Jump to content
Washington Football Team Logo
Extremeskins
Forum Rules and Guidelines

ESPN: Cowboys' already talented roster will only get better with two No. 1s

DeMarco Murray 29

By DeMarco Murray 29
in Around the NFL

Recommended Posts

DeMarco Murray 29

DeMarco Murray 29

Posted
Posted

ESPN: Cowboys' already talented roster will only get better with two No. 1s

By Matt Williamson

Scouts Inc.

(Archive)

Updated: March 19, 2008

Comment

Email

Print

As the NFL draft approaches, "SportsCenter" is putting every NFL team with a first-round pick "On the Clock" and Scouts Inc. will break down each team and look at what questions still need answering.

The Cowboys might have faltered down the stretch and lost to division-rival New York -- a team they beat twice in the regular season -- in the playoffs, but Dallas is a team with very few holes. This talented and experienced roster only stands to get better as the Cowboys have two first-round selections that will infuse youth into this established group. While many remember only the postseason exit, Dallas was 13-3, won the brutal NFC East and tortured defenses in many ways with its dynamic offense.

Key Additions

The Cowboys brought in LB Zach Thomas before free agency opened and he should make a very good defense even better. If the 34-year-old Thomas can stay healthy, he should be very productive and will be surrounded with much better talent in Dallas than he had in Miami. The Cowboys also recently locked up WR Patrick Crayton and OT Flozell Adams, while franchising S Ken Hamlin to more or less ensure his return to Dallas.

The Cowboys' roster is loaded with talent and they were wise to keep their own rather than rocking the boat and bringing in a lot of new faces to a team that should compete for the Super Bowl in the 2008 season. The Cowboys have not signed an unrestricted free agent from another team since free agency opened and that may end up being a very prudent move considering the current market.

Key Losses

Dallas lost Jacques Reeves to the Texans in free agency. While he had a respectable season in relief and in sub packages, Dallas will likely find a replacement -- and a more athletic one, at that -- in the draft.

It also cannot be overlooked that the Dallas front office and coaching staff was raided by former Dallas head coach Bill Parcells. There are five former Cowboys assistant coaches in Miami, including head coach Tony Sparano and assistant head coach Todd Bowles.

Miami also got ahold of several of Dallas' role players, most namely Keith Davis, the Cowboys' backup safety and special teams captain, and Jason Ferguson, their starting nose tackle in 2006 who missed most of the 2007 season with a torn biceps.

RB Julius Jones is now in Seattle and while he was a valuable contributor and considered the Cowboys' starting running back, what he brought to this offense can be replaced with a first-day draft choice.

Remaining Questions

The biggest is whether or not the Cowboys can get over the playoff hump and begin having postseason success. They certainly have the personnel to do so. Jason Garrett is waiting in the wings to take over if Wade Phillips cannot elevate Dallas' postseason production, but overall this franchise is in good shape for this time of the year.

The Cowboys' losses were minimal and they should replenish some key positions -- namely cornerback, wide receiver and running back -- with their early picks in what looks to be a deep draft. This is an outstanding offense that can withstand injuries, as evidenced by its success last season when Terrell Owens was hurt. Times are good for the Cowboys, but the pressure will surely begin to mount -- particularly on QB Tony Romo sits to pee -- if they do not take their performance to the next level this season.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

Mock Draft: Cowboys

The Pick (No. 22 overall):

CB Mike Jenkins, USF

Todd McShay: Assuming owner Jerry Jones doesn't package picks to trade up, expect Dallas to use its two picks to address needs at corner, receiver, offensive tackle and possibly running back. Jenkins' combination of size, speed and athleticism is outstanding and his recognition skills continue to improve each season. Jenkins also brings versatility to the table with his ability to play some safety and chip in on returns if necessary.

The Pick (No. 28 overall):

WR Devin Thomas, Michigan St.

Todd McShay: Dallas could settle for Felix Jones here, the other first-round running back prospect from Arkansas. But the better value would be at wide receiver with either Thomas or Michigan's Mario Manningham. Despite his lack of ideal game experience, Thomas is higher on many boards because he's such a dynamic open-field runner for his size, both after the catch and in the return game.

• Complete mock draft

• Vote: Team needs

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CG

CG

Posted
Posted
It'll just make "one and done" in the playoffs that much harder to swallow.

ouch.

There's also some speculation that Chad Johnson is going to Dallas. I would seriously like to see that simply for the entertainment value of TO and CJ on the sidelines trying to out-do one another while the rest of the team goes down hill. Would also cost at least one of those first rounders, and I think Dallas would be dumb to not use their top pick on a CB. 13-3 with "Still Waitin" Crayton at #2 doesn't seem like WR is a big need this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TonyRomoProBowl

TonyRomoProBowl

Posted
Posted
As much as I bash the Redskins front office, I'm curious as to how much faith Cowboys fans have in Jerry Jones ability to make the two picks count. Or if he gets tempted to jump up to get a "great" player.(I'm sure the Patriots are more than willing).

This Cowboy fan is....Scared out of his mind about the idea of JJ running draft day......

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kuraitengai

kuraitengai

Posted
Posted
:cheers: A very well-written article and a good read. Keep up the good work TN41!
a well-written article?
Todd McShay: Assuming owner Jerry Jones doesn't package picks to trade up, expect Dallas to use its two picks to address needs at corner, receiver, offensive tackle and possibly running back.

so that part is well-written? explain to me how dallas can use 2 picks to upgrade needs at CB, WR, OT, and RB.

i majored in english, not math, but last i checked you cant use 2 picks to upgrade 4 positions.

for it to be well-written it should have said "Assuming owner Jerry Jones doesn't package picks to trade up, expect Dallas to use its two picks to address needs at corner, receiver, offensive tackle OR possibly running back."

Link to comment
Share on other sites
flashback

flashback

Posted
Posted

Well, I'm as nervous as anybody about drafting w/o Parcells and Ireland running the scouting, but can it really get worse than taking Bobby Carpenter in front of Antonio Cromartie?

Jones wheeled and dealed last year (w/o Parcells, but with Ireland), so I actually look for him to be pretty conservative this year. I'd expect him to take the highest rated player at the highest need position (WR, CB, maybe RB, S or OL) with the first day picks and look for BAA picks in rounds 4 - 7.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Riggo#44

Riggo#44

Posted
Posted
a well-written article?

so that part is well-written? explain to me how dallas can use 2 picks to upgrade needs at CB, WR, OT, and RB.

i majored in english, not math, but last i checked you cant use 2 picks to upgrade 4 positions.

for it to be well-written it should have said "Assuming owner Jerry Jones doesn't package picks to trade up, expect Dallas to use its two picks to address needs at corner, receiver, offensive tackle OR possibly running back."

Ah Todd McShat at his finest. And no that's not a typo.

And is this from the department of the completely obvious. MOST teams are going to improve with two number one draft picks -- assuming they don't blow them...like I dunno, passing on Stephen Jackson for Marcus Spears and Julius Jones... :laugh:

...or passing on Cromarte for Bobby Carpenter...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
elkabong82

elkabong82

Posted
Posted

Also, the article says Dallas has very few holes. Umm, what?

CB, LBer, WR, RB, who is their FB?, that is just off the top of my head. Now I know some of those positions are depth, but come on, "few holes"? A team with "very few holes" doesn't choke away a home playoff game to a team they've already beaten twice. Dallas has doesn't have a lot of holes, but they have more than just "a few".

And this article is biased, not only with the part I just mentioned, but also with its abnormally high praise of Zach Thomas, and its immediate follow up of crapping on a player Dallas lost, acting like said player will be "easily replaced", and Dallas will be Superbowl "contenders" again in '08. Last time I checked, you have to be able to win a playoff game THIS century to be a legit threat in the postseason.

Unbiased? Yeah right. This article could have easily been written by one of the puke fans on here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cowboy8467

Cowboy8467

Posted
Posted
I love the ATN. When it favors the Skins cowboy fans get all pissed and yell biased!!

When it favors the cowboys the Skins fans get all mad and talk trash to them!!

Damn this place is fun!!

:laugh: That's true, but I think the reason that Cowboys fans are saying it's unbiased is to poke a little but of fun at tr1 and what his interpretations of unbiased are ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...