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2016-2017 Offseason: Pre-Selection Catch Up And Other
Considerations
- April 28,
2016
At 10:34 AM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- What an OFFseason it has been for the Dallas Cowboys and
"The Tortured Cowboys
Fan," following a decent 2015 draft but a year so miserable that
"America's Team" was left way off plan.
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- While just a couple of the Cowboys'
draft picks were active game day participants, their rookie
insurgents showed promise as welcome roster detergents. Head Coach
Jason Garrett – after all – loves turn and churn to foster
competition on his roster.
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- UConn's Byron Jones was a day
one contributor and – while he was a little rough around the edges
playing both cornerback and free safety – he became a solid opponent
inhibitor.
Nebraska's linebacker Randy Gregory – viewed as a defensive
end coming into Marinelli's system – was also seen as a similar
steal (or risky ordeal) to Dez Bryant. Both players are immense
talents who had to get past their opportunity-damaging defiance. One
has succeeded in doing so, while the other needs to back away
from baking his mental flow. More on that later as we move onto a
Gator.
Florida's offensive tackle Chaz Green has a lot of promise
towards always-critical offensive line depth, but he was lost to a
hip injury before the season began. Though he was healthy enough for
a return with five games remaining in the season, Dallas chose not
to risk it and kept him on the inactive plan. On Chaz rides a lot of
hope, and the Cowboys are hoping he is not the latest injury dope.
Nonetheless, the sour season started with an unnecessarily close
home victory over the Giants and an equally anxious road win over
Philadelphia. The Cowboys
lost Tony Romo during that game, acknowledging his eventual 2-game
return but
effectively for the year. The Tortured Cowboys Fan fell right
off the sports radar with too little alone time and an abundance of life
(from two cute kids and a wonderful wife). This made it impossible to
get into writing gear.
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- While there is always time to relive
the (nightmarish) past, no fan wants to invest too much more emotion in
such a pungent blast. Everyone knows the Cowboys lost – a couple
critical players on offense, defense, and special teams – due to
"nothing more" than cost. Mutual interest certainly existed until
fiscal flexibility was ultimately resisted, leaving the Cowboys
a bit mangled and twisted.
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- The Cowboys' brain trust gathered
around and replacements were found but – by year's end – America's
Team had largely been clowned and laid six feet underground. There was at least one coach who was under-supported and a
couple players who were miscast.
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- Fans – some but not all –
optimistically believe Jerry Jones wants to build the Cowboys to
last, but such optimism is never rewarded when key pieces are
miscast . . . and a certain coach is continually leaned on to
deliver more (with even less) than originally asked.
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- Brandon "Former Failed First" Weeden
seemed to be onto something from the end of a grind-it-out victory
in Philly through two quarters of play against Atlanta but then he
quickly burned out instead of fading away . . . leaving Cowboys
Nation grasping for the Mylanta. The Cowboys finally went around the
bend and drew the Weeden experiment to a merciful end.
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- Matt Cassel was quickly acquired and
given a chance to play. If ever there was proof of a system
player, it was-and-is Matt Cassell. Teams who continue to sign him
should have a LONG talk with his former offensive coordinator
(current Houston Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien), or he is simply
not worth the hassle. It ain't even worth tryin'.
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- People – when faced with adversity
in almost all walks of life – are fond of saying "That's why he /
she / they get paid the big bucks." While the Cowboys' undermanned
defensive unit actually finished the season near the middle of the
pack, there was very little medication Dr. Marinelli could offer the
myopic members of Cowboys Nation for their almost weekly heart
attack. Though he worked his available magic, the results (of
a unit that was counting on a still-powerful offense) were tragic.
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- While no teams were expected to give
Greg Hardy a chance – after his "I didn't do it, nobody saw me do
it, can't prove anything" legal song and dance – Jerry Jones loves
him some Al Davis . . . and in similar style, side-stepped the
group-think pile, and signed Hardy with his typically slick,
attention-getting smile.
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- Jerry could have signed Hardy to a
Herculean contract – rather than the one-year, game-by-game,
incentive-laden arrangement – but it was hardly going to be enough
to convince Hardy that good behavior (on and off the field) could
easily trigger a long-term engagement. While some NFL fans remain
defiant on the need for Greg "Case Dropped" Hardy to change anything
about his approach, most fans know the Cowboys are better off absent
a player and person with the apparent morals of a cockroach.
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- While the Cowboys players – by and
large – should be commended for not quitting on Jason Garrett, Scott
Linehan, or Rod Marinelli . . . there was enough frustration and
injury where mailing it in would not have been viewed as entirely
silly. If the 2016 Dallas Cowboys are able to enjoy significantly
greater health – on top of what their new additions may accomplish –
they will have benefitted from the best kind of wealth. The NFC East
was far from a beast . . . and carefully crafted corrections could
quickly improve the Cowboys' division-winning projections.
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- If Cowboys Nation thought it was
unbelievable to have lost DeMarco Murray to a hated division rival,
they surely would have thought his return was completely unviable.
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- The Eagles – who endured their own
amount of self-inflicted suffering – were facing an offseason with a
bitter, stewing Murray . . . who "suddenly" wanted his way out of
Philly in a hurry (and who – apparently – was accepting no amount of
Jeffrey Lurie buffering). The Eagles did not have a system that
encouraged DeMarco's north-south running style and – due to that
fact – he was used sparingly. Dallas was the only team he could
immediately join to regain his leading rusher mane.
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- Philly surely was not about to pick
up the phone, call Jerry "Roll The Bones" Jones, and attempt to
invoke a "return policy." It would have been a complete fallacy.
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- Following Chip Kelly's firing, the
Eagles nearly, inconceivably became DeMarco's darling. While the
Cowboys and Eagles did, indeed, discuss the possibility of the
"Return of the (Rushing) King" – with fans and former teammates
aggressively asking Murray to "come home" – it was not meant to be .
. . and DeMarco was shipped off to running back-needy Tennessee.
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- It may be a mere handful of games or
even a couple years before Cowboys Nation can really tell if their
team would ever have been able to go back to that well.
Crafting For Drafting
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- The 2016 NFL Draft has arrived . . .
and dedicated fans – desperately seeking their football fix – have
barely survived on dreams of fantasy picks.
It is – for a legion of sports fans – one of the most exciting times
of the year. NFL organizations have (hopefully) spent the latest
offseason preparing for another roster flush . . . that could
solidify one or more of them against yet another year of performance
mush. Prognosticators are filling the airwaves and social media with
opinions fans may or may not want to hear. Scouting departments have
put their own significant college knowledge into high gear.
Cowboys Nation (particularly the myopics, err, fanatics) have been
in hysterics for months – wondering and wishing about all manner of
draft day deal . . . hoping against all odds their dreams will
appeal so very realistically with GM Jerry.
Trade here. Move up. Move down. Cut this expensive veteran or that
underachieving clown. Find cap cash between couch cushions . . . and
fill in the rest with airtight talent evaluations.
No one wants the Cowboys brain trust to make any choices that go
bust. Most fans know it ain’t always so simple to avoid the dreaded
draft day pimple.
Unexpected stress from the Cowboys’ two starting defensive ends – in
Randy “420” Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence – have potentially created
an unnecessary expense. Gregory can’t seem to stay away from the
potted plant. Lawrence went from an improved "Tank" to walking the PED
plank. Both players have been suspended for the first four games of
the season . . . and for selfish reasons.
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- The Cowboys seemed set to take the BPA (Best Player Available) or
trade out of the fourth spot in the first round . . . but they may
be forced to craft a different plan for this draft.
Selection Reflection
Dallas has clear needs – from defensive end to cornerback to safety
to QB to linebacker to running back – prioritized (to your taste) to
add the quality talent AND trustworthy depth they seriously lack.
For the first time in the past half-decade, it would appear the
Cowboys can (and will?) avoid drafting any players in need of
significant Band-Aids. Before the Cowboys – and their legion of
armchair QBs – make a selection, there must be some first
round-focused reflection.
The Cowboys may have a (dirty) laundry list of draft day wants and
needs . . . but there is seemingly only one for which Cowboys Nation
currently bleeds. While fans would love to see Cal Berkeley’s Jared
Goff, North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, or University of Memphis’s
Paxton Lynch in Cowboys colors, these fellas are not your
standard first round, sure-shot winners.
They have potential to be something . . . but more than a backup and
the heir apparent to Tony Romo is entirely another thing. The
(quality) QB-needy Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles both
traded a king’s ransom to ensure their pick of either Goff or Wentz.
If these fellas’ produce as early and well as these franchises hope,
their gambles will have obviously paid off. And if not, these
pre-draft maneuvers will have amounted to an expensive fling . . .
and certain management heads will be lopped off.
Yes, yes, Cowboys Nation is oh too familiar with the fact that Jerry
Jones – Owner, GM, and Master Marketer of the “America’s Team” –
will not fire himself . . . if a risky draft day decision does not
pan out and ends up on the shelf. He has claimed – for some time now
– that while he reserves the right to make the final call, he shares
the decision-making process with son Stephen, Senior Director of
College and Pro Scouting Willy McClay, and Head Coach Jason Garrett.
They claim to collectively listen to his Jerry’s reasoning but – for
a splash pick or trade they know will not do the trick – they will
press him hard not to dare it.
Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith and UCLA’s Myles Jack (the hybrid-sized
and talented linebackers) are both recovering from serious knee
injuries that bring their once sure-fire top 10 draft positions back
to the pack. Another potential Sean Lee – no matter how smart and
talented (but physically flawed) – fans do not need to see.
Fans – most but not all – need to understand the very real
possibility that neither player may be ready to take the field this
season. Jack’s lateral meniscus (within his surgically repaired
knee) is beginning to slowly separate from the bone, which – in
medical terminology – is an osteochondral defect. Jack – teams fear
– may be facing the potential of micro-fracture surgery within the
year. He could attempt to play until his knee really begins to give
way . . . but why even risk neglect? Without formal input from
renowned surgeon Dr. James “Career Saver” Andrews . . . fans are
left with – at best – speculative views.
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- An extremely troubling side effect of Jaylon Smith's knee injury is
his inability to pivot his left foot up-and-down or side-to-side . .
. due to severe stretching of his peroneal nerve at the moment his
knee hyperextended. Retired running back Willis McGahee suffered a
similarly queasy injury, and a less courageous person would have
just died . . . at the sight and thought of his career being
prematurely ended. Smith’s surgeon - the Cowboys' very own Dr. Dan
Cooper – seems optimistic that both his knee and peroneal will make
a full (enough) recovery (for professional football) . . . but there
is equal chance Smith’s nerve (mentally and physically) – along with
his NFL dream – could still be history.
Ohio State’s Joey Bosa is big and physical, has impressive
technique, a quick first step, and a motor that will not quit, he is
also a defensive end who may have already reached his ceiling . . .
leaving some – but not all – teams with mixed feelings. While he was
one of four Ohio State Buckeyes suspended for one game last year for
breaking “unspecified” team rules, various sources insist that issue
has been widely dismissed.
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- More pressing than concerns over Bosa’s ceiling is whether selecting
him would do enough – with or without Lawrence and Gregory – to
prevent Marinelli’s Men from any further reeling. Improved pressure
by the defensive line may still not help a secondary that is
anything but fine. The name of the game – even for Oregon’s DeForest
Buckner, Clemson’s Shaq Lawson, and Eastern Kentucky’s Noah
“Ecstatic” Spence – remains the same. Without (unreasonably)
improved pressure up front, Cowboys’ cornerbacks will continue to
receive much of the failure brunt.
Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey has been hailed as the NFL’s next great
shutdown corner. He has even – GASP – been compared to fellow FSU
alum Deion Sanders. While Ramsey may welcome the attention, the
serious claims – in part – originate with his handlers.
There is ZERO doubt the Cowboys could use a big aggressive corner
and a bigger, ball-hawking safety in their defensive backfield . . .
with high – no, desperate – hopes of increasing their morbid
turnover yield. Ramsey would be a tremendous help to a secondary
that currently features a mature-beyond-his-years free safety in
Byron Jones, a hard-working but increasingly injury-prone strong
safety in Barry Church, an injury-affected leader in Orlando
Scandrick, a(n overpriced Brandon) Carr suffering from a faulty
clutch, and a former first round pick in Morris Claiborne that –
suffering through injury plight and try as he might – has not
amounted to much.
The Cowboys – for years now – sorely lacked the cool, capable
cornerback for which they have been historically known . . . and
Ramsey could easily become their secondary backbone. He has the
range to flex from to man-to-man to zone to run support to blindside
blitz and back again. Fans even have visions of a Ramsey and Jones
safety set on which almost anyone would place a bet.
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- The only knock on Ramsey is the (incredibly?) low number of
interceptions he turned . . . which are the one defensive delivery –
over the past few years – for which the Cowboys have painfully
yearned. Prognosticators and scouts – by and large – claim Ramsey
was thrown at plenty, that he had numerous chances, and that he was
completely in charge. Ramsey – for his part – explained that he was
more focused on refining his tackle-and-strip art. Students of the
football footage counter with the need to improve his catching
ability . . . from which they seem unwilling to grant him total
immunity. The accusation may sound mean, but Ramsey may – indeed –
need become romantic with the jugs machine.
Even if Ramsey quickly proves to be all that and a tremendous bag of
chips, Cowboys Nation would do well to remember that even Deion
could not always just “play his half of the field” and still, STILL
prevent his less-capable teammates from performing like a bunch of
dips.
All it would have taken was for Larry Brown to triangulate a greedy
angle or Darren Woodson to get caught in a run support tangle and –
with Deion blanketing the primary receiver – the Dallas (loaded but
goaded) defense would have faced a major mangle. While this scenario
occurred few and far between, a Deion or a Ramsey is not always
magically available to keep the Dallas defense squeaky clean.
Defense is still a team game and – without solid pressure from the
big boys up front – the secondary can still look lame.
Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott has been tabbed by anyone and everyone
as THE top running back in the draft and a can’t-miss game changer .
. . who can tote the rock and help an injury-prone QB remain a step
ahead of danger. Some – but not all – within Cowboys Nation will be
quick to shout . . . that Dallas had DeMarco Murray before an
unreasonably (?) low contract bid bruised his ego and forced him
out.
While the 2015 season was an unmitigated disaster for the Cowboys,
it was due far more to the absence of Tony Romo than DeMarco from
Dallas’ collection of offensive toys.
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- Nonetheless, “Zeke” is exactly the type of player and running back
the Dallas Cowboys and their fans are used to seeing lined up behind
their beloved QB . . . but have not enjoyed since DeMarco Murray and
certainly not since Emmitt Smith, praised be he. Zeke is the kind of
5-tool running back EVERYONE in the NFL seeks: (1) great vision
(reads), (2) good speed (between the tackles, around the edge, and
to the end zone), (3) great lateral movement, (4) great hands, and a
personal favorite of Tony Romo's . . . (5) great blocking. Assuming
no powerful productivity parties from Darren “Run DMC” McFadden,
Alfred “No Nonsense” Morris, or Rod “Not The Bronco” Smith, the
starting running back role would be all Zeke’s.
Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil and or Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley would be
splendid additions to the Cowboys’ offensive line. Many within and
outside NFL circles are fond of proclaiming “(Travis) Fred(rick) And
The Blockheads” the best offensive line in pro football, but (few?)
discerning members of Cowboys Nation know that order remains just a
bit too tall.
Cowboys Nation may have the burning desire to set forever-embattled
Doug Free on fire – for all his Phil Pozderac-style holding calls,
false starts, and broken hearts . . . but even with just the current
core offensive line, the Cowboys will need the salary cap to
continue going higher. Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, Travis Fredrick,
and La’el “Son Of Jor-El” Collins (the blind luck steal of last
year’s draft) are – in due course – going to be occupying a pretty
good chunk of Dallas’ salary cap. Oh, snap. The Cowboys already have
a boat load of cash tied to a handful of stars the fans well know.
One way or another – and like every NFL team – the Cowboys need to
do what they must to avoid a financial trap . . . whichever way
their draft may go.
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- Dallas – for now – is expected to make do with Ronald “Whose Knee
Keeps Fans” Leary, Charles
“Good Grief” Brown, the untested Chaz “Injury Scene” Green, and any late
round or post-draft free agents not yet seen.
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- What about Mackenzy “Not Spuds But Saint” Bernadeau?
The Cowboys allowed his contract to expire and to the Jacksonville
Jaguars he decided to go.
Will They Or Won’t They?
The Tortured Cowboys Fan – almost always in the minority – sees all
the crafting for drafting being reduced down to a (simple?) question
of survivability.
Do the Cowboys have a prayer in the absence of a given player? That
is the question . . . that either gives Cowboys Nation confidence or
severe indigestion.
Which player provides incredible improvement but – in the absence of
that player – the Cowboys do not suddenly suffer a loose bowel
movement?
Spending even a late round pick on enormously talented (but
currently broken players) must come with a solid reason. Every pick
in the seven round draft counts . . . especially – year in and year
out – when teams receive them from the league in different amounts.
A team with multiple needs on any one of three units – offense,
defense, and special teams – knows that choosing in one direction
can stunt another unit’s hopeful perfection.
Almost all of the Cowboys’ 2016 draft decisions are being made with
an eye towards immediate impact and maximizing what remains of their
aging stars’ talent. Those among Cowboys Nation who would like to
see Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and others win the big one before they
are all done . . . will give no quarter to counter-minded fans who
engage a long-term lament.
Cowboys Nation should expect some solid solutions – or those with
great potential – to ALL of the challenges facing America’s Team . .
. and of their eventual success fans can only dream.
GMs draft. Coaches coach. Players play. The grades that fans attempt
to apply today . . . will only begin to reveal themselves as true or
false after OTA’s, mini camps, training camp, preseason games,
roster cuts, and through those who survive to enjoy a national
television display on the season’s first game day.
It is now or never. A short-term bust or fame forever? Trade down or
remain steadfast and hold the Windy City war room together? The
fourth pick in the 2016 NFL Draft cometh, and it will soon be time
to pull the lever. Will the Cowboys’ brass keep their cool or play
the knee-jerk fool?
We shall see. We always do.
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