Who can we least afford to lose?

[BouncingCheese]

This is all very true. IF the Cowboy's D-line (and LB's - don't forget them) play extremely well then we could survive an average secondary without Newman. I'm not sure if you were responding to me at all, but if so my only point was that it isn't a given that we will be capable of survivng it the same way San Diego did, and that because the personnel is different then just because we will have a similar scheme doesn't automatically mean we will have similar results.

Sorry, I wasn't responding to your post, though you are right about SD. They had an offense that controlled the ball by running which we didn't do and may not be able to do since we don't have a back like LT who can handle the ball 400 times a season. We may not have the backs that we can lean on.

Your totally right about the LB's also playing an important role... though to be honest Spencer is going to be a better play than Shaun Phillips and Ware is as good as Merriman though their styles are so different. I am not too worried about the LB's, Carpenter would be a starting ILB in SD where Edwards or Godrey were, so would Burnett IMO. (I guess that just shows the talent we have at ILB on this team, though James is maligned and Ayodele's job is in jeopardy)

We have better personell at LB and in the secondary... The Chargers have IMHO the best left side of an offensive line including Hardwick in the league... not to mention the best running back and possibly fullback. They also have a too three defensive line. We have a top five recieving core and a top ten tight end, not to mention a solid offensive line. If Romo and the defensive line perform then I don't think there is going to anything that can stop this team that much even if a player gets injured. That is really what the season boils down to.

That was too long of a post.


P.S. I didn't like the Fasano pick, but he is a pretty solid backup and I think if he was on another team he would have 600 yards and 5-6 td's a season... He is a big target and is strong... if only he could learn to block a lick. I wouldn't be nervous about the TE production if Witten went down, though the leftover depth would be really worrisome.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Your way of reading words in a way that doesn't coincide with what they mean is laughable.

Abe is alright... a bit of a button pusher is all.

What you wrote is true. It ties in to what I wrote above though.

 

[Stautner]

Sorry, I wasn't responding to your post, though you are right about SD. They had an offense that controlled the ball by running which we didn't do and may not be able to do since we don't have a back like LT who can handle the ball 400 times a season. We may not have the backs that we can lean on.

Your totally right about the LB's also playing an important role... though to be honest Spencer is going to be a better play than Shaun Phillips and Ware is as good as Merriman though their styles are so different. I am not too worried about the LB's, Carpenter would be a starting ILB in SD where Edwards or Godrey were, so would Burnett IMO. (I guess that just shows the talent we have at ILB on this team, though James is maligned and Ayodele's job is in jeopardy)

We have better personell at LB and in the secondary... The Chargers have IMHO the best left side of an offensive line including Hardwick in the league... not to mention the best running back and possibly fullback. They also have a too three defensive line. We have a top five recieving core and a top ten tight end, not to mention a solid offensive line. If Romo and the defensive line perform then I don't think there is going to anything that can stop this team that much even if a player gets injured. That is really what the season boils down to.

That was too long of a post.

I wasn't sure if you were responding to me or not, I just noticed some of your comments fit with the context of my discussions.

You make a very good point about the San Diego offense - that's something I didn't even address. How the offense performs affects the defense, and the difference in offenses is another reason that San Diego and Dallas can't be viewed as identical situations.

I too am optimistic about the LB's, although I'm not as convinced as you are. I hope you prove to be right.

I certainly think we have a lot of potential - I'm just one of those guys that remains cautious in my remarks until actually seeing how things play out on the field.

 

[AbeBeta]

What went on between you two that you argue with each other so much?

I made the mistake of thinking he and I could have an intelligent discussion.

 

[BouncingCheese]

I wasn't sure if you were responding to me or not, I just noticed some of your comments fit with the context of my discussions.

You make a very good point about the San Diego offense - that's something I didn't even address. How the offense performs affects the defense, and the difference in offenses is another reason that San Diego and Dallas can't be viewed as identical situations.

I too am optimistic about the LB's, although I'm not as convinced as you are. I hope you prove to be right.

I certainly think we have a lot of potential - I'm just one of those guys that remains cautious in my remarks until actually seeing how things play out on the field.

Your right, I am being optomistic... I didn't like the Carpenter pick... but the guy has talent. This might be a good fit for him in this defense since the ILB has a role similar to the OLB in a 4-3... this is good for him because he can still rush the passer (which he is best at) but doesn't have the responsibility and the pressure to get to the qb all the time. Spencer is the guy that can take it. Shaun Phillips is a pretty solid no 2 LB... imagine how Spencer will fare in the next two seasons... this guy ran a 4.6 (Phillips ran a 4.89) and can bench 500 lbs. We don't need Spears and Canty to create massive pressure... Only one of them would be OKAY; the scheme honestly falters and maybe worse if Spears or canty can't create any pressure. The linebackers are all VERY fast ( even James is okay now that he slimmed down) and we have the talent. Defensive line is what really worries me about this team. I don't care how great the offense is, because defense wins games.

I know this team

 

[dools]

1. Newman
2. Barber- He is a good third down back.... pretty good in protection and has good hands. He is also an excellent short yardage and red zone back. I think he had 15 touchdowns last year. Julius also has had his share of injuries.

 

[Stautner]

Your right, I am being optomistic... I didn't like the Carpenter pick... but the guy has talent. This might be a good fit for him in this defense since the ILB has a role similar to the OLB in a 4-3... this is good for him because he can still rush the passer (which he is best at) but doesn't have the responsibility and the pressure to get to the qb all the time. Spencer is the guy that can take it. Shaun Phillips is a pretty solid no 2 LB... imagine how Spencer will fare in the next two seasons... this guy ran a 4.6 (Phillips ran a 4.89) and can bench 500 lbs. We don't need Spears and Canty to create massive pressure... Only one of them would be OKAY; the scheme honestly falters and maybe worse if Spears or canty can't create any pressure. The linebackers are all VERY fast ( even James is okay now that he slimmed down) and we have the talent. Defensive line is what really worries me about this team. I don't care how great the offense is, because defense wins games.

I know this team

Good post.

As for Carpenter, I know he will likely start as a backup, but I personally believe he will be starting at ILB at some point this season - maybe fairly quickly and probably in place of Brady James.

While Spencer does have outstanding measurables, I still hesitate to put too much credence in that - I'm still a guy that has to see it on the field before getting too hyped up - in my mind there have just been too many that haven't worked out to not remain at least a little reserved.

Your comments about the D-line interest me. A lot of folks seem to think that Spears and Canty are going to be beasts in Phillips defense, and that Parcells' defense is the only thing that held them back before. My viewpoint is that while I recognize that Parcells' defense was more restrictive than they will be playing now, I just never saw enough flashes of outstanding talent to be convinced that scheme was the only problem.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Obviosly ROMO, then WARE

 

[DragonCowboy]

Mccflabb-he is our biggest assett in the choking dept.

then why has he completely thrashed us in most of our games against him?

edit:

I'd say the top three should be Roy, Ware, Newman, in no particular order.

 

[DragonCowboy]

Sexual Tension?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my innocent ears!

Put an adult's only tag on this!

:laugh2:

 

[Teague31]

Fergi- does anyone really want Stanley playing any meaningful snaps?

 

[BouncingCheese]

Good post.

As for Carpenter, I know he will likely start as a backup, but I personally believe he will be starting at ILB at some point this season - maybe fairly quickly and probably in place of Brady James.

While Spencer does have outstanding measurables, I still hesitate to put too much credence in that - I'm still a guy that has to see it on the field before getting too hyped up - in my mind there have just been too many that haven't worked out to not remain at least a little reserved.

Your comments about the D-line interest me. A lot of folks seem to think that Spears and Canty are going to be beasts in Phillips defense, and that Parcells' defense is the only thing that held them back before. My viewpoint is that while I recognize that Parcells' defense was more restrictive than they will be playing now, I just never saw enough flashes of outstanding talent to be convinced that scheme was the only problem.

You are totally right about measurables not meaning much compared to how they play on the field. I agree with your statement one thousand percent. Shoot, Carpenter had great measurables yet I saw him get eaten up by sometime subpar lineman. I agree with your statement.

About the defensive line... Spears' definitely has the ability. Though to think he has the talent of Luis Castillo is honestly foolish as much as I would like to believe it. Spears, however, is very talented and pretty athletic. His only problem is his motor. In this scheme, the D-lineman rarely have the time to rush the passer because they are always playing against the run first. By the time they move into their pass-rushing moves, the qb has already thrown it since an average NFL play is so short. Spears, who wasn't used to this since he played in a pretty agressive D at LSU, probably pouted and got lazy IMHO since he knew it was somewhat futile.

My only thing about Spears and his motor is that he also took plays off in college; I don't blame much or all of it on BP's scheme... It still has to be seen if Spears and Canty can manage to expend a large amount of energy to rush the passer and then sustain it; they really have never done that in the NFL up to this point as they will have to do this year.

The Defense is going to be really interesting; Spears and Canty lining up like a conventional 4-3 end, all the stunting (looping around behind an engaged D-linemate in order to have a hopefully straighter angle at the QB) and blitzing is going to be fun. But Spears and Canty need to step up, as does Ferguson... Fergy needs to create pressure up in the QB's face.

P.S. I didn't mean to say " I know this team" because honestly I know alot less than some of the other posters... I was typing a longer thought but had to go somewhere.

 

[Facin'Fools]

then why has he completely thrashed us in most of our games against him?

edit:

I'd say the top three should be Roy, Ware, Newman, in no particular order.

Juckie was just tryin' to get a rise out of me...nothing to really do with the topic that's why i didn't respond.....give juck another chance he has some wisdom in some aspect of cowboys football....somewhere

 

[theogt]

Good post.

As for Carpenter, I know he will likely start as a backup, but I personally believe he will be starting at ILB at some point this season - maybe fairly quickly and probably in place of Brady James.

While Spencer does have outstanding measurables, I still hesitate to put too much credence in that - I'm still a guy that has to see it on the field before getting too hyped up - in my mind there have just been too many that haven't worked out to not remain at least a little reserved.

Your comments about the D-line interest me. A lot of folks seem to think that Spears and Canty are going to be beasts in Phillips defense, and that Parcells' defense is the only thing that held them back before. My viewpoint is that while I recognize that Parcells' defense was more restrictive than they will be playing now, I just never saw enough flashes of outstanding talent to be convinced that scheme was the only problem.

My goodness, do you even know our players? Spencer isn't a "measurables" guy. There are certain guys that have amazing measurables but haven't produced on-field in college (see DeMarcus Ware, who produced but at a small level). Then there are guys who produce, but don't have the measurables. Spencer is the latter type. He didn't have amazing measurables. He wasn't amazingly fast for his body size. He didn't have the 11' broad jump, etc. But he produced on-field -- 90+ tackles, 26.5 TFL, etc.. That's why people liked him. He wasn't a "measurables" kind of guy.

Honestly, look into things before you start spouting **** out like you know something.

 

[TEK2000]

My goodness, do you even know our players? Spencer isn't a "measurables" guy. There are certain guys that have amazing measurables but haven't produced on-field in college (see DeMarcus Ware, who produced but at a small level). Then there are guys who produce, but don't have the measurables. Spencer is the latter type. He didn't have amazing measurables. He wasn't amazingly fast for his body size. He didn't have the 11' broad jump, etc. But he produced on-field -- 90+ tackles, 26.5 TFL, etc.. That's why people liked him. He wasn't a "measurables" kind of guy.

Honestly, look into things before you start spouting **** out like you know something.

And the first wave of bombs has been launched!!! :laugh2:

:starspin

 

[big dog cowboy]

TNew.

Next question.

 

[AbeBeta]

Fergi- does anyone really want Stanley playing any meaningful snaps?

If Fergi goes down it is Ratliff and Spears at NT.

That would be awesome for Marcus because then he'd have still another excuse for not producing.

 

[theogt]

If Fergi goes down it is Ratliff and Spears at NT.

One of the recent reports from the Ranch Report had Stanley making "significant strides" this off-season. That's the only place I've heard of such, but I can't see why they'd just make that up out of the blue.

 

[AbeBeta]

One of the recent reports from the Ranch Report had Stanley making "significant strides" this off-season. That's the only place I've heard of such, but I can't see why they'd just make that up out of the blue.

Unfortunately, a signficant stride for him could be moving from "completely and totally lost" to "has a shread of a clue"

Remember, this is the guy who we didn't even try to sign to the PS after we cut him.

 

[theogt]

Unfortunately, a signficant stride for him could be moving from "completely and totally lost" to "has a shread of a clue"

Remember, this is the guy who we didn't even try to sign to the PS after we cut him.

It's not like NT takes a rocket scientist. He wasn't lost or anything. His problem was that he suffered an injury in his senior year and wasn't able to work out all off-season. He came into camp too weak and pretty much stayed that way. A year later after a full year of working out in a pro training program and that isn't the case anymore.