The Cowboys have been rebuilding under Garrett

[xwalker]

The Cowboys have been doing a non-QB rebuild ever since Garrett became the HC. They only have 8 players over 28 on the roster and 2 are QBs and 1 is a Long-Snapper. That leaves 5 regular players over 28:
Ware
Austin
Hatcher
Free
Witten

Hatcher will be Free Agent and Austin is highly doubtful to return.

It's even possible that Ware could be gone due to his extreme salary of 12.25M for a declining player.

Free will be in the final year of his (reduced) contract in 2014.

The following is the game 1 roster for the 2010 season. This is the year where Garrett took over during the middle of the season (players on current roster in bold):

Quarterbacks
9 Tony Romo
3 Jon Kitna
7 Stephen McGee

Running Backs
34 Deon Anderson FB
24 Marion Barber III
23 Tashard Choice
44 Chris Gronkowski FB
28 Felix Jones

Wide Receivers
19 Miles Austin
88 Dez Bryant
17 Sam Hurd
85 Kevin Ogletree
11 Roy Williams

Tight Ends
80 Martellus Bennett
82 Jason Witten

Offensive Linemen
71 Alex Barron T
79 Robert Brewster T
75 Marc Colombo T
67 Phil Costa C/G
70 Leonard Davis G
68 Doug Free T
65 Andre Gurode C/G
64 Montrae Holland G
63 Kyle Kosier G/C
76 Sam Young T

Defensive Linemen
72 Stephen Bowen DE
92 Josh Brent NT
97 Jason Hatcher DE
95 Sean Lissemore NT/DE
99 Igor Olshansky DE
90 Jay Ratliff NT
96 Marcus Spears DE

Linebackers
51 Keith Brooking ILB
57 Victor Butler OLB/DE
56 Bradie James ILB
50 Sean Lee ILB
93 Anthony Spencer OLB/DE
94 DeMarcus Ware OLB/DE
59 Brandon Williams OLB/DE
58 Jason Williams ILB
52 Leon Williams ILB

Defensive Backs
20 Alan Ball FS/CB
42 Barry Church SS
36 Michael Hamlin SS/FS
21 Mike Jenkins CB
40 Danny McCray FS
41 Terence Newman CB
27 Akwasi Owusu-Ansah FS/CB/KR
32 Orlando Scandrick CB
43 Gerald Sensabaugh SS

Special Teams
18 David Buehler K
91 L. P. Ladouceur LS
1 Mat McBriar P

Reserve Lists
55 Stephen Hodge ILB (PUP) Injury
89 John Phillips (IR) Injury

Practice Squad
60 Travis Bright G
86 Scott Chandler TE
16 Jesse Holley WR
15 Manuel Johnson WR
78 Cliff Louis OT
35 Lonyae Miller RB
83 Martin Rucker TE
29 Teddy Williams CB/WR

 

[Picksix]

Much agreed. This roster is significantly different and much younger than the one that started the 2010 season. We need to continue this trend by continuing to let older, expensive players go. This includes guys like Spencer, Hatcher, and Austin, but I also feel it includes Witten and Ware as well. I love the guys, but we haven't won a thing with them, and they are going to be major cap burdens. I know it will cause serious accelerated dead money under the cap next year, but I think it would be better to bite the bullet next year, clear that space, and really go to work the following year. Of course, for that to work, we have to draft well, which I feel we've done for the most part over the last 3-4 years. I also think our pro scouting department has done a great job in finding talent from other teams. We also need to do a much better job managing the cap, which is a lot easier said than done. You have to pay to get/keep good players, but I think we could do a better job, and stop giving out Ratliff type contracts.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It has been a rebuild, but something tells me Garrett won't last past this season if they fail to make the playoffs.

Personally I like the idea of a rebuild and agree with "Six" that Ware/Witten should also be released this offseason especially if the team misses the playoffs. It's not like there will be enough cap room to do much anyhow and both players are in decline.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Precisely, this is how you rebuild in place (note: I am not saying one way or another whether this is working or not). Our small-thinking fan base has been watching far too much NBA and seems to think that you have to completely turn to crap to get "high picks" and then you will magically be a dynasty for ten years. If they had been watching football before 2012 then they would know that 99% of the time all that "strategy" leads to is Jamarcus Russell/David Carr and half a decade more worth of losing records.

However, becoming a good team again is more than just getting young and we still have far too many head-scratching draft picks and far too much money tied up in players that have basically given us zilch this year (Austin, Spencer, Ratliff, etc.). So I have to give Jerry an F for his rebuilding.

 

[xwalker]

Much agreed. This roster is significantly different and much younger than the one that started the 2010 season. We need to continue this trend by continuing to let older, expensive players go. This includes guys like Spencer, Hatcher, and Austin, but I also feel it includes Witten and Ware as well. I love the guys, but we haven't won a thing with them, and they are going to be major cap burdens. I know it will cause serious accelerated dead money under the cap next year, but I think it would be better to bite the bullet next year, clear that space, and really go to work the following year. Of course, for that to work, we have to draft well, which I feel we've done for the most part over the last 3-4 years. I also think our pro scouting department has done a great job in finding talent from other teams. We also need to do a much better job managing the cap, which is a lot easier said than done. You have to pay to get/keep good players, but I think we could do a better job, and stop giving out Ratliff type contracts.

Ware: Older, declining player. Base salary is 12.25M. June 1st dead-money=3.75M.
Austin: Base=5.5M, June 1st dead-money=2.75M
Hatcher: Free Agent
Orton: Base 3.25M, June 1st dead-money=1.1M
Bernadeau: Base 2.25M, June 1st dead-money=1.2M
Durant: Base 1.25M, dead-money=200k
Sims: Free Agent
Free: Base 3.5M, dead-money=3M

As you can see above, the dead-money is less than the players base salary; therefore, the team actually gets additional cap space from cutting these players.

Even if they restructure Ware’s contract, the lowest his cap hit can be is 7M. That’s still 3.25M more than the dead-money hit of 3.75M.

Witten (plays almost 100% of offensive snaps, 2014 salary is a reasonable 5M)

 

[tm1119]

Call it what you want, just don't call it right or successful. To me rebuilding means hope, is there any hope in the near future if the team as currently constructed can't win? Is there even an end in sight of the rebuilding process? I sure as heck can't see 1

 

[Direwolf63]

So lf Garrett has been rebuilding for 3 and a half years, where are the results? They have been a. 500 team for Garretts entire tenure. How much longer are fans supposed to wait? Where is the improvement? Certainly not on defense?

How much longer does Garret get? Two more years? Five more years? More?

I can accept rebuilding when there is progress. Jimmy Johnson went from 1-15 to 7-9 to playoffs to Super Bowl. Garrett has gone from8-8 to 8-8 to 5-5. Where is the progress? And how much longer do we have to wait?

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

So lf Garrett has been rebuilding for 3 and a half years, where are the results? They have been a. 500 team for Garretts entire tenure. How much longer are fans supposed to wait? Where is the improvement? Certainly not on defense?

How much longer does Garret get? Two more years? Five more years? More?

I can accept rebuilding when there is progress. Jimmy Johnson went from 1-15 to 7-9 to playoffs to Super Bowl. Garrett has gone from8-8 to 8-8 to 5-5. Where is the progress? And how much longer do we have to wait?

It's a very long process.

 

[dropdeadfred5]

Problem is that the two most critical players on this team are in that crowd of over 30.

Romo and Ware.

HOF Pass rusher and Franchise QB. Two of the hardest types to find in the NFL.

We need to replace them with players of at least close to their ability. Gonna be hard.

Frankly tired of hearing about the 'process'

and that does not make up for the numerous mistakes and bad decisions that have lost us games each year.

Until that changes- until the HC can get a team that can be consistently good and sometimes really good rather than constantly mediocre with occasional good none of that matters.

Because in the end its ALL ABOUT wins and losses.

 

[TrailBlazer]

A real rebuild is gutting your team starting with the inner core most expensive players and working outwards. The same core players remain, just new role players. This wasn't a true rebuild, more like reloading IMO.

 

[Picksix]

Ware: Older, declining player. Base salary is 12.25M. June 1st dead-money=3.75M.
Austin: Base=5.5M, June 1st dead-money=2.75M
Hatcher: Free Agent
Orton: Base 3.25M, June 1st dead-money=1.1M
Bernadeau: Base 2.25M, June 1st dead-money=1.2M
Durant: Base 1.25M, dead-money=200k
Sims: Free Agent
Free: Base 3.5M, dead-money=3M

As you can see above, the dead-money is less than the players base salary; therefore, the team actually gets additional cap space from cutting these players.

Even if they restructure Ware’s contract, the lowest his cap hit can be is 7M. That’s still 3.25M more than the dead-money hit of 3.75M.

Witten (plays almost 100% of offensive snaps, 2014 salary is a reasonable 5M)

Thanks for providing that. I assume that all those June 1 figures would double if they took the entire hit next year. Makes it tougher, but I'd still rather clear the books completely, as opposed to carrying that dead money for two years.

 

[cowboys1981]

OP,

I'm with you on this. We are rebuilding.

Oline: Smith and Frederick are centerpieces and will be blocking for our next QB since they're both young. Leary has been consistent at the LG and if he can mange that knee he'd be our 3rd young lineman who has an impact.

Dline: We need to address this area in the offseason because its our weakest part of the team and the most vital area as well.

LB: Lee is our back bone and Carter will continue to improve as he gets comfortable with the scheme changes. I would like to add another LB or simply convert Church to the weak side in the offseason.

DB: Carr, Scandrick, Mo, and Wilcox are going to continue to hold up our secondary for seasons to come. Wilcox is only going to get better with each snap. I won't count on Johnson or Heath to be impact players next year, but I believe S-(converted back) Dion Bailey would be an impact player that would compliment Wilcox in the back end on our secondary.

Receivers: Bryant, Williams, Beasley, Harris, and Witten will all continue to thrive with us down the road. Once we can get Beasley and Williams more time with the system, the effective they will become.

RB: This area has durability problems also mixed in with improper use from our coaches during the game. Improvement needed in both areas.


QB: I love Romo and I hope he can play for another 7-10 years. With everything he's been through, a SB would really reward us all; including Romo, for all of the pain we've been through..... We need to find his replacement in the near future since he can't play forever.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

You dont rebuild with a 30+ year old qb. More empty apologism for a mediocre job.

 

[xwalker]

You dont rebuild with a 30+ year old qb. More empty apologism for a mediocre job.

It worked in Denver.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The Cowboys have been doing a non-QB rebuild ever since Garrett became the HC. They only have 8 players over 28 on the roster and 2 are QBs and 1 is a Long-Snapper. That leaves 5 regular players over 28:
Ware
Austin
Hatcher
Free
Witten

Hatcher will be Free Agent and Austin is highly doubtful to return.

It's even possible that Ware could be gone due to his extreme salary of 12.25M for a declining player.

Free will be in the final year of his (reduced) contract in 2014.

The following is the game 1 roster for the 2010 season. This is the year where Garrett took over during the middle of the season (players on current roster in bold):

Quarterbacks
9 Tony Romo
3 Jon Kitna
7 Stephen McGee

Running Backs
34 Deon Anderson FB
24 Marion Barber III
23 Tashard Choice
44 Chris Gronkowski FB
28 Felix Jones

Wide Receivers
19 Miles Austin
88 Dez Bryant
17 Sam Hurd
85 Kevin Ogletree
11 Roy Williams

Tight Ends
80 Martellus Bennett
82 Jason Witten

Offensive Linemen
71 Alex Barron T
79 Robert Brewster T
75 Marc Colombo T
67 Phil Costa C/G
70 Leonard Davis G
68 Doug Free T
65 Andre Gurode C/G
64 Montrae Holland G
63 Kyle Kosier G/C
76 Sam Young T

Defensive Linemen
72 Stephen Bowen DE
92 Josh Brent NT
97 Jason Hatcher DE
95 Sean Lissemore NT/DE
99 Igor Olshansky DE
90 Jay Ratliff NT
96 Marcus Spears DE

Linebackers
51 Keith Brooking ILB
57 Victor Butler OLB/DE
56 Bradie James ILB
50 Sean Lee ILB
93 Anthony Spencer OLB/DE
94 DeMarcus Ware OLB/DE
59 Brandon Williams OLB/DE
58 Jason Williams ILB
52 Leon Williams ILB

Defensive Backs
20 Alan Ball FS/CB
42 Barry Church SS
36 Michael Hamlin SS/FS
21 Mike Jenkins CB
40 Danny McCray FS
41 Terence Newman CB
27 Akwasi Owusu-Ansah FS/CB/KR
32 Orlando Scandrick CB
43 Gerald Sensabaugh SS

Special Teams
18 David Buehler K
91 L. P. Ladouceur LS
1 Mat McBriar P

Reserve Lists
55 Stephen Hodge ILB (PUP) Injury
89 John Phillips (IR) Injury

Practice Squad
60 Travis Bright G
86 Scott Chandler TE
16 Jesse Holley WR
15 Manuel Johnson WR
78 Cliff Louis OT
35 Lonyae Miller RB
83 Martin Rucker TE
29 Teddy Williams CB/WR

NFL average for roster turnover is 3-4 seasons.

The fact that most of the guys from 3.5 years ago are gone is not really a sign of rebuilding, its just the norm in the NFL.

 

[Hoofbite]

So lf Garrett has been rebuilding for 3 and a half years, where are the results? They have been a. 500 team for Garretts entire tenure. How much longer are fans supposed to wait? Where is the improvement? Certainly not on defense?

How much longer does Garret get? Two more years? Five more years? More?

I can accept rebuilding when there is progress. Jimmy Johnson went from 1-15 to 7-9 to playoffs to Super Bowl. Garrett has gone from8-8 to 8-8 to 5-5. Where is the progress? And how much longer do we have to wait?

This is a very good question and one that I have brought up on another site.

If Dallas has been rebuilding and Garrett has done a good job of building the team, that implies that the 2011 team is worse than the team we see today and yet the results have not changed.

If Garrett got 8 wins out of a crappy 2011 team and he's since built the team then why is the 2013 team set to go 8-8 only this time the 8-8 record comes on the back of playing in one of the worst divisions out there?

 

[Hoofbite]

NFL average for roster turnover is 3-4 seasons.

The fact that most of the guys from 3.5 years ago are gone is not really a sign of rebuilding, its just the norm in the NFL.

I don't know what the average is for sure but contracts for superstars are generally 5 years. Every year most teams churn a good number of roster spots at the bottom of the roster just for the sake of doing so.

 

[xwalker]

A real rebuild is gutting your team starting with the inner core most expensive players and working outwards. The same core players remain, just new role players. This wasn't a true rebuild, more like reloading IMO.

Semantics. Rebuild, reload, 90% rebuild, non-QB rebuild, etc.. Whatever you want to label it. It has been a massive overhaul.

There is a high probability that they are down to 4 older/expensive players in 2014. There's a slight possibility that it could be down to 2 players if they decide not to pay 12.25M for the declining, soon to be 32 year old Ware and if they happen to draft an OT to replace Free.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I don't know what the average is for sure but contracts for superstars are generally 5 years. Every year most teams churn a good number of roster spots at the bottom of the roster just for the sake of doing so.

Plus with the draft and free agency, you are adding 10-15 new players to the roster every season. Doesnt take long for a 53 man roster to turn over, even if you do have a couple of superstars on long term deals.

 

[DogFace]

Precisely, this is how you rebuild in place (note: I am not saying one way or another whether this is working or not). Our small-thinking fan base has been watching far too much NBA and seems to think that you have to completely turn to crap to get "high picks" and then you will magically be a dynasty for ten years. If they had been watching football before 2012 then they would know that 99% of the time all that "strategy" leads to is Jamarcus Russell/David Carr and half a decade more worth of losing records.

However, becoming a good team again is more than just getting young and we still have far too many head-scratching draft picks and far too much money tied up in players that have basically given us zilch this year (Austin, Spencer, Ratliff, etc.). So I have to give Jerry an F for his rebuilding.

Well said. They won't listen though.