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George: Cowboys have to start developing a quarterback sooner than later
Staff Writer
Published: 07 February 2014 09:11 PM
Updated: 07 February 2014 09:11 PM
Beat writer Brandon George answered your Cowboys questions in a chat Tuesday. Here are some highlights.
Question: Say one of these four QBs (Bridgewater, Bortles, Carr or Manziel) drops to 10 or below in the draft. Don't the Cowboys have to try and move up. Getting the QB is the key to any franchise's future, whether you need DL help or not
Brandon George: Jerry Jones has said the Cowboys won't use a high draft pick this year on a QB. Stephen Jones says you can't ever rule out drafting a QB. But Stephen points out that the Cowboys don't want to draft a QB to develop him for another team. By that, he means that a drafted player will get a four-year contract and if you don't plan on using him within four years (and the Cowboys don't plan on that with Tony Romo not going anywhere soon), then you're likely developing him for another team. I get what he's saying, but the Cowboys do have to start developing a QB sooner than later with Tony Romo turning 34 in April and coming off of two back surgeries.
Question: If you were a betting man, what odds would you put on Tony Romo playing all of 2014 without an injury that keeps him out for more than a couple of plays? What about 2015?
Brandon George: Well, it'd be a tough bet to make. He's coming off of two back surgeries and the last one was to help with a herniated disk. However, it's fair to point out that he's only missed one game the last three seasons and that was the season finale in December against Philadelphia. So, you'd have to factor that into it.
Question: My guess is Jerry, in typical fashion, will either over react and draft ALL offensive and defensive lineman in the draft neglecting other positions of need or better players at their position on the board OR he will get cute, draft one defensive lineman and a handful of head scratchers, like offensive skill position players that shouldn't be a priority... your thoughts ?
Brandon George: Well, you can't rule out the Jerry Factor in any draft. He's the last voice and a wildcard for sure. He listens to coaches and scouts but sometimes he doesn't follow through with their advice. That said, the Cowboys can't ignore the defensive line a second consecutive year. That has to be a priority. With little money to add any significant players in free agency, it's certainly not the time to get cute in the draft. The Cowboys better win this year's draft if they want to have any chance of upgrading their personnel for the 2014 season.
Question: I feel the Cowboys should make room for free agency and go after Justin Tuck. On draft day in the first round, you can select the best Safety available. Rounds 2 & 3 we can select defensive linemen. Rounds 4 & 5 select offensive line and linebacker or QB. Rounds 6 & 7 select defensive backs and wide receivers. What do you think about this Brandon?
Brandon George: I just can't see the Cowboys clearing enough salary cap space this off-season with the restraints they have to add any kind of big name via free agency. I believe the Cowboys will try to add bargain, middle-of-the-road complementary players in free agency and then look to the draft for upgrades. Defensive line has to be the team's No 1 priority.
Question: Do you think the Cowboys would have interest (or vice versa) in Richie Incognito? Jonathan Martin?
Brandon George: No, he wouldn't fit what Jason Garrett describes as the "right kind of guy," it seems. Jason Garrett has built a roster of what he believes to be high-character players and I just can't see the Cowboys bringing in a player like that at this point, with everything on the line for Garrett at the entire coaching staff in 2014.
Question: The Cowboys do have a tough schedule next year, including playing at Seattle ... But the bigger question is how can the Cowboys improve very much when they're not making many changes on the coaching staff and don't have the money to add any big names in free agency?
Brandon George: When the Giants won their recent Super Bowls, the strength of their defense was defensive line. The Seahawks seemed to be doing it with their secondary. Which approach should the Cowboys take?
Question: Most of your staffers seem to disagree, but I think the cowboys would better utilize their cap space by NOT resigning Dez Bryant to a huge long term contract. Trade him this off season for some draft picks, then use your cap space to build the OL and DL. Quality wide receivers are a lot easier to find. Agree?
Brandon George: Dez Bryant has developed into one of the league's top receivers, and I just can't see how it would improve the Cowboys a lot by getting rid of a playmaker such as Dez who gives you such a dynamic threat to score on offense. Yes, Dez does bring some risk when signing him to a long-term contract with his past off-the-field issues, though that hasn't been a problem of late, and his back concerns. But the Cowboys should give him a second contract, but not break the bank in doing so. They have to be smart about this contract and how they handle it.
Question: Hi Brandon... Reporters seem to agree that a WR is needed this off-season. Don't you think that Williams is ready to be a serious candidate to start opposite Bryant? I thought that it was a serious first season on his part... And doesn't Beasley makes a good slot receiver?
Brandon George: Yes, as I said earlier, I could see Terrance Williams starting alongside Dez Bryant next season. But you still need to add another receiver to give you quality depth. I'm a fan of Cole Beasley and Dwayne Harris is a great threat on special teams, but another solid receiver would be ideal.
Question: Do the Cowboys do as good of a job as other elite teams to " coach up" their players ? I would think with his superior athletic ability and strength, that after 4 years in their system, that Jeremy Parnell could replace Doug Free and save us 4 million dollars.
Brandon George: I would say no. The Cowboys have more depth problems and, to me, there's two reasons for that. One, is they've drafted poorly. Two, is that some of their players (draft picks) don't seem to improve a lot once they get them in the building.
Question: Brandon, I have concerns with the length of Sean Lee. It would appear to me that the MLB in a 4:3 should either have better vertical leap or better length. Although he is very reactive and takes great angles to the ball, he may not have the prototype size to play that position in this scheme. Why not put Carter in the middle..as he's faster and the drop in the passing game is not as difficult then playing on the edge. Then put lee at WLB, where he's more protected and has less of a chance to get hurt again. A LB crew of Lee, Carter and Hollaman may be pretty good.
Brandon George: I think you're over-thinking this Jeff. The Cowboys have 99 problems but Sean Lee's not one. He's their best defensive player and he's a good fit for MLB in any scheme, and that includes this one. He relays the defensive play-calls and gets everyone lined up right and no one studies harder than him. You want that kind of player in the middle of your defense. Bruce Carter struggled in pass coverage last season and the Cowboys wouldn't want to put him at MLB when, in this scheme, he'd have to drop back in pass coverage more from that spot.
Question: Since Miles maybe gone & Dez Bad Back, how soon should da Boys draft a WR ?
Brandon George: They should get a receiver for sure this off-season. The expectation is that the Cowboys will cut Miles Austin, so they'll need another receiver. Terrance Williams had a solid rookie season and could move into the starter's role, but they'll need another option. It's a deep receiver draft class, but I believe the Cowboys would be best served to add a relatively low-cost veteran receiver via free agency who could help bring along the other young receivers on the roster, such as Dez and Terrance, etc. To me, that makes more sense, and then you use a draft pick on another position.
Question: Which Cowboys rookie from 2013 do you think will be the most improved in 2014
Brandon George: I'd lean toward J.J. Wilcox. I believe he can step up and get much better. After a year in this system, he'll know it better and he already has the physical presence the Cowboys want from their safety.
Question: Is there any realistic hope that this offense is actually more balanced next year? With Linehan even more pass happy than Garrett and Callahan, what's going to happen?
Brandon George: The Cowboys are a better team when DeMarco Murray is involved a lot in the game plan. But with Linehan's track record, it's hard to see how the Cowboys will be running the football more. That said, I could see them getting the ball in Murray's hands more with passes to him out of the backfield. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out, but, again, the Cowboys need to have Murray running the ball about 20 times a game to maximize their offense.
Question: Did Cowboys give Dan Bailey a good contract or did they invest too much? I know they learned their lesson on dime-a-dozen kickers, but seemed a little much for me.
Brandon George: I believe it was a good contract for Dan Bailey and the Cowboys. The Cowboys benefit by locking up arguably the NFL's most accurate kicker and that's very important for a team that always plays close games, and they benefit because his cap number the next two seasons is actually lower than expected. Bailey benefits by getting the long-term security. He's now the fifth highest-paid kicker in the NFL.
Question: Brandon, With the current economic boom that the state of Texas is currently experiencing along with a quality of life that includes low taxes, affordable housing and low unemployment..I do not understand why Jerry continues to overpay for free agents. Jerry should be able to "sell" and if anything, get favorable terms of contracts for the privilage of not paying state income taxes and live in the great state of Texas. If I were jerry I would not only sell Hatcher on that idea, but also make him realize that he can market himself and make more money, in addition to his salary, than he can anywhere else!
Brandon George: This is Jason Hatcher's last (first?) chance for a big payday. At his age, he has to go for the money now and he'll go to the highest bidder. If it's close, I could see him sticking with the Cowboys. But I'm not sure it will be close. I believe he won't be back.
Staff Writer
Published: 07 February 2014 09:11 PM
Updated: 07 February 2014 09:11 PM
Beat writer Brandon George answered your Cowboys questions in a chat Tuesday. Here are some highlights.
Question: Say one of these four QBs (Bridgewater, Bortles, Carr or Manziel) drops to 10 or below in the draft. Don't the Cowboys have to try and move up. Getting the QB is the key to any franchise's future, whether you need DL help or not
Brandon George: Jerry Jones has said the Cowboys won't use a high draft pick this year on a QB. Stephen Jones says you can't ever rule out drafting a QB. But Stephen points out that the Cowboys don't want to draft a QB to develop him for another team. By that, he means that a drafted player will get a four-year contract and if you don't plan on using him within four years (and the Cowboys don't plan on that with Tony Romo not going anywhere soon), then you're likely developing him for another team. I get what he's saying, but the Cowboys do have to start developing a QB sooner than later with Tony Romo turning 34 in April and coming off of two back surgeries.
Question: If you were a betting man, what odds would you put on Tony Romo playing all of 2014 without an injury that keeps him out for more than a couple of plays? What about 2015?
Brandon George: Well, it'd be a tough bet to make. He's coming off of two back surgeries and the last one was to help with a herniated disk. However, it's fair to point out that he's only missed one game the last three seasons and that was the season finale in December against Philadelphia. So, you'd have to factor that into it.
Question: My guess is Jerry, in typical fashion, will either over react and draft ALL offensive and defensive lineman in the draft neglecting other positions of need or better players at their position on the board OR he will get cute, draft one defensive lineman and a handful of head scratchers, like offensive skill position players that shouldn't be a priority... your thoughts ?
Brandon George: Well, you can't rule out the Jerry Factor in any draft. He's the last voice and a wildcard for sure. He listens to coaches and scouts but sometimes he doesn't follow through with their advice. That said, the Cowboys can't ignore the defensive line a second consecutive year. That has to be a priority. With little money to add any significant players in free agency, it's certainly not the time to get cute in the draft. The Cowboys better win this year's draft if they want to have any chance of upgrading their personnel for the 2014 season.
Question: I feel the Cowboys should make room for free agency and go after Justin Tuck. On draft day in the first round, you can select the best Safety available. Rounds 2 & 3 we can select defensive linemen. Rounds 4 & 5 select offensive line and linebacker or QB. Rounds 6 & 7 select defensive backs and wide receivers. What do you think about this Brandon?
Brandon George: I just can't see the Cowboys clearing enough salary cap space this off-season with the restraints they have to add any kind of big name via free agency. I believe the Cowboys will try to add bargain, middle-of-the-road complementary players in free agency and then look to the draft for upgrades. Defensive line has to be the team's No 1 priority.
Question: Do you think the Cowboys would have interest (or vice versa) in Richie Incognito? Jonathan Martin?
Brandon George: No, he wouldn't fit what Jason Garrett describes as the "right kind of guy," it seems. Jason Garrett has built a roster of what he believes to be high-character players and I just can't see the Cowboys bringing in a player like that at this point, with everything on the line for Garrett at the entire coaching staff in 2014.
Question: The Cowboys do have a tough schedule next year, including playing at Seattle ... But the bigger question is how can the Cowboys improve very much when they're not making many changes on the coaching staff and don't have the money to add any big names in free agency?
Brandon George: When the Giants won their recent Super Bowls, the strength of their defense was defensive line. The Seahawks seemed to be doing it with their secondary. Which approach should the Cowboys take?
Question: Most of your staffers seem to disagree, but I think the cowboys would better utilize their cap space by NOT resigning Dez Bryant to a huge long term contract. Trade him this off season for some draft picks, then use your cap space to build the OL and DL. Quality wide receivers are a lot easier to find. Agree?
Brandon George: Dez Bryant has developed into one of the league's top receivers, and I just can't see how it would improve the Cowboys a lot by getting rid of a playmaker such as Dez who gives you such a dynamic threat to score on offense. Yes, Dez does bring some risk when signing him to a long-term contract with his past off-the-field issues, though that hasn't been a problem of late, and his back concerns. But the Cowboys should give him a second contract, but not break the bank in doing so. They have to be smart about this contract and how they handle it.
Question: Hi Brandon... Reporters seem to agree that a WR is needed this off-season. Don't you think that Williams is ready to be a serious candidate to start opposite Bryant? I thought that it was a serious first season on his part... And doesn't Beasley makes a good slot receiver?
Brandon George: Yes, as I said earlier, I could see Terrance Williams starting alongside Dez Bryant next season. But you still need to add another receiver to give you quality depth. I'm a fan of Cole Beasley and Dwayne Harris is a great threat on special teams, but another solid receiver would be ideal.
Question: Do the Cowboys do as good of a job as other elite teams to " coach up" their players ? I would think with his superior athletic ability and strength, that after 4 years in their system, that Jeremy Parnell could replace Doug Free and save us 4 million dollars.
Brandon George: I would say no. The Cowboys have more depth problems and, to me, there's two reasons for that. One, is they've drafted poorly. Two, is that some of their players (draft picks) don't seem to improve a lot once they get them in the building.
Question: Brandon, I have concerns with the length of Sean Lee. It would appear to me that the MLB in a 4:3 should either have better vertical leap or better length. Although he is very reactive and takes great angles to the ball, he may not have the prototype size to play that position in this scheme. Why not put Carter in the middle..as he's faster and the drop in the passing game is not as difficult then playing on the edge. Then put lee at WLB, where he's more protected and has less of a chance to get hurt again. A LB crew of Lee, Carter and Hollaman may be pretty good.
Brandon George: I think you're over-thinking this Jeff. The Cowboys have 99 problems but Sean Lee's not one. He's their best defensive player and he's a good fit for MLB in any scheme, and that includes this one. He relays the defensive play-calls and gets everyone lined up right and no one studies harder than him. You want that kind of player in the middle of your defense. Bruce Carter struggled in pass coverage last season and the Cowboys wouldn't want to put him at MLB when, in this scheme, he'd have to drop back in pass coverage more from that spot.
Question: Since Miles maybe gone & Dez Bad Back, how soon should da Boys draft a WR ?
Brandon George: They should get a receiver for sure this off-season. The expectation is that the Cowboys will cut Miles Austin, so they'll need another receiver. Terrance Williams had a solid rookie season and could move into the starter's role, but they'll need another option. It's a deep receiver draft class, but I believe the Cowboys would be best served to add a relatively low-cost veteran receiver via free agency who could help bring along the other young receivers on the roster, such as Dez and Terrance, etc. To me, that makes more sense, and then you use a draft pick on another position.
Question: Which Cowboys rookie from 2013 do you think will be the most improved in 2014
Brandon George: I'd lean toward J.J. Wilcox. I believe he can step up and get much better. After a year in this system, he'll know it better and he already has the physical presence the Cowboys want from their safety.
Question: Is there any realistic hope that this offense is actually more balanced next year? With Linehan even more pass happy than Garrett and Callahan, what's going to happen?
Brandon George: The Cowboys are a better team when DeMarco Murray is involved a lot in the game plan. But with Linehan's track record, it's hard to see how the Cowboys will be running the football more. That said, I could see them getting the ball in Murray's hands more with passes to him out of the backfield. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out, but, again, the Cowboys need to have Murray running the ball about 20 times a game to maximize their offense.
Question: Did Cowboys give Dan Bailey a good contract or did they invest too much? I know they learned their lesson on dime-a-dozen kickers, but seemed a little much for me.
Brandon George: I believe it was a good contract for Dan Bailey and the Cowboys. The Cowboys benefit by locking up arguably the NFL's most accurate kicker and that's very important for a team that always plays close games, and they benefit because his cap number the next two seasons is actually lower than expected. Bailey benefits by getting the long-term security. He's now the fifth highest-paid kicker in the NFL.
Question: Brandon, With the current economic boom that the state of Texas is currently experiencing along with a quality of life that includes low taxes, affordable housing and low unemployment..I do not understand why Jerry continues to overpay for free agents. Jerry should be able to "sell" and if anything, get favorable terms of contracts for the privilage of not paying state income taxes and live in the great state of Texas. If I were jerry I would not only sell Hatcher on that idea, but also make him realize that he can market himself and make more money, in addition to his salary, than he can anywhere else!
Brandon George: This is Jason Hatcher's last (first?) chance for a big payday. At his age, he has to go for the money now and he'll go to the highest bidder. If it's close, I could see him sticking with the Cowboys. But I'm not sure it will be close. I believe he won't be back.