On to the Offseason

Thanks for the update Raf, it’s good to know that you’ll keep abreast of things going forward.

 I’m glad I found this site, and thank you and Raul for putting together somewhere Cowboy’s fans can come and discuss things. You are to be commended for that.

  O-Line is definitely a problem, and I agree that Pettiti does lack the necessary skills to compete at a high level in the NFL. If we can protect Bledsoe and run block, the defense will take care of itself.

  The draft will be an interesting watch. We’ll see what Parcells has in store. Until then, football junkies like myself will still watch the games and hope for a new beginning next year. Thanks.

O line really was pathetic tonight. Pettiti- regressed. BUT he was a rookie- so we will take him to camp and see if he can get better. TUcker- is another question. He has had the time and the practice and the experience- and all he is is a backup. So we need to get at least ONE quality tackle. RIVERA- was his back a problem the whole season and will it get any better? THAT is another question that needs to be answered. SO we need a quality guard.
Center? AL was abused again tonight; he can pull and seems ok at pass blocking- but as regards run blocking he is just not the answer.

My hat is off to you Rafael. I have thoroughly enjoyed all your commentary over the year. This is my first year reading your blog, but it will not be the last. Great Job!

Rafael:

Great work on the blog and thanks for the work you do on it to keep us junkies in the know.

Rafael and Raul,

Thank you for hosting this excellent site for Cowboy junkies. Your analysis is very insightful and always interesting.

Its a dissappointing ending to a season that showed so much promise. But this team is far better than the one that ended last season. Lets hope that the upward trend continues and that we can fill some of the holes.

Dallas may be “helped” out by the ever turning coaching carasel, as each of the NFC East’s DC should get some heavy head coach consideration around the league. Jim Johnson should finally get an opportunity to take his blitz happy ways to a head coaching vacancy. Greg Williams, may opt to stay with the Skins, but he should recieve a bunch of head coaching offers too. Since teams now must interview at least one African American candidate, then Tim Lewis’ name should be in the mix as well, although I don’t think he has as many credentials as the other two.

I think both Ellis and Glover played their last games as Cowboys. Ellis quickly noted after the game that there are no bad feelings, but he hasn’t fit in to the 3-4 scheme as well as he and Parcells would have liked. Glover, IMHO, is in the same boat. … The question then becomes: What is there value?

Jon Runyan may top the list of free agents that the Cowboys will pursue. Runyan could sure up that RT spot and give Tucker and Petitti time to develope. Dallas may take some of the Ellis and Glover money to sign a DB to play FS, Charles Woodson comes to mind. Woodson is a long shot, but his skills fit.

For the draft, I think Rafael got it exactly right with Carpenter. The LB from Ohio State has the size and speed needed to play the SOLB position in the 3-4 scheme. Another possibility with our 1st rounder is getting a big NT, and in my opinion Gabe Watson is the perfect fit for Parcells’ 3-4. Watson, the Michigan DT, is ranked 3rd to 6th among DTs entering the draft from the lists I have seen, but his size and skills are much better suited to play NT, and he is either 1st or 2nd amongst 3-4 NTs. The other guy to consider at NT is Haloti Ngata from Oregon. .. Later in the draft? At FB, Lawrence Vickers of Colorado may be the only player that makes any sense. He is a good physical blocker with tremendous receiving skills. Keep an eye out for him in the middle rounds. .. The Cowboys may have to draft an LB/DE tweener to fill a LB spot, and Manny Lawson may fit that bill. Lawson played DE for North Caroina State, but can be used as a back up to Demarcus Ware, and can possibly be moved inside. He is an exceptional athlete that you find a position for. Lawson has the skills to be a 2nd rounder, but may fall due to his lack of size to be a 4-3 DE in the NFL. Kamarion Wimbley, DE Florida State, is a similar player to Lawson. Look for them on day one and later.

Rafael:

You are one of the two good sportswriters I know. The other is Peter King. Everyone else rots. Thanks!

Another coach is gone. Mike Sherman has been fired in Green Bay.

Raf, Raul, Board,

Lots of fun this year, I found this board before Training camp and I am so happy that I did.

We are all just reacting right now to a disappointing season. I am sure most of us would have been happy with 9-7 and a chance for the playoff at the beginning of the season.

This team will be a monster next year.

Raf, I’ll be here allllllllll offseason too.

Derrick,

This makes it highly likely Beightol is free. I’ll follow up and see.

blee,

Thanks. I promise you, that unlike Peter, I will never tell you the coffee I drink, the movies I’ve seen or the results of my kids’ soccer games. :(

Raf,

Awesome site, keep up the great work! I’ll be here in the offseason as well.

I surely hope that we do land Beightol, who would help our oline tremendously. I don’t know if Rivera’s back was a problem for him, or if he just doesn’t have it anymore.

Regardless, our oline is priority 1, followed by linebacker, kicker, and fs.

I’m not too worried about WR, as the old guys showed they can still play, and TG was healthy for a whole year. That was refreshing!

I think that JJ will be fine. He’s recovered from his high ankle sprain and if he had some blocking, we all saw what he did to Carolina. MBIII showed us what he can do, but the jury is still out on TT, but he’s proven himself as a return guy, if he can only hang on to the ball! I would have loved to see him take one to the house!

The dline is our strength, especially with the return of Ratliff and “Pepper” Johnson’s continued development. Ellis and or Glover may be gone. I wonder if we can get a quality linebacker for either one of them?

Overall, I’m pleased with the improvements over 2004, but it seemed as if we weren’t all there against the Rams.

I look forward to a great 2006, especially with such a great site as this to keep me from sufferring withdrawal symptoms! On to free agency, the draft and beyond!

Rafael,

Just want to know your opinion on Rob Ryan. I think what will happen is Greg Williams will get a huge offer from Al Davis and Ryan will be set free. .. I ask because I like Ryan’s scheme, and I think he is underrated because Oakland never got the right personel for his defense. Zimmer is another casualty of the 3-4, because like Ellis and Glover he is good but doesn’t seem to fit as well as we would like. .. From my knowledge of Rob Ryan, his blitzing scheme confuse offenses and creates sacks. He has coached the 3-4, and may be a good fit in Dallas.

Raf,

I don’t think it is in Parcells’ MO to draft a safety on the first day. I think we will see a veteran brought in to man the position. Last time I checked, the biggest names were Chris Hope of the Steelers, Idrees Bashir of the Panthers, and Corey Chavous of the Vikings. I think Chavous would be an excellent fit in Dallas.

EricR,

I’m not as down on Zimmer as you seem to be, but Ryan’s previous stop was as linebackers coach for the Patriots, so he’s very familiar with the Belichick/Parcells school of defense.

Rafael,

I am not down on Zim either, I just think that it may be better for a 3-4 disciple to coach a 3-4 defense. Ryan has good blitz packages from what I have seen from him. Just the other day the in the Giants game, his CB went in motion following the WR, and blitzed from the slot. It was a free run at the QB and a well disguised play. Manning threw the ball right at Oakland’s safety just as he was hit. .. Now I know it was Zimmer’s first year, but it is only Ryan’s second. To me the 3-4 is predicated on taking up space in passing lanes and coming with “blitzes” from anywhere at any time. Ryan’s design looks pretty good, and with the right personel, which we are building here, Dallas may be a nice fit for him.

Ryan’s Oakland defense was pretty bad this year, and I am throwing his name out there in case Zimmer goes elsewhere. To be fair to Ryan and his defense’s stats, the Raiders have no one on that side of the ball!

Rafael:
Yeah, I’m also not down with Zim, with the quality and depth he had at LB, all the inexperience at DLine and having both safeties upfield in coverage (they still where burned while having the 2 safeties in cover-two, imagine what would have happened having just one deep…), it’s certainly surprising that Zim actually had some successes with his Defense, it wasn’t the Tsunamy Defense or Doomsday II we were expecting but you can’t ask for much more with what he had on the field.

BTW, after seeing this past game, I made my mind, it’s certain now that Petitti doesn’t have what it takes, he could be a decent backup with some more experience and training but not much more. Parcells should draft Jean-Gilles in the 1st Round he has experience at RT and RG and certainly looks the part of a powerful OLineman.

sab:
Chris Hope of Pittsburgh is a UFA next year also, and he might be the best of the bunch.

I also don’t think Petitti is a starter at RT. A backup, but not a starter. His play regressed throughout the season and looked like a lost puppy not knowing who to block.

We also need someone to complement Ware at OLB and a FS. We’ll see what happens in the offseason merry go round.

As always Raf, you are on the money. Pettiti may surprise us again, with his off-season program, just like he suprised us last summer. Glaringly obvious about his footspeed though.

I hate to say it, but I’m actually going to agree with a mediot. Cowlishaw of DMN says that BP has not done his job. Outside of 2003, I wholeheartedly agree. If anyone has pride though, it is BP. That’s why he’ll be back next year and beyond. He has unfinished business. I could read in his face last night that he desires to redeem himself.

Thanks for the great year Raf

this blog gives me an outlet truely needed in the bay area

next year is soo far away..

cheers

Rafael, Raul, fellow bloggers,

You guys have made the season much more enjoyable. I trully believe this is the most accurate info we have gotten about our team and the people who chat here are serious enough to make this site awesome. I am really proud of this site and hopefully, we’ll all be here during the offseason closely following every turn the cowboys take….yes, football never ends.

For the offseason I hope we get:

1 FB
1 Safety
3 O Line man
2 LB
1 WR

Suisham, Pettiti, Tucker, Rivera, Polite, Davis….you belong to special teams squads or to another team….pack your bags!…

Once again, thanks everyone who has participated in this blog. This season would’ve never been the same without you here…

Rafael,

I am surprised (actually, shocked) that you did not add offensive tackle to your list of first-day draft possibilities, especially given the dire need and the general consensus that this is a tackle-rich draft. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Cowboys take a tackle in round 1.

As for Petitti, he will most likely improve. The question is, how much (and how soon)? I certainly wouldn’t stake the 2006 season on him improving into a quality starter by September. I expect the Cowboys to upgrade the position through both free agency and the draft.

If Runyan actually becomes available, he would take care of the position for us, and we wouldn’t have to draft another one high. But Runyan hasn’t reached the market yet. Pickings might not be all that great, and the price could be driven up beyond reason for those who do become available. We also want to consider that Runyan, in addition to being high-priced, will be 33 next November. Given the age and high-cap cost of most of our other linemen, Runyan might not be a good fit after all. It all depends on his price.

Mr. Bill,

Consider it a blind spot. I’ve been looking at OTs and don’t see an easy fit with the Cowboys’ positions and players, unless a guy like Jeremy Trueblood of Boston College pans out in rounds two or three.

You’re right, though, this is the biggest need on offense. But that’s probably why it’s not on my draft radar. I think Dallas will probably go for a veteran and not risk, yet again, on filling that hole with a rookie.

Rafael,

The key is how much money the Cowboys commit to a free-agent tackle. If they can keep the cost down, they could still draft a tackle high, and let him sit for a year or two, while the veteran holds down the fort.