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This off season was an incredible one for the Cowboys. They got some great free agents, in area's where we had to have them.
Dallas also had a wonderful draft. The defense will barely resemble the poor defense of last year... and that is in personnel alone, much less the scheme.
I couldn't be happier about the way things fell.
However, since it's slow for news right now, I thought I'd sit and think about what I might have done differently had I been in charge.
So I ask: If you could change one or two things we did this off season what would it be?
For me, it isn't an easy question.
What I know I wouldn't change are these moves we made:
Ferguson. He's critical to what we want to do on defense, in a 3-4 or a 4-3.
Bledsoe. He was the best that was available and quite an upgrade over Vinny.
Henry. I think he's just what the doctor ordered at the RCB position. We need more defensive playmakers and he is inately a ball hawk.
Rivera. He'll help solidify the entire OL and his impact will be greater than just helping one position. Character. Toughness. Leadership. I loved this move.
Ware. His raw athleticism is immense and what he does best is something we've needed for almost a decade.
Spears. This guy is going to be better than everyone thinks. Because of his 40 time and his college sack numbers most people didn't want Spears as much as Ware, Merriman, Pollack, etc. Believe me folks, he is going to be a great, great player. What he'll bring to our defense is so far beyond just sacks that people are going to wonder why this guy wasn't a top 5 pick. Closest thing I've seen to Reggie White. I know, strong words for a rookie who hasn't played a down, but I'm ecstatic about this guy's ability and character.
Barber. I think he's perfect for JuJo's partner. He won't mind playing second fiddle and he's very talented in his own right. As good as Parcells is at finding running backs, it wouldn't surprise me to see Barber play like a star himself. The dropoff from Julius to him shouldn't be that huge.
Canty. How can you not love getting a guy this talented in the 4th round. His upside is huge and gambling a 4th round pick on someone with this much ability was a no brainer, IMO.
Glenn. He'll be a tremendous 3rd corner and push the starters in some of Parcells much loved camp competition. He brings ability and leadership.
A-Train. Great veteran addition to a young RB corps that is chock full of youth and inexperience. He's a tough guy too and that never hurts to add to a team.
Other than the late round picks, which I loved, the one glaring ommision is Kevin Burnett. I really like Kevin, but here's what I would've done differently:
I would've brought in Ed Hartwell as a free agent. I think he would've been perfect for Bill's new 3-4. He's one tough guy and he plays perfectly in a 3-4. He's much better than most thought because he was constantly overshadowed by Ray Lewis... but he's a very, very good player in his own right.
Since that would've given us another experienced linebacker, who has played well in a 3-4 and who is still young, we could've gone in another direction in the second round.
Burnett was somewhat of a steal in the second round, so I might would've gone ahead and added him, even with Hartwell in the fold. That would've given us a spectacular LB corps. But since we did have Hartwell, we could've used that pick on:
Khalif Barnes. I liked him for RT and he probably would've won the starting job from day one.
or
Terrence Murphy. I think he's going to be a very good WR.
or
Matt Roth. Very good value in the 2nd round.
or
Mike Nugent. The K position would've been filled for a long time.
Anyway, I'm just killing time until training camp, but if I had to do anything differently, I would've brought in Hartwell and drafted Barnes. I like Burnett enough that I might have drafted him anyway and just had a LB corps that's stacked. However, Barnes would've been great to get because I think he could play from opening day.
What would you have done differently?
Dallas also had a wonderful draft. The defense will barely resemble the poor defense of last year... and that is in personnel alone, much less the scheme.
I couldn't be happier about the way things fell.
However, since it's slow for news right now, I thought I'd sit and think about what I might have done differently had I been in charge.
So I ask: If you could change one or two things we did this off season what would it be?
For me, it isn't an easy question.
What I know I wouldn't change are these moves we made:
Ferguson. He's critical to what we want to do on defense, in a 3-4 or a 4-3.
Bledsoe. He was the best that was available and quite an upgrade over Vinny.
Henry. I think he's just what the doctor ordered at the RCB position. We need more defensive playmakers and he is inately a ball hawk.
Rivera. He'll help solidify the entire OL and his impact will be greater than just helping one position. Character. Toughness. Leadership. I loved this move.
Ware. His raw athleticism is immense and what he does best is something we've needed for almost a decade.
Spears. This guy is going to be better than everyone thinks. Because of his 40 time and his college sack numbers most people didn't want Spears as much as Ware, Merriman, Pollack, etc. Believe me folks, he is going to be a great, great player. What he'll bring to our defense is so far beyond just sacks that people are going to wonder why this guy wasn't a top 5 pick. Closest thing I've seen to Reggie White. I know, strong words for a rookie who hasn't played a down, but I'm ecstatic about this guy's ability and character.
Barber. I think he's perfect for JuJo's partner. He won't mind playing second fiddle and he's very talented in his own right. As good as Parcells is at finding running backs, it wouldn't surprise me to see Barber play like a star himself. The dropoff from Julius to him shouldn't be that huge.
Canty. How can you not love getting a guy this talented in the 4th round. His upside is huge and gambling a 4th round pick on someone with this much ability was a no brainer, IMO.
Glenn. He'll be a tremendous 3rd corner and push the starters in some of Parcells much loved camp competition. He brings ability and leadership.
A-Train. Great veteran addition to a young RB corps that is chock full of youth and inexperience. He's a tough guy too and that never hurts to add to a team.
Other than the late round picks, which I loved, the one glaring ommision is Kevin Burnett. I really like Kevin, but here's what I would've done differently:
I would've brought in Ed Hartwell as a free agent. I think he would've been perfect for Bill's new 3-4. He's one tough guy and he plays perfectly in a 3-4. He's much better than most thought because he was constantly overshadowed by Ray Lewis... but he's a very, very good player in his own right.
Since that would've given us another experienced linebacker, who has played well in a 3-4 and who is still young, we could've gone in another direction in the second round.
Burnett was somewhat of a steal in the second round, so I might would've gone ahead and added him, even with Hartwell in the fold. That would've given us a spectacular LB corps. But since we did have Hartwell, we could've used that pick on:
Khalif Barnes. I liked him for RT and he probably would've won the starting job from day one.
or
Terrence Murphy. I think he's going to be a very good WR.
or
Matt Roth. Very good value in the 2nd round.
or
Mike Nugent. The K position would've been filled for a long time.
Anyway, I'm just killing time until training camp, but if I had to do anything differently, I would've brought in Hartwell and drafted Barnes. I like Burnett enough that I might have drafted him anyway and just had a LB corps that's stacked. However, Barnes would've been great to get because I think he could play from opening day.
What would you have done differently?
