Post by ccboy on Nov 4, 2008 15:14:02 GMT -7
Guys, the changes and concerns are somewhat valid. This analysis of 'you said what', could get quite extensive as well as applicable also. Right now, Ferguson's departure is kind of hurting in my perspective. He would be a very viable piece in the middle, as well would a rookie pickup for that position as well. Dallas could easily have landed the ex-Texas Detroit Lion for it's middle, and used him well. He would have come 'cheap' and could have been every bit as successful in his role with Dallas. That would have been a top-shelf move in my books. This could have allowed Tank Johnson to have been moved to the defensive end position, and retain his defensive tackle use in the packaged 4-3. That would have made a whole lot more sense to myself. With Ferguson AND Rogers, Dallas could have had BOTH Ratliff AND Tank at defensive end. A rotation of Spears, Canty, Ratliff, and Johnson would have been very evident, when anchored by Rogers and Ferguson. Care to project linebacker play with that up front?
Brady James has picked up three to four sacks already, from the middle linebacker's position. He is being active, and with a dominant and not just effective middle, he would be much better AND more aggressive. He would be taking on more ball carriers and much less offensive guards. Teams would then have to commit a 'fullback' type onto him, and free up the strong safety around the line of scrimmage. I had thought that Ken Hamlin would be the natural selection for a viable-pass/run safety, but he has of lately, lost some of his desire to lay wood it appears. He worked hard to get a good contract...and I am hoping that he still has the inclination to be another Darren Woodson.
I hear concerns on no shut down cornerback, but that is a matter of press as well as quality of defensive front affect also. The old Detroit Lions had a tremendously great secondary. It produced. The Dallas secondary seems content to look sweet more than accomplish consistent highlight films.
Myself, I would like to see Anthony Henry being given the benefit of an area of responsibility to give him an 'advantage' in coverage. This would require him to go ahead and become that safety that everyone and their cousin has talked about for about two years. He jumps up from a good cornerback, to a secondary elevating and dominant safety. He is good in run support and he won't have close to top end speed for many more years. Now would appear to be the time to pull that trigger, AND MAKE IT HAPPEN! Something that Wade Phillips just does NOT have the management quality to first, see, and then make the moves WITH coaching support to make it FULLY functional.
I still think that Adam Jones will return as a Cowboy. He STILL has the potential to make a say in the development in this section as well. If he is a valid contributor to the future of Dallas, then the whole picture of the Dallas secondary jells quite rapidly. Dallas now has the tools to make the Henry switch and grow even stronger, very rapidly in it's secondary. With Newman and Jones BOTH in at starters, the Cowboys then have a Detroit Lion kind of talent at it's starter, and the benefit of a very quickly growing AND producing pair of package players, in Scandrick and Jenkins. I would put those four as a unit, against any in the NFL, and up there, in potential at this time, with some of the top of all time. They have that good a projection.
Thank Bill Parcells, and also now, Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips, but they are talented and SHOULD achieve a very quality level of play.....IF they are allowed to play in a consistently aggressive as well as individually MOTIVATING manner. A huge cushion and a finaly protective fire mentality just does NOT cut it in today's pass happy and intimidating style of play. If one watched this past Texas and Texas Tech final play, he could have quickly seen what good position and talent can EASILY be handcuffed and abused by talent in the open field. Think that tackling is bad in the secondary, then continue the practive providing that maneuver area for quality players on the opposition. I don't think that aspect will ever be overcome, WITHOUT just plain and simply, being more aggressive. Just like is done in all the current and top winning teams in the NFL.
Think that teams such as Miami, Tennessee, or even Pittsburgh have BETTER talent in IT'S secondary? I don't, but they are used MUCH better in application. Those teams additionally use their corners to 'pinch-in' on running plays. If you are afraid of breaking open a large gainer...go back to ALL the recent films against Dallas, and see that those plays occur MORE frequently with the current style of play. Shut down some of that actual running and have real confidence in your safeties...or you are kidding yourself on the issues. How many plays went almost uncontested off the edges of a static Dallas Defense?
Shore up the defenesive front and give the needed adjustments in the secondary, and see if some of that talent in the current linebacker group doesn't start to show itself, in a top Pittsburgh or New England manner of play. Don't, and watch more of the disappearing of the Cowboy defense as it has for the past five games. To me, plain and simple. The current mix up front defensively for Dallas, just is NOT getting 'er done. :roll: The current Dallas approach of throwing out an anchor and hoping to drag the other team's offense into submission, just is NOT getting it done. It is just too soft in between the 20's, and the defense is wearing OUT by the middle of the second halves of games. That is NOT a pretty sight, and the whole team is frustrated and DOES start to show it. There again, it is a matter of a lack of functional leadership by it's coaches. Pass blame around all day, but until there is more immediate addressing of game pressures by coaches, the players WILL flounder.
The offensive line is a frustrated group at present. There is a need of a better solution for backup at guard. I agree that the most promising approach in the upcoming draft, in my thinking...would be to add that defensive tackle, if free agency did NOT produce a physically dominating prospect-well, get one in the draft. Then add a quality offensive guard that could grow a couple of years behind Kosier. Someone to matchup with Max Jean-Giles of the Eagles. This would require the resigning of Colombo as well as additionally getting the contract of Canty and Ware done. The impending 'uncapped' year of 2010 may be having tremendous affect on the personnel of the Cowboy roster for this next few years. I'm hoping for the best in this future turn of events.
I'm not as fast to jump off the wagon concerning Jerry Jones. He has actually maintained the flow of top talent onto the team. After all is said and done, that is the most visible aspect to the process. Even if not optimumly applied in a successful series of wins, that is still the meat and potatoes of the whole picture. I'm not going to cut my nose down to get a better profile picture here...it is what it is.
The current team, has a two year window of need in my view. I think the biggest thing to affect this, would be the signing of a dominant nose in Free Agency next off season. Then, take moves necessary in the draft, to get a top offensive guard via the draft. Take a prominent quarterback, and then add TWO middle linebackers in the third to fourth round area. I would try to do what Bill Parcells did with Brady James, but IMPROVE on the development process in the Dallas interior.
With TO, Williams, Crayton, and Austin...well, Dallas is set at receiver, hopefully, for the next three seasons. At running back, with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Choice...the Cowboys should be set for the next three seasons. At tight end, Jason Witten, Burnett, and Curtis project for the next three years as well. That would leave, if Colombo is resigned, the need for quarterback upgrades and a guard.
I still think that the Dallas offensive line blocking is too dependent on opposing team players just NOT making plays in 'unblocked' and planned situations. Development almost always takes longer than what is being projected...and blocking an entire lane through to the secondary is NEVER put into effect. Why? Almost all other teams have demonstrated this ability even at the bottom levels of the league. Maybe, just maybe, the Dallas approach to assignments and blocking responsibility is NOT sophisticated enough to be effective...another indicator of a lack of accountability on the coaching levels of the scale.
Give me a nose tackle, a couple of defensive line movements with current players...an upgrade in developing quarterback talent, a veteran quarterback, and an offensive guard...in the future, and I'll still be happy with this roster come next season. In the meantime, Wade has to win back his current set of players. Take some baby steps that re-establishes team confidence...and let the dogs loose some. That applies to the secondary as well as the foundations of the offense. Fate is still in the hands of the Cowboys at present, no matter how many earthquakes are predicted by a very negative press. If this group of coaches fail, then it is the coaches and not a lack of potential already on the table.
Brady James has picked up three to four sacks already, from the middle linebacker's position. He is being active, and with a dominant and not just effective middle, he would be much better AND more aggressive. He would be taking on more ball carriers and much less offensive guards. Teams would then have to commit a 'fullback' type onto him, and free up the strong safety around the line of scrimmage. I had thought that Ken Hamlin would be the natural selection for a viable-pass/run safety, but he has of lately, lost some of his desire to lay wood it appears. He worked hard to get a good contract...and I am hoping that he still has the inclination to be another Darren Woodson.
I hear concerns on no shut down cornerback, but that is a matter of press as well as quality of defensive front affect also. The old Detroit Lions had a tremendously great secondary. It produced. The Dallas secondary seems content to look sweet more than accomplish consistent highlight films.
Myself, I would like to see Anthony Henry being given the benefit of an area of responsibility to give him an 'advantage' in coverage. This would require him to go ahead and become that safety that everyone and their cousin has talked about for about two years. He jumps up from a good cornerback, to a secondary elevating and dominant safety. He is good in run support and he won't have close to top end speed for many more years. Now would appear to be the time to pull that trigger, AND MAKE IT HAPPEN! Something that Wade Phillips just does NOT have the management quality to first, see, and then make the moves WITH coaching support to make it FULLY functional.
I still think that Adam Jones will return as a Cowboy. He STILL has the potential to make a say in the development in this section as well. If he is a valid contributor to the future of Dallas, then the whole picture of the Dallas secondary jells quite rapidly. Dallas now has the tools to make the Henry switch and grow even stronger, very rapidly in it's secondary. With Newman and Jones BOTH in at starters, the Cowboys then have a Detroit Lion kind of talent at it's starter, and the benefit of a very quickly growing AND producing pair of package players, in Scandrick and Jenkins. I would put those four as a unit, against any in the NFL, and up there, in potential at this time, with some of the top of all time. They have that good a projection.
Thank Bill Parcells, and also now, Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips, but they are talented and SHOULD achieve a very quality level of play.....IF they are allowed to play in a consistently aggressive as well as individually MOTIVATING manner. A huge cushion and a finaly protective fire mentality just does NOT cut it in today's pass happy and intimidating style of play. If one watched this past Texas and Texas Tech final play, he could have quickly seen what good position and talent can EASILY be handcuffed and abused by talent in the open field. Think that tackling is bad in the secondary, then continue the practive providing that maneuver area for quality players on the opposition. I don't think that aspect will ever be overcome, WITHOUT just plain and simply, being more aggressive. Just like is done in all the current and top winning teams in the NFL.
Think that teams such as Miami, Tennessee, or even Pittsburgh have BETTER talent in IT'S secondary? I don't, but they are used MUCH better in application. Those teams additionally use their corners to 'pinch-in' on running plays. If you are afraid of breaking open a large gainer...go back to ALL the recent films against Dallas, and see that those plays occur MORE frequently with the current style of play. Shut down some of that actual running and have real confidence in your safeties...or you are kidding yourself on the issues. How many plays went almost uncontested off the edges of a static Dallas Defense?
Shore up the defenesive front and give the needed adjustments in the secondary, and see if some of that talent in the current linebacker group doesn't start to show itself, in a top Pittsburgh or New England manner of play. Don't, and watch more of the disappearing of the Cowboy defense as it has for the past five games. To me, plain and simple. The current mix up front defensively for Dallas, just is NOT getting 'er done. :roll: The current Dallas approach of throwing out an anchor and hoping to drag the other team's offense into submission, just is NOT getting it done. It is just too soft in between the 20's, and the defense is wearing OUT by the middle of the second halves of games. That is NOT a pretty sight, and the whole team is frustrated and DOES start to show it. There again, it is a matter of a lack of functional leadership by it's coaches. Pass blame around all day, but until there is more immediate addressing of game pressures by coaches, the players WILL flounder.
The offensive line is a frustrated group at present. There is a need of a better solution for backup at guard. I agree that the most promising approach in the upcoming draft, in my thinking...would be to add that defensive tackle, if free agency did NOT produce a physically dominating prospect-well, get one in the draft. Then add a quality offensive guard that could grow a couple of years behind Kosier. Someone to matchup with Max Jean-Giles of the Eagles. This would require the resigning of Colombo as well as additionally getting the contract of Canty and Ware done. The impending 'uncapped' year of 2010 may be having tremendous affect on the personnel of the Cowboy roster for this next few years. I'm hoping for the best in this future turn of events.
I'm not as fast to jump off the wagon concerning Jerry Jones. He has actually maintained the flow of top talent onto the team. After all is said and done, that is the most visible aspect to the process. Even if not optimumly applied in a successful series of wins, that is still the meat and potatoes of the whole picture. I'm not going to cut my nose down to get a better profile picture here...it is what it is.
The current team, has a two year window of need in my view. I think the biggest thing to affect this, would be the signing of a dominant nose in Free Agency next off season. Then, take moves necessary in the draft, to get a top offensive guard via the draft. Take a prominent quarterback, and then add TWO middle linebackers in the third to fourth round area. I would try to do what Bill Parcells did with Brady James, but IMPROVE on the development process in the Dallas interior.
With TO, Williams, Crayton, and Austin...well, Dallas is set at receiver, hopefully, for the next three seasons. At running back, with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Choice...the Cowboys should be set for the next three seasons. At tight end, Jason Witten, Burnett, and Curtis project for the next three years as well. That would leave, if Colombo is resigned, the need for quarterback upgrades and a guard.
I still think that the Dallas offensive line blocking is too dependent on opposing team players just NOT making plays in 'unblocked' and planned situations. Development almost always takes longer than what is being projected...and blocking an entire lane through to the secondary is NEVER put into effect. Why? Almost all other teams have demonstrated this ability even at the bottom levels of the league. Maybe, just maybe, the Dallas approach to assignments and blocking responsibility is NOT sophisticated enough to be effective...another indicator of a lack of accountability on the coaching levels of the scale.
Give me a nose tackle, a couple of defensive line movements with current players...an upgrade in developing quarterback talent, a veteran quarterback, and an offensive guard...in the future, and I'll still be happy with this roster come next season. In the meantime, Wade has to win back his current set of players. Take some baby steps that re-establishes team confidence...and let the dogs loose some. That applies to the secondary as well as the foundations of the offense. Fate is still in the hands of the Cowboys at present, no matter how many earthquakes are predicted by a very negative press. If this group of coaches fail, then it is the coaches and not a lack of potential already on the table.