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More than a few days old, but still interesting bits to take out of here...
Gosselin: How I grade Jason Garrett as a head coach, coordinator
SportsDayDFW.com
Published: 10 September 2012 04:17 PM
Rick Gosselin, sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News and SportsDayDFW.com and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee, answered your questions about the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks and Stars in a live chat Monday. Some excerpts:
What kind of grade would you give Jason Garrett as a coordinator and one as a head coach?
Rick Gosselin: Based on one game this season, I'd give him a pair of A's. For his dual tenure, he'd be sitting on a B as a play-caller and C as a head coach.
Do you think we will regret releasing Danny Coale? We had high hopes for him but his injuries kept him from much playing time during the preseason.
Rick Gosselin: When you're a late round pick, you have to stay healthy in training camp. You need to show your team durability in addition to ability. I'd love to develop Coale on the practice roster.
You going to the F1 Race in Austin in November?
Rick Gosselin: Not unless the Cowboys have a car in the race. I'll be at all 16 Cowboys games this season.
What is the ceiling for Bruce Carter? Can you see a dominant LB trio of Carter, Lee, Ware by the end of the season?
Rick Gosselin: By the end of the season, no. I don't think he'll ever get to Lee's level, much less Ware. We already know Ware is a special pass rusher. I think Lee has special qualities as a playmaker and defensive team leader. I expect Carter to be functional this season as he feels his way around the NFL. He'll be better in 2013 than he is in 2012.
What's your take on the reversal of the suspensions of the Saints players implicated in the bounty scandal? Do you consider it to be a blow to Goodell and his authority?
Rick Gosselin: Huge blow. The league is getting fined right and left for not protecting its players from injury. Goodell tries to make a statement that bounties to deliberately hurt players will not be tolerated -- and he's overturned.
Is Michael Vick now the worst QB in the NFC East? RGIII looked incredible yesterday
Rick Gosselin: We'll see how it plays out. It gets tougher for rookie quarterbacks when NFL defenses get some tape to study. It's usually three games of tape. Cam Newton looked like Johnny Unitas revisited in each of his first two NFL starts in 2011 when he threw for 400 yards in each game. But his production slowed after that third game. He threw for 300 yards only once more the rest of the year. Three tapes show a defensive staff what a young quarterback likes and doesn't like to do. The league will have a better read on Griffin by October.
While there's still two games left, no one impressed me more in Week 1 than the 49ers. What's your take on their win on the road in GB and how the rest of their season stacks up?
Rick Gosselin: I picked the 49ers to win the NFC, so it's no surprise when they beat anyone on their schedule. That win was huge because it has a potential tie-breaker implications. That said, that was an impressive win. When it's all said and done, that may be the most impressive regular-season win for the 49ers in 2012.
Any thoughts on whether the Cowboys go get another center via trade or free agency? Who would be two good candidates in your opinion?
Rick Gosselin: I really like what I saw from Cook the other night. The guy entered the league as a second-round pick and has the size to start at tackle. He was part of a blocking front that helped Adrian Peterson win a rushing title in 2008. The Cowboys want to run the ball more and better than a year ago, so Cook appears an ideal fit. I'd play my hand out with Cook before I started swapping draft picks for someone else's backup center.
RGIII and Michael Vick's performances seemed pretty significant for me in trying to figure out the NFC East. Would you agree those teams look different with a game under their belt?
Rick Gosselin: They both have a victory under their belt, and that's all that matters. I'm not about to rule out the Packers, Steelers and Giants because they sit 0-1 after one week. It's too early for any knee-jerk reactions, either positive or negative.
How can Tony Romo have the best-ever career 4th quarter rating and be called a choker, or at least be ahead of QBs like Rivers and Ryan?
Rick Gosselin: It's the late meltdowns on the biggest stage -- the dropped snap in the Seattle playoff game, the interception in the Giants playoff game when the Cowboys were the top seed ... What Romo needs to do is make plays that win playoff games and his image changes dramatically.
Am I the only one not willing to give up on Felix being a useful part of the offense?
Rick Gosselin: His value to this team is as a kickoff returner. Murray is a three-down back, and the Cowboys are a better team with every down he plays. If Jones can return 3-4 kickoffs for touchdowns, he will have earned his money in 2012. As violent a runner as Murray is, he is going to be susceptible to injury and there will be 2-3 games this season that Jones will have to start. Until then, he needs to make his contribution and impact on kickoffs.
How can Tony Romo have the best-ever career 4th quarter rating and be called a choker?
Rick Gosselin: It's the late meltdowns on the biggest stage -- the dropped snap in the Seattle playoff game, the interception in the Giants playoff game when the Cowboys were the top seed ... What Romo needs to do is make plays that win playoff games and his image changes dramatically.
Did any of the results of yesterday's NFL games alter your opinions about any of the teams' prospects for this season?
Rick Gosselin: I think the Redskins all of a sudden are a factor and the NFC East may again be the best division in the NFL. The Cowboys victory also was huge. Denver winning at Pittsburgh also is right up there.
Will Jay Ratliff returning be a good thing? We didn't seem to miss him in Game 1.
Rick Gosselin: It's a long season. The Cowboys will need all hands on deck. Ratliff provides an inside pass rush -- and you can never have enough pass rushers. At his age, though, I'd want him playing about 55 percent of the snaps, most of the pass rush downs. Let a younger body take the beating on the run downs.
Are you enjoying your time off from draft coverage? Any chance you will replace Mel Kiper Jr at some point?
Rick Gosselin: My draft days are over. The Morning News used to spring me from Feb. 15 until April 28 to focus exclusively on the draft, researching some 600 players. Now I've got baseball, basketball, hockey and NASCAR to occupy my time during those months as a columnist.
Should the Cowboys be favored next week at Seattle?
Rick Gosselin: Yes. Seattle is playing a rookie quarterback. The Cowboys will have a big edge when the Seahawks are on offense for that reason. A quality defensive coordinator loves the chance to play a rookie quarterback.
Who was the most impressive quarterback you saw in Week1?
Rick Gosselin: Griffin for his overall poise in a hostile environment, Stafford for his poise in the clutch and Manning for his poise on the largest stage -- Broncos debut against the best defense in the NFL.
Gosselin: How I grade Jason Garrett as a head coach, coordinator
SportsDayDFW.com
Published: 10 September 2012 04:17 PM
Rick Gosselin, sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News and SportsDayDFW.com and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee, answered your questions about the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks and Stars in a live chat Monday. Some excerpts:
What kind of grade would you give Jason Garrett as a coordinator and one as a head coach?
Rick Gosselin: Based on one game this season, I'd give him a pair of A's. For his dual tenure, he'd be sitting on a B as a play-caller and C as a head coach.
Do you think we will regret releasing Danny Coale? We had high hopes for him but his injuries kept him from much playing time during the preseason.
Rick Gosselin: When you're a late round pick, you have to stay healthy in training camp. You need to show your team durability in addition to ability. I'd love to develop Coale on the practice roster.
You going to the F1 Race in Austin in November?
Rick Gosselin: Not unless the Cowboys have a car in the race. I'll be at all 16 Cowboys games this season.
What is the ceiling for Bruce Carter? Can you see a dominant LB trio of Carter, Lee, Ware by the end of the season?
Rick Gosselin: By the end of the season, no. I don't think he'll ever get to Lee's level, much less Ware. We already know Ware is a special pass rusher. I think Lee has special qualities as a playmaker and defensive team leader. I expect Carter to be functional this season as he feels his way around the NFL. He'll be better in 2013 than he is in 2012.
What's your take on the reversal of the suspensions of the Saints players implicated in the bounty scandal? Do you consider it to be a blow to Goodell and his authority?
Rick Gosselin: Huge blow. The league is getting fined right and left for not protecting its players from injury. Goodell tries to make a statement that bounties to deliberately hurt players will not be tolerated -- and he's overturned.
Is Michael Vick now the worst QB in the NFC East? RGIII looked incredible yesterday
Rick Gosselin: We'll see how it plays out. It gets tougher for rookie quarterbacks when NFL defenses get some tape to study. It's usually three games of tape. Cam Newton looked like Johnny Unitas revisited in each of his first two NFL starts in 2011 when he threw for 400 yards in each game. But his production slowed after that third game. He threw for 300 yards only once more the rest of the year. Three tapes show a defensive staff what a young quarterback likes and doesn't like to do. The league will have a better read on Griffin by October.
While there's still two games left, no one impressed me more in Week 1 than the 49ers. What's your take on their win on the road in GB and how the rest of their season stacks up?
Rick Gosselin: I picked the 49ers to win the NFC, so it's no surprise when they beat anyone on their schedule. That win was huge because it has a potential tie-breaker implications. That said, that was an impressive win. When it's all said and done, that may be the most impressive regular-season win for the 49ers in 2012.
Any thoughts on whether the Cowboys go get another center via trade or free agency? Who would be two good candidates in your opinion?
Rick Gosselin: I really like what I saw from Cook the other night. The guy entered the league as a second-round pick and has the size to start at tackle. He was part of a blocking front that helped Adrian Peterson win a rushing title in 2008. The Cowboys want to run the ball more and better than a year ago, so Cook appears an ideal fit. I'd play my hand out with Cook before I started swapping draft picks for someone else's backup center.
RGIII and Michael Vick's performances seemed pretty significant for me in trying to figure out the NFC East. Would you agree those teams look different with a game under their belt?
Rick Gosselin: They both have a victory under their belt, and that's all that matters. I'm not about to rule out the Packers, Steelers and Giants because they sit 0-1 after one week. It's too early for any knee-jerk reactions, either positive or negative.
How can Tony Romo have the best-ever career 4th quarter rating and be called a choker, or at least be ahead of QBs like Rivers and Ryan?
Rick Gosselin: It's the late meltdowns on the biggest stage -- the dropped snap in the Seattle playoff game, the interception in the Giants playoff game when the Cowboys were the top seed ... What Romo needs to do is make plays that win playoff games and his image changes dramatically.
Am I the only one not willing to give up on Felix being a useful part of the offense?
Rick Gosselin: His value to this team is as a kickoff returner. Murray is a three-down back, and the Cowboys are a better team with every down he plays. If Jones can return 3-4 kickoffs for touchdowns, he will have earned his money in 2012. As violent a runner as Murray is, he is going to be susceptible to injury and there will be 2-3 games this season that Jones will have to start. Until then, he needs to make his contribution and impact on kickoffs.
How can Tony Romo have the best-ever career 4th quarter rating and be called a choker?
Rick Gosselin: It's the late meltdowns on the biggest stage -- the dropped snap in the Seattle playoff game, the interception in the Giants playoff game when the Cowboys were the top seed ... What Romo needs to do is make plays that win playoff games and his image changes dramatically.
Did any of the results of yesterday's NFL games alter your opinions about any of the teams' prospects for this season?
Rick Gosselin: I think the Redskins all of a sudden are a factor and the NFC East may again be the best division in the NFL. The Cowboys victory also was huge. Denver winning at Pittsburgh also is right up there.
Will Jay Ratliff returning be a good thing? We didn't seem to miss him in Game 1.
Rick Gosselin: It's a long season. The Cowboys will need all hands on deck. Ratliff provides an inside pass rush -- and you can never have enough pass rushers. At his age, though, I'd want him playing about 55 percent of the snaps, most of the pass rush downs. Let a younger body take the beating on the run downs.
Are you enjoying your time off from draft coverage? Any chance you will replace Mel Kiper Jr at some point?
Rick Gosselin: My draft days are over. The Morning News used to spring me from Feb. 15 until April 28 to focus exclusively on the draft, researching some 600 players. Now I've got baseball, basketball, hockey and NASCAR to occupy my time during those months as a columnist.
Should the Cowboys be favored next week at Seattle?
Rick Gosselin: Yes. Seattle is playing a rookie quarterback. The Cowboys will have a big edge when the Seahawks are on offense for that reason. A quality defensive coordinator loves the chance to play a rookie quarterback.
Who was the most impressive quarterback you saw in Week1?
Rick Gosselin: Griffin for his overall poise in a hostile environment, Stafford for his poise in the clutch and Manning for his poise on the largest stage -- Broncos debut against the best defense in the NFL.