Post by prossman on Jan 8, 2009 1:26:08 GMT -7
PFW Blog: Pacman's cut, now what else ya got?
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The Cowboys made the first of their smart moves this offseason. But it has to be just the start.
If Wade Phillips and his staff are to remain mostly intact, then fine, you have to go out and make some really tough choices this offseason. You have to cut some talent that doesn't mesh. You have to admit your mistakes of the past five years.
We saw this team was oil and vinegar, and now we need to get the ratio of "team guys" and talent to a normal, sustainable level. It's out of whack. Cutting Pacman Jones was inevitable. Why did they bring him back at the end of the year then? Because they were the Cowboys and they were desperate. They had to have something there once they got into the postseason. Oops.
That tells me they need help in the secondary and not just at safety. They need a punt returner to emerge. But mostly they need a transplant of character.
I thought Zach Thomas might be that guy, but it's proof that adding one piece like that will be muted by all the other bad cats in that locker room who were more concerned about their clips and their reputation.
I'd start with Terrell Owens. I know cutting him costs you money, about $680,000. But to me, that's buying you freedom. It's taking the ultimate wildcard out of the deck. Before you could count on T.O. being an unpredictable character but a consistent producer. But no longer. Look at his numbers. He's going to be 36 next season. He was wildly inconsistent week to week, and good corners shut him down in press coverage. He had to whine his way to 1,000 yards and 10 TDs, and that's no player I want.
The problem is creates is a lack of playmaking receivers. So run a two-TE offense with Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett and use Felix Jones as a slot receiver and motion back. Did you know he caught only two passes? Two! I know he played only six games, but that's just criminal. You're going to have to get the ball to Marion Barber and Tashard Choice clearly showed he's worthy of carries. So why not make Jones more of a receiver?
I am not sold on Roy Williams as a No. 1 wideout, but maybe you can steal Amani Toomer from the Giants as a No. 2. We know he's a selfless guy, and he has played in a spread-it-around system for a few years now. He's a pro, and a nice two-year deal could get it done.
How about a big-hitting, down-and-dirty safety? I look at the teams left in this playoff race, and I see a lot of them. Philly has two: Brian Dawkins and Quintin Mikell. The Ravens have Jim Leonhard, a scrapper who plays bigger than he is. The Titans have two good ones who can hit. Chris Harris is a man for the Panthers. Troy Polamalu will clean your clock and then pick you up afterwards. You can be bad and still be good, if you know what I mean. The Cowboys, heretofore, have not figured that out.
And how about a young QB? Did you know the last QB they drafted was Quincy Carter? And before that? Drumroll ... Bill Musgrave, in 1991. Yes, the same Musgrave who tutored Matt Ryan this year and probably will get a coordinator job. It's not that Tony Romo doesn't have talent. But remind him he needs to improve. Get a young guy in there, maybe a John Parker Wilson -- is that not a Cowboys player name or what? -- and work him in slowly, a la Romo.
There's so much more I could talk about with this team. After all, they're the Cowboys. It's fun to pretend to be them. They're always going to be relevant, even when they are home for the playoffs. Now, let's hope that they figure out a way to make use of all this great talent they have. You hate seeing it go to waste.
Posted by Eric Edholm on January 7, 2009 10:29 PM | Permalink
__________________
"Screw yesterday
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The Cowboys made the first of their smart moves this offseason. But it has to be just the start.
If Wade Phillips and his staff are to remain mostly intact, then fine, you have to go out and make some really tough choices this offseason. You have to cut some talent that doesn't mesh. You have to admit your mistakes of the past five years.
We saw this team was oil and vinegar, and now we need to get the ratio of "team guys" and talent to a normal, sustainable level. It's out of whack. Cutting Pacman Jones was inevitable. Why did they bring him back at the end of the year then? Because they were the Cowboys and they were desperate. They had to have something there once they got into the postseason. Oops.
That tells me they need help in the secondary and not just at safety. They need a punt returner to emerge. But mostly they need a transplant of character.
I thought Zach Thomas might be that guy, but it's proof that adding one piece like that will be muted by all the other bad cats in that locker room who were more concerned about their clips and their reputation.
I'd start with Terrell Owens. I know cutting him costs you money, about $680,000. But to me, that's buying you freedom. It's taking the ultimate wildcard out of the deck. Before you could count on T.O. being an unpredictable character but a consistent producer. But no longer. Look at his numbers. He's going to be 36 next season. He was wildly inconsistent week to week, and good corners shut him down in press coverage. He had to whine his way to 1,000 yards and 10 TDs, and that's no player I want.
The problem is creates is a lack of playmaking receivers. So run a two-TE offense with Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett and use Felix Jones as a slot receiver and motion back. Did you know he caught only two passes? Two! I know he played only six games, but that's just criminal. You're going to have to get the ball to Marion Barber and Tashard Choice clearly showed he's worthy of carries. So why not make Jones more of a receiver?
I am not sold on Roy Williams as a No. 1 wideout, but maybe you can steal Amani Toomer from the Giants as a No. 2. We know he's a selfless guy, and he has played in a spread-it-around system for a few years now. He's a pro, and a nice two-year deal could get it done.
How about a big-hitting, down-and-dirty safety? I look at the teams left in this playoff race, and I see a lot of them. Philly has two: Brian Dawkins and Quintin Mikell. The Ravens have Jim Leonhard, a scrapper who plays bigger than he is. The Titans have two good ones who can hit. Chris Harris is a man for the Panthers. Troy Polamalu will clean your clock and then pick you up afterwards. You can be bad and still be good, if you know what I mean. The Cowboys, heretofore, have not figured that out.
And how about a young QB? Did you know the last QB they drafted was Quincy Carter? And before that? Drumroll ... Bill Musgrave, in 1991. Yes, the same Musgrave who tutored Matt Ryan this year and probably will get a coordinator job. It's not that Tony Romo doesn't have talent. But remind him he needs to improve. Get a young guy in there, maybe a John Parker Wilson -- is that not a Cowboys player name or what? -- and work him in slowly, a la Romo.
There's so much more I could talk about with this team. After all, they're the Cowboys. It's fun to pretend to be them. They're always going to be relevant, even when they are home for the playoffs. Now, let's hope that they figure out a way to make use of all this great talent they have. You hate seeing it go to waste.
Posted by Eric Edholm on January 7, 2009 10:29 PM | Permalink
__________________
"Screw yesterday