Two important quarters, and three more moves

erod

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Last night was a brilliant success. Not a single ow-ey to report, other than a mild "concussion" for Weeden that looked more like crying "uncle". Health was the ONLY thing that really mattered last night.

The roster is set outside of 2-3 spots that might have some dudes come in via trade or roster cuts. The coaches have seen what they need to see by now from this lot. The only questions I see are Harwell-vs-Street, Gardner-vs-Edwards, Hanna-vs-Swaim, and Vaughn-vs-Showers. ('Both' could be the answer to some of those.) I cut Weems, Terrell McClain (Coleman and Bishop look good), Heath, and Wetzel.

Randy Gregory is a freaking stud. Instant star. Corey White was a great signing. Escobar is ready to up his game. THIS TEAM WILL FINALLY HAVE A PASS RUSH. Collins will likely have to be the swing tackle because Weems blows. Deep safety remains a concern that hopefully White or Byron Jones can solve. Swaim and Russell are keepers, and fantastic draft picks. The backup QBs all stink. McFadden has a nice burst, and Randle looks quick, but we'll see.

All's good in Cowboys world. What remains is two mildly important quarters this week against Minnesota.

The crappy 49ers ventured off the preseason reservation last night, running all sorts of blitzes and advanced coverages defensively. They learned nothing about their team, but they won a game for the home crowd, hoping that might get rid of a few more empty seats early in the season. They're in for a last-place finish in that division. Dallas just slept-walked to the finish.

Bad teams win preseason games. Good ones just try to survive them.

Packers-Steelers showed the danger of preseason in high definition yesterday, losing critical players for long stretches, if not he entire year. So far, all's quiet on that front around here. Knock on wood, knock on wood, knock on wood.

So that brings us back to this week. A really good first quarter on Saturday night, and preseason is over for Dallas. Might take two quarters to get that mojo feeling needed to carry forward. But that's it. No more football for anybody of substance, please, after the dog-and-frisbie show during pee break on Saturday.

I'm hoping for three moves by opening week.

1. If anybody cuts a good punt returner, sign him. Whitehead can be stashed on the practice squad, but I don't trust him yet. Kickoff returner isn't worth the trouble because so few of them actually happen. Just take knees in the end zone.

2. Get a gunner. Not sure who that is on this roster currently, but it needs to be better. There has to be somebody out there better than what is here.

3. Trade for Zach Mettenberger. I think this guy can play, and he'd be a good future investment for post-Romo, not to mention a legit backup for now. This would be costly, as in perhaps a second-round pick and a good player. Tennessee is reluctant to release him, I'm sure, and other teams are interested, no doubt. Dallas needs a true future QB, and he looks like a good candidate. Reminds me of Tannehill.

One more week's trudging to go. Granted, getting to Week One healthy doesn't mean the Cowboys won't get hurt, but at least they'll get hurt when it matters. Preseason has long outlived its usefulness.

Work hard and stay healthy, Boys.
 
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John813

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1. I disagree. I think Whitehead can handle the return duties to start the season.
2. I agree. Need more ST guys. Missing Harris in that dept.
3. I wouldn't be opposed to trading for a young QB, with a higher upside than what we have now. My problem with trading for a guy like Zach is the cost. There is a shortage of quality starting QB's in the league, and I bet the Titans will have a high trade demand for Zach, just because he has that type of potential. Not sure if it's worth giving up that much right now.
 

Future

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1. I disagree. I think Whitehead can handle the return duties to start the season.
2. I agree. Need more ST guys. Missing Harris in that dept.
3. I wouldn't be opposed to trading for a young QB, with a higher upside than what we have now. My problem with trading for a guy like Zach is the cost. There is a shortage of quality starting QB's in the league, and I bet the Titans will have a high trade demand for Zach, just because he has that type of potential. Not sure if it's worth giving up that much right now.
I think that if they thought Mettenberger was a #1, they wouldn't have drafted Mariota, let alone handed him the starting role
 

DeaconMoss

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Tim Scott needs a shot a gunner on punts. he flashed when he blasted a guy on a KR. We have to make a move there. KR/PR coverages are bad right now.
 

erod

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I think that if they thought Mettenberger was a #1, they wouldn't have drafted Mariota, let alone handed him the starting role

Mettenberger has played well on a bad team. I think they just thought Mariotta was going to be a transcendent player, so they couldn't pass him up.

I like him WAY better than the backups we have, and I think there might be a future there.
 

John813

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I think that if they thought Mettenberger was a #1, they wouldn't have drafted Mariota, let alone handed him the starting role

I don't think Mettenberger has the same potential as Mariota.

What I was trying to post was that ZM has the potential to be a good, solid QB in the league IMO. Not a top 10 QB, but a solid guy you can win with if you have a good group around him. Just because they drafted Mariota, I doubt they give away ZM for cheap, especially with other QB needy teams out there.
 

erod

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1. I disagree. I think Whitehead can handle the return duties to start the season.
2. I agree. Need more ST guys. Missing Harris in that dept.
3. I wouldn't be opposed to trading for a young QB, with a higher upside than what we have now. My problem with trading for a guy like Zach is the cost. There is a shortage of quality starting QB's in the league, and I bet the Titans will have a high trade demand for Zach, just because he has that type of potential. Not sure if it's worth giving up that much right now.

Hope you're right about Lucky, but it's a big risk on a team with Super Bowl hopes. I think they'll give him the gig.
 

John813

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Hope you're right about Lucky, but it's a big risk on a team with Super Bowl hopes. I think they'll give him the gig.

I think they'll have him on a somewhat short leash. If he screws up and fumbles more than once to start off the regular season, I think the next day he'll be packing his bags.
 

Jenky

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Mettenberger has played well on a bad team. I think they just thought Mariotta was going to be a transcendent player, so they couldn't pass him up.

I like him WAY better than the backups we have, and I think there might be a future there.

I like him but he was a 6th round pick. Giving them a 2nd round pick and player is too much IMO.

They can have Morris Claiborne straight up though.
 

BrassCowboy

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I think that if they thought Mettenberger was a #1, they wouldn't have drafted Mariota, let alone handed him the starting role

Well obviously e would have to see beyond the first layer and see future with him and I believe that is what the original poster meant
 

Sydla

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Regardless of what people think of Mettenberger, the asking price on him is likely going to be high.
 

erod

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I like him but he was a 6th round pick. Giving them a 2nd round pick and player is too much IMO.

They can have Morris Claiborne straight up though.

He was only a 6th rounder because of a knee injury he was rehabbing.
 

Future

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I don't think Mettenberger has the same potential as Mariota.

What I was trying to post was that ZM has the potential to be a good, solid QB in the league IMO. Not a top 10 QB, but a solid guy you can win with if you have a good group around him. Just because they drafted Mariota, I doubt they give away ZM for cheap, especially with other QB needy teams out there.
Yea, I guess I don't really disagree with that, I just think that he won't be all that costly to get.
 

RS12

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I like him but he was a 6th round pick. Giving them a 2nd round pick and player is too much IMO.

They can have Morris Claiborne straight up though.

Generous offer. Who could turn that down.
 

Toruk_Makto

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I really hope we don't throw away a second rounder on a guy who we hope doesn't play until he hots free agency.

That isn't team building it's fantasy football.
 

DFWJC

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The Titans would be crazy to part with Mettenberger. He is clearly their best QB right now and is, or soon will be, a mid-level NFL starter.
They might...might..consider moving him for a 2nd or 3rd. That's too much for dallas.

The were afraid to pass on the opportunity to take a QB so early this this year, so they took Mariotta. Upside is tantalizing.
I understand that. Not sure I wouldn't have taken some massive trade offers.
 

erod

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I really hope we don't throw away a second rounder on a guy who we hope doesn't play until he hots free agency.

That isn't team building it's fantasy football.

If Romo was badly hurt and Mettenberger stepped in and performed, you sign him long term.

If he turns into an insurance policy for Romo that plays spottingly when Romo has to miss a game, then he's vastly better than the backups you currently have.

That is more than worth a second round pick. That's a tremendously valuable player.

Problem is, I don't think Tennessee would have to part with him for a second rounder. They can get more than that.
 

reddyuta

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Whitehead looked good even though his team couldn't block anybody.
 

Aven8

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Tim Scott needs a shot a gunner on punts. he flashed when he blasted a guy on a KR. We have to make a move there. KR/PR coverages are bad right now.

Nope. I take it you missed the play where he missed the block on the punt for TD?
 
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