Stay the course

[GhostOfPelluer]

It isn't sexy and goes against the bucket of hot takes from Madden champion GMs and partially educated fans but I think we have more than a one-year thing going in Dallas. It's an actual program with a sound philosophy.

We don't need to jump on the shiny toys with duct-taped wheels (free agency). We need to keep doing what we've been doing the past few years. Build through the draft. Try to sign a few stop-gap guys with the hopes that one either has a career year or that your drafting hits on a replacement.

Rely on the young core and try to grow it organically. Don't look at the Giants' 2016 spending spree as the answer - they're at home watching the Super Bowl just like the rest of us.

We need a backup quarterback to avoid a possible 2015 repeat. I'm ok bringing back much of our defensive FAs if they can be had for budget prices. If they get big deals elsewhere, we wish them well and stick to our philosophy. Luckily this draft is deep at CB and DE, because we need infusions of talent at both spots.

I have no problem with TWill or Butler coming back (or both) at the right price. They're decent pieces, as long as they don't have to be difference makers too often. Maybe we get a WR in the draft, too.

The good thing is we have a solid - not perfect, but better than most - coaching staff in place. We appear to have a nice group cohesion in the front office with McClay and Stephen and that's been working well lately.

There's a reason we were 13-3 this season. We don't need any sweeping changes, just a tweak here and there. That doesn't guarantee success in 2017, but nothing is guaranteed for any club.

If we start paying luxury prices in the second-hand store then our progress will be reversed. We can't start thinking we're one piece away. We need to continue to build from within and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[CapnCook]

That's boring. I'd much rather fire the coaches and cut all the players. That would be much more interesting and feed my collectivist thinking. I'm bummed about this loss, so someone on this team must lose their job in order to placate my own irrational emotions. I mean, 13-3 and this young core couldn't top a future HOF`er playing some of the best ball of his career. What a failure of a season!

Oh, and good post.

 

[CWR]

I agree for the most part, however my opinion is dependent on who is available and what they cost.

 

[Clove]

Problem with that philosophy is that by the time this year's rookie crop is ready, others will be gone during free agency.

 

[Nightman]

We have to get better whether its draft, FAs or trades

We are first place team that has to play GB, SEA, ATL, KC, DEN, OAK next year as well as the NFC Beast

 

[Idgit]

This is, of course, the sensible path to take. More power to you for expressing it this week. I'd keep Terrence if he doesn't get overpaid to go where Tony goes as part of a package deal. Butler's spot needs to go to a speed WR who's more consistent. And I'm not opposed to keeping some of the defensive FA, but they need to be resigned at a reasonable price, and any one of those positions that can be suitably upgraded should be done without blinking eyes or shedding tears. The nice thing about almost everybody on that side of the ball being mediocre is that it's easy to spot-upgrade.

Our coaching staff is ok on gamedays, but not among the best in the league. Where they excel is in developing talent. And our scouting staff has clearly gotten pretty good and finding players to develop and who will fit into the culture. With such a talent deficiency on the defensive side of the ball, I'm scratching my head that so many people think the issue is to fire the coaches. But of course, everybody who's a fan of a team with a QB in place always thinks the recourse for not getting far enough in the playoffs is to fire the coaches. If there's no QB in place, then it's fire the QB and then fire the coaches.

Let's upgrade 2-3 of the 8 positions in the DL rotation, get an impact player at MIKE, and replace however we can the players we're going to end up juggling in the secondary with good players who can actually stay on the field (sorry, Mo). Fill in the backup positions on offense (OT, replacing Leary, the WR4), and go at it again. If we continue to draft better than most of the teams in the league, it shouldn't be very hard to upgrade the defensive talent. There's a world of opportunity there.

 

[AzorAhai]

We have to get better whether its draft, FAs or trades

We are first place team that has to play GB, SEA, ATL, KC, DEN, OAK next year as well as the NFC Beast

Not using every avenue to improve is a mistake. Period. They should be selective in FA, not completely ignore it. Rosters turn over far too much to depend on building solely through the draft where you're doing good if you get 2 starters every year. I know these cliches sound good to people, but it's a mistake to rely solely on one avenue for talent acquisition.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

I'd keep TWill if possible, but he's probably going to get a decent contract offer somewhere else. I know it's not apples to apples, but look at what the Giants gave Harris a few years ago.

I know we haven't seen anything from him yet, but Jerry thinks there is a difference maker on the roster for the Mike.

I'd be surprised if most of the defensive FAs get big money.

I'm not saying ignore FA completely, but be smart about it as they have been lately. There are very few good players made available and they go for a premium - 9 times out of 10 more than they're actually worth.

 

[JoeKing]

It isn't sexy and goes against the bucket of hot takes from Madden champion GMs and partially educated fans but I think we have more than a one-year thing going in Dallas. It's an actual program with a sound philosophy.

We don't need to jump on the shiny toys with duct-taped wheels (free agency). We need to keep doing what we've been doing the past few years. Build through the draft. Try to sign a few stop-gap guys with the hopes that one either has a career year or that your drafting hits on a replacement.

Rely on the young core and try to grow it organically. Don't look at the Giants' 2016 spending spree as the answer - they're at home watching the Super Bowl just like the rest of us.

We need a backup quarterback to avoid a possible 2015 repeat. I'm ok bringing back much of our defensive FAs if they can be had for budget prices. If they get big deals elsewhere, we wish them well and stick to our philosophy. Luckily this draft is deep at CB and DE, because we need infusions of talent at both spots.

I have no problem with TWill or Butler coming back (or both) at the right price. They're decent pieces, as long as they don't have to be difference makers too often. Maybe we get a WR in the draft, too.

The good thing is we have a solid - not perfect, but better than most - coaching staff in place. We appear to have a nice group cohesion in the front office with McClay and Stephen and that's been working well lately.

There's a reason we were 13-3 this season. We don't need any sweeping changes, just a tweak here and there. That doesn't guarantee success in 2017, but nothing is guaranteed for any club.

If we start paying luxury prices in the second-hand store then our progress will be reversed. We can't start thinking we're one piece away. We need to continue to build from within and the rest will take care of itself.

Preach!

 

[bsbellomy]

It isn't sexy and goes against the bucket of hot takes from Madden champion GMs and partially educated fans but I think we have more than a one-year thing going in Dallas. It's an actual program with a sound philosophy.

We don't need to jump on the shiny toys with duct-taped wheels (free agency). We need to keep doing what we've been doing the past few years. Build through the draft. Try to sign a few stop-gap guys with the hopes that one either has a career year or that your drafting hits on a replacement.

Rely on the young core and try to grow it organically. Don't look at the Giants' 2016 spending spree as the answer - they're at home watching the Super Bowl just like the rest of us.

We need a backup quarterback to avoid a possible 2015 repeat. I'm ok bringing back much of our defensive FAs if they can be had for budget prices. If they get big deals elsewhere, we wish them well and stick to our philosophy. Luckily this draft is deep at CB and DE, because we need infusions of talent at both spots.

I have no problem with TWill or Butler coming back (or both) at the right price. They're decent pieces, as long as they don't have to be difference makers too often. Maybe we get a WR in the draft, too.

The good thing is we have a solid - not perfect, but better than most - coaching staff in place. We appear to have a nice group cohesion in the front office with McClay and Stephen and that's been working well lately.

There's a reason we were 13-3 this season. We don't need any sweeping changes, just a tweak here and there. That doesn't guarantee success in 2017, but nothing is guaranteed for any club.

If we start paying luxury prices in the second-hand store then our progress will be reversed. We can't start thinking we're one piece away. We need to continue to build from within and the rest will take care of itself.

On one hand I agree with this, but on the other I can't help but feel that with Josh Norman on our team we aren't sitting home right now.

 

[Tabascocat]

I agree to stay the course but you also have to use FA to fill in the gaps. This team doesn't have 3-4 more years waiting on rookies to develop. There are far too many positions to upgrade using only the draft and ignoring the top free agents.

For this off-season, Dallas is going to have to sign about 70% of our own FA's, especially if they aren't active in FA.

 

[xwalker]

It isn't sexy and goes against the bucket of hot takes from Madden champion GMs and partially educated fans but I think we have more than a one-year thing going in Dallas. It's an actual program with a sound philosophy.

We don't need to jump on the shiny toys with duct-taped wheels (free agency). We need to keep doing what we've been doing the past few years. Build through the draft. Try to sign a few stop-gap guys with the hopes that one either has a career year or that your drafting hits on a replacement.

Rely on the young core and try to grow it organically. Don't look at the Giants' 2016 spending spree as the answer - they're at home watching the Super Bowl just like the rest of us.

We need a backup quarterback to avoid a possible 2015 repeat. I'm ok bringing back much of our defensive FAs if they can be had for budget prices. If they get big deals elsewhere, we wish them well and stick to our philosophy. Luckily this draft is deep at CB and DE, because we need infusions of talent at both spots.

I have no problem with TWill or Butler coming back (or both) at the right price. They're decent pieces, as long as they don't have to be difference makers too often. Maybe we get a WR in the draft, too.

The good thing is we have a solid - not perfect, but better than most - coaching staff in place. We appear to have a nice group cohesion in the front office with McClay and Stephen and that's been working well lately.

There's a reason we were 13-3 this season. We don't need any sweeping changes, just a tweak here and there. That doesn't guarantee success in 2017, but nothing is guaranteed for any club.

If we start paying luxury prices in the second-hand store then our progress will be reversed. We can't start thinking we're one piece away. We need to continue to build from within and the rest will take care of itself.

FA is like the draft in that you should not reach for need. Don't overpay for an average player like they did with Brandon Carr.

Having said that, if a truely elite player becomes available then they should consider signing him They could use an elite player anywhere on defense and at WR in place of TWill.

Expensive free agents worked for Denver and Deion Sanders was the difference in Jerry getting his 3rd Super Bowl win.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Do we have to wait 3-4 years for rookies to develop? I can name four that had a pretty decent impact on a 13-3 team this year.

We can't afford the top free agents, whether we want them or not.

 

[RS12]

There is no staying the course with this defense. They took you as far as they going to take you this year. At this point there arent too many players in positions on that side of the ball they couldnt live without.

 

[Jake]

That's boring. I'd much rather fire the coaches and cut all the players. That would be much more interesting and feed my collectivist thinking. I'm bummed about this loss, so someone on this team must lose their job in order to placate my own irrational emotions. I mean, 13-3 and this young core couldn't top a future HOF`er playing some of the best ball of his career. What a failure of a season!

Oh, and good post.

 

[movaughn88]

It's not sexy, and it's sensible, but it's also probably what will happen!

However I disagree on Twill - I'll take the comp pick and sign someone else who's more reliable even if boring. He's extremely variable, some highs and lows, but the lows have been game-killers and I just don't like his game.

I think we can improve a few spots on D through FA with "second wave" signings. We have some money to spend a little, and I think we will exceed expectations there just slightly over recent history.

 

[bark]

This is, of course, the sensible path to take. More power to you for expressing it this week. I'd keep Terrence if he doesn't get overpaid to go where Tony goes as part of a package deal. Butler's spot needs to go to a speed WR who's more consistent. And I'm not opposed to keeping some of the defensive FA, but they need to be resigned at a reasonable price, and any one of those positions that can be suitably upgraded should be done without blinking eyes or shedding tears. The nice thing about almost everybody on that side of the ball being mediocre is that it's easy to spot-upgrade.

Our coaching staff is ok on gamedays, but not among the best in the league. Where they excel is in developing talent. And our scouting staff has clearly gotten pretty good and finding players to develop and who will fit into the culture. With such a talent deficiency on the defensive side of the ball, I'm scratching my head that so many people think the issue is to fire the coaches. But of course, everybody who's a fan of a team with a QB in place always thinks the recourse for not getting far enough in the playoffs is to fire the coaches. If there's no QB in place, then it's fire the QB and then fire the coaches.

Let's upgrade 2-3 of the 8 positions in the DL rotation, get an impact player at MIKE, and replace however we can the players we're going to end up juggling in the secondary with good players who can actually stay on the field (sorry, Mo). Fill in the backup positions on offense (OT, replacing Leary, the WR4), and go at it again. If we continue to draft better than most of the teams in the league, it shouldn't be very hard to upgrade the defensive talent. There's a world of opportunity there.

Rob Ryan is available

Now that the fog of disgust has lifted a bit, its clear to me that the path the OP has laid out is the approach we will take.
Reasonably priced FA on prove it deals.
We will sign one or two of our secondary players and wave bye to the others.
We will make an offer to twill and like Murray before him, he will take it or leave.
I think Jerry is about to wet himself over jaylon and hopefully he is right. The kid could really help.
The development of Damian Wilson is something to keep an eye on also.
I would make a reasonable offer to the ravens d lineman Brandon Williams and see if he bites.
Lots of moves to be made. Let's just hope they make some good ones

 

[Jake]

There is no staying the course with this defense. They took you as far as they going to take you this year. At this point there arent too many players in positions on that side of the ball they couldnt live without.

You probably should read more than the thread title next time. No one, including the OP, said we should keep the roster exactly the same. He specifically talked about improving the defense.

 

[cowboyblue22]

I am sure they will stay the course because its what they have been doing now for about 6 years and I am sure that in the end the results will not change a lot from what we have been seeing

 

[benson]

We need at least one disruptive force on the defensive line. It took Denver going to the SB and getting blown out by Seattle to realize they needed a Ware to take pressure off Miller.

We don't have a Ware or a Miller, we have nothing. If we enter next season with a nothing, once again will we be shredded by elite QB play.