This team can be really good next year

[Galian Beast]

And no I'm not drinking the kool-aid.

I'm just acknowledging that the base talent is certainly there. We beat a good colts team, almost beat the Saints, and also beat the Giants pretty soundly.

We need to improve a few positions though, and I think that can't be overlooked.

Our offensive line play, and our secondary play is really hurting us. New linemen and new safeties.

And clearly Lee needs to replace Brooking. And maybe we need a replacement for Bradie James.

It might help our pass rush to have some inside linemen who can actually blitz.

Our pass rush certainly isn't helping our corners, but I think what will, will be the replacement of dave campo. I'm embarrassed by our pass coverage.

 

[jobberone]

We need to address the front seven on defense first. There's a problem there in the lack of a consistent pass rush. The OL needs to be addressed starting at RG and RT. Campo needs to be replaced. We need to find a DC. I'm not certain about the safeties. There is certainly not a playmaking ballhawk back there.

 

[burmafrd]

If we could pick up Mankins, get another good guard and center and tackle prospect in the draft, get a safety somewhere, and maybe another ILB, then we would be in very good shape next year. We would need Sam Young or someone to step up right away at RT though. And we would need Spencer to get his head out of his rear end, Jenkins as well.

 

[FLcowboy]

Given all the needs so far identified, it doesn't make sense to annoin this team just yet. This year has taught me one thing: The fans' perception of talent is rarely on the mark.

 

[jobberone]

If we could pick up Mankins, get another good guard and center and tackle prospect in the draft, get a safety somewhere, and maybe another ILB, then we would be in very good shape next year. We would need Sam Young or someone to step up right away at RT though. And we would need Spencer to get his head out of his rear end, Jenkins as well.

I think a RG and RT is more than enough. We don't need to replace most of the line.

 

[Galian Beast]

LG to RT isn't pretty.

Gurode is hurting us constantly, Kosier cant stay healthy, and he actually gets more credit than he deserves for being more consistent than the rest of our garbage line.

 

[ZeroClub]

The team could be really good next year. Definitely true.

They could also fall apart.

You never know with this bunch.

 

[SDCowboy]

I agree. This team fully healthy next year is going to be very good. Assuming the oline get's overhauled and doesn't get Tony killed again I think we're going to go far.

 

[burmafrd]

I think Gurode still has a good year or two left; but it depends on his knee. Davis is done; that position above all others on the team EXCEPT COLOMBO's has to be fixed. Frankly even more than Safety.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Address the offensive line and safeties and get a good DC and I think they can. The defense is a real weakness right now and that offensive line needs an overhaul.

 

[gmoney112]

I think we're all going to be surprised at how much more physical they will be after training camp with actual pads on.

O-line, safeties, and pass rush all need help in the offseason, in that order. RG/RT are going to have new starters in 2010, and I'd like Gurode replaced but that may be expecting too much.

We have a lot of youth in the secondary right now. Jenkins/Scandrick/McCann and Owusu will provide competition in the secondary. I'd like us to draft a prospect that played safety in college, I just don't think there will be a FA safety worth signing.

I'm not too concerned about our pass rush, we can fix that in free agency and the draft.

There's a lot of potential here. We've played and beaten some of the best, and during a time of substantial adversity.

This will definately be an interesting offseason.

 

[dadymat]

at the very minimum Davis, Igor and Ball should all be replaced (keeping ball for CB depth)then we should be solid barring injury or training camp world tour

 

[realtick]

This team has some major holes that need addressing.

Specifically, multiple spot across the offensive line and secondary.

It's not going to be fixed in just one offseason either.

 

[Doomsday101]

This team has some major holes that need addressing.

Specifically, multiple spot across the offensive line and secondary.

It's not going to be fixed in just one offseason either.

Every team has holes. Hell Pats secondary has not been good this year but they have managed to overcome it.

 

[Patton]

Spots we must upgrade at
---
RT
RG
FS
SS

Spots we could stand to upgrade
---
CB - I think some of the CB's issues would be solve with better safety play and coaching, but could still use at least A corner somewhere. Not as pressing as the 4 spots named above.

Center - Gurode is fast going the way of Colombo and Davis. He's still a solid blocking center now, but you can see his range decreasing. If he's not a dominant blocker, there's no reason for him to be our center. I hate to say it, but he adds nothing from a mental standpoint, so physically he needs to be above and beyond. He's not that anymore.

ILB - I'd feel pretty good about Sean Lee and Bradie James starting, but we'd still need a backup. I don't know about Lee's durability and James is getting old. We don't necessarily have to draft a guy here though. There will surely be a serviceable vet ILB in FA.

OLB - I've seen just about enough of Anthony Spencer disappearing and going into business for himself. I know he has the potential, but at what point is enough, enough? If the Cowboys have a shot at a stud, I'm in on drafting or signing him.

DE - Mediocrity personified here. It's really telling when guys right off the street can file in and play roughly equivalent to the guys you had starting and rotating in. You could make the depth argument, but generally our DEs do nothing, so I sincerely doubt that's the case.

 

[dogberry]

Was Brady sacked three times by the Jets?

The Cowboys were sacked twice.

We have actually won games with our offensive line.

We might be able to win it all (next year) with two, new players.

 

[dbair1967]

We need to address the front seven on defense first. There's a problem there in the lack of a consistent pass rush. The OL needs to be addressed starting at RG and RT. Campo needs to be replaced. We need to find a DC. I'm not certain about the safeties. There is certainly not a playmaking ballhawk back there.

I agree with most, though I wonder how much the lack of pass rush is scheme.

To me the two safety positions are the biggest holes, unless a new coach comes in as DC and decides that neither Spencer nor Butler is the answer at OLB. If thats the case and they stick with the 3-4, OLB becomes a priority for next yr.

OL has gotta be upgraded some. I believe we'll have 2, and perhaps 3 new starters.

 

[realtick]

Every team has holes. Hell Pats secondary has not been good this year but they have managed to overcome it.

What's your point? Applying some overgeneralized saying like "every team has holes" is some sort of ointment for reality.

Nevermind the Pats secondary, the Cowboys have bigtime issues along the o-line that needed to be addressed yesterday. The secondary needs a new starter at safety and possibly another corner to contribute immediately.

 

[goshan]

What's your point? Applying some overgeneralized saying like "every team has holes" is some sort of ointment for reality.

Nevermind the Pats secondary, the Cowboys have bigtime issues along the o-line that needed to be addressed yesterday. The secondary needs a new starter at safety and possibly another corner to contribute immediately.

It is harder to flip the roster than everyone believes. And if a FA is any good, why would they be available

I suspect we have at most 3 new starters next year that currently are not with the team. I suspect these new starters will be OL and Safety, maybe CB.

I see JJ sticking with the DL and LB core another year. We will need to adjust the scheme to get a better pass rush, as it is a problem right now.

 

[Doomsday101]

What's your point? Applying some overgeneralized saying like "every team has holes" is some sort of ointment for reality.

Nevermind the Pats secondary, the Cowboys have bigtime issues along the o-line that needed to be addressed yesterday. The secondary needs a new starter at safety and possibly another corner to contribute immediately.

I'm not saying we do not have areas that need to be improved what I am saying is this team is capable of playing much better than they have and in recent weeks that is showing. I'm all for adding players to the OL and secondary. You are not going to find teams that do not have areas that need to be improved but that does not mean they can't over come their weakness.