I was fully on-board the Tyron Smith bandwagon until a few days ago.  I loved what I was hearing from Bunting, Raf, Chia and others.  I hadn't really watched any film, but I heard he looked good, and he had the physical attributes of a dominant player (long arms, great athlete).  However, I read the following profile, which had some good clips in it:

http://dallascowboystimes.com/2011/02/dallas-cowboys-potential-draft-pick-in-2011-tyron-smith-ot-usc/

The clips didn't look that great to me.  I stepped back and thought, how would you summarize the two players?

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When pondering the defensive breakdown in 2010, the declining play of our two young stars, Spencer and Jenkins, is one of the primary culprits.  Anthony Spencer had a great second half of 2009, and it looked like he would be a dominant bookend to DeMarcus Ware.  In 2010, he's reverted back to making an occasional play, but generally not making a huge impact in the game.

The 3-4 defense requires dynamic OLBs to function at a high level.  They are the pressure players and the defense simply doesn't hum without two good ones.  In late 2009, we had two of them, and now we have one.  I think that's a major reason for our decline.

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So this is Garrett's big opportunity to make an initial splash and change the course of the Cowboys this year.  I think he needs to be bold, but not to go overboard with knee-jerk changes.  Here's my list, what would you add?

1) OLine - This is the biggest issue facing the team.  We have four holes to fill next year and we need to start finding answers.  With Kitna, we have the luxury of going young at line and risking our qb (harsh I know).  I'd cut Davis, due to his salary and play, plus to send a message.  Cut Barron.  Promote Brewster at guard and find the best olineman on another team's practice squad and sign him. 

I'd start Costa at C and move Gurode to Davis's spot. Having Kosier call the blocking allows Costa an easier transition period and we can see if he can play.   Make Young the swing tackle and rotate him in with Colombo.  Get Brewster ready and then make him the backup G on gameday and rotate him in.  I'd give the young guys 4-5 games, and if they look hopeless, I'd churn some more from other team's practice squads.  The hope from all this is that you might get a player or two that you can build around next year.

2) Make Jenkins inactive for a game or two.  I'd start Scandrick, Ball or McCann at CB.  Obviously they all suck, but the point of this exercise is to get Jenkins mind right.  I've found personally that sitting and watching a sport (usually due to injury) gives you some interesting perspective on playing it.  Maybe it will get Jenkins back on track.

3) Sit Ball, start Church.  Get AOA involved at S when he returns.  We need two new safeties next year, hopefully you see enough from Church and AOA to think you might have one of them.

4) Sit Brooking, start Lee.

5) See if Choice/Felix can be the duo going forward.  Unlike some of the other guys, I don't think Marion has played dumb at all.  He just doesn't have it anymore and is nothing better than a short yardage guy.  Unfortunately, your short yardage guy has to be cheap and bang on special teams.  Choice and Felix are the future.

What else?

Here are some of the names that caught my eye. 

Hartwig, C, Pittsburg - He is a two year starter (31 yrs old) that got bounced by Pouncey.  He's 315, so perhaps he could be a G/C type that could eventually bump Holland off the roster.  Would be nice to have someone who could play G or C, push Gurode and Davis and buy us some time for the young guys to mature.  He wouldn't be cheap as he can probably start for a lot of teams.

Fenuki Tupou, G, Philadelphia - He was a rookie last year and I remember liking him coming out of college. He's a big, athletic guy but is raw. Perhaps Hud can do something with him.

Sean Ryan, TE, Tennessee - We drafted him 6 years ago, and if I remember right, wanted to keep him (or bring him back?) but something happened.  Seems like a good fit for what we're missing, a blocking TE.

James Hardy, WR, Buffalo - The only reason I mention him is that I remember the Cowboys liked him a lot in the draft.  This is only his 3rd year in the league, so perhaps moving from the wasteland that is Buffalo will change his trajectory.  I can't see him bumping Hurd though, since I doubt a 6'6" dude can play special teams well. 

Anyone see anything else?  Hartwig seems the most intriguing, although I'd think he'd have a better opportunity than as a backup.

This team looks really solid everywhere except OL.  My worry is that we have an OL that was declining last year and from early returns, might be going down another notch this year.  Maybe I'm just panicking and they'll be fine, but if I was Jerry I wouldn't be willing to bet the season on that.  This team is ready to make a run if the OL can hold up.

We need an infusion of youth in the interior line.  It seems that both Gurode and Davis need to be replaced.

We haven't drafted linemen high because they don't seem to be BPA, which I'm fine with.  The problem with Best Player Available philosophy is that you don't necessarily win by having the best 22 players, but the best 22 starters (or 25 or 35 or whatever).  You can't have a bunch of studs in one position and nobodies in another.  

For me, a key part of the BPA philosophy is that you stockpile the best talent, and then trade if you need to fill some holes. Now looks like a time to make a trade.  And I don't mean a Montrae Holland type deal for a stopgap.  I'm talking about a trade for an up and coming lineman. Obviously that will cost us and you'd have to find a team with some depth at OL but some needs in our area of depth (RB, WR, DL and LB). 

Landing a legit talent would require returning someone that we don't want to give up.  Sam Hurd/Jason Williams/Marion Barber/Roy Williams aren't going to get it done.  Nobody is trading a good young lineman for spare parts or vets past their prime.  Here are some names with real value:

Victor Butler

Tashard Choice

Stephen Bowen (I think he has higher trade value than Spears or Hatcher due to his pass rush skills)

I like all three of those guys, and think they all are valuable contributors.  Butler looks ready to be a good starting OLB, Choice can start at RB and Bowen looks like who could fit well in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 pass rushing DT.  I'd hate to see Butler leave as I think he is just turning the corner to becoming a damn good pass rusher. 

However, while I'd love to have Ware, Spencer, Rat, Bowen and Butler getting after the QB, I think we can do pretty well without one of them.  On the other hand, from the trend I'm seeing on the OL, I'm not sure we can be at all effective on that side of the ball without some new talent.  I'd love to trade a lesser talent but I don't think you pry a young, talented G/C type without some real ammo.

Am I going overboard?  Can the vets right the ship or is someone like Costa talented enough to help? Maybe Brewster at G?

If not, what teams/players might be a fit?  My ideal guy would be 2-3 years in the league with some starting experience who is primed to be a starter for the next 8-10 years.

Much like the Cowboys of '91, the '09 Cowboys have one unit that is a glaring weakness.  The o-line was up and down all year, with them having primary roles in all the Cowboys losses.  If not for Romo's escapability, the sack numbers would have been even worse.  Plus, we saw far more negative running plays this year.  Flo will be 35 next year, with the rest of the starters all at 32.  

My feeling is that we have to be aggressive in improving our o-line.  It's difficult because collectively they're an ok group with no glaring weakness.  But they've proven as a group that they're the weakest unit on the team, and at their age, their performance will only decline.  It's a situation where we might have to take a step back to take two steps forward.  Our championship window is open, we need to act quickly.  

However, unlike '91, it's not easy to plug rookies into the o-line and have success like you can with a cornerback. 2010 should be a transition year, where we field a competitive unit while also aggressively grooming replacements. Over the next two or three years I believe we need to replace all five starters, and we currently have only Doug Free and Robert Brewster as possible replacements.  

The gameday roster features the 5 starting linemen, plus a swing tackle and a backup guard/center.  This year the reserve roles were filled by Doug Free and Cory Proctor.  We carried another 3 reserve linemen as inactives.  

Here's how I'd do it:

1) Make Free a starter - at this point any veteran who starts in front of him is a progress stopper.  Start Free where he is most suited.  Jerry said this year that he is best suited to LT, so let's assume he starts there.  

2) Move the displaced tackle to compete with Kosier at guard - If Free is LT, that means Flozell competes at guard, where I believe he wins the job.  Brewster should also be in the mix at both guard spots, providing competition for Davis.  

3) Make Kosier the backup center and to provide some competition for Gurode

4) Use your first round pick to draft a potential RT.  My preferred players are Iupate, Campbell, T. Williams and Bulaga.  That player immediately provides competition for Colombo.  I'll assume it's Iupate.  

5) Draft another 2-3 linemen, preferably another tackle and guard/center.  A guy like Calloway or Veldheer in the 3rd would be great.  Assume Calloway.    

Our starting five in week 1 would likely be Free, Flo, Gurode, Davis and Colombo.   Kosier is the backup G/C, Flo backs up LT and Iupate backs up at RT.  That keeps Iupate active on game day, so we should rotate him in for Colombo as he progresses.  Even if he performs at a lower level than Colombo, it's important to speed his development with game snaps.  Perhaps by the end of the year he can be the starter.   If a guy like Brewster develops, he goes to LG.  By the end of the year we could see a starting five of Free, Brewster, Gurode, Davis and Iupate.  

Iupate, Calloway, Brewster and another rookie make the roster, giving us four young backups in place of Proctor, McQ, Preston and Holland.  We get them snaps any way we can, so that by the end of 2010 or beginning of 2011 we can have young starters at LG, RT and possibly RG.  Iupate's versatility allows us to move him inside if a guy like Calloway develops into a starter.    

What I like about the plan is that you get competition for all the veterans, which might boost their play a bit.  Also, it keeps one of the rookies active on gameday so that they can rotate in, which is important to speed their development.  

A couple possible objections to this plan:

1) Flo played so well down the stretch, why move him?  

Flo will be 35 and has consistently been up and down over the last several years.  It's time to take our lumps and replace him.  We have one young lineman who's ready to go in Free, and his style seems best suited for LT.  His development needs to continue.  

2) Colombo just had one bad game due to him coming off injury.  He shouldn't be replaced.  RT isn't a glaring need.

Colombo has always had a foot speed problem, and he's had a lot of injuries over the years.  At 32, maybe he loses half a step that can't afford.  He was so bad in the Minnesota game that you wonder how well he'll come back off that injury.

3) Playing the young guys could get our qb killed.

Yes, we might see some rough moments, but my belief is for this team to get over the hump we need to transform our o-line.  I'd prefer to take some lumps and transition faster rather than wasting a year of our window on hope that our existing line can be good enough.  I don't think they can.

4) Flo at guard?

He played some guard his rookie year, and I think he can be an upgrade for Kosier, as Flo has plenty of power, and his foot speed won't be as exposed.  Plus it allows us to have a great backup LT in case Free falters and allows a rookie to just backup RT instead of being the swing tackle, which makes it a lot easier for a guy like Iupate to contribute in year 1.  

5) Kosier at center?

He played some center at Detroit, and with an entire off season to prep for it, I'd assume a vet like Kosier could do well.  Kosier could end up being a better center than Gurode, as center accentuates his strengths (mobility) while hiding his weakness (lack of sand in his pants).  

I prefer Iupate in round 1 as he seems to be extremely talented, with impressive size, athleticism and unbelievably long arms (I think the longest of any of the top linemen).  He's green enough at tackle that I hope he slips to 27, as most teams will only feel comfortable w/ him as a guard.  If he pans out as a tackle, then we have stud at RT, if not, we have a sure thing at guard.  He looks to be a dominant player that we can build our line around.

With an aggressive draft and enough evaluation snaps in 2010, we can go into the 2011 draft and spot fill any remaining holes we have, likely at center.  

Thoughts?    

Ok, stupid me, I planned some travel weeks ago that has me on a plane during the game.  Not Frontier or JetBlue or anyone with live TV.  Normally I put my blinders on and rush home to watch my DVR without knowing the score.  However, I'm gone for almost a week, so there's no way I can keep from knowing the score that long. 

I have Sunday Ticket.  Is there anyway to watch a replay of the game online?  I know you can watch live games over the web, but didn't see anyway to catch a replay. 

I'm like an addict who's gonna miss a fix!  Please help!

Ok, so I was pissed we traded down with William Beatty sitting there.  Flozell is on his last legs and I'd rather see us have some more options at LT.  But oh well, I'm excited for tomorrow, because we have 2 3's and 3 4's (plus 3 5's).  Here's what I see of interest:

3rd rounders
Rashad Johnson
Duke Robinson
Jarron Gilbert
Lawrence Sidbury
Scott McKillop
Dorrell Scott

4th rounders
Jasper Brinkley
Stephen McGee
Fenuki Tupou
Coye Francies
Mike Wallace
Sammie Lee Hill
TJ Lang
Jason Watkins

I'd be happy with Johnson and Gilbert or Sidbury in the 3rd, than Lang, Tupou, and McGee in the 4th, and hope we can get Hill in the 5th. 

Who am I missing?

As I've written before, I think we have a ticking time bomb at one of the most important positions on the team: left tackle. 

Who knows how much Flozell has left in the tank.  He fell off last year...was it injury?  the lack of Kosier?  Who knows, but he's soon to be 34, and hasn't had a history of being a workout warrior.

While Doug Free is an option, he hasn't shown much in his first two years to make me feel secure that he's definitely the guy to protect Romo's blindside.   We need another option, and now is the time to start developing him.

I'd prefer having more options at LT rather than hoping that Flozell will rebound or that we'll definitely hit on a 4th rounder like Free.  Its too important a position to be exposed at.  The name Torrin Tucker should give us all shivers.  I don't think Leonard Davis is an option, he wiffs too much as is at guard.

I was hoping someone like William Beatty might fall to us in the 2nd, but that looks all but impossible.  However, another guy caught my eye out of the NFP's top 100

68. OT Fenuki Tupou, Oregon - A massive tackle prospect with good power and smooth feet for his size.

Did a little background on him, and he's a naturally massive and powerful guy, with good feet.  He transferred from JUCO, so only has 2 years at the D1 level.   Given another year of experience, and this guy might've been a first rounder.  See his profile here.

All his negatives sound fixable with good coaching and experience.  Plus, it sounds like he has the talent to move to guard if Free does develop into our next LT. 

I'd love him in the 3rd, but given how OTs always go higher than expected, we might have to get him in the 2nd.  While Duke Robinson has been a favorite of mine, I really think adding a guy who has the feet to play LT, plus the girth to play guard, might be more beneficial.

Anyone seen Tupou play?

Following the laws of supply and demand, I'm a fan of picking players in deep positions.  You seem to find bargains that way, as other teams fill needs rather than picking the best players. 

I've studied the players a bit this year, and as much as I want a safety, to get one, it seems that we'll have to pick a safety a round too high.  I like Rashad Johnson, as I'm a production guy, and he makes plays.  Who cares if he ran a 4.6 or a 4.5.  Courtney Brown runs a 4.3 and he blows.  However, Johnson seems like a 3rd maybe 4th round guy, and I don't like picking someone who is too small and a bit slow in the 2nd.  But with this weak class of safeties, my guess is that he'll go higher than he should.

I know we really need a good safety, but you can't make wine out of vinegar.  Lets get a veteran to cover us for another year and hope next year's draft is deeper.

I've come around to picking a center this year, as the class is deep.  At first I dismissed it, as we have Gurode, a young Pro Bowler.  However, he seems to make a lot of mental mistakes, and since the center is the mind of the o-line, it wouldn't be bad to have him move to guard.  A guy like Alex Mack is intriguing, as he could play guard as well. Let him provide depth for a year, see how he develops, and if needed make room for him at center.

The NT class is odd, as only Raji and Brace are first day talents, but you see a lot of mid/late round guys who are interesting.  Sammie Lee Hill and Dorell Scott lead the list, and guys like Terrance Taylor and Chris Baker could also fill the need.  That's more guys that usual with the right body type to play NT available.  I say we pick one, maybe even two, on the 2nd day.

This also seems like a good year to pick up a burner at WR somewhere late in the draft.  Mike Wallace, Johnny Knox and Mike Thomas all would be intriguing if we got them late.

Here's what I'd do:

2nd round(in order of availability)

William Beatty - probably will be long gone, but he seems to be the last legit LT prospect of this draft  - having Flozell near the end and not a sure replacement on hand worries me - remember Torrin Tucker manning the LT?

Duke Robinson

Jasper Brinkley

3rd round

Brinkley if he's still there

One of the center prospects - Mack, Wood or Luigs

Rashad Johnson

4th round

One of the centers if we didn't get one before

Rashad Johnson

Sammie Lee Hill

Scott McKillop

Dorell Scott

I'd love to come out of the draft with Duke Robinson in the 2nd, Jasper Brinkley in the 3rd, a top center who slides and Sammie Lee Hill in the 4th, then sprinkle in some late picks like Jason Watkins, Johnny Knox, Frantz Joseph, Terrance Taylor and a developmental QB.   I'd love to grab a developmental 3-4 DE and 3-4 OLB as well, but I haven't seen many intriguing prospects there.

Thoughts?

Lately when I've read about the Cowboys' projections for drafting an o-lineman, the players are normally interior players or perhaps a RT prospect.  To me, that is overlooking a our most pressing need, which might not be slapping us in the face at the moment, but could be dooming our franchise in the near future.

The Cowboys have collected an impressive array of talent at the skill positions:  three legit backs, two talented tight ends, and a strong group of WRs surrounding a young QB that has been breaking team passing records.  This group screams for a good if not great o-line to allow it to flourish.  I was glad to see o-line at the top of the list for the draft, as I think that's the only thing separating this offense from being the best in the league.

However, to me, the biggest need along the o-line is a young left tackle to replace Flozell.  Flozell has been engimatic.  He's had great years and off ones.  He seems like the poster boy of the mental errors and inconsistencies that have plagued the Cowboys.  Plus he'll be 34 when the season rolls around coming off a bad year in 2008.  Maybe he gives us another 2-3 up and down years, maybe he'll scream to be replaced in 2009.

What do we have to replace him?  Doug Free is the only option at this point, a player I liked coming out of college, but has scarcely been seen in two years.  If Free was a talent worthy of the LT position, I can't imagine he wouldn't have replaced McQuistan as the swing tackle or even been considered as the LG replacement when Kosier was out.  Flozell played guard before he was moved to tackle.  While not much has been said about Free, the actions of the Cowboys staff makes me think he's not showing much. 

Since most tackles take a year or two to develop, now seems the time to get one before a major hole opens up on the line.  The added bonus would be that a good tackle prospect should be able to fill in as a guard if Flozell bounces back with another 2-3 good years.  A guy like William Beatty out of Connecticut looks like a great fit (although we'd probably have to move up several spots to get him).  He's a great athlete at 6'6" with quick feet, but needs to add some strength.  I assume Connecticut's training regimen pales in comparison to the Cowboy's, so I think a year behind Flozell would give him the extra 10-15 lbs of muscle he'd need. 

Troy Kropog also looks intriguing, and could probably be had at our spot in the 2nd, if not the 3rd.

While I agree with the needs at FS and NT, a LT is one of the most important positions on the team, and I think we're very close to needing a new one.  Outside of the top 15 of the draft, its really hard to find one on short notice.  Of the five starters, Flozell is the oldest and performed the worst last year. 

Thoughts?

I think way too much about the draft, and every year I ponder away until I come up with my ideal scenario.  Its finally clicked into place for '08.  If all goes well, we'll get the following:

1a. Dominique Rogers-Cromartie CB, Tenn St
1b. DeSean Jackson WR, Cal

2. Chris Johnson RB, E. Carolina

3. Brandon Flowers CB, Virginia Tech

4. Ray Rice RB, Rutgers or Mike Hart RB, Michigan

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