What I learned last night

[xwalker]

While Dallas is doing good drafting. They need to open up the pockets and start signing freeagents who will get more then the vet minimum. Guys like Wilson and Bush while they look semi decent in practice for a few plays they are what they are in games, None - **'n - Factors.

What we saw from the first quarter on, is the depth on this team is bad. Some of it is rookies and 2nd yr guys getting to know the system. But they need to stop basement bargain shopping for freeagents. The saying you get what you pay for is a prime example for Dallas.

I think the plan is to try and develop some players this season and then fill in the problem areas with free agents next year. There were just too many problems areas this year to solve with free agents. Just keep the powder dry this year.

 

[Bluestang]

seems like we have been focusing on the trenches unless you only consider the defensive side of the trenches important. you choose quanity over quality. they chose quality over quanity. those trade ups also brought us some pretty good players too.

The quality over quantity argument doesn't hold up with Claiborne. He's proving to be a bust and that hurts this team just as much as the 2009 draft did in 2012.

Also they never focused their efforts on the DL in the early rounds.(1-3) In 2007 they selected Spencer in the 1st rd, and then they didn't chose another DL player until 2012 in rd 3 (Crawford) and then Lawrence this year in the 2nd. In a 7 year span you only select 3 DLs in those premium rds?

The reason behind them not using their draft picks on DL is because they had a formidable DL in Ware, Spencer, Hatcher, and Ratliff. But there was nothing behind them whatsoever and that's where this team has continually screwed up. None of those players are here now and if we had drafted quality depth behind those guys we would have a better DL than we have now.

It is this line of thinking that keeps haunting the Cowboys year after year.

You have guys like Nick Hayden here, because Josh Brent did a terrible thing and we haven't been able to replace him with better talent because the War Room continually makes poor decisions on draft day.

the biggest issues we've had over the years has been trading for players like roy williams. that trade was a huge setback for the team. you can blame s. jones for signing him but once you gave up the farm to get him you had no option but sign him. the bad decision was not the contract but the trade, which by the way the vast malority of fans whole heartedly supported

Again more proof that this front office has no idea what it is doing.

 

[TheDude]

Stephen must have left his salary cap calculator on the hooker bus. Hard to be planning ahead when you are trashed most of the time. What a fraud.

you get a like for hooker bus...always ood to start the weekend with a laugh

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I think the biggest issue right now is the interior D-line. It is obviously hard to judge without Melton or McClain playing....not to mention some other guys, but if we can't stop the run up the middle, it doesn't matter about the pass rush. Teams will just gash us running the ball.

My hope is that McClain and Melton will clear some of that up. I think there are a couple options either way. I think a line of Crawford, McClain, Melton and Selvie might be the best four we can put together.

 

[Zordon]

Claiborne and Lawrence...two pretty good moves!

Claiborne has been a complete disaster. Worse than I even imagined and I hated it from the millisecond the trade was announced.

 

[CCBoy]

Claiborne has been a complete disaster. Worse than I even imagined and I hated it from the millisecond the trade was announced.

I guess there's no accounting for some's taste...how do you feel about UT's new head coach's stance with his team, now?

 

[Zordon]

I guess there's no accounting for some's taste...how do you feel about UT's new head coach's stance with his team, now?

Charlie Strong, love him and everything he stands for. He's' what the Cowboys need. We went from a head coach/CEO who didn't allow tackling in practice to this...

 

[casmith07]

Charlie Strong is going to bring attitude and toughness back to UT. They had gotten soft over the last 5 to 6 seasons. That defense is going to be GOOD.

That tackle at 0:52!!

 

[TheFinisher]

The main problem is NOT only a new system but a lot of rookies and 2nd year players. Remember, we were 3-4 just two years ago. We have totally revamped our front 7 and people are expecting miracles to happen in the first preseason game. It ain't gonna happen and there will be more makeshift changes and confusion in the weeks to come as we will see this defense start to take hold.

I do believe its time to get rid of the jags. Hayden, Web and those two that we signed for this game comes to mind. Maybe it would be better if we start having better competition in training camp rather than worry about filling in the numbers. This would also give some reps and some playing time to our rookies.

Throwing together a bunch of journeymen FAs, late round draft picks and UDFAs is not "revamping" your front 7. We're year 2 and still have yet to invest seriously into making the change.

 

[Alexander]

Throwing together a bunch of journeymen FAs, late round draft picks and UDFAs is not "revamping" your front 7. We're year 2 and still have yet to invest seriously into making the change.

Yes, and there is zero excuse for it.

 

[LatinMind]

The quality over quantity argument doesn't hold up with Claiborne. He's proving to be a bust and that hurts this team just as much as the 2009 draft did in 2012.
.

Have you even watched him this camp? Far from a disappointment.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Have you even watched him this camp? Far from a disappointment.

Camp means nothing if he doesn't show it on the field. I've yet to see him.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Throwing together a bunch of journeymen FAs, late round draft picks and UDFAs is not "revamping" your front 7. We're year 2 and still have yet to invest seriously into making the change.

Totally agree. It is what it is though. We draft pretty well in regards to the offense. We have been drafting aweful and terrible when it comes to defense. You can't rebuild a defense with what we got now.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

How many of our defensive guys would be starters on other teams?

 

[Kaiser]

You would have had to pay someone to take his place.

And he was cut because of injury not ability. That stuff happens.

He was a starter that had been to the Pro Bowl. If most teams had picked him up in FA for the identical cap hit ESPN would be saying it was a solid move, even if his injuries killed his season last year.

 

[Kaiser]

The reason behind them not using their draft picks on DL is because they had a formidable DL in Ware, Spencer, Hatcher, and Ratliff. But there was nothing behind them whatsoever and that's where this team has continually screwed up. None of those players are here now and if we had drafted quality depth behind those guys we would have a better DL than we have now.

It is this line of thinking that keeps haunting the Cowboys year after year.

You have guys like Nick Hayden here, because Josh Brent did a terrible thing and we haven't been able to replace him with better talent because the War Room continually makes poor decisions on draft day.

They played a 3-4 where the lineman are gap-fillers, which they had in guys like Rat, Hatcher, Spears, Brent, etc.

And Hayden was here last year because he was a 4th string guy singed to a futures contract and all three guys ahead of him on the depth chart got hurt (or quit in Rat's case). That actually is better roster management than going straight the street FA's we ended up having to use behind Hayden.

 

[TheFinisher]

How many of our defensive guys would be starters on other teams?

Melton, if he's healthy. Maybe Carter, maybe Church... but those 2 would be players teams would look to upgrade. Our corners would play for other teams, Claiborne, Carr and Scandrick would find minutes but not sure what kind of role.

 

[George]

We are on the mend with our D. But, it is obvious that the lack of money to spend on players is the ultimate problem here.