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Post by Terd Ferguson on Jan 19, 2012 12:04:03 GMT -6
I don't want to trade back or up until after the combine and pro days...need to have a better feel for where guys will go. What I do want is MORE PICKS. There are some guys on this team that could be moved for a few picks to help us out. As I've mentioned, Austin would be my focus and the Jets would be my target. They need someone up there because they have a very bad situation between their QB and star WR. LT said it was the worst he has been around.
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 19, 2012 12:56:27 GMT -6
I don't want to trade back or up until after the combine and pro days...need to have a better feel for where guys will go. What I do want is MORE PICKS. There are some guys on this team that could be moved for a few picks to help us out. As I've mentioned, Austin would be my focus and the Jets would be my target. They need someone up there because they have a very bad situation between their QB and star WR. LT said it was the worst he has been around. rams might also have an interest in austin, since they have no decent WRs |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 19, 2012 12:57:45 GMT -6
Telling you I dream of trading Miles and trading down. There is lots of guys in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds that can play for Thai team. When did Thailand get their own team? Is Dat their coach or is he still hiding behind the grassy knoll? he took out derrick thomas from a snowbank, not the grassy knoll |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 19, 2012 13:11:25 GMT -6
This one's from Broaddus... espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4689653/fixing-the-cowboys-find-cb-first-then-draft-defenseFixing the Cowboys: Find CB first, then draft defense
When the final whistle blew on that chilly night at MetLife Stadium, the season ended for the Dallas Cowboys. The hope of a division title died with a roster that wasn’t good enough to compete with the Giants for the second time in four weeks. If Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett are honest with themselves, they will look at this roster and say that it’s just not good enough to compete with the Giants and the Eagles. We can talk about the Super Bowl all we want, but if you are not playing well in your division, there are going to be problems.
When I worked for the Cowboys, the biggest issues I had during our final meeting of the season was that we were not honest with the makeup of our squad. When you go 5-11 for three straight seasons and the coaches talk about the players like we were 11-5, there are going to be problems. Garrett and these coaches can't keep Jerry from believing his roster is better than it really is. I'm not going to say that there isn't talent on this team, but I will say there were players on this roster that Jones and Garrett were counting on that just weren't good enough.
Here is what I would try and do to help it:
1. As much as I want to overhaul this secondary, I am going to try and fix the left cornerback spot first. Terence Newman needs to be replaced immediately. His level of play has clearly slipped and he no longer plays with any confidence. When a corner lacks confidence you might as well be playing with a speed bump out there. There are two ways that Jones can attack this area. The first is to trust his pro scouting staff, which brought him Laurent Robinson and Tony Fiammetta. The big name corners on the market this spring will be Cortland Finnegan of the Titans and Brent Grimes of the Falcons. Both of these players are similar in age and will command top dollar. If I had to lean one way, I would probably go toward Finnegan because of his aggressive style and the nastiness in his play, which this team lacks. If there might be a hitch, it'd be that Jones and Garrett would like to have a corner with more size -- Finnegan and Grimes are both in the 5-9, 185-pound range.
The second way this area could be addressed is through the draft, which can either be feast or famine. Sitting in the 14th spot, Jones is still in decent shape because you usually have between 15 to 18 players that have first-round grades on your board. The second-best corner on the board will be Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama. There is no questioning Kirkpatrick's ability or size (6-2, 192 pounds), but now character issues have been raised -- he was charged with possession of marijuana Tuesday and was released after paying a $120 fine.
When I worked for Bill Parcells, he put players with character flaws into "The Box" -- an area where you put players that you did not want to draft, period. I guarantee there will be teams that will take Kirkpatrick off their boards and into "The Box." The question for the Cowboys: Will Kirkpatrick be able to explain what happened, and will other examples of questionable behavior be uncovered? I would still consider Kirkpatrick an option for the Cowboys, but he really has to convince me that it'd be in my best interest to select him. I promise the Cowboys will turn over every rock to get to the bottom of this. He's that good of a player.
2. As much as I want to fix the interior of this offensive line with the addition of a free-agent guard like the Saints' Carl Nicks, I have to think about the amount of funds I wound have to allow for this to work. Don't get me wrong, it'd be money well spent, but there's also an opportunity to select the best guard in the draft -- Stanford's David DeCastro.
Jones and Garrett have to ask themselves if finding a replacement for OLB Anthony Spencer is more important than filling a position where you seem to have better options. Does Kyle Kosier, Montrae Holland, Derrick Dockery, Kevin Kowalski, Bill Nagy and David Arkin make you feel comfortable enough with the guard spot as is, whereas you just have Victor Butler and Alex Albright at outside linebacker? There is no doubt the Cowboys lacked a pass rusher that could help DeMarcus Ware on the other side. The Cowboys like Butler -- and he very well could be the starter going into 2012 -- but why not use the 14th pick to upgrade that spot with Alabama's Courtney Upshaw or South Carolina's Melvin Ingram? The Cowboys must do a better job of pressuring the quarterback because Ware can't do it alone. I have been critical of Ware, but a player on the other side could take pressure off him and help this defense tremendously.
3. Sticking with the defense, I'm also taking a hard look at three spots -- defensive end, inside linebacker and safety. At defensive end, I'd move on from Kenyon Coleman, who wasn't nearly as good at the end of the season as he was at the beginning. I like Jason Hatcher, and I also think there is a role for Marcus Spears. Sean Lissemore proved to be a nice swing guy, but he looked better at nose tackle, so I'm tempted to keep him there. The scouts have hope for Clifton Geathers, but I don't share that. I would look to draft a productive player like Boise State's Billy Winn, who played tackle but should be suited more for play on the outside.
4. I'm also looking for help at inside linebacker, because there's really no depth. It's time to move on from Bradie James and Keith Brooking. Bruce Carter will be ready to play in 2012 and will be productive playing next to Sean Lee. However, behind those two, there's nothing. I'd try to add player in the fourth round that could be a quality backup but also help in the nickel, like Kevin Burnett did several years ago. Texas' Emmanuel Acho could be an interesting choice. Acho has a nose for the ball and is super active.
5. At safety, I'm moving on from Abram Elam because I need someone with more range. I have too many safeties on this roster that are forward players, such as Barry Church and Danny McCray. This defense needs someone that gets their hands on the ball and can help off the hash or middle of the field. I don't need safeties that can't adjust to Victor Cruz going down the field or Riley Cooper catching a jump ball from Michael Vick. If the Cowboys have a safety with range, it would be a step in the right direction in helping this secondary.
For all the problems that Garrett has had with game management, I feel he's got a good eye for talent and understands how you go about gathering players. Despite what people want to believe, the head coach does have a great deal of say in what players are signed and drafted. Bill Parcells took advantage of this; Dave Campo didn't. Chan Gailey convinced Jones that he wanted nothing to do with Randy Moss. Jason Garrett went to USC last season to see Tyron Smith work out and talk with members of the staff to get a feel for him.
You might not want to trust Jerry Jones, but you should trust Jason Garrett. I think he gets it. |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 19, 2012 16:26:50 GMT -6
Tard Archer's take... espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4689654/fixing-the-cowboys-pass-rush-and-protectionFixing the Cowboys: Pass rush and protection
I would like to thank my warmup acts -- Tim MacMahon, Calvin Watkins and Bryan Broaddus -- for their solutions on how to fix the Cowboys.
The salary cap will not be an issue. The Cowboys have said they will be able to do whatever they want in free agency, despite the dead money that lingers. By the time free agency begins, they could have around $20 million in room.
That’s plenty.
I’m looking at the four teams that are playing this weekend in the conference championship games as prime examples of how to structure your team.
Baltimore, New England, San Francisco and the New York Giants offer the Cowboys a blueprint of what works.
The NFL is not about running the ball and stopping the run anymore. Those are tired clichés. It’s protecting the passer, especially up the middle, and rushing the passer.
So while we can all say the Cowboys need to get better in the secondary, I’ll go with improving the pass rush first. DeMarcus Ware needs some help. Jay Ratliff needs some help.
The Giants have pass rushers all along their defensive front, from Jason Pierre-Paul to Justin Tuck to Osi Umenyiora. San Francisco has pass rushers in Justin Smith and Aldon Smith. Baltimore gets pressure from more than Terrell Suggs.
Go get a pass rusher -- make that two.
Let’s look at a team that lost last week: Houston. The Texans drafted J.J. Watt and Brooks Read, and Wade Phillips’ defense attacked the passer. Too often we have used the excuse that defensive ends in a 3-4 are just space eaters. Smith proves that wrong. So does Watt. They can be disruptive.
To come up with draft names at this point is somewhat silly, but at No. 14 the Cowboys need to get that 3-4 defensive end or outside linebacker, especially if they deem the Anthony Spencer experiment over. Spencer will be a free agent, and while he is solid against the run, he does not get to the quarterback enough.
My first two picks go to defensive end and outside linebacker.
What about cornerback? I’ll use San Francisco as an example again. Carlos Rogers was the epitome of “just a guy” when he played for Washington. He goes to the 49ers with that great front seven and makes the Pro Bowl. The Giants’ secondary is playing a lot better now that the pass rush has improved.
A terrific pass rush can offset some deficiencies in the secondary. We saw that in 2009 with the Cowboys.
If you want a cornerback, be wise. There is not a Jonathan Joseph or Nnamdi Asomugha available this year. Kansas City’s Brandon Carr offers some intrigue but he might get overpaid this year.
Next up is the offensive line.
This is where MacMahon got something right in targeting New Orleans guard Carl Nicks in free agency. He must’ve been reading the blog last week when I made the suggestion. We have to suppose Nicks will be available and doesn’t re-sign with the Saints before the market opens in March. I’ll take my chances on a 26-year-old free agent with multiple Pro Bowls to his credit.
Interior offensive line play is huge. New England protects Tom Brady with Logan Mankins and Brian Waters. Baltimore does it with Ben Grubbs, who is also set to be a free agent, and Marshal Yanda. San Francisco has a first-rounder in Mike Iupati inside. The Giants have Chris Snee.
Too often last season Tony Romo was left dodging traffic up the middle, and quarterbacks just can’t survive there. So why not take a guard with the first-rounder? I’m not sure Stanford’s David DeCastro can come in and duplicate what Tyron Smith did at right tackle as a rookie. Unless they are special, most rookie linemen need time to adapt to the speed and power of the NFL.
Give me Nicks, a stronger, more veteran center, and new coach Bill Callahan, and the line will be better in 2012.
Plus, to me, the defense needs more work. They have to come away with at least three impact players in the draft and/or free agency.
If they can do that, they can jump into the NFC mix next season. |
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 19, 2012 16:38:43 GMT -6
Are y'all on board with any of these guys? sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2012/01/cornerbacks-aplenty-in-free-agency-if-cowboys-opt-to-go-that-route.htmlCornerbacks available in free agency if Cowboys opt to go that route
Cornerback is an area that needs improvement. That much is obvious.
According to Pro Football Focus, Mike Jenkins, who played through various injuries all season, was the team's best cornerback. He ranked 40th at the position, having been targeted 54 times while allowing 28 receptions for 340 yards and four touchdowns, with a 51.9 completion percentage against him and an 88.5 passer rating against him. The web site credited him with five pass breakups, and he had an interception.
Alan Ball, who is a free agent, was the Cowboys' second-best cornerback, according to PFF. He ranked 82nd, just ahead of Orlando Scandrick at No. 83. Scandrick signed a five-year, $27 million extension before the season, so he is not going anywhere.
Jenkins will enter 2012 in the final year of his rookie deal and will make $1 million. It will be a big season for him with free agency approaching.
But the Cowboys almost certainly will part ways with cornerback Terence Newman. Dallas paid him $8 million in base salary, and Newman counted $10 million against the salary cap. He is due $6 million in base and is scheduled to count $8 million against the cap in 2012. The Cowboys will save $6 million in salary-cap money if they count him as a post-June 1 cut.
Newman was only the 97th-best cornerback in the NFL in 2011, according to PFF. He was targeted 78 times and gave up 49 catches for 797 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks completed 62.8 percent of their passes against him and had an 88.5 passer rating. Newman, who turns 34 in September, did have four interceptions.
The Cowboys flirted with replacing Newman in free agency this summer by signing Nnamdi Asomugha, who landed in Philadelphia instead. They could have plenty of cornerbacks to choose from if they opt to shop in free agency this off-season.
Several top cornerbacks, including Tennessee's Cortland Finnegan, Baltimore's Lardarius Webb, San Francisco's Carlos Rogers, Kansas City's Brandon Carr and Atlanta's Brent Grimes are scheduled to become free agents in March. Terrell Thomas of the Giants also could hit the market, but he missed all of the 2011 season after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament in a preseason game.
Grimes was the league's second-best cornerback this season, according to PFF, with Finnegan third and Webb fourth. Rogers was 11th and Carr 30th. Any one of them would be an upgrade for the Cowboys.
Grimes, who turns 29 this summer, is likely to re-sign with the Falcons, who have made him a priority. He allowed only 25 catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns as quarterbacks completed only 44.6 percent of their passes against him.
Finnegan could hit the market. He made headlines during training camp when he briefly left the team. He had desired a contract extension before the 2011 season. Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray moved Finnegan around, putting him inside on passing downs to cover the slot. Finnegan allowed only 52 catches for 456 yards and two scores. He turns 28 in February.
Rogers has expressed a desire to return to the 49ers, and Webb, two years removed from a torn ACL, will be a restricted free agent who likely will re-sign with the Ravens.
Carr, who turns 26 in May, could receive heavy interest if he hits the market. |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Mar 9, 2012 15:50:05 GMT -6
Don't be surprised when Brodney Poole shows up as our new SS.
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Post by mexicanjunior on Mar 20, 2012 7:39:03 GMT -6
Don't be surprised when Brodney Poole shows up as our new SS. Good call... |
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Post by tecnocrat on Jul 29, 2012 20:38:13 GMT -6
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jul 30, 2012 10:59:33 GMT -6
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Post by Jesse Jackson on Jul 30, 2012 15:51:25 GMT -6
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Post by matt51180 on Jul 31, 2012 19:10:26 GMT -6
That was the best press conference I have ever heard.
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Aug 2, 2012 6:52:31 GMT -6
depends on which side of the wall you're on! |
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Post by Terd Ferguson on Jan 8, 2013 18:39:56 GMT -6
unsticky
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Post by Sideshow Bob on Jan 9, 2013 7:58:38 GMT -6
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