Position Flex... more than a cool phrase

[TellerMorrow34]

All coaches covet position flex but you have to be able to play one position well. There's a fine line between position flex and tweener.

At the end of the day, there's only one plan the Cowboys need to install and follow. Build this team from the front back and not the other way around. They should have been collecting linemen the last two years. The QB isn't getting any younger. We may go 20 years before we find another franchise type.

What you have to hope for as a Cowboys fan is improvement from within. Again. We need Crawford and Leary and Lissemore and Parnell to all emerge with the addition of Frederick proving he's a legit building block at C. If that all happens the Cowboys will be vastly improved. If it doesn't, they won't. Gavin Escobar and Terrance Williams are really just along for the ride.

This I pretty much agree 110% with. I think that's exactly the boat were in right now in regards to the O-line and to a lesser, but as important, extent the D-line.

 

[CyberB0b]

Just because you excel in one area doesn't mean you can't produce in another area you don't specialize in. Crosstraining is vital part of any organization, IMO. When you can make a player expendable, it sets the tone that they aren't above the organization. The fact that there is a young guy behind them capable of doing their job, if needed, keeps them motivated.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Just because you excel in one area doesn't mean you can't produce in another area you don't specialize in. Crosstraining is vital part of any organization, IMO. When you can make a player expendable, it sets the tone that they aren't above the organization. The fact that there is a young guy behind them capable of doing their job, if needed, keeps them motivated.

So let's just say a guard gets injured. Do you really want to move Smith over to guard and put in Parnell at tackle because Smith has "position flex"? Of course not, you want him at left tackle because he's a good left tackle. You'd rather have a non-position-flex guard like 2010's edition of Montre Holland or something step up so that Smith can keep playing LT.

In some cases it's good, right? A backup like Lissimore able to step up at all 3 d-line positions is great because he's a backup. Backups should be position flex because you don't know where the injury is going to come. Bruce Carter knowing how to play Mike so he can slide over when Sean Lee goes down? That's great because it's just him moving from linebacker to linebacker, he's still using the same skills (it's not like he's moving over to play d-line or corner-back or something).

But this idea that you'd rather have a safety that can also play CB instead of a great ball-hawking free safety who sucks at playing CB is crazy. The idea that you'll make Doug Free the highest paid right tackle in the NFL because he knows 3 positions but none of them at a starter level is crazy.

Draft and sign guys who are really good at their job. It's hard enough finding a starting safety in the NFL without that safety also needing to play linebacker.

 

[DFWJC]

I think Harris increased his value as well due to versatilty:

Slot WR
Outside WR
Blocking WR
Punt Return
Kick Retrun
Kick coverage units
He also can play QB

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

When Goose says they didn't have a plan consider the source.

Also consider taking a TE, a Center and a WR with the first three choices only protects the biggest contract in Cowboys History, then adding a 5th round RB to secure the backup spot after losing Felix Jones.

After that consider the Safety Dallas needed, and then the DB to replace Jenkins, rounding out the Draft with Hollman a LB for Kiffen.

Trying to convince someone there wasn't a plan while it's pretty hard to concede that Dallas did all of this flying by the seat of their pants, even with an alternate personality and a vivid imagination.

I still think this was a good draft, even if Jason Garrett didn't have any say whatsoever.

 

[xwalker]

Apparently our plan is to load up on top versatile talents like Kevin Kowalski, Ryan Cook and Ben Bass.

I hate when the Cowboys keep UFDA's on the roster like they did with Romo and Austin.

 

[arglebargle]

Position flexibility can help outside of one position. Having, say, TEs that can reliably function at WR could mean you can keep an extra lineman active on game day instead of that emergency WR.

 

[Maxmadden]

I hate when the Cowboys keep UFDA's on the roster like they did with Romo and Austin.

You're wasting your time. He has some really good football knowledge but you will have to wade through so much BS just to get it. Reminds me of my X.

 

[Maxmadden]

Carr can, and is willing to play safety in a pinch.

Lee and Carter can play all the LB positions but of course they have ideal positions.

 

[Rack]

I'd rather just get guys that are really good at playing 1 position, rather than mediocre at multiple.

Would rather have a master of one than a jack of all trades any day of the week.


That said, I'd rather have a jack of all trades then a bunch of MacKenzie Bernardeaus.

 

[Rack]

I hate when the Cowboys keep UFDA's on the roster like they did with Romo and Austin.

Wanna play a game?


We both post all the undrafted players in cowboys history... you post the ones that turned into 3+ year starters, I'll post the rest...let's see which one of us can bring down the zone's servers.


I'll be my house that my post will be 1000X longer than yours.

 

[kirkjrk]

I'd rather just get guys that are really good at playing 1 position, rather than mediocre at multiple.

Sounds like Jerry!

 

[hra8700]

I'd rather just get guys that are really good at playing 1 position, rather than mediocre at multiple.

It's a very interesting problem and not a simple solution. Ultimately I think the goal is to have a core set of players that are versatile to allow you to use lower paid players that are dominant in specific ways. If you have all players that can only play one role then youre screwed with injury and you have to have a lot of players. But lets say you have a player who can play both a runstopping 3tech and a passrushing 1tech. Well now you can keep a dominant pass rushing 3 (who cant do anything else) and a runstopping 1 (who cant do anything else) and have a really good interior line. The latter 2 will come cheap, and your versatile player allows you to utilize those cheap players to their strengths.

So ultimately you need a core group of versatile players that allows you to play cheap 1 trick wonders.

 

[CF74]

Wanna play a game?


We both post all the undrafted players in cowboys history... you post the ones that turned into 3+ year starters, I'll post the rest...let's see which one of us can bring down the zone's servers.


I'll be my house that my post will be 1000X longer than yours.

*Bet:laugh2:

 

[blindzebra]

Wanna play a game?


We both post all the undrafted players in cowboys history... you post the ones that turned into 3+ year starters, I'll post the rest...let's see which one of us can bring down the zone's servers.


I'll be my house that my post will be 1000X longer than yours.

15 a year X 53 years = 795 undrafted free agents.

Romo and Austin...you lose.