SPORTSDAY

Posted by austin @ 8:43 PM Fri, Mar 09, 2007

Could you please state how far under the cap the cowboys are this season as well as how far under they are projected for next season.

Posted by Larry @ 8:59 PM Fri, Mar 09, 2007

Basically now, the cowboys are going to be looking mostly for backups as I see it, and I make several assumptions. (1) Patrick Watkins will start at free safety, (2) The cowboys will return to a standard tight-End, true fullback offensive set and (3) Rivera is gone.

my FA or draft list in no particular order:

(A) Nose Tackle to Spot for Ferguson
(B) Backup Middle Linebacker
(C) Backup Offensive Guard
(D) Backup Free Safety
(E) Backup or Starting True Fullback
(F) 3rd String Rookie QB

Hopefully some will be filled in Free agency before the draft, but the boys have 10 draft picks. Your comments guys. What have I missed.

Posted by Dave Christian @ 9:20 PM Fri, Mar 09, 2007

Jerry might just be putting up a smokescreen, but wouldn't it be a good idea to draft a WR at least on the first day? I mean your starting wideouts will be 33 years old on opening weekend. Why not invest in a WR now, so he's ready for next year or can help when these old men get injured?

Posted by Chester @ 9:30 PM Fri, Mar 09, 2007

My long shot, out-of-the-blue prediction:

The Boys move up and draft Dwayne Jarrett, who becomes a Pro-Bowler!

Posted by Pokes @ 11:31 PM Fri, Mar 09, 2007

I don't see WR as a problem. Crayton and Hurd are both excellent. Throw in a few new guys, 4th- or 5th-rounders. Our real need is DB. How Phillips puts this bunch together will be key.

Posted by Jim Wehmeyer @ 9:05 AM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

They won't have to move up to land Jarrett. Most projections have him going after Dallas' pick. I'm not sold on him anyway. He'll end up like that other USC WR, Mike Williams.

Draft Aaron Ross or M. Griffith over DJarrett any day.

Posted by Keith @ 9:16 AM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

I think Austin asked a good question. Any estimates of where the Cowboys are with their cap room at this point?

Posted by jeff @ 10:17 AM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Watkins, Davis and Williams playing safety again. Every year the same thing. They will get burnt and burnt, and then by Week 8 everyone will say Dallas needs a safety.
Draft one or sign one, because if the position does not get upgraded, then it'll be another 8-8 season. All 3 are backups at best.

Posted by BlueStarDude @ 10:36 AM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Re: "Davis is a better tackler." That's a bold statement to throw out there without any support when he had more missed tackles than Watkins. When Watkins was starting in the early part of the season, he was the team's leading tackler, was very good in run support (much better than Davis has been the past two seasons) and his only problem (not related to pass coverage) was not keeping his head up to better protect himself from injury, IRRC.

Posted by Jim @ 11:48 AM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

In response to an earlier post, why would you try to draft a backup? I think the signing of Colombo allows the Cowboys to concentrate on picking the "best player available" on draft day. If that player plays the same position as one of our stars, so be it. If we go for backups, we'll start taking players such as Sherman Williams or Shane Hannah, like we did in the '90s. Please, no more spares!

Posted by archon_jim @ 11:54 AM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

It is a profound relief to have Colombo signed.

The 'Boys don't have to move up to draft Jarrett; he will be there when they draft (too many other good players, especially on defense and at WR).

I do hope that if they are looking at changing back to a standard tight end-true fullback set, they will consider seriously looking at that FB from Rutgers, Brian Leonard. He is going to be a real offensive weapon somewhere, and a steal for whoever gets him.

Posted by Maverick @ 12:22 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Speaking of WR, and the numerous times I've posted this ... CALVIN JOHNSON out of Georgia Tech!! That would be the next move. If he's smart, the Cowboys would move up to get him.

Posted by Damion Moore @ 1:56 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

No more Dwaynes or Duanes on this team!!!!

Posted by Lunging Wolf @ 2:44 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Interesting comments, Jerry. Exept for Watkins, you answered every question by not actually answering the question. Good job. You're a true Parcells disciple. I love it. Realistically, I don't see any glaring weaknesses on this team. What are you going to do at linebacker? My vote is that's where your pass rush is going to come from. My front seven goes like this:

OLB DeMarcus Ware
ILB Brady James
ILB Bobby Carpenter
OLB Kevin Burnett

Rotate the D-line with Spears, Ferguson, Canty, Ellis, Ratliff and Hatcher. The best three out of that bunch are my starting D-line.

Posted by Ray @ 4:23 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Larry, I think you're pretty accurate. I would add WR and offensive tackle to your list. From all I hear, Leonard Davis is a very good guard and a so-so tackle, so I would prefer to keep him and his slow feet inside and get a legit tackle to replace Flozell when he (most likely) leaves after this season. That is, unless Parcells was really on to something about "this McQuistan kid" and he can get the job done at tackle.

Posted by George @ 6:43 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Theres only one answer in this draft. Reggie Nelson from Florida. Te kid is a true center fielder with cornerback type ability. Not drafting this kid would be a mistake. I watched alot of Florida games this year and he is the real deal. A real ball hawk. We've seen enough of davis to know he's not the answer at FS. Watkins is too raw and needs experience. Reggie Nelson would allow Phillips to do his thing with the front seven and not worry about the secondary. It will also allowRoy to move closer to the line of scrimmage where his talent can be more better utilized.

Posted by Dave @ 7:47 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

After crucifying Jerry for overpaying for Leonard Davis, let me congratulate him on getting Marc Columbo signed for a reasonable price.

Please plan ahead in this draft. While the team has no pressing needs, look to build depth and starters for 2008. Remember, Flozell is in the last year of his contract. I see a need for another corner and wide receiver. DO you want Flozell, T.O., Patrick Crayton, or Terrence Newman to hold you hostage to fill a need next year?

So, in the first 4 rounds, please see if you can draft an o-lineman, a WR, and a big corner/cover safety.

Use the extra 6th and 7th round picks to move UP a spot or two or collect picks for 2008. I don't see the value in drafting 10 players this year.

Posted by Larry @ 8:02 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Jim, I think you misinterpreted my comment about drafting "backups". I don't mean you draft guys who only have the talent to be backups, what I am saying is the cowboys are pretty well set for starters in 2007, so the guys you draft will probably be backups in 2007 but yes, for sure, you hope your draft choices eventually start for you down the line. This is exactly the situation you want to draft "best available", but you also have to keep in mind you do have specific needs for players to back up your 2007 starters.

Posted by Chris P @ 8:06 PM Sat, Mar 10, 2007

To put things in "BP-terms", I think that JJ/Stephen have done an excellent job in "buying the groceries". The Fridge is well-stocked, so now it's Chef Wade's turn. I like Wade, and I think he'll make us proud, but I judge him as a Coach as I did BP. Hopefully, Tex WP will make us some great Texas Chili, whereas the Tuna couldn't make it as a short-order cook!

Posted by Wilson @ 6:35 AM Sun, Mar 11, 2007

Given the new coach and staff, I feel the Cowboys need to find out exactly what they have in several players. McQuistan,Austin, Hurd, Ratliff, Carpenter, Burnett, Glymph, and Watkins. If we don't, then in some cases we will have wasted good draft picks without finding out what we have. Is NT Stanley back with us? I felt he also had potential.

Posted by Wilson @ 6:42 AM Sun, Mar 11, 2007

I just hope we go back to a more traditional offensive set with only one TE and a true FB. I just don't feel that the second TE is a good enough lead blocker. It's quite a while since I feel the Cowboys could have any real confidence in running the ball on 3rd and 2? For me the real mark of a good running game is when you can gain the yardage when the defence knows your running the ball.

Posted by Wilson @ 6:49 AM Sun, Mar 11, 2007

I feel that the Cowboys have reached a good situation in free agency. What we sould now be looking to do is add a value player or two. Players who are good fits and can make contributions, but who don't cost to much. Make up for the inflated price we had to pay to get Davis. Even at the price I feel Davis was a good signing.

Posted by Phil @ 10:54 AM Sun, Mar 11, 2007

Roy Williams a back-up at best? I doubt that. You know what? I know that he's not! Parcells just didn't know how to use the guy, heck even Dan Campo made Roy a beast. Bill put together a good defense, but not a great one. He drafted Demarcus Ware and Terrence Newman and that was about it. He tried to make Greg Ellis a linebacker and that ended with a torn Achillies tendon! I trust Wade with this defense much more than I did with Bill. The game passed Bill by on defense and that is why The Cowboys lost in Seattle. Also, he wanted to protect Romo, but he shouldn't have because after all he was helping that offense put up 35 points those last 4 games. If the Cowboys are lucky, we'll be able to draft Brendon Meriweather from Miami who will tear it up at Free Safety while Roy will be back to his true form and leave jarring hits on anyone that passes him by. Grege will be back at defensive end with Marcus Spears and Jason Hatcher or Bobby Carpenter will be OLB. I like the linebackers on this team. What I think Wade should do, but probably won't, is have Bobby start alongside Akin Ayodele as the MLBs and have Hatcher or Burnett start at OLB. Either way if Meriweather is our starting FS next year, then you better believe the Coboys will be a top 10 defense at worst.

Posted by Gary Morris @ 1:36 PM Sun, Mar 11, 2007

It's amazing how good our safeties can be when we are really getting after the QB. I think our safeties can be good enough when we are using LB's to rush the QB instead of expecting them to cover WR's.

I think our biggest need is where the draft is weakest....Nose Tackle. If Ferguson goes down we have Stanley or Ratliff to try to be our "run stuffer."

Why are so many people talking about drafting a Wide Receiver or any other postition? We don't have to take a DT in the first, but we better get a good one somewhere.

Posted by Larry @ 1:57 PM Sun, Mar 11, 2007

Lunging Wolf, I have to give you credit for thinking outside the box, but I believe you have lost your mind. You are going to start Carpenter inside, where he is not going to be as effective, if at all. You are starting Burnett outside where he has proven nothing. You have moved Ellis to the defensive line where he is too small to play in the 3-4, and what have you done with Akin Adoyele?, maybe the best inside linebacker from 2006.