PFW: Cowboys get lowest FA grade in NFC East

[Idgit]

When you stop insulting me on your posts, we will have reasonable conversations. For now, I will try to continue by ignoring your insults.

For the most part, I absolutely agree with you that spending wildly in FA isnt a good philosophy. It is certainly what has gotten us in trouble in the first place. Now most teams that spend in FA simply havent drafted well. And they need to fill holes by spending big in order to compete. The problem with the Cowboys is that they arent good enough in the draft. The ONLY place I feel they are up to par or better than the competition is their ability to sign undrafted FA's.

And lets face it, the Cowboys simply dont manage the cap well enough to spend big in FA. That is more the reason they are being wise more than anything. If Jerry had 40 million in cap space, trust me, he would be spending it. But again, we will probably never get there because of the way we mismanage the cap.

So the reality is that we have a team that does mediocre in the draft and doesnt add much quality talent in FA. So the problem should be obvious. If the draft and FA are the only two main areas where you can build a team and we dont do much in one and are mediocre at the other, then how would you expect us to ever build a championship team? Through a Herschel Walker type trade? Not likely. Luck? Probably the most likely.

And lets face another huge reality....................Jerry isnt good at drafting or developing young QB's. Its almost like he doesnt even do it. And soon, that will be the next big hurdle we will have to over come. He has an opportunity this year to do something about it. And by all accounts he will pass on it.

Then we get to the problem that he seems to prefer puppet/mediocre head coaches that he can influence. Throw all this together and you have the reason that many fans have been so down on the Cowboys and frustrated. Then of course you can just look at the results of the team to backup everything I have just said.

It's not an insult to point out that context that matters routinely gets lost in an argument you make, Roy. You'll just have to live with it getting pointed out. Especially when you start with the tone you started with in your reply to me.

To your post, I don't agree with re the coaching or cap mangement. But it's enough to say that I think we build the team through good cap management, conservative FA acquisitions, and good drafting and player development with a good staff.

I'm not at all worried about Romo/Garrett/Linehan/Wilson developing a young QB over the course of a few years. I do worry we'll make the mistake of not taking a QB at 4 if the right guy is there for the taking.

 

[Idgit]

Analytics dorks' opinions carry about as much weight as beauty pageant judges'.

Beauty pageants are won and lost on the opinions of the judges. Or was that your point?

 

[CCBoy]

It's not an insult to point out that context that matters routinely gets lost in an argument you make, Roy. You'll just have to live with it getting pointed out. Especially when you start with the tone you started with in your reply to me.

To your post, I don't agree with re the coaching or cap mangement. But it's enough to say that I think we build the team through good cap management, conservative FA acquisitions, and good drafting and player development with a good staff.

I'm not at all worried about Romo/Garrett/Linehan/Wilson developing a young QB over the course of a few years. I do worry we'll make the mistake of not taking a QB at 4 if the right guy is there for the taking.

This reason alone trumps all the lesser included positional excuses for why those are improper for this high of a pick...

 

[CowboyRoy]

It's not an insult to point out that context that matters routinely gets lost in an argument you make, Roy. You'll just have to live with it getting pointed out. Especially when you start with the tone you started with in your reply to me.

To your post, I don't agree with re the coaching or cap mangement. But it's enough to say that I think we build the team through good cap management, conservative FA acquisitions, and good drafting and player development with a good staff.

I'm not at all worried about Romo/Garrett/Linehan/Wilson developing a young QB over the course of a few years. I do worry we'll make the mistake of not taking a QB at 4 if the right guy is there for the taking.

Nothing is lost on me other than your point of view.

Lets hope its Romo developing the young QB and not the others. We saw how that worked out with our last two backups when they played. Weeden all but said they basically told him to play scared and held him back. Nice to see that at least you would like them to take a QB at 4 if he is quality. On that we can at least agree.

 

[big dog cowboy]

And lets face it, the Cowboys simply dont manage the cap well enough to spend big in FA. That is more the reason they are being wise more than anything. If Jerry had 40 million in cap space, trust me, he would be spending it. But again, we will probably never get there because of the way we mismanage the cap.

The Cowboys are one of the best salary cap managed teams in the league.

 

[CCBoy]

The Cowboys are one of the best salary cap managed teams in the league.

Me, I like sitting with the choir...

 

[CowboyRoy]

The Cowboys are one of the best salary cap managed teams in the league.

No doubt. They are awesome at it.

And Romo is going to play at a pro bowl lever for 5 more years.

 

[Blackspider214]

lol. lets give grades to the FA period that isn't over.

Let's be honest. It's technically not over but what's left of FA is on the level of going to your local garage sales in hopes of finding some things. That's why the grades are in. None of these players will move the scales in either direction.

Only thing I was disappointed in was the DB from San Diego that went elsewhere after we courted him.

 

[erod]

Beauty pageants are won and lost on the opinions of the judges. Or was that your point?

More like, opinions based solely on the subjective and political whims of a bunch of know-nothings.

 

[Idgit]

More like, opinions based solely on the subjective and political whims of a bunch of know-nothings.

Ah. Well, I'd disagree with that, for obvious reasons. Opinions based on honest attempts to measure and compare things as accurately as possible are not the same thing as the whims and opinions of know-nothings. Sure, measurements can be inaccurate, or people can be measuring the wrong things, and results can be inconclusive, but generally speaking, the act of attempting to measure something itself is useful for getting your arms around the concept you're trying to measure in the first place. Give me that over 'the eyeball test' or the opinion of somebody strong-willed but resistant to actual information or data any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.

 

[Idgit]

The Cowboys are one of the best salary cap managed teams in the league.

One of the better at this point, I'd agree. Are we really one of the very best? We've done a good job of committing to young players and our best players long-term here recently. It hampers us in FA, but it's a good way to run the organization long-term. Especially with the young OLs coming up for re-signing soon.

 

[erod]

Ah. Well, I'd disagree with that, for obvious reasons. Opinions based on honest attempts to measure and compare things as accurately as possible are not the same thing as the whims and opinions of know-nothings. Sure, measurements can be inaccurate, or people can be measuring the wrong things, and results can be inconclusive, but generally speaking, the act of attempting to measure something itself is useful for getting your arms around the concept you're trying to measure in the first place. Give me that over 'the eyeball test' or the opinion of somebody strong-willed but resistant to actual information or data any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.

The UConn women's basketball team is ranked 3rd in the nation in RPI.

I rest my case.

 

[Idgit]

The UConn women's basketball team is ranked 3rd in the nation in RPI.

I rest my case.

You've got me at a disadvantage, as I don't follow horse racing, but it's possible you're using a measurement that's flawed. Or it's possible that the example you're giving is an outlier in an otherwise general formula. The point is, though, there's nothing inherently wrong with attempting to measure something as long as you're aware that measurements can be wrong. If and when somebody points out an actual inaccuracy, you revisit the rationale. It's pretty easy.

And in all cases, it's better than saying 'I trust my gut' or 'I know what my own eyes tell me,' because everybody's gut and eyes are different.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Philadelphia B+

Washington B

N.Y. Giants C+

Dallas: C

The Cowboys have been busier restructuring deals than handing out new ones, a problem for a team with severe talent deficiencies at most positions. Not bringing back Greg Hardy is obviously the right decision, but equally obvious is the tenuous state of a Dallas pass rush that wasn’t good enough with him. Compounding that issue are numerous holes in the secondary, which veterans Leon Hall and Dashon Goldson are being courted to help plug. We like Dallas’ reported interest in Hall more than Goldson, but we’ll see where things go. Adding Cedric Thornton to the D-line is a nice move and shoring up their LB depth with Kyle Wilber behind Rolando McClain, who, like Morris Claiborne, inked a one-year deal, all makes sense. But do they make a big enough difference for an average ‘D’ that was overburdened with Tony Romo’s injury? And what’s the plan at running back and in the receiving corps after Dez?

http://www.profootballweekly.com/20...ter-free-agencys-first-wave-nfc-east/apekilz/

With Sir Jones, it's quantity and not quality.
Goodness! We will end up with a team composed of mainly journeymen!

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

When they sign Morrid, it will drop to a "D". There is nothing like signing a washed up vet at a position that this offense needs to execute at it's best.

I disagree. Morris is the best of our current FA crop.
I like Morris but he being the best of the crop worries me. Sir Jones really believes that being proactive equals to doing great work. In the end, his proactivity will elevate us to mediocrity.

 

[endersdragon]

Walterfootball gave us a solid B saying we did a great job at not overpaying for average talent... whatever.

 

[gmoney112]

C is about right.

We really didn't do anything to "improve" outside of signing a 1tech that can actually play in the NFL. Bringing McClain back was a lateral move. Morris is depth and I actually like him a lot behind this line, the guy at DE is a complete wildcard and really at this point, can only be considered a "rotational" guy.

Addressing the secondary and pass rush was pretty disappointing. Two of the biggest factors in affecting opposing passer rating. This is one of the highest paid secondaries in the NFL, and for all the talk about 2014, they still couldn't crack top 20 in DPR with Romo leading the offense to the best OPR in the entire NFL.

And I know this story is still developing, but I was extremely disappointed in how they handled Carr's situation. At this point, does anyone believe he's actually released if we take a DB high in the draft? Given how this has progressed, I'd be completely shocked if he's not playing at his current figure on opening day.

 

[noshame]

I believe Jerry realizes This truly isn't a win-now team so not spending big bucks on free agents is fine with me

 

[Section446]

Nothing wrong with that grade, we didn't do much.

 

[DFWJC]

They'll totally flip the script if they somehow land Joe Looney.