As we look at the Cowboys and their needs, one point strikes me with the most gravity. There are too many needs and the Boys cannot fill all the roster holes completely from the outside (FA/Draft). I don’t see the Cowboys looking for talent from only one direction, they will have to take a risk on some players already on the roster and trust that solutions coming from either FA or the draft fill the roster sufficiently.

I charted a few potential rosters and current players whom we will be counting on to step up are in italics. Free agents and draft picks are simply bolded. If you think you can do a better job, add your suggestion in the comments and I will add them to the post if they are worthy and rational. Later on I will add a poll asking which one was best.

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BTB is a fine community and the only set of people I know who love football enough to form a Dynasty League. We would be one of the first SB Nation NFL Blogs to form one and it could become a nice piece of tradition for BTB.  

I have set up a dynasty league and will help run it if I get enough individuals to participate. The minimum will be 10 teams. I will be using the most standard of rules and am open to changing rules, so long as they are finalized before game 2. 

If you would like to participate send an email to sicko00@yahoo.com

Here are some of the rules. I don't mind changing any of them, whatever the majority wants. 

The initial draft will be held on-line on September 3rd, at 4 pm. I am open to changing this time if need be. Teams will be formed in a draft that will be carried out in a serpentine fashion. Positions: a Quarterback, a Running Backs, a RB/WR flex position, a Wide Reciever,  a TE/WR flex position, a Tight End, a Place Kicker and a Team Defense.

Off-Season Rookie and Remaining Free Agent drafting periods begin each year before the start of the regular season. The team with the lowest winning percentage at the end of the regular season drafts first. Future draft picks can be traded. 

ACTIVE OWNER RULE - If the commissioner has not heard from you (by phone, e-mail or web evidence)  for 3 consecutive weeks (no transactions or lineup changes) you may be declared an inactive owner, and we will look for another owner for your team. 

I am planing on using Yahoo but if anyone suggest another site, I would be open to it. 

Since the cap is set at $120.4 million and Dallas is about $18.5 million above that, the Boys are in a bit of a rough spot. Nothing that can't be dealt with IMO. So I will play out a scenario, but I am going to stick to two rules.

Rule 1. Since the salary floor is at 89% there wont be a lot of money the Cowboys can use to compensate for bad decisions. FA signings will have to be consistently solid, otherwise the little extra money we do spend will be wasted. Older vet signings will have to be less frequent and we may have to take chances with our draftees and youth more often. 

Rule 2. Since the cap is going to increase significantly as revenues are projected to double in the next 5 years, I am not going to be afraid to move dead money to other years. Signings this year, while there is a large supply and a low cap, will come cheaper than those 2 to 3 years from now. This strategy can work for about the next five years IMO but will put us in a bind if our FA signings and drafts are poor. At that point we would probably see our window close and have to enter a few years of rebuilding anyway.

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Seven more picks until the cowboys pick next and I am wondering what the blog thinks will be the next pick. I think the Boys have a touch choice ahead. The CBs no longer thrill me, there are no good Safteys, DL has been depleted, and the ILBs all have warts. Its a tough pick.

At this point I think it is difficult to begin eliminating players who may not be there but I have settled on 2. Dalton and Bowers. I cant see Dalton making it past Denver, Buffalo, Arizona, or SanFran. Bowers should be Cincy's pick. I honestly think Mallet will be gone but I don't want to attach too many strings to this survey. I used Goose's rankings and some nice players I like. Its a big compilation because I wanted to be more inclusive so take time to read thru the choices and recommend anyone I missed.

This post grows from what Blue Eyed Devil proposed in Labor Uncertainty = Excellent Opportunity and starts to look at prospects more in depth. On April 6th a hearing will determine whether or not the Lockout is illegal and a ruling could be made which imposes 2010's rules on the 2011 season. If 2010 rules are imposed, only players with at least 6 seasons of NFL experience would be allowed to be unrestricted free agents. The other free agents would have very little chance of movement due to restricted free agency's requirements. So I did some of digging and came up with this list of possible targets at our positions of greatest need:

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Trading up worked so well yesterday, I say we do it again. We can argue that Dez will be a bust or not but there are a few things that can not be denied. We traded up at exactly the last possible chance to get him, I strongly believe the Ravens would have taken him. He is the 10th ranked player on Gosselin's incredibly accurate top 100. We still have 6 picks, and we paid the equivalent of a mid 5th. Arguably we got the best pick in our division.  According to Gosselin's 100 Trent Williams ranked 6th, Bryant was ranked 10th, Brandon Graham was ranked 16th, and JPP was ranked 18th.

So after the first day we are looking good and there are alot of players available who are excellent value and picks. Issue is that there are glaring needs at S and OL. We absolutely need to get value with our limited picks but at the same time we need to fill those holes. Thankfully value can be found at those positions. I will list some players available at these position along with Gosselin's ranking of them, who would be excellent additions. 

Saffold OT 30th

Mays FS 33rd

Allen FS 39th

Cook DB  43rd

Brown OT 44th

These are the most interesting names at the top of the Goose's rankings, but some other players of interest who Gosselin does not think so highly of are also available. Players like Burnett (FS ranked 71st), John Asamoah (G, 54th), Bruce Campbell (OT, 60th), and Ducasse (OT, 67th) are also available. These players need to be targets on Dallas' board and they should take the exact same approach they did yesterday. Keep an eye on them and trade up to get them as soon as it appears they could disappear. IMO we can only sit and wait at 59 if more than one is available. Otherwise we run the risk of having to reach or missing out on players at a position of need.

The other day I was driving home and I heard ESPN reporting how Cleveland coach Mike Holmgren was intrested in Colt McCoy. Taking into consideration the recent draft history between the Cowboys and the Browns, it occurred to me that my own personal dream situation could present it self draft day.  A trade down coupled with an extra first round pick next year. I do not know why but I have always loved having that first round pick to give me a team to route against. This got me thinking, what would be our dream scenarios. Poll includes what I think is plausible.

Aside from Roy Williams everyone’s favorite whipping boy this off-season is Ken Hamlin. So much so that acquiring a safety is looked at by many as priority number one. I disagree to a certain extent. I agree that we should take a safety early if there is value. Thomas at 27, Allen at 59, or Burnett in the 3rd would be excellent. I also like Atogwe or Bethea but only if: Ken is cut AND Atogwe is signed for a short 1 to 3 yr deal OR we get a good deal for Bethea (good deal = not our 1st round pick and at most 5 mil a year).  Aside from those unlikely situations I say pass on a safety all together. I think we are exaggerating the need. Here’s my rationale:

This year Ball, M. Hamlin, and Sensa performed well and showed lots of upside. It is conceivable that Ball and M. Hamlin could push for a starting position soon and we may not have seen the best of Sensa. Why stunt that development and why waste a high pick when skilled youth is already in house?

K. Hamlin is an excellent stop gap, if a stop gap is even needed, for our young safeties. He is still relatively young and is not far removed from some very productive years. He plays better when his job is on the line and it certainly is move it or lose it time for him.  

CB is a much greater need at this point and a more important position to stock depth. We have 3 quality CBs but after that nothing. It be a long shot for anyone but Thomas to beat out Ball, so most likely we are talking about a 4th string safety if one is drafted. A 4th string CB sees the field much more than the 4th safety.

Keeping 5 safeties would be a wasted roster spot. Drafting a safety either forces us to cut M. Hamlin or keep 5 safeties. Who is ready to cut M. Hamlin? What is the need for a 5th safety? That spot would better serve the Cowboys on the OL, DL, or at the LB position. Even a 4th RB would be better than a 5th safety.  

Do we really need to be so hasty to cut K. Hamlin? I know “Cut K. Hamlin” is an argument one may use to tear down the last two roster spot arguments, but aside form Atogwe, Bethea or Thomas, who can replace K. Hamlin? I am not willing to gamble on Ball or M. Hamlin without having Ken as a security blanket.

We need to keep an eye on our team salary. Ken is useful because he can save the Cowboys money if the salary cap ever comes back. He can be cut in 2011 and save the Cowboys about 3 mil. Signing someone like Bethea or Atogwe to a long term deal will only help to swell our league high 153 million dollar salary and quickly assist us on our way to salary cap hell. Hence the reason I am adamant about acquiring those players only under the above circumstances.

Lastly, I feel it too. I also think that the Boys are great safety play away from having an elite level D. But unless Thomas falls, that is not gonna happen this year. A cheap Bethea or Atogwe is most likely a pipe dream. Who knows, maybe Ball or (dare I say it!) Ken raise their level of play next year and we get a dominant D in the easiest most convenient way possible. So stop worrying and leave safety off your off-season wish list.

These teams are very even. Minn. does not have many injuries (they are missing a starting linebacker) so they are very similar health wise as well. Take for example how their statistics for total offense and defense compare:

The Cowboys offense ranks 14th in points per game and 2nd in yards per game.

The Minn. offense ranks 2nd in ponts per game and 5th in yards per game.

The Cowboys defense ranks 2nd in points per game and 9th in yards per game.

The Minn. defense ranks 10th in ponts per game and 6th in yards per game.

Taking these statistics into account it seems that if the Boys can prevent  the Vikes from scoring they can win a feild position battle. Thats why the Spencer vs Loadholt matchup is so key. Loadholt is a rookie starter who may be slowing down. If Spencer can outplay him it will traslate into sacks and more freedom for Demarcus. A strong pass rush is key to corraling big plays and forcing teams into punts and feild goals.  The one matchup that I think the Boys can exploit is Spencer vs Loadholt, it is the only area along the line where there is a true mismatch in talent when Minn has the ball.

The one thing Minn. can do to counteract this mismatch is to match the Cowboys pass rush with their own. I think we can trust the cowboys line (and Romo's mobility) to take care of the Minn D line aside from Allen. Allen is the one question mark though. From what I have read most of his production comes latter in games and that may be what tips the scales in our favor. Lack of rush early may amount to a lead, and a lead will allow the Cowboys to run the ball and play to Allen's relative deficency vs the run (as opposed to his proficency vs the pass). A lead neutralizes Peterson as well.

These are the key matchups IMO, do you agree? Which matchups do you think will win or loose the game?

OFFENSE

QB

Romo, Kitna, Mcgee (3)

RB

Barber, Jones, Choice (6)

FB

Anderson (7)

TE

Witten, Bennett, Phillips (10)

WR

RW, Crayton, Hurd, Austin, Ogletree, Stanback (16)

OL

Adams, Colombo, Davis, Koiser, Gurode, Free, McQ, Holland, Proctor (or Duke Preaston) (25)

DEFENSE

NT

Ratliff, Savii (27)

DE

Spears, Igor, Bowen, Hatcher (31)

LB

Ware, Spencer, James, Brooking, Carpenter, Butler, J. Williams,  Hodge, Stewart (40)

CB

Newman, Jenkins, Scandrick, Ball (44)

S

Hamlin, Sensa, M. Hamlin, C. Brown, D. Smith (49)

SPECIAL TEAMS

McB, Folk, Lado, Buheler

Just a guess and honestly have not been paying a ton of attention to the botom of the roster, so where do you disagree and think other players will be included or cut from this list?

When I was nine and my love for the Cowboys was just beginning to grow to another level, I heard that the Cowboys drafted a RB named Emmitt Smith. Not having a favorite player and needing one I decided to follow this RB from Florida. Well everyone knows how Emmitt's career turned out and I am always proud to say that I was a huge fan even before the first yard he ever gained. Well life goes on, Emmitt retires, the Cowboys go through some bad years, I get married, have a little boy, and then the Cowboys draft Felix Jones. About this time, my son begins to really notice the Cowboys and his love seems to be growing to another level. He has not watched too many games but he knows a few players already. Over the course of the off season of Felix's draft, my son begins to become more and more interested in him. Honestly I was surprised how much the boy grew to be a fan of the player at such a young age (he was only 4) and by the time the season began it was clear that my son had a favorite player. Now Felix is no Emmitt and comparisons as such are incredibly premature, but there is a coincidence brewing no doubt as Felix seems primed for a big year. All I know is that it would be something special if my son was a huge Felix fan even before he gained a single yard just like his dad was a huge Emmitt fan even before he gained a single yard.  Best of luck this year to Felix, and heres to hoping my son and I can start a family tradition.

Trade: 4th (117) for a third next year

Trade: 5th (166) and 6th (197) for 5th (138)

At pick 69 we get OT Jamon Meridith, pick 75 S Rashard Johnson, pick 101 either  NT Dorrell Scott or NT Chris Baker, pick 110 best TE most likely Nelson or Coffman, pick 138 best ILB (Joseph or Mckillop) pick 156 FB Tony Fiamenta, pick 172 S Derek Pegues pick 208 OLB Nic Harris, pick 210 QB Hunter Cantwell, pick 227 ILB Antonio Appelby