The Changing of the Guard (long)

[erod]

This season is about identifying what Dak is.

If he's the guy, it's onward and upward. If not, we are drafting QB first round next year and rebuilding.

And they don't have any idea which it is right now.

 

[Hawkeye19]

But without a true WR threat, the team loads up the box to stop the run, and / or blitzes the heck out of Dak. Knowing there is no WR threat to burn them.
give Dez one on one and he can be that guy again.
So he had a down year, and was playing injured, with tendonitis in his knee. I don't buy the meltdown reason why Stephen said he is done. I don't even buy into that media fan driven meltdown at all. But that is just my opinion.

Dez will be missed regardless, because this coaching staff has never shown any evidence they can change things up for the better. So with the lesser player, cheaper cost player, they will be even more lost. Talent is talent, and Dez still has it if used right.

I agree with you-- but I think the FO would say that having reliable WRs running precise routes is essential for their style of passing offense. Too many drops, too many poor routes, too many mistakes by the WR core has resulted in a new WR coach, and a bunch of new faces.

IMO-- the FO is squarely blaming the woes of the passing game on the WR corps. Not on Dak. Again-- I agree that Dez will be missed. It's frustrating to see them treat a great franchise player like Dez this way.

 

[jazzcat22]

Hurns replaces Dez for less than half the cost. If Dex stays, he will compliment the other receivers. Hurns is versatile. But he is better than Dez now so we don't have to force the issue.

If he was better than Dez then why was he available for the cost we got him, and why was he available at all....
oh, wait, that sounds like Mickey.

I think Hurns compliments the other WR's including Dez.
Dez, Twill, Hurns on the field, And Dak has ample protection, and the threat of Zeke running the ball. I think that has the possibility of some production resulting in TD's.

Don't act as if Dez is some bum that can't play anymore. And take his pay out of the equation. look at the possibility that he can still return to his old production. As a lot of that is tied to the play of the QB as well.

 

[Hawkeye19]

They don't want to hear it but this post is spot on. I think the team would seriously contemplate a receiver at #19, I just don't think that the talent falls that way. Whoever they take at #19 is going to be be a reach at WR.

Guard is a different story. I think you could argue that Wynn, Hernandez and maybe even Price are worth pick #19. We could trade back a few spots and still get one of them. I think they solidify this OL and help Dak out.

I agree- I think that is what the FO will do. Reach for a WR or drop back and grab an OL. To be honest-- OL is solid value from #19-32-- I just see other positions as in need of more talent at this point.

If they do reach for a WR-- I hope it is DJ Moore and not Ridley. I just get the feeling that Moore is going to be the more productive player in the NFL-- but even then, I don't expect it in his first year.

 

[DallasEast]

This season is about identifying what Dak is.

If he's the guy, it's onward and upward. If not, we are drafting QB first round next year and rebuilding.

And they don't have any idea which it is right now.

I rarely bet and the word rarely is an understatement. However, I am willing to bet the front office's highest pick at quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft will be fourth round if 2018 ends up being Prescott's 'worst' season. I make this assumption based on my personal 29-year observations of Jones' tendencies.

 

[renny]

So Dak will be better without Dez? Ok...


Somehow the real problems get overlooked and we just blame it on Dez.

THE PROBLEM IS COACHING!!!! COACHES LEAVE, PLAYERS LEAVE. GARRETT STAYS

 

[jazzcat22]

I agree with you-- but I think the FO would say that having reliable WRs running precise routes is essential for their style of passing offense. Too many drops, too many poor routes, too many mistakes by the WR core has resulted in a new WR coach, and a bunch of new faces.

IMO-- the FO is squarely blaming the woes of the passing game on the WR corps. Not on Dak. Again-- I agree that Dez will be missed. It's frustrating to see them treat a great franchise player like Dez this way.

Then that is one of the many reasons why this coaching staff needs to go. Blame everyone but the inaccurate QB. The WR coach needed to go a long time ago. Is it not his job to develop these WR's. So he sucks at it, so blame the WR's?

Maybe the routes do not seem precise running of them because they are too predictable. If a DB knows where the WR will be, he can bump them off of that route. And this is not the Norm Turner timing passing game.

 

[jwooten15]

I just pray the organization is right in placing their faith in Dak. Could really screw us over if he flops again next year

 

[Sydla]

Cutting of Dez would be largely about money.

Don't fool yourself.

 

[DallasEast]

I just pray the organization is right in placing their faith in Dak. Could really screw us over if he flops again next year

Unlike some, I am far from being a Prescott critic but I must admit uttering my very first prayer November 15, 2016.

 

[TheDude]

With the ascendancy of Dak Prescott-- the Cowboys are in the process of reforging the core of this team. Older players are and will continue to be phased out. Last year-- it was Romo's release. This year it is Dez. Next year will be Witten. Sean Lee will be gone after two more years.

The FO is paving the way to make this team "Dak friendly". This is his team now. They thought Romo had 2-3 years left-- but his injury and Dak's surprise performance has forced them to accelerate the transition. It is a fact of life in any organization. The old leadership has to depart in order for the new leadership to establish its own identity.

Whether you like Dak or not-- the last two off-seasons have been about getting younger, and clearing the table of old guard leaders.

People say Dez getting cut is about the money. Wrong. It's about attitude and his ego/influence on the team. He's getting cut tomorrow because his antics/attitude/distractions outweigh his production and are getting in the way of Dak's development.

The only older players that you will see stick around will be "company guys" like Lee and Witten-- but they will be phased out too eventually. For better or worse-- the next 3-5 years of this franchise's success ride on their betting that Dak is "the guy".

If he stumbles badly-- it will take a season or two to recover, shift, and go in another direction to find a franchise QB. They are going to eliminate any and every excuse/hinderance that could possibly prevent Dak's success.

As much as we want defense in round one... prepare yourselves for a WR or OL. Defense will be addressed in rounds 2-4.

before I read, I just wanted to state the obvious... you and @jday have different definitions of the word "long"

 

[jwooten15]

Unlike some, I am far from being a Prescott critic but I must admit uttering my very first prayer November 15, 2016.

I pray your prayer gets answered lol

 

[jday]

100% agree.

If Dak is the next great QB we have caught "lightning in a bottle" in the 4th round. But if he isn't, we will be going through a scrape and rebuild next year and will be several years out from contending.

On the positive side-- Dak's production when he has a solid OL in front of him is quite promising. Which really underlines the instability at LT. When Tyron was out-- our offense was screwed and Dak does not have overall talent to elevate the play of his team mates like Romo did. Dak needs a very strong supporting cast in order to succeed.

I think when you say, "Dak needs a very strong supporting cast in order to succeed" that can be somewhat misleading. Every QB, for the most part and for the exception of the elites (Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, etc), needs time in the pocket to operate. You could have honestly said the same thing about Romo early in his career. As Dak gains experience in this role, he will pick up new tricks and become more adept at reading defenses faster. The key is to not ruin him like the Texans did Carr earlier this century by getting him killed behind a wet paper sack of an offensive line. I honestly think the tailspin we witnessed there at the end last year was due in part to the Cowboys coaches letting him get killed in the Atlanta game.

If you can just give Dak a little time in the pocket and surround him with receivers that will be where they are supposed to be on time in their routes, Dak could be great. But at this stage in his career, he will need all the help he can get.

 

[Bleedblue1111]

As much as we want defense in round one... prepare yourselves for a WR or OL. Defense will be addressed in rounds 2-4.

I'm ok with the OL pick if he's the BPA over DT, S or LB. But when you lose two games back to back after scoring 30+ points, I think "Dak friendly" would equate to having a better defense around him. Creating an unnecessary hole at WR, then turning around and using that vital resource on WR is beyond stupid for 2018.

 

[erod]

I rarely bet and the word rarely is an understatement. However, I am willing to bet the front office's highest pick at quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft will be fourth round if 2018 ends up being Prescott's 'worst' season. I make this assumption based on my personal 29-year observations of Jones' tendencies.

They will know exactly what Dak is in 9 months. If he's not the guy to take them forward, we'll get sucked into the QB vertex that so many teams get stuck in for years and years.

 

[jday]

before I read, I just wanted to state the obvious... you and @jday have different definitions of the word "long"

 

[northerncowboynation]

With the ascendancy of Dak Prescott-- the Cowboys are in the process of reforging the core of this team. Older players are and will continue to be phased out. Last year-- it was Romo's release. This year it is Dez. Next year will be Witten. Sean Lee will be gone after two more years.

The FO is paving the way to make this team "Dak friendly". This is his team now. They thought Romo had 2-3 years left-- but his injury and Dak's surprise performance has forced them to accelerate the transition. It is a fact of life in any organization. The old leadership has to depart in order for the new leadership to establish its own identity.

Whether you like Dak or not-- the last two off-seasons have been about getting younger, and clearing the table of old guard leaders.

People say Dez getting cut is about the money. Wrong. It's about attitude and his ego/influence on the team. He's getting cut tomorrow because his antics/attitude/distractions outweigh his production and are getting in the way of Dak's development.

The only older players that you will see stick around will be "company guys" like Lee and Witten-- but they will be phased out too eventually. For better or worse-- the next 3-5 years of this franchise's success ride on their betting that Dak is "the guy".

If he stumbles badly-- it will take a season or two to recover, shift, and go in another direction to find a franchise QB. They are going to eliminate any and every excuse/hinderance that could possibly prevent Dak's success.

As much as we want defense in round one... prepare yourselves for a WR or OL. Defense will be addressed in rounds 2-4.

Good post and our actions in FA the past few years have tipped our hand in the draft BUT don't be surprised at LB'er with the 19'th and WR, G/T on day 2. The difference in talent from day 1 WR's to day 2 is pretty small and there is more depth at WR in this draft than LB'er. Won't be surprised either way. We'll know in 14 days

 

[Ddisco22]

So Dak will be better without Dez? Ok...


Somehow the real problems get overlooked and we just blame it on Dez.

Thanks for that, he was nor is our problem with winning. the problem is above his pay grade

 

[percyhoward]

Somehow the real problems get overlooked and we just blame it on Dez.

Dez was one of the real problems, because he fell off considerably from 2016, but there were also real issues with the QB's maturity (on the field) and RB's maturity (off the field) that wouldn't be solved by subtracting Dez from the equation. And of course that doesn't even begin to address the defense or coaching.

 

[Cowboysfan917]

With the ascendancy of Dak Prescott-- the Cowboys are in the process of reforging the core of this team. Older players are and will continue to be phased out. Last year-- it was Romo's release. This year it is Dez. Next year will be Witten. Sean Lee will be gone after two more years.

The FO is paving the way to make this team "Dak friendly". This is his team now. They thought Romo had 2-3 years left-- but his injury and Dak's surprise performance has forced them to accelerate the transition. It is a fact of life in any organization. The old leadership has to depart in order for the new leadership to establish its own identity.

Whether you like Dak or not-- the last two off-seasons have been about getting younger, and clearing the table of old guard leaders.

People say Dez getting cut is about the money. Wrong. It's about attitude and his ego/influence on the team. He's getting cut tomorrow because his antics/attitude/distractions outweigh his production and are getting in the way of Dak's development.

The only older players that you will see stick around will be "company guys" like Lee and Witten-- but they will be phased out too eventually. For better or worse-- the next 3-5 years of this franchise's success ride on their betting that Dak is "the guy".

If he stumbles badly-- it will take a season or two to recover, shift, and go in another direction to find a franchise QB. They are going to eliminate any and every excuse/hinderance that could possibly prevent Dak's success.

As much as we want defense in round one... prepare yourselves for a WR or OL. Defense will be addressed in rounds 2-4.

I agree on most points. Dez getting cut(if it happens) is because he does not fit the scheme or QB