Improving the defense.

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't know if we should use both free agency and the draft to improve just the front 7 or not.

I don't believe spreading it out equally, trying to improve the whole D in one shot, is going to do anything for us.

We should focus on making at least one part of our D great, and let the rest follow.

What do you guys think?

 

[cmd34]

We need to hit defense hard in Free Agency. We need to not only add talent but players who play with fire, heart, and emotion. We need a starting caliber CB, a true Free Safety, a pass-rushing B, and a veteran ILB (for depth in case Carter isn't ready). We also need a veteran reserve CB. A massive NT would make a difference as well.

If we sit out free agency again or go minimal (Kenyon Coleman and Abe Elam) and have to rely solely on the draft to fix our many, many holes, you can expect another .500 season.

 

[cmd34]

We do need to draft Brandon Boykin though. Early 2nd round.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

We need to hit defense hard in Free Agency. We need to not only add talent but players who play with fire, heart, and emotion. We need a starting caliber CB, a true Free Safety, a pass-rushing B, and a veteran ILB (for depth in case Carter isn't ready). We also need a veteran reserve CB. A massive NT would make a difference as well.

If we sit out free agency again or go minimal (Kenyon Coleman and Abe Elam) and have to rely solely on the draft to fix our many, many holes, you can expect another .500 season.

This is what I'm saying though, I don't think we'll be able to add talent across the board. Sure we should be aggressive in free agency, but I think the bulk of our efforts, draft included, should be shoring up one facet of the defense, preferably our ability to rush the passer for instance, and making that great. Or the secondary.

That's where our scouting must come into play. We need to find one area where the talent available is at, free agency and draft, whether it be DL and/or LBs, or secondary people, and focus on bringing a lot of those guys into the fold.

 

[Sheik]

Is there a good list of unrestricted free agents yet?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

http://nfltraderumors.co/2011022012-nfl-free-agents/

You have to weed out some players on there, such as Scandrick, who already has a contract extension.

It has restricted ones on there too. I wouldn't mind trying to steal RFA CB Greg Toler from the Cardinals, provided the comp isn't too high of a draft pick.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Dallas needs to draft another dynamic pass rusher opposite of D-Ware and build the depth!!!!! They need more athletic DLmen and offensive linemen.

 

[cmd34]

I'm hoping Jerry doesn't go the cheap route again and try to sell us all on how Victor Butler and Barry Church are ready to step up and be starters. I'm not buying but I know plenty of Cowboy fans who will.

Budget Starting Defense in 2012
LDE Jason Hatcher
NT Jay Ratliff
RDE Kenyon Coleman
B Victor Butler
LILB Sean Lee
RILB Bruce Carter
ROLB DeMarcus Ware
LCB Mike Jenkins
SS Barry Church
FS Gerald Sensabaugh
RCB Orlando Scandrick

 

[Sheik]

Christ, I didn't think I could feel any less optimistic until I just read that last post, Chris.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

On D, our biggest needs are DL and a quality CB or two.

On offense, interior OL.

Improve these spots and it'll go a long way to making us better next year imo.

 

[Theebs]

I'm hoping Jerry doesn't go the cheap route again and try to sell us all on how Victor Butler and Barry Church are ready to step up and be starters. I'm not buying but I know plenty of Cowboy fans who will.

Budget Starting Defense in 2012
LDE Jason Hatcher
NT Jay Ratliff
RDE Kenyon Coleman
B Victor Butler
LILB Sean Lee
RILB Bruce Carter
ROLB DeMarcus Ware
LCB Mike Jenkins
SS Barry Church
FS Gerald Sensabaugh
RCB Orlando Scandrick

It's sad but we all know when offseason mode kicks in there will be people saying butler is better than Spencer and scandrick and church are starters.

I would go heavy in free agency.

Tracy porter, court land finnegan at cb, maybe Eric wright if he is not expensive.

Solai at nose tackle to be paired with Brent giving us two true nose tackles.

Find mid level guys to help fill in at other spots like possibly a rocky mcintosh....maybe even Landry if he is not overly expensive.

Not guys that will kill you money wise except maybe porter or sola.....but instant help. Instant identity change. Beef up front, speed in the middle and backend...

Then in April you are not hamstrung drafting five corners to see if you can find one good one like these jerks did years ago.

 

[Midswat]

I agree with most, but can I add something?

We need to improve team speed on defense. By like... a lot.

 

[cmd34]

I agree with most, but can I add something?

We need to improve team speed on defense. By like... a lot.

You are exactly right.

Carter will help with that. Almost any safety over Elam will improve the D's speed as well. A true pass rusher to replace Spencer would be nice. Sensabaugh, Church, Elam, Brooking, James, Coleman, and Hatcher are probably the slowest players at their NFL positions.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

I agree with most, but can I add something?

We need to improve team speed on defense. By like... a lot.

Absolutely. Speed and intelligence, guys who understand angles.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Watching Spencer lose in a foot race to Eli Manning was unbearable to watch. He beat the OT, had a clear path, but the dude lacks any sort of burst, it's obscene. Manning was able to just run away from him.

 

[Midswat]

Also, and this might sound weird... but I hope we find an athletic rusher with long arms.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

Also, and this might sound weird... but I hope we find an athletic rusher with long arms.

I agree. We need someone that Chris Collinsworth would not object to blowing. A JPP type, if you will.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Watching Spencer lose in a foot race to Eli Manning was unbearable to watch. He beat the OT, had a clear path, but the dude lacks any sort of burst, it's obscene. Manning was able to just run away from him.

That's not what happened but mmk.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

That's not what happened but mmk.

Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Anthony pushed the OT away, but is slow as beans, so Eli was able to scramble up and get rid of the ball with Spencer trailing behind him.

He has no closing burst whatsoever, which is why he's always a step late.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Anthony pushed the OT away, but is slow as beans, so Eli was able to scramble up and get rid of the ball with Spencer trailing behind him.

He has no closing burst whatsoever, which is why he's always a step late.

Spencer took a hesitation step or two because Eli had been in the pocket and Spencer didn't expect him to scramble out because he didn't appear to see him, but once he scrambled Spencer had to adjust and that little hesitation step to change direction gave Eli the 3 or 4 steps he took before he threw the ball. Spencer was closing on him, its not like Eli was gaining seperation on Spencer.