Cowboys end of season article roundup

by Dave Halprin on Jan 2, 2006 1:05 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Last night's debacle is chronicled here, for anyone who's interested.

The DFW Star-Telegram is running an article discussing some of the more prominent names that might not be back next year. Here's the skinny:

Defensive veterans Greg Ellis, La'Roi Glover, Dat Nguyen and Al Singleton might soon become ex-Cowboys.
Ellis believes he will not likely return next season.

"I think I won't be here," Ellis said. "Obviously it's not going to be good for me to stay here."

I think they're right, all of these guys will be gone. During the season I thought they might keep Glover, but now I've changed my mind. Even though Parcells loves the way Glover plays the game and handles himself (as do I), he's just not the best fit for this defense.

Another article from the same paper tells us about the futility inside the futility that was last night's game. Julius Jones only needed 42 yards to reach the 1000-yard mark for the season. So what happened?

Jones gained only 12 yards on his first 13 carries through the first three quarters. He looked like he might hit the mark in the fourth quarter after a 28-yard burst gave him 40 rushing yards for the game.

But Jones was tackled for a 5-yard loss on the next play -- a continuing trend for the game -- and he finished the season in disappointing fashion.

Yup, he only got 35 yards rushing, finishing the year with 993 yards. Emblamatic of an entire season that came up short. You can't look back on this year without feeling that an opportunity was wasted.

When this team had won 3 in a row and was 7-3 headed into Thanksgiving Day, they were considered serious contenders for it all. But a down the stretch record of 2-4 revealed the flaws in this edition of the Cowboys.

Click "Read More" for the rest of the post.

Tim Cowlishaw's latest in the Dallas Morning News (subscription required) questions how good of a job Bill Parcells has done in Dallas. To some extent Cowlishaw is right, his success so far is behind schedule compared to his previous stops.

So what we know is this. His first three years in Dallas have been less productive than his two stops in New York. Arguably, they have been less impressive than his first three years in New England as well.

The Giants had won a playoff game at this point. They were a year away from winning a Super Bowl. The Jets had been to an AFC Championship Game.

In New England, the Patriots had been to the playoffs once and lost, just like Parcells' Cowboys. But the team was a year away from getting to the Super Bowl.

More on missing the playoffs this year and the problems on offense.

For this team not to get to the playoffs in a conference in which teams as flawed as Washington and Tampa Bay and even Chicago are going to the postseason is embarrassing.

"I'm not overly proud of 9-7," Parcells said.

Anytime he has been asked about the job he has done, Parcells says all he knows is this team is better than what he inherited.

That's no great claim to fame. With the salary cap room he has had, in three years it should be considerably better. And it should be in the playoffs if he is going to bring in Drew Bledsoe and Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn and Marco Rivera to spark the offense.

When next season starts, Bledsoe, Johnson, Rivera and Larry Allen will be 34. Glenn will be 32. This is not a youthful offense, nor was it a very productive one in 2005.

All true, but it leaves out some important facts. The defense looks ready to become championship caliber. The offense has shown it can be productive if the offensive line can block. The skill positions on offense are adequate if Drew Bledsoe has time to throw. They probably need to think about the WR group and how that might be improved, but otherwise, fix the offensive line and the offense will score enough to win.

Finally, here are the teams we play next year.

Next year's opponents

Home: NY Giants, Philadelphia, Washington, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Detroit

Away: NY Giants, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Arizona

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Comments

Glover and Ellis

Its my opinion that letting Glover and Ellis go would be a big mistake. They provide not only great depth along the D line, they are great character guys who lead by example. The defense would surely miss their productivity and leadership.

I also agree that Parcells is to blame for our shortcomings this year. He signed Bledsoe knowing the guy needs max protection to be successful but doesn't address the RT position in free agency or the O line depth in general. Cutting Kurt Vollers was a big mistake. He also fires Steve Hoffman which I attribute to alot of our kicking problems this year. Parcells has done a great job buliding a nucleus so far, but has also made some big mistakes as well.

by Terry on Jan 2, 2006 3:46 PM CST reply actions

Glover and Ellis

You have to wonder if Ellis and Glover want to return in a depth role. Both guys could start on other teams, especially 4-3 teams. It's possible they would prefer somewhere else more suited for their talents. Money, the 3-4, and the players own wishes may force the change. The way Ellis talks, he sounds like he wants out.

We've done it on the cheap for so long, but this season let's spend a little cash on a kicker. It killed us this year.

Aaron Elling RFA Ravens
Adam Vinatieri UFA Patriots
Joe Nedney UFA 49ers
Jose Cortez UFA Eagles
Josh Brown RFA Seahawks
Matt Bryant UFA Buccaneers
Mike Vanderjagt UFA Colts
Paul Edinger UFA Vikings
Ryan Longwell UFA Packers
Todd Peterson UFA Falcons

Vinatieri or Vanderjagt? Longwell?

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by Dave Halprin on Jan 2, 2006 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

I totally agree

We definitely have to sign a veteran kicker. I like Vinatieri, Vanderjagt and Brown in that order. The others really don't impress me that much. Go after Vinatieri unless the Pats franchise him again and if that happens, sign Vanderjagt as I read a report by ESPN's John Clayton that Indy has no plans to resign him.

by Terry on Jan 2, 2006 7:46 PM CST up reply actions

Not justified

Its nice to have some veterans, but not at the price were paying them to be backups, now is the time to trade them and get something for them as they have some value and they are both( Glover and Ellis) are in their early thirtys. Glover is a free agent in a year also, hense trade him now and get a pick that can help us down the line. Ellis doesn't fit in the 3-4 scheme and is being fazed out by Canty who has the right side nailed down for years to come bookended with Spears on the other side.With ferguson at the nse position, I think that a Nose tackle has to be addressed somewhere in the draft for the future and to spell ferguson.With Ratliff, Coleman, Johnson and glymph, were pretty set there.
Going into training camp, it was expected to have Jacob I have a boo boo Rogers was slotted to be the right tackle, a second round pick by the way who is a bust and out the door because he has no heart to play this game. Our left tackle was lost for the year with a knee injury, Vollers is a bum, tucker has been here what four years, if he doesn't get by now, say goodbye.Rivera has been a waste of money, he has been a major disappointment, I wanted Mark Wahle, who by the way is on his way to the probowl, I wished we signed Kareem Mackenzie to play right tackle, but how much more money can you spend on the O-line. Gurode will be let go because he doesn't get it as a center or guard in four years either. So as you can see, we had lots of problems on the O-line, its not Bledsoe's fault, he didn't have time to throw the ball, no running game to set up the play action which this offense is designed equals bad season. For all thse who didn't like Bledsoe, tell me, who else was out there, Kurt Warner, please, he's a bum.The D-line was fixed last year as well as other defensive positions. How many picks did this team waste on corners over the last five years.The O-line will be fixed this offseaon and can we add a offensive line coach, a real one like larry beightol out of green bay, thats what this team misses since Hudson Hauck left.
I agree Steve Hoffman being let go was a big mistake, but really this team NEVER SPENDS money on kickers, not that money would egual wins. Alot of teams are out there looking for a good kicker, they're just isn't many out there. Vineteri and Vanderjaht aren't being freed up any time soon, its a major crap shoot out there when it comes to kickers, just have to cross your finger or spent a high pick mason Crosby from Colorado, which I would never waste a high pick on a kicker or a running back, dime a dozen and no guarantee they'll be any good.

by Deke on Jan 2, 2006 4:56 PM CST reply actions

O line

I agree that the Cowboys should have signed Kareem McKenzie to play RT this year. I actually expected Parcells to bring him in since he was a former player and was surprised when they didn't sign him. I too thought they should have signed Wahle over Rivera, didn't like that signing when it happened and still don't. Hopefully they can fix the O line like they did the D line this year. By the way, I read where Indy doesn't want Vanderjagt back, that could be the answer if the Pats lock up Vinatieri.

by Terry on Jan 2, 2006 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

Glover and Ellis

Its a shame to lose 2 solid players because they don't fit the system. I thought they both did well this year even though Glover missed the Probowl for the 1st time in a long time. And Ellis has been a solid starter for us ever since he got here. But I would have to say it looks like they won't be back. We can't pay them like starters to be back ups and they can still be productive in the right defensive scheme so they should be given the opportunity to go sign with a team they could start on. I disagree that we can trade them. Why would a team give up any draft pick for a player that will likely be cut before their contract bonus is due? It would be nice, but I don't see it happening. I think we are set at D-line with what we have on the roster. Canty, Ferguson, Spears with Coleman, Johnson, Ratliff as backups. But I could see Parcells using a draft pick to bring in someone else to compete for a backup spot.

by APerfectStar on Jan 2, 2006 7:10 PM CST reply actions