Jerry's Offseason Moves

[Sideshow Bob]

I predict Jerry will announce the new/permanent Head Coach during Super Bowl week.

I'll bet he starts interviewing the day after the Philly game.

Before last week, I thought Garrett was a shoe-in, but now I have my doubts. A lot of what Jerry's been saying since the Arizona game leads one to believe he is strongly considering going in another direction.

Not that Garrett hasn't been good, but maybe just not good enough. Jerry doesn't just want us back over .500 next season, he wants us back to being a legitimate contender.

[Sideshow Bob]

This seems especially telling...

sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2010/12/jerry-talks-about-hiring-the-permanent-head-coach.html

Q: Do you already have your candidate list?

Jones: Yes, I’ve had a list and keep a list of perspective coaches as it would relate to their lineage, where they’ve had their experience, what they not only have done if they were college coaches or what they have done if they’ve been assistant coaches around the NFL or what they’ve done as head coaches. I think I mentioned to some of you that for instance there’s never been a coach win the Super Bowl and go someplace else and win it, and that’s long odds.

Q: Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher are out then?

Jones: No, I’m just saying that’s long odds. That’s worth noting.

Q:You want to be the first?

Jones: That’s a good point. But the other odds are there’s a lot to be said, and I’m a big believer in having never done something and then getting the opportunity to do it. And of course, that sets that up right there, to be the first coach to ever win it someplace else. But I’m a big believer that that initial proving it out is a big motivator.”

[Sideshow Bob]

Very interesing item here about Jerry's plans for the roster...

sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2010/12/jerry-some-players-will-pay-with-their-jobs.html

And at the end of the year, some players are also going to pay -- including some starters. Jones obviously did not name names, but when asked if the roster could simply be tweaked to make the Cowboys a playoff team, he said:

“That’s a good question in the sense that if you look at what happens with teams, generally in most years you’re looking at replacing a third of your roster. We’ve certainly got players that we had to play this year that were a part of starting returners that are suspect. . . . I’d say that it’s very likely that we’ll have more turnover. That wasn’t your question but it’s likely we’ll have a lot more turnover this year than we had last year.”

[Sideshow Bob]

sticky

[Terd Ferguson]

" Yes, I’ve had a list and keep a list of perspective coaches"


Seriously? PERSPECTIVE? How do these people get jobs as writers? It is PROSPECTIVE. It is a list of prospects. WTF?

[Terd Ferguson]

How about you post YOUR offseason moves? Everybody has a complaint...what is your SOLUTION?

First, I take a hard look at Fisher to see if he is available. If he is, go get him by any means necessary. On ESPN they were commenting on all the potential coaching changes. Mort and Schefter said Fisher is half way out the door because Adams is siding with Vince Young. He also said that Fisher will want to go somewhere with a team that has a QB and can win.

He is perfect for this team. I like Garrett, but I am a HUGE Jeff Fisher fan and have been for a very, very long time.

Step 1 - bring in Jeff Fisher (and allow him to bring in whatever coaching staff he wants).

[Terd Ferguson]

Here is my offseason starting point. Obviously coaching changes can affect this greatly. Any coach wanting to switch to a 4-3 will need to make a couple of changes. We have DTs here for that and DEs too...would need to look at OLB because we don't have those on board for a 4-3 switch.


QB – Keep it as is. Romo is the starter. Kitna has proven to be more than capable as the backup and McGee has shown the potential to keep him around to continue to develop. – players needed: 0

RB – Cut Barber. Choice is the starter, Felix is the change of pace, home run hitter. Lonyae Miller has been good on special teams since getting re-signed. He can be the 3rd RB. Good special teams player and very fast. – players needed: 0

TE – Witten is the undisputed starter here. I think Phillips coming back makes Bennett either expendable in a trade or you just keep him and hope he gets some consistency. You look at what New Orleans and New England are doing in the passing game using rookie TEs and you wish we had 2 guys playing well consistently, but we really only have Witten right now. No need to go TE crazy in the draft though. We have what we need…just need to get more from the backups. – players needed: 0

WR – Dez is the 1. Austin is the 2. Roy W is the 3 if he re-works his deal. If not Hurd can be the 3 with competition from a young guy. Teddy Williams is interesting as a developmental WR and we still have Holley and Ogletree. Holley is a very good special teams player and worthy of the #5 spot. – players needed: 0, but a mid-late round pick could be used on a speedy return guy…maybe something like Amendola to see if we can find our Wes Welker.

OT – If the top LTs are available in the draft, you have to get them. They can start out on the right and then move to left later, or if they are better than Free, he can go back to the RT. We have some interesting developmental depth here but nobody has a spot yet. Hopefully getting back to practicing in pads will help too. I think that hut Houck’s effectiveness because the OL has been better since we started hitting in practice. Not great, because there is too much age and injury there, but better. Columbo could stick for one more year as a backup, but he can’t start anymore – players needed: 2-3 (one FA, 2 drafted)

C – Because of the number of changes we need to make, we might have to depend on Costa to beat out Gurode, or put up with Gurode for another year. The coaches are high on Costa who was not great at G when he had to play, but he wasn’t terrible either. If he is our C of the future, we are in good shape. If not, we need to find the one that is….quickly. – players needed: 0 unless a very good one falls to a mid round pick in the draft or if a good FA is available.

G – I have hope we can patch a solution here. Cut Davis and his huge salary. Assume then that you will re-sign Kosier and start him along with Holland. That is a workable solution at G for now, while you go after some depth/youth. If a play can be made for Logan Mankins or some other vet, we have to go get them. – players needed: 2 (one FA, one draft)

NT – I think Price-Brent is pretty decent at the NT. Ratliff needs to move to DE to prolong his career. That means we need another big body. There are a few in this draft. We might also find one in free agency. We just need a big bodied run stuffer to give Price-Brent a breather. – players needed: 1 (prefer a vet in FA here)

DE – Hatcher and Bowen are great rotational guys. I don’t know if we’re ready to start them both. Olshansky has not been very good. He may be on his way out. Spears being hurt may have hurt his stock. If he comes back on a one year deal we’re ok here. – players needed: 2 (can both be FA, no need to spend big money here, just a couple of solid vets – only need one if Spears comes back).

OLB – No real needs here. Ware is a beast. Spencer shows flashes (the new D-Coord will have to get it out of him). Butler and Williams have been good backups. Williams showed some ability late in the year and Butler is good every time he gets on the field. He could even push Spencer out of the starting spot. – players needed: 0

ILB – Bradie James is fine for a couple of years. Brooking is a good locker room guy who needs to have his role reduced. If we could use Brooking as a backup ILB in short yardage packages and maybe some specific blitz packages he can stick for another year. That means either Sean Lee has to start, or we have to find another ILB. It is usually pretty easy to find veteran guys to plug these kinds of holes for a year or so. No need to go big FA crazy or use a high pick on one. – players needed: 1 (decent vet in FA or a draft pick, but no need to use a 1 or 2 here)

CB – Jenkins and Scandrick have to be better but they are young and talented. The new DC has to be able to get that from them. I heard Newman is owed a $9M bonus this offseason? If that is true he has to either re-do that deal or he has to go. Either way, we have to go after a top notch CB. That means either one of the top 3 in the draft or a high priced FA. – players needed: 2 (McCann provides depth/return ability. We need a top CB here and another for depth. I prefer to use our top pick at CB, but if a marquee FA wants to play here (Champ Bailey?) then it changes things.

S – We have a ton of numbers here. Which ones can play? Ball can’t. Sensabaugh does sometimes, but he plays more like a FS than a SS. Church, McCray, and Owusu-Ansah have all shown a little something this year but depending on one of them as the starter is a bit scary. I think we go after a solid veteran here in FA. With a solid vet and some decent coaching we can get by for another year while the new coaches find out if any of the kids can play. – players needed: 1 or 2 (solid FA is fine, no need to go after the biggest names available, just ones that can play solid defense).

K – We all know how I feel about this. Buehler is in his first year of kicking. Most kickers kick for 4 years in college plus kicking camps, refining their mechanics. His biggest problem was he was a FB and SS in college because of his size and speed. Now he is playing catch up on the kicking. I give him the offseason plus a competition in camp with a veteran. If he wins it, great. If not you have to consider if you want to keep 2 kickers or cut him loose. Expanding the rosters for an 18 game season may give you the flexibility of carrying 2 kickers (Jimmy did it for a while with the current roster restrictions). – players needed: maybe 1 veteran for competition at least.

P & LS – they are fine.

[Terd Ferguson]

That to me is a VERY aggressive offseason. Replacing 12-14 CORE players is risky business. You aren't going to hit on every one. However, when you are replacing bad players then at worst, you have another bad player.

Some positions by nature improve more than one spot. For example, if we cover better the pass rush should be better because they have more time. Or conversely if the pass rush is better, the CBs don't have to cover as long.

Also, if you are getting better play at G, it helps the C and the OT. Better play at the OT can help the G.

We don't have to solve every single one, but the more we do fix the more we can hide the bad spots.

[Sideshow Bob]

QB – Keep it as is. Romo is the starter. Kitna has proven to be more than capable as the backup and McGee has shown the potential to keep him around to continue to develop. – players needed: 0

RB – Cut Barber. Choice is the starter, Felix is the change of pace, home run hitter. Lonyae Miller has been good on special teams since getting re-signed. He can be the 3rd RB. Good special teams player and very fast. – players needed: 0

TE – Witten is the undisputed starter here. I think Phillips coming back makes Bennett either expendable in a trade or you just keep him and hope he gets some consistency. You look at what New Orleans and New England are doing in the passing game using rookie TEs and you wish we had 2 guys playing well consistently, but we really only have Witten right now. No need to go TE crazy in the draft though. We have what we need…just need to get more from the backups. – players needed: 0

WR – Dez is the 1. Austin is the 2. Roy W is the 3 if he re-works his deal. If not Hurd can be the 3 with competition from a young guy. Teddy Williams is interesting as a developmental WR and we still have Holley and Ogletree. Holley is a very good special teams player and worthy of the #5 spot. – players needed: 0, but a mid-late round pick could be used on a speedy return guy…maybe something like Amendola to see if we can find our Wes Welker.

OT – If the top LTs are available in the draft, you have to get them. They can start out on the right and then move to left later, or if they are better than Free, he can go back to the RT. We have some interesting developmental depth here but nobody has a spot yet. Hopefully getting back to practicing in pads will help too. I think that hut Houck’s effectiveness because the OL has been better since we started hitting in practice. Not great, because there is too much age and injury there, but better. Columbo could stick for one more year as a backup, but he can’t start anymore – players needed: 2-3 (one FA, 2 drafted)

Totally agree with you on all of the above - especially about no more starting for Columbo. I think Sam Young is a legitimate option in the very near future, possibly even to start the season in 2011.

C – Because of the number of changes we need to make, we might have to depend on Costa to beat out Gurode, or put up with Gurode for another year. The coaches are high on Costa who was not great at G when he had to play, but he wasn’t terrible either. If he is our C of the future, we are in good shape. If not, we need to find the one that is….quickly. – players needed: 0 unless a very good one falls to a mid round pick in the draft or if a good FA is available.

Man, I really don't want to have to stick with Gurode anymore, but you are right that we may have no feasible short-term option other than to hope Costa emerges.

G – I have hope we can patch a solution here. Cut Davis and his huge salary. Assume then that you will re-sign Kosier and start him along with Holland. That is a workable solution at G for now, while you go after some depth/youth. If a play can be made for Logan Mankins or some other vet, we have to go get them. – players needed: 2 (one FA, one draft)

Yeah, this is a solid plan. Holland wasn't bad when he finally got to play some, and Kosier is our most consistent offensive lineman.

NT – I think Price-Brent is pretty decent at the NT. Ratliff needs to move to DE to prolong his career. That means we need another big body. There are a few in this draft. We might also find one in free agency. We just need a big bodied run stuffer to give Price-Brent a breather. – players needed: 1 (prefer a vet in FA here)

Moving Ratliff to DE would be ideal, I agree. Worth giving Brent a look and running in a vet for depth, like you said.

DE – Hatcher and Bowen are great rotational guys. I don’t know if we’re ready to start them both. Olshansky has not been very good. He may be on his way out. Spears being hurt may have hurt his stock. If he comes back on a one year deal we’re ok here. – players needed: 2 (can both be FA, no need to spend big money here, just a couple of solid vets – only need one if Spears comes back).

Olshansky absolutely SUCKS and he's a microcosm of what's wrong with this defense and this team. The jackass never makes any big plays, but always overcelebrates the small ones. Eff him and his hippie hair...OUT. I've never been a huge Spears guy, but he's worth keeping at a lower price.

OLB – No real needs here. Ware is a beast. Spencer shows flashes (the new D-Coord will have to get it out of him). Butler and Williams have been good backups. Williams showed some ability late in the year and Butler is good every time he gets on the field. He could even push Spencer out of the starting spot. – players needed: 0

To me, Spencer was the single most disappointing player on the team, based on how dominant he was during the second half of last season. Time to give Butler more PT and really push Spencer to excel. Butler has always made the most out of limited action - I really like the guy.

ILB – Bradie James is fine for a couple of years. Brooking is a good locker room guy who needs to have his role reduced. If we could use Brooking as a backup ILB in short yardage packages and maybe some specific blitz packages he can stick for another year. That means either Sean Lee has to start, or we have to find another ILB. It is usually pretty easy to find veteran guys to plug these kinds of holes for a year or so. No need to go big FA crazy or use a high pick on one. – players needed: 1 (decent vet in FA or a draft pick, but no need to use a 1 or 2 here)

Brooking far exceeded expectations last year, but age has finally caught up with him - he is DONE. Sean Lee will have to be his heir apparent. Lee looked great at times, but meh at others. Seems just part of a young player's learning curve, though. I expect he will become consistently solid in the years to come. Bradie screws up on occasion, but he's generally dependable. I like your plan here to pick up a veteran for depth, too.

CB – Jenkins and Scandrick have to be better but they are young and talented. The new DC has to be able to get that from them. I heard Newman is owed a $9M bonus this offseason? If that is true he has to either re-do that deal or he has to go. Either way, we have to go after a top notch CB. That means either one of the top 3 in the draft or a high priced FA. – players needed: 2 (McCann provides depth/return ability. We need a top CB here and another for depth. I prefer to use our top pick at CB, but if a marquee FA wants to play here (Champ Bailey?) then it changes things.

Next year is where the rubber meets the road for Jenkins. He's had one GREAT season (last year) and two TERRIBLE seasons (this year goes even beyond terrible, truth be told). 1st round pick or not, if he doesn't rebound next season, we have to cut bait before 2012 - you can only wait so long for a guy to prove he can consistently deliver. Scandrick wasn't as bad this year as some claim. Not sure he'll ever be good enough to start all 16, but he's a very solid third CB. Would like to see how McCann develops here, but if one of the two super CBs is somehow still there when we pick in the 1st round, we have GOT to take him.

S – We have a ton of numbers here. Which ones can play? Ball can’t. Sensabaugh does sometimes, but he plays more like a FS than a SS. Church, McCray, and Owusu-Ansah have all shown a little something this year but depending on one of them as the starter is a bit scary. I think we go after a solid veteran here in FA. With a solid vet and some decent coaching we can get by for another year while the new coaches find out if any of the kids can play. – players needed: 1 or 2 (solid FA is fine, no need to go after the biggest names available, just ones that can play solid defense).

I was so wrong on Ball. He looked good enough when forced into action last season, that I thought a full training camp as a starter would enable him to deliver the goods. But he sucked so bad, it almost made me miss Roy. I doubt anyone in the league this year chased as many taillights as Ball. Get rid of the bum! I agree with you about sliding Sensabaugh over and signing a good FA (we should have signed Atogwe last year...D'OH!). I really like the young depth we have here (Church, Ansu Sesay, etc.), though.

K – We all know how I feel about this. Buehler is in his first year of kicking. Most kickers kick for 4 years in college plus kicking camps, refining their mechanics. His biggest problem was he was a FB and SS in college because of his size and speed. Now he is playing catch up on the kicking. I give him the offseason plus a competition in camp with a veteran. If he wins it, great. If not you have to consider if you want to keep 2 kickers or cut him loose. Expanding the rosters for an 18 game season may give you the flexibility of carrying 2 kickers (Jimmy did it for a while with the current roster restrictions). – players needed: maybe 1 veteran for competition at least.

You had successfully sold me on this before, but after Arizona, I just don't know. Seems like a headcase, and all the reps in the world won't fix that. Whoever they bring in to challenge him during training camp needs to be legit, and not some washed-up oldster like Stover.

P & LS – they are fine.

McBriar is the best player on this team, in terms of delivering above and beyond expectations on a consistent basis.

[Sideshow Bob]

Dec 28, 2010 10:52:06 GMT -6 Terd Ferguson said:

How about you post YOUR offseason moves? Everybody has a complaint...what is your SOLUTION?

First, I take a hard look at Fisher to see if he is available. If he is, go get him by any means necessary. On ESPN they were commenting on all the potential coaching changes. Mort and Schefter said Fisher is half way out the door because Adams is siding with Vince Young. He also said that Fisher will want to go somewhere with a team that has a QB and can win.

He is perfect for this team. I like Garrett, but I am a HUGE Jeff Fisher fan and have been for a very, very long time.

Step 1 - bring in Jeff Fisher (and allow him to bring in whatever coaching staff he wants).

Honestly, I want this to happen so damn badly that I would even be willing to accept zero roster changes if it meant sweet, clean Jeff Fisher was the Head Coach of our beloved Dallas Cowboys.

Just thinking about it is making me have to go change into some dry pants.

[Terd Ferguson]

I still think Brooking is good for short yardage situations. He would be good in that role because he would be VERY rested (not running around all the time) and highly motivated. That gives you a year to find out about Lee and some of the other young LBs on the team. I like Leon Williams...it would be very nice if he develops.

I was wrong about Ball too...I thought the same thing.

I still think you are VERY wrong about Jenkins. The things I read and hear talk about him like he is a pretty average CB. You think of the plays he doesn't make. You don't think about the MANY, MANY times he is not thrown at because his guy is blanketed. For example, how did Larry Fitzgerald have ONE catch against us? He had 10 the week before with the rookie QB, so I don't want to hear any "he had a rookie throwing to him" BS.
Jenkins is a decent CB is is performing below our expectations of him. Yes, he had a bad year but it wasn't as bad as you make it out. He was caught up in all that BS going on out there under Phillips and had a bad year. Until you have someone clearly better (actually, 4 guys clearly better) he is on this team, period.
You don't cut a guy who is a 6 in favor of a guy that is a 5 just because you think the 6 should be an 8. It isn't that complicated.

[Sideshow Bob]

Dec 28, 2010 12:52:23 GMT -6 Terd Ferguson said:

You don't cut a guy who is a 6 in favor of a guy that is a 5 just because you think the 6 should be an 8. It isn't that complicated.

Oddly enough, this makes perfect sense to me. I think you are right that CB is a position that we only notice the bad plays. Like I said, I'm definitely willing to stick with Jenkins another season - let's just see where he is this same time next year. Maybe it's not a matter of "cut bait" as much slide him down the depth chart...IF he continues to regress. But like you said, the low number of Fitzgerald catches/targets shows he is able to cover when he puts his mind to it.

[Terd Ferguson]

alot of it is focus and consistency...he'll have that with better coaching.

another big piece of it is the pass rush and safety help. The pass rush was VERY inconsistent and safety help was almost non-existent. Our CBs were pretty much on an island all year without any help.

[Sideshow Bob]

Dec 28, 2010 13:02:22 GMT -6 Terd Ferguson said:

alot of it is focus and consistency...he'll have that with better coaching.

another big piece of it is the pass rush and safety help. The pass rush was VERY inconsistent and safety help was almost non-existent. Our CBs were pretty much on an island all year without any help.

excellent points - especially about the safety help

no one was more victimized by ball's poor play than jenkins

[Terd Ferguson]

yeah, hard to say how much of it was just him and how much was the poor play everywhere else...either way he has to play much better but I think he will with better coaching and if he isn't worried about everybody else screwing up too.