SB Nation User Blog: 5Blings

2009 - More Q's Than A's

5Blings — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:41:37 -0000

No season in recent memory will begin with as many unanswered questions as will this upcoming campaign. It’s not as if Dallas is unaccustomed to off season reshuffling of the deck. In fact, it has almost become an annual right of passage for America’s Team. Having said that, there seem to be cultural shifts taking place at Valley Ranch in terms of how the locker room chemistry is viewed, leadership roles, Wade’s future and the type of team image Dallas wants to portray along with the usual questions around individual and group performances. Just consider some of the questions that will not only be answered, but done so resoundingly, by season’s end;

ON OFFENSE

Will Tony Romo finally LEAD this team over the hump now that his ‘distractions’ have been minimized or will he continue to be known more for miscues than magic?

Is Roy Williams the next great Dallas Wide Receiver or ‘the worst trade ever’?

Will Jason Garrett be able to gameplan in a way that maximizes the value of the weapons on offense or will he end up looking inexperienced and getting outcoached regularly?

Can Jon Kitna step in and win some games if he has to?

Can Felix Jones pick up where he left off and add that much needed, explosive dimension to Dallas’ running game?

Can Hudson Houck help this offensive line return to the dominance it flashed in 2007, or will it continue 2008’s decline?

Is Marion Barber not who we thought he was or will he re-emerge as a dominant power back?

Can Tashard Choice take that next step toward what many think could be greatness or was he a flash in the pan?

ON DEFENSE

Will Wade be able to turn this defense, with his revamped defensive backfield, into one that can stifle opponents on a regular basis or will it wear down in the clutch?

Can Anthony Spencer step up in Greg Ellis’ place and generate enough bookend pressure to make teams pay for doubling Ware?

Will Gerald Sensabaugh prove to be the missing link in the (what seems like endless) search for a coverage safety to pair with Ken Hamlin in Dallas’ much maligned secondary?

What does Keith Brooking have left in the tank?

Who backs up Jay Ratliff?

ON SPECIAL TEAMS

Will Joe DeCamilis turn the Special Teams unit around or will it continue to be a lackluster group?

How will Nick Folk rebound from hip surgery? Will Mat McBriar return to form after suffering the broken foot?

OVERALL

Can Wade harness his inner ‘Buddy Ryan’ to get more out of his players than in the past?

What impact will the new and improved locker room have on the performance of this team during key games in December and January?

Can this draft class impress enough in training camp to make the final 53 and help churn out the bottom of the roster?

Will Dallas finally win a playoff game?

What does Wade have to do to keep his job?

No doubt about it, this iteration of the Dallas Cowboys comes into the 2009 Season with as many, if not more, questions as they have had in the last decade. The roster is still loaded with talent and potentially a boatload of pro bowl performers, but there are also significant unknowns around their depth at key positions as well as a coaching staff on the hot seat. There’s a lot less hype, and thus pressure, than in previous years and that may prove to be a good thing. Instead of answering questions from reporters, they can all focus on answering these questions with positive answers from their play on the field.

GO COWBOYS

Poll

What area in question will have the biggest impact on Dallas' success in 2009?

Romo reducing his turnovers and miscues

18 votes

The O-line elevating its level of play

47 votes

Improvement on Special Teams

6 votes

Jason Garrett's ability to call the right plays at the right times

10 votes

Improvement in the play of the secondary, notably the Safeties

9 votes

Wade Phillips instilling more accountability with the players

7 votes

Jessica dropping 20

9 votes

106 votes | Poll has closed

Dallas' Defense: Better To Be Feared Than Loved

5Blings — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:52:47 -0000

Aggression…Ferocity…Toughness

The things that can distinguish a talented defense from a fearsome one.

As I look back on Dallas’ defenses over the last several years, for the most part, the talent has been there. In fact, the talent seems to be getting better every year as Dallas continues to focus its drafts on this side of the ball. Yet, there seems to be that missing ingredient, that innate aggressive mindset which some teams always walk up to the line of scrimmage with. The Ravens, Steelers, Bears and (ugh) Eagles all come to mind, because they bring a type of physicality and passion for not just making a play, but inflicting harm in the process, to every single play. It's also a reputation that they have to live up to.

It would also seem that each of these teams has vocal, passionate leaders in the locker room that inspire that kind of ‘give no ground’ mentality among their teammates. I wanted to break down our defensive unit and see how our players and coaches do when using this intangible as a measuring stick.

The Line: Jay Ratliff is the heart and soul of the defensive front. He’s a high-motor player who is as active as any Nose Tackle in the league. He is undersized for the position but tends to make up for it with his quickness and strength. The front is in transition as we add Olshansky to the rotation and subtract Chris Canty. Guys like Spears, Bowen, Hatcher and others seem nothing more than role/spot players. This group does not possess a vocal leader or someone who could be the rallying point for the defense.

The Secondary: This is an improving unit and 2009 should be no exception. At the same time, this has been a much maligned group and one that hasn’t played up to its talent levels. The secondary is also in transition as it will have a 50% turnover among its starters. The holdovers, Newman and Hamlin are not known for being overly physical, although Hamlin has been known to lay the wood at times. Newman is a true cover corner and plays the role of team funnyman more than anything else. Scandrick and Jenkins are not entrenched enough yet and Sensabaugh is just arriving on the scene, where it would be doubtful he would come in with guns (get it?) blazing.

The LB’s: This is clearly the strength of the defense, with loads of talent and high expectations. Two #1 picks start on the outside, but Spencer is a relative newbie who is surrounded by some question marks. While DeMarcus Ware is, no doubt, the face of the Dallas defense, his talent is as an uncommon speed rusher and does not bring the same kind of meanness and ferocity that a James Harrison or a Joey Porter brings. So while Ware’s individual play may be superior to his peer group, he doesn’t display a zest for punishing his opponents the way some of his contemporaries do. Inside, Bradie James and Keith Brooking comprise the pluggers. Brooking is new and likely will want to get a year under his belt before being more outspoken. James is vocal and serves as the inspirational leader for the defense. While not known for being an enforcer, Brady is as close as we’ve got.

Coaching: Winnie is the head coach (man, it hurts just to type that). He is also the Defensive Coordinator now that Brian Stewart has departed for greener (get it?) pastures. He is flanked by Todd Grantham, Dave Campo, Dat Nguyen and Brett Maxie. It is notable that none of these guys has ever established the tone or even played in an NFL system where a premium was placed on the physical aspect of the game. They may be sound technicians, but they don’t have a background in coaching up the animalistic side of defensive football in the NFL.

The History: When I think of coaches, I remember Tom Landry’s scowl and his lust for the Flex's defensive dominance. Not long ago, Dave Wannstedt ran the show and I seldom saw him smile as he tried to personify the toughness he wanted to see in his players. When I think of linemen, it was cathartic to watch the anger in the way Charles Haley played the game. I remember Randy White and how he set the tone for a defense that was one for the ages. I saw Charlie Waters and Cliff Harris make opponents walk off of the field with snot leaking out of their helmets just for making a catch in “their” middle of the field. In all honesty, few Dallas LB’s come to mind who conjure up memories of a nasty, aggressiveness about them (maybe D.D. Lewis?), and would love to hear some suggestions.

Those players and coaches not only typified hard-nosed football, they inspired the players around them to adopt a similar mindset until it became not just a part of the team, but something the team was known for. That “mythology” or reputation became something they strived to live up to and further enhanced their passion for the big, bone-jarring hit. It goes without saying that the fans loved it too.

To sum up my thoughts here, on this roster, Dallas’ defense looks and feels more like a defense built on speed and scheme than one that is about laying the wood. In order for Dallas to have a truly dominant and feared defense, it will have to find leaders (coaches and players) who can begin to lead the team in that direction.

GO COWBOYS

Eagles' Jim Johnson Struggling

5Blings — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:19:18 -0000

Eagles' Jim Johnson Struggling

I have admired this guy from afar for years. Truly one of the greatest DC's of our era. I pray for his full and speedy recovery.

(Not So) Great Expectations

5Blings — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:38:39 -0000

Expectations.

Since the mid-90's, Dallas has done pretty poorly in seasons where the expectations have been high. It's safe to say that Dallas, coming into the 2009 season, will be picked to finish either third or last in the division by the pundits and talking heads. After all, last year’s mediocrity coupled with an arguably lame duck coach and the jettisoning of the offense’s most explosive player makes for an upcoming campaign with a lot of question marks.

When you add in the highly lauded off-season personnel moves by other NFC East teams, the media is already lowering what they perceive to be the ceiling on this Cowboys team. But that could be a good thing. Expectations generally bring some drama with them, just ask the Plaxico-less Giants.

While I am no fan of Dallas’ head coach, the GM, or this past draft haul, there are still some things worth keeping an eye on (and potentially, feeling very good about) for the upcoming season and here are just a few;

OFFENSE

A Different Offense

Much has been made of the release of T.O. in the off season and how it might affect the offense's explosiveness, but what about how it could help Romo accelerate his development as a QB and allow him to do what he does best, namely, get the ball to the open man (rather than THE man, whether he is open or not)? If we observe continued development of ‘Tellus, does that mean we could see a double-TE base offense in Dallas? How tough would it be to stop an offense that sports two TE’s with over 800 yards receiving along with Bash (Barber), Flash (Felix) and Tash (duh) running it down your throat? It goes without saying that the o-line needs to be both healthier and better coached than it was last year. Watching Hudson Houck’s 2nd season as line coach with this group will be interesting. In addition, will an offense, which in all likelihood will have less explosiveness, but possibly a greater ability to methodically move the chains, help win the field position and time of possession battles? It seems reasonable to expect that the ‘O’ will help the ‘D’ perform better over the long haul by simply keeping them off of the field. You have to feel very good about the offense’s ability to develop more consistency and discipline, even if it comes with fewer ESPN Top 10 plays, right?

Running team, passing team or balanced attack?

This offense’s strength now clearly lies in its offensive line (starters, not depth) and its three young, talented running backs. One would expect that Red Ball will change his game plan to accommodate and take advantage of that set of strengths and take the pressure off of Romo to carry the load. Maybe it means he can use the running game as more of a decoy and help Romo take advantage of check-downs and passes to the flat more and more. Or, it could also signal just enough of a re-emergence of the running game to allow Dallas to return to more of a 50/50 pass/run mix rather than throwing it almost 2/3 of the time as they did last season.

Summary: whatever changes occur in training camp, it’s clear that Romo needs to feel like enough has changed so that the opposition doesn’t, to use Tony’s words, "figure out" what Dallas is doing again. A blind man could see his frustration after the Eagles debacle last year. This year, he and Red Ball have to be on the same page on every play. Romo has improvised too often in the past and it oftentimes has led to catastrophic outcomes. Garrett needs to impose more structure on Romo and ensure that he knows what to do and, more importantly, what NOT to do to in every situation. At the same time, Romo needs to take it upon himself to elevate the play of those around him, especially in times of difficulty. Side note: I personally believe that Romo sorely misses David Lee’s guiding hand and that Wade Wilson hasn’t really added much as the QB Coach, but I’ll save that for another post. Regardless, Dallas fans will be looking to see if Romo has learned anything from his history of miscues (especially the fumbles) and whether or not that translates into fewer turnovers and/or negative yardage plays. Don’t discount the value of a backup QB who has passed for 4,000 yards before and still has gas left in his tank. If Romo is out for any period, this offense can still click.

DEFENSE

Turnovers

We’ve all read about how Dallas had the sacks, but not the turnovers, last year. The addition of Gerald Sensabaugh gives Dallas a pair of athletic safeties who can run, cover and tackle. That, coupled with the chance of seeing Ellis, Spencer and Ware on the field at the same time in certain alignments could mean improvement in the area of pass-rush-induced turnovers. Also, after a year of getting more snaps than expected from Jenkins and Scandrick, they should be more comfortable jumping routes and making plays on the ball. The good news is simply this; it would be hard to imagine that we would get FEWER turnovers in 2009 than we got in 2008. The net result should be more short fields, some easy scores and less time on the field for the defense.

Middle Pressure

Dallas has one of the best pure edge rushers in the game in DeMarcus Ware. But what happens when he gets doubled or chipped or simply game-planned out of the picture? Greg Ellis is arguably out of position and on the tail end of an solid, yet unspectacular career. Anthony Spencer has a bunch of question marks surrounding him. Obviously, the front 3 has to win their one-on-one battles. The one major area that Dallas has sorely lacked good performers in, since installing the 3-4, is at the DE spot. Canty, Spears, Hatcher and Bowen have been invisible at times as base Ends. Think about it; when would you ever say that about Ty Warren and Richard Seymour when they are at full strength? Jay Ratliff, for all his high-motor heroics, just cannot continue to play 16 games at NT against the beefiest centers and guards in the NFL. Rotating him with Anderson or Siavii (and maybe sliding him out to DE) will be something that bears close scrutiny. Rat gives up 20-50 pounds every time he goes up against an average guard in the NFC East. His ability to penetrate is stunted by the fact that his job as NT requires him to occupy two blockers and allow the LB’s to flow to the ball. We also saw the middle of the defense wear down late in those awful December games. Seeing how Wade addresses this problem will have a lot to do with our overall defensive performance. All in all, it is clear that getting more pressure and movement out of the front 3 will be critical to Dallas’ ability to get the most out of Ware’s dynamic presence on the edge and control the tempo of games this season.

Summary: Dallas’ defense improved once Wade took over the game management last year, but the front line still wore down late in the season, likely due to Ratliff taking the constant pounding and Tank not being much help. In addition, the lack of penetration from the Ends was once again cause for concern, especially since Spears promised us a big year and Canty seemed poised for a breakout season. The addition of Igor Olshansky (who performed best under Phillips but has been nicked up) and Keith Brooking (also a Phillips guy who can still bring it) should be better fits in Wade’s scheme. One thing to watch will be the play of the secondary, which will continue to be a liability if they have to stay in coverage for too long, but also could be a solid, ball-hawking group if the line can generate more consistent QB harassment in the middle.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicking the Football

McBriar’s return from a broken foot is absolutely a contingency factor when predicting Dallas’ 2009 fortunes. If he has any lingering problems stemming from the injury, so will the Cowboys, in field position. Drafting David Buehler was a surprise to many (including me), but the word is that if he can consistently boot the ball deep into the end zone, he’ll earn a spot for himself as a specialist. I think that could be viewed as a plus. Given Folk’s recent surgery, Buehler is a valuable insurance policy.

Coverage

All these draft picks…you have just got to believe that SOME of them will stick because of their ability to contribute on Specials. Dallas hasn’t had great coverage teams since Joe Avezzano left town (I miss Joe). The new joe, Joe DeCamilis (who I know we all wish a speedy and full recovery to) comes with a solid resume and his hiring suggests that Jerry, Stephen and Wade understood that Bruce Read just wasn’t getting the most out of the talent available to him. Props to the front office on this one! Tell me you can’t wait to see a revitalized group of special teamers on the field who are ready to lay the wood…

Catch and Run

I don’t care who it is. I don’t care if it’s Flash or Scandrick or Newman or Wade Phillips’ daughter, but SOMEBODY OTHER THAN PATRICK CRAYTON needs to be the designated punt return guy. The good news is that it probably doesn’t make sense to have Crayton return punts anymore since Dallas has added a bevy of players with more suddenness and creativity with the ball in their hands. That should help our field position woes, but also, it should finally add some life to a moribund punt return game.

Summary: One has to believe that this is an area whose performance will be improving throughout the year. Explosion, whether it is off of the tee, through the hole or into the opposing ball carrier is what’s needed here. Supposedly, many of the draftees were chosen based upon their ability to compete with and win jobs against the bottom of the roster. Obviously, these guys will need to make a mark on Specials. We’ll also see what kind of a difference the new coach can make.

OVERALL

Two years ago, I said Dallas would go as far as Romo could take them. He led the team to a 13-3 ranking and the top seed in the conference before the team faltered. Last year, I predicted that the key player in Dallas wouldn’t be a player at all, but rather head coach Wade Phillips. While he was able to bring some needed fire and better play when he took over the play calling, ultimately it was defensive lapses (and questions about his ability to hold players accountable) late in the season that kept the team from being able to reach the post-season. This year, it will be the season of... well…I’ll save that for another post. What seems likely is that the offense will be less show and more go while revolving around B.F.T. (I trademarked it, so don’t try anything). The defense will sport a more athletic secondary and some new faces at DE and LB with a focus on generating turnovers and being disciplined in coverage. Special teams should be much improved with new faces in lots of places, not the least of which is the unit's coach.

All things considered, this appears to be a team that IS concerned with chemistry, despite what we’ve heard Jerry say in the past. We should expect to see a more disciplined, better-prepared team in all three phases of the game.

Side note: I would like to see this team formally dedicate the upcoming season to Rich Behm.

Finally, while this is not intended to predict our record or post-season fortunes, there are absolutely some things to look forward to in Dallas as we get closer to training camp and the season. Like it or not, the expectations for 2009 are somewhat lower, but who knows? Maybe that's the best thing that could happen to us…

GO COWBOYS!!

The Draft That Could Have Been

5Blings — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:26:27 -0000

Okay, I know hindsight is 20/20, but after what I consider to be a pretty frustrating 2 days with Jerry and Cisky, I thought I might pose a 'What Could Have Been' scenario, based on who was available to us in each of the spots that we eventually picked at. I won't even make a stab at what we could have done at #51, I'll start at #69 and work down...

#69

Jason Williams - LB

Who we chose from; after missing on Unger earlier, it was him or Michael Johnson. I took the guy with the better motor. I don't love the pick, but it is what it is.

#75

Brandon Tate - WR

Who we chose from; Tate, Antoine Caldwell, Ramses Barden, LaDarius Webb and Rashad Johnson and the guy we took, Brewster.

There was good talent here and I could have been swayed towards the Safety Johnson, but I think Tate will be a #1 WR in this league when he fully recovers from injury.

#101

TJ Lang - OL

Who we chose from; Lang, Jonathan Luigs, Donald Washington and Dorell Scott. We took McGee, the QB with the torn up shoulder and not a lot of film from a lost Senior campaign.

Hard to argue with Lang's toughness and the fact that we need a lot of help behind the starting OT's.

#110

Vaughn Martin - NT

Who we chose from; Martin, Sammie Lee Hill, Chip Vaughn. We took...Victor Butler.

Okay, this one is tough because Sammie Lee is right there with Martin and Martin is more of a project, but we are more thin at NT than DE, which seems like Sammie Lee's more natural spot. I wouldn't have cared either way. The Butler pick is just jaw-droppingly inept, IMO.

#120

Lawrence Sidbury - LB/DE

Who we chose from; Sidbury, Greg Toler , Terrance Taylor, Brandon Williams who we took and Troy (say it with me now, "Go Pork") Kropog.

I went with Sidbury because of his pass rush skills and some unnerving comments from Carl Shelton about Anthony Spencer. Williams was another head scratcher for me.

#143

Scott McKillop - LB

Who we chose from; McKillop, Jasper Brinkley, Marcus Freeman, Duke Robinson, Jamon Meredith, Victor "macho" Harris and our guy, DeAngelo Smith.

Obviously, Dallas wanted to restock its LB corps, so I am playing along here, but I'm also playing to the need for tougher, harder working guys in the locker room and on the practice field.

#166

Michael Hamlin - S

Who we chose from; Hamlin, Herman Johnson, Joe Burnett and Nate Davis.

This was the right pick given the need, the slot and the players available.

#172

Andrew Gardner - OT

Who we chose from; Gardner, Morgan Trent, Tom Brandstater, Coye Francies and the guy we took, David Buehler...the kicker. Gardner has areas for improvement, but have you seen our depth at OT? Nuff' said.

#197

Ra'Shon Harris - DT

Who we chose from; Harris, Myron Pryor, Curtis Painter and our guy, Stephen Hodge.

Harris went to Pittsburgh and will likely play some DE in their 3-4. He could have done the same for us after Spears' impending departure. Hodge?

#208

Captain Munnerlyn - CB

Who we chose from; Munnerlyn, A.Q. Shipley, Paul Fanaika, and...John Phillips, the guy we picked.

We lost Pacrat and Henry. Time to find better backups for our starting trio. Munnerlyn is short and quick like Scandrick.

#227

Mike Mickens - CB

Who we chose from; Mickens, Trevor Canfield, Courtney Greene.

Best pick of our 12, IMO. Might even be a steal.

#230

Nick Reed - LB/DE

Who we chose from; Reed, Sammie Stroughter, Zack Follett, Tiquan Underwood, Chris Baker (sorry Quincyyy) and, oh yeah, Manuel Johnson, our pick.

This seems like another no-brainer for me because he brings fire and intensity that Dallas needs so dearly. Also, he is another LB with some versatility for Wade's 46 schemes.

As if that wasn't enough, Mike Reilly, my favorite QB from the Combine and one who reminds me of Romo a lot, was available as an Undrafted Free Agent, so that could have satisfied our need for a #3 to groom.

In the scenario above, we would have ended up with;

Williams

Brandon Tate

TJ Lang

Vaughn Martin

Lawrence Sidbury

Scott McKillop

Hamlin

Andrew Gardner

Ra' Shon Harris

Captain Munerlyn

Mickens

Nick Reed

They were all there for the taking, but Jerry thought different. I know we didn't take a kicker, but there were some kickoff-specialist guys who didn't get drafted and could have been signed after the draft. So, that's one version of 'What Could Have Been'.

GO COWBOYS

Poll

Grade the Dallas draft haul, plain and simple!

A

7 votes

B

29 votes

C

58 votes

D

26 votes

F

4 votes

Whatever is lower than F

11 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed

The Anti-Mock

5Blings — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:46:54 -0000

I hate mock drafts. They are never anywhere close to being right after the first 5-8 picks. In fact, I see them as just a show of love for players the mocker likes. This year, I wanted to try something new. I thought about the player rankings, Dallas’ areas of need and how the board might fall during the draft. Then I decided to list who I thought MIGHT be available at each slot in those areas of need.

‘Area of need’ is always a source of fan contention. Some would say we need a WR now that T.O. is gone, but others would vehemently disagree. I decided to use a Best Player Available (BPA) strategy overlaid onto areas of need (i.e. a RB is not an option at #51 regardless of whether or not he is the BPA) that I created, which again, is highly debatable. In line with my earlier point, some of these players absolutely won’t be where I have them, but every year, the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds roll around and people are shocked to see their favorite ‘name’ player still available. Anyway, here go my shots in the dark, along with personal preferences;

#51

Clint Sintim, LB; Ron Brace, NT; Jarron Gilbert, DE; Brian Robiskie, WR; Derrick Williams, WR; Brandon Tate, WR; Michael Johnson, DE/LB; Eric Wood, OC/OG; Darcel McBath, S; D.J. Moore, DB; Coye Francies, DB;

My take: I think you have to go with Brace here, despite my belief that Sintim is another Patrick Willis, because gambling that Scott will be around at #69 with all the 3-4 transitions taking place is too big a gamble. Brace may only amount to a serviceable rotation player, but Philly’s o-line now averages like 965 lbs. per player. I fear for Ratliff’s health.

#69

Jasper Brinkley, LB; Troy Kropog, OT; Jamon Meredith, OL; Dorell Scott, NT; Cody Brown, LB;

My take: Meredith is light and looks like a Guard. Brown is an Anthony Spencer clone with a blazing first step. Kropog, even though he’s not quite ready yet, has a ton of upside. The thing I look for in LT’s is footwork, agility and smarts. He is 6’5” and around 320, so he has a good base, is intelligent, supposedly kick slides very well and (although I really like Brinkley) we need depth at tackle in a very bad way. I can’t see a scenario where Ciskowski passes him up. Besides, guys named Troy seem to do well in Big D.

#101

Chris Baker, DL; Andy Levitre, OG; Trevor Canfield, OG; Jason Watkins, OT; Mike Mickens, CB; Louis Murphy, WR; William Moore, S;

My take: after losing Henry and Pacrat, you have to find a DB here, although Jason Watkins is another guy with big upside at OT. Even though I am a fan, it’s just too early for Canfield. Between Mickens and Moore, Mickens gets on the field sooner, but Moore, if his Senior year was an anomaly due to injuries, is a better long term pick. Go with Moore and pray for boom, not bust.

#117

Scott McKillop, LB; Domonique Johnson, CB; Vaughn Martin, NT; Johnny Knox, WR; LaDarius Webb, DB; Louis Vasquez, OL;

My take: this is tough for me, because I feel pretty good that all of these guys should be here at #117. McKillop and Vasquez both have fiery passion for the game but are limited athletes, Johnson has amazing triangle numbers and Webb, despite his stature, is a playmaker. None makes the grade for me and so this comes down to Martin or Knox. As both are small school prospects and have a big jump ahead of them, I think the WR with 4.3 speed, explosiveness in and out of cuts and reliable hands, gets the nod over the very athletic big man, since we took Brace, and there are other big bodies available in later rounds.

#156

Antonio Appleby, LB; Augustus Parrish, OT; Gerald Cadogan, OT; Chip Vaughn, S; Frantz Joseph, LB; Cary Harris, CB;

My take: I like Joseph and Cadogan because they are warriors, but Appleby has played in a 3-4, is smart (which our team needs more of), very strong at the point and seldom misses a tackle (another thing our team needs more of). He’s the guy Wade will lobby for.

#166

Brannon Southerland, FB; Colin Brown, OT; Tiquan Underwood, WR; Michael Hamlin, S; Terrance Taylor, NT; Julius Williams, LB/DE

My take: I love Southerland and would be fine if they picked him, but think they won’t. Underwood reminds me of Todd Pinkston because he becomes invisible when he turns sideways. Taylor is fire-hydrant short. Hamlin would be fine if Moore wasn’t taken earlier. So, I like Brown because he is massive, tough, quick off of the snap and could be the future at RT and even play in a pinch as a rook if Colombo went down.

#172

Keenan Lewis, DB; Ramon Foster, OT; Garrett Reynolds, OT; Otis Wiley, S; Dave Philistin, LB; Roger Allen, OG;

My take: Some people like Wiley here, I don’t. He lacks the deep coverage skills we need. Lewis could be a sleeper and Philistin fills a need for depth. I like Roger Allen not because he’s ready, because he isn’t, but because he has good feet and the ability to push the pile. Plus, won’t have to play immediately and can grow into the position after being coached up by Hudson Houck.

#197

Marko Mitchell, WR; Aaron Kelly, WR; Mike Reilly, QB; Tyronne Green, OL; David Bruton, S; Antonio Dixon, NT;

My take: Dixon is big, but dumb. Bruton just wasn’t a stud on the field. Kelly and Mitchell aren’t classic deep threats. After the Combine, I became a fan of Reilly’s. He showed off some great mechanics, touch and zip during all of the drills. I didn’t see one of his passes touch the carpet. He’s mobile and has a good head for the game. In addition, I believe you need duplicity of skill sets in your backup QB’s so that you don’t have to change your offense when your starter goes down. Reilly has a lot of the same skills as Romo. ‘Nuff said.

#208

Jamarko Simmons, WR; Josh Mauga, LB; Stephen McGee, QB; Brian Hartline, WR; Brandon Hughes, CB;

My take: at this point, Ciskowski is looking for a home run and Brandon Hughes could be the one. He played well in the pass happy Pac 10 and showed he can easily change directions and mirror guys like 6’5” Patrick Turner and Mike Thomas who runs a 4.38 forty yard dash. I’m sold.

#210

Khalif Mitchell, NT; Tom Brandstater, QB; Graham Harrell, QB; Chris Kemme, OT; Brandon Swain, LB;

My take: another big body at NT would be a good (and safe) bet here and Mitchell is a beast, but is he a home run? If not, how about Brandon Swain, who had a boatload of plays in the backfield during his career at a small school. He’d be a good project. Still, I’d go with Mitchell, since our DE’s aren’t much more than pluggers and sliding Ratliff out to End could change the entire complexion of the front 3.

#227

Andrew Gardner, OT; Bruce Johnson, DB; Tom Morstead, P; Brennan Marion, WR; Donald Washington, CB; Brandon Robinson, WR;

My take: Morstead could be good insurance if McBriar’s foot isn’t 100%. Washington has talent, but some off field issues. Otherwise, Brandon Robinson, who isn’t going to burn people deep, looks like a possible stud slot guy. I’d go with Washington, but I predict Jerry will say, “Take the wideout”.

So, if it all went like I laid it out, and I assure you it won’t, we’d end up with this;

Brace - NT

Kropog - OT

Moore - S

Knox - WR

Appleby - LB

Brown - OT

Allen - OG

Reilly - QB

Hughes - CB

Mitchell – NT

Robinson – WR

Even though it isn’t exactly who I would want in each round (remember there are 31 other teams picking too) because there’s only one CB and one LB in the bunch, this is what might happen if Dallas stayed on their board based on BPA in the context of areas of need. So, I guess I’d be relatively satisfied with this haul and expect to see some spirited camp battles for roster spots with each of these guys.

What’s your take?

Help Wanted

5Blings — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:58:21 -0000

Well,

I seem to have given myself a bad name for suggesting an idea that would help the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans (using the term loosely).

You see, I came up with a proposal that I thought would benefit the NFL and two of its Lombardi-less franchises. But, as some might have expected, they took it the wrong way.

So, I am hoping that Redskin fans will take a broader, more cerebral view of my idea and weigh in. Please excuse some of their profanity, as I think it is just transferance on their parts and I don't believe it to be personal.

Have fun!

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2009/4/18/843759/hope-springseternal

Ramble on

5Blings — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:09:22 -0000

Alright, so I got a little crazy getting my mock draft ready (so many options beyond #6 this year that it is tougher than normal) and that generally leads to mischief.

I began thinking about how to better the NFL and came up with some ideas;

First, I believe instant replay has slowed the game down and I want to see the refs take back the calls. But then again, I also want accountability if the refs make a really horrible call. I can't screw up at my job continuously and not be fired, how come they can?

I also think the draft is screwed up. I think we should have the worst team pick first but let the Super bowl winner pick at #32 and #33, thus reversing the order of the picks in each round.

Finally, I think the Salary cap for each team should be based on how much money each team brings back in revenue, not an equal # of dollars for crappy marketers and crappy fans.

How would you change the NFL?

Will the REAL Tony Romo Please Stand Up?

5Blings — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:47:44 -0000

Funny how this QB thing works. If you've got a great one, your team is generally going to see success on offense, put people in the seats and give fans a kind of undying hope that teams with lesser QB's just cant muster up.

At one point early on, I thought Dallas had found Troy (great QB) Aikman's heir apparent. Now I'm not so sure. There are a myriad of ways to look at this, both positive and negative, so let's play around a bit;

Romo - The good, the bad and the ugly...

Romo possesses the tremendous natural playmaking ability in that he can elude pressure, buy time and find receivers anywhere on the field. He has, at times shown superior accuracy, putting the ball squarely in the hands of receivers regardless of the amount of zip, arc, touch or lead that was needed to complete the pass. And one more point that should be made, He HAS indeed shown the ability to lead his team on the field and be the guy everyone rallies around. Will anyone forget the Bills game as long as they live? Did he not do everything in his power to put them in position to win the Seahawk playoff game despite Tuna's stubborness around offensive play calling? That's all good..very, very good.

Romo also has shown a penchant for doing too much and putting the team in positions of weakness. Rather than check down to an open back, he often tries to take what isn't there. He's shown a lack of mental toughness at times and allowed broken protections to play right into opposing defensive coordinators' hands by turning the ball over in critical situations. His demonstrated inability to protect the football under duress has become so much of a weakness that opposing defenses will leave receivers wide open in favor of getting pressure on Romo and forcing costly mistakes. Bad, just bad.

Then there is the public personna of Romo. The star-studded nightlife with an entourage of hangers-on, the questions about his work ethic and leadership, the locker room madness with Witten and a certain Bills WR and the blonde bombshell girlfriend who makes more headlines for for how she tips the scales than Herman Johnson of LSU.

Just for fun: Step away from the buffet line with your hands where I can see them!

Romo has become a big, big star, without having won anything of consequence. That is, by definition, the Ugly.

Romo by the numbers

It's hard to get a bead on Tony Romo just using stats (I hate it when people use stats to try and tell me who the better players are when they know it's only part of the story). 65.3, 64.4 and 61.3; those are his completion percentages over the last 3 years. 8.6, 8.1 and 7.7 show his declining yards per attempt. 9, 10, 13 shows an alarming trend around the number of fumbles per year.

I'm not sure what this tells us other than the fact that some of his stats are schizophrenic. It might make more sense to compare some of his stats with some of the rushing stats (I'll leave that to someone like BishopWest or someone from BTB to tackle). Either way, he's not showing franchise QB-like improvement from a statistical standpoint.

The case for 2009 as Romo's defining moment

It's a Romo-friendly offense and locker room. He headlines an offensive roster chock full of skill players who have proven that they can win the battles on the field. Let's be real here...trouble left Romo the day Dick Jauron said "yeah, I think he could help us". The running game is set for a breakout performance and should take the pressure off. It's his fourth year in this offense and he and Garrett should now be in lockstep.

He's heard the criticism. He knows he hasn't generated a single playoff win, despite all of the hype and the hope. He knows that the team doesn't need him to get them into the playoffs by throwing 40 TD's, but rather lead them there by limiting mistakes, and elevating the team's overall play through displays of mental toughness. If he cannot do these things, it's likely Dallas will renew it's search for the next great Cowboys QB.

And so...

Now is the time for Tony Romo...the REAL Tony Romo, to stand up and show all of the football world who he is. All of the excuses have run out. He's young by football experience standards but not so by his age (he'll be 29 this month). Is he an over-hyped kid from Wisconsin that has fallen into the trap of believing his own press clippings or is he the one to lead Dallas back to its rightful place on the NFL throne? Is he Anna Kournikova or Maria Sharapova? Is he Bradshaw or Brad Pitt?

I believe he is, indeed, going to take that next step and become the QB we all desperately want him to be. I think he is going to decrease his turnovers. I think he will mature and make better off-field decisions to lay low. I think he will absolutely learn that the best plays are sometimes the bad plays you made sure never occur. I think he will rally this team to the single unifying cause of winning and get them to the promised land. I believe...but I am nonetheless anxious and concerned.

Whatever happens, 2009 promises to be a memorable year.

GO COWBOYS!

BOOM or BUST?!?

5Blings — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:05:27 -0000

Dallas is once again, loaded with talent at almost every position and a case could be made for Dallas still having the MOST talented roster in the league.

But here, for your enjoyment, is a list of players who are on some kind of performance bubble and it's up to us, the BTB Community, to label them a BOOM or a BUST in 2009.

Now to be clear, a BOOM player is one that makes a significant impact to the team's play on the field. BOOM players play up to, and hopefully, beyond the expectations that comes with their draft position, salary and/or position. BOOM players play lots of downs and, for younger players, leapfrog up the depth chart so that they can be on the field to show their skills. These can be big name players with high expectations or sleepers who will "show up" once the cameras are on.

BUST players, on the other hand, have some average to high set of expectations placed upon them, but sadly, don't live up to the hype of their draft selection, contract or overall athletic ability.

Okay, it's time to play 'BOOM or BUST?!?'

First on the list, the highly touted, but thus far underperforming, Bobby Carpenter. Bobby was a high draft choice from a big time program who came in with big expectations. In 2009, will he be a a BOOM or a BUST?

Next, we have Mike Jenkins. Mike is a 2nd year CB from South Florida with prototypical size and speed who is most commonly remembered for a whiff in a big game where he could have made a tackle last year. Is Mike a BOOM or a BUST?

Then we have Anthony Spencer. Anthony was known for his quick first step which made him a high draft choice and the heir apparent to Greg Ellis opposite DeMarcus Ware. Thus far, Spencer has only shown flashes. What will we see from him in 2009? BOOM or BUST?

What BOOM or BUST list would be complete without looking closely at Isaiah Stanback? Isaiah was a 4th round choice from Washington and is learning to play the WR role in the NFL after playing QB in college. Thus far, he has struggled with injuries, as evidenced by his 2 catches for 24 yards all last year, to get on the field and show what he can...or can't do. You call it; BOOM or BUST?

Along the d-line, another #1 pick, Marcus Spears is under the microscope. Marcus applauded the installation of Wade Phillips' attacking style of 3-4 defense as being just what he needed to showcase his abilities and yet, not much changed for Marcus. This year will mark the end of his 1st professional contract. Is 2009 the year Marcus breaks out? Will he BOOM or will he BUST?

Another d-line suspect is Jason Hatcher. Jason was selected in the 3rd round of the draft and has played in spots at both DE spots in Wade's 3-4. Hatcher has the size and athleticism for the position, but so far has not cracked the starting lineup. Is 2009 Hatcher's breakout year or is it the year where his coaches give up on him because his potential fails to get tapped? BOOM or BUST?

Finally, I would be negligent if I didn't include the team leader on this list, only because of last year's $67 million contract. In an offense that features him and his obvious talents in an environment that is sans T.O., does Tony Romo deliver the goods in 2009? Will he drastically reduce his red zone turnovers and help Dallas make a splash in postseason or does he finish the upcoming season, which is rife with expectations, with the same lingering questions about whether he can get the Cowboys over the hump? BOOM...or...BUST?

Okay, there you have it. Let the games begin!!

GO COWBOYS!