Unpopular Opinions on the Cowboys Roster

[Chuck 54]

I thought Davis was a top pick at guard to play guard but got switched to tackle because of injuries and then Jerry decided to pay him tackle money to play guard.

Certainly the defense doesn't play like a diminating top-talent group, but I see we have a star at NT, a superstar at OLB, two talented ILBs, a developing OLB in Spencer, a first round DE in Spears, both our starting CBs are first round selections...plus we have depth along the DL; we're developing depth at OLB and drafted for it at ILB; we traded for the best safety tandem we've had in a while, and we definitely have the best CB depth we've ever had.

On offense, we don't use top draft picks on the OL, at RB, or at WR...I won't mention QB because we don't need a top selection there with Romo.

the cowboys have never been to a SB without shining stars at QB, RB, WR, and probowlers on the OL. This goes back to the 70's.

Think STaubach, Aikman, and now Romo at QB.
Think Duane Thomas, Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, and try to compare them to our 3-headed RB group.
Think Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson, Tony Hill, Michael Irvin, and compare to our current guys.
Think John Niland, Rayfield Wright, and Ralph Neely...then Mark Tuinei, Eric Wright, Larry Allen, even Nate Newton, and try to compare them to this OL.

You can't have superstars at every position in today's game...I know that. But I think we need to start using first day draft selections on offense, and up to this point, I think Felix Jones was a mistake. When you select a first round RB when we did, that guy better push a guy like MBIII who has heart but not a ton of top talent to the bench...or MBIII better be having a GREAT year.

 

[Chuck 54]

Romo is not a pup. By the time the 2010 NFL Season starts he will be 30 years old. Not retirement age by any stretch, but not a kid any more either.

He's a pup as far as his professional development and experience goes, I think. Sitting the bench those first years was critical for him because he wasn't ready for the NFL like a college star was, but those years on the bench only help him catch up with the other guys...it doesn't equal playing experience.

 

[Chuck 54]

thats another opinion to look at, does a SB winner need to pay a gabillion dollars to win?

The Giants last SB win was when they decided to win in the playoffs and didnt beat 1 good team that year. Is it coming down to starting to play in december and beating enough bad teams, or when the stars align correctly and you hit good teams at a bad time?

Like i stated before, how much are you going to pay rookies and kill the average fan who wont be able to afford ticket prices?

But compare that SB Giants team to our team today...they had a better OL, perhaps the best, so they got by without superstar RBs, just good ones like ours. They certainly had better WRs than ours in Toomer, Smith, and Burris.

WE don't have receivers or RBs who are going to take over a game by themselves, even when Romo has a good day, so the OL is critical for us. If you have a superstar WR or a truly great RB, then you might overcome your OL hurting a little.

 

[Chuck 54]

The Stealers just won a super bowl with a very average o-line. I've heard many say it was the worst line to ever win a championship.

But they had a big time QB...not saying better than Romo, but he's experienced the SB and big game performances many times in a young career. He also has a star WR in Hines Ward and another big play guy in Santonio HOlmes...

And let's not forget they have had the best defense in the NFL. Our defense isn't at that level.

Something usually has to be great for you to win the SB. What is great for the Cowboys? Ware is a great OLB, and Romo has the potential to be great...but I don't see a unit or a tandom that can carry us yet.

 

[NinePointOh]

and what if Miles Austin was a flash in the pan, thats 4 years, 4 YEARS that could go to another player who will show consistant talent.

Yep, that's football. What's your alternative -- to never spend any time developing a player and to cut players as soon as they hit a rough patch? I think you'll find that no championship team, in any sport, was ever built that way.

Players have got to keep showing, if the NFL implemented a rookie cap, thatn we can give certain players certain time, Spears who seems a solid player, but not a first round talent Parcells thought. Spencer seems to be another player. Why did we pay first round talent when other teams are getting the same play out of later round talent?

If we didn't, someone else would have drafted them shortly thereafter and paid however much the going rate is for a player drafted in that spot. Most people are able to recognize that drafting is an inexact science. Sometimes you miss on early picks, and sometimes you hit on late picks. We've certainly done both, and so has everyone else. We're 6-3 and in first place, in part, because our surprise hits (Romo, Ratliff, perhaps Austin) have generally outweighed our misses.

Your running back shelf life is dissolving and colleges are turning out good RB's each year, why are we paying big bucks to a brusier type RB who might not making another year? Or a shifter back who might be injury prone every year?

When we signed them, they were "showing" something. Some players end up playing better than their contracts, and other players end up playing below their contracts. If we cut them today like you seem to be advocating, we'd still be responsible for the guaranteed money we signed them to, and we'd have no cap space to sign anyone to replace them.

The other alternative is to never offer any player any guaranteed money or any contract longer than one year. That's a pretty efficient way to lose all of your talented players very quickly.

Why do you think all of a sudden you cant touch the QB, because now they finally care about human life, no, its the price of QB's that have swayed the rules.

The rules of life and game are changing every so often, you might as well keep current your own economic policy is going to kill the average fan. How much are next year first round picks going to be going for? Do you really want to pay that much for a quality Oline guy that this team needs? Or for a pick who turns out to be a 4th round talent but you paid first round money?

Ill tell you what else is really irking me, everytime we make a big offensive play, it comes back due to penalty. We gotta start fining the players or the coach.

I honestly have no idea where your disjointed, incoherent rambling has led you at this point.

 

[ShiningStar]

Yep, that's football. What's your alternative -- to never spend any time developing a player and to cut players as soon as they hit a rough patch? I think you'll find that no championship team, in any sport, was ever built that way.

If we didn't, someone else would have drafted them shortly thereafter and paid however much the going rate is for a player drafted in that spot. Most people are able to recognize that drafting is an inexact science. Sometimes you miss on early picks, and sometimes you hit on late picks. We've certainly done both, and so has everyone else. We're 6-3 and in first place, in part, because our surprise hits (Romo, Ratliff, perhaps Austin) have generally outweighed our misses.

When we signed them, they were "showing" something. Some players end up playing better than their contracts, and other players end up playing below their contracts. If we cut them today like you seem to be advocating, we'd still be responsible for the guaranteed money we signed them to, and we'd have no cap space to sign anyone to replace them.

The other alternative is to never offer any player any guaranteed money or any contract longer than one year. That's a pretty efficient way to lose all of your talented players very quickly.

I honestly have no idea where your disjointed, incoherent rambling has led you at this point.

yeah because every year the skins are in cap hell, ooo how ever did they get haynesworth? Just stop with the cap hell.

Second, I mainly said for RB's who have a short life span and can be drafted later in the rounds and still get good quality.

I hate to explain it to you, but our Oline needs a major revamp, but it doesnt stop there, you have to have quality depth.

Yes, in qb and Oline, you can give a player a few years, I am sorry to report, not so much in WR, RB, and TE. You can find good WR's and TE's in the second or third round.

Right now this team needs a good purging, both coaching and players. I personally always want either elite CB's or a good front to cause pressure. Other spots you can get buy with lesser guys and continuoualy churning the roster.

Thats an opinion, i dont expect all to agree with, but i dont think putting down my idea, because you dont agree with it is needed either.= but to each its own.

 

[NinePointOh]

yeah because every year the skins are in cap hell, ooo how ever did they get haynesworth? Just stop with the cap hell.

What does that have to do with anything? The Skins don't employ a personnel strategy that even comes close to what you're describing. Nobody does. No team cuts lots of players one year into large contracts, because most people understand what a cap penalty is. Teams have avoided cap hell precisely because they're aware of the consequences of stupid strategies, not because cap hell doesn't exist.

Second, I mainly said for RB's who have a short life span and can be drafted later in the rounds and still get good quality.

You mean like Marion Barber and Tashard Choice? Yeah, we got 'em in the fourth.

I hate to explain it to you, but our Oline needs a major revamp, but it doesnt stop there, you have to have quality depth.

And you think cutting players left and right leaves you with quality depth?

Yes, in qb and Oline, you can give a player a few years, I am sorry to report, not so much in WR, RB, and TE. You can find good WR's and TE's in the second or third round.

Yep, we got our TEs in the second and third rounds, and other than Roy, our WRs came late in the draft or were undrafted.

Right now this team needs a good purging, both coaching and players. I personally always want either elite CB's or a good front to cause pressure. Other spots you can get buy with lesser guys and continuoualy churning the roster.

Personally, when we're leading the division I'd rather take a run at the Super Bowl than have a fire sale, but that's just me. Call me crazy, I'd rather win games than try to emulate my own imagined conception of the 3-6 Commanders.

 

[kramskoi]

What does that have to do with anything? The Skins don't employ a personnel strategy that even comes close to what you're describing. Nobody does. No team cuts lots of players one year into large contracts, because most people understand what a cap penalty is. Teams have avoided cap hell precisely because they're aware of the consequences of stupid strategies, not because cap hell doesn't exist.

You mean like Marion Barber and Tashard Choice? Yeah, we got 'em in the fourth.

And you think cutting players left and right leaves you with quality depth?

Yep, we got our TEs in the second and third rounds, and other than Roy, our WRs came late in the draft or were undrafted.

Personally, when we're leading the division I'd rather take a run at the Super Bowl than have a fire sale, but that's just me. Call me crazy, I'd rather win games than try to emulate my own imagined conception of the 3-6 Commanders.

...well said...as fans we can afford to be petulant and impatient...as an owner or coach we would'nt have that luxury because of a little something called "reality"...

 

[ShiningStar]

What does that have to do with anything? The Skins don't employ a personnel strategy that even comes close to what you're describing. Nobody does. No team cuts lots of players one year into large contracts, because most people understand what a cap penalty is. Teams have avoided cap hell precisely because they're aware of the consequences of stupid strategies, not because cap hell doesn't exist.

You mean like Marion Barber and Tashard Choice? Yeah, we got 'em in the fourth.

And you think cutting players left and right leaves you with quality depth?

Yep, we got our TEs in the second and third rounds, and other than Roy, our WRs came late in the draft or were undrafted.

Personally, when we're leading the division I'd rather take a run at the Super Bowl than have a fire sale, but that's just me. Call me crazy, I'd rather win games than try to emulate my own imagined conception of the 3-6 Commanders.

so you'd sell out for 1 year, thats good, but i want a quality foundation. This why we see things differently. Im not out for selling us down the road for 1 good year, i want things to run smoothly and systems in place.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Personally, I think if this team had a power run game or dependable receivers the entire dynamic would change. Right now that offense is all finesse and when they meet up with a tough defense they fall apart. It's ugly and hard to watch. Blame the lack of a power run game on the wildly overrated offensive line. Routinely, good defenses are shutting down the run with 7 in the box and the lack of a dominant receiver to run slants or fight for the ball makes for many unhappy endings. The Cowboys are putting all their eggs in Roy Williams and Marty B's basket hoping they will eventually become dependable receivers that make catches and move the chains,,, but they are failing.

There was a day when the team could run it twice and make an intermediate throw for a first down consistently. Now if they ran it twice that would bring up 3rd and 9 or more and the starting receivers would drop the ball 70% of the time. :

 

[NinePointOh]

so you'd sell out for 1 year, thats good, but i want a quality foundation. This why we see things differently. Im not out for selling us down the road for 1 good year, i want things to run smoothly and systems in place.

Who said anything about 1 year? Developing talent is a long term strategy; cutting players en masse is a losing strategy. The former gives you a quality foundation; the latter gives you a UFL franchise.

 

[Biggems]

RUNNING BACKS
I will take the unpopular stance that I would rather have Chris Johnson than Felix Jones....I did on draft day and I still do.

While Felix makes a big play here or there, he spends the rest of the time injured, while CJ is obliterating defenses........and doing so with opposing defenses keying on him.

Give me MB3, CJ, and Choice and I feel our offense would be so much better.



I am cool with the rest of the offense, except maybe the depth at OL, especially knowing Procter is now our key reserve.....YIKES.

 

[NinePointOh]

RUNNING BACKS
I will take the unpopular stance that I would rather have Chris Johnson than Felix Jones....I did on draft day and I still do.

While Felix makes a big play here or there, he spends the rest of the time injured, while CJ is obliterating defenses........and doing so with opposing defenses keying on him.

Give me MB3, CJ, and Choice and I feel our offense would be so much better.

I am cool with the rest of the offense, except maybe the depth at OL, especially knowing Procter is now our key reserve.....YIKES.

That's great, but hindsight isn't really going out on a limb. Would it surprise you if I said I'd rather have DeMeco Ryans than Bobby Carpenter?

 

[Biggems]

That's great, but hindsight isn't really going out on a limb. Would it surprise you if I said I'd rather have DeMeco Ryans than Bobby Carpenter?

was ryans on the board when we picked Carpenter?

Cause CJ was on the board when we picked Felix. In fact, I also wanted Cason instead of Jenkins.

 

[NinePointOh]

was ryans on the board when we picked Carpenter?

Cause CJ was on the board when we picked Felix. In fact, I also wanted Cason instead of Jenkins.

Yes, Ryans was taken 15 spots after Carpenter. Vince Manuwai was on the board when we drafted Al Johnson. Terrell Davis was on the board when we took Sherman Williams. Roger Staubach was on the board when we took Perry Lee Dunn ... oh, wait.

We can play the hindsight game all day.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I think the Cowboys are having a nice season, better than I expected. Winning 4 in a row puts them in elite company...make a list of all the teams who have a 4 game winning streak this year. Yet everyone starts dumping on the Cowboys again and wondering if they've actually arrived since they lost in GB...please...how many teams this season have won 5 in a row? It's a very short list.
RB: I'm not in love with our RB group. I like them...I love it when Barber gets a burr under his saddle and runs with such passion; I love it when Felix breaks a big one; I love the way Choice always works for every yard. That said, I don't see a star among them. I think MBIII is way overpaid for a RB with his lack of speed and quickness; I think Felix still has time to prove himself, but a first round RB should be doing a lot more than he has and should be pushing MBIII into the background a little; Choice seems to be a combination of the two...he runs well between the tackles, is a good receiver and blocker, and he has proven he can have the long runs/receptions for TDs with good moves and just enough speed. I'm not living in the past, but we have 3 good RB's...I still lament that big Bill didn't pull the trigger on Steven Jackson...In my opinion, our offense would look very different right now with him.

A very fine assessment re our RBs.

 

[jobberone]

I think its time someone in the Cowboys organization says hey, its time to start investing in big Oline men and start buidling around both qb;s, and start finding out if McGee can be the next qb or keep drafting til one hits.

Id also start churning RB's and never having a star or franchise RB either. The life expentency has dropped considerably and its not worth dumping money into when you can get quality running in the later rounds.

But than again in my heart of hearts, Id just wish this team would go back to the 4-3 defense and stop this 3-4 crap.

Id also try and get our TE's more involved and if Bennett doesnt want to emerge, than try the Phillips kid, if he proves better, draft another TE next year later in teh rounds and dump Bennett, cant always wait for talent to surface, you have to push it or move on now a days.

Boy am I glad you aren't the GM of our team.

 

[RoadRunner]

Are you making ridiculous exaggerations to make a point or do you really believe this stuff?

You may not have noticed in the game, but Green Bay had the worst oline in the league going into that game and yet they outplayed our overpaid, underachieving oline by a long shot.

 

[ShiningStar]

Who said anything about 1 year? Developing talent is a long term strategy; cutting players en masse is a losing strategy. The former gives you a quality foundation; the latter gives you a UFL franchise.

This is the type of guy who wants to give Proctor one more year, than one more year, if it was up to you id bet you still want AL Johnson to pan out.

 

[ShiningStar]

Boy am I glad you aren't the GM of our team.

how many years do you want to give Carpenter to be solid? Proctor? I bet you hate we gave up on all the other OLine Parcells brought in. You want to give Holland some more time? How about McQuinstan? How long would you wait.

You willing to give a RB 5 years to get it right? How long? If Dallas is cooked beccause Free cant do it, want to give Free 15 more years to see if he can play back up?

Yes OLine men peak at 30, but you want to make sure they can play by than, not FIND OUT.