The rebuilding process

[Galian Beast]

I think many people have misunderstood the rebuilding process we've had here with the Cowboys.

There is this idea that Garrett had this master plan. I think we could recognize that no solid plan really existed.

The original plan on defense was never to rebuild, but to continue the Parcells-Phillips 3-4 through Rob Ryan.

The decision to rebuild the defense wasn't made until the 2013 season.

The offense has been in a rebuilding process for some time. You had the T.O. era, you had the "Romo Friendly Era", and now you have the Dez Bryant/Run heavy era.

The plan to run the ball heavy fell in their laps. That was never the original plan and we all know it.

The reason why the offense is so ahead of the defense is because we've been pouring resources into this offense for years.

From 2010

Offense
1. Dez Bryant
1. Tyron Smith
1. Travis Frederick
1. Zack Martin
2. Gavin Escobar
3. Terrance Williams
3. DeMarco Murray
4. David Arkin


Defense
1. Morris Claiborne (Rob Ryan)
2. Sean Lee (3-4)
2. Bruce Carter (3-4)
2. Demarcus Lawrence
3. Tyrone Crawford (3-4)
3. J.J. Wilcox
4. Akwasi Owusu Ansah (Project)
4. Kyle Wilber (3-4)
4. B.W. Webb
4. Anthony Hitchens

At first glance you might say, "Hey, the defense has gotten some resources", but not when you realize that the vast majority of these players were drafted to play in a 3-4. Which isn't to suggest that they can't play in another scheme, but a lot of their development and/or characteristics were meant for a completely different system. The biggest example was Morris Claiborne, who was brought in to be a man cover corner.

Since the 4-3 reset, what resources have we dedicated to the defense? Demarcus Lawrence, JJ Wilcox, and Anthony Hitchens? I'd argue all players who have a lot of potential, but certainly not enough on their own.

Going forward, we need to give Marinelli a lot more help through the draft, but given our timetable, we can't wait on the defense to develop naturally. We're going to need to bring in some free agents to help the process along.

The next two drafts are going to have to be defense heavy, maybe even the next three drafts. That isn't to suggest that we can't draft any offensive players, but the emphasis certainly needs to be on this defense. Fortunately for us, our offense should give us the ability to get away with that. It's a pretty young offense and outside of Murray, I don't think we're really in danger of losing anyone.

Let's not pretend that the process has been smooth through the Garrett years, but let's also recognize where we are right now, which should be a early favorite for one of the best teams in the NFC next year. The biggest question is how much better can we be on defense next year.

- The return of Sean Lee (who shouldn't be forgotten as our best defensive player, the equivalent of signing a pro bowl free agent)

- The potential return of Rolando McClain with a full off season to get healthy and acclimated to playing football, and the second year in this system.

- The development of Demarcus Lawrence entering his 2nd year, hopefully with a full off season.

- Crawford developing his body for a specific role in our defense.

- A couple defensive draft picks early combined with a couple defensive free agents.

I think we made a serious mistake not going after Julius Peppers last year. I hope we don't make the mistake again this year. We need to get two starters on the defensive line through free agency. And preferably another starting caliber defensive lineman through the draft.

The way I see it roughly, 2015 should be about the defensive line and 2016 should be about the secondary.

 

[Boyz981]

Whatever keeps you smilin!

 

[nablives]

I agree with about 90% of that, although I'm weary of anything involving Lee, McClain, Lawrence, and Crawford.


To me, the path now is pretty clear as well. Get the D-line where it needs to be, or never win the NFC. If they can win the line on both sides, they'll give themselves a good shot at winning every game day, including once they're in the playoffs.

 

[Danger]

Let's be honest. We all want the cowboys to draft DL/FS/CB but like every year, they'll draft someone no ones ever heard of


But I agree with you. A really good defensive draft this year should make us legit contenders.

 

[texbumthelife]

I sincerely have no clue what point the OP is trying to make, other than to reiterate things already posted about and said ad infinitum.

 

[xwalker]

I'll disagree.

When you inherit a team with many players with massive contracts you can't just clean house and go in a different direction immediately.

Also, you have to consider that Jerry was in the mix.

His plan was obviously offense first. I'm certain that the Rams called Jerry with the trade proposal to move up for Claiborne and that drafting Claiborne was not planned. They didn't even interview him prior to the draft. They interview all other 1st round picks. I'm also certain that Rob Ryan promised Jerrry a great defense if they would just get some CBs. RR basically said that in an interview that spring when they were at the combine/Senior Bowl. That promise, IMO is a big reason that RR was fired.

In regards to 3-4 or 4-3, the only player that played in 3-4 in college was Kyle Wilber. He is 6-4 and they originally thought he could play DE when they switched to the 4-3.

 

[texbumthelife]

Let's be honest. We all want the cowboys to draft DL/FS/CB but like every year, they'll draft someone no ones ever heard of


But I agree with you. A really good defensive draft this year should make us legit contenders.

If they pull out a few Anthony Hitchens then I am ok with names I have never heard.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree with about 90% of that, although I'm weary of anything involving Lee, McClain, Lawrence, and Crawford.


To me, the path now is pretty clear as well. Get the D-line where it needs to be, or never win the NFC. If they can win the line on both sides, they'll give themselves a good shot at winning every game day, including once they're in the playoffs.

I think the idea that we can rebuild the line through the draft in this year alone, doesn't hold water, so I hope that front office recognizes that. They need to bring in some pass rushers. I don't even think one is enough. Then you've got to want them to draft two or three linemen in the draft (top 5 rounds).

I don't think there is a single player on this defense who can't be replaced through the draft over the next few years and we should be looking to do that.

I don't think Crawford will get a big pay day here, unless he does something dramatic next year. Sean Lee can be cut by 2017 without drama. Lawrence, I think is really going to come on next year. I don't want to give up on McClain at this point. Sign him to a modest deal, just get it done.

We can set up our linebackers to be pretty set for a while, which will save us down the line of having to draft more linebackers.

The draft is a cheap way to build your team, but when you miss on draft picks, you really hurt yourself. We don't need to try and draft any linebackers and potentially miss at this point. We've got a crew of solid to very good linebackers right now. Let's keep them.

 

[Galian Beast]

I'll disagree.

When you inherit a team with many players with massive contracts you can't just clean house and go in a different direction immediately.

Also, you have to consider that Jerry was in the mix.

His plan was obviously offense first. I'm certain that the Rams called Jerry with the trade proposal to move up for Claiborne and that drafting Claiborne was not planned. They didn't even interview him prior to the draft. They interview all other 1st round picks. I'm also certain that Rob Ryan promised Jerrry a great defense if they would just get some CBs. RR basically said that in an interview that spring when they were at the combine/Senior Bowl. That promise, IMO is a big reason that RR was fired.

In regards to 3-4 or 4-3, the only player that played in 3-4 in college was Kyle Wilber. He is 6-4 and they originally thought he could play DE when they switched to the 4-3.

I don't think we are disagreeing on anything. My point wasn't that they could have cleaned house. My point is that this wasn't the plan all along.

They did buy into what Rob Ryan promised them, and in hindsight, it cost us about three years. Claiborne's miss was extremely costly, but it made sense at the time. The whole Rob Ryan plan, made perfect sense at the time. And I think they believed in 2013, we were going to have a stellar defensive line with Ware, Ratliff, Spencer, and Hatcher. That never came to fruition, and in 2014, we simply didn't have the cap space or available players that weren't old to invest in.

 

[Vanilla2]

I agree with about 90% of that, although I'm weary of anything involving Lee, McClain, Lawrence, and Crawford.


To me, the path now is pretty clear as well. Get the D-line where it needs to be, or never win the NFC. If they can win the line on both sides, they'll give themselves a good shot at winning every game day, including once they're in the playoffs.

What's your beef with Crawford and lawrence?

You mean demarcus right?

 

[Nova]

I kind of agree. The instability in defense has been hard to account for. But possibly more importantly, they just can't seem to draft defensive guys with big impact.

 

[Galian Beast]

I kind of agree. The instability in defense has been hard to account for. But possibly more importantly, they just can't seem to draft defensive guys with big impact.

Well part of my point is that they really haven't been trying.

The two guys we drafted for the 4-3, have actually shown that they could be players. Most of the defensive players we drafted, we drafted for our 3-4, and it isn't just that these guys were 3-4 players in college, but their fit in a tampa 2 system hasn't been great. Wilber doesn't fit at all it seems.

I think our secondary is a bit of a mess, but I also think it did a serviceable job given how much time they had to cover for.

Goal 1 has to be transforming that front 4 into something that can get consistent pressure. Goal 2 is upgrading that secondary.

 

[BHendri5]

Man get out of here with this mess!!!! You are still doubting Jason Garrett? He has said what his plan was and is for this team/organization too many times in interviews, you need to get on the ball fellow you are behind, and seem to be a hater because we do not have the HC, and players that you want us to go after

 

[Vanilla2]

Man get out of here with this mess!!!! You are still doubting Jason Garrett? He has said what his plan was and is for this team/organization too many times in interviews, you need to get on the ball fellow you are behind, and seem to be a hater because we do not have the HC, and players that you want us to go after

Preach

 

[nablives]

What's your beef with Crawford and lawrence?

You mean demarcus right?

No beef, but I'm not going to anoint them, so to speak, especially Lawrence. I think we need to see way more of him before labeling him anything, and that might be tough considering he plays the same side as Mincey, whom also needs his snaps.

 

[Vanilla2]

No beef, but I'm not going to anoint them, so to speak, especially Lawrence. I think we need to see way more of him before labeling him anything, and that might be tough considering he plays the same side as Mincey, whom also needs his snaps.

No need to anoint just have faith in the fact that these players (under the tutelage of one of the best defensive motivators) should continue to get better.

Add in another impact type player or two (fingers crossed) and watch that rotation fly.

 

[nablives]

No need to anoint just have faith in the fact that these players (under the tutelage of one of the best defensive motivators) should continue to get better.

Add in another impact type player or two (fingers crossed) and watch that rotation fly.

I'd agree that they should get better, but more from the perspective that they haven't exactly dominated the league yet. They've got plenty of room to grow, so as I see it, there's just about only one direction for them to go, assuming/hoping neither suffer any significant injuries.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

They did buy into what Rob Ryan promised them, and in hindsight, it cost us about three years. Claiborne's miss was extremely costly, but it made sense at the time. The whole Rob Ryan plan, made perfect sense at the time. And I think they believed in 2013, we were going to have a stellar defensive line with Ware, Ratliff, Spencer, and Hatcher. That never came to fruition, and in 2014, we simply didn't have the cap space or available players that weren't old to invest in.

I agree.

If you look at the 2012 draft, you can see that they gave Ryan what he wanted.

The issue is that Rob's defenses didn't perform like we thought they would. There were a ton of injuries behind that as well. And we then switched to a completely different scheme which is a 4-3 getting the D-Line upfield and a lot of zone coverage.

Claiborne was really good his rookie year, but that was under Ryan's scheme. We go to the Marinelli/Kiffin scheme and it's not a good fit for him. Carr didn't get much of a chance to play corner in 2012 because of the injuries, particularly at safety. And then we switch schemes. Wilber is more of a fit in a 3-4 and we missed out on Matt Johnson due to injuries. The only player that hit was Crawford.

But we did pretty well with the offensive players from that class. We got Dunbar and Beasley in UDFA and Hanna has now become a pretty good blocking TE.

I think Garrett's rebuilding process was about finding players that they felt were reliable off the field, leaders on their college teams and were coachable players. I think Flozell Adams was a good person, but his technique was terrible. It's not to say he is 'un-coachable', but I think Garrett would have avoided a player like him because he would be a player that wouldn't get better from coaching instruction, but more or less get better from experience and would just use his size and ahtleticism.

From there, I think Garrett envisioned that he would find the best assistant coaches he could (particularly position coaches) and work to develop these players.

I think Garrett saw that Ryan wasn't going to work and wanted Kiffin when he became available due to his time at Tampa with Kiffin. That turned everything sideways on defense because we now have different schemes and now the players, coaches and scouts have to adjust.

But I think that has been Garrett's process...finding players that were leaders on their college teams, were reliable and coachable so the coaching could improve the player's performance.






YR

 

[CowboyChris]

David Arkin shouldnt be on any list of resources.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree.

If you look at the 2012 draft, you can see that they gave Ryan what he wanted.

The issue is that Rob's defenses didn't perform like we thought they would. There were a ton of injuries behind that as well. And we then switched to a completely different scheme which is a 4-3 getting the D-Line upfield and a lot of zone coverage.

Claiborne was really good his rookie year, but that was under Ryan's scheme. We go to the Marinelli/Kiffin scheme and it's not a good fit for him. Carr didn't get much of a chance to play corner in 2012 because of the injuries, particularly at safety. And then we switch schemes. Wilber is more of a fit in a 3-4 and we missed out on Matt Johnson due to injuries. The only player that hit was Crawford.

But we did pretty well with the offensive players from that class. We got Dunbar and Beasley in UDFA and Hanna has now become a pretty good blocking TE.

I think Garrett's rebuilding process was about finding players that they felt were reliable off the field, leaders on their college teams and were coachable players. I think Flozell Adams was a good person, but his technique was terrible. It's not to say he is 'un-coachable', but I think Garrett would have avoided a player like him because he would be a player that wouldn't get better from coaching instruction, but more or less get better from experience and would just use his size and ahtleticism.

From there, I think Garrett envisioned that he would find the best assistant coaches he could (particularly position coaches) and work to develop these players.

I think Garrett saw that Ryan wasn't going to work and wanted Kiffin when he became available due to his time at Tampa with Kiffin. That turned everything sideways on defense because we now have different schemes and now the players, coaches and scouts have to adjust.

But I think that has been Garrett's process...finding players that were leaders on their college teams, were reliable and coachable so the coaching could improve the player's performance.






YR

I agree with that as well, but I find fault with people who think specific results were planned when they weren't.

Garrett had a general philosophy, that I think many teams have, and that philosophy has served us well, but I don't think we had a solid plan on offense or defense.

I think Garrett should have committed to the 3-4 or switched to the 4-3 from the get go. That was three years off of Romo's career right off the bat.

What's worse is they waited until 2014 to even start adding pieces to the defense.

The offense has actually been a bit more of a mess given the juggling going on at play caller.

Had we gone after Norv Turner instead of Callahan for OC, I think things would have turned around a lot quicker on offense. We could have had him in 2013.