Twitter: Rapoport: The Cowboys are still looking for edge help, hosting former Lions DE Jason Jones

[Idgit]

the reason the cowboys are dipping into free agency is because the don't draft very well in the later rounds the better drafting teams like the packers ravens steelers seahawks hit on there late round picks.

Do they? What basis are you using to compare?

 

[Jstopper]

I don't think he played up to 'expectations' rather than to his capabilities. It's difficult for me to understand how he started off so well, and then faded so noticeably. But I still think he's the best pass rusher the team had.

I'm a fan of hardy and imo I really think he checked out when we started losing so much. When he first got here we were 2-2 And he tore Brady a new one. Then week after week we kept losing with no end in sight. Then those pictures came out and everyone was all on his case again. I bet it was very mentally exhausting to him.

 

[Jstopper]

Well said.
I don't believe we or any team can hope to get near the Broncos sack totals...and pressure totals, without scheme creating the pressure. Just lining up and rushing the QB just doesn't work in the NFL much anymore. The Offensive linemen are just too good. Teams like the Broncos are so good because they send pressure from disguised places so the offense is completely confused over who is rushing and when they are coming.

Rod Marinelli was a good defensive coordinator at one point. In Dallas what I have seen is a defensive scheme that plays Corners way off the ball while rushing only 4 Defensive linemen and hoping everyone can win one on one match ups. That's the formula for mediocrity on defense. Great defenses like the Broncos, Seahawks, Panthers put the offense under stress by scheme. We just pay back and hope that the offense will eventually make a mistake on third down and be forced to punt. There is a reason we are so low in sacks and turnovers.
It's not just about talent.

I'm 2014 we were #2 in turnovers. Just saying.

 

[DBOY3141]

the reason the cowboys are dipping into free agency is because the don't draft very well in the later rounds the better drafting teams like the packers ravens steelers seahawks hit on there late round picks.

Haven't done enough in-depth research to tell if the Cowboys are below average, average or great from rounds 3-7. My initial thought is they are average. Took a look at Seattle's last 4 drafts from rounds 3-7.

2015 - 5 of 7 players are on team. Only Tyler Lockett is listed as a starter on ST and 2nd string as WR. 4 are 3rd string.
2014 - 3 of 7 are on team. None are starters. 2 are 2nd string, 1 is 3rd string.
2013 - 3 of 10 are on team. None are starters. 1 is 2nd string. 2 are 3rd string.
2012 - 3 of 8 are on team. 2 are starters (Wilson at QB, Sweezy at G). 1 is 2nd string (J. Lane at CB).

 

[robjay04]

I'm 2014 we were #2 in turnovers. Just saying.

Being so low in turnovers/sacks had a whole lot to do with our offense as well. Most of our issues can be traced back to our offense.

Opposing offenses never had to press, they didn't have to take risks. They came into the game with a vanilla gameplan focused on not turning the ball over. This is why our offense wasn't horrible as far as yardage or points but we were awful in turnovers/sacks.

 

[Stash]

I'm a fan of hardy and imo I really think he checked out when we started losing so much. When he first got here we were 2-2 And he tore Brady a new one. Then week after week we kept losing with no end in sight. Then those pictures came out and everyone was all on his case again. I bet it was very mentally exhausting to him.

If I had to guess, that would be my thinking too. And I think that people expecting leadership from a non-leader personality affected him some as well.

 

[Jstopper]

If I had to guess, that would be my thinking too. And I think that people expecting leadership from a non-leader personality affected him some as well.

Romo going down really killed our team. Things could have gone so differently last year smh

 

[coult44]

Romo going down really killed our team. Things could have gone so differently last year smh

This is why we have to take a QB with #4

 

[robjay04]

If I had to guess, that would be my thinking too. And I think that people expecting leadership from a non-leader personality affected him some as well.

I believe all of the backlash regarding the pictures really did him in.

Remember, he didn't get the immediate backlash following the alleged domestic violence allegations, that was all focused on Hardy. He came back and he was just trying to be Greg Hardy with the comments regarding Brady's wife and there was backlash, follow that with the pics and then the twitter nonsense probably made him feel real easy. I don't think he understood just how big the spotlight is on this team compared to Carolina when he signed. If he resigned with Carolina, those pics probably don't even hit the press.

Rumors are once those pics were released, that tardiness followed so it makes sense that all the backlash weighed in on him.

 

[davey999]

J Crawford visiting Steelers.

 

[DandyDon52]

If you want to build almost exclusively through the draft AND have on the field success, you cant swing and miss in rounds 3-7 as often as they do and chalk it up to "that's what's supposed to happen"

Personally I think every missed draft pick needs to be made up with a free agent signing. If not you really aren't improving. Adding 1.5 good players each offseason doesn't get you over the hump.

The 2014 team was within striking distance of a title. Why didn't the team take the opportunity to build on that and get to the next level?

Would that have contradicted the organizational philosophy? And, what exactly is that as it pertains to the Dallas Cowboys? Most of the time it does not seem very clear, almost as if each move is unrelated to the next in nature.

Good post, The jones tend to flop around in philosophy, and what they want to do as far as building a team.
Also they tend to not be on the same page as the HC,OC, DC.
like JG wanted to keep Murray and did not want Hardy, but the jones do what they want.

Many owners meddle and force players on coaches, so they are not alone, but it isnt a good way to do things.

As someone else said it is easy to do good in first 3 rounds, but harder to find the good players in later rounds.
The Draft isnt easy,but if a team never hits or rarely hits in rounds 4-7 then maybe they need some new scouts.
But then again the scouts dont do the picks, so maybe it is the people deciding.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Get Jones signed already!

 

[JoeBoBBY]

Romo going down really killed our team. Things could have gone so differently last year smh

Romo going down doomed us.

But we weren't the same team, even with Tony. Something had changed for sure. It took a miracle to beat NY on opening night. I saw those same old 8-8 teams written all over it.....................

We weren't the same team that went into GB and battled back from multiple really big mistakes to put ourselves in position to win the game, which was stolen from us.....

 

[fivetwos]

You don't think they tried? They added Hardy, drafted Jones and Gregory, and had a returning Sean Lee on the defensive side of the ball.

Signing Hardy is the lone move that supports it.

A returning IR player and not deciding to not participate in the draft doesn't impress me as far as turning a 12-4 divisional playoff loss team in a championship one.

 

[LittleD]

This is why we have to take a QB with #4

I think you are likely to be very unhappy on draft day. The Cowboys are spending lots of time looking
at defensive line players and frankly just defensive players. Don't be surprised if you hear the name "Buckner"
or "Spence" called at the #4 pick if we don't have a trading partner.

 

[Kevinicus]

Signing Hardy is the lone move that supports it.

A returning IR player and not deciding to not participate in the draft doesn't impress me as far as turning a 12-4 divisional playoff loss team in a championship one.

Not participating in the draft? What are you talking about. Come back to reality.

 

[Rogerthat12]

I think you are likely to be very unhappy on draft day. The Cowboys are spending lots of time looking
at defensive line players and frankly just defensive players. Don't be surprised if you hear the name "Buckner"
or "Spence" called at the #4 pick if we don't have a trading partner.

The Cowboys are looking at everything, they just worked out Zeke, all the top and some mid level QB's, set up visit with Treadwell and other WR's.

They are not picking Spence at 4 but defense certainly could be the pick @4 but you never really know for sure with Dallas.

 

[Stash]

Romo going down really killed our team. Things could have gone so differently last year smh

The biggest factor in 4-12, no doubt...

 

[Stash]

I believe all of the backlash regarding the pictures really did him in.

Remember, he didn't get the immediate backlash following the alleged domestic violence allegations, that was all focused on Hardy. He came back and he was just trying to be Greg Hardy with the comments regarding Brady's wife and there was backlash, follow that with the pics and then the twitter nonsense probably made him feel real easy. I don't think he understood just how big the spotlight is on this team compared to Carolina when he signed. If he resigned with Carolina, those pics probably don't even hit the press.

Rumors are once those pics were released, that tardiness followed so it makes sense that all the backlash weighed in on him.

To his fault, he did himself no favors with the role he played in things. Instead of seizing the opportunity to repair his damaged image, he simply added fuel to the fire. Truly a shame for all parties.

 

[LittleD]

The Cowboys are looking at everything, they just worked out Zeke, all the top and some mid level QB's, set up visit with Treadwell and other WR's.

They are not picking Spence at 4 but defense certainly could be the pick @4 but you never really know for sure with Dallas.

I think you might just be surprised at the time they are putting in with Spence who is the absolute best pass rusher in this draft.

I think the time, you mentioned, with EE and the QB's is primarily putting out "chum in the water" to drum up interest in a trade which
I think they would love to do if it wasn't too far back. I think they want a WR and RB in the second round and a QB in the 3rd if it
works out.