Galian Beast
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I'm sure people will say that I'm getting ahead of myself, but I'm going to say it anyways, especially those who keep saying we should draft a QB next year.
Tony Romo has a shot at a legitimate NFL legacy now. It's not ridiculous to imagine this team competing for a super bowl next year, but what I think is even more evident than that, is that next year this team won't be stoppable.
The front office is going to do everything they can to keep the offense pretty much the exact same next year (whether that includes Doug Free, we'll probably see based on Parnell's play over the next few weeks). We don't need anymore tight ends, running backs, wide receivers, and depending on what we do on the line we don't need any help there.
Our secondary at this point is very serviceable and they're aggressive. I think Mo Claiborne not being there changes things quite a bit for the better. I think Carr still needs to take a pay cut or needs to be cut (and replaced), but otherwise we can probably watch this secondary grow as is. I have to eat crow on Scandrick, the guy is a baller, though I still wish he wouldn't get called for as many penalties as he does. It'll be great to get Claiborne and Carr's contracts off the books (at least the way Carr is set up right now). I'm still stunned the Claiborne's contract is guaranteed through next year. It'll be good if we can trade him for a similar bust who we might be able to reform like McClain.
The most interesting aspects of our defense our this
1) We are primed to have one of the best linebacker corps in the NFL next year.
Sean Lee - Rolando McClain - Bruce Carter/Justin Durant.
It would be wise to lock up McClain now, and I don't think Carter or Durant will be budget busters. I think Carter has shown improvement enough that he should be resigned to play the strong side, and I don't think it will cost that much to get him at this point.
That really takes me to the most important aspect
2) Everything this offseason can be about creating the best defensive line possible with what we have to work with.
The defense is already playing exceptionally, how much better can it be with a dominant or at least solid pass rush?
Let's examine both defensive end and defensive tackle.
Defensive End
We traded up to get Demarcus Lawrence, and he was injured early, if he is what the front office thought he was, already this is a different defense. You get him a partner at the strong side in the draft next year.... and watch out, we have edge rushers. If Mincey and Selvie are your backups, I think you have pretty legitimate depth.
You also have to see what you can do with Anthony Spencer short term, and let's not forget about Ben Gardner and Michael Sam. You combine what I saw from Spencer last week with what we hope for from Lawrence... and this defense is going to get more pressure and consistently. The best thing about this rotation is we don't need Lawrence to play anything but 3rd down, probably Spencer too.
Defensive Tackle
I'm not sure where we are at defensive tackle. Do we need to draft someone high to help us out there? Maybe. Does Melton continue to return to form? Does Okoye help make Melton expendable with Crawford? Does Josh Brent solidify his role as the 1 technique? Can Hayden keeps his spot on this team with Brent and McClain healthy and in shape? I think the future of both the 3 and 1 techniques are pretty bright, but if need be the draft can be used to cement them. Let's also not forget Bishop and Coleman.
How much help this defensive line needs at the end of the year will completely determine the draft. If you can get this defense to evolve one tier up... I don't see any team in the NFL that will be able to compete with us. If we're not in the Super Bowl this year, I'm pretty confident that we're there next year. And with the age of this team... I can see us stringing some success together.
So to conclude, I don't think Romo's legacy is written yet, even though he is 34. I think he is in a similar position to John Elway. I think he might have to take a pay cut to help this team over the next few years, but I think our team has the blueprint to become unstoppable on offense and defense. Imagine Romo's story if he has a ring or two (or more)... I really believe Romo symbolizes the collective woes of Cowboys fans. If Romo gets his rings, he goes to the HoF, and years of torment and disappointment for this franchise fade away. So no, it isn't time to draft another QB. It's time to get Romo as much help as we can. And we're set on offense, we just need to maintain. It's all about building up this defense from now on.
I forget who I was arguing with against not restructuring contracts, but you know what, we might just have to. A super bowl dynasty isn't a pipe dream at this point. Our dead money is drying up quickly, we're drafting well, and we're showing some dominance on both sides of the ball. We do need to look at the contracts of Carr, Witten, and Romo though, especially if we're about to add Dez to that group, and potentially Murray. So far Melton hasn't earned his pay day, but that doesn't mean we can't cut him and then resign him to something more reasonable. It also doesn't mean he won't at the end of the day step back into what he was before.
Who gets cut to make room for guys coming back?
Jack Crawford - DE
Lavar Edwards - DE
Korey Toomer - LB
Jakar Hamilton - S
Tony Romo has a shot at a legitimate NFL legacy now. It's not ridiculous to imagine this team competing for a super bowl next year, but what I think is even more evident than that, is that next year this team won't be stoppable.
The front office is going to do everything they can to keep the offense pretty much the exact same next year (whether that includes Doug Free, we'll probably see based on Parnell's play over the next few weeks). We don't need anymore tight ends, running backs, wide receivers, and depending on what we do on the line we don't need any help there.
Our secondary at this point is very serviceable and they're aggressive. I think Mo Claiborne not being there changes things quite a bit for the better. I think Carr still needs to take a pay cut or needs to be cut (and replaced), but otherwise we can probably watch this secondary grow as is. I have to eat crow on Scandrick, the guy is a baller, though I still wish he wouldn't get called for as many penalties as he does. It'll be great to get Claiborne and Carr's contracts off the books (at least the way Carr is set up right now). I'm still stunned the Claiborne's contract is guaranteed through next year. It'll be good if we can trade him for a similar bust who we might be able to reform like McClain.
The most interesting aspects of our defense our this
1) We are primed to have one of the best linebacker corps in the NFL next year.
Sean Lee - Rolando McClain - Bruce Carter/Justin Durant.
It would be wise to lock up McClain now, and I don't think Carter or Durant will be budget busters. I think Carter has shown improvement enough that he should be resigned to play the strong side, and I don't think it will cost that much to get him at this point.
That really takes me to the most important aspect
2) Everything this offseason can be about creating the best defensive line possible with what we have to work with.
The defense is already playing exceptionally, how much better can it be with a dominant or at least solid pass rush?
Let's examine both defensive end and defensive tackle.
Defensive End
We traded up to get Demarcus Lawrence, and he was injured early, if he is what the front office thought he was, already this is a different defense. You get him a partner at the strong side in the draft next year.... and watch out, we have edge rushers. If Mincey and Selvie are your backups, I think you have pretty legitimate depth.
You also have to see what you can do with Anthony Spencer short term, and let's not forget about Ben Gardner and Michael Sam. You combine what I saw from Spencer last week with what we hope for from Lawrence... and this defense is going to get more pressure and consistently. The best thing about this rotation is we don't need Lawrence to play anything but 3rd down, probably Spencer too.
Defensive Tackle
I'm not sure where we are at defensive tackle. Do we need to draft someone high to help us out there? Maybe. Does Melton continue to return to form? Does Okoye help make Melton expendable with Crawford? Does Josh Brent solidify his role as the 1 technique? Can Hayden keeps his spot on this team with Brent and McClain healthy and in shape? I think the future of both the 3 and 1 techniques are pretty bright, but if need be the draft can be used to cement them. Let's also not forget Bishop and Coleman.
How much help this defensive line needs at the end of the year will completely determine the draft. If you can get this defense to evolve one tier up... I don't see any team in the NFL that will be able to compete with us. If we're not in the Super Bowl this year, I'm pretty confident that we're there next year. And with the age of this team... I can see us stringing some success together.
So to conclude, I don't think Romo's legacy is written yet, even though he is 34. I think he is in a similar position to John Elway. I think he might have to take a pay cut to help this team over the next few years, but I think our team has the blueprint to become unstoppable on offense and defense. Imagine Romo's story if he has a ring or two (or more)... I really believe Romo symbolizes the collective woes of Cowboys fans. If Romo gets his rings, he goes to the HoF, and years of torment and disappointment for this franchise fade away. So no, it isn't time to draft another QB. It's time to get Romo as much help as we can. And we're set on offense, we just need to maintain. It's all about building up this defense from now on.
I forget who I was arguing with against not restructuring contracts, but you know what, we might just have to. A super bowl dynasty isn't a pipe dream at this point. Our dead money is drying up quickly, we're drafting well, and we're showing some dominance on both sides of the ball. We do need to look at the contracts of Carr, Witten, and Romo though, especially if we're about to add Dez to that group, and potentially Murray. So far Melton hasn't earned his pay day, but that doesn't mean we can't cut him and then resign him to something more reasonable. It also doesn't mean he won't at the end of the day step back into what he was before.
Who gets cut to make room for guys coming back?
Jack Crawford - DE
Lavar Edwards - DE
Korey Toomer - LB
Jakar Hamilton - S
