Columnist Rick Gosselin answered questions in a chat Tuesday. Here are some highlights.
Question: Goose, cannot remember last positive note from you about Jerry and/or the Cowboys, is it possible for them to be 100% wrong always, or are you the stephen a. smith of Dallas?
Rick Gosselin: Back in the early 1990s when the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls, I wrote glowingly about them. When they are again Super Bowl contenders, I'm sure I'll write glowingly about them again. But I'm not going to write that the 2014 Cowboys are a 12-4 team and a Super Bowl contender when I don't believe they are either. I write what I see -- and right now, what I see doesn't look too good.
Question: Do you agree that the DE from Missouri would fit perfectly with Giants?
Rick Gosselin: Michael Sam can be a good fit anywhere they need a pass rusher.
Question: Good Morning Goose. Thank you for hosting today's chat. I know its early but have you had a chance to watch Aaron Donald. I know he's a little undersized but he can flat out play. He can help the 'Boys in a lot of ways: big time motor and the ability to rush the passer. 29.5 sacks in 4 years.
Rick Gosselin: The more pass rushers the Cowboys draft, the better I'll feel about the scheme Rod Marinelli is trying to incorporate. The Tampa 2 relies needs to get a pass rush from the front four. With DeMarcus Ware on the decline, Jason Hatcher and Anthony Spencer on the verge of free agency and both Nick Hayden and George Selvie rotation players, the Cowboys could use three defensive linemen in this draft. More, if possible. When the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls, they had nine quality defensive linemen and one was usually inactive on game days. The Cowboys need to get back to the days when their OL & DL were dominating games. To get there they are going to have to draft big people.
Question: ‘Morning, this is my question: most of the mock around have the ‘Boys spending their high picks (round 1 to 4) on defense with a mix of DE, DT, S, LB and so on but….with Austin gone (everybody know he’ll be cut) and new “pass oriented” playcaller (Linehan) do you think we’re safe at WR position and Williams is ready to be our WR#2?
Rick Gosselin: It's easier to find quality wide receivers in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds than it is to find defensive linemen at the back end of the draft. The need -- and it's a pressing need -- is for defensive linemen. The Cowboys have the worst defense in the NFL. Until that's fixed, this team will not contend for championships. Focus on defense in general this draft and linemen in particular.
Question: I know people are always promoting take the best player available. But the cowboys need bodies. Do you the they should trade down again like they did last year and pick up more picks? Seemed to work out well for them.
Rick Gosselin: The Cowboys need players, not bodies. Every time you trade down, you walk away from a better player on your draft board. The Cowboys need to stay where they are and take the best player available to them. They have proven they are less efficient when they trade down. This trade down approach Jones has embraced hasn't won for them for 17 years now. Winning in the NFL is not about quantity. It's about quality.
Question: Goose, cannot remember last positive note from you about Jerry and/or the Cowboys, is it possible for them to be 100% wrong always, or are you the stephen a. smith of Dallas?
Rick Gosselin: Back in the early 1990s when the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls, I wrote glowingly about them. When they are again Super Bowl contenders, I'm sure I'll write glowingly about them again. But I'm not going to write that the 2014 Cowboys are a 12-4 team and a Super Bowl contender when I don't believe they are either. I write what I see -- and right now, what I see doesn't look too good.
Question: Do you agree that the DE from Missouri would fit perfectly with Giants?
Rick Gosselin: Michael Sam can be a good fit anywhere they need a pass rusher.
Question: Good Morning Goose. Thank you for hosting today's chat. I know its early but have you had a chance to watch Aaron Donald. I know he's a little undersized but he can flat out play. He can help the 'Boys in a lot of ways: big time motor and the ability to rush the passer. 29.5 sacks in 4 years.
Rick Gosselin: The more pass rushers the Cowboys draft, the better I'll feel about the scheme Rod Marinelli is trying to incorporate. The Tampa 2 relies needs to get a pass rush from the front four. With DeMarcus Ware on the decline, Jason Hatcher and Anthony Spencer on the verge of free agency and both Nick Hayden and George Selvie rotation players, the Cowboys could use three defensive linemen in this draft. More, if possible. When the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls, they had nine quality defensive linemen and one was usually inactive on game days. The Cowboys need to get back to the days when their OL & DL were dominating games. To get there they are going to have to draft big people.
Question: ‘Morning, this is my question: most of the mock around have the ‘Boys spending their high picks (round 1 to 4) on defense with a mix of DE, DT, S, LB and so on but….with Austin gone (everybody know he’ll be cut) and new “pass oriented” playcaller (Linehan) do you think we’re safe at WR position and Williams is ready to be our WR#2?
Rick Gosselin: It's easier to find quality wide receivers in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds than it is to find defensive linemen at the back end of the draft. The need -- and it's a pressing need -- is for defensive linemen. The Cowboys have the worst defense in the NFL. Until that's fixed, this team will not contend for championships. Focus on defense in general this draft and linemen in particular.
Question: I know people are always promoting take the best player available. But the cowboys need bodies. Do you the they should trade down again like they did last year and pick up more picks? Seemed to work out well for them.
Rick Gosselin: The Cowboys need players, not bodies. Every time you trade down, you walk away from a better player on your draft board. The Cowboys need to stay where they are and take the best player available to them. They have proven they are less efficient when they trade down. This trade down approach Jones has embraced hasn't won for them for 17 years now. Winning in the NFL is not about quantity. It's about quality.
