Stephen Jones conference call with season-ticket holders

[Stash]

Every year, Stephen Jones does a one-hour call-in show for season-ticket holders with Brad Sham moderating. It's actually pretty insightful because Stephen obviously feels somewhat obligated to give his prime customers more than just canned answers. He even called out some guys.

Unfortunately, when he talked about Gregory and Lawrence, I was on another call. No details there.

Among the interesting takewaways (and please excuse the paraphrasing, but it makes for fewer words and an easier read for you):

- Free agency is not a place to get great players. We paid Brandon Carr like he was the best corner in the NFL, and he's just not. He hasn't made one pro bowl. Free agency forces you to pay good players like they're Hall of Famers, and they almost never turn out to be. We stay out of that trap now. And we got excellent value on Thornton and the other guys.

- We are incredibly excited about Chaz Green. Doug Free is going to have a hard time beating him out for that starting position. Chaz could be both a swing guard and a swing tackle for us. He's that athletic. We love that draft pick, and it's going to pay off for us.

- On talent alone, the three players in the draft we most liked were Jaylon Smith, Eziekiel Elliott, and Jalen Ramsey.

- The two undrafted guys to look out for are Andy Jones and Rodney Coe. We almost drafted both of them. Coe has had some issues, but Marinelli is the perfect coach for him. Jones is a very serious-minded kid who has tremendous quickness.

- Last year is largely on Jason Garrett and the coaches. And of course, Jerry and I, too. Cincinnati won some key games with McCarron, and they would have one a playoff game with him without some key penalties. Weeden won games after he left. Cassel has won games. We need to do a better job as a staff and as an organization because we have enough talent.

- The NFL is seriously considering getting rid of kickoffs altogether.

- Orlando Scandrick's rehab has gone very well. He hasn't lost any speed or quickness. That was fortunate.

- Will McClay did a tremendous amount of research on Benson Mayowa. That was his "find" in free agency. We feel very good about what he could become for us in time. Watch him closely.

- The only two players we're missing from the 2014 defense of note are Mincey and Selvie, and we think we have better players than them now with a lot more athleticism.

- We think Damien Wilson is going to be a really fine football player for us. Sean stayed healthy last year, so he didn't see much time, but he's got a chance to be a strong player for us.

- The Cowboys have placed their bid to host the NFL Draft, and we'd do it out at The Star, which has a 12,000 seat concert hall.

Fire away.

Thanks for taking the time to share this info, much appreciated.

 

[Stash]

Damn, poor Carr. Don't know if it's the paraphrasing, but seems a harsh tone.

Good info on Green / Free battle. Putting Free on notice.

Yeah, I needed to hear some good news on Chaz Green.

 

[CrownCowboy]

They kind of messed up, which we will like for one season.

Now, you get the ball at the 25 on touchbacks, so teams are going to try and pop fly it to the 2-yard line and make a tackle.

Of course, they'll see their error, and eliminate them altogether next year.

Yep.

That's bassackwards but will give us what we want, which is actual football.

Don't want to hijack the thread but I am not a fan of getting rid of kick-offs, nor changing touchbacks to the 25 yardline.

The game is getting ruined, I tell ya..

 

[slick325]

Thanks for the recap.

Encouraging news about Chaz Green. Hope he can stay healthy and make a big leap this offseason. Also, intrigued with Mayowa. If he can get 6 or more sacks in a platoon role (once Gregory and Lawrence return I think he platoons) that would be great.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Thanks for the recap @erod.

I agree. I think kickoffs need to go the way of the dodo. I think punts should too. Off the top of my head, give them 40 yards or if that reaches into the end zone, then the 10 yard line.

 

[erod]

Thanks for the recap @erod.

I agree. I think kickoffs need to go the way of the dodo. I think punts should too. Off the top of my head, give them 40 yards or if that reaches into the end zone, then the 10 yard line.

Not punts. That's a HUGE part of the field-position game, and a good punter is a tremendous weapon. As is a good returner.

Kickoffs are dangerous because of the collisions away from the returner. Punts don't have those except for peel-back blocks, which have been changed by new rules.

 

[hendog]

Awesome awesome stuff!! Thank you so much for taking the time to share this!

Excited to hear about Chaz. I assumed that was a wasted pick.
If Mayowa can be productive what a boon that will be!!
The two UDFA rooks could possibly replace Street and T.Mclain.
I've had high hopes for Wilson and hoped he could turn into a player for us!

 

[DFWJC]

Good stuff on Chaz Green and others

 

[FaSho]

A lot of people have counted out Chaz Green. Dude was hurt last year, so I've never understood the negativity.

I'll admit, I know nothing about the guy, but I trust our Front Office's ability to judge OL talent, and they used a 3rd on him.

 

[Zordon]

Can somebody add the Gregory/Lawrence takes?

 

[xvendettax914]

Wow. Very insightful. Definitely different than the straight line answers were accustomed to.

 

[erod]

Can somebody add the Gregory/Lawrence takes?

I think they'll eventually post it on the website. I'm not sure of the waiting time.

 

[conner01]

They kind of messed up, which we will like for one season.

Now, you get the ball at the 25 on touchbacks, so teams are going to try and pop fly it to the 2-yard line and make a tackle.

Of course, they'll see their error, and eliminate them altogether next year.

I felt the same way. If you want less kick returns why punish a team for a touchback? Seems like someone is saying one thing and legislations another

 

[movaughn88]

This tidbit is nice as well. I didn't think a lot of thought was put into this signing, rather took it as a desperation signing, but the assertion that McClay really flagged this guy is encouraging.

This is not really directed at you personally, but I find it strange that some posters think the Cowboys as a team make decisions on a whim or in a panic etc. I think an organization like the cowboys pays a lot of staff to do the work on decisions and scouting such as this, and they definitely focused on Mayowa in FA this year. I get the idea of a whiff of desperation with this player since we need pass rush, but a ton of work (by others besides the Jones boys and coaches) goes into all these decisions. I bet McClay rarely takes time away from his work.

Another example is the idea that Jaylon was a "panic" pick at #34 this year. The staff had a whole night to plan. I'm absolutely sure the staff considered the scenario where the two DL's were gone by their pick. With revenues in the billions, these decisions aren't without due diligence.

Now as to the quality of thinking when ultimate decisions are made by the top of the pyramid, after the hard working staff has laid the information out in front of the Jones gang, that is certainly another question entirely, and I think those choices sometimes makes us all think all the work that went into them didn't happen.

I really liked the enthusiasm about Chaz Green - if that pick strikes even a little oil with a dead year past, then its upside to the zero we probably all have in our current expectations.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Not punts. That's a HUGE part of the field-position game, and a good punter is a tremendous weapon. As is a good returner.

Kickoffs are dangerous because of the collisions away from the returner. Punts don't have those except for peel-back blocks, which have been changed by new rules.

Nope, punts. Don't need them.

 

[DallasEast]

- We are incredibly excited about Chaz Green. Doug Free is going to have a hard time beating him out for that starting position. Chaz could be both a swing guard and a swing tackle for us. He's that athletic. We love that draft pick, and it's going to pay off for us.

I hope Green will rise to the occasion. Free's strength is run blocking but the offensive line needs an upgrade at right tackle for pass blocking. Hopefully Green can take "Mister Ole!" job.

 

[Daillest88]

Man if chaz green turns out to be a player for us and replaces Doug free, there will be no stopping this run game.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

glad he called out Garrett/coaches and FO. They failed big time last year.

Agreed.... tired of the crying about backup QBs. Exactly how many do people need to see fail before they realize that it wasn't the problem? 3 drastically different QBs isn't enough?

 

[Denim Chicken]

This is not really directed at you personally, but I find it strange that some posters think the Cowboys as a team make decisions on a whim or in a panic etc.

See the back-up QB situation last year--Weeden, Cassell, Moore.

Panic.

 

[big dog cowboy]

- Last year is largely on Jason Garrett and the coaches. And of course, Jerry and I, too.

Sounds to me like he is saying everyone failed last season.