Please excuse the optimism, but it seems to me that this organization

[Woods]

knows exactly where it wants to go.

Over the past two weeks alone, the Cowboys have wasted no time in trying to uncover players who can help the roster, whether signing them from the Practice Squad, the CFL (Kicker, WR), or fringe guys floating around the league (like the LB who was on Cleveland's roster earlier this season).

They lose their DL coach to Georgia, and they go out and immedately pick up Pasq, who was let go from Miami.

The coaching staff/JJ know the guys they want to extend (Austin), and it appears that they may already be working on something. (At the season end PC, JJ didn't want to talk about it other than they want to extend him.)

And of course, the decision on Wade was taken several weeks ago. It was simply a formality on structuring the right contract. The asst. coaches whose contracts expire will also be extended, as per Wade's request to JJ.

As for the Draft, we've read that the scouts are combing through prospective OL. There are no heads in the sand regarding where we need to upgrade our talent level.

I have to say, things are progressing smoothly and efficiently, and the organization appears focused.

Let's hope this is a sign of even better things to come.

 

[cowboyjoe]

knows exactly where it wants to go.

Over the past two weeks alone, the Cowboys have wasted no time in trying to uncover players who can help the roster, whether signing them from the Practice Squad, the CFL (Kicker, WR), or fringe guys floating around the league (like the LB who was on Cleveland's roster earlier this season).

They lose their DL coach to Georgia, and they go out and immedately pick up Pasq, who was let go from Miami.

The coaching staff/JJ know the guys they want to extend (Austin), and it appears that they may already be working on something. (At the season end PC, JJ didn't want to talk about it other than they want to extend him.)

And of course, the decision on Wade was taken several weeks ago. It was simply a formality on structuring the right contract. The asst. coaches whose contracts expire will also be extended, as per Wade's request to JJ.

As for the Draft, we've read that the scouts are combing through prospective OL. There are no heads in the sand regarding where we need to upgrade our talent level.

I have to say, things are progressing smoothly and efficiently, and the organization appears focused.

Let's hope this is a sign of even better things to come.

thats what you want, you want to go forward and improve this team;
while jerry jones did say also that they could sign one veteran free agent over 5 million, shows he is committed,

What better way than for Jerry to commit some more money to the Cowboys players, staff etc, and get the cowboys to the playoffs again, and to the superbowl which will be played in cowboys stadium this year.

You dont want to stand still but keep moving forward, I would way with our offensive line, we have 2 to 3 years before that window closes. Now, if we can go out and get some young impact stud on the offensive line, or 2, that improves our chances even more to 3-5 years before the window closes.

Time now is to strike and i think jerry sees that, thats why he signed wade to just 2 years, Now he is saying get it down, this will be your 4th year wade

Oh, by the way, we didnt to best of my knowledge sign the kicker from the CFL, but we did sign the punt and kickoff return guy from canada

 

[Woods]

thats what you want, you want to go forward and improve this team;
while jerry jones did say also that they could sign one veteran free agent over 5 million, shows he is committed,

What better way than for Jerry to commit some more money to the Cowboys players, staff etc, and get the cowboys to the playoffs again, and to the superbowl which will be played in cowboys stadium this year.

You dont want to stand still but keep moving forward, I would way with our offensive line, we have 2 to 3 years before that window closes. Now, if we can go out and get some young impact stud on the offensive line, or 2, that improves our chances even more to 3-5 years before the window closes.

Time now is to strike and i think jerry sees that, thats why he signed wade to just 2 years, Now he is saying get it down, this will be your 4th year wade

Oh, by the way, we didnt to best of my knowledge sign the kicker from the CFL, but we did sign the punt and kickoff return guy from canada

I thought we signed the kicker from the CFL?

I'm pretty sure we did.

EDIT: CowboyJoe, I think you're right. We just tried him out, didn't appear to sign him.

 

[cowboyjoe]

I thought we signed the kicker from the CFL?

I'm pretty sure we did.

I never saw the signing, can you provide me the link? All i saw is we signed some more practice squad players and the titus return special teams player.

 

[Woods]

I never saw the signing, can you provide me the link? All i saw is we signed some more practice squad players and the titus return special teams player.

Actually, I just checked the info again, and I think you're right.

We only tried him out. I guess we didn't sign him.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Actually, I just checked the info again, and I think you're right.

We only tried him out. I guess we didn't sign him.

yep, the titus ryan signing and this one;
»

Three more practice squad players to return
10:18 AM Fri, Jan 22, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer/Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


Earlier in the week the Cowboys announced guard Travis Bright, running back Herb Donaldson, cornerback Marquis Floyd and linebacker Donovan Woods, who finished the year on the practice squad, had signed contracts for 2010.

Wide receivers Jesse Holley and Manny Johnson and defensive end Marcus Dixon, who also finished the year on the practice squad, have deals in place for 2010 as well.

Jerry Jones alluded to Dixon in Thursday's press conference in praising Wade Phillips.

"I was just on the phone with a player a few minutes ago that's a practice squad player. He just expressed it better than I ever could. He said, 'I want to get everything I can get from coach Phillips.' He's a defensive player. He said, 'I want to get everything I can get from him. I want to get everything I can get from Paul [Pasqualoni].' Obviously, I was talking to a defensive lineman. I want to get everything I can possibly get from their experience and from their resourcefulness as experienced coaches."

Dixon is an interesting player. He just finished his second year on the practice squad. He transformed his body in 2009 and might have a chance to be a rotation guy with defensvie linemen Stephen Bowen, Jason Hatcher, Junior Siavii and Marcus Spears restricted free agents. I wouldn't think Bowen, Spears and Hatcher will be anywhere else in 2010 but Dixon could get in the mix.

 

[Don Corleone]

I don't know that it is so much making the right moves. This team doesn't have that many holes to fill. I mean, the weaknesses of this team were pretty much exposed last week. The Cowboys are a solid team as it is, but the o-line has been a weakness for quite some time, and Romo has made them look better than they are.

The o-line struggled against the better defenses in the NFL, and we lost those games.

It doesn't take a genius to figure this out.

Now, I do give credit where credit is due. This team is strong in most other areas, so we can afford to focus on the o-line, a FG kicker, and a ball hawking safety to replace Hamlin. This is more the result of past successes over the last few years.

 

[LeonDixson]

I share your optimism, Woods. We must improve the O-line though. Replacing Colombo, would be a good start.

 

[CF74]

A few upgrades on the O-line and there's no reason why we can't compete again next season...

 

[Chocolate Lab]

People don't like to admit it, but this has been a well-run organization for the last few years.

 

[Mansta54]

People don't like to admit it, but this has been a well-run organization for the last few years.

Yep!!!!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm cautiously optimistic.

Let's see what changes are brought forth to the offensive line.

If heads are stcuk in the sand and the same 5 guys start come September, optimism will change to pessimism.

 

[dadymat]

People don't like to admit it, but this has been a well-run organization for the last few years.

Yep!!!!

yep ..I think Jerry learned alot from Ole Bill.....took a few seasons for it to click but i think he gets it ....

 

[cowboyjoe]

yep ..I think Jerry learned alot from Ole Bill.....took a few seasons for it to click but i think he gets it ....

here you go woods, thought youd like to see this; just hope the cowboys dont wait around and some other team signs the cfl kicker;

Big D workout huge kick for DeAngelis
Shot at NFL makes Sandro's day

By WES GILBERTSON, CALGARY SUN

Last Updated: 23rd January 2010, 2:57pm
Email StoryPrintSize A A AReport TypoShare with:
FacebookDiggDel.icio.usGoogleStumble UponNewsvineRedditTechnoratiFeed MeYahooSimpySquidooSpurlBlogmarksNetvouzScuttleSitejot+ What are these? .Sandro DeAngelis is seeing stars.

And dreaming of sporting one on his helmet next season.

The Calgary Stampeders kicker had a free-agent tryout Friday with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, stoking his desire to boot field goals on football's biggest stage.

"I think all athletes are daydreamers," DeAngelis said.

"We all sit there and we daydream about winning that championship game or signing that big contract, and I think that's one of the things that motivates athletes is the ability to have that kind of wild imagination.

"Of course, you look at the city and daydream about what it would be like to play there and stuff like that, so, of course your mind wanders a little bit. But at the same time, once you do your best, it's out of your control."

DeAngelis, a five-time West Division all-star and the most accurate kicker in CFL history, worked out at the Cowboys practice facility in Irving, Texas, under the watchful eyes of head coach Wade Phillips, special-teams coach Joe DeCamillis, billionaire owner Jerry Jones and others.

The 28-year-old becomes a CFL free agent next month, although he'd rather be booting field goals south of the border in the fall.

DeAngelis also canvassed for an NFL tryout last off-season but didn't earn any auditions.

"Just to even have an opportunity to kick for an NFL team is living a dream," DeAngelis said.

"I just want to give it my best shot. If I make it to the NFL, great. If I don't, hey that's great too because I'm very happy in the CFL. The thing that I don't want to happen is to have regrets later on in life. Especially now that I'm a dad, how am I going to tell my kid to go chase his dreams if I don't go chase my own?

"As great as it is being in the CFL, as a competitor, you always want to do more. The competitor in me is trying to do more in this case, and I'm just really happy that I had the opportunity."

The Cowboys, who were eliminated from the playoffs last weekend by the Minnesota Vikings, are seeking some stability at the kicking position after Nick Folk and his successor Shaun Suisham made only 64.5% of their field-goal attempts in the regular season.

DeAngelis, who hails from Niagara Falls, Ont., and makes his home in Calgary, nailed 42-of-49 three-point tries in 2009 and boasts an 83.8% accuracy rating in five campaigns with the Stamps.

His agent has had conversations with other NFL squads and DeAngelis is optimistic Friday's tryout won't be his last.

He was satisfied with his performance in the Big D, and expects to hear back from the Cowboys next week.

"I'm pleased with it, but you really have no idea what they're thinking. They don't exactly jump up and down or anything so you don't have a gauge of where you stand," DeAngelis said. "I'll keep my fingers crossed."

WES.GILBERTSON@SUNMEDIA.CA

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I like everything EXCEPT the fact that this OL has had pass protection problems for years and years. It has been their downfall each and every time they've played against solid DLs and so far they haven't shown any signs of being able to improve it or even that they know it's a problem. They had 12 picks last year and chose 1 offensive lineman (I think it was just 1),, what the frig?

 

[CliffnDallas]

knows exactly where it wants to go.

Over the past two weeks alone, the Cowboys have wasted no time in trying to uncover players who can help the roster, whether signing them from the Practice Squad, the CFL (Kicker, WR), or fringe guys floating around the league (like the LB who was on Cleveland's roster earlier this season).

They lose their DL coach to Georgia, and they go out and immedately pick up Pasq, who was let go from Miami.

The coaching staff/JJ know the guys they want to extend (Austin), and it appears that they may already be working on something. (At the season end PC, JJ didn't want to talk about it other than they want to extend him.)

And of course, the decision on Wade was taken several weeks ago. It was simply a formality on structuring the right contract. The asst. coaches whose contracts expire will also be extended, as per Wade's request to JJ.

As for the Draft, we've read that the scouts are combing through prospective OL. There are no heads in the sand regarding where we need to upgrade our talent level.

I have to say, things are progressing smoothly and efficiently, and the organization appears focused.

Let's hope this is a sign of even better things to come.

That's just what they want you to think!

 

[gmoney112]

No optimism in the offseason. It's against forum rules.

 

[lcharles]

34-3 :bang2:



Can't you let us be mad at least a full week before talking sunshine and lollipops?

 

[SaltwaterServr]

34-3 :bang2:



Can't you let us be mad at least a full week before talking sunshine and lollipops?

No. It's the polar opposite of what we have to endure the rest of the year from the realists. Suck on that lollipop.

 

[ZeroClub]

When your owner is your President, your President is your GM, and your GM is your owner, AND his three kids are the Executive VPs, there isn't going to be a lot of internal dissention within the front office. Whose side are you going to take? Jerry's or Jerry's?

The organization has done an excellent job with the draft in recent years.

The organization hasn't been all that great with the talent pool already in the NFL (i.e., veterans for trades / free agency). Brooking, Igor, and Sensabaugh were solid pickups. Zach Thomas wasn't so much. Has Montrae Holland (the 2 million dollar man) even found the locker room yet? #11 did, but ....

Jerry decided to get rid of the bad eggs last offseason and seems less likely to put more on the payroll. That's a positive.

It looks like the organization wants players' salaries to influence their playing time (#11 and #24). That's a negative, I think.

If and when young Jason completes his on-the-job training, all things will be possible.