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2:23 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008 | Permalink
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February 2008
Categories
Movers and Shakers Texas Stadium dallasnews.com
Sports Blogs |
 LOUIS DeLUCA / DMN PLAYERS SIGNED THROUGH 2008: Greg Ellis, DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None TOP NAMES ON FREE AGENT MARKET: Lance Briggs (Bears), Karlos Dansby (Cardinals), Clark Haggans (Steelers), Reggie Torbor (Giants), Calvin Pace (Cardinals) TOP DRAFT NAMES: Keith Rivers (Southern Cal), Ali Highsmith (LSU), Xavier Adibi (Virginia Tech), Bruce Davis (UCLA), Shawn Crable (Michigan), Erin Henderson (Maryland) HEALTH OF THE POSITION: With Ware and Ellis the Cowboys have one of the best outside linebacker combinations in the league. They combined for 26.5 sacks and Ellis did not even play in the first three games. Ware is among the NFL’s elite as a pass rusher. He has shown the ability to make plays when it matters most. Ellis was against the move to outside linebacker two years ago but has made a seamless transition, earning his first Pro Bowl bid in 2007. Spencer started in Ellis’ absence and finished with three sacks. A defensive end at Purdue, he made the same move Ware and Ellis made to the outside and seemed more confident by the end of the season. In 2008, look for the defensive coaches to devise more ways to get the three rushers on the field more at the same time. Carpenter rarely saw time at outside linebacker, but he has the athleticism to play there, but the coaches lost confidence in him after a shaky preseason. He spent most of the year at inside linebacker but has some pass rush skills. Rogers was picked up off waivers from New England and contributed on special teams. He can be a spot player. In the last three drafts the Cowboys have selected Ware, Carpenter and Spencer in the first round. That streak should end this year, but they have to look at the future with Ellis entering his 11th season for depth purposes. They could take a look at some free agent help as a stop-gap but they won’t spend a lot of money on this spot, especially with the club having to take care of Ware on a long-term deal sooner rather than later. |
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Comments
Posted by Bill_in_DC @ 2:34 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
After watching MVP Adrian Peterson in the Pro-Bowl, I am convinced Jerry should give Miami MBIII and both our first rounders to trade up for MacFadden. That?s a no brainer.
Next trade Newman and a second round pick for Titan's Pacman Jones. With Pacman coving his back, and a return to the 4-3 defense, Roy Williams will be his old self.
Jerry should also consider Moss, he's much better than T.O.
And false start Flozell, just let him go.
Come on Jerry lets just GED-R-DONE...!!
And as far as coaching help, we need an extra QB coach just to focus on Tony Romo. All the drops and picks this season have been Tony Romo's fault, Romo is throwing too hard.
Don?t forget, you "Heard it First" right here from Bill_in_DC.
Posted by Rick @ 2:35 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
Nothing on Burnett?
Posted by Whip @ 2:41 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
Yawn. Haven't we addressed this position enough? There are 4 former 1st round draft picks in this group. I'm still waiting on he last 2 first rounders to do something. There's no way they spend a pick here.
9th try... this is a real small time system you got here dmn
Posted by jeff @ 2:42 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
Hey Bill_in_DC.....Those are all the dumbest things are I have ever heard. That makes no sense whatsoever. It won't happen, you heard it here first.
Hey Rick....Burnett is an inside LB, not an outside linebacker
Posted by Bill_and_Ted_in_Phone_Booth_in_DC @ 2:43 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
Most Excellent post Bill_dude_in_DC.
Your football knowledge is just like a trip in our time machine.
Pure Wizzz-ardry. Bet you also can write_in_snow_in_DC.
Posted by Redskins_Rule @ 2:44 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
to Bill_in_DC...here's what I'd like to see...I'd like to see Dick LeBeau jogging and then stopping suddenly..chris graham's head would then permanently lodge into good ole Dick's back cavity©...HA HA HA©...Hail to the Redskins©!!!...
Posted by MWM @ 2:45 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
What is the date that teams can start signing free agents?
Posted by Saint Yoda @ 3:03 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
MWM,
February 7-21: Period to tag franchise and transition players
February 20-26: NFL combine
February 28: Deadline for qualifying offers to restricted free agents
February 28: Free agency starts at 11 p.m. CT
March 30-April 3: NFL Annual Meeting, Palm Beach, Fla.
April 18: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets
April 26-27: NFL Draft (the big one)
May 19-21: NFL Spring Meeting, Buckhead, Ga.
July 15: Deadline for franchise players to sign offer sheets
Posted by Redskins_Rule @ 3:22 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
QB Trent Graham just cut by the 'fins...might not be a bad upgrade over Brad 'noodle-arm'© Johnson...just saying...I think he can get the ball to the side-line on the fly...Johnson looks like he's skipping rocks across a pond...
Posted by tbartholow @ 3:49 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
No way that's the real Bill in DC. He would never suggest anything so dumb as:
1. Trade pro-bowl RB AND 2 1st rounders for an unproven rookie RB;
2. Trade a 1st class person and pro-bowl CB plus a 2nd rounder for an idiot trouble maker with similar talent
3. Get rid of a happy and motivated TO for a guy who only plays when he wants to (Moss)
4. Cut our pro-bowl LT.
What a joke. Oh wait, is that 2 posts from Redskins_Rule I see? Hmmm. You so funny (looking)
PS: CAPTCHA Deez Nutz!
Posted by Bill in DC @ 3:50 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
Ah, what is it they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Note that I've never posted as Bill_In_DC, always as Bill In DC. Children, Children, play nice.
I win again. ROFL, you guys crack me up.
I think we are more than set at Outside LB. At a guess Burnett starts at ILB over Ayodele next year. He can provide a nice inside pass rush.
It's a shame this board doesn't allow the creation of unique user names tied to the email. It would prevent some of the more moronic posting that goes on.
Posted by chris graham @ 4:26 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
hell 2 tha deadskins!!!!another year another 3rd or 4th place n the nfc east.hey dan keep giving up that free money.HAHAHA...how bout dem COWBOYS
Posted by Redskins_Rule @ 5:34 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
what I like most about this picture of DeMarcus Ware is both his honesty and accuracy when the official asked him the waist-line of Wade's stretch pants...have another Dunkin Donut Wade!!!...HA HA HA©...Hail to the Redskins©!!!...
Posted by Dave in Dubai @ 6:09 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
Bill in DC is a fool.
But we have to keep Hotel Adams. That kind of solid play at LT is invaluable in the League today. Franchising him at least gives us a year to develop McQuistan or Free. In a year Hotel will be 34 anyway, so franchising him makes sense from a long term perspective.
Hamlin is great, but FS is simply not as valuable a position as LT. Plus, the success of the secondary this year was as much due to Ware and Ellis's pressuring opposing QBs as anything else. Most secondarys would have played as poorly as our '06 secondary if QBs had as much time to pass as the '06 front 7 gave them.
Posted by Dave in Dubai @ 6:17 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
We REALLY need a decent corps of QBs backing up Romo. Brad Johnson has the arm strength of my girlfriend.
I say sign Quinn Gray or even Culpepper as our #2 QB. Both are adequate game managers.
Then draft Anthony Morelli or even Matt Flynn as our #3 / developmental. Both are NFL-size QBs with NFL-size arms. That is all you need for a developmental guy.
Posted by william @ 9:20 PM Mon, Feb 11, 2008
I think Burnett is ready to start. He can play either inside or outside linebacker. There are enough linebackers. Trade both #1 picks to trade up for best nose tackle. Fooball is won up the middle.