What we know 2014

[LatinMind]

What we know is all in probables, as theres nothing certain in sports. But probable is a big word in the nfl, as the things that are probable for the Cowboys will most likely happen.

• Miles Austin's time in Dallas is over, wether it's a June cut its not know but most likely.This doesnt do anything for you when FA starts but will provide Dallas money to sign picks and have whatevers left for "in-case" injury signings.

• Restructures will most likely be done for Romo, Ware, Witten, Scandrick, Lee, and Carr. Those will get Dallas about 9mil under the cap March comes. That 9Mil isnt counting the 5.5 mil for Austin because Dallas doesnt get that cap until June. Im sure some bottom end players like Kearse, Irvin, Hayden, Lemon ect will be cut freeing up about another mil in caproom. So Dallas could possibly see 10Mil in capspace.

• There is the option of Dallas playing hardball with Ware demanding he takes a pay cut. But i dont see it. The cost of Dallas cutting Ware instead of restructuring him is -1mil basically. so instead of 10Mil say u'd have roughly 9Mil. But u go from being 9mil over the cap in 2015 to being 10mil under with that one cut.

• Resign Dez or Tyron first? Easy answer...Dez Bryant. For one reason only, Tyron is part of the first Rookie pool class, where first round picks have 4 yr deals with a option for the 5th yr. So if i was Dallas i would extend Dez this yr and envoke the option for Tyron next yr and work out an extension.

• Now cutting Austin Miles brings up a little problem for Dallas. They dont have a WR to play the outside if Dez or TW get hurt. Beasley and Harris are slot guys. So they would need to bring in somebody either in FA or the Draft.

A guy that could be had in FA fairly cheap is a guy from Linehan's old team DET
Kris Durham 6'6 218lbs
38 rec 429 yrds 2 TDs

Or go with the draft mid rounds for guys like

Martavis Bryant 6'5 Clemson
Mike Davis 6'0 Texas
Josh Huff 5'11 Oregon
Jeff Janis 6'2 Saginaw Valley
Kevin Norwood 6'2 Alabama

• Anthony Spencer, Dallas seems to want to keep Spencer if he is ready to go, but if his knee isnt ready he wont be in Dallas.

• DL: atleast 1 starter worst case is needed. I think if Spencer is resigned and healthy he will start and Selvie will sub both DE spots and Dallas wont draft a DE high. The will go with DT probably 2 of them high in the draft.

Seems like Dallas is counting on Crawford and Bass to be key contributors on the DL. I actually think this DL couldve survived this yr if Crawford and Bass wouldve been healthy. I think people are going to be suprised with Bass. Going to be a nice come up as a rotational player. Add in a young Vet and a Draft pick would be better IMO. Crawford and Bass are already raw.

Freeagents dont think Dallas will go after a guy like Melton, But a guy like Clinton Mcdonald could come in and kickstart a DL.

Draft prospects
Aaron Donald DT Pitt
Timmy Jernigan DT FSU
Kony Ealy DE Missouri
Will Sutton DT ASU
Kelcy Quarles DT South Carolina
Kareem Martin UNC
Caraun Reid DT Princeton
Dominique Easley DT Florida

Some prospects i would love to see in Dallas. Easley in particular. The risk they took on Leary might play into their Easley's favor. But not anything above a 5th round pick. Easley's 2 ACL injuries are going to scare alot of teams. If Dallas could get in in RD5 i would jump for joy. He's a RD1 talent.

• Alot of people are begging for an OLB but Dallas likes Wilber and Hollomon and wont give up on Carter this yr. Lee defended Carter and said he had the biggest adjustment of everybody on def. The guy is doing something totally different then what he did his first 2 yrs in the NFL. If he still struggles i could see him out of Dallas in 2015. I wouldnt mind seeing Dallas take a LBer like Skov in RD3.

But as of right now, Dallas has:
Sean Lee ILB
Bruce Carter WLB
Justin Durant SLB
Kyle Wilber SLB
Devonte Hollomon ILB

They have some scrubs but i dont expect them to be on the team. Drafting a WLB to backup Carter or compete for a spot wether it be WLB or SLB wouldnt be a bad idea. Skov could play all 3 LBer spots IMO

• Secondary: Heres were i dont agree with most on this forum. I dont like alot of what the Cowboys have right now at Safety, but listening to radio from VR they speak with coaches and they say the Cowboys like Wilcox and Heath. They were rookies who werent ready. They wont have that excuse this yr. But i think Dallas will run with Church and either Wilcox/Heath/Johnson this yr. I could see them picking up another low priced vet later before TC if they dont like what they see in the 3. A guy like Daniel Manning is probably going to be cut and has a history with Marinelli. Could sign a inexpensive 1 yr deal.

Dallas is building something, its not going at the speed as impatient fans want. But thats just the way it is. This team just needs to stay healthy for the most part.

 

[Bowdown27]

Great post. And I think most is true. I don't think they are enamored with our safeties though. Rumblings Around the league say that we like Pryor and Dix a lot. If they could pull off a trade back and still get one it would be a steal.

 

[theSHOW]

I like the data on Ware and Dallas should no question cut him. Look at the savings next year and this is the time for the majority of the new blood into the 4-3 switch. And to the risk drafting of injured players I would agree that a 5th round for a potential star is the only risk I would go for. Enough 2nd round smashed eggs hoping for super chickens. Dallas will probablt release Durant and thus need both a WS an SS LB. Hoping for a big DT Jernigan. But still looking as the draft is far away.

 

[Bullflop]

If Ware isn't willing to take a vastly lesser contract instead of insisting on restructuring, we'd be wise to cut him. Dallas might get a few games, perhaps even a few more out of Ware but it's very likely just a matter of time before his body breaks down yet again, only to render him the ineffective player he's been in the recent past. He's played far too many games past the point of damaging himself unnecessarily and now it's costing him. DeMarcus has been a terrific player in his time but unfortunately, that time has come and gone. We require more healthy young players who are on the way up, not battered warriors hanging on well past their prime.

 

[Parcells4Life]

If you're talking about Kony Ealy from Mizzou he's gone round 1 or early 2. No way til 5.

All 3 LB spots could be upgraded IMO. Lee because of health and no one else has proven to be more than a backup.

No way should we count on Spencer to start. If he wants to be a 3rd down guy ok, but that's all him or Ware should be. Selvie is better than both at this stage of their career. We need to draft multiple DE. Seattle showed you can never have enough.

 

[LatinMind]

Great post. And I think most is true. I don't think they are enamored with our safeties though. Rumblings Around the league say that we like Pryor and Dix a lot. If they could pull off a trade back and still get one it would be a steal.

I havent read anything on that, except in mock sites thinking they could use a safety. If you have links id like to read it. I think they need a true FS but i just dont see them moving on from 2 guys they drafted last yr and played alot.

 

[LatinMind]

If you're talking about Kony Ealy from Mizzou he's gone round 1 or early 2. No way til 5.

All 3 LB spots could be upgraded IMO. Lee because of health and no one else has proven to be more than a backup.

No way should we count on Spencer to start. If he wants to be a 3rd down guy ok, but that's all him or Ware should be. Selvie is better than both at this stage of their career. We need to draft multiple DE. Seattle showed you can never have enough.

Im talking about Dominique Easley, he's a DT from Florida, would be a first round talent but he's had two ACL tears the last two yrs. Last yrs was a freak accident in a practice non contact drill.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Im talking about Dominique Easley, he's a DT from Florida, would be a first round talent but he's had two ACL tears the last two yrs. Last yrs was a freak accident in a practice non contact drill.

Sound like our kinda guy!

 

[LatinMind]

Sound like our kinda guy!

I doubt it. McClay doesnt like scouting guys with an extensive injury history.

 

[DogFace]

I agree, great post. A lot of optimism, which will be attacked, but I like it.
I agree that safety is a problem. Maybe more of a problem than our d line depending on injury recovery.

 

[casmith07]

This was a great read, LM. You're becoming one of my favorite posters here despite our disagreements. Keep it up.

 

[Common Sense]

I doubt it. McClay doesnt like scouting guys with an extensive injury history.

Either way, I would sprint to the podium in Round Four.

 

[jazzcat22]

I am probably ok either way on Ware. If he is cut, then DE will be priority in the draft, and if restructured, then I still think they need to go DE in 1st 2 rounds regardless.
all that is obvious to all of us though.

How would this scenario work. Restructure, but not necessarily a pay cut, if Ware is dead set against that. But restructure that you get cap relief for this year, and 2015. But have it structured that I 2015, or 2016, he can be released, and it has no difference of a cap impact than this year. This way you get 1 or 2 more years, push back that cap hit for when it won't [hopefully won't] be as big of a hit.
Plus you get 2 more years from him, and if not productive [as from past history], but we know he will still make a contribution. Then time to move on from there.

 

[JBS]

This thread is a perfect example of why this team struggles to improve.

To anybody that has a clue-there are players on this team that just can't cut it. That either need to be replaced or at the very darn least-are battling for their jobs.

This defense is a frickin joke. To think that we are set at LB and S is beyond stupid. It's that same thought process that continues to screw this franchise year after year. They wait until it's too late to make changes-at least bring in guys to compete with these scrubs.

 

[zack]

I hope that they don't wait too long on Spencer. I can see them dragging it out and then he doesn't end up playing for us. I believe that it will be 6 months in March from when he had the surgical procedure. They should have a good idea where he is physically at this point and time. We have all the leverage here, let's hope that they exercise it.

It is so hard with Ware. So much money tied in with him. He hasn't been the same for the past two years. I think that they also have to play hardball with him.

Austin...don't let the door hit you on the way out. I'll be glad when he is gone. Injuries aside, his "effort" has not been there and that is disappointing.

 

[LatinMind]

I hope that they don't wait too long on Spencer. I can see them dragging it out and then he doesn't end up playing for us. I believe that it will be 6 months in March from when he had the surgical procedure. They should have a good idea where he is physically at this point and time. We have all the leverage here, let's hope that they exercise it.

It is so hard with Ware. So much money tied in with him. He hasn't been the same for the past two years. I think that they also have to play hardball with him.

Austin...don't let the door hit you on the way out. I'll be glad when he is gone. Injuries aside, his "effort" has not been there and that is disappointing.

They talked about Spencer the other day, and basically said if Spencers knee isnt fully healed they arent going to try and sign him. Broaddus talked about this being a classic McClay stance.

Another thing Broaddus brought up is the trust that Jerry has in McClay and with him overseeing the draft prospects that we will see a difference in the type of players being sought after.

 

[CaptainCreed]

• Secondary: Heres were i dont agree with most on this forum. I dont like alot of what the Cowboys have right now at Safety, but listening to radio from VR they speak with coaches and they say the Cowboys like Wilcox and Heath. They were rookies who werent ready. They wont have that excuse this yr. But i think Dallas will run with Church and either Wilcox/Heath/Johnson this yr. I could see them picking up another low priced vet later before TC if they dont like what they see in the 3. A guy like Daniel Manning is probably going to be cut and has a history with Marinelli. Could sign a inexpensive 1 yr deal.

I find this pretty frustrating. Just watching Calvin Pryor a little bit, the guy is going to be a heck of a player and if he does well in interviews and portrays he is a good, smart guy that wants to be the best at his position, then I see it almost unforgivable if we pass on him in the draft. I believe the DL was hurt more by the number of injuries, losing entire depth at the position, and not necessarily the particular individuals/talents who were hurt (Spencer, Rat, 50% Ware). Losing Crawford and Bass really hurt because then we were just putting JAGs out there who had not been with the organization for longer than a month, a week, a day. I think you can take Pryor and still get 2-3 NFL bodies for the DL in the remaining of the draft. Besides Clowney, it is hard to get wowed by any of the top DL prospects so I think you can get an equivalent in the 2nd or 3rd round of an Ealy or Tuitt or Donald that will be 1st round picks, not sure if the same can be said about safeties.

 

[Idgit]

Anybody know or have a link to the comments about Lee defending Carter? I hadn't seen those, and I'd be interested in reading what he had to say, exactly.

 

[LatinMind]

I find this pretty frustrating. Just watching Calvin Pryor a little bit, the guy is going to be a heck of a player and if he does well in interviews and portrays he is a good, smart guy that wants to be the best at his position, then I see it almost unforgivable if we pass on him in the draft. I believe the DL was hurt more by the number of injuries, losing entire depth at the position, and not necessarily the particular individuals/talents who were hurt (Spencer, Rat, 50% Ware). Losing Crawford and Bass really hurt because then we were just putting JAGs out there who had not been with the organization for longer than a month, a week, a day. I think you can take Pryor and still get 2-3 NFL bodies for the DL in the remaining of the draft. Besides Clowney, it is hard to get wowed by any of the top DL prospects so I think you can get an equivalent in the 2nd or 3rd round of an Ealy or Tuitt or Donald that will be 1st round picks, not sure if the same can be said about safeties.

I dont see how anybody outside of Dallas can say what they have in Wilcox at this point. There is plenty of talent there. People forget that Wilcox is the reason Allen was released. Allen wasnt horrible, but Wilcox was stepping into that role. then he had that Quad injury. That was his season. Wilcox fit in that role before his injury. Wasnt perfect but he wasnt putting the team in bad situations that Heath did. People said the same thing about Church in 2012 and this yr he had 136 tackles 3 FF 1 FR and 1 INT. Those are some amazing stats for a safety.I dont know how Weddle made the probowl over church IMHO. church had better stats across the board except they both had 1 int. Im amazed on what church has become in just 2 yrs.

 

[LatinMind]

Anybody know or have a link to the comments about Lee defending Carter? I hadn't seen those, and I'd be interested in reading what he had to say, exactly.

Broaddus talked about it being a interview. i was looking for it too.