Preseason 5 Questions

[dirt]

it is often very interesting to look back just a short 4 months to preseason and remember what questions faced the Cowboys then. ESPN always does a 5 questions thing. Here are some that I remember concerning me.

1. the QB situation: Bledsoe is/was an aging flawed stop gap solution. But, what was the future? In August, I didnt know Tony Romo from Adam (not Adam Schefter NFL Network who went from a beat reporter to being the insider for the NFL Network and actually saying stuff that has Al Davis and the Raiders wanting to kill him!)
I remember really hoping the light would go on for Henson---HAHAHA

Question may be answered: Tony Romo

2.the OL-would they be able to block anybody? Would Flo return to near form (it took about a year which is the norm for recovery from a severe knee injury, but it seems he is back)
Would Pettiti be the answer at RT and progress? NO
Enter the nicest surprise of the year in Columbo
Would Gurode finally be able to concentrate for more than 5 seconds? The light seems to have gone on
Why would anyone sign a FA off the Lions??????? Well Kosier is holding his own for the most part
Would Rivera's back blow up and cost us huge cap money? Although he seems to be the weak link, he is playing better than last year

3.can we find a Linebacker or 2?
Ayodele took some time to adjust to the inside but he is making tackles and plays--not a huge force in the mode of a Ray Lewis but capable
Greg Ellis transitioned very smoothly to OLB--probably the second nicest surprise of the year
Now that he is injured, Carp has shown some signs with increased playing time? Perhaps that is a question for next years training camp

4.can we find a place kicker? No--Vandergoof was a bust and that pains me as a fellow Canadian. But Martina Navratolova, I mean Gramatica is making most of his kicks and won us a game already. Navratalova was much bigger and stronger than Gramatica

5.Will TO destroy this team? he has put up numbers but man, the drama!!!!!! I am not sure if it is worth it next year

 

[jobberone]

Nice post man. I don't know who is the biggest surprise...Columbo or Romo. I'd have to say Romo is the nicest one although you can argue the other way. I don't want to take anyone on the OL lightly. We really can't afford to lose anyone of them.

You can make an argument that Columbo put us in the playoffs as much as Romo. We saw what happens with a poor RT last year.

 

[dargonking999]

JJ stays healthy for a full year: Check

 

[blindzebra]

1. Is still an issue...as it looks now it's Romo and Baker, we will need to add a QB.

2. Again still an issue...none of our OL is consistent at either run or pass blocking...we look good one play and bad the next. Gurode has been better, Kosier looked pretty good, Columbo not too bad, Flo and Rivera have been average at their best and terrible at their worst.

Flo has always been inconsistent, and how much is that and how much is his knee is anyones guess.

Rivera must go, I don't care what he brings in the locker room, what he brings on the field stinks.

3. I actually think our weakness is inside, and until we have a difference maker up the gut, we won't take off in the 3-4.

Akin has been solid, but he hasn't made many game changing type of plays.

James has sucked ever since he signed his deal. He doesn't blitz well, he's so-so in coverage, I was hoping for more after last season, but I see less and less each week...right now I'd say he's our weak spot.

4. Still a concern, Martin has made some big kicks, but he's prone to missing some and his kickoffs are worse than Vandy's.

5. TO being here depends on our coach...if Parcells stays, I'm 100% certain TO is gone...Parcells leaves I can see Jerry forcing TO on the new coach.

 

[theogt]

1. Is still an issue...as it looks now it's Romo and Baker, we will need to add a QB.

The QB situation is not an issue. Yes, we need quality depth, but that's an issue at vitrually every position on every team.

3. I actually think our weakness is inside, and until we have a difference maker up the gut, we won't take off in the 3-4.

Akin has been solid, but he hasn't made many game changing type of plays.

James has sucked ever since he signed his deal. He doesn't blitz well, he's so-so in coverage, I was hoping for more after last season, but I see less and less each week...right now I'd say he's our weak spot.

Agreed on James. He's been easily the biggest disappointment this season on defense. People complain about not blitzing, but no matter how creative the blitzes are, James is too slow and awkward to get to the QB.

4. Still a concern, Martin has made some big kicks, but he's prone to missing some and his kickoffs are worse than Vandy's.

5. TO being here depends on our coach...if Parcells stays, I'm 100% certain TO is gone...Parcells leaves I can see Jerry forcing TO on the new coach.

Martin is actually averaging longer kickoffs than Vandy. He's only missed 2 kicks this season. If Vandy, Cundiff, or Suisham would have been asked to make some of the kicks he's made, we might have been playing for a wild card spot on Monday.

 

[Angus]

Pessimism becomes you, Zebra. Or, am I just tired? . . . I'm just tired.

 

[blindzebra]

The QB situation is not an issue. Yes, we need quality depth, but that's an issue at vitrually every position on every team.

Agreed on James. He's been easily the biggest disappointment this season on defense. People complain about not blitzing, but no matter how creative the blitzes are, James is too slow and awkward to get to the QB.

Martin is actually averaging longer kickoffs than Vandy. He's only missed 2 kicks this season. If Vandy, Cundiff, or Suisham would have been asked to make some of the kicks he's made, we might have been playing for a wild card spot on Monday.

So going into next season with Baker as back up isn't an issue?

Martin is averaging 61.7 in distance to Vandy's 59.9, BUT, we have been giving up 24.8 on returns compared to 18.0 with Vandy, and Vandy had 3 TBs on 42 KO compared to 0 on 30 for Martin.

That means Vandy was more consistent in distance and kicked it higher.

Neither was great, but average field position says Martin is worse.

 

[theogt]

So going into next season with Baker as back up isn't an issue?

It's not a major issue, no. Depth is always an issue, but compared to our QB situation last season, it's no longer a big issue for the team. I'm sure we'll draft a 3rd/4th rounder and pick up a veteran in FA -- not really a problem.

Martin is averaging 61.7 in distance to Vandy's 59.9, BUT, we have been giving up 24.8 on returns compared to 18.0 with Vandy, and Vandy had 3 TBs on 42 KO compared to 0 on 30 for Martin.

That means Vandy was more consistent in distance and kicked it higher.

Neither was great, but average field position says Martin is worse.

It may mean that, but I don't have enough facts to make that determination. That's a big assumption on your part. If you've done the in depth research, let me know.

 

[blindzebra]

It's not a major issue, no. Depth is always an issue, but compared to our QB situation last season, it's no longer a big issue for the team. I'm sure we'll draft a 3rd/4th rounder and pick up a veteran in FA -- not really a problem.

It may mean that, but I don't have enough facts to make that determination. That's a big assumption on your part. If you've done the in depth research, let me know.

I know what I've seen, and I know teams have been starting around the 35 a heck of a lot more lately than they did before Gramatica started kicking off.

We needed to make the switch to Martin and I'm glad we did, but that said, no way in hell I want the great Gazoo kicking next year. We need to get better.

 

[theogt]

I know what I've seen, and I know teams have been starting around the 35 a heck of a lot more lately than they did before Gramatica started kicking off.

We needed to make the switch to Martin and I'm glad we did, but that said, no way in hell I want the great Gazoo kicking next year. We need to get better.

Vanderjagt's opponents averaged a starting position of 28.8. Gramatica's is 28.4.

Both are pretty bad, but Gramatica isn't worse.

 

[rynochop]

I didn't really look at Bledsoe as a stop gap per se. I didnt think he'd be here 5 years from now, but i thought he could hold it down for 2-3 years. Thats not really a stop gap guy in this day and age/.

I think a lot of people forget how good Bledsoe looked in preseason.

 

[bbgun]

Agreed on James. He's been easily the biggest disappointment this season on defense. People complain about not blitzing, but no matter how creative the blitzes are, James is too slow and awkward to get to the QB.

And we signed him to a big extension because .. ??

 

[theogt]

And we signed him to a big extension because .. ??

He's a solid player. He's not dominant, but we could do much worse. It's not like he broke the bank.

 

[blindzebra]

Vanderjagt's opponents averaged a starting position of 28.8. Gramatica's is 28.4.

Both are pretty bad, but Gramatica isn't worse.

Hmmm, I don't think so.

59.9 means a kick to the 10, 18 yard return means the 28 yard line...28.1 to be exact.

61.7 means the 8, a 24.8 return means the 33 yard line...33.1 to be exact.

We were 5 yards better with Vandy.

 

[theogt]

Hmmm, I don't think so.

59.9 means a kick to the 10, 18 yard return means the 28 yard line...28.1 to be exact.

61.7 means the 8, a 24.8 return means the 33 yard line...33.1 to be exact.

We were 5 yards better with Vandy.

If you think long and hard you'll realize how this analysis is incorrect. When you're stumped, I'll let you know.

By the way, I didn't just calculate those stats. Those are the stats provided by stats keepers.

 

[bbgun]

He's a solid player. He's not dominant, but we could do much worse. It's not like he broke the bank.

His play has been very pedestrian since the ink dried on that contract.

 

[blindzebra]

If you think long and hard you'll realize how this analysis is incorrect. When you're stumped, I'll let you know.

By the way, I didn't just calculate those stats. Those are the stats provided by stats keepers.

Provide a link for your stats then...if you are kicking it 62 yards and they return it 25, they sure as hell aren't starting at the 28.

 

[theogt]

His play has been very pedestrian since the ink dried on that contract.

He played pretty well after signing the contract. He was leading the team in tackles there for awhile and by week 10 he had 9 or so passes defensed.

He's never been good at blitzing and hasn't been all that fast, before or after the contract.

 

[theogt]

Provide a link for your stats then...if you are kicking it 62 yards and they return it 25, they sure as hell aren't starting at the 28.

http://snap.stats.com/stats/nflinfo/index.asp

Under Gramatica's stats, just look at the Dallas numbers for the 2006 season.

 

[blindzebra]

http://snap.stats.com/stats/nflinfo/index.asp

Under Gramatica's stats, just look at the Dallas numbers for the 2006 season.

NFL.com didn't have any stats from Indy, they had all his kickoffs under Dallas...which is what made the difference.