Tooting my own horn-- revisiting Bear's Look at Free Agency, v. 2007

[silverbear]

OK, we've got 3 weeks of free agency behind us, the Boys have just signed Ken Hamlin, and the signings should be few from this point on, mostly depth type signings... so I thought that his would be an opportune time to take a look at the free agent analysis I wrote a few weeks back...

For openers, I said the Boys' top priority should be the offensive line, particularly a replacement at RG for Marco Rivera...

Upgrading the offensive line has to be priority one this offseason, it is simply the quickest way to get the Dallas Cowboys to the next level...

...The biggest need right now on the line is a replacement for Marco Rivera at right guard...

...I expect the Boys will draft an offensive lineman early on (on the first day of the draft), and probably another later as well, but it's quite likely that the Boys will sign at least one quality guard to compete for a starting job

I then went on to discuss Dielman and Steinbach, then my third choice was:

The next two most talented guards out there are more in the smashmouth mold, though-- Leonard Davis from the Cards, and Derrick Dockery from the Skins. The hot rumors recently are that the Boys are likely to sign Davis rather quickly, but not to play tackle (although in a pinch, he might make an adequate replacement for Colombo at RT). Rather, they want to move him inside to play guard, and I think that would be a good move for his career. He simply lacks the initial quickness to deal with speed rushers out at left tackle, but he has the smashmouth skills (particularly in the running game), and the speed to pull, that a good guard needs. He reminds me of a bigger, quicker Kevin Gogan. Add in his ability to play either guard or right tackle, and he looks like a logical fit in Dallas. He should be a bit cheaper than either Dielman or Steinbach, though he's still likely to be on the costly side...

And when the Boys announced their first free agent signing, it was big ol' Leonard Davis... this Horns fan was happy...

The next priority I mentioned was finding a backup QB, and the Boys' next signing was Brad Johnson, to fill just that role... I'll only give myself half credit for that one, though, because although I did mention Brad as a free agent, I basically blew him off, because of his rather weak arm...

We can also eliminate a couple-three other free agent quarterbacks-- Jeff Garcia isn't about to sign on with any team that has Terrell Owens on the roster; Brad Johnson has no arm left any more; Aaron Brooks has been dreadful these last few years.

So I was right and wrong at the same time on this one... and I still think that Brad was the most questionable of our free agent signings...

Then we moved on to the Cowboys' third priority in the offseason-- free safety... and just today, the Boys moved to address that position, signing Hamlin...

The "name" safeties on this free agent market are Deon Grant and Ken Hamlin. Both will carry quite a price tag, but both have skills that the Cowboys could use. I have read reports linking them to Hamlin, but have also read reports that the Niners are seriously hot for Hamlin too, and they have over 40 mil in cap room to bid with. I have not heard of the Boys showing any interest in Grant. This leads me to believe that they're not likely to bring either of them in.

I am quite happy to be proven wrong about Hamlin's price tag, and quite pleased with this most recent signing...

So, in that analysis, I listed the Cowboys' top three free agent priorities as right guard, backup quarterback and free safety... in that order... and the Boys' first three free agent signings (from other teams) were a right guard, a backup quarterback and a free safety... in that order... OK, I dismissed the notion of signing the backup QB they finally wound up signing, and I incorrectly assumed that Hamlin would want a LOT more money than the Cowboys ended up paying him... but I had the positions of need right, the order of priorities right...

And I'm more convinced than ever that before it's all said and done, Randall Godfrey will wind up in a Cowboys uniform too, which will make that free agent analysis easily the most prescient I've ever written...

I'm actually rather surprised, with the regime change in Dallas this offseason I was more or less guessing at what the new staff would be targeting... but I'm impressed with me too; I was GOOD this time around... LOL...

 

[Bob Sacamano]

:worthy: right on old bear...right on

I'm happy w/ the way things are currently going, I think we did a good job, esp. for a staff that was just put in place not that long before FA, kudos Dallas FO

 

[silverbear]

:worthy: right on old bear...right on

Not bad for a semi-senile ursine, eh??

I'm happy w/ the way things are currently going, I think we did a good job, esp. for a staff that was just put in place not that long before FA, kudos Dallas FO

I couldn't agree more... going into this offseason, I didn't know WHAT to expect from free agency, with a thin talent pool and a lot of teams with a lot of cap room... I figured price tags would escalate, but not THIS much...

Given the free agent market this year, the Boys have done real well for themselves with their moves to date...

Now to get greedy, bring in a fullback (Nic Luchey or Terrelle Smith are still out there), and perhaps one more offensive lineman (center/guard Kendyl Jacox, tackle Leander Jordan) for quality depth... and as I said in the last post, Randall Godfrey... two of those three will leave me content with free agency, looking forward to the draft...

 

[zrinkill]

Tooting my own horn

You are the Man Bear ....

 

[TheHustler]

so, we signed your third choice at guard, a QB you dismissed, and a FS you didn't even think we would bring in......

um... good job nostradamus

 

[Arch Stanton]

Good stuff Jerry Bear.

 

[Achozen]

So who do you have us drafting?!

 

[silverbear]

You are the Man Bear ....

And so MODEST...

 

[silverbear]

so, we signed your third choice at guard,

Actually, I never said he was my third choice... he was the third player I mentioned in the analysis, but when I got around to discussing Leonard, I said:

Add in his ability to play either guard or right tackle, and he looks like a logical fit in Dallas. He should be a bit cheaper than either Dielman or Steinbach, though he's still likely to be on the costly side...

Davis was my first choice all along...

a QB you dismissed,

But I still mentioned him as a possible candidate... and as I've said in this thread, I'm not at all convinced the Cowboys went with their best possible option here...

and a FS you didn't even think we would bring in......

Simply because I figured he'd be too expensive... I also identified him as one of the two "name" safeties available in this free agent group, the other being Deon Grant...

So the Boys have yet to sign a player who I didn't consider in my evaluation of free agency, and I got their top 3 priorities right, even in the same order that they addressed them...

But I'm sure you predicted all of the above too, you just didn't seem to go on record as doing so... so hey, go ahead and dis my analysis all you want, I still feel real good about it...

good job nostradamus

Do you ever put your own "expertise" on the line, or do you just sneer at those who do??

 

[silverbear]

So who do you have us drafting?!

Still working on my draft board, wild man... got some preliminary ideas, but I don't wanna be a junior grade Kiper, with a different take every week... LOL...

 

[Hostile]

It would seem in this case my ursine friend, you were indeed sterling.

 

[Cbz40]

"TOOT THAT HORN BEAR"......Well deserved.....Great job as usual.

 

[Hoofbite]

you are my hero bear.....please, father my children.

 

[silverbear]

It would seem in this case my ursine friend, you were indeed sterling.

I reckon even a blind Bear finds a berry every now and then...

Now watch me be WAY off base with my draft analysis...

Naturally, I'll be quick to toot my own horn then, too... LOL...

 

[silverbear]

you are my hero bear.....please, father my children.

I thought I already had...

 

[silverbear]

"TOOT THAT HORN BEAR"......Well deserved.....Great job as usual.

Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble
When you're perfect in every way
I can't wait to look in the mirror
'Cause I get better lookin' each day

To know me is to love me
I must be a h*** of a man
Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble
But I'm doin' the best that I can...

I wish I remembered the entire verse that has the line that goes:

Well, they tell me that I'm egotistical
H*** I don't even know what that means
I guess it's got something to do with the way that
I fill out my skin-tight blue jeans...

I've often thought about suing Mac Davis for singing my life story without giving me even a nickel of the royalties...

 

[big dog cowboy]

Nice job. I hope we get Godfrey also. Now onto the draft........

 

[TheProphet]

OK, we've got 3 weeks of free agency behind us, the Boys have just signed Ken Hamlin, and the signings should be few from this point on, mostly depth type signings... so I thought that his would be an opportune time to take a look at the free agent analysis I wrote a few weeks back...

For openers, I said the Boys' top priority should be the offensive line, particularly a replacement at RG for Marco Rivera...






I then went on to discuss Dielman and Steinbach, then my third choice was:





And when the Boys announced their first free agent signing, it was big ol' Leonard Davis... this Horns fan was happy...

The next priority I mentioned was finding a backup QB, and the Boys' next signing was Brad Johnson, to fill just that role... I'll only give myself half credit for that one, though, because although I did mention Brad as a free agent, I basically blew him off, because of his rather weak arm...






So I was right and wrong at the same time on this one... and I still think that Brad was the most questionable of our free agent signings...

Then we moved on to the Cowboys' third priority in the offseason-- free safety... and just today, the Boys moved to address that position, signing Hamlin...






I am quite happy to be proven wrong about Hamlin's price tag, and quite pleased with this most recent signing...

So, in that analysis, I listed the Cowboys' top three free agent priorities as right guard, backup quarterback and free safety... in that order... and the Boys' first three free agent signings (from other teams) were a right guard, a backup quarterback and a free safety... in that order... OK, I dismissed the notion of signing the backup QB they finally wound up signing, and I incorrectly assumed that Hamlin would want a LOT more money than the Cowboys ended up paying him... but I had the positions of need right, the order of priorities right...

And I'm more convinced than ever that before it's all said and done, Randall Godfrey will wind up in a Cowboys uniform too, which will make that free agent analysis easily the most prescient I've ever written...

I'm actually rather surprised, with the regime change in Dallas this offseason I was more or less guessing at what the new staff would be targeting... but I'm impressed with me too; I was GOOD this time around... LOL...

Atta boy Bear, you've done us all-knowing Virginia fellows proud.

 

[dwmyers]

I'm actually rather surprised, with the regime change in Dallas this offseason I was more or less guessing at what the new staff would be targeting... but I'm impressed with me too; I was GOOD this time around... LOL...

I'm glad you're good but it's very clear that Jerry learned something from Bill and that was to deal with your "must haves" in free agency.

Our must haves were RG and FS and a backup QB. They did it. Now the first round at least is theoretically a BPA pick.

David.

 

[silverbear]

Nice job. I hope we get Godfrey also. Now onto the draft........

Workin' on it, man... workin' on it... ain't a day goes by that I don't stop over at NFL.com to check out that day's Pro Day workouts...