nice write up carl.

the oline is definitely the biggest concern where you don’t see that next wave ready to step in in a few years. and in some cases it could need to be sooner. but no oline on your list. most of these backup guys are big unknowns. this draft, they got Brewster as their 2nd pick, but that was the only online 1 out of 12, so i next year i think you’re right, it has to be a priority to address. and maybe they were projecting more depth in the ‘10 class. meanwhile hopefully some of the guys they have are developing and really can step up, but right now we just don’t know.

otherwise, i think this team has done a very good job of ‘reloading’ the potential both for immediate and sustained success by getting younger and having a system of highly skilled veterans and understudies, we just have to see it come together on the field.

i mean who has it better right now that marty b? athletically superbly gifted, working under all-pro TE regarded as best in the league and a TE friendly system that will coach up and utilize his skills.

and everyone is worrying about the WRs, even tho we’ve got some good ones, but to think, we have very arguably both the #1 TE tandem in the league, and the #1 RB trio in the league. That’s not just homerism lol, it is pretty much recognized. Top TE hitting his peak, young TE could be even better. RB curve probably shorter, but top RB 26 in the peak wave, one at 25, one at 22, in the young wave. Now it comes down to how they are used and how they execute, but to somehow think that we lack offensive threats because of no TO, but we have #1 TE tandem and #1 RB trio now and potentially for a good few years…

It’s so nice to have writers who actually like the team they’re reporting on. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (meant graciously and wholeheartedly).

Couldn’t agree more. I know I’m a broken record on this, so you guys are probably getting tired of hearing it, but if someone isn’t behind the scenes coaching up this o-line we are screwed. The o-line not only seems too slow, they don’t seem to recognize what the defense is bringing, they’re undisciplined, 4 out of 5 have no fire, and they don’t seem to take any responsibility for their underachieving MO.

All that being said, I still believe they can play well enough to win in this league. They have to be at their best for the long haul, which they haven’t given any indication they can be, but they can do it if they want it bad enough.

I just happen to think that the players along the line of scrimmage, offense and defense, have to be the cornerstone of your franchise, and I just don’t see it on the Cowboys. Here’s to hoping they prove me to be a total idiot.

The QB is such a difficult position to learn and master that it takes several years of playing to reach elite status on a consistent basis. Peyton Manning and Brady started peaking at the age of 30 and are at the top of their games. Same holds true for all other truly great qbs I can think of, Montana, Aikman, Staubach, Elway, Unitas, etc

Romo’s best years are yet to come and I think over the next several years, Cowboys fans will see Romo become more smart in his decision making and the risks he takes with the ball will become more calculated than indiscriminate.

While I tend to agree with most on the oline subject, I’d like to throw a little perspective: Last year before Kosier got injured, Did any of us thought that the oline was playing bad? to me they looked like the team everyone was raving about. Yes we do need to replenish some talent there, but IMHO most oline players get to their prime well in their 30’s. Right now they’re practicing without pads and it is really difficult to evaluate the oline, they are probably working more on technique than enything else.

i like your article. but your final two points were pretty much self-evident and not necessarily likely.

yes, the boys will do well if the young OL develop. but that’s been true for a while, and isn’t the problem that in most cases, they haven’t? that’s why we’ve built through free agency with davis, columbo, and kosier. the cowboys really need a breakthrough in this area; it’s been far too long. higher picks like marten, rogers, and peterman haven’t panned out, and “promising” late rounders like mcquistan and pettiti haven’t really turned into anything. the jury is still out on free. this is the team that felt the need to tender cory procter, for crying out loud! given that, i was actually surprised they didn’t get another OL.

and while it’s true another draft or two like 2008 will help solidify the team’s future, you said yourself that it was a home run. don’t know that we can expect that every time. as for 2009, how can you tell that it’s promising? have these guys even been in pads yet?

Based on last season’s opening day roster the Dallas Cowboys were actually the league’s third oldest team with and average age of 28.22 years per player

Who’dathunkit? This team, outside ol’ man Greg and Zach, felt young to me. Even though T.O.‘s in his mid-30’s, he seemed young at heart and definitely did his all to stay in shape.

We ought to shave a good 2.5-3 years off our opening day roster this season. Of the 19 guys noted above, their average is 26.47 yo unless my math is off. This is fun stuff to chew on, Carl.

From the guys at Hogs Haven. I love Romo, but it’s pretty funny:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3613273010_65f4da4520_o.jpg

I was trying to research last night how young this team is and ran into that fact about last year. It was surprising, although there isn’t much statistical difference between the bottom 10 teams or so.
Still, I like the move to youth and speed.
reminds me of the “other” JJ’s approach.

We have to wait and see who actually makes it from this year’s draft though. Last year was great but can’t be repeated.

The O-line doesn’t suck, the depth of the Oline sucks.

Except for the Gurode snaps and constant Flo offsides and let downs they are pretty good.

Those two things above can lose a game real quick. When Romo has to go 3rd and 10 or longer, well, that just pisses me off!

To be in contention EVERY year, but to also be rebuilding at the same time. That’s the goal, and it’s not impossible. The Patriots, for instance, built an entire WR corps from scratch before 2007, and they rebuilt their entire secondary on the fly this past offseason.

I think the place that it’s hardest to do that type of on-the-run rebuilding is the offensive line, as others mentioned above. Sadly, the Eagles are actually probably the best example of a team doing it well. They lost BOTH starting tackles from last year, yet their OL looks undiminished (and possibly even improved). Of course, they invest first or second round draft picks EVERY YEAR on the offensive and defensive line.

As much as I have liked our personnel managment the past few years, I do think that that’s an area where we lack a bit— the refusal to use early draft picks on offensive linemen (we certainly do it on the defensive side, so no gripes there), even in years when OL may not be a pressing need.

You’ll whiff every so often (the Eagles missed on Winston Justice and Jerome McDougle, for instance), but overall you will keep your depth on the line at a very high level.

Well, I guess every draft has promise in it. Each year you get young, hungry players that have a chance to contribute to the team.

I find it funny that not many here will point out that we had a bad draft. Every other team in the NFL took at least one player higher than our highest player. Likewise, they all took at least one player graded higher than our highest graded player. If you’re talking about setting the team up for future success, dont point to this draft about getting that done. It might happen, but its not real likely. Most of these guys project as back-up and special teams guys. Those type of players are available every year in free agency for not a lot of coin. Even if all 12 stick with the team, chances are we dont have many impact players down the road. A quality special teams player or two, a quality back-up or two, maybe even one or two below average to average starters. Most likely nothing we will look back on fondly in 6-8 years.

Jared Gaither has been a blessing in B-more. He is big, physical and a major reason why we hang close with pitt.. with the addition of Michael Oher (you should see this guy) we’ll have the best ravens o-line we’ve ever had. we added perennial pro-bowler matt berk at center. if the o-line makes a team we will find out this year. Gaither is a quite giant. To add him after Ogden is a real treat.