The Starting Grid & How They Got There

[Hostile]

This is what I think we could look like in 2009.

Offense

QB...Tony Romo, UDFA 2003.
RB...Marion Barber, 4th round pick 2005.
FB...Deon Anderson, 6th round pick 2007.
WR...Terrell Owens, UFA 2006.
WR...Roy Williams, Trade 2008.
TE...Jason Witten, 3rd round pick 2003.
LT...Flozell Adams, 2nd round pick 1998.
LG...Montrae Holland, Trade 2008.
C...Andre Gurode, 2nd round pick 2002.
RG...Leonard Davis, UFA 2007.
RT...Marc Columbo, UFA 2006.


Defense

LDE...Marcus Spears, 1st round pick 2005.
NT...Jay Ratliff, 7th round pick 2005.
RDE...Chris Canty, 4th round pick 2005.
SOLB...Anthony Spencer, 1st round pick, 2007.
SILB...Bradie James, 4th round pick 2003.
WILB...Kevin Burnett, 2nd round pick 2005.
WOLB...DeMarcus Ware, 1st round pick 2005.
LCB...Terence Newman, 1st round pick 2003.
SS...Roy Williams, 1st round pick 2002.
FS...Ken Hamlin, UFA 2007.
RCB...Mike Jenkins, 1st round pick 2008.


A lot of this could change by injury (bite my tongue), trade, Free Agency, or the Draft. This is just how I see it right now.

 

[xWraithx]

wait a minute, where does Lynn Scott figure into all of this?

 

[YosemiteSam]

Personally, remove Barber from the starting role and have him and Choice go back and forth with Felix being used in the role he was before. Sort of a 3rd down and 1st or 2nd down change of pace back.

My issue with Barber is he went funble stupid last year and didn't seem to run with the same attack he did before.

On defense, I let Canty go unless he accepts less than $2M a year. He just didn't cut it last year. He was average at best. At least Spears was consistent even when the defense was playing poorly. Canty was average when the defense was playing good.

In the draft, I go after a safety, DE, and a MLB on defense. On offense, I get the most athletic offensive lineman I can find.

 

[jterrell]

I'd expect a bit more turnover than that.

Canty is going to cost to re-sign and we may well see Roy 31 leave for a fresh start.

I think you have most of it laid out but there could be a move of Ratliff to DE and a FA NT brought in. I can't see Jerry just ignoring his 10 mil in cap space

Even if Ware gets the big extension that won't eat even half of it for year 1.

 

[aikemirv]

Kosier (the brains of the Oline) instead of Holland please. The guy beside him has none. You wonder why it took us til the 4th quarter to know what the Ravens were doing to us ?

 

[big dog cowboy]

McBriar

Folk

Can't forget those kickers!

 

[Alexander]

RCB...Mike Jenkins, 1st round pick 2008.

I'd make it an open competition and make him beat out Scandrick.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Hos you know what I find really amazing about that list. If it shook out like that take a look at that 2005 draft. We'd have, what, 5 starters on our defense out of 1 draft? That doesn't even take into account Barber as a starter on offense.

While they haven't all hit like crazy that to me, 4 seasons later, having them all still in the league and starting would be pretty darn amazing. That would be a heck of a draft class with a situation like that.


Even if it doesn't shake out like that to have gotten 3 high quality players/starters out of that draft (Ware, Ratliff, and Barber) is pretty darn good with Spears, Canty, and Burnett contributing as well. That's a pretty darn solid draft.


Also take a look at the 2003 draft cause it wasn't too shabby either. Jason Witten, Bradie James, and Terrance Newman. That's a pretty good set of starters, 5 seasons later, who came out of the same draft. Then if you add in that we got Tony that same year, only undrafted, that's a pretty good haul in 2003 as well.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'd make it an open competition and make him beat out Scandrick.

That would be a very good idea. I agree with this totally.

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

I'd make it an open competition and make him beat out Scandrick.

Can't speak for Hos, but I think he has 31 starting because of how well 32 plays in the slot...unless the coaching staff treats him like they did New and move Scandrick to the slot when Jenkins comes in for multiple WR sets.
Hos, what do you think they'll do w/ Henry next season...sliced & diced or demoted to a situational CB/S?

 

[Hostile]

I'd make it an open competition and make him beat out Scandrick.

So would I, but I think Scandrick is too good in the slot to move him. Jenkins is better at man on man. He needs to tackle harder. No doubt about that.

 

[Alexander]

Can't speak for Hos, but I think he has 31 starting because of how well 32 plays in the slot...unless the coaching staff treats him like they did New and move Scandrick to the slot when Jenkins comes in for multiple WR sets.
Hos, what do you think they'll do w/ Henry next season...sliced & diced or demoted to a situational CB/S?

If Scandrick is a superior player, it makes no sense to keep him off the field just because of his role in the nickel.

From everything I read and saw from him, he had the better attitude, played the smartest and was superior overall. I am not too thrilled with the injuries, work ethic concerns and flimsy excuses for poor tackling we heard out of Jenkins. I just think handing him the starting job because he is a higher draft pick is a mistake. He would be yet another player who might be getting a pass because of his talent and skating by with a less than stellar attitude.

 

[Stash]

This is what I think we could look like in 2009.

Offense

QB...Tony Romo, UDFA 2003.
RB...Marion Barber, 4th round pick 2005.
FB...Deon Anderson, 6th round pick 2007. I hope the team attempts to upgrade at this position, Anderson is average. The team missed the opportunity in the '08 draft.
WR...Terrell Owens, UFA 2006.
WR...Roy Williams, Trade 2008.
TE...Jason Witten, 3rd round pick 2003.
LT...Flozell Adams, 2nd round pick 1998.
LG...Montrae Holland, Trade 2008. I can see him getting the starting role in a Houck-coached line but it should be a strong competition with Kosier.
C...Andre Gurode, 2nd round pick 2002.
RG...Leonard Davis, UFA 2007.
RT...Marc Columbo, UFA 2006.


Defense

LDE...Marcus Spears, 1st round pick 2005.
NT...Jay Ratliff, 7th round pick 2005. I think the team will try to get a true nose tackle and allow Ratliff to play DE
RDE...Chris Canty, 4th round pick 2005. I think Ratliff replaces him
SOLB...Anthony Spencer, 1st round pick, 2007.
SILB...Bradie James, 4th round pick 2003.
WILB...Kevin Burnett, 2nd round pick 2005. Isn't he a free agent?
WOLB...DeMarcus Ware, 1st round pick 2005.
LCB...Terence Newman, 1st round pick 2003.
SS...Roy Williams, 1st round pick 2002. Not sure if he returns but it will be interesting to see
FS...Ken Hamlin, UFA 2007.
RCB...Mike Jenkins, 1st round pick 2008. I think this will be another interesting competition betwee he and Scandrick. Anthony Henry probably gets reduced to nickel safety or moves along


A lot of this could change by injury (bite my tongue), trade, Free Agency, or the Draft. This is just how I see it right now.

My thoughts in bold

 

[Hostile]

My thoughts in bold

Schmidt.

~sniff sniff~

:cry2:

If only Jerry had listened to me.

 

[Shinywalrus]

If Scandrick is a superior player, it makes no sense to keep him off the field just because of his role in the nickel.

From everything I read and saw from him, he had the better attitude, played the smartest and was superior overall. I am not too thrilled with the injuries, work ethic concerns and flimsy excuses for poor tackling we heard out of Jenkins. I just think handing him the starting job because he is a higher draft pick is a mistake. He would be yet another player who might be getting a pass because of his talent and skating by with a less than stellar attitude.

If the starting job were only a reward, I think that would make sense, but it's also the primary way that players get the opportunity to learn and improve. If you're not playing as much, getting exposed and being forced to learn from mistakes, you're not going to improve as quickly. If you think someone has a higher ceiling in general for some reason, a lower level of current proficiency might not keep you from throwing them in the starting lineup.

That said, I'm not 100% sure Scandrick doesn't actually have a higher ceiling, so I still think I'd have him opposite Newman.

 

[wileedog]

If Scandrick is a superior player, it makes no sense to keep him off the field just because of his role in the nickel.

From everything I read and saw from him, he had the better attitude, played the smartest and was superior overall. I am not too thrilled with the injuries, work ethic concerns and flimsy excuses for poor tackling we heard out of Jenkins. I just think handing him the starting job because he is a higher draft pick is a mistake. He would be yet another player who might be getting a pass because of his talent and skating by with a less than stellar attitude.

Put me on the Scandrick Bandwagon. At times I thought he was our best corner in some games when Newman was playing hurt.

Also, is Kevin Burnett really a 3 down LBer? I know he has had issues keeping weight on during the season, wondering if he could take the pounding.

 

[Stash]

Schmidt.

~sniff sniff~

:cry2:

If only Jerry had listened to me.

I feel your pain!

:cry2: :cry2:

Instead we got Erik Walden. And then not even him!

 

[LarryCanadian]

Interesting thing is, I think almost all the free agent aquisitions on offense (Columbo, Davis, TO, and Roy Williams) were all 1st round picks, that were at least somewhat proven elsewhere. Say what you want about Jones but he tries to add talented personell. Was TO a 1st rounder, it's been a long time.

Columbo was I believe but his serious knee issues 1st 2 years held him out. Davis moved around a lot on the oline for a very bad Arizona team (plus multiple offenses). Roy was mired in Detroit. TO caused his own issues, but could always make a play and catch the ball.

Looking on paper, one still feels that the potential is there. It's bringing that potential out and getting the chemistry, smarts, focus, heart/desire, and mental toughness is the key now. That does have a lot to do with both coaching and player attitude.

LarryCanadian

 

[sonnyboy]

Can't speak for Hos, but I think he has 31 starting because of how well 32 plays in the slot...unless the coaching staff treats him like they did New and move Scandrick to the slot when Jenkins comes in for multiple WR sets.
Hos, what do you think they'll do w/ Henry next season...sliced & diced or demoted to a situational CB/S?

My thoughts exactly on Scandrick. Best player will/should start.

 

[Alexander]

Interesting thing is, I think almost all the free agent aquisitions on offense (Columbo, Davis, TO, and Roy Williams) were all 1st round picks, that were at least somewhat proven elsewhere.

The Al Davis approach. It worked. For a while.

It is still not a substitute for drafting correctly and developing your own.