2016 Offseason

[es4m11]

if ramsey is gone i would rather have tunsil than bosa. I like bosa better as a 3 tech than a de. bosa looks like a potential bust to me. you can argue that we already have all the money tied up in ol, but drafting for need has burned the cowboys over and over.

I scratch my head at a lot of the things you say, but this is spot on!

What are your thoughts on Buckner? I think he could be a Richard Seymour type. Seems similar in a lot of ways.

 

[PDay8810]

after watching Spence's highlight tape. I think Spence in the 2nd round would still land you the best former Ohio State pass rusher anyways

 

[tomodach10]

Crazy thing is, I wouldn't be disappointed if we chose Zeke. Two of the worst position groups on our team last year was strong safety and RB. We are getting a good corner back in Scandrick and at some point we will have our idiot DEs back in the fold. So I am not set on using #4 on either of those. I'd rather wait until later in this draft for that.

RB was not one of our worst positions last year. Nor this year.

 

[PDay8810]

RB was not one of our worst positions last year. Nor this year.

I agree but I think it needs to be addressed. May be wrong, but I still think this team is committed to McFadden & Morris with a committee approach. They would look kinda stupid if they bailed and drafted RB at 4. I do think Dunbar could be upgraded...even when healthy, which he's not. Love Dixon but so does a lot of folks in a round 3. Maybe the Notre Dame back...my Irish buddies swear his best football is in front of him and he should be a 3rd day guy

 

[Mitziman]

I agree but I think it needs to be addressed. May be wrong, but I still think this team is committed to McFadden & Morris with a committee approach. They would look kinda stupid if they bailed and drafted RB at 4. I do think Dunbar could be upgraded...even when healthy, which he's not. Love Dixon but so does a lot of folks in a round 3. Maybe the Notre Dame back...my Irish buddies swear his best football is in front of him and he should be a 3rd day guy

Put #22 on Morris and you might think you are looking at Emmitt. He's just a smidgen slower than Emmitt, and doesn't have that that little extra move Emmitt had to make people miss, but other than that, they could be twins. Alf grew up in the same town as Emmitt, so who do you think he wanted to run like?

Solid football player, but better person...you won't have to worry about Alf doing something stupid to embarrass the star.

 

[tomodach10]

I agree but I think it needs to be addressed. May be wrong, but I still think this team is committed to McFadden & Morris with a committee approach. They would look kinda stupid if they bailed and drafted RB at 4. I do think Dunbar could be upgraded...even when healthy, which he's not. Love Dixon but so does a lot of folks in a round 3. Maybe the Notre Dame back...my Irish buddies swear his best football is in front of him and he should be a 3rd day guy

I agree later rounds is ok.

 

[DALLAScornhusker]

RB was not one of our worst positions last year. Nor this year.

We had one above average RB on our team according to the websites that track efficiency and measure success rates per down. McFadden. However you want to view it, the bottom line was we couldn't gain first down or find the end zone like we thought we'd be able to. Change was sorely needed. Enter Morris for 2016. It makes me feel like we've improved, but we don't know how much as Morris was ranked just a bit higher than Randle.

 

[jarntt]

We had one above average RB on our team according to the websites that track efficiency and measure success rates per down. McFadden. However you want to view it, the bottom line was we couldn't gain first down or find the end zone like we thought we'd be able to. Change was sorely needed. Enter Morris for 2016. It makes me feel like we've improved, but we don't know how much as Morris was ranked just a bit higher than Randle.

While I agree on the short yardage and TDs I disagree on your overall take on McFaddden. He is very injury prone so relying on him to repeat is risky, but he was 4th in the NFL in rushing after not starting the first 5 or so games. Plus he had a 4.6ypc average. He had a very good year. Our biggest problems at RB last year were losing our 3rd down back to injury and not going to McFadden sooner as "the guy". And getting back to the short yardage and TDs, that should be Morris' specialty so A+ move there by Dallas. I think he and McFadden will be a fine duo with health. Dunbar's health looks like a little more of an issue...

 

[es4m11]

Dunbar's health looks like a little more of an issue...

When is Dunbar's health not an issue? The guys does the same thing every year, flashes a little ability for a few weeks and then promptly gets hurt. I'm not blaming Dunbar or anything, I just wish the Cowboys would stop relying on oft-injured players to fill important roles. Sooner or later guys like Dunbar, McClain, Lee, Claiborne, etc are going to let you down because they are in and out of the lineup frequently or are injured for extended periods of time. Happens every year. This team needs more stability IMO.

 

[jarntt]

When is Dunbar's health not an issue? The guys does the same thing every year, flashes a little ability for a few weeks and then promptly gets hurt. I'm not blaming Dunbar or anything, I just wish the Cowboys would stop relying on oft-injured players to fill important roles. Sooner or later guys like Dunbar, McClain, Lee, Claiborne, etc are going to let you down because they are in and out of the lineup frequently or are injured for extended periods of time. Happens every year. This team needs more stability IMO.

So you cut them all and Romo too?

While I agree that you need to be more careful on placing the season in the hands of guys that can't stay healthy which is why I want us to get stronger at backup QB, it seems most that you listed are being covered to some degree. They carried 3 RBs and had more on PS, drafted LBs the last few years and Claiborne is the #3 CB. You can't have a perfect roster. If the guys you just named were all healthy every single year they'd be costing us double what they currently do and so would their replacements if we cut them and signed comparable players. Building a roster is preparing for injury if it strikes and while I agree on us trying to outsmart everyone by drafting the player that dropped due to injury sometimes it just isn't something Jerry seems to be able to go away from. Unless they take Jack this year I don't see them going with an injured player in the first couple rounds, but you can't look for the perfect player. You don't want an inured guy or a guy with off the field issues, so you do narrow the field about.

 

[es4m11]

So you cut them all and Romo too?

While I agree that you need to be more careful on placing the season in the hands of guys that can't stay healthy which is why I want us to get stronger at backup QB, it seems most that you listed are being covered to some degree. They carried 3 RBs and had more on PS, drafted LBs the last few years and Claiborne is the #3 CB. You can't have a perfect roster. If the guys you just named were all healthy every single year they'd be costing us double what they currently do and so would their replacements if we cut them and signed comparable players. Building a roster is preparing for injury if it strikes and while I agree on us trying to outsmart everyone by drafting the player that dropped due to injury sometimes it just isn't something Jerry seems to be able to go away from. Unless they take Jack this year I don't see them going with an injured player in the first couple rounds, but you can't look for the perfect player. You don't want an inured guy or a guy with off the field issues, so you do narrow the field about.

I understand the roster is what it is at this point, but I would like to see a shift in philosophy away from these types of players - players with injury/character concerns. Dallas gambles on these kind of guys far too much. I know every team does it, my hometown Ravens are known for taking chances on guys, but even they don't seem to gamble as many roster spots on known injury/character risks as Dallas.

You can't get rid of guys like Romo, or Lee just yet, but Dallas can rework the fringes of the roster - guys like Dunbar and Claiborne - and bring in more reliable players. Instead Dunbar, McClain, and Claiborne were re-signed. Neither one of those guys were very big difference makers last year IMO, and were certainly replaceable.

 

[tylerTX88]

I understand the roster is what it is at this point, but I would like to see a shift in philosophy away from these types of players - players with injury/character concerns. Dallas gambles on these kind of guys far too much. I know every team does it, my hometown Ravens are known for taking chances on guys, but even they don't seem to gamble as many roster spots on known injury/character risks as Dallas.

You can't get rid of guys like Romo, or Lee just yet, but Dallas can rework the fringes of the roster - guys like Dunbar and Claiborne - and bring in more reliable players. Instead Dunbar, McClain, and Claiborne were re-signed. Neither one of those guys were very big difference makers last year IMO, and were certainly replaceable.

I think if Dunbar hadn't gotten hurt last year he would have had a great year because they finally put him in play. Hopefully he comes back healthy.
Other than that I agree with you. Dallas has been doing this character - injury thing for quite sometime.

 

[fordman84]

We had one above average RB on our team according to the websites that track efficiency and measure success rates per down. McFadden. However you want to view it, the bottom line was we couldn't gain first down or find the end zone like we thought we'd be able to. Change was sorely needed. Enter Morris for 2016. It makes me feel like we've improved, but we don't know how much as Morris was ranked just a bit higher than Randle.

I thought Dunbar was turning into a stud before the injury. He was deadly out in the flat, and defenses were starting to have to respect that.

 

[tomodach10]

I thought Dunbar was turning into a stud before the injury. He was deadly out in the flat, and defenses were starting to have to respect that.

Hope he is back. He would have had a great year.

 

[jarntt]

Totally agree with you guys on Dunbar. He changes our entire team on 3rd downs and was probably on his way to 70 or so catches. Patella injuries are tough to come back from though.

 

[es4m11]

The guy might have talent, but whole point is Dunbar is never on the field long enough to make any real impact. We are going on year #4 of the same song and dance. And look, surprise surprise, Dunbar is likely to not be available for a large chunk of the season - if at all. I know it's a major injury from the year before, and that should be taken into consideration, but once he gets back on the field, how long before Dunbar's next injury? Some guys just aren't physically cut out for playing NFL football, why do we keep relying on guys like this and giving them a roster spot?

 

[jarntt]

The guy might have talent, but whole point is Dunbar is never on the field long enough to make any real impact. We are going on year #4 of the same song and dance. And look, surprise surprise, Dunbar is likely to not be available for a large chunk of the season - if at all. I know it's a major injury from the year before, and that should be taken into consideration, but once he gets back on the field, how long before Dunbar's next injury? Some guys just aren't physically cut out for playing NFL football, why do we keep relying on guys like this and giving them a roster spot?

Not exactly. He has already played 4 seasons and had 2 derailed by injury I think...2013 and 2015? Wasn't Lee like 4 for 5? Sometimes bad luck happens. This one is a tough one because it's probably next season before we know if he will ever be the same and Dunbar without the same speed and quickness obviously loses what makes him special - see Victor Cruz.

 

[es4m11]

He has played 4 seasons, yes. Three were cut short by injury, 2012,2013 and 2015. I seem to remember Dunbar leaving games in 2014 frequently due to minor injury - be it a tight hamstring or rolled ankle, etc.

The guy has played in 41 games out of a possible 64, and has 915 yards from scrimmage in that time period. He's not even that great as a return man. I just don't get the love for him. So what he had one or two nice games last year and caught 10 passes, blah, blah. Kevin Ogeltree had a nice game here and there too...

Now coming off a Patella reconstruction, just don't see the point.

 

[Manster7588]

He has played 4 seasons, yes. Three were cut short by injury, 2012,2013 and 2015. I seem to remember Dunbar leaving games in 2014 frequently due to minor injury - be it a tight hamstring or rolled ankle, etc.

The guy has played in 41 games out of a possible 64, and has 915 yards from scrimmage in that time period. He's not even that great as a return man. I just don't get the love for him. So what he had one or two nice games last year and caught 10 passes, blah, blah. Kevin Ogeltree had a nice game here and there too...

Now coming off a Patella reconstruction, just don't see the point.

My love for him came last sesson, when I sawas how the offense operated differently without him. I would never call him a star, but he seemed to be the missing piece, either Dunbar or a Dunbar like player is needed IMO.

 

[jarntt]

He has played 4 seasons, yes. Three were cut short by injury, 2012,2013 and 2015. I seem to remember Dunbar leaving games in 2014 frequently due to minor injury - be it a tight hamstring or rolled ankle, etc.

The guy has played in 41 games out of a possible 64, and has 915 yards from scrimmage in that time period. He's not even that great as a return man. I just don't get the love for him. So what he had one or two nice games last year and caught 10 passes, blah, blah. Kevin Ogeltree had a nice game here and there too...

Now coming off a Patella reconstruction, just don't see the point.

What was his injury in 2012 that cut short his season and when did it happen?

Did you watch him last year and the impact he had on those games? You are way off on this one, so If you don't get the difference I can't help you on that one. It wasn't a few random games it was everygame last year that he played in once he was finally given the opportunity - Murray wasn't leaving the field much before that. Those one or two nice games were going to be a weekly occurrence. He might have been our best offensive player in two of them.

I'm not arguing his inability to stay healthy, but your analysis of him is pretty inaccurate IMO