Cowboys Pick Six: Links To Keep You Going

by KD Drummond on Jan 12, 2012 8:00 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Outside of the coaching news we reported on earlier in the week, there isn't much movement going on at Valley Ranch at the moment. Well, not a lot of movement fit for public consumption. The team has all but admitted to 2011 not living up to their expectations and have made some moves that indicate they are not oblivious to the problem areas we outside observers have noticed.

Of course, one playoff win in 15 years has jaded some followers to the point that every move is looked at with skepticism, but the franchise has brought that on itself. As much 'talking in from the ledge' I do on the BTB Facebook Fan Page or on the @BloggingTheBoys twitter account (shameless plugs, like and follow please), I understand where it's coming from.

Follow the jump for six Dallas Cowboys headlines from around the web, for your easy consumption.

Houck Retiring After 45 Years Of Coaching: The Mothership | Good read including a full-of-class acceptance of the blame for the offensive line's shortcomings. Also includes an interesting take that Dallas finished better than the Jets and new Dallas O-Line guru Bill Callahan in certain key rushing stats.

Tom Ciskowski stays in Dallas: ESPN Dallas | Ciskowski was interviewed by the Indianapolis Colts for their vacant GM job, but will remain in Dallas as the Colts went in a different direction. Off to finalize those draft boards with you, Tom!

Mel Kiper Regrades Dallas' 2011 Draft: Dallas News | ESPN's draft Guru gives the Cowboys a regrade of a C+, down from a B- at the time of the draft. He penalizes for Tyron Smith playing on the right side even though he was the No. 9 selection, and the DeMarco Murray injury; as well as lack of PT for Bruce Carter, David Arkin and Dwayne Harris. Aaaaaand.... go!

Danny White: If Everyone Played Like Romo, Cowboys Would Be In The Super Bowl: NBC DFW | The man most Romo-detractors compare him to, says that Romo is so far from the problem in Big D that people should be ashamed of themselves for pointing to him as the failure point. OK, interpretation is mine. Read the article to see what Danny really says.

Dallas Cowboys sign Robert Callaway to a three-year extension: MLive.com | Local take on the Cowboys latest addition to the defensive line rotation. Callaway spent the season on the practice squad after being brought in from the Lions fold.

What Went Right, Sean Lee Takes Over: ESPN Dallas | Can you imagine this defense without Chuck Norris? Ewww.

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Comments

I would rather Jon Jones than Chuck Norris.

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 12, 2012 8:50 AM CST reply actions

Heresy!

Burn him!!

I will awaken my expectations for the Cowboys when Jerry Jones is in the ground.

by Lord Humungus on Jan 12, 2012 2:23 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Jon Jones is inhuman...

Dude’s absolutely fierce.

by Omar Little on Jan 12, 2012 3:27 PM CST up reply actions

I agree with White, to an extent.

I think this team lacks alot of talent in the grunt positions on both sides of the ball and just about all the skill positions on the defensive side of the ball. Effort is not the issue.

by Jace M on Jan 12, 2012 9:03 AM CST reply actions

Weak from Mel Kiper

Elsewhere on his site we regularly held 2 of the top 10 spots of their Rookie watch, and we go down?

by TheLondonCowboy on Jan 12, 2012 9:06 AM CST reply actions

I stopped paying attention to Kiper a long time ago

I think Mike Mayock is much better than Kiper.

Hey Washington... D.C. stands for Dallas Cowboys

Jerry the GM…if we could only find a way to get rid of that guy…

Twitter: @silva918

by Antonio S on Jan 12, 2012 9:21 AM CST up reply actions

yeah that was BS

Tyron has no control over switching positions, Murray’s injury was a broken leg (I fail to see how he could have prevented that), and it was understoood that Arkin and Carter probably wouldn’t get much time this past year….While I understand the grade getting better, to get worse?….

I call BS

Here’s a theoretical play from 2010: Snap. Tony takes 7 step drop. Tony looks left at Miles, who is doubled, and looks right to where Roy Williams should be…but instead sees Colombo on his back and a Defensive End foaming at the mouth jumping over Marc’s carcass. Tony proceeds to run like hell and look for Witten
-by CotySaxman on Jul 11, 2011 7:50 AM PDT

Now, if somebody doesn’t agree with that, that’s cool. I also don’t agree with the fact that I don’t have $10 million in my bank account. But the fact that I don’t agree with it doesn’t make it any less true.
by One.Cool.Customer on Dec 23, 2010 12:00 AM PST

by I am Ironman!!! on Jan 12, 2012 9:26 AM CST up reply actions

Kiper on Darren Woodson

Was not favorable about this pick…..

Guess he was wrong.

Kiper is like weather forecasters. We are interested to know what might happen, and still
listen to them when they are wrong 50% of the time.

by oldtimer on Jan 12, 2012 9:27 AM CST up reply actions

Aren't you supposed to wait three years to grade a draft?

by TheCowboyFan on Jan 12, 2012 10:07 AM CST up reply actions

Everyone gets draft grades wrong.

After listening to Mike Mayock talk about Ronnie Brown I thought he needed knee pads every time he mentioned the name. It’s part of college talent, EVERYONE makes mistakes. Mel Kiper’s been doing this for 30 years, which in it of itself doesn’t make him a good talent grader, BUT it does mean that he has better sources than anyone else in the game. The inside dope he gets is unreal, his mock drafts are worth looking at by anyone.

I’m not trying to sing Kiper’s praises and rake Mayock over the coals. The draft is pretty unpredictable, there’s lots of variables and lots of things that can go right and wrong. You need to listen to everyone big draft name.

by Omar Little on Jan 12, 2012 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

Does anyone really care whta Kiper thinks?

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 10:44 AM CST up reply actions

What not whta

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

It's not that Kiper's dumb

He plays to a dumb audience. He has to appease his idiot audience, while riling up a large enough part of that idiot audience to get readers. It’s the way ESPN works. Besides grading a draft a year after it happens is stupid. Lets say Tron is the man at LT, Murray comes back healthy, and Carter starts next year and is awesome…if Akrin or Nagy are even good back ups and Harris is an okay s/t player and contributes as a 4th WR. That means they knocked this draft out of the park. Is that really that unlikely?

Besides grading a draft right after the first season is, in it of itself, dumb. Guys get injured, guys need time to get acclimated to the league and learn the playbook, some guys need to develop as players, and some guys end up getting stuck behind vets. Wait three years before you’re attempting to put anything close to a real grade on the draft, and probably five years before the jury comes back with a verdict. It seems the piece Kiper wrote should have been titled “Teams that got the most from their rookies,” which, is a good article. Something I’d be interested in reading. I’d like to know which first rounders I liked and didn’t like did well, and which ones did not so well. That’s a different, yet related, conversation to who had the best draft.

by Omar Little on Jan 12, 2012 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

extremely well stated Omar

| Blogging The Boys | SBNation Dallas | Producer/CoHost Flood The Block Radio, TUE 7p RockTheFlow.com |
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by KD Drummond on Jan 12, 2012 3:02 PM CST up reply actions

What'd be cool is

A grade the weekend after the draft, a year after, three years after, then five years after.

by Omar Little on Jan 12, 2012 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

Isn't that what he is doing?

Lifelong Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/

I would love to show you the finer points to a muay thai clinch whipped knee to the face seanrude
by matt575 on Nov 22, 2011 3:09 AM EST

by Seanrude on Jan 14, 2012 7:10 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah Kiper is terrible

Just absolutely awful. I mean, besides being an annoying talking head and everything—the guy just has no skill whatsoever as a “draft nit.” I mean—like NONE. Agree Mayock is far, far better.

Vince Delmonte

by Cowboys Dominance on Jan 13, 2012 4:45 AM CST up reply actions

Everyone on this blog wishes they had Kiper's gig.

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 13, 2012 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

Hum, if I had a TV gig would I have to buy a TV to watch myself?

I don’t currently own a TV. I never plugged it in or watched it, so I got rid of it.

by Rena on Jan 13, 2012 7:02 PM CST up reply actions

If u were banking what Kipe ris banking then it wouldn't matter if you had a tv.

Jerry is the end all in Dallas.

by football mensa on Jan 13, 2012 9:23 PM CST up reply actions

We need a different nickname for Lee. The Chuck Norris stuff has been played out for like 3 years now. It’s pretty lame.

by BigDumbFace on Jan 12, 2012 9:22 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions

till Carter is starting and we get Bruce Lee i think we are stuck with Chuck

finish the Oline rebuild

by yehti on Jan 12, 2012 9:33 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

So September...

by Omar Little on Jan 12, 2012 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

When Carter gets healthy our two ILBs will be known as RUSH HOUR 4: Carter & Lee Take on The NFL

"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."

by Rohpuri on Jan 12, 2012 3:46 PM CST up reply actions

It's too early to grade the 4-7 picks,

Tron – A “If he becomes a dominate LT + his youth, he’ll be the best pick in the draft”
Carter C “Dallas knew he wouldn’t contribute much his first year”
Murray B “Because of his limited play”

The only prefect science is hindsight............Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jan 12, 2012 9:29 AM CST reply actions

exactly.

Carter seemed good in his limited play and ST. He seems extremely fast

finish the Oline rebuild

by yehti on Jan 12, 2012 9:34 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Bruce Carter is gonna be a beast

I predict he will make huge strides this offseason.

Hey Washington... D.C. stands for Dallas Cowboys

Jerry the GM…if we could only find a way to get rid of that guy…

Twitter: @silva918

by Antonio S on Jan 12, 2012 9:42 AM CST up reply actions

itd be huge if your right.

2 playmaking ILB. would go a long ways to fixing this D

finish the Oline rebuild

by yehti on Jan 12, 2012 9:43 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

He's wasn't at full speed either, the knee operation slowed him some.

He’ll be 100% and have an off season under his belt next year. He was graded a 1st round talent, but fell because of the knee.

The only prefect science is hindsight............Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jan 12, 2012 9:51 AM CST up reply actions

Limited time playing

He still got blocked a punt (A freaking special teams nightmare in college) and in the process allowed us to prevent the first home shutout in over a decade.

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious." –Vince Lombardi

by ProBowlFactory on Jan 12, 2012 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

Another nice one KD

by Tyrone Jenkins on Jan 12, 2012 9:34 AM CST reply actions

Who is behind Sean Lee?

The front of the jersey looks like Felix with a #28, but when you look at the shoulder number it looks like a 9…. Im confused

by pballinboxer on Jan 12, 2012 9:49 AM CST reply actions

It's Elam.

The 9 you see is a 6.

by BigDumbFace on Jan 12, 2012 9:52 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

but

it looks like an 8 on the front of the jersey? do you see this or is it just me?

by pballinboxer on Jan 12, 2012 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

actually nvm... haha

by pballinboxer on Jan 12, 2012 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

LOL. The 6 looks like an 8 when his body moves and turns.

In the 17 seasons from 1966-1982, the Cowboys went at least to the conference championship game 14 times. In the 16 seasons from 1996-2011, the Cowboys have won 2 wild card games.

by fs65 on Jan 12, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

Danny White is exactly right, I've been saying that all along

If every player on the team played with the heart of Romo, this team would win the SB each year.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jan 12, 2012 9:59 AM CST reply actions

Plus, if every player was as talented at their position as Romo is at QB.

The only prefect science is hindsight............Lock n Load

by DIRE WOLF on Jan 12, 2012 10:23 AM CST up reply actions

truth

finish the Oline rebuild

by yehti on Jan 12, 2012 10:28 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

He's just plain right!

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

Why is there a question about Romo? Since the first few games he's been phenomenal!

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 10:53 AM CST up reply actions

Many say that he has only 3-4 good years left. If we can protect him,

he could have a few more than that. He was, what, 27 before he became the full time starter. He’ll be 32 next season. With a dominant OL, why can’t he play well until he’s 37-38 years old. That would basically be a solid 10 year career.

Draft DeCastro and protect the franchise!

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 11:05 AM CST up reply actions

"he doesn’t throw an interception in the red zone the whole year."

that’s a nifty little stat i hadn’t noticed before.

by johnnypocket on Jan 12, 2012 10:40 AM CST reply actions

Hey, we got a break with Ciskowski.

I wonder if JJ dangled a carrot?

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 10:48 AM CST reply actions

I think the Colts wanted that guy from Philly all along

Hey Washington... D.C. stands for Dallas Cowboys

Jerry the GM…if we could only find a way to get rid of that guy…

Twitter: @silva918

by Antonio S on Jan 12, 2012 12:11 PM CST up reply actions

At least it doesn't screw up our player evaluation capabilities for 2-3 years.

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 12:49 PM CST up reply actions

Do you think this Robert Callaway signing has anything to do with

Ratliff moving to end as reported earlier this week. Are we lookin at it as Brent starting with Callaway rotating in?

Administrator of www.startaterriblerumoraboutpatrickpetersonsoheslidesto#9.com

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Jan 12, 2012 12:39 PM CST reply actions

Trying to find out info on Calloway. He's 6'5" 312. He was DT on Lions in 4-3 D.

He sounds kind of tall for a NT, but I don’t know if they’ll try him there or at DE. Rat though is listed at 6’4" 285.

Wish you were here and comfortably numb.

by pfloyd1 on Jan 12, 2012 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

I think inking him for the three years means they really like what they saw out of him

I’m leaning that direction. I’d worry over the fact he was never brought up, but Dallas handles their young players in strange ways so- can’t read too much into anything.

| Blogging The Boys | SBNation Dallas | Producer/CoHost Flood The Block Radio, TUE 7p RockTheFlow.com |
Follow @KDP10For10 Follow@BloggingTheBoys

by KD Drummond on Jan 12, 2012 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

I hope so

cant think of any reason we would ink a third string NT for three years even at min. He has to be #2 behind Brent. If things dont work out we move Rat back no harm no foul. Damned cheap way to improve the pass rush

Hell and Horse Manure.....HIT SOMEONE

by sexililkitti on Jan 12, 2012 10:24 PM CST up reply actions

So tired of draft "guru" Kiper AND Mcshay

these guys are getting old and stale. I’m sure speculation is listed in their job description.

by Cowboy Curtis on Jan 12, 2012 2:17 PM CST reply actions

The way I look at it

If they were any good at what they do, they’d be working for a team. That said, due to having sources on various teams, their mock drafts are worth looking at, just not their actual player evaluations.

I ran into a group of men trying to take an old lady's purse and decided it was my duty to help out. She was a tough old broad, but in the end we got her purse.

by MilesAhead on Jan 12, 2012 8:52 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

Danny White speaks the truth.

"The tone is business," Garrett said. "Let's get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands on Sunday at 4:15. They're an awfully good football team. We have to get ready for them."

by Rohpuri on Jan 12, 2012 3:49 PM CST reply actions

"The team has all but admitted to 2011 not living up to their expectations..."

And with The O-line and secondary coaches the only staff changes ( Haley and Sparano both go elsewhere; so no OC for 2012?) as of right now the prudent thing to do would be to LOWER the 2011 expectations for 2012. " Keep movin’ people , nothing to see here, nothing going on, move along, nothin happening here"

"Hope is not a strategy" Billy Beane
"There is no cause for concern" Jerry Jones

by stubabe on Jan 12, 2012 4:47 PM CST reply actions