Team Needs - A Little Confused

[TwoDeep3]

It appears that most places people post have the same notions about what this team needs. I see so many mock drafts by fans stating this team has a need for a first round pick of a cornerback.

Fact is, if the fan posts all the draft picks they project for this team, there is usually another cornerback and a safety put in there somewhere. And the corners are usually within the first three rounds if not using both first rounders for corners.

I guess I am not really understanding the thinking here. We have drafted defense in the top rounds for years now, ignoring offense.

Our team surrendered 20 ppg last year.

The hue and cry about the last Giants game really muddled the water here. We gave up 21 points. If we could have generated our yearly average, we would have beaten them by 5.

I want this team to win. But I also know we had Crayton as our number 2 receiver and Barber and a real waste of salarycap as the running game.

Defense wins championships, if your team can outscore the other team.

Maybe someone could explain why cornerback is such a prized possession here.

Now to make it simple, I understand Henry is getting old and Newman is at the end of his contract this next season.

But just how much money does this team have to throw at the defense when the reason we went on vacation early is the offense?

 

[Portland Fanatic]

To me it depends on what, if anything, we do in FA...

IF we get Jevon Walker and Dunn, then I consider CB the biggest need and would not be upset to take at least one if not two in the first rd.

The best scenario for me is getting Dunn, and Walker (only if fully healthy), then draft
CB...day one
WR...day one
RB...3rd or 4th rd...if we do not add Dunn, then by second rd.
NT...early day two pic

Just my worthless opinion...

 

[dargonking999]

when you have TO, Witten, Romo, Barber, and a Pro-bowl OL, how much more firepower do you want to add to the offense? There is only one ball to go around.

BTW you did see all the offensive records we broke last year right? Did you also see the constant defensive struggles we had in the secondary game after game, causing us to score so many points?

Just because we drafted defensivly over the last 10 years or so, doesn't mean we have a great defensive team. It means that we failed at drafting good defensive players more times than not.

 

[DFWJC]

It depends on the players available and when. I think we are thin in the secondary and could use another eventual starting corner or at least some better depth.

My position prefernces would be:
CB2
WR2
RB2
OL depth
LB depth
QB depth

 

[DFWJC]

you may have a point abut NT

 

[Portland Fanatic]

when you have TO, Witten, Romo, Barber, and a Pro-bowl OL, how much more firepower do you want to add to the offense? There is only one ball to go around.

BTW you did see all the offensive records we broke last year right? Did you also see the constant defensive struggles we had in the secondary game after game, causing us to score so many points?

Just because we drafted defensivly over the last 10 years or so, doesn't mean we have a great defensive team. It means that we failed at drafting good defensive players more times than not.

For the most part I agree, but what scared me last year was when TO was out for a game...and banged up...we stunk it up big time without him. If he went down we'd be in big trouble this year.

They take the middle away from Witten, stack the box...then 1:1 against Crayton...we are stopped cold. We need another WR weapon that can step up, and we don't have that.

 

[Hostile]

It appears that most places people post have the same notions about what this team needs. I see so many mock drafts by fans stating this team has a need for a first round pick of a cornerback.

Fact is, if the fan posts all the draft picks they project for this team, there is usually another cornerback and a safety put in there somewhere. And the corners are usually within the first three rounds if not using both first rounders for corners.

I guess I am not really understanding the thinking here. We have drafted defense in the top rounds for years now, ignoring offense.

Our team surrendered 20 ppg last year.

The hue and cry about the last Giants game really muddled the water here. We gave up 21 points. If we could have generated our yearly average, we would have beaten them by 5.

I want this team to win. But I also know we had Crayton as our number 2 receiver and Barber and a real waste of salarycap as the running game.

Defense wins championships, if your team can outscore the other team.

Maybe someone could explain why cornerback is such a prized possession here.

Now to make it simple, I understand Henry is getting old and Newman is at the end of his contract this next season.

But just how much money does this team have to throw at the defense when the reason we went on vacation early is the offense?

In today's NFL I think you need at least 3 viable options at CB. There are too many 3 and 4 WR sets any more to ignore this. CB is becoming more and more important all the time.

As you mentioned there is the age of our 2 starters. I think it is also wise to consider the depth of this draft at CB. This may be our best opportunity to get a top notch CB for the next 5 years without going to Free Agent bank holdup route.

Finally, it is a buffer against injuries which I hope you will agree, really cost us dearly in 2007 between all the games lost as starter by both regular starters. Basically a total of 13 games. It's a smart hedge of the bets and solid depth. That is why I think CB in round 1 is absolutely a must unless 2 guys fall who are just too good to pass up.

 

[Yeagermeister]

We need a cb because all we have is Newman and an injury prone Henry.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

To be, you have to break it down by position and see where you are thin or need improvement at..

On Offense:

QB is set
RB- MB3 and add one draft pick
WR.. we need to add one here.. we have TO.. Maybe Glenn, Crayton, hurd, austin and stanback,,, other than TO.. those are not proven weapons.
TE. Set
OL, pretty set with some young backups in place.

so as you see.. on O.. we need a RB, a WR and a Back up QB.

Defense:

DL.. i think is pretty set.. with some good rotation.. i am not as down on spears as some, i think he plays the run very well and that is important.

LBers.. Set here..might be overstocked and can ship one out

DB-- we have some concerns here.. If a deal for Hamlin can't get worked out.. Will Watkins be able to step in.. Henry has health issues every year.. newman is entering the last year of his contract as well.. Reeves already moved on and Jones is nothing special..

So i think it is fairly clear that our biggest needs are WR, CB, and RB

With this years draft and 2 #1s.. CB and WR would be my first 2 picks and RB either 2nd or 3rd round.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

you may have a point abut NT

The reason I throw in NT is because I don't trust that Tank can be good...if he does then no issues, but if not we are hurting behind Ratliff. There are some really solid NT that can be had in the 4th this year. Not to mention that both Rat and Tank could play DE...

I would like to add a mamoth NT...here are a few worth looking at:
Red Bryant...most like gone
Marcus Harrison
Dre Moore
Ahtyba Rubin
Frank Okam

 

[slick325]

In today's NFL I think you need at least 3 viable options at CB. There are too many 3 and 4 WR sets any more to ignore this. CB is becoming more and more important all the time.

As you mentioned there is the age of our 2 starters. I think it is also wise to consider the depth of this draft at CB. This may be our best opportunity to get a top notch CB for the next 5 years without going to Free Agent bank holdup route.

Finally, it is a buffer against injuries which I hope you will agree, really cost us dearly in 2007 between all the games lost as starter by both regular starters. Basically a total of 13 games. It's a smart hedge of the bets and solid depth. That is why I think CB in round 1 is absolutely a must unless 2 guys fall who are just too good to pass up.

Well put Hos. Nice post.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Sunk costs are meaningless. Cliches are meaningless in the context of reality.

You look at the status quo and you respond to what that is.

Fact is you need 3 good corners to defend in this league and if anything killed us last year it was the coverage of our LBers and our 3rd corner especially down the stretch.

Now I do believe that Thomas helps us dramatically in coverage as he is one of the best coverage LBers ever. I have never seen a LBer handle Witten like he has.

On the other hand Reeves was bad but now that he is gone our situation is that much more dire. Quite frankly we have a big gaping hole at 3rd corner and excuse me if i am not resting on Alan Ball as the answer.

We have two tackles, a guard would be nice but outside of Alberts those can be found in later rounds, QB is taken care of as is TE. That leaves RB and WR.

WR is a no brainer and one of our top picks needs to be a WR. The loss of TO at the end of the season spelled that out for us loud and clear. Backup running back is also a need but with one of the top RBs in the league already on the roster this is not nearly as much of a need as the previous two.

The only issue is that the WR class is not very strong this year. Hardy, Sweed or the guy from OU dont look bad but at 22 they are not very good value quite frankly. Jackson is a smurf. The RB pool is deep with guys like Forte probably lasting until the third round.

As such with guys like McKelvin, Jenkins and DMC there is tremendous value to be had if one drops to 22 you have to go that way. Also you take a good long look if Stewart or Mendenhall is there at 22.

Its just what it is and trying to force the issue because of a percieved need based on cliches is foolish. You let the draft come to you and if a player drops a bit then you become aggressive and trade up to get them. You dont reach ever ever ever. i dont care how badly you need them and that doubly goes for offensive skill positions.

 

[FCBarca]

The other consideration with CBs and RBs, of course, will be Round 2 of Free Agency...After the first wave of signings happen, even after the draft...Guys will get released etc....So, I think there has to be some thinking in Valley Ranch that this is a long process and not everything has to get answered right off the bat...May be the fiscally prudent approach, if nothing else.

 

[TwoDeep3]

when you have TO, Witten, Romo, Barber, and a Pro-bowl OL, how much more firepower do you want to add to the offense? There is only one ball to go around.

BTW you did see all the offensive records we broke last year right? Did you also see the constant defensive struggles we had in the secondary game after game, causing us to score so many points?

Just because we drafted defensivly over the last 10 years or so, doesn't mean we have a great defensive team. It means that we failed at drafting good defensive players more times than not.

And yet, we score our season average, we beat the Giants and advance.

The game is evolving into more of a passing game. I never believe we have to score points but do because we can. I suppose it is perspective here.

But the rules are skewed toward the offense. And I do not believe Crayton is worth the paper his contract is printed on.

Just like to have a game breaker besides TO.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

And yet, we score our season average, we beat the Giants and advance.

The game is evolving into more of a passing game. I never believe we have to score points but do because we can. I suppose it is perspective here.

But the rules are skewed toward the offense. And I do not believe Crayton is worth the paper his contract is printed on.

Just like to have a game breaker besides TO.

If Romo wasnt sucking we advance is more like it. he was awfully inconsistent in his accuracy down the stretch and in the playoff game.

 

[Stash]

One point I would make is that in looking at the season as a whole, I think the 3rd cornerback position clearly showed as this team's weakest link.

I also think playing time is a factor here.

How much would a rookie wide receiver play behind Owens, Crayton, and (possibly) Glenn?

How much would a rookie ruinning back play behind Barber?

Now - given the current NFL - how much does a rookie cornerback play in the team's nickel defense? To say nothing of the contract situations of Newman and Henry.

 

[dallasfaniac]

If Romo wasnt sucking we advance is more like it. he was awfully inconsistent in his accuracy down the stretch and in the playoff game.

Guess we watched a different game, because it all came on the shoulders of one man to me. The others just couldn't get seperation. The one that could dropped the ball both figuratively and literally.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Guess we watched a different game, because it all came on the shoulders of one man to me. The others just couldn't get seperation. The one that could dropped the ball both figuratively and literally.

Romo threw at least three bad passes in those lst two drives he missed TO on more than one occasion. I am sorry but one play in two drives doesnt really demonstrate much.

Romo was 18-36 for 201 yards and a 65 QB rating. He sucked that game and a drop by Crayton doesnt absolve him of that.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

One point I would make is that in looking at the season as a whole, I think the 3rd cornerback position clearly showed as this team's weakest link.

I also think playing time is a factor here.

How much would a rookie wide receiver play behind Owens, Crayton, and (possibly) Glenn?

How much would a rookie ruinning back play behind Barber?

Now - given the current NFL - how much does a rookie cornerback play in the team's nickel defense? To say nothing of the contract situations of Newman and Henry.

Well it comes down to Ball or draft pick. Nickel is around 20 snaps a game or so.

You're dead on.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Romo threw at least three bad passes in those lst two drives he missed TO on more than one occasion. I am sorry but one play in two drives doesnt really demonstrate much.

Romo was 18-36 for 201 yards and a 65 QB rating. He sucked that game and a drop by Crayton doesnt absolve him of that.

Romo was darned near perfect in the first half. It was the second half, when the Giants themselves told the coaches that neither Owens or Glenn could get any seperation that they started teeing off on Romo. Romo had no time in the second half and Crayton showed he was less than reliable. If Crayton continues the route and catches the TD, Romo posts 19-35 224 yards 2 TD and 0 INT for a 90+ QB Rating. One play can make a huge difference.