Scouts Inc.: Cowboys offseason needs

[Eskimo]

I do agree that FS, ILB, OT, OG/C and WR are significant needs on this team presently. However, there are some promising players in place who we didn't get to see on the field much this year and may be ready to give us a big boost next year.

Last year, the players who really stepped up for us from the pre-existing roster were Miles Austin, Allen Ball and Doug Free. The players who we picked up to plug holes were Brooking, Sensabaugh, Olshansky. The rookies who played major roles were Phillips.

If we look to the next year FA and the draft have still not yet drawn near. The only place we can wonder about is how much help we can expect to get from the existing roster through player maturation/development. I think our best bets are:

Free - wins one of the OT spots
Ogletree - wins the #2 WR spot ahead of RW11
Bennett - emerges as a true difference maker in 2-TE set
Brewster - ready to be swing tackle backup
BWilliams - ready to be backup OLB
JWilliams - ready to be backup ILB + nickle LB
Hodge - ready to be backup nickel LB
MHamlin - can he play safety?

As you can see lots of questions but not many answers. My best guess is the route we take in the draft probably tells us alot about how some of our youngsters are progressing.

It is too bad so many of our youngsters got a redshirt year.

 

[trickblue]

Other needs: ILB, CB, DT

CB?

Look... I realize Newman isn't what he once was... but he is still good...

Jenkins is a top 5 IMO... and at least a top 10...

Scandrick also has talent and played well later in the year...

We can always add more CB's as a luxury, but our needs are elsewhere...

Too bad this draft sux at LT on paper, but a good LT can be found with good scouting

Jared Veldheer intrigues me a bit as a project...

 

[Randy White]

uhh, Miles Austin

DDDDDUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHH... !!!

What an idiotic question..

 

[TheSport78]

CB?

Look... I realize Newman isn't what he once was... but he is still good...

Jenkins is a top 5 IMO... and at least a top 10...

Scandrick also has talent and played well later in the year...

We can always add more CB's as a luxury, but our needs are elsewhere...

Too bad this draft sux at LT on paper, but a good LT can be found with good scouting

Jared Veldheer intrigues me a bit as a project...

CB isn't a MAJOR need, but Newman isn't a spring chicken, Scandrick is best suited as a nickel corner, Ball is a restricted free agent and there's nobody behind them. The NFL has become a passing league and Dallas should be drafting CB's every season regardless if it's a need or not.

 

[trickblue]

CB isn't a MAJOR need, but Newman isn't a spring chicken, Scandrick is best suited as a nickel corner, Ball is a restricted free agent and there's nobody behind them. The NFL has become a passing league and Dallas should be drafting CB's every season regardless if it's a need or not.

I certainly understand that, but in today's NFL you have to plug in immediate needs... that's all I am saying...

I think Newman has 2-3 years left as top tier... not Pro Bowl... but top tier...

We need to address NT and OT... and you can never go wrong addressing interior lineman...

We need a ballhawking safety as well...

It seems we are set at OLB with Spencer coming on... maybe some young infusion at ILB...

I think Free can be good... Gurode is getting older as is our whole starting OL...

It sux for us that this isn't a strong draft for OL outside of a couple of prospects at OG... I think there could be some diamonds, but it's a crapshoot...

We have a window here and we need to address immediate concerns...

That's today's NFL... FA screwed dynasties for the most part...

You have to win... and win in a hurry...

 

[AKATheRake]

uhh, Miles Austin

Depending on yardage, Witten also.

 

[Phoenix]

but where is the guy that holds it all together, is on the same page as QB Tony Romo, and makes the clutch catch when they need one?

Ever hear of a TE name of Witten, Jason...?

 

[CCBoy]

Ever hear of a TE name of Witten, Jason...?

And never understate degree.....

 

[CCBoy]

I think Eskimo is on trail concerning linebackers. Dallas invested in quite a few and developing pieces there last season. They have some adequately projecting pieces in both the inside and outside. Much of that was derailed by injury, but they are gearing back in and in a very important strength development phase right now starting. I think that what was finally shown by Bobby Carpenter, projects at least finally, to a possible future there as well. There is enough in this linebacker group to first, provide a strong aspect of depth, and then to project as well.

A slight addition could be added in the secondary, but I would focus on two additions at offensive line, and at the very highest points of this upcoming draft....then hustle for projections.

 

[MWILL]

Roy Williams is [strike]a huge bust[/strike] just misunderstood.

Dallas needs to send Roy to a team that will understand him.

 

[wileedog]

I agree with the needs. And while I agree that the defense needs a ballhawking FS to fill itself out, the offense is what has failed this team. It got plenty of yards but failed to score as it should. This is a long term problem for the Cowboys.

.

Not really. In 2006 we were 5th in total points and in 2007 we were third. 2008 we slipped because Romo got hurt, and I don't think he was right again the rest of the season. Plus the whole team collapsed there at the end.

This is the first year we've had serious problems in the red zone, and besides our normal penalty and dumb mistake problems I think it had a lot to do with Barber, who was almost an automatic TD whenever we got there in 2006 and 2007. That 3 play stuff job against SD would have been unthinkable two years ago.

If you ask me what really is holding us back it is lack of turnovers from our defense, which has been an ongoing problem. We had one of the worst starting field position numbers in the league, and a lot of that was never getting a short field from the defense.

I want to retool the offensive line as much as anyone, but I do also think we need one more playmaker in the secondary besides Jenkins.

 

[Dodger]

Last year, the players who really stepped up for us from the pre-existing roster were Miles Austin, Allen Ball and Doug Free.

As well as Anthony Spencer and Mike Jenkins.

 

[CF74]

Assuming we have an injury free season the only true "Need" we have is a kicker and a better ST return guy.

But the reality is that players get hurt and bodies break down. So what are areas of concern?

LT- Can Flozell play a full season and when do we look to replace him? I say now. We need to start grooming his replacement to take over by game 10 or the following year. This position is starting to make me nervous.

LG- Kosier is serviceable, I thought Holland was better, and who knows if Brewster will be anything, oh and Procter is horrible. Upgrade would be good but not a glaring need imo.

C- Gurode gives up a lot of pressure up the middle but in his defense he was playing with a bad knee. Not sure if that was the problem but he is having surgery. Preston is an unknown, I hope we try to upgrade here as well.

RG- Bigg has been pretty solid but behind him the depth chart lists Proctor, we only need to draft one guard imo to play either side.

RT- When healthy Colombo is the man and Free is solid but only adds youth to this position. I believe we are set at rt.

WR- RW has one more year to get it right, than Jerry will give him the axe. At that point I believe Ogletree will be ready to step up full time. Austin, no worries there and Crayton is still very good. Hurd is good on ST's but I would like to see another impact player brought in because Hurd is a jag.

S- Hamlin, Sensabaugh, Ball, Hamlin2, and Watkins are the guys we got and the 1st three are getting the job done. It wouldn't hurt to bring in a ball hawk to get our starters to step up their game but we all know Wade doesn't play rooks.

NT- Rat is awesome, Siavii is a jag. It wouldn't hurt to try to upgrade if something falls to us.

CB- We are set but I wanna bring in one more guy just in case. We may get 2-3 more years out of Newman, we may not.

LB- We are set but we a bunch of un-knowns waiting in the wings. Not a glaring need right now. Keith Brooking has another year or two in the tank.

 

[burmafrd]

74, you about got it right.

 

[8FOR!3]

This is pretty much it for me in order from top to bottom as far as what I see is most important. A wide receiver at the level of Brandon Marshall wouldn't make me cry, but I'm also not going to add that as something we need.

Multiple offensive lineman.
One or two safeties.
Good kicker.
Slot or number four receiver a la Jordan Shipley or Jacoby Ford.
Fullback, one that can block well.
Inside linebacker, Keith Brooking is getting up there in age.
Cornerback, Jenkins/Newman/Scandrick will work, but a decent fourth would be nice.
Some defensive linemen, Ratliff deserves a better back up and we could prepare for the future with some young backup ends.

 

[Eskimo]

As well as Anthony Spencer and Mike Jenkins.

Thanks, yes I almost forgot about those two - they were a big boost on the defensive side of the ball. It's hard to believe how much turnover there was on the defensive side of the ball.