Position Analysis - Need to Step Up/In-Between/Proven

[xwalker]

Players Only. Let's debate coaches and front office in another thread.

Need somebody to step up:
DE - A lot of options but no proven difference makers. The player that has shown the most (Irving) is suspended to start the season.

CB - They have a lot of talent and options, but most are unproven. Even the veterans are unproven with Scandrick struggling to return from injury last season and Carroll and unknown in this scheme.

Safety - The starting SS (Church) and his primary backup from last season (Wilcox) are both gone. Options Heath, Awuzie, Woods, Blanton, Frazier

RT - La'el or Green/Bell/Cleary

LG - La'el or Cooper/Green/Bell/Cleary

PR/KR - Switzer good in college but must prove it. Lucky likely gone.

Good Enough or better:
WR - Should be OK, but need consistency from Dez. Depth on the outside is limited; although, they didn't seem to miss a beat when Dez missed 3 games last season, in part because of the dominant running game.

LB - Returning starters are good enough but could stand to be better. Jaylon or Wilson likely challenge to be the coverage LB in the Nickel next to Lee.

DT - Lost a starter (McClain) but they have options. Collins was the best DL and 2nd best defensive player last season as a rookie that missed training camp. Paea/Thorton are at least OK and Crawford/Irving are options.

TE - Witten reliable and still gets open but definitely near the end. Swaim/Hanna have injury issues and Rico is a complete unknown.

Proven Commodities:
QB - I guess this could be listed as unproven, but I'm sold that Dak will be at least "good enough".
LT
OC
RG
RB
K
P
LS

 

[TheFinisher]

I'd add TE, FS, and LB as proven commodities.

Witten, Jones and Lee are rock solid.

The other LBs on the roster like Hitchens and Wilson are reliable, and obviously Jaylon is an unknown but offers a considerable boost depending on how he's healed.

 

[Hardline]

Everyone needs to step up regardless of how they played last season.

 

[Screw The Hall]

This a good thread. There are so many spots on the roster that are unproven yet young, fast, and full of potential. This is the type of roster uncertainty you enjoy.

 

[xwalker]

I'd add TE, FS, and LB as proven commodities.

Witten, Jones and Lee are rock solid.

The other LBs on the roster like Hitchens and Wilson are reliable, and obviously Jaylon is an unknown but offers a considerable boost depending on how he's healed.

I didn't break up the Safety position to SS and FS, but if I did, then I agree that Jones is solid.

The 2nd TE plays a significant amount of snaps and who fills that spot is up in the air due to injures. If Swaim is 100% to start TC, then he is good enough to move it to the proven category. If Witten was in his prime, maybe I could move it there regardless of the other players but he did look slower last season than the season before.

Hitchens and Wilson are why I put LB in the "good enough" category. The coverage LB next to Lee was an issue at times last season. Durant played a lot of snaps there and he is gone. I feel like Wilson could be better than Durant or Hitchens as the Nickel LB next to Lee, but I need to see it. The upside with Jaylon makes LB a possible top 5 position on the team, but for me, it's still far from proven that he will play and play at his pre-injury level. LB is definitely not a position that I worry about.

 

[Bullflop]

This a good thread. There are so many spots on the roster that are unproven yet young, fast, and full of potential. This is the type of roster uncertainty you enjoy.

Of course, a lot depends upon how well those players with questions to answer are going to respond to their opportunities to contribute. Like yourself, I like the idea that we have many largely untested but talented youngsters who hold considerable promise of developing into some outstanding veterans. It promises to be interesting to see. It would definitely be a thrill to watch them develop into great players.

Our biggest questions appear to involve how many of these youngsters would actually find success and how long it takes for their anticipated potential to materialize. If those with injuries return healthy and our draftees manage to develop as they should, the Cowboys would be very likely to find great success for many years.

Needless to say, anything can happen. For those of us wanting so badly for good things to occur, here's hoping we're thrilled with the results.

 

[xwalker]

Of course, a lot depends upon how well those players with questions to answer are going to respond to their opportunities to contribute. Like yourself, I like the idea that we have many largely untested but talented youngsters who hold considerable promise of developing into some outstanding veterans. It promises to be interesting to see. It would definitely be a thrill to watch them develop into great players.

Our biggest questions appear to involve how many of these youngsters would actually find success and how long it takes for their anticipated potential to materialize. If those with injuries return healthy and our draftees manage to develop as they should, the Cowboys would be very likely to find great success for many years.

Needless to say, anything can happen. Here's hoping all of us wanting these good things to materialize are going to be thrilled with the results.

My concern is the balance of young players to veterans on defense. It's easier for a rookie to acclimate when surrounded by veterans than it would be if that same players is surrounded by other rookies or players with limited experience.

I think they're OK in that area, but I think the in-experienced/veteran player ratio will affect some decisions. If Brown is one of the top 3 CBs with Jones in his 2nd year as the starting FS and either Heath or someone else as a 1st time starter at SS and Jaylon as MLB, it could help a guy like Nolan Carroll get one of the top 3 CBs spots to start the season just to maintain some level of veterans surrounding the young players.

I think Taco, Awuzie, Lewis, Brown, Jaylon are all going to be good players but it would be hard to have them all starting for game 1 of this season.

 

[Bullflop]

My concern is the balance of young players to veterans on defense. It's easier for a rookie to acclimate when surrounded by veterans than it would be if that same players is surrounded by other rookies or players with limited experience.

I think they're OK in that area, but I think the in-experienced/veteran player ratio will affect some decisions. If Brown is one of the top 3 CBs with Jones in his 2nd year as the starting FS and either Heath or someone else as a 1st time starter at SS and Jaylon as MLB, it could help a guy like Nolan Carroll get one of the top 3 CBs spots to start the season just to maintain some level of veterans surrounding the young players.

I think Taco, Awuzie, Lewis, Brown, Jaylon are all going to be good players but it would be hard to have them all starting for game 1 of this season.

Sounds like sage advice to me . . . I wouldn't be at all surprised if those on our staff are thinking much the same as what you've related here. Coaches who are wise routinely are aware of the necessary combinations of vets and youngsters that tend to make rosters the most successful.

I'm confident that the Cowboys staff will mix and match our defensive veteran players in such a way as to allow the best chances for consistency. They've proven to be a conservative bunch that will more than likely allow the vets to school the newbies like Taco, Chidobe and the others.

 

[CCBoy]

On defense, I see an aggressive front that will put a mark on many opponents...with, or without a true Hall of Famer presently discovered. The linebackers, will beat many linemen to a hole and show up when payment due arrives following any movement into Cowboy territory. As to the secondary, there will be skint knees, but a very responsive and alert group protecting all the way up the middle of the field.

 

[CCBoy]

Sounds like sage advice to me . . . I wouldn't be at all surprised if those on our staff are thinking much the same as what you've related here. Coaches who are wise routinely are aware of the necessary combinations of vets and youngsters that tend to make rosters the most successful.

I'm confident that the Cowboys staff will mix and match our defensive veteran players in such a way as to allow the best chances for consistency. They've proven to be a conservative bunch that will more than likely allow the vets to school the newbies.

There already is some good veteran leadership on the defense...but who ever stands up and makes plays, will enter the realm of leadership...whether 'rook' or not.

 

[Bullflop]

There already is some good veteran leadership on the defense...but who ever stands up and makes plays, will enter the realm of leadership...whether 'rook' or not.

I'm sure the staff will experiment with all the combinations they can during practices and in the preseason to have a good idea who to blend in with one another and who not to. I'm really anxious to see how that develops and how well they combine to play in the preseason.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Players Only. Let's debate coaches and front office in another thread.

Need somebody to step up:
DE - A lot of options but no proven difference makers. The player that has shown the most (Irving) is suspended to start the season.

CB - They have a lot of talent and options, but most are unproven. Even the veterans are unproven with Scandrick struggling to return from injury last season and Carroll and unknown in this scheme.

Safety - The starting SS (Church) and his primary backup from last season (Wilcox) are both gone. Options Heath, Awuzie, Woods, Blanton, Frazier

RT - La'el or Green/Bell/Cleary

LG - La'el or Cooper/Green/Bell/Cleary

PR/KR - Switzer good in college but must prove it. Lucky likely gone.

Good Enough or better:
WR - Should be OK, but need consistency from Dez. Depth on the outside is limited; although, they didn't seem to miss a beat when Dez missed 3 games last season, in part because of the dominant running game.

LB - Returning starters are good enough but could stand to be better. Jaylon or Wilson likely challenge to be the coverage LB in the Nickel next to Lee.

DT - Lost a starter (McClain) but they have options. Collins was the best DL and 2nd best defensive player last season as a rookie that missed training camp. Paea/Thorton are at least OK and Crawford/Irving are options.

TE - Witten reliable and still gets open but definitely near the end. Swaim/Hanna have injury issues and Rico is a complete unknown.

Proven Commodities:
QB - I guess this could be listed as unproven, but I'm sold that Dak will be at least "good enough".
LT
OC
RG
RB
K
P
LS

Prove it time for the defense.

 

[GORICO]

Everyone needs to step up regardless of how they played last season.

that is right..everyone needs to step up big time...take after Dak...pretty much a nobody and stepped up bigger than any rookie QB in history...we have enough talent in all areas....we just got to say..the guy across from me cant beat me...then we will mesh and reach full potential

 

[LocimusPrime]

Position flex is overrated unless it's a lady

 

[Typhus]

XWalker is right in emphasizing "options" on D. I agree there is a lot of upside in the group, but with upside like Irving getting a suspension, this team needs players like Crawford and Tank to step up.
Seems as though this team is loaded with prior injury/suspended guys ready to break out,,, Tapper next up.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Would like to see crawford do something. But he knows he doesn't have to. he's getting paid the next 2 seasons even if he keeps not doing anything.

 

[diefree666]

On defense, I see an aggressive front that will put a mark on many opponents...with, or without a true Hall of Famer presently discovered. The linebackers, will beat many linemen to a hole and show up when payment due arrives following any movement into Cowboy territory. As to the secondary, there will be skint knees, but a very responsive and alert group protecting all the way up the middle of the field.

Hall of Famer? I would be happy as a pig in slop if we got a couple that were borderline Pro Bowl players.

Unproven is unproven; You HOPE they develop into really good players but many young and talented do not.

 

[jterrell]

1st. Very good "off-season thread.
I'd much rather see this than debate signbign Mo Willy, FA who can't even get on the expanded rosters right now.

Need somebody to step up:
DE - Taco or DLaw need to be prove a capable weak side pass rusher. The depth is better than people believe and this is opposite of what the team has for years with DWare where it was Hall of Fame then the drop off was to nobodies. This group can play but a lead dog needs to emerge. Irving looks promising but may always be a bit of a 3T/SDE tweener best used in rotations. Taco is a long, athletic guy who could help a lot this year. But the only blur off the corner guy is off hot-boxing.

CB - People missed that Dallas shifted to more zone concepts last year and the CBs stood up fairly well. Scandrick is fine... inside but he's not an edge corner. He's struggled every time he's been asked to fill that role, healthy or not.
So DAL needs at least one young guy to step on the outside IMHO. Given how well DAL did with Anthony Brown you gotta feel confident they can find another CB or two with those picks. And you gotta love the pay at the position now.

Safety - The depth here is a concern and Church was simply a rock solid veteran but Heath went from a dog chasing cars to a pretty good playmaker. He is arguably the fastest guy in the secondary and he will hit you and can pick you off.
BJones draft pedigree and Church's leadership are probably what kept Heath 2nd team last year. But you do wonder about depth at this position and who takes on Church's leadership role calling the defensive secondary adjustments.

RT - La'el is the guy and should step up. Free was pretty well beaten up and far less athletic than La'el so you should see a net gain even if we may see a couple more mental mistakes and less leadership.

LG - Going to be interesting here. DAL has 4 really good OL. This is spot 5 and it's a straight up turkey shoot at this point. The very definition of someone needs to step up. Job begging to be won.

TE - Witten is going to give you what he has and he will play hurt. But he's no longer a "threat". Behind him it gets murky between injuries and lack of skill.

Good Enough or better:
WR - DAL has a pretty salty WR crew. They make big catches, block well and Dez flat gets in the end zone. Can this group use Switzer to give them a Beasley clone in 4 man sets? Force teams to cover two jitterbugs. Dez is by far the lead dog here and if you lose him you really don't have a legit WR1, tho TWill may well be good enough if he were given the role longer term and adjusted to it.

DT - All in all love the DAL depth on the DL especially at DT. Lots of solid players here. You'd like to see someone become that 3T pass rush demon but Collins may well do it. I think DAL releases 2 guys who cna play for other teams in rotations this year unless they suffer injuries.

PK/KR: Lucky was below average and may well be replaced if other guys surpass that. I'd like to see DMC return kicks. He's got that speed, strength combo that really excels in the role. But there is a lot of potential with Switzer and if Lucky stays it's because he realized this was job 1 and took to it.

Proven Commodities:
QB --Not much to say at any of these except depth at QB sucks. Every position on this list will be a disappointment if they aren't Pro Bowl caliber.
LT
OC
RG
RB
K
P
LS


Summary: While people look for reason might back slide and in fairness you can find some... You look at the above and every position that isn't held down by a stud is being challenged by a young guy or two. That's rather the Patriot way. It works and it wins.

 

[jterrell]

My concern is the balance of young players to veterans on defense. It's easier for a rookie to acclimate when surrounded by veterans than it would be if that same players is surrounded by other rookies or players with limited experience.

I think they're OK in that area, but I think the in-experienced/veteran player ratio will affect some decisions. If Brown is one of the top 3 CBs with Jones in his 2nd year as the starting FS and either Heath or someone else as a 1st time starter at SS and Jaylon as MLB, it could help a guy like Nolan Carroll get one of the top 3 CBs spots to start the season just to maintain some level of veterans surrounding the young players.

I think Taco, Awuzie, Lewis, Brown, Jaylon are all going to be good players but it would be hard to have them all starting for game 1 of this season.

IMHO you have to look at it in groups.
At LB I don't care is 16 year starts next to Sean Lee that kid will know where to go and what to do. Lee is a film nut and he can line up every layer in every set we run.

At CB you gotta decide on scheme and players in some balance. You can't go all Ryan at DC and throw 90 things at rookies. I think Jordan Carroll starts outside because in a base zone type scheme he's solid.
Expect Anthony Brown can make starter at the other side as well. Leave OScan back inside doing what he does best and could mean NONE of the rookie DBs start week 1. So if you see Awuzie or Lewis win jobs I think it's gonna be purely based off merit. DAL doesn't appear to have that lock down outside guy at CB but I really love the depth of the group as a whole and how much younger it has gotten.

At Safety I have no fears at all about experience. Jones is entering year 4 in the scheme and Heath has likewise been here a long time. We don't have much raw meat here. It's all been seasoned.

 

[jday]

Players Only. Let's debate coaches and front office in another thread.

Need somebody to step up:
DE - A lot of options but no proven difference makers. The player that has shown the most (Irving) is suspended to start the season.

CB - They have a lot of talent and options, but most are unproven. Even the veterans are unproven with Scandrick struggling to return from injury last season and Carroll and unknown in this scheme.

Safety - The starting SS (Church) and his primary backup from last season (Wilcox) are both gone. Options Heath, Awuzie, Woods, Blanton, Frazier

RT - La'el or Green/Bell/Cleary

LG - La'el or Cooper/Green/Bell/Cleary

PR/KR - Switzer good in college but must prove it. Lucky likely gone.

Good Enough or better:
WR - Should be OK, but need consistency from Dez. Depth on the outside is limited; although, they didn't seem to miss a beat when Dez missed 3 games last season, in part because of the dominant running game.

LB - Returning starters are good enough but could stand to be better. Jaylon or Wilson likely challenge to be the coverage LB in the Nickel next to Lee.

DT - Lost a starter (McClain) but they have options. Collins was the best DL and 2nd best defensive player last season as a rookie that missed training camp. Paea/Thorton are at least OK and Crawford/Irving are options.

TE - Witten reliable and still gets open but definitely near the end. Swaim/Hanna have injury issues and Rico is a complete unknown.

Proven Commodities:
QB - I guess this could be listed as unproven, but I'm sold that Dak will be at least "good enough".
LT
OC
RG
RB
K
P
LS

I agree with most of what you said here. But I would say Sean lee is a proven commodity; the only question there is if he can stay healthy.

I'd also say WR belongs under proven commodity if for no other reason than the fact that the Cowboys receiving core is likely the envy of at least 66% of the league. Dez may not have necessarily earned his contract yet, but he still is one of the better #1's in the league. Behind him you have a really good mix of talent, and Switzer looking like a Beasley clone likely makes it a whole lot more difficult for the opposition to stop the Cowboys on 3rd down.