the slot he won't do too much damage.
Linebacker I think we have a lot of options to replace Keith Brooking and Bradie James. First we already have Bruce Carter, who basically red shirted last year. I wouldn't pencil him in as the starter, but I would lean towards it, and get a cheap veteran stop gap. Hopefully that doesn't mean Keith Brooking or Bradie James.
I think people look at our defensive line and suggest we need to get more pass rush from there. Perhaps we could replace Spears or Coleman with Castillo. I'm not sure that the defensive line didn't do it's job. We stopped the run really well last year, and that is their primary purpose.
All you need to do is patch up this defense, and fill in the holes. It's the holes that got us killed last year. Newman not being able to cover, and middle linebackers not being able to cover... I think you fill those holes in and you see a much different defense, especially in year 2 of Rob Ryan's defense.
The priority really remains with the offensive line. Get players who can run block and pass block, and you're going to see us have the most prolific offense in the national football league.
You look at Green Bay, New Orleans, and New England... probably the three most prolific offenses, and what do they have in common? Not the greatest running games. Well New Orleans actually is ranked 6th now, after getting Darren Sproles.
But we fix the offensive line and I would expect to have a top 5 rushing attack and THE top passing attack. We came in 7th in passing with Romo hurt for a good part of the year... But we were 18th in rushing yards even with Murray playing lights out, and we still only had FIVE rushing touchdowns...
Offensive line is a MUST... most glaring weakness of this team, and a huge handicap given the skill players we have.
As maligned as our defense was last year, they were 14th in yards allowed, and 16th in points allowed.
That isn't TERRIBLE. That's middle of the pack.
Year 2 of Rob Ryans defense
Replace Newman
Replace Brooking/James combination
I think we'll jump a good amount of spaces. In 2010 we were 23rd in yards allowed, and 31st in points allowed...
What did we do on defense in free agency last year?
Rob Ryan Year 1
Replaced Ball with Abram Elam
Sean Lee Year 2
Brought in Coleman, and got rid of Olshansky.
that was it... and we jumped 7 spots on yards, and 15 spots on points... We don't need Mario Williams. We just need Brandon Carr. We just need a linebacker in case Carter isn't ready or isn't what we think he is. Many of us would like to see Dan Connor. I'd much rather have him here than in Philly.
That brings me back to what our true priorities should be.
Fixing our biggest holes. And what are they?
#1 Offensive Line
#2 Secondary
#3 Linebacker Corps
The offensive line finally needs to be fully retooled. We got rid of Columbo, Davis, Gurode, and Flozell Adams. It's time to get rid of Kosier, replace Costa, and replace Holland.
Carl Nicks is absolutely the answer here. He is consistently one of the best offensive linemen in football. This is a true to earth long term fix at the guard position.
Ben Grubbs is also an acceptable replacement if for some reason we can't get Nicks. But that is absolutely who I think we need to get.
The center position needs to be upgrading. Costa is one of the worst centers in the nfl. Could he improve in year 2? Maybe, but enough not to cost Romo another year of his career? Let's not bet on Alan Ball 2.0.
Chris Myers, Scott Wells, Dan Koppen, Nick Hardwick, Samson Satele... ONE of these guys needs to be a Dallas Cowboy next year.
And like I said before we need to upgrade BOTH guard spots. DeCastro is a walk on starter. He will be next years version of Tyron Smith, expect he will be the only rookie on the field. Play him at RG between a veteran tackle (Free) and veteran center.
And there you have it, and offensive line where EVERY player in a strength, not a liability. And you still try and develop Arkin, Nagy, maybe Costa or Kuwalski(?).
That brings me to the secondary. I don't even think I would mind resigning Abram Elam. He played really well early on in the season. I would like to see us draft a safety relatively high though. The real issue is getting Brandon Carr. Yes I am advocating signing two of the top 10 free agents in the NFL this year. We have not been a player in free agency for 2 or 3 years now, and we have felt the impact of that.
I think we need to draft a cornerback high as well. I'd basically go DeCastro, CB/S, CB/S.
Signing Carr, and getting some young talented secondary players in the draft should help fix this secondary. Terrence Newman was really in my opinion the biggest cause for concern in the secondary. I'd love to replace Scandrick at some point, but hopefully if he can stay in the slot he won't do too much damage.
Linebacker I think we have a lot of options to replace Keith Brooking and Bradie James. First we already have Bruce Carter, who basically red shirted last year. I wouldn't pencil him in as the starter, but I would lean towards it, and get a cheap veteran stop gap. Hopefully that doesn't mean Keith Brooking or Bradie James.
I think people look at our defensive line and suggest we need to get more pass rush from there. Perhaps we could replace Spears or Coleman with Castillo. I'm not sure that the defensive line didn't do it's job. We stopped the run really well last year, and that is their primary purpose.
All you need to do is patch up this defense, and fill in the holes. It's the holes that got us killed last year. Newman not being able to cover, and middle linebackers not being able to cover... I think you fill those holes in and you see a much different defense, especially in year 2 of Rob Ryan's defense.
The priority really remains with the offensive line. Get players who can run block and pass block, and you're going to see us have the most prolific offense in the national football league.
You look at Green Bay, New Orleans, and New England... probably the three most prolific offenses, and what do they have in common? Not the greatest running games. Well New Orleans actually is ranked 6th now, after getting Darren Sproles.
But we fix the offensive line and I would expect to have a top 5 rushing attack and THE top passing attack. We came in 7th in passing with Romo hurt for a good part of the year... But we were 18th in rushing yards even with Murray playing lights out, and we still only had FIVE rushing touchdowns...
Offensive line is a MUST... most glaring weakness of this team, and a huge handicap given the skill players we have.
As maligned as our defense was last year, they were 14th in yards allowed, and 16th in points allowed.
That isn't TERRIBLE. That's middle of the pack.
Year 2 of Rob Ryans defense
Replace Newman
Replace Brooking/James combination
I think we'll jump a good amount of spaces. In 2010 we were 23rd in yards allowed, and 31st in points allowed...
What did we do on defense in free agency last year?
Rob Ryan Year 1
Replaced Ball with Abram Elam
Sean Lee Year 2
Brought in Coleman, and got rid of Olshansky.
that was it... and we jumped 7 spots on yards, and 15 spots on points... We don't need Mario Williams. We just need Brandon Carr. We just need a linebacker in case Carter isn't ready or isn't what we think he is. Many of us would like to see Dan Connor. I'd much rather have him here than in Philly.
