2017 Roster

[ROMOTOOWENS]

I didn't forget and can't grade their recent draft success down for doing so.
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good I suppose.

Perhaps. Then again maybe they are right.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

So did everybody else. I guess a smart team would have drafted an unknown in the 1st.

An unknown ????

 

[Manster7588]

An unknown ????

Every scout and team had him as a 4th or 5th rounder. Let me guess you were ready to take Dak over Zeke in the 1st. Dak was. Considered a project needing 2 to 4 years of development. The current staff has been hitting pretty well lately in the draft. I'm trusting them much more than you, myself or any other message board expert, and in no way will I discredit them for waiting until the 4th to draft Dak. He was taken about where he was graded to go.

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

Every scout and team had him as a 4th or 5th rounder. Let me guess you were ready to take Dak over Zeke in the 1st. Dak was. Considered a project needing 2 to 4 years of development. The current staff has been hitting pretty well lately in the draft. I'm trusting them much more than you, myself or any other message board expert, and in no way will I discredit them for waiting until the 4th to draft Dak. He was taken about where he was graded to go.

Not trying to discredit them at all. No I wouldn't have taken him over Zeke, Wentz, Goff, or Lynch. All I'm saying is - they could be right.

 

[PDay8810]

Perhaps. Then again maybe they are right.

how could any fan of this team not be giddy?
Zeke, Smith, Collins, Tapper, Dak, Brown, & Frazier

 

[ROMOTOOWENS]

how could any fan of this team not be giddy?
Zeke, Smith, Collins, Tapper, Dak, Brown, & Frazier

Great draft class. Never said it wasn't. As far as being giddy/ we still have holes. It's a year to year league now. 13-3 can go to 8-8 real quick. Ask the Panthers, Cardinals , etc. A 4-12 team can go 13-3 now. That use to never happen. Count me in as the guy wanting JPP. Like you said, rookie pass rushers are a hard thing to count on.

 

[jarntt]

I'm very interested to see what Tapper has. The reason I have no interest in bringing in a marginal DL is because we already have a bunch of them. I rather go with what we have and see if they can grow into something more than bring in someone that is just "average" and will always be just average. if we add one real top of the line stud DL via draft or FA it will make everyone better.

 

[PDay8810]

I'm very interested to see what Tapper has. The reason I have no interest in bringing in a marginal DL is because we already have a bunch of them. I rather go with what we have and see if they can grow into something more than bring in someone that is just "average" and will always be just average. if we add one real top of the line stud DL via draft or FA it will make everyone better.

I hope it's D. Ware. I think he'd be a good mentor to our young guys. I think Collins is a player and I've heard Tapper is great off the ball. I think we need to secure Irving and hope he can build on his success next year.
All of this is why I hope we add a LB and two DB's with our early picks. We'll see...

 

[jarntt]

I hope it's D. Ware. I think he'd be a good mentor to our young guys. I think Collins is a player and I've heard Tapper is great off the ball. I think we need to secure Irving and hope he can build on his success next year.
All of this is why I hope we add a LB and two DB's with our early picks. We'll see...

I would be very happy with Ware or a similar type guy that could be a pass rush specialist and think the roster spot and cap space would be well worth it. I don't want to bring in another Mayowa type. Those guys are great to fill out the roster, but we have a lot of "fill out the roster types" and it becomes a numbers game. If you list the guys you like and then look at how many DL we will keep and then add to that a FA and a draft pick or two the numbers don't really work. So if we bring a FA in he has to clearly make the team better or he just bumps a young guy that may do the same thing and a pass rush specialist and possibly an early down run stopper would be the best way unless we are going to spend big dollars.

I really believe the pass rush is the biggest problem with this team, but also believe we are close to having a very good pass rush. I think Collins and Irving could really be players. I think Lawrence bounces back if healthy and gets double digit sacks and I think we have a few other guys that can do some damage too. Even T Crawford started getting some pressure at the end of the year for the first time in a long time. I think with health we will be better than last year even if we don't add anyone. But, I'm pretty sure we will add a pass rusher or two via draft or FA which will make us even better.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

While I love Ware and in theory it seems like a match I'm not thrilled with this idea. For the money he may be the only viable option but I'm not sure he has much left. His numbers last year were far from spectacular and he's sharing the field with Von Miller. Take away a Von Miller type and add another year of wear and tear and I'm just not sure he'll have the impact that we're looking for. Will he provide more than whatever DE we may take in the first 2 rounds? I'm not sure about that. I'd prefer to spend the money somewhere else.

 

[es4m11]

I hope it's D. Ware. I think he'd be a good mentor to our young guys. I think Collins is a player and I've heard Tapper is great off the ball. I think we need to secure Irving and hope he can build on his success next year.
All of this is why I hope we add a LB and two DB's with our early picks. We'll see...

Tapper runs a 4.5-40. For a guy his size, he gets out of those blocks pretty fast. If given the green light to attack off the snap, it should serve him well.

Should be no question about keeping Irving around for at least one more year. Dallas has an exclusive rights free agent tag for him. Only costs $615,000. Irving may provide some big time value next year.

 

[es4m11]

While I love Ware and in theory it seems like a match I'm not thrilled with this idea. For the money he may be the only viable option but I'm not sure he has much left. His numbers last year were far from spectacular and he's sharing the field with Von Miller. Take away a Von Miller type and add another year of wear and tear and I'm just not sure he'll have the impact that we're looking for. Will he provide more than whatever DE we may take in the first 2 rounds? I'm not sure about that. I'd prefer to spend the money somewhere else.

Like you said, for the money that Ware costs (and that Dallas has available), who else would you rather have?

It's just a tricky spot for Dallas this free agency, the timing is an issue. CB is undoubtedly #1 priority, so in my opinion Dallas needs that to be their primary focus once free agency starts. Problem is Dallas will be out money after two or 3 signings, and secondary is just too much of a need to not address prior to the draft. The Cowboys likely won't have any money for a DE (Ware, or otherwise) until after Romo is off the books.

 

[es4m11]

I would be very happy with Ware or a similar type guy that could be a pass rush specialist and think the roster spot and cap space would be well worth it. I don't want to bring in another Mayowa type. Those guys are great to fill out the roster, but we have a lot of "fill out the roster types" and it becomes a numbers game. If you list the guys you like and then look at how many DL we will keep and then add to that a FA and a draft pick or two the numbers don't really work. So if we bring a FA in he has to clearly make the team better or he just bumps a young guy that may do the same thing and a pass rush specialist and possibly an early down run stopper would be the best way unless we are going to spend big dollars.

I really believe the pass rush is the biggest problem with this team, but also believe we are close to having a very good pass rush. I think Collins and Irving could really be players. I think Lawrence bounces back if healthy and gets double digit sacks and I think we have a few other guys that can do some damage too. Even T Crawford started getting some pressure at the end of the year for the first time in a long time. I think with health we will be better than last year even if we don't add anyone. But, I'm pretty sure we will add a pass rusher or two via draft or FA which will make us even better.

Who do you see in the rotation as of now?

So far I have...

RDE: Lawrence, Mayowa
DT: Collins, Thornton
LDE: Crawford, Tapper

With David Irving likely to be back. So that puts Dallas at 7. Last year the Cowboys used a rotation of 8-9 guys regularly. So a high draft pick and Ware/T.McClain?

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Like you said, for the money that Ware costs (and that Dallas has available), who else would you rather have?

It's just a tricky spot for Dallas this free agency, the timing is an issue. CB is undoubtedly #1 priority, so in my opinion Dallas needs that to be their primary focus once free agency starts. Problem is Dallas will be out money after two or 3 signings, and secondary is just too much of a need to not address prior to the draft. The Cowboys likely won't have any money for a DE (Ware, or otherwise) until after Romo is off the books.

I guess I essentially agree with you and it is kind of my point that I'd prefer to address the secondary versus bringing in a guy like Ware. I think you could get comparable play from a rookie DE for a fraction of the price.

 

[es4m11]

I guess I essentially agree with you and it is kind of my point that I'd prefer to address the secondary versus bringing in a guy like Ware. I think you could get comparable play from a rookie DE for a fraction of the price.

I guess it is always possible too, that there is another restructure coming. In which case, Dallas might be able to offer a contract to whoever they want?

 

[jarntt]

Who do you see in the rotation as of now?

So far I have...

RDE: Lawrence, Mayowa
DT: Collins, Thornton
LDE: Crawford, Tapper

With David Irving likely to be back. So that puts Dallas at 7. Last year the Cowboys used a rotation of 8-9 guys regularly. So a high draft pick and Ware/T.McClain?

I'm counting the guys on the team last year that are low end FAs like McClain and J Crawford that won't get huge deals, that the team seemed to like and who played well for their $'s, as well as Irving who is restricted so he isn't going anywhere. Plus we have Ash who could be that big space clogging early down run stopper that we have been missing.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Hoping Tapper can be a diamond in the rough. If he can contribute along with whoever we draft/sign it would be huge.

 

[es4m11]

I'm counting the guys on the team last year that are low end FAs like McClain and J Crawford that won't get huge deals, that the team seemed to like and who played well for their $'s, as well as Irving who is restricted so he isn't going anywhere. Plus we have Ash who could be that big space clogging early down run stopper that we have been missing.

Well like you said, there are only so many rotation spots. Maybe it gets stretched to 10 deep? I see Irving back and a high draft pick for sure. Ash is also ERFA, so if Dallas wants he will be a Cowboy. I wouldn't mind having McClain or Crawford back, but those guys will likely be second tier priorities and Dallas probably couldn't sign them until after Romo is gone - if they are still on the market by that time. Of course the math changes if Dallas restructures another contract - but wouldn't they have already announced that if the were going to do it?

 

[jarntt]

While I love Ware and in theory it seems like a match I'm not thrilled with this idea. For the money he may be the only viable option but I'm not sure he has much left. His numbers last year were far from spectacular and he's sharing the field with Von Miller. Take away a Von Miller type and add another year of wear and tear and I'm just not sure he'll have the impact that we're looking for. Will he provide more than whatever DE we may take in the first 2 rounds? I'm not sure about that. I'd prefer to spend the money somewhere else.

Here is a why I like the Ware idea and brought it up a while ago. I don't think he gets a huge contract but yes, will get a big one or two year deal. I would play him in most pass rush situation and little else. This would keep him fresh, use him for what he is best at and let others rotate in as well. I feel like if he is used as a specialist he can be a Fred Dean twilight of career type. He certainly can be what Freeney was the last couple of years.

 

[jarntt]

Well like you said, there are only so many rotation spots. Maybe it gets stretched to 10 deep? I see Irving back and a high draft pick for sure. Ash is also ERFA, so if Dallas wants he will be a Cowboy. I wouldn't mind having McClain or Crawford back, but those guys will likely be second tier priorities and Dallas probably couldn't sign them until after Romo is gone - if they are still on the market by that time. Of course the math changes if Dallas restructures another contract - but wouldn't they have already announced that if the were going to do it?

I think they did the two that were absolutely going to happen. there are probably some others they are putting in the "if we have to" category. They have done them at different times in the past