Still Not Convinced

[Stash]

Some of your points I agree with, but your way too optimistic every little thing is an upgrade. You still didnt address both DT's and one of LBERs being a downgrade as starters.

I agree about concerns at defensive tackle, but who is it you personally are missing there?

And who is the linebacker downgrade?

 

[DanA]

We've placed bets at WR and I'm pretty confident that between TW, Brown, Austin, Thompson, Gallup, Beasley and Lenoir we'll sort something out as the season rolls on. But the TE group IMO is going to hurt us all season.

I don't see any of our current TE's on the roster in 2 years time.

 

[DanA]

I agree about concerns at defensive tackle, but who is it you personally are missing there?

And who is the linebacker downgrade?

I think Hitchens is a better player than LVE in 2018 but I also think Thomas is significantly better than Durant turned out to be in 2017.

 

[McKDaddy]

Some of your points I agree with, but your way too optimistic every little thing is an upgrade. You still didnt address both DT's and one of LBERs being a downgrade as starters.

DT's - to be honest, i wasn't completely sure i understood where you were coming from. My viewpoint is that Price played pretty well until he got injured & there was a noticeable decline once he went out. So if he & say Woods can be legit 1T options which reports indicate they can, then I view that as an improvement not only at the 1T but also allowing Collins to play his natural 3T. From all reports Ward has been impressive & can play both 1 & 3 but probably best at 3. Irving, yes he can be a force when he is engaged but he has never shown he can stay engaged on the field or off. I am not counting on him for anything at this point. So, yes, you can say we have lost a flash player but I'll take consistent & dependable as at least a wash.

I too respect Hitchens more than most. A healthy Jaylon goes a long way though. Athletically he is an upgrade over Hitch but lacks the experience. If he goes where Lee tells him, everything should work out. Overall, the group is quite good as I like the Thomas & Lillard pickups. Wilson isn't a superstar but he's not bad. As other folks have said, IF Lee & Jaylon are healthy, they will see the bulk of the snaps unless LVE really progresses quickly. So, I don't see it as a downgrade unless Jaylon is making mental mistakes.

 

[Rockport]

Im still baffled how people think we will have a much better defense. EVERY year I hear this same nonsense and nothing changes. I can see a case for mild improvement, but thats it. IN FACT........if you were to compare the teams on paper from last year at the end of the season and THIS year to start the depth has gotten better, but the starters are a downgrade at 3 positions.

Both DT spots and one linebacker spot are a downgrade. The secondary is EXACTLY the same. They just moved Jones to CB and Woods to safety. Now I fully see the advantage of having REAL coaching in the secondary and the additional years for Woods, Awuzie, and Smith. Other then that, the defense is worse on paper.

FYI.............I havent heard anyone pump this receiving corps as anything great. They comment that the system and committee approach may produce better than expect results.

The big issue for me with this offense is the TE. It has been a HUGE part of Garretts offense. They depend on a good TE in nearly EVERY play. So unless they are going to scheme around the TE position, that will be a problem for us.

Some of us have been paying attention. Some don’t because their agenda is to hate. You belong in the latter.

 

[Stash]

I think Hitchens is a better player than LVE in 2018 but I also think Thomas is significantly better than Durant turned out to be in 2017.

What's your opinion on Hitchens vs Jaylon Smith?

 

[Stash]

Some of us have been paying attention. Some don’t because their agenda is to hate. You belong in the latter.

It's not "optimistic" or "positive" when you're the first guy to throw the word "hate" out there.

 

[Flamma]

Over the past two months, I have studiously avoided getting into any conversations about Dez Bryant. Simply put, he's no longer a Cowboy, and pining over his loss doesn't accomplish anything. But unexpectedly losing Jason Witten a couple of weeks later is a double blow to the Cowboys receiving group.

These two players were already lost. Both Witten and Dez were not the same players Romo had. Especially Witten. Players age.

Dez may have had to go because he doesn't fit Dak. I tend to agree with Romo that with the right QB, Dez still has it. That's not a knock on Dak. And no one can begrudge Witten his retirement after giving 15 HOF years to the Cowboys. The Cowboys can still have a productive offense this year. But make no mistake. They will be looking for a young WR and TE to emerge as go-to options in the passing offense.

Whatever the reason, Dez was reduced to a jump ball player. We already lost the great player that he was, what's the point of pining over his absence regardless of the reason? It might not be all Dez, it could be the scheme. He might be dynamic on a team like the Patriots or Packers. But the one thing that we can't deny is that no one is really knocking down his door. Do you think if Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, or Brandon Cooks were cut when Dez was cut they would still be without a team?

 

[DanA]

What's your opinion on Hitchens vs Jaylon Smith?

Hitchens is still probably better, Jaylon has a very high ceiling though.

 

[Rockport]

It's not "optimistic" or "positive" when you're the first guy to throw the word "hate" out there.

Truth hurts sometimes. Deal with it.

 

[Stash]

Hitchens is still probably better, Jaylon has a very high ceiling though.

Hitchens is certainly more experienced, and as you said, Smith has the much higher ceiling. One guy was considered a top 5 draft pick and the other guy went in the 4th round.

And in terms of playmaking, there was very little difference between the two in 2017. I think Smith had more highs and lows while Hitchens was steady and unspectacular.

Neither guy saved the defense when Sean Lee wasn't out there anyway.

I don't see Hitchens as a big loss, but I do see overall depth significantly improved for 2018 with Vander Esch and Joe Thomas brought in. And that's why I think the original criticism was very specific.

 

[Stash]

Truth hurts sometimes. Deal with it.

The "truth" that you bring "hate" with you everywhere you go?

You deal with that.

 

[DanA]

The biggest difference IMO are:

• Last season we got caught out by Durant who checked out a year before he retired. He was a massive liability. Thomas fixes that.
• The CB's are more experienced and deeper than ever before.
• The DE position has a lot more depth.
• The DT position is the same but will suffer massively if Irving can't get himself right.
• The Witten security blanked and consistent blocking is gone.
• Position coaches add a lot of energy and hopefully improve things
• We have variety at WR where as last season we were as predictable **.

I feel like Jaylon steps up close to where Hitchens was, LVE where 2017 Jaylon was and Thomas improves significantly on Durant leaving us slightly better at LB. Time will tell though.

 

[waving monkey]

I disagree. On paper this defense is better than it was last year. Jaylon is much improved now he plays without the brace. Not only that but bringing in Richards is a huge upgrade, perhaps the biggest yet. Woods is an upgrade over Jones at safety while Jones is an upgrade over Scandrick and Carroll. Depth is much more improved as well

 

[DanA]

Hitchens is certainly more experienced, and as you said, Smith has the much higher ceiling. One guy was considered a top 5 draft pick and the other guy went in the 4th round.

And in terms of playmaking, there was very little difference between the two in 2017. I think Smith had more highs and lows while Hitchens was steady and unspectacular.

Neither guy saved the defense when Sean Lee wasn't out there anyway.

I don't see Hitchens as a big loss, but I do see overall depth significantly improved for 2018 with Vander Esch and Joe Thomas brought in. And that's why I think the original criticism was very specific.

Don't care where Hitchens went in the draft. IMO he's a top 10 off ball LB in the league and is now rightly paid like one. I also think Hitchens was much better than Jaylon last year.

 

[Rockport]

The "truth" that you bring "hate" with you everywhere you go?

You deal with that.

Hating on the haters? Sounds good to me.

 

[JustChip]

Evaluation of this team, as well the individuals that make up the team, falls into 2 categories - optimistic and pessimistic, or if you will, glass half-full or half-empty. It the same players in either case so it really boils down to what the individual believes. E.g., the TEs were always behind Witten and that was never going to change as long as he was on the team and, therefore, it's truly unknown what they will be when the weight in all on them. The half-empty folks point to their historical stats and are pessimistic, the half-full folks point to recent Witten stats and are optimistic the TEs can duplicate them, either individually or as a group.

In either case, the 32 oz. tankard has 16 oz. of Shiner in it. As for me, I'm simply going enjoy my 16 oz. of Shiner and when that's gone, if I still am thirsty, fetch me another.

 

[Proof]

All this talk about the D and no mention of Randy?

We’re adding him to the team, our CB’s are coming into their own and have a new coach guiding them, Jaylon sounds to be healed and improved, and we added a first round talent at LB. Not a very big stretch to think they’ll be better

 

[Stash]

Don't care where Hitchens went in the draft. IMO he's a top 10 off ball LB in the league and is now rightly paid like one. I also think Hitchens was much better than Jaylon last year.

Ok. Agree to disagree. He's a solid player but never a playmaker. And he was grossly overpaid in my opinion.

 

[Stash]

Hating on the haters? Sounds good to me.

Spewing "hate" wherever you go.

That doesn't "sound good to me."