DT Ron Brace likes the Dallas Cowboys
by Dave Halprin on Feb 15, 2009 11:18 PM CST
in Dallas Cowboys News
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PrintThe combine is this week. Woo hoo! That will be something to talk about for a few days.
The Cowboys could be looking for a big NT to help out in the middle. A name that's been kicked around is Boston College's Ron Brace. Here's what Brace had to say about the Cowboys in a Q&A with Patriots Insider.
Thompson: Were there two or three teams who stuck out the most to you based on who you got to meet or how they approached the interview process (at the Senior Bowl)?
Brace: The Dallas Cowboys, and one other one that was with either the Chargers or the Panthers. I really enjoyed those conversations because they really had a conversation with me, those guys really seemed interested in me as a person.
(On his weight)
Thompson: Is 329 a good playing weight for you at the next level?
Brace: I'm comfortable at the weight I'm playing right now, and I feel I'm more productive at the weight I'm at right now. I'd like to be a little bit lighter so that I can be faster, but I don't want to lose so much weight that I lose my strength. I'd like to stay between the 320 to 325 range, but if teams want me between 325 to 330, I'll be able to do that with no problem.
RW2 on being a #1. More RW2, here.
Everybody is looking for safety help but there just aren't enough good ones to go around. (Lots of great quotes about playing safety in the NFL from Ed Reed in the article)
Todd Archer talks the QB position in free agency. We all know we need a backup QB not named Brad Johnson. Will it be a free agent? Will it be our own free agent Brooks Bollinger? Will the Cowboys spend a draft pick on a QB?
Archer also covers the RB's, here. Just the other day I was talking to Raf about the need for a FB. I like Cricket as a special teams player but he hasn't developed enough as a blocking FB for my tastes and he's been hurt occasionally. We could use a return to a some I-formation, power running and we need a beast to lead the way. That way we can really set up play-action passing which should be more of a staple of this offense. Archer hints at the possible need for a FB, too.
If there is a need, it could be at fullback. Deon Anderson improved as a lead blocker and is willing to play special teams, but he has had trouble staying healthy. Julius Crosslin spent the year on the practice squad.
I love this kid. BTW, old-timers on this blog will remember that I have an unhealthy fascination with FB's.
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It's pretty rare for a FB to come out without holes in their game
They’re just not drafted high. What sort of attributes make a player stand out at the FB position? If they were faster they’d be a RB, bigger a TE, etc etc… FB is a position not suited to looking good
by AustonianAggie on Feb 16, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions
That's funny
I was just thinking about fullbacks today when I was writing another comment. I kinda hope they draft one.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Feb 16, 2009 12:05 AM CST reply actions
They were raving about Quinn Johnson during senior bowl week
Any guesses what round he may go in the draft?
I just checked on him and he's expected to be a late rounder if drafted at all.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Feb 16, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I didn't realize on the linked Quinn Johnson page
That it projected him to be a late rounder/FA.
Johnson's an interesting guy
Maybe Detroit’s 7th rounder or Miami’s 6th? It’d be worth the flyer if we could have a chance at our own Lorenzo Neal.
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
Is there something wrong with Deon Anderson?
I know the dude’s injury prone, but when he’s on the field he doesn’t look bad.
Epic Fail since 1985
Anderson is Too Small
Dallas has the players and the running backs to utilize the road grater approach to a running game; this style has the advantage of matching up well against physical defenses like the Steelers and the Ravens; the road grater type running game neutralizes pass rushing defenses like the Giants. We need a true nasty pancake blocking fullback; no skill position talent needed. MBIII is proving to be outstanding at catching the ball – so we have plenty of skill position talent when you add in Felix and Choice. Going with this theory, we need to get rid of cupcake third tightend Curtis, and find a huge nasty blocking beast to back up Witten and Tellus. I would even consider trying Proctor as our third tight end. He showed good talent at blocking in space, and pulling to lead the way for Choice on his numerous runs to daylight through some very tough defenses in the last part of the season.
Fullback is something we shouldn't reserve concern for in the draft.
Deon Anderson may not be the best fullback there is and he’s not great at running with the ball but he’s a solid blocker.
We should really be concentrating on o-line depth, safeties, d-line/dt, and maybe a backup qb.
"Aw Shucks" - Wade Phillips
+1
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Feb 16, 2009 4:14 AM CST up reply actions
Sure We Have Other Needs
But, we have eleven picks and we have undrafted FA and we have true free agency. I think FB is a priority. Anderson is not a bad football player, just miscast as a full back for the Cowboys. He might excell at a true West Coast offensive scheme; but Dallas needs a true pancaking blocking beast to lead the way for Choice and MBIII.
I disagree
fullback, if you’re going to a heavier run mix, and by every indication the Cowboys are,
is as important as a guard. Deon Anderson is a so-so blocker. He was a running back
in college.
This is why Anthony Fasano was let go. He could not flex into the backfield and move
linebackers.
It’s a lot more important than you think it is.
by Rafael Vela on Feb 16, 2009 11:15 AM CST up reply actions
+2
Same here, I like Cricket, but I’d rather have a Tony Richardson or Lorenzo Neal type that can blow defenders out to create holes for our 3 headed rushing attack.
I like the Quinn Johnson suggestion Grizz made. He could be had in the 6th or 7th round. It would be as good a pick as anyone else by that point in the draft.
Feb. 18-24 -- NFL Scouting Combine
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Feb 16, 2009 11:21 PM CST up reply actions
Ron Brace, we like you too.
TELL MITCH ALBOM THAT IF HE'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH BLOGGERS, THEN HE CAN COME SEE ME IN THE OCTAGON.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Feb 16, 2009 3:42 AM CST reply actions
Whats wrong with Mitch Albom?
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Feb 16, 2009 4:16 AM CST up reply actions
He was ranting last week about how bloggers are lame
and are not real writers.
TELL MITCH ALBOM THAT IF HE'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH BLOGGERS, THEN HE CAN COME SEE ME IN THE OCTAGON.
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Feb 16, 2009 6:40 AM CST up reply actions
He's worse than Bissinger
Who’s at least come around a little bit and gave bloggers a chance to win him over after he blew up on Will Leitch. Albom just doesn’t care.
Kanye, you want to be the voice of this generation? Get in line! It goes me, Obamagirl, the Freecreditreport.com guys, then It's a tie between you-and Crocs.
-Stephen Colbert
Ah, but bloggers will get the last laugh
Newspapers are shrinking. Sportswriters are getting canned left and right. You notice the DMN and the Star-Telegram announbced a content-sharing arrangement recently? Lots of other major newspapers around the country are doing the same.
The better positioned, and simply better, bloggers, will survive. There are A LOT of sportwriters who will either adapt to the net, or find another line of work.
They know it. That’s why the hostility is so thick.
Hey, Barack Obama called on a blogger in his press conference last week. As you might imagine, the regular punditocracy responded in much the same way old farts like Albom did, by attacking the guy, even though he is a long-time, card-carrying journalist who just happens to work for a big blog these days. He’s smart. They’re scared.
I assure you, Albom is too.
by Rafael Vela on Feb 16, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
Which is too bad
The few pieces written by Albom that I’ve read, I thought were very good. He made the jump to TV, why would he be scared of the internet. Good writing is good writing. Columnists like him should be able to make the transition easily, I would think. They usually aren’t trying to scoop anybody.
As Nelson Muntz would say to Mitch, “Ha-Ha! Your medium is dying.”
Jay Mariotti
Straight up quit the Chicago Sun, because he realized that newspapers are going the way of the dodo.
You either adapt to change or let change retire your ass.
Mitch is old.
He’s probably not computer friendly.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Feb 16, 2009 1:43 PM CST up reply actions
+Brace is good
but I think we would have to move up quite a bit to get him.As far a fullback goes. The I formation with Romo under centre sounds safer than Gurode snapping in the shotgun. Just new to the sight . Who’s cricket.
Cricket is the nickname ...
Deon Anderson earned during his first training camp … for eating a cricket to erase a lost bet debt.
But
in 07 when gurode always snapped it over romos head it went for a big gain. But that was the story of the 2007 cowboys the ball bounced their way and not so much in 08
What the French?! Toast!
Truth be told
the Boys won a lot of games in 07 that they probably shouldn’t have and so we expected more out of the 08 team. A really good team doesn’t just win on lucky bounces because sooner or later it will catch up to you.
Fullback
Is a hard position to project anyways, because there aren’t too many true fullbacks in college football anymore.
Even Peyton Hillis, as much as I liked him coming out of college was really more of a running back.
Owen Schmidt is the only one I can remember...
Don’t think he’s done much with his rookie year. But I remember watching him smash his helmet into his forehead a few times at WV. That screams TRUE FULLBACK
by AikmanNailedMySis on Feb 16, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
No way on earth
that those three paragraphs in the story on Safeties are direct quotes from Ed Reed. Who talks like they’re writing? and, I’ve heard Ed Reed speak before with such excellent grammar and syntax.
Is it cool for writers to transcribe “quotes” in correct english with incorrect English corrected?
Nice
He sounds like another interesting FB prospect, plus he can catch.
Feb. 18-24 -- NFL Scouting Combine
Feb. 27 -- Veteran free agency signing period begins. Trading period begins.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Feb 18, 2009 11:34 PM CST up reply actions
He's certainly a guy to look at...
He ran a 4.68 at that time for the pro scouts, and weighing 270-something pounds, that sort of put him on the map. Then he’s really worked hard to improve his receiving skills, and he was always a great blocker."
by CowboysRnumba1 on Feb 19, 2009 5:53 AM CST up reply actions
exactly....think Kendall Watkins with speed and playmaking ability...
aka…a much bigger version of Moose Johnson.
I know that Parcells didn't really use the fullback.......
but we never have really replaced Moose have we? Think about it I know that a lot of offenses don’t use the fb anymore but we never found anyone after Moose retired.
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