State of the Cowboys Defense thus far

[Woods]

As it stands now, we would require

2 DL (to replace Canty and Tank)

1 ILB (Burnett's replacement)

2 SS (assuming RW is cut and K Davis is not re-signed)

1 CB (Henry's replacement)

possibly 1 OLB (depending on Ellis; in any case, Ellis is on his last legs)


IMO, the only full-time starter we need is at SS (assuming RW is cut).

I would suspect that both DL would see significant playing time, as well as the ILB (at least in coverage).

If I were lucky enough to be GM of the Cowboys (maybe in my next life) I would look to fill 1 Safety position in FA and 1 DL position in FA as well. Not necessarily for starters, but guys who could contribute.

That would open up the Draft and permit me multiple options.

Opinions?

 

[MONT17]

next stop Super Bowl... oh wait, that was last years team!

 

[Woods]

next stop Super Bowl... oh wait, that was last years team!

As GM, I'll give you a ring.

 

[KingintheNorth]

2 DL (to replace Canty and Tank)
- We could already have their replacements on the roster. Jason Hatcher as the starter and Marcus Dixon as the back-up. Also, if the rumors are true about Wade's affection towards Junior Siavii, then we have our back-up NT.

1 ILB (Burnett's replacement)
- Maybe Bobby Carpenter finally gets a legitimate chance to prove himself. He could relieve Brooking and James as the number one back-up ILB and also play in nickel and dime packages. Matt Stewart was also added for depth.

2 SS (assuming RW is cut and K Davis is not re-signed)
- Agree with you here. We need to add at least 2 safeties. I think Keith Davis will return. He is appreciated here and has a defined role as Special Teams Ace. If Roy is cut this becomes our biggest hole (some would argue it already is).

1 CB (Henry's replacement)
- The team is high on the 3 youngsters: Jenkins, Scandrick, and Ball. Ball is untested but they love his speed. A cheap veteran could be added for insurance but I won't be surprised if we start the season with these 3 plus T Newman.

So that means we can actually go into the draft with the Best Player Available mentallity. If someone our scouts really love slips out of the 1st we have the draft picks to move up.

Should be an interesting draft. I can't wait to see how this board is just before we pick. The last 5 drafts my daughter has always had a basketball tournament on Draft Weekend.

 

[Woods]

2 DL (to replace Canty and Tank)
- We could already have their replacements on the roster. Jason Hatcher as the starter and Marcus Dixon as the back-up. Also, if the rumors are true about Wade's affection towards Junior Siavii, then we have our back-up NT.

1 ILB (Burnett's replacement)
- Maybe Bobby Carpenter finally gets a legitimate chance to prove himself. He could relieve Brooking and James as the number one back-up ILB and also play in nickel and dime packages. Matt Stewart was also added for depth.

2 SS (assuming RW is cut and K Davis is not re-signed)
- Agree with you here. We need to add at least 2 safeties. I think Keith Davis will return. He is appreciated here and has a defined role as Special Teams Ace. If Roy is cut this becomes our biggest hole (some would argue it already is).

1 CB (Henry's replacement)
- The team is high on the 3 youngsters: Jenkins, Scandrick, and Ball. Ball is untested but they love his speed. A cheap veteran could be added for insurance but I won't be surprised if we start the season with these 3 plus T Newman.

So that means we can actually go into the draft with the Best Player Available mentallity. If someone our scouts really love slips out of the 1st we have the draft picks to move up.

Should be an interesting draft. I can't wait to see how this board is just before we pick. The last 5 drafts my daughter has always had a basketball tournament on Draft Weekend.

I'm not sure what to make of Junior Siavii. He participated in camp last year as well, but didn't make the cut. And he does already have NFL experience.

I'm not sure if the reason he didn't make the final cut was primarily because he was rusty. In other words, is he basically a camp body?

As for Henry's replacement, I agree that we can pick up another youngster in the Draft or even a cheap veteran. He probably will only be the 4th or 5th CB anyway.

As for Carp seeing significant playing time outside of STs and pre-season, I'm not sure. It would be great if he works out, but I get the feeling he's in Wade's doghouse.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Also, if the rumors are true about Wade's affection towards Junior Siavii, then we have our back-up NT.

I meant to make a thread about that. Someone on another board was pointing out that it was said in a DC.com Q&A that a few coaches thought Siavii was better than Tank from the start and didn't want to cut him.

And you could see in that last episode of Hard Knocks how much Wade seemed to like Junior. Cutting him wasn't like cutting the other guys. So it's pretty easy to guess that he's one of the coaches who liked him.

Makes you wonder if he couldn't at least play enough to be a backup. He's definitely big enough -- maybe he's finally matured.

 

[Woods]

I meant to make a thread about that. Someone on another board was pointing out that it was said in a DC.com Q&A that a few coaches thought Siavii was better than Tank from the start and didn't want to cut him.

And you could see in that last episode of Hard Knocks how much Wade seemed to like Junior. Cutting him wasn't like cutting the other guys. So it's pretty easy to guess that he's one of the coaches who liked him.

Makes you wonder if he couldn't at least play enough to be a backup. He's definitely big enough -- maybe he's finally matured.

Do you remember how he performed in any of the pre-season games?

I have to admit, I don't remember.

Junior definitely has the size and body for NT. I'm not sure why his career has stalled.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Do you remember how he performed in any of the pre-season games.

I have to admit, I don't remember.

Junior definitely has the size and body for NT. I'm not sure why his career has stalled.

Someone who claimed they went back and watched closely said he played surprisingly well, and just did his job of holding his ground against double teams.

I don't know. I do know he was a 2nd round pick for a reason, and that a lot of his problems were due to immaturity. Apparently he came to this country because he was big and strong, but never had much of a life mentor and struggled with the adjustment to the culture.

And he was out of shape, too. One thing Wade said to him in that cut scene was how proud of him for how far he'd come as a man, and how "You finally got in shape."

Again, I don't know... I wouldn't expect much out of him, but maybe he could at least do enough to fill in for Rat for a few plays a game. The guy is a legit 6-4 and 330 or whatever without being fat at all.

 

[Woods]

Someone who claimed they went back and watched closely said he played surprisingly well, and just did his job of holding his ground against double teams.

I don't know. I do know he was a 2nd round pick for a reason, and that a lot of his problems were due to immaturity. Apparently he came to this country because he was big and strong, but never had much of a life mentor and struggled with the adjustment to the culture.

And he was out of shape, too. One thing Wade said to him in that cut scene was how proud of him for how far he'd come as a man, and how "You finally got in shape."

Again, I don't know... I wouldn't expect much out of him, but maybe he could at least do enough to fill in for Rat for a few plays a game. The guy is a legit 6-4 and 330 or whatever without being fat at all.

Well that's good information.

I remember he was a high pick. He's got some pedigree, size, and brute strength for the position. Plus NFL experience.

Let's hope he puts it together this season.

There's clearly a position available for a NT on the team. He could easily end up being as good as a 4th or 5th round draft pick for us.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Who drafted Junior?

 

[Woods]

Who drafted Junior?

KC Chiefs

 

[ddh33]

I'm rooting for Siavii. I thought he got a little bit of a raw deal last year by getting caught in the numbers and in the shadows of more well-known players. I hope he sticks around this time...

I can tell you that I already feel better about this team than I thought I would, and the reason why may surprise some people. But bringing in people like Keith Brooking and Matt Stewart makes me think that Wade is actually going to get "his" guys. Something tells me that players like Tank and Pacman were not Wade's ideal players.

So I'll take a team full of unknown, unheralded players if they play hard all the time and get the most out of their ability. Tra Battle, Steve Octavien, and Carlos Polk all showed me something last year on special teams. If a guy like Siavii can do the dirty work well, I want to keep him around because this team has been lacking those players. Just no more guys who think they are so much better than they are.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I'm rooting for Siavii. I thought he got a little bit of a raw deal last year by getting caught in the numbers and in the shadows of more well-known players. I hope he sticks around this time...

I can tell you that I already feel better about this team than I thought I would, and the reason why may surprise some people. But bringing in people like Keith Brooking and Matt Stewart makes me think that Wade is actually going to get "his" guys. Something tells me that players like Tank and Pacman were not Wade's ideal players.

So I'll take a team full of unknown, unheralded players if they play hard all the time and get the most out of their ability. Tra Battle, Steve Octavien, and Carlos Polk all showed me something last year on special teams. If a guy like Siavii can do the dirty work well, I want to keep him around because this team has been lacking those players. Just no more guys who think they are so much better than they are.

On the money again...

Remember someone at VR saying we need fewer athletes and more football players? The Battles and Octaviens and Stewarts and Polks are all football players.

That's another reason I'm very optimistic about this upcoming draft. Can't wait for it, actually.

 

[Woods]

I'm rooting for Siavii. I thought he got a little bit of a raw deal last year by getting caught in the numbers and in the shadows of more well-known players. I hope he sticks around this time...

I can tell you that I already feel better about this team than I thought I would, and the reason why may surprise some people. But bringing in people like Keith Brooking and Matt Stewart makes me think that Wade is actually going to get "his" guys. Something tells me that players like Tank and Pacman were not Wade's ideal players.

So I'll take a team full of unknown, unheralded players if they play hard all the time and get the most out of their ability. Tra Battle, Steve Octavien, and Carlos Polk all showed me something last year on special teams. If a guy like Siavii can do the dirty work well, I want to keep him around because this team has been lacking those players. Just no more guys who think they are so much better than they are.

I have to agree.

I think it's obvious that Wade is bringing in HIS guys and he's taking control of the Defense, at least.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I'm rooting for Siavii. I thought he got a little bit of a raw deal last year by getting caught in the numbers and in the shadows of more well-known players. I hope he sticks around this time...

I can tell you that I already feel better about this team than I thought I would, and the reason why may surprise some people. But bringing in people like Keith Brooking and Matt Stewart makes me think that Wade is actually going to get "his" guys. Something tells me that players like Tank and Pacman were not Wade's ideal players.

So I'll take a team full of unknown, unheralded players if they play hard all the time and get the most out of their ability. Tra Battle, Steve Octavien, and Carlos Polk all showed me something last year on special teams. If a guy like Siavii can do the dirty work well, I want to keep him around because this team has been lacking those players. Just no more guys who think they are so much better than they are.

Dude, great post.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Makes you wonder if he couldn't at least play enough to be a backup. He's definitely big enough -- maybe he's finally matured.

Doesn't make me wonder. They ran him out of town up here. Dude simply wasn't that good.

Big enough? Yes. Matured? Perhaps. Can he play football in the NFL? Not that I've seen.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

So what are we thinking when it comes to the Cowboy's 2nd, 3rd, and two 4th rounders?

I would say:

1 safety
2 d-line
1 o-line

 

[CF74]

2 DL (to replace Canty and Tank)

I'm confident Canty is covered with Hatcher & Bowen.
Maybe Siavii, and one draft pick can replace Tank or a FA Vet.

1 ILB (Burnett's replacement)

Carpenter, Polk, and maybe a draft pick

2 SS (assuming RW is cut and K Davis is not re-signed)

FA vet and draft

1 CB (Henry's replacement)

FA vet/draft

possibly 1 OLB (depending on Ellis; in any case, Ellis is on his last legs)

FA vet/draft

IMO, the only full-time starter we need is at SS (assuming RW is cut).

This still seems to be the biggest glaring hole. Many are hoping RW-38 re-structures but I'm hoping we move up and get somebody late in the 1st or early in the 2nd round.

**Another big concern is a decent back up Center/Guard and finding Flo's replacement.