What the Cowboys need to do this off-season

by jdg4660 on Dec 27, 2011 4:58 PM CST

The Cowboys made big strides this season on offense. It's a shame Murray went down. With him, Romo, the receivers, Jones as a change of pace and kick return guy, and Witten, the Cowboys look like a team that could really score. If healthy, they are set offensively, save at least one and maybe two interior lineman. Yes, they could use a legit back up QB. But mostly, the Cowboys should be fine on this side of the ball next year.

It's the defensive side that is worrisome. That was the concern this off season and the Cowboys did little to address the problem.

We know nothing about Bruce Carter, yet. Will he emerge as a starter next year and be productive? After that, you've got Ware, Lee, and Jenkins and not a whole lot else besides filler. The defensive line is mediocre. Newman won't be back (I hope). For sure, his ability to cover and even to pick passes is in steep decline. Spencer should be cut loose. He's had four years to be a key piece and has rarely strung together four or five good games. All you see with him are occasional big plays, but not enough to move the needle consistently. Elam is a solid back up but not a play-maker. Alan Ball shouldn't be in the NFL.

James looks done. Ditto for Brooking. Coleman, Spears and Hatcher are journeymen, nothing more. Ratliff is over matched at nose tackle and getting to the end of his career anyway.

With so many areas of need, what are the priorities? First, you have to hope that Carter can step up this year the way Lee did and that Lee continues to improve. You hope Jenkins has more health. Obvious, because of their contracts, Sensabaugh and Scandrick will be back. To me, whether in free agency or in the draft, the Cowboys need to address these areas, in this order:

1. Outside linebacker.

Someway, somehow, this team needs to get pressure on the ball. Everyone thought that would happen when Spencer was drafted. But it really hasn't.

2. Cornerback.

Newman is done. Period. The Cowboys have to find a shut down corner. I think Jenkins has shown a lot of guts this year but he should not be your shutdown corner.

3. Safety.

The Cowboys really need a buy who can hit people, blitz now and then, intercept a pass, tackle in the open field to stop long gains, and be disruptive. They haven't had that kind of player at Safety sense Woodson, really.

4. Nose tackle

This one is more controversial, but Ratliff is not the player he was a few years ago. Rarely does he collapse the pocket and he's often overpowered at the point of attack. In spot duty at Nose and end, he'd be OK. As an every-down player, no.

Yes, you'd like to see an at least one defensive end. And if Carter isn't ready, then a middle linebacker will be a higher priority. But there are just too many holes to fill in one off season. You can only hope our illustrious GM can have a pro bowl off seasons this year.

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You know

I hate that all I’ve heard from btb this week is we need this this guy can’t play this guy is to old he will.never be good for us. You know maybe its all true maybe it isn’t but we still have a win in NY to get past then.on to.playoffs so if by any chance this talk can wait.till our next loss I would appreciate it. I don’t know about y’all but I would like to think we ayleast had a chance. Be it reasonable or just delusional thinking I still have hope for this team.

by Sado44 on Dec 27, 2011 5:27 PM CST via mobile reply actions

nice post jd i agree w/ ur solutions.. Sado our boys have a chance every wk

does that mean they’ll play balls to the wall w/ everything on the line on sun nite? I don’t know only captain hindsight know the outcome of these games, i would luv this team to knock out the gnats it would start off the new yr just rite but hell lets say our boys go on a crazy magical run, why should that stop folks from talking about making upgrades on this team.. We all know that certaom positions need some new talent, u should always be looking to improve its the nfl after all where injuries or freak accidents are just a blink away.. Think of the draft talk as the “churn the roster next man up” sorta way.

"Some people wear Superman pajamas, Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas. But Chuck Norris wears Sean Lee pajamas. That is all." --sirjason22

"I'm gonna punch you in the ovary, that's what I'm gonna do. A straight shot. Right to the babymaker." --Ron Burgundy

by DarkKnight88 on Dec 27, 2011 5:58 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not a debbie downer either and think we can win

but we always look at the next draft for fun and speculation. It’s what we do as fans.

"How 'Bout them Cowboys!"---Jimmy Johnson

"...and the Cowboys...STUN the Bills!"--ESPN MNF

by ScottB1985 on Dec 27, 2011 9:49 PM CST up reply actions

Think you mean Darren Woodson, not Charles

And it’s Keith Brooking. Not BrookingS.

And you didn’t do it, but for those who do, it’s Jason Witten, not Whitten. ~~-rant over~~-

That being said, I agree with just about everything you said, and your order of priority. Good post.

by sportsfanatic21 on Dec 27, 2011 5:27 PM CST reply actions

How can they draft an OLB /pass rusher first

when all we’ve seen is the secondary give up 3rd down after 3rd down on blitzes. You can’t let another year go by and not draft a Cornerback. That being said Dallas hasn’t had a real safety since Darren Woodson retired. If you can’t cover a receiver for three or more seconds then all the pass rushers won’t make any difference.

by Martin79 on Dec 27, 2011 11:29 PM CST up reply actions

If you watched the Philly game

it was clear to see that there was a SEVERE lack of pass rush. We could have had Champ Bailey and Darelle Revision back there and it wouldn’t have mattered. You can’t cover guys forever. I agree that we need to upgrade at CB, but a pass rusher is a MUST.

by sportsfanatic21 on Dec 28, 2011 9:51 AM CST up reply actions

Revis-damn autocorrect!!

And the above point holds true for more than just the Philly game, see NYG two weeks ago as well

by sportsfanatic21 on Dec 28, 2011 9:53 AM CST up reply actions

I hear what you"re saying but

I’ve seen Ware, Hatcher and Spencer applying pressure just to see a long pass completed time after time and usually against Newman or Ball. If Dallas could cover there wouldn’t have been 5 come from behind losses given up. Everyone in the NFL knows they can get completions and big plays on Dallas— Victor Cruz said just that today. No interception threat and no big hitters in that secondary. Adding another pass rusher won’t stop the bleeding. Corner first then Safety and then pass rusher. Any other order is prolonging the agony.

by Martin79 on Dec 28, 2011 9:27 PM CST up reply actions

I hear Ya

If you can cover a guy then the Pass Rushers have more time to get to the QB. Ware, and Rat do get solid push most of the time. Spencer does too, when he seems to have his head in the game. A solid Corner and a decent safety, and then a strong Dlineman, but we don’t know what they will be thinking they need. After all I’m not privy to the mind of JJ.

by Aaron Burtram on Dec 28, 2011 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah I saw guys running wide open through the secondary

and a pass rusher could have slowed down the 30 yard throws but they still would’ve given up the hot routes. Do you see Newman playing10 to 12 yards off the line every snap? I sure do and that spells no confidence in stopping anyone.

by Martin79 on Dec 28, 2011 9:31 PM CST up reply actions

Seriously, when we play up we do pretty good against the pass, as far as the wideouts go. We still get eaten up by the TEs. Meaning we need a better interior linebacker who can cover. Lee is good but not great at pass coverage. I checked on Carter’s college career, and he was also good but not great at pass coverage. But what Carter is, is a solid tackler. He is fast, and seems to have a knack for making key tackles. I remember him saving a touch down on a punt return, by breaking away from a block at the last chance. I’m sure that they will work on his mechanics for pass coverage in the offseason, as well as Lee’s

by Aaron Burtram on Dec 28, 2011 11:35 PM CST up reply actions

im a homer for this team...

But do any of you guys really think this team can go on the road and stop the Giants offense ???

I dunno man.. its hard when you have corners playing 10 yards off wrs.. When your second defense coordinator has to scale down the defense..

If Romo and the offense cant out score the giants its over with.

by lostar2009 on Dec 27, 2011 9:50 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Well then

Ballard and manningham might be out for the game ham might be back but isn’t Ballard out that is a major factor in this game picture Dallas without witten.

by Sado44 on Dec 27, 2011 9:55 PM CST via mobile up reply actions