Sherrington: Cowboys experiencing calmer, more patient Jerry Jones

[cowboyjoe]

Sherrington: Cowboys experiencing calmer, more patient Jerry Jones
6:11 PM Mon, Mar 22, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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SportsDay columnist Kevin Sherrington answered your Dallas area sports questions during a live chat today. Here are some of the highlights:

Will Jerry Jones have a better draft this year than last?
They didn't have much to work with in last year's draft, but they didn't try to make much of it, either. With Jeff Ireland and now Tom Ciskowski running the draft, Jerry seems to be a better listener and less likely to make impulsive -- or repulsive -- picks. We'll see what he does. My bet is he stays where he is and takes the best player.

Why are the Cowboys so quiet in free agency?
Jerry says he's waiting to see what develops. This corresponds with his recent trend of letting the draft come to him instead of chasing it all over the board.

I think the lesson in free agency is, for the most part: Sign your own if you still value them, avoid the high-priced guys and make yourself a value shopper. That's how they've succeeded in the last couple of years, since the bust of the Jason Ferguson class. I think Wade Phillips has been a significant contributor in that respect, and he should get more credit for it.

Which should the Cowboys target in the NFL draft -- offensive line or safety?
Depends on the quality. If Earl Thomas drops that far, which now seems unlikely, I think they'd take a shot at him if an OL they like isn't available. Both are needs. As usual, you take the guy you have higher on your board.

I'm not sure an OL taken in the draft will make an immediate impact. But it doesn't mean they shouldn't take one. The Cowboys simply don't have a history of drafting OL that high. I think fans are overreacting to the playoff loss a little bit. The OL was shredded, but most of that came after Flozell went out. They'll add a safety and an OL or two. What kind of impact they make remains to be seen. But I like what they've added in low-key defensive additions the last couple of years (Sensabaugh, Brooking). Let's see if they can do that again.

Any chance the Cowboys go after a running back in the draft?
Jerry has finally seen the light on QBs and RBs in the draft. After all those years taking safeties on the second day, he's finally realized that you need to take skill position players on offense. For one thing, those guys tend to get hurt. For another, they're valuable trade pieces.

Why is everyone so concerned about the wide receiver group and the need to draft a WR early?
Drafting a WR high is always iffy. The expectations on Roy Williams should be much less, which doesn't mean he can't still be effective. I'd like to see more reps go to Kevin Ogletree. And if Martellus Bennett can get his act together, I'd like to see what they could do with two really effective tight ends. Bottom line: WR is third in priorities behind OL and safety. And a distant third at that.

 

[Idgit]

He says a lot of the right things, for a lot of wrong reasons here.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

And if Martellus Bennett can get his act together, I'd like to see what they could do with two really effective tight ends.

In full agreement with most of the points made.

HOWEVER, I don't care about Bennett no more. Even if he is effective, he lacks maturity. And when was the last time the Boys could afford to run a day-care center for a player this immature?
I say keep developing Phillips. And then let's have an awesome 1-2-3-4 punch with Austin, Ogle, Witten and Phillips.

Let's unload the (immatures (Bennett) and the prima donas (Roy Williams) and see what Wade can do with a talent-rich, mature and hard-nosed bunch this coming year.

I can hardly wait till QB camps and then camp and the the preseason and then the real thang!

Kick in that dad-gummed door, Wade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[28 Joker]

Adams got hurt in that 2007 divisional loss to the Giants, but he didn't come out of the game. The line collapsed in that playoff loss.

It's happened twice, and it's time to get younger at the tackle positions.

40% of that line needs to change in my opinion. You could argue 60%, but I will be lucky to get a 20% change.

I'll say it again. Dallas will not make a Super Bowl with it's current starting 5 offensive linemen. They need some youth, especially at the tackles.

When they collapse twice, in two playoff losses, that isn't an overreaction.

Plus, how do we know Colombo will be what he once was after he broke his leg and tore ankle ligaments? Colombo was just a solid player. If he drops off any due to age and injury, Ray Edwards was just the start of a drop off the table decline. Colombo was never great in space to begin with. Parcells stated that space wasn't Colombo's friend.

The dangerous thing is to not react and act like everything is o.k. up front.

It's not.

Denver
Green Bay
Minnesota

Romo took a beating in all three of those games, especially Minnesota, who you may have to face again in the playoffs, and Green Bay, another playoff team.

 

[Bluefin]

I say keep developing Phillips. And then let's have an awesome 1-2-3-4 punch with Austin, Ogle, Witten and Phillips.

I guess Kevin Ogletree doesn't need to be developed?

KO can go from catching a few screen passes as a rookie to starting as a sophomore and being featured above Jason Witten?

Terrell Owens couldn't catch more passes than Witten, I think it's a bit premature to expect Ogletree to do anything resembling that.

The passing game runs through Miles Austin and Witten.

Anything we can get from Ogletree will be a bonus, but it's hard to expect him to even beat out Patrick Crayton as the third receiver.

Playing fewer snaps, Martellus Bennett caught 3 passes to Ogletree's 1 in our two playoff games.

KO's snap count grew as the season wore on and his production remained almost non-existent.

I hope Ogletree's future is bright, but I've seen nothing to date that makes me think he's ready to claim a prominent role on offense.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I guess Kevin Ogletree doesn't need to be developed?

KO can go from catching a few screen passes as a rookie to starting as a sophomore and being featured above Jason Witten?

Terrell Owens couldn't catch more passes than Witten, I think it's a bit premature to expect Ogletree to do anything resembling that.

The passing game runs through Miles Austin and Witten.

Anything we can get from Ogletree will be a bonus, but it's hard to expect him to even beat out Patrick Crayton as the third receiver.

Playing fewer snaps, Martellus Bennett caught 3 passes to Ogletree's 1 in our two playoff games.

KO's snap count grew as the season wore on and his production remained almost non-existent.

I hope Ogletree's future is bright, but I've seen nothing to date that makes me think he's ready to claim a prominent role on offense.

Dear Blue. In the NFL, the modern NFL, a year is called developing. Which Ogle has now had.
Time to retch or cut bait. Time to get off the toilet. Enuff developing.

This proud son of the South Plains wind storms says 1 year and yew show what you kin do. And I think Ogle can surpass our expectations.

And, pugnacious and vacuous fellow, NOBODY is featuring Ogle above Witten.
Where did you surmise that?

And, lastly, if you are dead-set for a 1-2 tandem of soley austin and witten, that can become predictable as shown this year. There is nothing wrong with a multi-attacking corps of receivers and TEs and maybe a wayward RB who gets past the LBs.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH 3-4 FEATURED RECEIVERS AS OPPOSED TO 2. THAT IS WHAT DEFENSES DON'T LIKE.

OK, sorry I had to get rough with you. Your assertions being lame and stuff, man.