Post by prossman on Jan 13, 2009 12:28:43 GMT -7
DC.COM: Mailbag: Cowboys Need For An Offensive Tackle?
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Mailbag: Cowboys Need For An Offensive Tackle?
January 12, 2009 5:12 PM
(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)
FRED LONDON, SYLVA, NC: It has been expressed that one of our needs for next season is depth at offensive tackle. Pat McQuistan and Doug Free have been the backups the last couple of seasons, however I haven't seen much of them. Are the coaches disappointed in their development, or are they purposely bringing them along slowly? On paper, having two young offensive tackles as backups should be sufficient, but since offensive tackle is supposedly a need, I was wondering about their status.
Nick: It's tricky to gauge their development when you've got Colombo and Flozell Adams ahead of them. Now, we really haven't' seen a lot of great things in the preseason games, but then again, that's not always easy to evaluate either. At some point, you do just have to throw them out there and let them work with the first-team. But I don't think that would be this season.
Mickey: Well, they are still considered backups and realize the Cowboys saw fit to re-sign 33-year-old Flozell Adams and 30-year-old Marc Colombo to hefty, long-term contracts. So that's a dual indication - they really like their ThirtySomething tackles or the young guys aren't ready to step up. I'd say they are a tad leery of either having to start over a lengthy period of time.
Rob: Not sure the Cowboys are comfortable at backup tackle. If they were, they wouldn't havefelt it imperative to re-sign Flozell Adams last year, and McQuistan wouldn't be playing guard in the second half against Philadelphia. The Cowboys have seemed hesistant to take an offensive lineman high in the draft. They don't have a first-rounder this year, but I can see them trying to upgrade the backup tackle and guard positions.
JOSH FRANKEL, WINSTON SALEM, NC: I think one of the key free agents to sign is Miles Austin. He has shown a lot of potential, and despite his injuries, improved from 2007 to 2008. He also has one thing that this offense sorely lacks, which is deep speed. He can take a slant 40 yards and beat people deep, especially lined up in the slot. Would you guys agree?
Nick: Yes, I think you re-sign him, but you're probably going to have to put a second-round tender on him. If you don't, and give him just the $1.01 million tender, then not only will another team try and sign him, but you wouldn't get anything in return because he wasn't drafted. Then again, the $1.545 tender for a second-round pick is a little high. My gut says the Cowboys sign Austin to a three-year deal, giving him about $1.2 million annually, and then you don't have to worry about him. You're right, his potential is too great to pass up. Plus, he's the only guy with great speed at wide receiver.
Mickey: Yep, and that is why, since he's a restricted free agent this off-season I think the Cowboys must qualify him with a second-round tender, meaning if they choose not to match an offer sheet Austin signs with another team the Cowboys would receive a second-round draft choice in return. To me, there would seem to be a good chance if the Cowboys qualified him with the minimum restricted free-agency tender some team would be willing to sign him to a pricy deal since it would not have to give up any draft-choice compensation for the former rookie free agent.
Rob: Absolutely. Austin's got some real talent. The Cowboys need a speed guy on the outside, and he can do that, though he still needs some overall polish. Austin did have a couple of knee injuries this year but he's only 24. He's a restricted free agent, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys offered him the second-round tender, forcing a team to relinquish a second-round pick if he's signed to an offer sheet.
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Mailbag: Cowboys Need For An Offensive Tackle?
January 12, 2009 5:12 PM
(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)
FRED LONDON, SYLVA, NC: It has been expressed that one of our needs for next season is depth at offensive tackle. Pat McQuistan and Doug Free have been the backups the last couple of seasons, however I haven't seen much of them. Are the coaches disappointed in their development, or are they purposely bringing them along slowly? On paper, having two young offensive tackles as backups should be sufficient, but since offensive tackle is supposedly a need, I was wondering about their status.
Nick: It's tricky to gauge their development when you've got Colombo and Flozell Adams ahead of them. Now, we really haven't' seen a lot of great things in the preseason games, but then again, that's not always easy to evaluate either. At some point, you do just have to throw them out there and let them work with the first-team. But I don't think that would be this season.
Mickey: Well, they are still considered backups and realize the Cowboys saw fit to re-sign 33-year-old Flozell Adams and 30-year-old Marc Colombo to hefty, long-term contracts. So that's a dual indication - they really like their ThirtySomething tackles or the young guys aren't ready to step up. I'd say they are a tad leery of either having to start over a lengthy period of time.
Rob: Not sure the Cowboys are comfortable at backup tackle. If they were, they wouldn't havefelt it imperative to re-sign Flozell Adams last year, and McQuistan wouldn't be playing guard in the second half against Philadelphia. The Cowboys have seemed hesistant to take an offensive lineman high in the draft. They don't have a first-rounder this year, but I can see them trying to upgrade the backup tackle and guard positions.
JOSH FRANKEL, WINSTON SALEM, NC: I think one of the key free agents to sign is Miles Austin. He has shown a lot of potential, and despite his injuries, improved from 2007 to 2008. He also has one thing that this offense sorely lacks, which is deep speed. He can take a slant 40 yards and beat people deep, especially lined up in the slot. Would you guys agree?
Nick: Yes, I think you re-sign him, but you're probably going to have to put a second-round tender on him. If you don't, and give him just the $1.01 million tender, then not only will another team try and sign him, but you wouldn't get anything in return because he wasn't drafted. Then again, the $1.545 tender for a second-round pick is a little high. My gut says the Cowboys sign Austin to a three-year deal, giving him about $1.2 million annually, and then you don't have to worry about him. You're right, his potential is too great to pass up. Plus, he's the only guy with great speed at wide receiver.
Mickey: Yep, and that is why, since he's a restricted free agent this off-season I think the Cowboys must qualify him with a second-round tender, meaning if they choose not to match an offer sheet Austin signs with another team the Cowboys would receive a second-round draft choice in return. To me, there would seem to be a good chance if the Cowboys qualified him with the minimum restricted free-agency tender some team would be willing to sign him to a pricy deal since it would not have to give up any draft-choice compensation for the former rookie free agent.
Rob: Absolutely. Austin's got some real talent. The Cowboys need a speed guy on the outside, and he can do that, though he still needs some overall polish. Austin did have a couple of knee injuries this year but he's only 24. He's a restricted free agent, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Cowboys offered him the second-round tender, forcing a team to relinquish a second-round pick if he's signed to an offer sheet.
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