SB Nation User Blog: Or Moyal

Mavs Mortgage Future for Jason Kidd

Or Moyal — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:13:33 -0000

I'm sure most of you have heard, and I am aware that this is a football blog, but I can't contain this.
The Mavs are sending Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Devean George, Maurice Ager, 2 first round picks and Jerry Stackhouse (who will almost certainly be bought out by NJ and re-signed by Dallas) to the Nets in exchange for Jason Kidd and Malik Allen.
It's not just the desperate, win-now move that pisses me off. It's the fact that this move doesn't even accomplish that aim. Kidd's slowing down. He can't score anymore, his shooting percentage is ghastly. He can't keep up with most point guards defensively. He still dishes out assists with the best of them and rebounds at an unprecedented level for his position, but I'm not sure he's any more effective than Devin at this point of his career. He's also ten years older.
In addition, this kills our depth. Nick Fazekas is going to be a fixture here. I wouldn't be surprised to see Reyshawn Terry recalled from wherever he is in Europe.
GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh

Cowboys Roster Evaluations Continued: The Receiving Corps

Or Moyal — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:24:22 -0000

Greetings, ye comfortably outspread masses! I've held out on this one for a while, primarily due to that bane of all humans (Trigonometry) and a quest to finish Season 2 of Arrested Development (A venture I'd highly reccomend to one and all). But let's get back to business. Today's write-up will focus on the Cowboy prospects at wide receiver and tight end. As usual, I'll begin by running down the current guys in order of prominence and value, then move on to evaluating potential draftees and finally free agent or trade additions.

Jason Witten. I know he's a distant second in the Prominence bracket, but whatever you do, don't disparage Jason Witten in my presence. Witten's impact on this team's offensive attack is immeasurable. He's one of the premier blocking tight ends in all of football, and happens to be arguably the best of them all when it comes to receiving. 96 receptions, 1145 yards, 7 TDs. The numbers speak for themselves. Anyone who's watched the Cowboys knows that Witten is Tony Romo's secrity blanket; he makes the big 3rd down plays, he always manages to fall ahead of the first-down marker, and he is one of the toughest players I've ever seen strap on a helmet. Not to say that the headpiece is necessary for a player of his capabilities; I need not remind anyone here of the timeless play against Philadelphia in which he had his helmet dislodged but rumbled on and recorded his longest reception of the season. He's the consummate professional and from all indications a stellar human being. The icing on the cake? The 5th year Tennessee 3rd rounder played this season at the age of Twenty Five.

Terrell Owens. This was a terrific year for a large number of the NFL's most infamous, as much-maligned players like Jamal Lewis and Randy Moss revitalized their careers with terrific seasons mired in contentedness. Perhaps most conspicuously inconspicuous amongst that list was our very own star wideout. The 4 year old was a playmaker in every sense of the word. Through fourteen and a half games, TO registered 81 catches, 1355 yards, and a stunning fifteen touchdowns. He seemed virtually unguardable with anything less than a fully devoted secondary. The best part? The only popcorn necessary was that which TO resolved to consume in a celebratory antic. Hyde has become Jekyll. Owens is evidently unaffected by human eventualities like age and prolonged rehabilitation for serious injuries. Barring the unforseen scenario in which he loses immortality, TO will likely submit two or three more productive campaigns.

Patrick Crayton. Crayton was thrust into immense shoes this season and delivered beyond all expectations. While not nearly the deep threat that Terry Glenn posed, Crayton proved himself more than a capable #2 receiver playing primarily in the slot. The heartbreaking lapses in the playoff game notwithstanding, Crayton proved that his hands were as good as anyone's on this team. He doesn't have the breakaway speed many imagine when seeing his slight build, but Crayton is quick and elusive. An exemplary third receiver who will likely return to that role next year, Crayton will earn fourteen million dollars over the next four seasons. Not a bad haul for a seventh-round selection out of Northwestern Oklahoma State.

Terry Glenn. It may be unconventional for me to list a player who recorded a single reception throughout this team's schedule at #4. Throughout his career, however, Glenn has been a terrific player. Drafted first overall by Tuna's 1996 Patriots team, Glenn has been one of the top deep threats in the NFL when healthy. He's also been a consistently excellent route runner with good hands. His slight, fragile frame is probably the thing going most prominently against him, and that's all that held him back from being an elite player throughout his twelve seasons. Glenn may not be retained for next season, as he will likely opt for microfracture surgery which has ended the career of many an athlete. His contract, however, is very reasonable (1.74 million) and could be restructured further.

Sam Hurd. This undrafted free agent has an aura of determination to him. Full of charisma and dead-set on becoming a great receiver, the 22 year old Hurd has shown flashes of what is to come. He lacks the speed to consistently seperate, but can make catches downfield. Hurd has very reliable hands and will fight as hard as anyone for the ball. Most of his receptions come in the air, whether his momentum propels him horizontally or vertically. I'm a big fan of Sam, and if given time I could see him becoming a very capable slot receiver in this league.

Anthony Fasano. Many looked at his selection in the second round as dubious. Fasano's not a very good blocker and can't stretch the field any further than most fullbacks. I believe he was taken with the intent of an impending transition to the two-tight end offense. He has, however, disappointed during his first two seasons. Fasano seemed a good receiver during his Notre Dame days, and the Cowboys need that aspect of his game to resurface. He isn't as elusive as described, and while he is courageous, that doesn't translate to production in this case. Fasano will need to step up his game to cement his spot firmly behind Jason Witten on this team.

7 . Miles Austin. 6'3, 215, and speedy. The combination tantalized the Cowboys enough to bring Austin on despite a lack of refinement and hands of stone. While promising, Austin's biggest contributions have come on kickoffs and Defensive Pass Interference Penalties. Frankly, he's not a receiver at this point-just an athlete. A terrific athlete, but one whose game does not translate to the wide receiver position right now. It'd be a shame to see it, but I have a feeling Austin may not be on the team next year. He simply has not shown enough in two years to warrant a spot over the next talented project...

Isaiah Stanback. There's no reason to believe that Stanback will be any more successful than Austin, but there's no basis for belief otherwise. Stanback is the unknown; that guy likely to bite you in the ass if you give up on him too early. A natural athlete who actually got drafted by the Orioles despite not playing college baseball, Stanback played QB for the University of Washington but was seen by most as a wildcard coming into the NFL. People had him tabbed at positions as varying as cornerback, running back, and finally wide receiver. He sat out this entire season, both to rehabilitate from injuries and to learn the position. Stanback did return a few kicks, however, and looked impressive doing so. I'm not raising my hopes too high for the immediate future, but for Stanback, the only way to go is up. And the slope could be tremendous.

Tony Curtis. He's succeeded Mike Vrabel as the NFL's best endzone threat. Curtis turns everything he catches into six points. Whether this is due to his enormous frame, cool goatee, or superhuman abilities remains unknown. This mysterious, legendary figure transcends a ranking, and is only listed behind everyone else due to his inhuman humility.

I'm not a fan of drafting first-round wide receivers. The bust rate is high and they're rarely ready to contribute right off the bat. It seems likely that the Cowboys will select a WR fairly early in this years draft, however, due to the fact that their best receiver is 34 and they lack proven commodities behind him.
If anyone wants to bet with me on the odds that they draft another tight end, though, I'm willing to go 10:1. Seriously.

Desean Jackson. The concensus top wideout in the draft, Jackson's.... really, really fast. The Ted Ginn comps are very valid, although to me he seems to be a bit more refined and an even better return man. He's small, though, and his route running could use some work. Jackson will likely be gone before a score of teams make their selections, but if he's there at 22 expect The King to debate the selection long and hard.

Limas Sweed. I hear Roy Williams, and It's a good comp in many respects. When I look at Limas Sweed, though, I see Vincent Jackson. Williams is more of a possession receiver, Sweed and Jackson are big guys with good hands who go up for the deep ball with a fair deal of regularity. I love Sweed's game, and the only thing holding him back from a mid-first round grade is newly established injury concerns. He looked solid as a rock coming into the season, but since then has suffered two worrisome injuries. He'll likely be a late first or early second rounder unless he shows up at the combine and wows people with a no-longer maligned 40 time.

Mario Manningham. Michigan fans fell in love with Super Mario, and It's very likely that the team selecting him will wind up reaping the same windfall. Manningham is fast, strong, and has good hands. His blocking leaves much to be desired and he doesn't escape well from jams, but aside from injuries there's nothing else not to like about Manningham. A concensus first-round talent that could go as early as #15 but will likely fall to the mid-20s. Marvin Harrrison's an awfully ambitious comp, but if everything works out there is that chance.

Early Doucet. Unlikely to become anyone's top threat, Doucet is probably the safest pick of the bunch. He's not especially big, fast, or generally talented. But his hands are excellent, he's elusive, a good blocker and an all-around hard worker. Doucet has never really been 'the man' at LSU, and should play a similar role in the NFL. He compares to our own Patrick Crayton in more ways than one. I expect to see Doucet taken in the early second round, but a team looking for a low-risk contributor could spend their first selection on him.

Malcolm Kelly. Similar to Sweed, Kelly's a big old Texas boy with good hands who's been blessed with enough speed for occasional big plays. He's not quite the deep threat that Sweed presents, but offers less risk of sitting on the IR for prolonged stints. He's a very talented athlete who is known for huge games, but inversely does not offer consistent production on the same level as most first round players. If a lot of things fall into place, he could be a player similar to Braylon Edwards.

There's really only one free agent target who interests me. That's the Bears' Bernard Berrian. Berrian is the consummate deep threat and has been pretty much the only admirable part of the Bears' offense during the past two seasons. Despite the total absence of anything resembling a supporting cast, he's been a consistent threat both in the ball-control offense and when Rex Grossman found it in him to air it out. The catch, as always, is money. Will Berrian want to be paid like a #1, or will he take 6 million or so to play second fiddle to TO?

There are several trade targets who have been mentioned in conjunction with America's Team. The first, and most oft-debated, is Detroit's Roy Williams. Roy is a terrific slot receiver, perhaps the surest-handed big WR in all of football. He's stated his desire to get back to Texas, and the Lions have been linked to rumors involving a first day selection returning in his stead. I don't see it happening; Jerry doesn't need to take on any more highly-paid receivers, and Williams certainly will be that. He's also quite prone to injury. As much as I'd love it, I remain doubtful.
I'll address the second, although I believe the possibility of his arrival to be on the 'extremely low' end of the scale. I'm speaking of Chad Johnson. Ocho Cinco is a king-sized personality and a terrific player. I don't want any possibility of TO returning to his dissatisfied persona, and believe that bringing CJ in here could have that effect. It would make our receiving corps beyond incredible but cause more trouble than It's worth.

Poll

Which positions should I concentrate on next?

Backfield

20 votes

QB

1 votes

Offensive Line

16 votes

37 votes | Poll has closed

Cowboys Roster Evaluations Continued: Defensive Line

Or Moyal — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:37:57 -0000

While not quite the position of strength that the Linebacking corps presents, the Cowboy defensive line is strong in several respects. There is considerable depth, as was demonstrated by the lack of fallout suffered from a full year without the starting DT. There is a very good player who can play anywhere on the line, and the unit as a whole is startlingly young. The guys up front don’t pile on the sacks to par with teams like New York, but they occupy blockers very well and are stellar against the run.

Individual evaluations, again listed in terms of perceived value in my eyes.

#1: Jay Ratliff, Defensive Tweener: End/Tackle. Ratliff is a seventh rounder from Auburn who has exceeded the expectations of everyone other than maybe his mother and significant other. Ratliff is 6’4 and 298 pounds, having bulked up a bit for his role as a tackle this season, but has fluctuated below that in the past. His physical tools are solid but lacking in awe-value. Rat does everything well: He can overpower blockers, do his nickname proud by sneaking by, or even restrain himself and wait for the ball carrier to foolishly rush into his merciless clutches. He sets others up very well, and a lot of his best work doesn’t show up prominently in stat reports; I believe he led the team in QB pressures throughout the season. Rat is 26 and just signed a 5 year, 20.5 million dollar extension which should make all involved parties quite happy. Expect him to return to DE next year, for reasons I will go over later in the presentation.

#2: Chris Canty, Defensive End. Canty’s one of those guys who is declared a steal by EVERYONE on draft day. A projected first rounder who slid due to some injury/character issues, Canty lasted until the second to last selection in the fourth round. King Jerry was certain that the Patriots would pick up CC with the very next selection, and traded with Philadelphia to acquire the prior selection. The 25 year old Canty is an imposing presence. #99 stands 6’7, weighs 300 pounds, and flexes his considerable biceps in a signature move after every big play. He’s stout against the run, and overpowers defenders often. He’s certainly panned out better than most second-day selections, and there’s no reason to think that his future in Dallas won’t be a long and prosperous one. He is a restricted FA this year, but the team is expected to hang on to him.

#3: Tank Johnson, Defensive Tackle. Johnson’s taken a great deal of flak throughout his short career over his off-the-field problems, but anyone who’s invested more than a cursory glance into the situation knows that his role in these unfortunate incidents is greatly overblown. Johnson seems to be a decent guy who Kept It Real to too great an extent and has the wrong passion (Automatic weapons) but never set out to hurt a soul-again, the key word being off the field. Johnson isn’t one of those controversial figures whose play is unquestioned, he’s far from a superstar. But the aptly-named Tank is a force against both the pass and run. He can’t be manhandled with ease, and brings the occasional relentless bulrush, to the extent of almost knocking a QB’s head off (as was the case in one game this year, when Johnson actually got penalized for his sack being too highlight-reel worthy). Johnson’s 26 and signed to a shockingly reasonable contract for next year, and should fill a similar role to this past year: Backup Nose Tackle.

Jason Ferguson, Defensive Tackle. I’m going to catch some of the misplaced flak from Tank’s shooting range on this. Quarterbacks aren’t threatened by Ferguson, he made exactly ONE tackle this year, and he’s 33 years old. But when healthy (And he has been, historically, throughout 11 NFL seasons) Ferguson is the prototypical Nose Tackle: He plugs gaps, draws two blockers, and will allow nobody to run by little radius. He anchors the run-stopping game much in the same way that the Williams duo does for Minnesota, making everyone else’s job much easier. He should start next year, but allow for fairly measurable backup duty from the Tank.

Marcus Spears, Defensive End. I know, here comes the bitterness. Spears is decent in every way, and I may be shunning him because he’s a BP lovechild and a first round pick. And it’s probably unfair that I hate him when I didn’t lash too harshly at Bobby Carpenter, who isn’t even logging snaps. But I simply don’t like Spears; his overly jovial attitude whenever he’s in the vicinity (That’s the key word) of a substantial play, his inability to be the pass rusher we held inflated hopes for, and the retrospective fear based on the fact that he was almost selected instead of D-Ware at #11. But In all actuality, Spears is a very serviceable player. He’s solid against runners and can deliver mean hits and meaner raps.

Jason Hatcher, Defensive End. The 2006 3rd round pick has caused dispute amongst the more devoted Cowboys fans; those who actually know his name. He’s a fairly effective pass rusher when in the game, although he hasn’t shown enough to be placed above Spears or Canty on the depth chart. He is what he is; a 25 year old with a decent deal of value to this team, and a lot of potential that may or not materialize if we give it a chance to. I wouldn’t feel comfortable inserting him into a starter’s role, but he’s a very suitable backup.

Stephen Bowen’s a fairly raw 23 year old who was picked up by the team last year after not being drafted. He’s likely going to be a backup in the foreseeable future, as he hasn’t shown enough snaps, or enough during his meager quantity of aforementioned plays, to justify much more. His one career sack was against Jon Kitna, I like the name of his college (Hofstra) and he has a semi-stache, which I approve of. Much like Justin Rogers, however, I can’t tell you much about him as a player.

Possible draftees: Ah, the most nebulous part of this whole process. I just love taking shots in the dark on players who will probably never impact the Cowboys directly. Again, let me preface this by saying that these are not in any way personal suggestions for draft day; I’m just listing guys who project around where the Cowboys will be picking as things stand now. In fact, I’d be very surprised if they picked a defensive lineman. I won’t concentrate on the three truly premium Defensive linemen in this draft, as they will likely all be gone by pick #6 or 7. Cursory mentions: Glenn Dorsey is likely a Kevin Williams, Chris Long a Jared Allen, Sedrick Ellis an enigma who offers everything but height, and will likely turn out the best of the bunch
But that doesn’t rule out some very good players who should be available late in the first round. In no certain order (Other than Longhorns guys first, because UT rox!), as I’m not going to rank these guys, here are a few.

DT Frank Okam is very comparable to another phenomenal Texas DT: Shaun Rogers. He can be dominating on some plays, but disinterested and sloppy on many others. If he ever realized that this game is a good way to get fawning and fortune, he’d become wildly successful in the NFL. However, I’m afraid to say I’m skeptical about taking him with a first-round pick after seeing what lazy payers are like.

DE Derrick Harvey is a physical specimen in the mold of our very own Demarcus ‘The Dominator’ Ware. He’s big, fast, has an exceptional first step and loads of potential. There have been questions about Harvey’s ability to stay at DE as a 260 pounder, as well as his abilities against the run. The chances are, Harvey won’t be there at 22. But if he is I’d jump on that as if it were Jessica Alba.

DE Calais Campbell is possibly the most vertically intimidating football player I have ever seen. He’s 6’8 and looks it, weighs a lithe (It feels very strange to type that with this number) 280, and takes advantage of his athletic gifts. To what extent, however, it remains to be seen. Campbell is gifted much along the same lines of a Julius Peppers. Much like Peppers, however, he can go through extended maddening periods of time in which he simply disappears. Campbell’s stock was as high as the Top 10 at one point, but he has slid precipitously and may even be a second round pick by now, albeit an early one.

DE Phillip Merling is more of a combo DE than the previous two specimens; he can get to the quarterback, but is not the prototypical pass rusher. He is more stout against the run than either of them, and the Clemson End has shown versatility in more ways than that one-he used to play tight end. Merling is likely a top 20 selection.

DT Kentwan Balmer was a very highly recruited high school star who is 6’5 and 300 pounds, yet runs a sub-5 40 yard dash. Balmer’s a complete player who is a productive tackler, yet can penetrate the line of scrimmage and create pressure. NC’s star is shooting up draft boards faster than any tackle, and may vault himself into the top 20. As it stands, he’s a late first round pick.

Prospective free agent pickups: Ah, the veteran addition. Scott Pioli has perfected the craft of picking up journeymen defensive players to surround his core with, and many aspire to that tactic. If Jerry decides to take his shot, expect a few things. Firstly, there will be no Albert Haynesworth signing. I don’t care how good he is; he played for a contract this year, and I don’t believe that the cleat to the face of Andre Gurode will be forgotten so quickly. Take note to forget any daydreams about Jared Allen; he will come at a very steep rate, and this team has other needs. I do love a dominant 25 year old pass rushing End from Dallas, though...
I really don’t see JJ signing any impact DLmen this year; he doesn’t need starters to a great extent, the backups are more than sufficient, and there’s not much cash to spare. But here is one name to keep in mind, just so I can cite this as a stroke of genius in a weird sequence of events.
Ebenezer Ekuban. I know, we went down that road before. But he’s been better since departing and will come cheap. He becomes this team’s best pass-rushing Defensive End and offers veteran leadership. Jerry’s shown he’s not one to pass on a good player because of mere bad blood in the past. The chances are slim, but I could see this transpiring.

Poll

Pick the next position!

The Backfield

5 votes

The Receivers

13 votes

The Offensive Line

10 votes

The Field General Himself

4 votes

32 votes | Poll has closed

Cowboys Roster Eval Continued: Linebackers

Or Moyal — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:18:04 -0000

First things first: I’d like to address a player who became a really hot topic during senior bowl week and I didn‘t get a chance to talk about in my Defensive back evaluation. That player is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Let’s start with some fun facts.
Cromartie is, indeed, the cousin of the peerless Charger cornerback named Antonio.
He attended-this is not a typo-Tennesee State. This is a result of not playing organized football until his senior year of high school.
He’s the most athletically gifted player in this draft. Bar none.
Cromartie’s 6‘3. He has a mysteriously unofficial 40 time, but most project him in the mid-4.3s. While slender at 180 pounds, Cromartie has the strength to jostle with most receivers. He’s been blessed with terrific agility and playmaking ability. Why is this guy not treated as the second coming of Deion? He’s got a couple of big question marks.
The first is his collegiate background. Hailing from TSU is by no means a plus to NFL scouting directors; when asked by Scott Wright about the toughest receiver he’s faced, he cited Efrem Hill of Samford. Hill is an undrafted Browns WR who has yet to catch a pass in the NFL.
The second concern is tied in with the first, and that is a supposed lack of polish. This is a common detriment listed for the really talented players; while they have vast athletic potential, they are not quite the finished products that the hard-hatted, cerebral players can be. Cromartie isn’t seen as ready for the unquestionably major trials that will come with a move from Division-II football to the NFL.
Comparison: Obviously, his cousin comes to mind. The Cromarties are similar players, and it is only natural to compare the two. Another name comes to mind, however; that of Rashean Mathis. Mathis is also a tall cornerback, attended a small school, and was not seen as proven enough to compete with the big boys. If DRC can live up to his potential, he could be as good as either of these shut-down Defensive backs.
I think Cromartie is a perfect fit for the Cowboys. Number one: They must be kicking themselves when considering the ‘06 draft, in which they had the opportunity to draft Antonio with the 18th selection and instead picked up the benchwarming Bobby Carpenter (read on for more on him).Cromartie was taken by San Diego one selection later. I don’t think Jerry will let a similar specimen get away.
Second: This team can afford to slide Cromartie in. Look at last year’s first round cornerbacks, Darrelle Revis and Aaron Ross. Both were selected as experienced college cornerbacks, and therefore thrust into the spotlight on their new teams. Cromartie, if drafted here, would be the third cornerback behind Newman and Henry- comfortably positioned in a spot from which he can slowly adjust to this league.

Now, on to the linebacking corps!

Demarcus Ware, Outside linebacker. There’s no way for me to give a fair critique of Demarcus Ware. I simply love this man too much. But I’ll try to be objective here. Ware placed third in the league in sacks, notching fourteen. He also forced four fumbles and held his own in coverage. Put this in perspective: Amongst all players with nine or more sacks, Ware was first in tackles. His closest competitor (Julian Peterson) had fully ten less. Ware is the most dominant outside linebacker in the NFL. He’s one of the top five defensive players overall. He’s solid as a rock, consistent as the sunrise. In short, he’s a player you can build a defense around. And he’s only twenty five.

Bradie James, Middle Linebacker. I’m going to catch some flak with this selection. It’s hard to argue against Greg Ellis in this spot, but hear me out. James has been a key cog in this defense during the last three years. He leads with both his words and his play, he shoulders the blame when it is due, and he plays every facet of his position. Bradie registered 101 tackles and three sacks. The former is certainly an impressive number, the latter does not seem that way-until one realizes that middle linebackers simply don’t put up major sack numbers. What I like best about James doesn’t have anything to do with his mentality or his physicality. It’s his knack for being in the right place at the right time. He can take advantage of opportunities; whether he sees a big hole in the middle of the offensive line or a wideout thinking himself clever, Bradie can usually be relied on to exploit the situation. He’s capable against the run, in coverage, and blitzing. He’s the type of middle linebacker everyone wants. Not a star, but a complete player in every way.

Greg Ellis, Outside linebacker. Games played: thirteen. Sacks: Twelve and a half. I won’t deny that Ellis was a dominant pass rusher when he came back from the injury he sustained against Arizona. I also won’t deny, however, that he has evolved into a situational player whose ceaseless whining is every bit as annoying as his blitzing acumen is a amazing. I’m starting to wonder about Ellis; while it can’t be denied that the defense is better with him in the lineup, could he be creating dissent in the locker room? Internal consternation has torn many a good team apart before. All it takes is one strong, veteran presence handing out dirty leaflets and besmirching the king for everyone with a beef to pound on the manor’s front door demanding extravagant signing bonuses and weekends off. That, combined with his age (32), are what caused me to place Ellis below Bradie James. I love his play. But he worries me nonetheless.

Akin Ayodele, middle linebacker. The invisible man. Ayodele isn’t very noticeable on the field or the stat sheet. He doesn’t turn the tide of games or run his mouth. But Ayodele is a solid cover linebacker with good run-stopping tendencies. He seems to be an endearing, personable guy to the media as well as his teammates. He never blitzes in this scheme, but has done so in the past. Ayodele’s capable; that’s the best one-word description I can come up with for him. If he’s your second Inside linebacker, you’re in good shape.

Anthony Spencer, outside linebacker. Spencer was drafted out of Purdue with the Eagles’ selection in this past draft. I didn’t agree with the selection because we had already invested enormous resources into our linebackers, and if you told me that Greg Ellis would play like he has I would have screamed bloody murder. But Spencer was sufficiently impressive, and as I stated Ellis sufficiently concerning in some areas- that I am more at peace with his selection than I once was. Joe Thomas, now a premier left tackle in this league, was asked about the toughest player he’d had to block in college. He named Anthony Spencer. Spencer’s a big linebacker who played mostly Defensive End in the NCAA, but seems to have adjusted well. He’s primarily a pass rusher who can defend the run adequately well. I didn’t get a chance to gauge his coverage abilities. Regardless of Greg Ellis’ future with this organization, Spencer is a darn nice piece to have.

Kevin Burnett, linebacker. Drafted out of Tennesee, seen as a playmaker- Burnett seems to have become a younger Ayodele. Don’t blow anyone up, don’t get burned. If you stay out of the highlight reels, you’re in good shape. I wouldn’t say the second round pick is a disappointment, just that he’s different from what he was perceived to be. A good special teamer who’s filled in well when needed at linebacker spots (Inside from what I’ve seen) who is only 25 years old. He’s a nice piece to have around and will definitely be retained.

Bobby Carpenter, Linebacker Tweener. The Ohio State grad formerly known as Captain Caveman should have kept the ‘stache. It was the one thing going for him. Carpenter ranks behind only Julius Jones and Roy Williams on the list of most oft-berated Cowboys, and It’s not hard to see why. He’s been limited to special teams during his first two seasons in the league. I’m not ready to write him off; there’s a reason guys get selected in the first round. A lot of them struggle at the forefront for various reasons, then become the players they were meant to look like all along. (See: Colombo, Marc) He may even become that player with this franchise. But It’s hard for most of us to envision that, simply looking at his track record with our team of choice.

Justin Rogers, linebacker. To be honest, I don’t know much about Rogers. I scoured the internet and came up with this: He went to SMU, likes to hunt (gave his grandmother a coyote rug), was drafted in the 6th round by the Patriots, and was a very undersized player when he first showed up to college. I didn’t really spot him on the field much this year, but that may be a good thing- He didn’t have the Nate Jones factor (Hi, I’m a situational player! You know me- I’ll be the dude eating a receiver’s dust!’).

I seriously, seriously doubt that the Cowboys will look for a linebacker in the early rounds of this draft. Just for the sake of preparing for all contingencies, however, I’ll run over a few of the guys projected to go in the first.

Keith Rivers, Outside linebacker. The USC senior is the most highly regarded of the LBs in this draft, and is projected in the top ten or fifteen by most. He’s got athleticism but lacks size (a mere 220 pounds) and is considered a hard worker. His tackling is reminiscent of the much-maligned Roy, as he will try to force fumbles and cameras, rather than wrapping up the ball carrier. He isn’t held in high regard as a coverage linebacker, but can blitz with the best of them. Best case comp: Jevon Kearse.

Dan Connor, Outside linebacker. The Penn State grad draws reports eerily similar to Bobby Carpenter’s: He’s considered solid in every aspect of the game, plays hard, and is considered polished-but has trouble shedding blockers and lacks strength. I can’t think of a great comp offhand, but Connor should become a solid linebacker, albeit never considered a superstar.

We move to the free agents. This class is highlighted by one standout (Lance Briggs) one young, exciting player (Karlos Dansby) and a bunch of mid-level guys mostly of the reliable, lunch-pail mold. This isn’t necessarily a rip on the class; teams like the Patriots have done great things with a lot of average FA pickups. And the Cowboys aren’t going to be looking for any superstar linebackers in the first place, we’re fine at that position. Just for Stool and Giggles, though, I’ll run down a few of the more highly regarded mid-range guys. We have the legendary Tedy Bruschi (although it remains to be seen whether he will retire) the highly-regarded Kawika Mitchell who is making a name for himself with the Giants, and Boss Bailey the Lion, who is good when not injured. Mid-level guys include Na’il Diggs, Darryl Blackstock, and Demorrio Williams.

I’d like to acknowledge Scott Wright’s NFL Draft Countdown (nfldraftcountdown.com) and Football’s Future (Footballsfuture.com) for a lot of my information. I gather my info from a lot of places and couldn’t possibly name them all without making this into a dissertation, but those two are my primary sources. Props to both of those sites.

I really need to space these out, rather than doing it all in one night :P
Hope you guys are enjoying them, though. I’ll address the defensive line next.

Norm talking draft on the ticket

Or Moyal — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:12:53 -0000

Norm's one of the few guys in this market who goes crazy over the 'I wish I was a GM' matters, and he did a segment on friday morning concerning our draft outlook.
Norm's usually pretty well informed.
I will edit the diary with more info as the segment progresses.

Norm throws out numbers to keep in perspective:
Jerry's made deals on almost every draft day
SIXTEEN out of nineteen years he has traded a first or second rounder. Norm says this is probably a byproduct of learning from Jimmy.
In fact, in the entire history of this FRANCHISE they have only gone three drafts without making any trades.
Personal translation: Jerry (or anyone else who's run this organization, for that matter) can't sit on the sidelines. He either feels he can outsmart everyone or he can't tolerate inactivity.
Norm thinks a trade of 22 for the Dolphins' 32 and maybe some extra late rounders is possible, then retracts and says It's not probable because Bill likes picks in quantity, not quality.
He also believes we could toss Marcus Spears in with our second and swap picks.

Earlier in the year, he thought RB and WR would be the priorities. Now, he feels shoring up the secondary is more important.
At this point, my connection shorted out for a minute, I'd appreciate it if someone filled in the blanks :(
He says there are two or three defensive players he wants the second tier, then six or seven players sees on the next level.
He proposes McKelvin at 22 if the dude's stil there.
Opposes Manningham because he lacks size and doesn't have the speed to compensate. He likes Doucet a lot, because he's built more solidly than Manningham.
Says moving up to get McFadden would be asinine, as most here have stated. The Cowboys are looking for a partner, not a full-timer. He states, however, that McFadden may be the only runner off the board when we make our choice. He loves Stewart, likes Felix and is very high on Mendenhall.
He wonders, however, if he could get a similar quality of runner at 28 as he would at 22.
Caller asks about how badly Jones would be willing to overpay for McFadden. Norm says that if It's both 1s and a 4, he would not pull the trigger although McFadden+Barber would be near unstoppable.
He would, however, rather keep the picks and pick up a Jones because he's such an exemplary complement to Barber both in the running and receiving game. Says that if Jones went to a university where he was a feature back, he'd likely be a top 15 prospect.
Caller asks if the lack of speed is an issue. Norm answers by saying that with no more Jules Jones or Terry Glenn, Owens is the only guy left on this offense who can burn you for huge plays.
Caller #3 wants a lower-caliber back, i.e. Slaton, Rice, or Charles.
Norm says that Slaton will likely be available in the second, and he'd be all for picking him up there. He also would be interested in trading 22 for, let's say, 28 and a 4th- or trading up for a guy like Kenny Phillips, while taking care of the backfield with a Rice/Slaton/Hart.

Poll

Would you pull the trigger on:

#22 and our second rounder for #17 or 18

2 votes

#22, #28, and our fourth for Oakland's #1 (4th overall)

5 votes

Other

2 votes

Spears and our second rounder for Miami's

19 votes

Let's sit on our hands for once, OK?

13 votes

#22 for #26 and a Third rounder

3 votes

44 votes | Poll has closed

Not a secondary priority

Or Moyal — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:32:39 -0000

Howdy. In lieu of other things to fill my head this offseason (bashing on patrick Crayton doesn't count, I've yelled at him several dozen times internally in the last week) I've taken it upon myself to write up a rundown of every facet of this team's roster; evaluating the current players, their performance, expectations, and salary impact. I will also look at prospective additions to that facet of the roster. I will start with the most oft-lamented portion of this squad: The coverage team.
The format I will use is as such: I will begin by listing the relevant players, going from the one I value most to least. After running through the current performers, I'll turn to the potential newcomers.

Terrence Newman, cornerback. Honestly, there is only one fault I can find with T-New. He's only played for five years, yet he'll be thirty next year. Newman is the truest definition of 'shutdown corner', and he put forth, when healthy, his best season yet. I honestly cannot bring to mind the last time a wide receiver truly burned him in a game; the dropoff between a lead receiver covered by our #2 corner and a lead receiver covered by Newey is incredibly pronounced. He doesn't put up the greatest of numbers, but this can be attributed to the fact that quarterbacks simply don't throw his way. While it's true that he doesn't have the best hands, he can take advantage of a badly thrown pass often enough. If not for his (relatively)advanced age, N would be looking a huge deal in the eyes after next season. Keeping him is a priority, as the secondary is in shambles without Terrence.

Ken Hamlin, safety. I am still shocked by the contract Ham got last season. He was barely 26 years old, going into his fifth year in the league, and had established a stellar track record both in pass and run defense, showing the ability to play at either safety slot. Yet he settled for a contract worthy of someone trying to prove his worth; 1 year at 2.5 million. Needless to say, Hamlin has more than lived up to expectations. He was centerfielder in a defensive unit that sorely needed one, a big hitter and an opportunist with more awareness of the goings-on in his vicinity than we've seen since Darren Woodson. Keeping him will be a big priority, but we can't account for some team not changing its tune from last year and giving Ken a contract beyond his value. I see him getting four years at approximately sixteen million, and he's worth every penny of that to this team.

Anthony Henry, cornerback. The antithesis of Terrence Newman, Henry gambles regularly, gets thrown at even moreso, and therefore gets beat a lot but can also turn the tide of a game. He's still a usable second corner, but at 31 he won't be for much longer. While not a liability, he gets beaten fairly easily by most receivers who exhibit a semblance of speed. Henry is capable in run support, a decent tackler with good instincts. He's under contract for two more seasons at a reasonable rate, so don't expect a cut- but he could see his role on the team decrease through the time he has left with America's team.

Roy Williams, safety. Frankly, he earns a spot above Jacques Reeves purely on his past performances. Roy was a terrifically impactful player in college and in his first few years in the bigs, but has fallen off drastically since then. Still more than capable in run support, Roy can make the occasional big hit. But the frequency of the hits has decreased as his attempts at executing them have increased, and this is unacceptable. Too often he makes powerless tackles that fail to even impede the ballcarrier. Roy needs to return to the player he once was; we've all come to accept that he's a liability in pass coverage. But the least he can do is wrap people up once he gets there, knock out the occasional fumble when the situation calls for it, and capitalize with an interception every now and then. He's changing his number next year, in a straw-graspingly desperate move for a new beginning. Let's hope changing the 31 to a 38 is not a solitary move; that Williams actually makes an effort to return to the star player he once was.

Jacques Reeves, cornerback. A 4 year vet from Purdue, the seventh round draft pick has performed beyond expectations during his time here. That, however, is not necessarily an indication that he's a great asset. Reeves is a third corner; he has decent speed and coverage skills, is mediocre against the run, and can't cause turnovers with a great deal of regularity. The 25 year old is the magnet that must exist in the Cowboys' scheme; when Newman's receiver only gets a throw or two per game, the QB has to put it somewhere. Playing alongside Terrence can swell your tackle and INT numbers; Reeves hasn't taken much advantage of this. It will also cast you as the goat who gives up tons of plays; and he certainly has been typecast that way. Reeves is not terrible, every team has a third corner. He's a nice piece to have, and should be retained.

Nathan Jones, cornerback. Selected 18 slots ahead of Reeves in the '04 draft, the Rutgers alum has seen limited time throughout his tenure here. Keep in mind; 18 slots ahead of Reeves still leaves him a 7th rounder. Jones is not someone you want to hang out to dry, he's a backup and recognized as such. You need guys like this, look what they've done for the Giants and their incredible ruin of a secondary. When you create constant pressure, an inadequate secondary suddenly becomes sufficient. Jones will likely be back at an affordable rate.

At this point we move to prospective additions. This free agent crop is tremendously rich with high-level cornerbacks but almost devoid of safeties other than our own. The problem: The three elite guys (Asante Samuel, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Marcus Trufant) will probably cash in to the tune of a long term deal at about 10 million per annum. This is far too much for the Cowboys to afford; they have their own needs to address. They likely will look to an inexpensive veteran , such as Drayton Florence or Shawn Springs, to fill a cornerback slot.

This year's draft is absolutely overflowing with first-round DBs. There are foreseeably six who should earn that distinction, and only one of them (Hurricanes safety Kenny Phillips) is widely projected to go off the board before our first selection at #22.

Mike Jenkins is the best of the rest. Jenkins has terrific size and speed, can force turnovers, sticks with receivers in both man and zone coverage. He's likely the most experienced of this group. He does, however, lack the sure tackling displayed by most and has some character issues. It may seem like a bit of a leap, but PacMan Jones' skill set and resume jumps to mind (Keep in mind, I wouldn't dare insinuate that Jenkins is ^&*@-ed up to quite that degree). Fun fact: He was born in Germany.

Malcolm Jenkins (no association) is probably the most talented defensive back in this draft. He's huge, runs a supposed 4.3 40, and QBs usually don't look his way. On the other hand, Jenkins is lacking in complementary tackles, does not break up many passes, and hasn't made many interceptions. Strangely, he has trouble with smaller receivers.The Ohio State grad could make someone very happy if things go right, but there is a big bust factor. A good comp doesn't come to mind, but Antonio Cromartie is the absolute best case scenario.

Antoine Cason is the 2007 Thorpe award winner. He's got decent size, good quickness, shows great awareness and terrific hands. He has home-run ability, having run back several of his picks for Six. He is, however, a bit lacking on bulk and struggles at bringing his man down. Despite his height, he has displayed difficulty in coping with large receivers. Best case comp: Marcus Trufant.

Aqib Talib is one of my personal faves. He's not quick, he's not one to turn an INT into a TD, but he makes plays of every kind. One of the larger cornerbacks you'll see, Talib displays excellent coverage ability, footwork, and hands. He's very stout against the run and has done great things against some very good receivers. One glaring problem is his lack of big-time speed, and that could come back to bite him down the road. My first thought when considering Talib was Ronde Barber, but that may be a bit steep. He's actually quite a bit like our very own Anthony Henry.

Reggie Smith is a very interesting prospect. The Oklahoma junior is a tandem safety-cornerback, and as one would expect is drawing many critics. There are those who say that his lack of a clearly defined role will hurt him in the long run, that in the NFL you must specialize in a single position to be truly good at it. I, for one, believe that knowing how to play in two (or in this case, three) spots is a major asset. Smith is the classic jack of all trades. Good in coverage, good timed speed, good change of direction and footwork, stellar at recognizing how the play breaks down and stout against the run. He won't cause sensation with anything he does, however, and that wil deter some people come draft day. I'm having a hard time finding a comp for this guy, to be honest. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Leodis McKelvin is yet another player who is useful because he fills multiple roles. McKelvin is fairly diminutive, not known primarily for his abilities as a cornerback, and comes from a small program. However, he's absolutely electric on kick returns and has shown all that one can show at Troy as a DB. Demarcus Ware's one-time teammate is shooting up draft boards, and rightfully so. He hasn't been tested to the extent of the big-conference coverage guys, but as I said-shown all he can. Comp: I'm having a hard time with this one too. I thought Devin Hester, but McKelvin brings more than that on defense.

That was exhausting. It's about time I found a use for the intervals of time between my classes, though =D
If you're looking for further information on all this stuff, I'd strongly recommend Scott Wright's NFL Draft Countdown and Football's Future.
Next on the docket: The linebacking corps!

Jerry on the Normathon

Or Moyal — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:05:24 -0000

(Excuse the rough nature of this diary, I'm writing in simultaneity with the interview)
Norm's conducting an interview with our beloved owner and GM as we speak. So far, he's divulged that
A: He plans to announce a big signing later on today, but did not name the player. I'm predicting Ken Hamlin.
B: He plans to concentrate on multiple positions in the draft, adress depth. While it could be damage control and people rarely let the media know of their draft strategies before the event, I guess that statement is worth something.
C: Witten is part of the interview as well... Jerry pledged $5K to the Austin Street Shelter on behalf of Jason's contributions to the team, citing that our Tight End had incredible leadership and a competitive streak.
D: Norm cited Witten's chemistry with Romo, both on and off the field. Witten said the two are linked; they supplement each other.
E: When he first bought the team, Jerry heard a lot of people say that it was a very risky investment and also realized that it was a lifelong commitment to the franchise. He considers it a great blessing to be part of the organization.

Personal Predictions: The Conflict of Collosi

Or Moyal — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:26:28 -0000

5-0. The Cowboys hadn't done it for two decades. The winningest single-decade quarterback in NFL history couldn't take us there, neither could the league's all-time leading rusher or a historically effective offensive line. But questions emerge; questions that those lauded squads didn't have to put up with.

Is the secondary stable enough? Is Tony Romo sufficiently reliable? Are two runners really no runners?
And most prominent, has this team played anyone competent enough for us to anoint them into the class of elite clubs in the 2007-08 NFL based on numbers alone?

One thing is for certain. If the Dallas Cowboys are still undefeated by Sunday evening, the last of these questions will have been answered, for The Patriots are clearly a juggernaut in every way. The league's best passing game is accentuated by a fearsome running attack, for which the way is paved by a justifiably feared offensive line. The defensive secondary includes two superstars (Asante Samuel and Rodney Harrison), and the defensive line is up there with the very best, with cornerstones like Brushchi, Thomas, and Wilfork. Let this sink in: They have yet to score less than 34 points, and yet to give up 17. And they've played two or three teams probably better than anything the Cowboys have faced.

Can the Cowboys win? The Bills looked like they were going to last week, so sunshine does indeed use a canine's behind as a landing pad occasionally. But going in line with that euphemism, it doesn't happen often.

What will the Patriots do? Allow me to preface this assessment by saying that Bill Bellichick's greatness lies in his ability to adjust on the fly. If something's not working, he'll change it up.

I believe that Bellichick's perceptive enough to take a leaf out of the Bills'' incompetence last week. Buffalo was incapable of putting pressure on Tony Romo, and look what happened? Romo got comfortable and got careless. Bellichick has the personnel to force Romo into scrambling around in the pocket, but I regret to say that he won't-because he will have realized that this is where Romo is at his best. Bellichick will rush four or five for the entirety of the game, concentrating more on coverage and leaving a linebacker or two back to contain our relevant halfback. If Romo's performance last week was a harmless aberration, praise the gods and realize that you may have a shot at not only victory in this game, but in a playoff matchup for the first time in over ten years. But if my fears are proven to be well founded, woe and calamity.

Offensively, the Patriots will do what they always do. Brady is a completion machine, as automatic as it gets. They have a crop of receivers rivaling our own and a stalwart group of blockers to allow the league's best quarterback time to be his usual opportunistic self. Oh, they've also got a two-headed monster better than ours, with Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris.

If the Cowboys want to win this thing, they'll have to do everything right. Don't give an inch on either side of the ball; knock their feet out from under them and shove their faces into the turf, grabbing the ball in the process. Don't make mistakes, another 6-turnover performance will get this team absolutely routed. Force your own, and you've got a shot.

Asante Samuel's not exploitable, as he's one of the top cornerbacks in this entire league. But if TO is on anyone else, use him. I expect Jason Witten to be covered like a sleeping baby in a blizzard for the full extent of the game, so get creative. He can catch the ball through a regiment of thermal blankets and five shadows if It's well-placed. Trick plays are there for a reason; Jason Garrett, It's time to pull out ALL the stops. Leave not a stone unturned, any potential at an opportunity must be seized, turned over, and exploited to its full extent.

In short, It will take a lot for the Cowboys to win this one. This is not in any way a derogatory statement on America's True Team, because New England is very possibly the mightiest squad to have graced the green plains of the NFL since their upcoming opposition circa fifteen years ago.

Prediction
New England: 31
Dallas: 24

Boys-Bills Prediction

Or Moyal — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:47:23 -0000

Hello, all. I'm a long time reader, first time poster.

Analysts have a knack for declaring every game with a line greater than 10 points a 'trap game'. My question: Why the hell is there a double digit line if you genuinely believe that there's a good chance of an upset?

Call me cocky, call me overconfident. I deserve the distinctions, but you can't blame me for claiming them. The Cowboys have been dominant to this point of the season, the Bills awful in almost every respect. They have a promising young running back and a rookie QB who's exceeded expectations-through four games. The Bills' pass defense is unspeakably bad, their run defense not much better. The Cowboys are getting healthier by the week, despite Anthony Henry and Keith Davis sitting out this one.

It's hard to foretell Jason Garrett's intentions, as his greatest single strength is unpredictability. He's daring and fearless, and his players execute in a similar fashion. I expect to see the Cowboys exploit the pitiful secondary laid before them, forcing the Bills to commit a great deal of additional help to stemming the bleeding from the gaping wound caused by Tony Romo's reckless shenanigans. This will free up our dynamic duo of runners to soften up the defense in conjunction with our massive group of blockers, and the Buffalo defense will completely crumble... if I had to estimate, I'd say sometime in the middle of the third quarter.

The Bills will lead with a balanced attack, but most of all try to exploit Jacques Reeves. The man's played beyond expectations, but is still a liability at the second corner spot. Expect Ken Hamlin to lend a hand on that side of the field with fair regularity. Mershawn Lynch will make his way through a good group of offensive linemen and probably pick up his fair share of yards, albeit not enough to make a serious dent. He may be the best Running back the Boys have faced to this point, but that's more a detraction from previous opposition than an acknowledgment of Lynch's competence.

Both teams have strong special teams units. The Bills have the one punter who might be superior to our own Mat Mcbriar, that competition should be enjoyable to view. They have a good tandem of returners, and with Keith Davis out of the picture that could be especially problematic. I may give Buffalo a slight edge in this facet of the game.

To conclude, my fellow Cowboy supporters, I don't believe we have much to fear. This team will be playing for their coach's retribution, for recognition on Monday Night Football, for the preservation of their unbeaten record, and for momentum going into next week's delicious matchup with the Bostoners.
Prediction:
Dallas: 41
Buffalo: 14