Ranking the Roster

[Stash]

Bloke, i put the word "relatively" there for the likes of you. But when you compare our O with our D the defense is, at best, a work in progress and, at worse, a continuing disaster. A fan the other day declared Lee our best LB and I almost cried.

I would not disagree with anyone who said that it was the one of two sides of the football that needed the most work for sure.

And I would be completely on board if the lion's share of draft picks were to be used there.

I just don't want to hear anything about how that has to include the #4 overall pick.

 

[morasp]

I would ask that you consider this:

This team added not one, not two, but three first round talents from last year's draft.

How do you personally feel that all of them contributed to this team winning last season?

And then ask yourself what you should expect from only one first rounder this year?

It takes most players a while to make an impact. That doesn't mean they're not talented. I'm glad we have all three of those players from last year.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I would not disagree with anyone who said that it was the one of two sides of the football that needed the most work for sure.

And I would be completely on board if the lion's share of draft picks were to be used there.

I just don't want to hear anything about how that has to include the #4 overall pick.

OK, we won't clamor for the #4 overall pick, mate!

BTW: How do you mean "lion's share"? Lion's share, in its true meaning means all of it.
In modern millennial terms it has come to mean "most of it." But I contend that a lion, having his share, will not forgo any of its meat. So let us be clearer when writing the King's or Queen's English.

 

[CowboyRoy]

And then you look at the statistics and note that rush efficiency was not the problem but passing efficiency was.

Your list is more of a reason to draft QB not RB.

McFadden and the underwear stealer are just not as good as Murray was. Short yardage, goal line, and getting the tough yards and power running were just not there like they were in 2014. The first half of the year was worse then the 2nd half. When they altered the zone blocking scheme to man to man, Mcfadden was more effective, but it was only because he broke more big runs.

I have no issues with drafting a QB or a RB. If you think we are winning the championship with Darren McFadden as our lead back you are kidding yourself.

 

[Stash]

It takes most players a while to make an impact. That doesn't mean they're not talented. I'm glad we have all three of those players from last year.

I am also and I don't mean to imply otherwise. All look to be talented players who can make this team better. But what my point is that it is folly to expect rookie players - no matter how talented - to come into the league and have an immediate impact or change the fortunes of an entire team. And it's a mistake for the Cowboys and any of their fans to expect otherwise and draft based on that mistake.

 

[Stash]

OK, we won't clamor for the #4 overall pick, mate!

BTW: How do you mean "lion's share"? Lion's share, in its true meaning means all of it.
In modern millennial terms it has come to mean "most of it." But I contend that a lion, having his share, will not forgo any of its meat. So let us be clearer when writing the King's or Queen's English.

Ok, then I guess I would mean 'vast majority'. Looks like I've been missing lion's share all this time...

 

[CowboyRoy]

It looks as if we are (relatively) stacked at offense.
and we totally suck at defense


Is that fair to say?

We are stacked on offense, but its still one Romo hit away from being the worst offense in the NFL

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

McFadden and the underwear stealer are just not as good as Murray was. Short yardage, goal line, and getting the tough yards and power running were just not there like they were in 2014. The first half of the year was worse then the 2nd half. When they altered the zone blocking scheme to man to man, Mcfadden was more effective, but it was only because he broke more big runs.

I have no issues with drafting a QB or a RB. If you think we are winning the championship with Darren McFadden as our lead back you are kidding yourself.

Sorry but when DMC was starting he was almost as productive despite having no passing game and defenses that cheated up.

Compare and contrast how QB and WR production dwindled. Passing game needs help more.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Sorry but when DMC was starting he was almost as productive despite having no passing game and defenses that cheated up.

Compare and contrast how QB and WR production dwindled. Passing game needs help more.

yah, sorry but no one is ever going to convince me that McFadden was as effective as Murray was in 2014. I watched the games. McFadden is a average RB and he just isnt effective enough as what you need. Not at least what I want. 2014 was domination. That is what I am looking for. Now I do like Morris. He can be very effective. And we all know McFadden is an injury waiting to happen. Certainly now in his 9th year?

As far as the passing game goes, When Romo and Dez are healthy, we are just fine. Now you want to talk about drafting a QB? Its my #1 wish for our first pick.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Sorry but when DMC was starting he was almost as productive despite having no passing game and defenses that cheated up.

Compare and contrast how QB and WR production dwindled. Passing game needs help more.

Murray broke the record for consecutive 100 yard rushing games. He had 1800 yards rushing and like 13 TD's. What did Mcchiken have 2 TD's? Give me a break.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

We are stacked on offense, but its still one Romo hit away from being the worst offense in the NFL

Sadly, true.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Also the glaring hole at de

How is it a glaring hole, we have two recent 2nd round draft choices there. When Gregory was taken in the 2nd round last year people here and in the Cowboy's war room were hooping and hollering, and Jerry sprained his shoulder patting himself in the back because they got a top 5 pick in the second round. You can't have a steak on every plate! You also have a 4th rounder from last year, a FA signee and a top rotation guy from last year.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Murray broke the record for consecutive 100 yard rushing games. He had 1800 yards rushing and like 13 TD's. What did Mcchiken have 2 TD's? Give me a break.

I'm not rehashing this again; @percyhoward put this to bed awhile ago. In short, look at the pass production in the red zone. It's a chicken/egg thing.

I think it works both ways and that the passing game is much more important. The dropoff from Romo to Weeden/Cassell/Moore and Dez to TWill/scrubheap was much more significant than Murray to DMC. I'm not arguing that Murray didn't play better here than DMC. I'm saying we need to help the passing game more.

DMC is a better RB than TWill is a WR. He's better at his position than Moore too.

Our QBs last year posted a 76 QB rating while our opponents had a whopping rating of 94. TWill disappeared again and this time was when we needed him most. He was ineffectual against ATL, NE, NO, etc in that early stretch after Dez went down. Our backs OTOH went 4.6 YPC.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Gregory is basically a rookie and suspended. The line is worse than last season.

 

[Echo9]

The purpose of this thread was to analyze the current roster "needs", and combine the upcoming potential draft picks in this draft.
I personally dont see a TE as a need, or even a draft day consideration, considering the much larger areas of concern.

Not to just focus on one aspect of a decent post, but I'm gonna focus on one aspect of a decent post ( ) I think it's a pretty fair bet we take a TE in the draft, but I pray it's not our 2nd rounder. Not only is Escobar pretty much done for this year, it's his last under contract. He'll be gone. I got the distinct impression that Swain did not do very well this past year, and there has been comments made by various radio hosts that back that impression up. There's no way we can call TE deep this year. If we can gamble that Hanna will stay healthy, then sure, its not a huge concern, but Deep? no way. It's just as shallow if not shallower than WR.

On a side note, I think TW is very much like Alvin Harper. If you look at Harper's career - including his stint in Tampa - that's not that big of a compliment.

 

[percyhoward]

Murray broke the record for consecutive 100 yard rushing games. He had 1800 yards rushing and like 13 TD's

Murray really had two different seasons in one. Most of his success came earlier in the season, when opposing defenses were playing pass. After that, he was a below-average back with a ton of carries.

Murray's YPC, 2014
g 1-8: 5.1 (5th in NFL)
g 9-16: 4.2 (22nd in NFL)

For some perspective, when Emmitt was winning rushing titles, he was always Top 10 in rushing attempts and yards per carry. It would be very difficult to make a case that Murray would have had any success at all in 2015 against defenses that were mainly playing run.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

OK, we won't clamor for the #4 overall pick, mate!

BTW: How do you mean "lion's share"? Lion's share, in its true meaning means all of it.
In modern millennial terms it has come to mean "most of it." But I contend that a lion, having his share, will not forgo any of its meat. So let us be clearer when writing the King's or Queen's English.

Thanks for the faux lesson but lion's share come from how the king lion would get its fill and then leave the remainder for his pride. That is the dynamic that english hunters were seeing when they started using the term in the 18-19th century.

Perhaps your generation turned it into 'take everything' but I have always taken it to mean that what's left is at the winner's discretion as opposed to the certainty.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I'm not rehashing this again; @percyhoward put this to bed awhile ago. In short, look at the pass production in the red zone. It's a chicken/egg thing.

I think it works both ways and that the passing game is much more important. The dropoff from Romo to Weeden/Cassell/Moore and Dez to TWill/scrubheap was much more significant than Murray to DMC. I'm not arguing that Murray didn't play better here than DMC. I'm saying we need to help the passing game more.

DMC is a better RB than TWill is a WR. He's better at his position than Moore too.

Our QBs last year posted a 76 QB rating while our opponents had a whopping rating of 94. TWill disappeared again and this time was when we needed him most. He was ineffectual against ATL, NE, NO, etc in that early stretch after Dez went down. Our backs OTOH went 4.6 YPC.

I think you are arguing with me over something we are in agreement. The passing game was worse, but that was because Romo and Dez were out. Are you telling me that we are not back to fine when they return healthy? I have already said that I want a QB with the #1 pick to further secure the passing game for the next 12 years.

Now if you think McChicken is a good enough RB for this team, then that is where I have issues. I prefer and dominant run game like we had in 2014. I do not believe that McFadden is the answer to that by any stretch. I actually wasnt even happy with Murray as the back. It is my belief that we should go out and seek a great back to team with this line.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Not to just focus on one aspect of a decent post, but I'm gonna focus on one aspect of a decent post ( ) I think it's a pretty fair bet we take a TE in the draft, but I pray it's not our 2nd rounder. Not only is Escobar pretty much done for this year, it's his last under contract. He'll be gone. I got the distinct impression that Swain did not do very well this past year, and there has been comments made by various radio hosts that back that impression up. There's no way we can call TE deep this year. If we can gamble that Hanna will stay healthy, then sure, its not a huge concern, but Deep? no way. It's just as shallow if not shallower than WR.

On a side note, I think TW is very much like Alvin Harper. If you look at Harper's career - including his stint in Tampa - that's not that big of a compliment.

If Escobar is truly not going to play next year, then I would think that the Cowboys could easily give him low tender and keep him around. NO one is going to give up a 3rd rounder to sign him if he has done nothing in the NFL and is coming off an injured season. Now if you just want to see him gone, so be it. But I have to wonder that part of the reason the kid hasnt played much is because they simply dont play him. How is he going to get much playing time with Witten in there? Can we really no if he has been a bust or not. I can see him going to another team and being a pass catching nightmare. A la the Patriots.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Murray really had two different seasons in one. Most of his success came earlier in the season, when opposing defenses were playing pass. After that, he was a below-average back with a ton of carries.

Murray's YPC, 2014
g 1-8: 5.1 (5th in NFL)
g 9-16: 4.2 (22nd in NFL)

For some perspective, when Emmitt was winning rushing titles, he was always Top 10 in rushing attempts and yards per carry. It would be very difficult to make a case that Murray would have had any success at all in 2015 against defenses that were mainly playing run.

I agree with this. That is why although I love the 2014 year for Murray, I was not high on paying him big money to resign. But...........Murray still got the dirty yards in the 2nd half of the year and he was still great in goal line situations. The run and the pass still work masterfully off one another if they are both strong like they were in 2014. I believe the passing game really took off in the 2nd half of the year.