Question for those who think we are a contending team

[sonnyboy]

The we'll be lucky to win 9 games crowd need not respond to this question.
We already know what your answer will be, so move on.

I think there's nearly a 100% consensus that this team's most pressing issue is OL depth.

I also think most everyone agrees we will or at least should go OL with a first day pick in 2010. Maybe 2 of them when you consider we have no young OL starters.

Although I have little concern with the collective age on our OL for 2009, it is concerning going forward just a few years.
We may very well need 5 new starters by 2011. That's a serious overhaul.

Either way here's the question.
Should Jones be burning the midnight oil in search of a trade?
Would you consider moving a 2010 day one selection for an OL whom we are confident would be an upgrade over McQuistan and Free? Someone young enough to eventually develope into a starter.

 

[windward]

If it's a young, proven vet then I might be tempted to pull the trigger IF Flo looks like he has hit the wall. Otherwise, I'd wait until the 2010 draft.

 

[AKATheRake]

Levi Jones needs to be looked at. No to the first rounder. Jason Peters is a very rare case for the 1st rounder the Bills got for him. Contract talks must have totally pee'd off ownership. The same ownership willing to put up with "the player" this season.

 

[KingintheNorth]

2010 Draft with Offensive Linemen will be what the 2009 Draft was with Linebackers. We'll buy in bulk.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I agree with Chris. 2010 will be loaded with O-line talent. I hope we get a blue-chip LT in the first and solidify that position for the next 10 years. I would get 2 OG's,1 C and 2 LT's. Seriously. We are pretty much young everywhere except O-line. We need to replenish.

I hope we go the draft route on O-line and sign Wilfork. That would be legit.

The 2010 draft for us will not be sexy, but it will be vital.

 

[Bizwah]

First things first....Jerry needs to spend all his time and energy signing Ware to a freggin extension.

If the right situation came around for a trade, then we should pull the trigger. But if we're desperate, then we'll get taken for a ride.

I agree with most of the other posters on this thread. Look hard and heavy at OL and DL in next year's draft.

We should get out of the first round with a very good OT.

 

[AKATheRake]

I agree with Chris. 2010 will be loaded with O-line talent. I hope we get a blue-chip LT in the first and solidify that position for the next 10 years. I would get 2 OG's,1 C and 2 LT's. Seriously. We are pretty much young everywhere except O-line. We need to replenish.

I hope we go the draft route on O-line and sign Wilfork. That would be legit.

The 2010 draft for us will not be sexy, but it will be vital.

Getting Wilfork and having Ratliff playing DE as well Olshansky and that would be a very dominant front in a 3-4. Then we 3 OL with our first 3 picks and there are worthy players at those selections is an offseason made in heavy. That of course is if our safety positions are really solidified and we're not desperate for ILB talent.

But wow, I could solive with that as an offseason for 2010 at this point.

 

[AKATheRake]

First things first....Jerry needs to spend all his time and energy signing Ware to a freggin extension.

If the right situation came around for a trade, then we should pull the trigger. But if we're desperate, then we'll get taken for a ride.

I agree with most of the other posters on this thread. Look hard and heavy at OL and DL in next year's draft.

We should get out of the first round with a very good OT.

Ware's contract will be worked out in the next couple of weeks. Just before or after the first preseason game. He's going to get $1.5 million more a year than Suggs who actually has a slightly better contract than Haynesworth.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Getting Wilfork and having Ratliff playing DE as well Olshansky and that would be a very dominant front in a 3-4. Then we 3 OL with our first 3 picks and there are worthy players at those selections is an offseason made in heavy. That of course is if our safety positions are really solidified and we're not desperate for ILB talent.

But wow, I could solive with that as an offseason for 2010 at this point.

I think Deangelo,Sensabaugh and both Hamlins will be on our rosters for awhile. tons of depth. Looks like Carpenter is looking good and you have to give Jason Williams a shot.

Spears and Bowen are FA's next year. Signing Wilfork and drafting O-lineman early in the draft will make me salivate..

 

[AKATheRake]

I think Deangelo,Sensabaugh and both Hamlins will be on our rosters for awhile. tons of depth. Looks like Carpenter is looking good and you have to give Jason Williams a shot.

Spears and Bowen are FA's next year. Signing Wilfork and drafting O-lineman early in the draft will make me salivate..

I'm hearing Sensabaugh has been all that and a bag of chips in camp coverage wise. I read something about having Darren Woodson coverage and recognition qualities out of Campo's mouth. I'll take half as good and we won huge there. The depth sounds pretty good as well and it seems to be pushing Watkins already. Very good news.

Heard Barbie was showing some physicality during practice also but doesn't look as athletic as our other LB's. Jason Williams will be a great coverage LB sooner than we think. How he gets to a ball carrier, sheds blocks and pressure the QB will be another story this season but should be able to polish the package with hard work and experience. Athletically he is our fastest LB and he's not tiny either.

Yeah, I'm aware of Spears and Bowen being FA's. Someone will over pay Spears like they did for Canty who I think is a good 3-4 DE. Wilfork clogging the middle for us is just bananna's.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I just think Wilfork will want big time money. Cheaper alternatives may be Casey Hampton (due to age) or Gabe Watson (looking for opportunity).

I still think we re-sign Marcus Spears OR Jason Hatcher.

I also get the feeling that Sensabaugh is the real deal and will be re-signed, which pretty much ends my dream of Taylor Mays wearing The Star.


Marcus McNeill, if he hits Free Agency, may be the big money target. He is 6'7", 336, and will only be 26. He's a proven left tackle and San Diego has so many potential free agents they may not be able to re-sign or Franchise him.

 

[speedkilz88]

I just think Wilfork will want big time money. Cheaper alternatives may be Casey Hampton (due to age) or Gabe Watson (looking for opportunity).

I still think we re-sign Marcus Spears OR Jason Hatcher.

I also get the feeling that Sensabaugh is the real deal and will be re-signed, which pretty much ends my dream of Taylor Mays wearing The Star.


Marcus McNeill, if he hits Free Agency, may be the big money target. He is 6'7", 336, and will only be 26. He's a proven left tackle and San Diego has so many potential free agents they may not be able to re-sign or Franchise him.

The Cowboys medical staff red flagged Marcus McNeill as a rookie because he has the same stenosis problem Irvin ended up having and has had back problems even surgery this offseason I believe. They didn't draft him when they had the chance for that reason. I doubt they have changed their mind on him when he will cost quite a contract.

 

[AKATheRake]

I just think Wilfork will want big time money. Cheaper alternatives may be Casey Hampton (due to age) or Gabe Watson (looking for opportunity).

I still think we re-sign Marcus Spears OR Jason Hatcher.

I also get the feeling that Sensabaugh is the real deal and will be re-signed, which pretty much ends my dream of Taylor Mays wearing The Star.


Marcus McNeill, if he hits Free Agency, may be the big money target. He is 6'7", 336, and will only be 26. He's a proven left tackle and San Diego has so many potential free agents they may not be able to re-sign or Franchise him.

We could have had Gabe Watson. Don't think he'll ever be a Cowboy but I get why he comes up. Wilfork will want a kings randsome and believe it or not, not having a cap will drop this highly inflated trend of ever growing contracts. So we may catch a break there, as will the Pats in keeping him.

We could have also gotten Marcus McNeil, who if not had the injury history going into the draft, probably could have been the first tackle taken in that draft. SD doesn't let him go and if they did< I would be ecstatic to have him here. He's a tackle I also hold in extremely high regard. Good point on SD's overall roster status.

 

[Idgit]

The only way we can agree there's 100% consensus re: OL being our most-pressing issue is if a lot of people are willing to go on record that the caterwauling the last 6 months over WR and QB was exaggerated.

It was obvious we needed to make moves to improve the OL this offseason. I don't know why we didn't. I understand if the right circumstances didn't present themselves on draft day. I'm glad we didn't reach if the right opportunity didn't present itself, but by my count, we're going 6 deep right now at a position where you'd like to have 8 guys capable of starting. If Free comes through in the preseason that 6 could become 7.

I don't think a big contract for Levi Jones is the answer, but I wouldn't mind a mid-round pick as insurance for another decent interior lineman. Or maybe move a player like Bowen or Stanback if we end up deep at a position group coming out of camp and can work a deal with someone in the same position on the OL.

 

[AKATheRake]

The Cowboys medical staff red flagged Marcus McNeill as a rookie because he has the same stenosis problem Irvin ended up having and has had back problems even surgery this offseason I believe. They didn't draft him when they had the chance for that reason. I doubt they have changed their mind on him when he will cost quite a contract.

Remember, Houck did coach him his rookie season while he was working under Marty. Houck would know as much about McNeil's limitations as anyone, even if it was a few years ago. McNeil has started 46 of a possible 48 games the last 3 seasons missing the 2 last season. His durability hasn't been an overwhelming issue thus far in his career. He would go for a pretty penny also at his age. Probably even more than Wilfork since he is so young and does play LT.

Doubt he gets loose anyways, regardless of who SD has to sign. He'd be their franchise player if they had to choose between all the other signings. Wilfork, Warren and I think even Seymour all have contracts coming to a serious point and that's why I hear Wilfork might actually get loose. Could have sworn I heard Ty Warren got his contract done up this season though. Just hearing some fellow football lovers out at the bar saying otherwise.

 

[KingintheNorth]

..Doubt he gets loose anyways, regardless of who SD has to sign. He'd be their franchise player if they had to choose between all the other signings....

Phillip Rivers, Darren Sproles, both starting WR's, both starting tackles, and Shawne Merriman will all be free agents in 2010.

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[AKATheRake]

The only way we can agree there's 100% consensus re: OL being our most-pressing issue is if a lot of people are willing to go on record that the caterwauling the last 6 months over WR and QB was exaggerated.

It was obvious we needed to make moves to improve the OL this offseason. I don't know why we didn't. I understand if the right circumstances didn't present themselves on draft day. I'm glad we didn't reach if the right opportunity didn't present itself, but by my count, we're going 6 deep right now at a position where you'd like to have 8 guys capable of starting. If Free comes through in the preseason that 6 could become 7.

I don't think a big contract for Levi Jones is the answer, but I wouldn't mind a mid-round pick as insurance for another decent interior lineman. Or maybe move a player like Bowen or Stanback if we end up deep at a position group coming out of camp and can work a deal with someone in the same position on the OL.

I don't think a big contract for Levi Jones is the answer either. If we could get a situation like we had with Hamlin 2 seasons ago, or a Zach Thomas or Keith Brooking type deal I could go for that too as long as our medical staff is willing to give their blessing.

I have also heard that Levi Jones is waiting half way through training camps before he signs with a team. That's not a good sign but the big guy did come off an injury and probably wants to be as easy on the merchandise as possible. Nah, probably another lazy vet. Still would like to at least take a looksy before throwing draft picks around for other teams players. Now I would give a first for Marcus McNeil, with Houcks blessing. Wouldn't happen though.

 

[Idgit]

I don't think a big contract for Levi Jones is the answer either. If we could get a situation like we had with Hamlin 2 seasons ago, or a Zach Thomas or Keith Brooking type deal I could go for that too as long as our medical staff is willing to give their blessing.

I have also heard that Levi Jones is waiting half way through training camps before he signs with a team. That's not a good sign but the big guy did come off an injury and probably wants to be as easy on the merchandise as possible. Nah, probably another lazy vet. Still would like to at least take a looksy before throwing draft picks around for other teams players. Now I would give a first for Marcus McNeil, with Houcks blessing. Wouldn't happen though.

Yeah. By 'big contract' I just mean that I know the guy's holding out right now for a better offer than he was able to get early in FA. Someone, someplace is going to lose an OT, and he's not likely to move before then unless someone shells out a premium.

I worry more about the interior line than I do OT. Free/Bigg between them make a decent third option at OT. Losing Gurode for the season could be a dealbreaker. It looks like Kosier's back healthy, but I'd been keeping my eye on that position all offseason, too, because we'd have no capable interior linemen after Holland if Kosier didn't get back healthy.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I called for Marcus McNeil back in February and got my head chewed off for even mentioning it. I'm glad you came around Chris!

It's true that the Cowboys redflagged him but he's made 2 probowls in 4 years in the league. He's removed any kind of doubt that he's injury prone. Houck also coached him his rookie year.

I'll take either of these combo's...Mcneil/Cody or...Adam Ultoski/Hampton or Wilfork. I hope we resign Hatcher and Bowen as well. Spears will want Canty type money.

 

[AKATheRake]

Phillip Rivers, Darren Sproles, both starting WR's, both starting tackles, and Shawne Merriman will all be free agents in 2010.

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Some darn good information. Definitely Phillip Rivers gets taken care of first out of that group being the QB and a top 5 pick. They expect LT to take a shot at Emmitt's record, which he won't, so if Sproles has to go they will do it in a heart beat. They let Brees go for squat, they'll let Sproles walk too.

They're in a pickle with Merriman and McNeil though and they won't let neither go. No way they franchise their starting QB, that would piss him off so much and shows no stability for the teams future at the most important position. Imagine your teams leader, who is young and extremely talented, not being taken care of, the rest of the troops won't go for that. Just won't happen, they sign Rivers during the season like we did with Romo.

Now Merriman and McNeil is a huge pickle. They have to get one of them done up or end up losing out ike Baltimore did last season with Suggs, Lewis and Bart Scott. They let Scott go because Lewis held them hostage till the last minute. No shot they let Merriman go unless his health is tottally shot. Apparently he's 100%. So Merriman looks like himself next season and they extend. The next question is how much room do they have in this years cap to re-seign Rivers and Merriman before the free agent deadline comes about? Just don't see a team letting either of those 3 players go, no matter the circumstances. They are in some hot water though, no doubt.