Things are exactly where they need to be

[CowboyRoy]

Of group I listed...Hill surprised me the most. What immediately jumped out to me early in year was he was bigger and stronger. Tree trunk for legs. He might have few screws loose but I like that with bouncy big DT. They create havoc and QB can't deal with pressure in their face. Sample size is small but he looked like different player than last year. That is good sign. I don't think he clicked with Marinelli.

He always had big legs. His problem has been upper body strength. His progress was overblown in camp. Despite two nice plays in game, he was getting mauled. I also believe rankings had him dead last among DT's in the NFL. Not starting caliber at this point.

 

[CowboyRoy]

whoa.....I thought SLee was the leader! Am I missing something here?

Yes, a lot obviously. Sean Lee has barely played the last few years and this year.

 

[ICP]

I believe there was a story recently that Dallas was planning to ask Jaylon to take a pay cut. I don't know if that was speculative or if the writer was told that by a Dallas staffer, but I certainly hope it's true.

What!?!?! You mean to say Jerry will expect a cornerstone of this playoff caliber team to take a pay cut........well that's just silly talk

 

[817Gill]

After Dak went to IR I felt it was lost season that would result in top 10 draft picks. It looks like that plan is in place with Dallas at #4 spot in draft (only behind Cincy by half game - btw Dallas plays Cincy in 2 weeks). What I didn't anticipate before the season was Dallas hitting on so many new starters (7): Hill (DT), Gallimore (DT), Diggs (CB), Wilson (S), McGovern (OG), Biadasz (C) and Lamb (WR). You could make case only Lamb was a "probably" starter before training camp. You could probably include Gregory in this group but based on past history its too risky to lean on him as starter. I see him as more of a luxury pass rush specialist who may or maybe not be available for entire season. Now that Dallas has discovered 7 new starters you then add 6 draft picks in the first 4 rounds in April and this starts to look interesting. I don't see another NFC East team with this amount of draft capital and new emerging talent. Now all of this comes to a head with Dak contract situation but what it does is give Jones flexibility. They now have enough ammunition to pivot at QB with draft or pay Dak and fill in around him. The one area I am still unsure of is McCarthy. He might have over-sold himself to Jerry and I am not sure how long leash is for him. But I suspect they will give him atleast 1 regular off-season program installation before making any changes. Few things I would start to do are: 1) Split carries between Zeke/Pollard 2) Get Anae (DE) more snaps 3) Jaylon Smith contract needs to be re-done after season.

Love this man, logic and reasoning is refreshing here.

 

[817Gill]

I'm predicting the Cowboys will win 2 more games : Bengals and then the Eagles or Giants. I'm thinking that will put us outside the top 5 in April.

How many teams do you see winning less than 5? Only the Bengals are on pace for that.

 

[Kaiser]

Of group I listed...Hill surprised me the most. What immediately jumped out to me early in year was he was bigger and stronger. Tree trunk for legs. He might have few screws loose but I like that with bouncy big DT. They create havoc and QB can't deal with pressure in their face. Sample size is small but he looked like different player than last year. That is good sign. I don't think he clicked with Marinelli.

Gallimore will improve by next season also and they may rotate Hill and Gallimore at 3T, which would be a good combo.

 

[visionary]

It’s pretty crazy to me that it’s been 25 years since we fielded a team that could go all the way.

 

[john van brocklin]

After Dak went to IR I felt it was lost season that would result in top 10 draft picks. It looks like that plan is in place with Dallas at #4 spot in draft (only behind Cincy by half game - btw Dallas plays Cincy in 2 weeks). What I didn't anticipate before the season was Dallas hitting on so many new starters (7): Hill (DT), Gallimore (DT), Diggs (CB), Wilson (S), McGovern (OG), Biadasz (C) and Lamb (WR). You could make case only Lamb was a "probably" starter before training camp. You could probably include Gregory in this group but based on past history its too risky to lean on him as starter. I see him as more of a luxury pass rush specialist who may or maybe not be available for entire season. Now that Dallas has discovered 7 new starters you then add 6 draft picks in the first 4 rounds in April and this starts to look interesting. I don't see another NFC East team with this amount of draft capital and new emerging talent. Now all of this comes to a head with Dak contract situation but what it does is give Jones flexibility. They now have enough ammunition to pivot at QB with draft or pay Dak and fill in around him. The one area I am still unsure of is McCarthy. He might have over-sold himself to Jerry and I am not sure how long leash is for him. But I suspect they will give him atleast 1 regular off-season program installation before making any changes. Few things I would start to do are: 1) Split carries between Zeke/Pollard 2) Get Anae (DE) more snaps 3) Jaylon Smith contract needs to be re-done after season.

Great write up !
Thanks

 

[buybuydandavis]

Excellent insight!
Getting that top 3 pick will really help. We need lose to Cincinnati.
Jerry needs to be bold this offseason.
1. Release Zek
2. Release Jaylon
3. Release Crawford
4. Fire Nolan
5. Do not resign Lewis or Awuzie
6. Go big in Free Agency: big talented DT

6, maybe just the draft. We're gonna have lots of draft ammo next year. If Dak is back and Tyron healthy, DT is our premier pick.

 

[buybuydandavis]

Zeke and Jaylon may have a little bit of trade value, so I wouldn't release them. And Awuzie could be a rotation guy, if need be.

Looking at Zeke and Jaylon from outside the Cowboys:

Zeke is an aging power back with declining skills and a new found fumbling problem.
Jaylon came back from his injury and peaked in 2018, but has physically and mentally slid since. He's now a liability on the field.​

We'd have to pay teams to take those contracts. Particularly Jaylon.

I expect that Awuzie wants out of here, and seems to have enough potential for a team to give him that out.

 

[charron]

We will see if they continue to overvalue their own players and pay them at the detriment to building a better team.

 

[Bobhaze]

Thank God we hit on Trysten Hill.

Where would this defense be without Trysten Hill and Luke Gifford?

 

[Jake]

Getting that top 3 pick will really help. We need lose to Cincinnati.
Jerry needs to be bold this offseason.
1. Release Zek
2. Release Jaylon
3. Release Crawford
4. Fire Nolan
5. Do not resign Lewis or Awuzie
6. Go big in Free Agency: big talented DT

Crawford is in the last year of his contract so there's nothing to release.

Releasing "Zek" and Jaylon would create $59 million in dead cap space, and the cap will be lower, so you're not doing anything in free agency.

 

[RS12]

Paragraphs. I didn't even attempt to read this.

 

[xwalker]

After Dak went to IR I felt it was lost season that would result in top 10 draft picks. It looks like that plan is in place with Dallas at #4 spot in draft (only behind Cincy by half game - btw Dallas plays Cincy in 2 weeks). What I didn't anticipate before the season was Dallas hitting on so many new starters (7): Hill (DT), Gallimore (DT), Diggs (CB), Wilson (S), McGovern (OG), Biadasz (C) and Lamb (WR). You could make case only Lamb was a "probably" starter before training camp. You could probably include Gregory in this group but based on past history its too risky to lean on him as starter. I see him as more of a luxury pass rush specialist who may or maybe not be available for entire season. Now that Dallas has discovered 7 new starters you then add 6 draft picks in the first 4 rounds in April and this starts to look interesting. I don't see another NFC East team with this amount of draft capital and new emerging talent. Now all of this comes to a head with Dak contract situation but what it does is give Jones flexibility. They now have enough ammunition to pivot at QB with draft or pay Dak and fill in around him. The one area I am still unsure of is McCarthy. He might have over-sold himself to Jerry and I am not sure how long leash is for him. But I suspect they will give him atleast 1 regular off-season program installation before making any changes. Few things I would start to do are: 1) Split carries between Zeke/Pollard 2) Get Anae (DE) more snaps 3) Jaylon Smith contract needs to be re-done after season.

Good post.

 

[JoeKing]

We have 5 games left. May they all get cancelled due to Covid.

 

[Captain43Crash]

....draft a ******** of OL products. The big 5 guys upfront make the difference. Rather have good offense then great defense.

You would rather have a good offense than great defense? Really! I think 100% of coaches and 75% of fans would disagree with you. Jerry would probably agree with you though because he only cares about putting on a show, not wins.

 

[black label]

first pick has to be a slot wr and im happy

 

[GMO415]

Jaylon redone? Cut his worthless arse.

 

[Thrill99]

How many teams do you see winning less than 5? Only the Bengals are on pace for that.

Besides the obvious 3, there is Pats, Broncos, Chargers, and Texans in the AFC with less than 5 wins today. In the NFC I think the Eagles, Falcons, and Lions might have a tough time winning 5 games. We'll see.