The elephant in the war room

[big dog cowboy]

People complaining about who's behind Dez and We have Nick Hayden starting... Something does not compute...

Not even on the roster.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/roster

 

[Vinnie2u]

Not even on the roster.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/roster

Thanks.

 

[jnday]

Personally, I'd rather have Doctson. Maybe even Coleman.

It would be a mistake.

 

[Section446]

Great, one more potential problem I really haven't considered. Sadly I think this year is going to be pretty much the same as last with perhaps a few more wins. Crazier things have happened but I'm not running to Vegas with $$ on a championship season next year. Get a QB in the 1st and start rebuilding the defense, TE and WR positions. Trade back in the later rounds to get you RB next year yuk.

This team has more holes than a freshly aerated lawn.

 

[visionary]

That makes a good case for trading down, picking up another draft pick, then packaging it with Dallas' #2 and trading back up into the first round.

That could land a WR along with an edge rusher or RB.

With all the talent sitting there in the first 4 rounds, trading up in the first 3 rounds for anyone other than franchise QB would be about as bad a move as we can make

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Now, what if Tony Romo was left handed? By the standard presented, he would have to stay on the left side and not be the protector of the blind side, which is all that a left tackle does now. Side doesn't matter to an offensive tackle...nor should role. Both are necessary for run blocking and pass blocking.

Since he is supposed to be the top player in this draft, surely he can be expected to both run block and pass block against any level of player put over him. Side is irrelevant to role.

As to guard, that was just to show it wasn't dumb or unproductive when an alternate position, as opposed to only left tackle, was used to develop up a player into his drafted role. Here, Tunsil would be drafted to be a NFL tackle. How a player helps an already established team is upon his skill set, not preset position. A tackle is a tackle. Who knows, in five years, Smith might start to slow and a switch could be in order by that time. For now, he should be fine as an entry level right tackle until he develops or Smith diminishes. I doubt the later...

If Tony were left handed, then Smith would never have been switched to the left side. What does that have to do with anything?

Which side you play (if you are an Offensive Tackle) makes a big difference. If you are right handed, go ahead and try and write with your left hand and tell me how much difference it makes. Everything you do is opposite and it's different. There is a reason LTs and RTs get paid differently. I can't honestly believe that what you just wrote is something that you, as a football fan, really believes. RT and LT are completely different positions. That's why it's really hard to find a good swing tackle. Read the Draft Profiles on Tunsil. They say it pretty clearly. He does not have the power to play RT. He would essentially have to build the strength and adapt to the switch. If that is the idea behind drafting Tunsil, then why not just take a QB and sit him and develop him?

No, I don't agree.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I'm all about Braxton Miller in rounds 2 or 3

 

[Jarv]

Will Fuller has the need for speed!

 

[CCBoy]

If Tony were left handed, then Smith would never have been switched to the left side. What does that have to do with anything?

Which side you play (if you are an Offensive Tackle) makes a big difference. If you are right handed, go ahead and try and write with your left hand and tell me how much difference it makes. Everything you do is opposite and it's different. There is a reason LTs and RTs get paid differently. I can't honestly believe that what you just wrote is something that you, as a football fan, really believes. RT and LT are completely different positions. That's why it's really hard to find a good swing tackle. Read the Draft Profiles on Tunsil. They say it pretty clearly. He does not have the power to play RT. He would essentially have to build the strength and adapt to the switch. If that is the idea behind drafting Tunsil, then why not just take a QB and sit him and develop him?

No, I don't agree.

Sorry, linemen are called upon often, to pull, cross block, and pop through to the second level. If they aren't able to do that, then, left handed or not, doesn't really matter.

Also sorry that I'm not the bandwagon top spot quarterback fan as well. Three players will make a world of difference for the defense in this draft. A developmental quarterback, if a sole missing piece, would then be worth it at the four spot.

But in the blue chip level of drafts, one takes who grades in your system top...but not solely on fan hots for position.

By the way, ever driven a crane or spotted for one? Ever work in an above ground mine, such as a caustic environment at an aluminum production site? Just curious...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Sorry, linemen are called upon often, to pull, cross block, and pop through to the second level. If they aren't able to do that, then, left handed or not, doesn't really matter.

Also sorry that I'm not the bandwagon top spot quarterback fan as well. Three players will make a world of difference for the defense in this draft. A developmental quarterback, if a sole missing piece, would then be worth it at the four spot.

But in the blue chip level of drafts, one takes who grades in your system top...but not solely on fan hots for position.

By the way, ever driven a crane or spotted for one? Ever work in an above ground mine, such as a caustic environment at an aluminum production site? Just curious...

Look, I don't care what band wagon you are leading. It's not the same and you saying that it is the same doesn't make it so. RT and LT are completely different positions. You can either accept that or not. Doesn't matter to me. The financials associated with taking Tunsil are problematic. You take another OL, then you are going to have to pay big money out and you are basically putting yourself into a situation where you are letting one or two of these OLs walk in FA. You just can't keep them all. If you want the organization to take Tunsil, that's fine but I don't see it.

When I was a kid, I worked on a loading crew. We used cranes to load prefab cement structural pieces onto flatbeds.

 

[tyke1doe]

I think chasing after a receiver is more ridiculous than some think selecting Elliott at #4 is.

Say "No" to receiver until the fourth, if then.

 

[CCBoy]

Look, I don't care what band wagon you are leading. It's not the same and you saying that it is the same doesn't make it so. RT and LT are completely different positions. You can either accept that or not. Doesn't matter to me. The financials associated with taking Tunsil are problematic. You take another OL, then you are going to have to pay big money out and you are basically putting yourself into a situation where you are letting one or two of these OLs walk in FA. You just can't keep them all. If you want the organization to take Tunsil, that's fine but I don't see it.

When I was a kid, I worked on a loading crew. We used cranes to load prefab cement structural pieces onto flatbeds.

Agenda? Really? Band wagon...that's insulting, now isn't it?

First, a crane is potentially a very dangerous piece of equipment...right? Know what happens when a crane is moving a pre-fabricated processing unit in a production site, and drops the $90 million unit? Whole crews are looking for new employment. Now, why mention this? That is a danger of doing business, just as the draft. But if a contractor, or staff isn't up to investigating and seeing that dangers are kept to a minimum, they move on. Otherwise one knows the characteristics of a player, before asking him to do a job. Mark Tuinei was not an offensive tackle before becoming one. Flozell Adams was a classic left tackle if there was one, but he played guard for a year before being kicked out to tackle. Larry Allen, man, using the standard above, the Cowboys must have been top of heap fools...because they moved an all time good guard outside to tackle. But hey, he made the Pro Bowl as a tackle, and then was kicked back inside.

No, that isn't stupid. Or some kind of kinky mind game presented. The skills of projected players are projected along the offensive line, today, at multiple and flex positioning projections. Offensive tackle wouldn't be ANY higher than the same selected position for ANY other positional selection for salary purposes. The team has turned around things, and defineably shoot for BPA now. Or is that now also, new age insight inconvenience?

I seriously doubt that Tunsil has single positional opportunity in the NFL. Would a team without a left tackle, plug him in there...without a moment's hesitation. But would he project over one of the top three left tackles currently in the NFL, coming in? No, he would have to win a positional battle with Smith. That's not going to happen.

But beside being a BPA selection, having a five year window for his base contract, Tunsil's selection...if available, would give Dallas the opportunity to maintain close to if not the top offensive line in NFL history. Now, compare that to the trend of defensive line fronts that are put together with a maximum of a five year window of opportunity.

Does this now become a trend breaker and start to be copied by the rest of the league at that point?

Concerning Tunsil, I seriously doubt that he would fall off the side of the world if he was asked to develop, at least initially, at right tackle. Talk about positional protection, would that not ALSO be smart when considering replace of a very expensive left tackle...or does that also get ignored because the gentlemen's view is a franchise quarterback view. Despite the failure rate of those selected at the top of drafts?

As to caustic environments, Reynolds Aluminum had the highest allowed in the country. It has a 50% caustic solution. But that probably is a bit boring, despite it's ability to leave huge burn scars and blinding, unless one was covered completely by a huge release due to an improperly opened valve. Life in the real world, and safety.

As to an offensive tackle, yea, even a top shelf player could well be used as a right tackle and function well. If not, why is he valued as highly as he is? As he obviously isn't as strong at blocking for the run game...then just pass him by, after scouting his projected talents. But at least check first....

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Agenda? Really? Band wagon...that's insulting, now isn't it?

First, a crane is potentially a very dangerous piece of equipment...right? Know what happens when a crane is moving a pre-fabricated processing unit in a production site, and drops the $90 million unit? Whole crews are looking for new employment. Now, why mention this? That is a danger of doing business, just as the draft. But if a contractor, or staff isn't up to investigating and seeing that dangers are kept to a minimum, they move on. Otherwise one knows the characteristics of a player, before asking him to do a job. Mark Tuinei was not an offensive tackle before becoming one. Flozell Adams was a classic left tackle if there was one, but he played guard for a year before being kicked out to tackle. Larry Allen, man, using the standard above, the Cowboys must have been top of heap fools...because they moved an all time good guard outside to tackle. But hey, he made the Pro Bowl as a tackle, and then was kicked back inside.

No, that isn't stupid. Or some kind of kinky mind game presented. The skills of projected players are projected along the offensive line, today, at multiple and flex positioning projections. Offensive tackle wouldn't be ANY higher than the same selected position for ANY other positional selection for salary purposes. The team has turned around things, and defineably shoot for BPA now. Or is that now also, new age insight inconvenience?

I seriously doubt that Tunsil has single positional opportunity in the NFL. Would a team without a left tackle, plug him in there...without a moment's hesitation. But would he project over one of the top three left tackles currently in the NFL, coming in? No, he would have to win a positional battle with Smith. That's not going to happen.

But beside being a BPA selection, having a five year window for his base contract, Tunsil's selection...if available, would give Dallas the opportunity to maintain close to if not the top offensive line in NFL history. Now, compare that to the trend of defensive line fronts that are put together with a maximum of a five year window of opportunity.

Does this now become a trend breaker and start to be copied by the rest of the league at that point?

Concerning Tunsil, I seriously doubt that he would fall off the side of the world if he was asked to develop, at least initially, at right tackle. Talk about positional protection, would that not ALSO be smart when considering replace of a very expensive left tackle...or does that also get ignored because the gentlemen's view is a franchise quarterback view. Despite the failure rate of those selected at the top of drafts?

As to caustic environments, Reynolds Aluminum had the highest allowed in the country. It has a 50% caustic solution. But that probably is a bit boring, despite it's ability to leave huge burn scars and blinding, unless one was covered completely by a huge release due to an improperly opened valve. Life in the real world, and safety.

As to an offensive tackle, yea, even a top shelf player could well be used as a right tackle and function well. If not, why is he valued as highly as he is? As he obviously isn't as strong at blocking for the run game...then just pass him by, after scouting his projected talents. But at least check first....

I never said agenda. You said that. You also said bandwagon. If you see it as insulting then re-read the previous post you sent. Those are your words.

Could Tunsil eventually play RT? Yes, he probably could but not today. He will have to get stronger and he will have to learn the position. That's going to take time so what I am saying is that if you are going to take Tunsil, then what's the difference between doing that and trying to play him at RT vs taking a QB and sitting him and letting him learn?

The real problem here is cap. You can't pay them all and that's the real problem. I don't see Tunsil as being there at 4 but if he is, I don't think drafting him is the best course of action. We don't agree on this and I'm OK with that but if you think we should, that's fine. I just don't see it happening.

 

[CCBoy]

I never said agenda. You said that. You also said bandwagon. If you see it as insulting then re-read the previous post you sent. Those are your words.

Could Tunsil eventually play RT? Yes, he probably could but not today. He will have to get stronger and he will have to learn the position. That's going to take time so what I am saying is that if you are going to take Tunsil, then what's the difference between doing that and trying to play him at RT vs taking a QB and sitting him and letting him learn?

The real problem here is cap. You can't pay them all and that's the real problem. I don't see Tunsil as being there at 4 but if he is, I don't think drafting him is the best course of action. We don't agree on this and I'm OK with that but if you think we should, that's fine. I just don't see it happening.

No, there is assumption in your words...as with the conclusion. First off, I was sent to Hell to get my attention. The devil's task master noticed that I was laughing and cutting up all the time. He came to me and said, Sir, don't you know where you are? I stated, yes...in Hell. The task master then stated how come I was laughing and always cutting up. I told him that I grew up on a Ranch in South Texas. That I was told continuously that all I had to look forward to, was Hell, so I'm was going to enjoy it.

The devil then said enough and came directly up to me. He stated, Sir, this is to get your attention. He then proceeded to freeze Hell over. At which time I started to laugh my head off. The devil then said, Sir, don't you realize what just happened? To which I chuckled out loud and declared...yep, I made it 'til Hell froze over.

On subjects and topics, I don't give up...but as to Tunsil, I think it would truly be a cold day in Hell if he made it to the Cowboys at 4. But not in pricipals considered.

At the cap management levels, one has to keep an eye upon single positional drains in sustaining and also developing.

In the draft, BPA is still the way to go, and based upon team views on talent and judgement standards. That said, when considering management tools available...

let's look at the salary scheduled to be going to Tony Romo over the next 3 seasons:

$20.8
$24.7
$25.2

The Cowboys have already stated that they are currently planning on running the table on that period, with Tony Romo. That is their projections, not ours.

Now, add in a QB drafted at the 4 slot each of those seasons, at a cost of $5 million a year, as well as the 2nd QB with a current cost around $1.25 million a year and look:

$27.3
$30.25
$31.45

Even with a slowly growing cap outlook, that is high ground for costs of a 3 player positional group.

Mix that in with the Cowboys already having the second highest committed salary on the books for 2017, and that does catch some cash flow concerns. Especially when all positions needing influx and major upgrade through defensive end, cornerback, running back, wide receiver, and safety. Not to forget defensive tackle which has a large group ready for this particular draft.

That is the management concerns behind a view...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

No, there is assumption in your words...as with the conclusion. First off, I was sent to Hell to get my attention. The devil's task master noticed that I was laughing and cutting up all the time. He came to me and said, Sir, don't you know where you are? I stated, yes...in Hell. The task master then stated how come I was laughing and always cutting up. I told him that I grew up on a Ranch in South Texas. That I was told continuously that all I had to look forward to, was Hell, so I'm was going to enjoy it.

The devil then said enough and came directly up to me. He stated, Sir, this is to get your attention. He then proceeded to freeze Hell over. At which time I started to laugh my head off. The devil then said, Sir, don't you realize what just happened? To which I chuckled out loud and declared...yep, I made it 'til Hell froze over.

On subjects and topics, I don't give up...but as to Tunsil, I think it would truly be a cold day in Hell if he made it to the Cowboys at 4. But not in pricipals considered.

At the cap management levels, one has to keep an eye upon single positional drains in sustaining and also developing.

In the draft, BPA is still the way to go, and based upon team views on talent and judgement standards. That said, when considering management tools available...

let's look at the salary scheduled to be going to Tony Romo over the next 3 seasons:

$20.8
$24.7
$25.2

The Cowboys have already stated that they are currently planning on running the table on that period, with Tony Romo. That is their projections, not ours.

Now, add in a QB drafted at the 4 slot each of those seasons, at a cost of $5 million a year, as well as the 2nd QB with a current cost around $1.25 million a year and look:

$27.3
$30.25
$31.45

Even with a slowly growing cap outlook, that is high ground for costs of a 3 player positional group.

Mix that in with the Cowboys already having the second highest committed salary on the books for 2017, and that does catch some cash flow concerns. Especially when all positions needing influx and major upgrade through defensive end, cornerback, running back, wide receiver, and safety. Not to forget defensive tackle which has a large group ready for this particular draft.

That is the management concerns behind a view...

The cap is a huge concern and that will only serve to further exacerbate the challenge of keeping players. I don't know how Tony is going to do in years out but my guess is that he deteriorates. I think that if the QB the Cowboys like is there, they should take him. I think that if we are left with a choice between Tunsil and a trade down, we should consider the trade down. However, I don't think it really matters. I don't think Tunsil will be there.

 

[CCBoy]

The cap is a huge concern and that will only serve to further exacerbate the challenge of keeping players. I don't know how Tony is going to do in years out but my guess is that he deteriorates. I think that if the QB the Cowboys like is there, they should take him. I think that if we are left with a choice between Tunsil and a trade down, we should consider the trade down. However, I don't think it really matters. I don't think Tunsil will be there.

Oh, I agree...completely. But I'm still holding the faith in Tony...

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Oh, I agree...completely. But I'm still holding the faith in Tony...

As are we all but last year was an eye opener for all of us I think. It was ugly and I hope that we are smart enough to deal with that eventuality and not just sit back and wait for it, like we did with Troy. That was a disaster.

 

[Section446]

As are we all but last year was an eye opener for all of us I think. It was ugly and I hope that we are smart enough to deal with that eventuality and not just sit back and wait for it, like we did with Troy. That was a disaster.

The fact that the last QB we drafted was Stephen McGee is all you need to know about how much (or little) we value the QB position.

 

[Rogerthat12]

The unspeakable must be spoken.

The clamor for quarterback chasers and ball toters and pass breaker-uppers will dominate our thoughts and posts for the next three weeks. Even more so, the QB question looms larger, knowing we're unknowingly close to having that nuts-in-a-bench-vice conundrum to fight through if we push it off much further.

The here-and-now versus the uh-oh-later. Such is the enigma wrapped in a riddle for the personnel people.

But are we perhaps burying another pressing problem?

We all agree that Dallas needs an upgrade at WR to go alongside Dez. We know that because, while Williams is pretty good with Dez, he's virtually useless without him, and the rest of the corps are a collection of slot guys and incomplete packages that can't carry the water in a pinch. Witten is 100 years old, and Escobar is a unicorn.

That's critically important because perhaps the real question is, does Dallas actually need a replacement for Dez, not just a better No. 2 receiver?

The scary truth of the matter is that there's no certainty Dez will fully recover from the injury he had last year. Foot injuries are a testy lot for receivers, especially when they involve broken bones that whisper funny French words like Lisfranc. You don't want to hear that word. Dez' break was never fully rendered as such, but it was in the "like Lisfranc" mentions, and that should worry us all. It not only robs speed and quickness, these fractures often re-fracture and never properly heal for the rigors of running routes.

Dez is a tough hombre, and we all know he played through pain. But he wasn't good, and not just because of the quarterbacks throwing to him. Even Weeden managed to find a rhythm with DeAndre Hopkins. Dez wandered through routes and floated through games. He wasn't himself, not by a long shot.

I watched him closely, and there was no explosion, no separation, no crispness to him the entire season. He was an easy cover, and his frustration got to his hands, where many passes were simply dropped. He was rendered a non-factor in a bland season that left Linehan handcuffed and short-staffed. We're all assuming that it was just a temporary season thing, and we get 2014 Dez back soon. I'm not so sure.

If we don't, it presents two problems. First, the rest of the bunch can't function without Dez' threat on the field, so that presence must be replaced with a draft pick. Second, Jerry dumped a lot of money on Dez less than a year ago, and that contract could become an albatross of sorts. A young cheap No. 1 receiver would be needed while the Cowboys ride out Dez' contract.

The dice have to be rolled somewhere. Who would you rather gamble on...Romo, Dez, or Morris/McFadden? Can you muster a pass rush with those on hand? Can you afford to just go Best Player Available this time? (I'm usually a BPA guy.)

The quiet secret may lie in a mended, or not-so-mended, foot.

The elephant in the war room!