Carpe Bobby 5-point Improvement Scheme (State of the Cowboys)

The Carpe Bobby 5-point Improvement Scheme

* arrows project whether the player gets better (↑), get worse (↓) or stays the same (↔)

OFFENSE

QB:

Romo ↑ Entering peak.
Kitna ↓ He could play for a few games if needed, anything more we are f**ked.
McGee ↑ Can’t get any worse than he was.

RB:

Felix Jones ↑ Should start and get at least 15 carries a game.
Tashard Choice ↑ Should be 3rd down back.  I trust him to get tough yards more than other two.
Marion Barber ↓ He has broken down last two years, closer/garbage time guy or trade him.

FB:

Deon Anderson ↔ Always injured, good effort, likeable guy, average

TE:

Jason Witten ↔ Still in peak, needs to cut it out with the penalties.
Martellus Bennett ↑ Had a bad season, but will get better, if someone offers a 1, please take it.
John Philips ↑ Pretty much the man.

WR:

Miles Austin ↑ Do it again.
Roy Williams ↓ Give him one more year and cut him if he doesn’t step it up.
Patrick Crayton ↔ Solid.  He’s approaching downside of career though.
Kevin Ogletree ↑ Keep giving him touches, looks like a solid prospect.
Sam Hurd ↔ Good special teamer, think he would do fine with increased PT.

OL:

Leonard Davis ↓ Just entered downside, will be fine for a few more years.
Andre Guroude ↓ Same as Leonard Davis.
Flozell Adams ↓ Firmly in downside of career, fine with cutting him if had another decent  T prospect. 
Marc Colombo ↓ See Guroude.
Doug Free ↑ Alright! We finally developed a OL, want to see him starting next year.
Kyle Kosier ↓ Good enough, could do better though, in downside as well
Robert Brewster ↑ Has to be better than this year.

DEFENSE

S:

Gerald Sensabaugh ↔ Don’t know how this season stacked up to previous ones, pretty solid though
Ken Hamlin ↓ Doesn’t give up big plays, doesn’t make big plays, in downside of career
Michael Hamlin ↑ Has to be better because he did nothing

CB

Mike Jenkins ↑ This guy is the man should get even better
Terrance Newman ↔ He’s just leaving prime, but seems like a guy that can play into late 30’s
Orlando Scandrick ↑ Shaky start, strong finish, he should continue to improve.
Alan Ball ↑ He’s a gamer.  Like him as the dual backup

ILB

Bradie James ↔ He’s in career peak, solid player.
Keith Brooking ↓ He’s firmly in downside of career but was awesome as player and leader.
Bobby Carpenter ↑ Carpe was decent enough in his role, should keep getting better through hard work.
Jason Williams ↑ Did nothing but should be ready to compete next season.
Stephen Hodge ↑ See Jason Williams.

OLB

Demarcus Ware ↔ Ware is in his prime, he is awesome and will be for years to come.
Anthony Spencer ↑ He played great this year and should keep improving.
Victor Butler ↑ Flashed playmaking abilities.  Looks like a player.
Brandon Williams ↑ See Stephen Hodge.

DL

Jay Ratliff ↔ In his prime, we need to find a backup to keep him fresh and prolong career.
Igor Olshansky ↔ Better and cheaper than Canty.  Nice Addition.
Marcus Spears ↔ Worthy of extension at right price.
Stephen Bowen ↑ Still developing, Solid backup.
Jason Hatcher ↔ Solid Backup.  Hasn’t developed as hoped for.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K

?
David Beuhler ↑ Wish he could kick field goals, but awesome as Kick Off guy and special teamer.

P

Mat McBriar ↑ He keeps getting better.  I guess punters can improve into mid thirties.

KR

? Felix and Miles too valuable as starters, Ogletree not overly impressive.

PR

Patrick Crayton ↑ Had an outstanding bet that I would shotgun 3 beers back-to-back if he ever returned a punt for TD.  Well I drank 6 and should have had to drink 9 if not for a penalty wiping one out.  That being said, we can still find a better PR.

*players not mentioned are roster filler in my book – not likely to ever start and replaceable

DRAFT PLAN:

Priorties:

1: OL – We need one immediate starter at C, G, or T and at least one other prospect.  We can move Guroude to G if needed.  Free can start at LT or RT, Kosier can be improved upon.  Just take Best Available OL and sort it out later.

2: FS – We need a fast, rangy playmaker at S.  Earl Thomas is the player I want, but already sounds like that is out of the question.  Need good cover skills.

3: DL – This draft is supposedly deep at DL, we can improve ours.  NT and DE, we need some young talent.

4: CB – Need more young talent here and preferably with return skills

5: ILB – We have two solid vets, one questionable backup, and two unproven projects.  A legit prospect wouldn’t hurt.

6: WR – We lack a true deep threat.  Wouldn’t mind taking one mid-rounds.

7: K – Don’t know if we need to draft one, but we got to figure out something.

8: QB – nowhere close to sold on backups.

9: RB/TE – More important if we trade Bennett/Barber/Choice, otherwise don’t really need any more players.

*I am firm believer in spending most high picks on defensive players (like Ravens were known for)

DRAFT PROSPECTS I Like (rds 1-2):

OL –

Bruce Campbell - Upside, Athleticism, Size
Mike Iupiti - Size, Power
Maukice Pouncey - Size, Power, Athleticism
Vladimir Ducasse - Huge, Size, Power

S –

Earl Thomas - Ballhawking Athlete - my favorite player in draft
Chad Jones - Size, Athleticism
Morgan Burnett - Football player

DL –

Terrance Cody - Massive NT
Mike Neal - Solid DE prospect

WR –

Arrelious Benn - Athleticism, Size
Golden Tate - Deep Threat
Demaryius Thomas - Athleticism, Size

FREE AGENTS / TRADES

-I’m cool with trading/cutting the following if we find some solid replacements:

Flozell Adams – old, dumb penalties.
Ken Hamlin – contract too big for level of play.
Kyle Kosier – just an average player in general.
Jon Kitna – doesn’t inspire any confidence in me.

-I’m cool with trading the following players for something reasonable:

Bobby Carpenter – is a 4-3 OLB  trying to play ILB in the 3-4
Marion Barber – pricy contract, other players on roster
Roy Williams – been a bust so far.  Never needed him in first place.
Martellus Bennett – should have taken that 1 from Cincy.

CONCLUSION:

Our team is solid at every position and great at some positions.  The OL is old and weakening.  The DL is solid but lacks young talent.  DBs lack depth and is in need of more young playmakers.  WRs lack explosive deep threat.  ILBs could be upgraded.  K situation is a clusterf**k.  Return game needs some juice.