I saw some interesting stuff out of the Senior Bowl, centering around Dallas Cowboys Owner/GM Jerry Jones and Head Coach Jason Garrett. For those, like me, who enjoy trying to read the tea leaves and figure out what is happening in the heads of the men who run our favorite team, it was rather interesting.
First, for all you people trying to figure out Dallas' draft board, you might want to think a bit about Janoris Jenkins, because he is going to interview with the team scouts.
"I just go in as who I am," said Jenkins, who has spoken to five NFL teams. "I tell them what happened and be honest because I did it. I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for it. I'm sure I have to deal with it. I'm looking forward to it. I have nothing to hide. I just go in and they ask me the question and I give it to them and be honest. I just look them in the eye and let them know I can be honest."
The Cowboys' scouts most likely will speak with Jenkins and provide a report to Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones and coach Jason Garrett.
It sounds like the Cowboys, along with other teams, are trying to get a read on Jenkins and just how much of a risk he would be. This is one time where I actually like Jerry's tendency to talk a lot, because he might drop some hints on how the team is leaning here. Now if only we can figure out how to keep all the other teams from listening to what he has to say . . .
More doin's from Mobile after the jump.
The interest in Jenkins falls in line with what Jerry had to say about the current secondary players for the Cowboys - and what he didn't say.
"We very likely will have new faces over there," Jones said after the first day of practices for the Senior Bowl. "How many, I can't tell you, but we'll have some new faces."
It's uncertain who will be leaving, but Jones did praise cornerbacks Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins.
When asked about veteran corner Terence Newman, who struggled toward the back end of the season, especially in two games against the New York Giants, Jones failed to offer support.
This sounds like confirmation for what has been long speculated here, that TNew is not likely to remain with the team. That will free up his $6,016,000 salary, and his play last year certainly made it look like he needs to be replaced.
UPDATE: Dallas has also met with Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw:
Upshaw has great size at 6-1 1/2 and 273 pounds (he was listed on the roster at 265 but weighed in eight pounds over that Monday morning). He's built to play near the line of scrimmage. He's also shown great speed off the ball this week in practices.
And get this, he's a big DeMarcus Ware fan.
Looks like that pass rush might get a little attention, too.
Jason is also busy trying to fill out the last opening on the coaching staff. The article from CBS Sports is short, so I'll quote the entire thing for you.
Mobile is aptly named for Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, who has been on the move at the Senior Bowl looking at players and interviewing for an assistant secondary coach to work with Jerome Henderson.
Henderson was recently hired as the 'Boys secondary coach and he needs someone new in the assistant position after Brett Maxie departed for the secondary coach position with the Tennessee Titans.
Garrett is in Alabama with his recently hired offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who had not been to the Senior Bowl since 1999.
The assistant secondary coach position is Garrett's last slot to fill on his coaching staff.
"We've actually interviewed some guys down here in Mobile and we'll continue that process," Garrett told the Dallas Morning News. "We have to make sure whoever we bring into the organization you go through the right process to evaluate them and see how they fit. We're in the process of doing that right now and hopefully we'll get that firmed up here in the next couple of weeks."
Wow. It's a process. Who knew?
The article also mentions that Bill Callahan is there as well. That makes it look like the offensive line is also a priority for the team, which just reinforces the conclusions that we have been drawing around here.
Jerry had some things to say on the subject of the O Line as well.
"In personnel we may have gotten over zealous with some young players in the middle of our offensive line," Jones said. "We have to make sure we not only give them a chance to grow and have progress but we also have to have the type of protection we want in there for Tony."
Those are the facts as we know them at the moment. But beyond the facts, I think there are some inferences to be drawn. First, it seems like JJ and JG are seeing exactly what we all are, that the secondary was an ongoing train wreck last year, and that the Yuglies just did not work out the way we wanted. And having recognized that, some serious steps are being taken to fix things.
And now to set off some fireworks.
Jerry bashing is an ongoing and very popular past-time around these parts, but I am not sure exactly what he could be doing any better right now. He has acknowledged the problems, correctly as far as I can see, and he is aggressively taking steps to solve them (or backing Jason up in his steps by getting the old wallet out, which has the same effect). I have not seen a single thing that the team has done so far this off season that makes me unhappy. To the contrary, I actually am getting a little bit excited that things are on the upswing.
Could it be possible that Jerry has learned from his errors and found a way to correct them? I thought so back when he first hired Garrett as head coach. I like what happened in last year's draft, which gives me hope that the team can have a third good one in a row. The team is not making big, splashy moves to win now. It is building intelligently and with a strategic eye for the long haul.
I'll give you that Jerruh has had a long, bad spell as GM. I think it is over now. I see the team having a chance to get back to playoff land next season, and a better chance the year after. And I think JJ deserves some credit for the past year and a half, just as he deserved the blame for the decade and a half before that. He still has a lot to prove, but judge what is happening lately by the facts. Dez Bryant, Sean Lee, Tyron Smith, DeMarco Murray, and Laurent Robinson were all pretty good acquisitions. So were Bill Callahan and Jerome Henderson. And Bruce Carter, David Arkin, Bill Nagy and Kevin Kowalski, to name a few, may also turn out to be pretty good players. So whether Jerry picked them, or listened to the coaches and scouts who recommended them, something is going right lately.
That decade and a half will take longer than a couple of seasons to correct. But the team seems clearly to be headed in the correct direction now.
It's a start. I'm going to be optimistic about it until proven otherwise.
2 recs | 164 comments
I wonder whats on Jerry's mind
to make him make that face.
MicThaRock - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Probably:
“Glad I have Depends”
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
I have an opposite view
I’m going to stay skeptical until proven otherwise.
But I promise not to be too judgemental until I see the entire body of work that is the Cowboys’ offseason.
accidental innuendo - January 24, 2012
Staying skeptical lends itself to being pleasantly surprised
I really hope this team gets past killing itself on penalties and playing poorly with leads. I’m not sure I expect them to. I’ll probably reserve the right to curse and scream on draft day, just because so much is riding on the draft. They did pretty excellent last year, so hopefully that continues. And I hope a guy like DeCastro isn’t passed over just because of some general reluctance to take interior lineman early- which could lead to another Spears/Spencer type reach (hopefully not, but it could happen)
NerdVernacular - January 24, 2012
The problem with being skeptical, to curse and scream on draft day ...
… is that you’re choosing the dark side!
Amen, Hallelujah, and a few Hail Mary’s to enjoying the ride.
I’ll give you exhibit A, B and C for proof …
The screamers were out early and often for the Sean Lee pick: “how could Jerry take such a risk on a guy that might not even play this year…” blah, blah … you get the idea. Ditto for Carter, when the reality is nothing pessimistic, rather it’s at worst unknown. He could/should turn into a stud in the middle of this defense (any realistic look at his tape from Carolina would favor the upside). DeMarco Murray is the perfect exhibit C … as this pick created a virtual firestorm that was then SOUNDLY drowned out when the wisdom of Jerry proved itself. Funny how the doubters scurry like cockroaches when the proverbial light comes on!
Have we hit on every pick? Show me a team that has! It’s the weakest argument surrounding any draft discussion. Yet it’s the proud flag-waving domain of the so-called realists!
I raise my Singha Beer and throw in a shot or two of Sam-Song Whiskey to toast the greatest of optimism! (not to pick out you two, as your comments are virtually innocuous … but just sayin :)
DalaiLuke - January 25, 2012
???
… what happened to the content of this post?
DalaiLuke - January 25, 2012
It's OK Luke
I know you are working on better content, trying to be great on every post, every day, eventually putting together a great season of blogging. Just don’t get discouraged. It’s a process.
dunkman - January 25, 2012
Encouraging words, dm5000
sirjason22 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
This is my outlook every season.
I did my screaming after the offseason fully played out, and did it for about the first 6 games before I pretty much just got fed up and tuned out altogether. The problems of the past 3 seasons or so loom large again this offseason. Let’s see if we can actually get them taken care of this time. They’re saying all the right things (which is more than I can say about most years) but let’s see what actually comes of it.
TXHC - January 26, 2012
I]'
dunkman - January 26, 2012
F***ing IE
I’ve had the same problem in past years:
Last year was the first in a very long time where I felt they were actually seeing the team as it was and not as they wished it were. They left gaps because they were broke, but they seemed ot really see their flaws. That’s my hope going into this off-season.
dunkman - January 26, 2012
Exactly.
If they will just hog tie Jerry and throw him in the janitor’s closet on draft day we might have a fighting chance.
TXHC - January 26, 2012
Jenkins apparently hasn't visited with Cowboys' personel
The link has an update:
Update:
Jenkins, after meeting with the Oakland Raiders, said the meeting with Cowboys might not happen.
“No big deal, though,” he said. “It might happen.”
Phillyboijr - January 24, 2012
My one issue with the last 2 drafts is that only one significant starter on defense has come out of it. Lee is looking like he’s going to be a great player and Carter has great potential but I worry that about the time we get the offense up to speed we’ll have an aging undertalented defense.
My perfect off season would have us signing either Nicks or Grubbs and drafting a solid starter on defense.
jack dein - January 24, 2012
I think this draft will virtually be entirely D with the exception of DeCastro if he's there at #14.
DeCastro is the only offensive player that will be drafted by the Boys at #14, IMO.
pfloyd1 - January 24, 2012
and i see a TE late
but otherwise all D, agreed
BigBad Joe - January 25, 2012
I could see them taking a center or guard in the 3rd if DeCastro isn't there at #14.
This is assuming they don’t take a center and a guard in FA.
Grimlock83 - January 25, 2012
All ot the information you provided,Tom, is very encouraging. All of us on this blog have been echoing the same sentiments that
you’ve attributed to JJ. He sees that the OL is a problem and that the secondary needs help. All we need is his commitment to upgrade the pass rush and we’re all on the same page.
I have to believe after 16+ years of futlity he understands that these Cowboys can no longer continue to rest on past glory. Winning is the only formula to ensure the financial success and popularity of the franchise.
pfloyd1 - January 24, 2012
Well said, Floyd
dunkman - January 24, 2012
The scary thing is that he should have seen the OL as a problem last year.
It’s the same guys doing the talent evaluation, and they were clearly poor at it last year. My biggest fear is that Jerry feels burnt by trusting young players and goes back to overpaying the Leonard Davis type players in FA, rather than using early round picks to find quality young players.
I hope that’s the lesson for him: quit thinking you can find late round and UDFA stars, and actually invest quality picks in important positions. That’s how you end up with a Tyron Smith type player. And quit drafting injured players as if we are so good that we don’t need immediate help.
Baked Potato Soup - January 24, 2012
I don't think that was as much on Jerry as on the coaching staff.
All the indications are that Hudson Houck was big on veterans and not on young players. I think he was a big part of the issue, and I think Wade went along with him – that sounds a bit like the way Wade rolls as well. Having JG come in and draft Tyron, and now having Callahan on the staff, makes me think that issue has gone away for a while, at least.
Tom Ryle - January 25, 2012
I think last year was sort of a rebuilding year
start from scratch kind of thing for the OL. We would have drafted an interior lineman too if we one of the ones we targeted fell to us.
ary201 - January 25, 2012
Upshaw
and Ingram were beasts today. Kendall Reyes looked very good too as well as Jamell Fleming and Casey Hayward.
BrickTop - January 24, 2012 via mobile
That's what I've heard and read. Didn't get to see the NFL broadcast though. By the sound of it
and what Wes Bunting wrote, there are some phenomenal reports concerning players we’ve all been talking about and potentially targeting for the Cowboys.
pfloyd1 - January 24, 2012
Yeah
I watched both practices. Jerry Jones was on set today. Theyre going to show the whole interview on the SeniorBowl wrap-up show tonight. In about 30 minutes.
BrickTop - January 24, 2012 via mobile
+1
Ingram was showing off putting his hand in the ground & standing rushing the passer with great success. i saw Coples get stopped once or twice but Upshaw & Ingram just were to good for the OL.
Ingram & Upshaw both shed blocks like you want to see but i was impressed slightly more Ingram. i think it all comes down to which one you like & either has that knack to get after the QB
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
Upshaw in the National Championship game has great closing speed & power; Great Pick-up
LiveNDieBlue - January 25, 2012
Well said
it took 15 years for us to suck as bad as we did in Wades last game. I think that from day one as acting HC Jason has been building for the 2013 and 14 seasons. Of course as fans we we want to win now but to coin a phrase " its a process" (lol).
sexililkitti - January 24, 2012
"Our front is one of the strengths of our team." (regarding the d-line)
I hope he doesn’t go on the cheap again with the d-line.
juniorb - January 24, 2012
lol..... just too much .. had to share lol
A young woman was pulled over in Nashville, Tennessee for speeding. As the Tennessee State Trooper walked to her car window, flipping open his ticket book, she said, “I bet you are going to sell me a ticket to the Tennessee State Police Ball.” He replied, “Tennessee State Troopers don’t have balls.” There was a moment of silence while she smiled and he realized what he’d just said. He then closed his book, got back in his patrol car and left. She was laughing too hard to start her car.
IRONRAVEN - January 24, 2012
Haha
I hope Dallas is also Ball-less next season…
dunkman - January 25, 2012
Jerry wants to keep him
it proves how smart he is the longer he`s in the league, a 7th rd pick has won many games in his career…just not for the Cowboys.
ziggy19 - January 25, 2012
After watching Senior Bowl Practice for two days
1) If he’s still available at #14, I say we take DeCastro. We need a nice young talented guard to compliment Smith and Free-address C and G#2 with fa and internal development.
2) I still like Melvin Ingram at pass rusher, however Courtney Upshaw changed my opinion of him. He was dominating the OTs on the right and left side with power moves. Ingram lacks the power, but has really good burst. Upshaw doesn’t look like Spencer off the edge or on the line, he looks to be better BETTER than Spencer.
3) Jenkins is my fav CB right now. Jenkins doesn’t give up if he gets beat the first time, he comes right back and challenges the WR. He competes.
4) FS Markelle Martin D’d up TE LaDarius Green nicely, he undercut the route he ran and tried to make a pick, ended up batting the ball away. I like this kid as my 2nd rd pick (eventhough I didn’t take him in my mock).
5) Quinton Coples, looks better as a 4-3 pass rushing end. I’d be worried about the Iggles tryig to trade up for him: they tend to go Oline or Dline in the first rd, I will be shocked if they take Luke Kuechly, they’ve never gone LB or Safety in the first rd under Andy Reid.
Note: Other players to pay attention to:
1) DL, Howard from UF Gators, he was dominating the Guards in the 9 on 7 drills.
2) Chris Rainey-WR/RB/Return Specialist from UF Gators, he’s like that Ole Miss RB#2 on the Chiefs depth chart, but faster.
3) Nick Foles QB UofA-looks like he’s going in the first rd. He reminds me of a polished version of Jay Cutler. Very talented QB who played on very bad team, who played well.
4) Juron Criner WR UofA- 6’2 220 runs a 4.6 40, would be a really good possession receiver. The thing I like about him the most, he fights for the ball, and will bail out his QB if the ball isn’t put in the ideal location-had a really impressive 1 hand grab today in the WR v DB competition.
Rohpuri - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Practices
Upshaw and Ingram looked great but ultimately Upshaw looks like James Harrison 2.0…. Quinton coples looks like a guy… Please stay away… I didn’t see what you saw on janoris, he looked ok but not first round good… Jamell Fleming on the other hand looks like the top cb in the senior bowl… Dennard is a jag… That is all
drobe86 - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Drobe
I’m not advocating taking Jenkins the first rd. I would take him in the second round if he’s there.
I’ve moved Upshaw ahead of Ingram, his power moves and technique look really good. I like the James Harrison comparison. He gets low really well. I saw him bully those poor tackles. I now worry that Ingram only uses his speed and a spin move, but I still like him.
As far as Dennard goes, he looks garbage in off-coverage, but I’ve read and seen he looks good as a press corner. I wouldn’t take him though.
Rohpuri - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Yup
I agree with you here Rohpuri. If Jenkins isn’t there in the 2nd we can still land a good corner. Hopefully in the 3rd – 4th. Casey Hayward, Jamell Fleming, and Brandon Boykin all looked impressive today.
BrickTop - January 24, 2012 via mobile
In the second rd my pet cats are
CB: Chase Minnifield, Stephon Gilmore
FS: Markelle Martin
DE: Jared Crick
OLB: Irvin, Curry, Massaquoi
Rohpuri - January 24, 2012 via mobile
I really want Markelle Martin in the second.
BrickTop - January 25, 2012 via mobile
I do too
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012
It would be about time we took a safety in the top rounds...
Seems like we miss on one every year.
ary201 - January 25, 2012
What about Chandler Jones?
Anyway if you trade down and then trade up you could and then trade up again.
three players on that list.
Jonathan Stern - January 25, 2012
I haven't seen enough of him to make an opinion one way or the other.
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012
Why are you so obsessed with trading?
We need to stay where we are at and get the best talent available.
BrickTop - January 25, 2012 via mobile
you could get Jenkins in the late first with a trade down.
Jonathan Stern - January 25, 2012
Upshaw
Marquelle Martin
Brandon boykin
Jamelle Fleming
Reyes (uconn)
And then take whatever oline u want…
There is some real defensive talent in this
draft especially On the south squad
drobe86 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Jake Bequette looks good too.
BrickTop - January 25, 2012 via mobile
He was great at Ar this year. He never quits, has great instincts and is a hard worker.
However he isn’t the best athlete around and will probably go around the 4-5th round. I wouldn’t mind seeing us pick him up.
Rena - January 25, 2012
i saw Ingram use all 3 of his moves & he did it with his hand in the dirt + standing up.
i agree about Upshaw & he’s starting to grow on me. i liked what both these guys did in the SEC & would be happy with either imo.
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
I love Ingram's diversity. I think he'd compliment D Ware perfectly, if we don't draft DeCastro.
pfloyd1 - January 25, 2012
+1
i thought Upshaw looked really good rushing the passer & had a better burst then what i read earlier. i still like Ingram a tad more but both these guys did a great job.
i also really really like M.Martin at SS bc he can cover, tackle & lay the wood if needed. he reminds of a R.Williams with way better coverage skills & could be a good answer to those 6’5+ 250+lb TEs that run like a deer.
i really believe finding a legit returner is something this team needs bc those hidden yards on special teams can win or lose close games. Rainey would be a welcome site but hopefully they find a real specialist. i bet Garrett could call some sweet plays with a specialist like a Rainey or someone else like that
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
Agreed, Martin is Roy Williams with better coverage skills.
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Better cover skills than Roy Williams is like better hands than the other Roy Williams.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
LMAO
football mensa - January 25, 2012
damn that's funny
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
And yet sad considering
how much we invested in those guys…
dunkman - January 26, 2012
Jenkins in the 2nd round would be awesome
1st round would be great if we could draft DeCastro, Ingram or Upshaw. If we draft DeCastro, I think we gotta sign a pass rusher in FA and if we draft Ingram/Upshaw then we gotta try and sign Nicks. I have faith that one of Arkin/Nagy can turn into a good G while the other becomes a good backup, most likely Arkin pans out to be a solid G and Nagy turns into a solid backup.
Nets2410 - January 24, 2012
I'd fill my pants with rainbows.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
We need som eye bleach in Aisle 11!
Seanrude - January 25, 2012
1) Mario Williams
2) Callis Campbell
3) Cliff Avril
4) Jason Jones
Jonathan Stern - January 25, 2012
You had me at Mario Williams.
TXHC - January 26, 2012
Okay, I just saw this on another board. Romo signs with the Giants? Too funny:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2012-01-20-1203728163_x.htm?csp=obnetwork
Fernie67 - January 24, 2012
Haha
This is baseball. The SF Giants have a reliver named Sergio Romo. :)
BrickTop - January 24, 2012 via mobile
I gathered once I saw the article, but the headline is a bit startling!
Fernie67 - January 24, 2012
thats the joke
ary201 - January 25, 2012
Oh
hahahaha lol.
BrickTop - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Sergio Romo solid Middle Reliever for SF/NY Baseball Giants
Rohpuri - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Brandon Taylor from LSU in the 4/5 round
not a highlight guy but he is always in the right spot breaking up a pass or making the tackle.
jharrison2090 - January 24, 2012
I like him too.
pfloyd1 - January 25, 2012
Tom has fairly represented Jerry's comments from his interview, while I think the following arcticle doesn't...
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/23/jerry-jones-eli-is-the-biggest-difference-between-giants-and-cowboys/
Tom’s statement says it all…
For those that haven’t heard Jerry’s comments in its entirety…go listen to it on dallascowboys.com…it does give a good sense of the direction the Cowboys are headed in…
CaliFanInTx - January 25, 2012
I agree
I found this a nice tidbit
So no ILB early in the draft, I’m thinking.
dunkman - January 25, 2012
If Vontaze falls...
I mean why the hell not?
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
not RKG
Terry - January 25, 2012
3rd round pick?
I mean any third rounder you have is going to have warts, if they didn’t they’d be first rounders.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
+1
Burfict is just to talented to leave on the board when Dallas picks in the 3rd round.
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
Who cares about rkg ? We need some mean on this team. We have too many nice guys as it is.
I want an Irvin on this team. Not only do we need some mean we need some soul on this team. Irvin was the soul of the 90’s Cowboy’s. Where is our idenity ? A soft gagging team is our idenity right now.
People look at the Cowboys as a joke because of Jerry and his incompetence as a leader. Screw that. Give me a player. A player who is the idenity. A player who will offer some mean. Attitude. Time for some physical , nasty football.
As Snee of the Giants said…the Niners are the most physical d they have faced all year. That Niner d kept them in the Nfc championship game. Screw the nice , finesse rkg kind of team.
football mensa - January 25, 2012
RKG I think only matters to them
in the sense that they want someone who:
- Can play well with teammates (no locker room cancers)
- Stays out of trouble (for game day availability)
- Is mature enough to handle the mental and time demands of playing
dunkman - January 25, 2012
Does Burflict do all of those thing ?
I think so. He is mouthy. So what. He is intense. Loves the game….irvinesqe
football mensa - January 25, 2012
I'm not judging him individually
I’m just saying that I believe that’s what they thinking when they say RKG.
dunkman - January 25, 2012
The only worry with him is stupid PI penalties, otherwise, if he's there in the third, which I doubt, I'd pick him for value alone.
Although I do picture him in Baltimore being groomed by Ray Ray.
pfloyd1 - January 25, 2012
Dunkman
Burfict fits the description you layed out.
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Sounds good to me
I don’t pretend to be a draftnik, and I rely on what I pick up from you, Chia and others.
dunkman - January 25, 2012
I agree with Mensa
if Burfict is there, you take him. He brings physical presence. A tone setter. The Eagles offense would think twice before doing their little celebrations if they saw this kid trying to deck them.
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Most importantly...
It’s a third round pick…he’ll have some warts no matter who it is. If he has first round talent and a bad attitude, the attitude can be fixed, or worked around. The lack of talent, can’t.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
well said
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
he would bring some killer instinct that we need
but I don`t think they feel that way, they have the ILB in Lee and Carter.
Deciphering Big Mouth we went to young on the O-Line too quick so meaning we won`t be adding an OLine in the draft to contribute so maybe Nicks in free agency but gonna cost 10 million.
if Upshaw at 14 is there…he`s the pick.
ziggy19 - January 25, 2012
I think that's sort of what Stephen has said
They are going to stick to BPA as much as they can. So I’m not saying don’t or do take a certain guy, just that it’s not going to be as high a priority as OL interior or secondary. At least that’s my outsider’s view.
dunkman - January 25, 2012
They still need depth at ILB so taking one early in the draft is not out of the question
Rob is big on a rotation of players. Zack Brown from North Carolina in the 3rd or 4 th could be good.
Birddog26 - January 25, 2012
I agree with the New and Improved Jerry
He’s made some mistakes in the past, mostly in overestimating his team and underestimating the work that needs to be done. Short of the Roy Williams trade I don’t think were seeing too much evidence that the old Jerry is back. People bring up the 15 year thing too often. If anything it’s 11 years. 1999 they were on a good path until Irvin was out for the season, team just up and quit. 1998 they won the division, so it’s not like they turned into the Browns after 1996. My mood: cautious optimism. Two good drafts, two good seasons of cuts, looking like we’ll see a third, and hopefully they’ll hit this year’s draft out of the park.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
The problem with Jerry is , when things begin to go well he reverts back to thinking he is the reason.
He should never speak again.
football mensa - January 25, 2012
Ehhhh...
What about when he overruled Parcells for Ware? I mean you’re right to be skeptical, but I think he’s a changed exec. The old Jerry would have signed Randy Moss and made some other questionable FA calls. The only two recent mistakes that Jerry made were not cutting all the 2010 deadweight thinking he could contend (in fairness, he was a pre-season favorite and did win a playoff game and the division last season) and the Roy Williams trade. I’d say give the old man a chance.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
signing Nnamdi would've been a questionable FA signing considering his age & the amount of $.
Jerry had a chance to sign the younger cheaper player in J.Joesph but the good news was Nnamdi decided to play elsewhere so we escaped that one.
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
Oh everyone wanted Nnamdi
Philly blew up the corner market, better lucky than good
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
Quoted for hilarity...
“People bring up the 15 year thing too often. If anything it’s 11 years. 1999 they were on a good path until Irvin was out for the season, team just up and quit.”
Phillyboijr - January 25, 2012
3-0 before the injury
Only lost by three that game, Moose also went down that year too. They could have done something but man…how the hell do you deal with that?
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
The main gist of the article/thread is...
…about Jerry and Co. ability to have this team prepared for the present and future. Jerry was mismanaging the team back in the mid to late 90s. It was Jerry who admitted purposely targeting backups in the draft (see Derrick Lassic/Sherman Williams, et cetera) instead of looking for future starters was a mistake. Yet, in 2009, he takes the very same approach with the “special teams” draft.
During those same times Jerry never made an attempt to identify a future franchise QB which is why when Aikman retired it was a complete fiasco trying to find a new one for six or seven years.
I’m not a Jerry Hater, but I’m not going trump up his praises for supposedly figuring it out after only 11 years, instead of 15.
Phillyboijr - January 25, 2012
Well he's had a good team for a couple years earlier too
I just hate that “haven’t won a Super Bowl in 15 years” means that the team’s sucked for 15 years. By that logic the Ravens have sucked for ten and the Niners have sucked for longer than the Cowboys.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
That's not my beef...
The beef is we haven’t been in serious Super Bowl contention since 1996.
We’ve won a grand total of one playoff game since 1997, lol!
To me, just making a deep playoff run, such as to a NFC Championship game, would be a profound improvement. I’d be ecstatic.
Cowboy fans tend to be defensive when the franchise is ridiculed by the media, but the reality is it’s deserved. Cowboy fans still want to live off the laurels of the success of Aikman, Emmitt and Irvin nearly TWO DECADES ago.
I do agree with your general sentiments that this team appears to be trending upwards and in the right direction finally. But I stick to my contention that I don’t give Jerry much props for appearing to finally figure things out.
Anyways, nothing personal towards you….cheers
Phillyboijr - January 25, 2012
Didn't theygo 13-3 a while back?
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
Didn't they lose in the 1st round of the playoffs that year?
Then miss the playoffs alltogether the next season?
Then follow up their one playoff win in 15 years with a 6-10 record the next year (2010)?
Then go 8-8 last year, and failed to win its division despite being in 1st place at the start of December with a 7-4 record and control of their own destiny?
Phillyboijr - January 25, 2012
You're making generalizations that just aren't based in reality.
While they have been in a serious Super Bowl drought, it’s not as if they didn’t assemble good teams. Do you really think the Giants were the best team in the NFC this year or in 2007? The playoffs take luck. Flozell Adams was hurt and Doug Free ran into Jared Allen in the playoffs. Ehhh…it happens. The next year, well Wade happened. I personally wanted Wade fired after 44-6, perhaps a bit of a knee jerk but in hindsight the right move. They’ve fielded good teams, just ran into dumb luck in the playoffs.
Patrick Crayton drops a sure touch down, Tony Romo bobbles a field goal. These things happen. Perhaps you can suggest that in some instances the team hasn’t been prepared to take the field in the playoffs, to which I’d agree. However, a large part of that is the coaching staff. You can’t say that Jerry’s too meddlesome and at the same time that he backs his coaches too often. The game had passed Parcells by by the time he got here, he managed to do somethings with the team but there were several warning signs that he needed to go. Wade Phillips was, on paper, a good hire. He treated the players like men and didn’t annoy key players the way that Parcells did. He was as good of a 34 coordinator as there was and given what he did with Merriman in SD imagine what he could do with Ware? Well much like all the times that Norv got a job, Wade turned out to be a guy that couldn’t hack it as head coach. Sometimes good process leads you to bad results, and some times bad process leads you to good results. Wade was a good idea, bad results type of hire. The mistake was holding on too long. 44-6 was a fireable offense. However, the Cowboys went 13-3, 9-7, 11-5, 6-10 under Wade. How can you say that either of those teams sucked?
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
Lol, I'm making "generalizations???"
…you just made grand-sweeping generalizaton attributing our lack of playoff success to just a lack of “luck.”
Everything I’ve said is based in reality because it’s historical fact. One playoff win since 1997.
1-6 postseason record in the past 15 seasons.
Am I overgeneralizing anything there? Is any of that made up?
I absolutely think the NY Giants are the best team in the NFC. How? Because they’re in the stinkin’ Super Bowl? They’ve won five straight crucial games on the road to get there.
They were absolutely the best team in the NFC, check that, the NFL in 2007. How? Because they won the stinkin’ Super Bowl! They went on the road and beat every team on the oppoenents’ turf AND then beat the undefeated New England Patriots.
You want to attribute that to a string of “luck?”
BTW, I never said some of those teams under Wade “sucked.” So try keeping the discussion factually based.
Phillyboijr - January 26, 2012
What?
What are you talking about? Everything he just said to you is the exact reality of what’s happened.
TXHC - January 26, 2012
That i damning with faint praise
The Cowboys haven’t sucked for 15 years, they have sucked for 11 years!
Seanrude - January 25, 2012
Well they really only sucked for a certain stretch
Those three 5-11 seasons in a row were the only time that I say that the team sucked. They’ve been fielding competitive, yet overrated, teams pretty often ever since the year after Parcells’ first year here.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
OK how about this?
The cowboys haven’t sucked for 15 years, they have been overrated and mediocre for 11 years!
Hardly a ringing endorsement
Seanrude - January 26, 2012
the old Jerry was Jimmy
ziggy19 - January 25, 2012
Draft Kendall Reyes (UCONN)
And dump Coleman.
starmesh23 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Yup.
I hope we can get him in the third.
BrickTop - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Agreed
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012
+1
Kendall Reyes looks good
drobe86 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Coleman was better than Spears
I don’t know that we are going to see any new faces on the DL. I think Brent and Lissemore are up and coming, and Hatcher seems to be hitting his stride. Coleman is solid, if not spectacular. The only guy that offered consistent poor play last year was Spears.
Baked Potato Soup - January 25, 2012
Me likes him....
+10
Phillyboijr - January 25, 2012
Garrett should have the inside scoop on him.
Belichick knew every player the Gators had worth drafting bc he was great friends with Urban Meyer & spent time there before the draft.
everyone said Spikes was way to slow & would be a 2 down player at best but i think his football IQ was great enough that his lack of top speed didnt slow him down. dude has great instincts & reacts well to the play
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
Speaking of Seniors
What’s Ryan Broyles up to? I think he can have a chance to contribute on this team once healthy, I know WR isn’t exactly a need but a return man is. Also it means no Ogletree!
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
I'm a fan of drafting Broyles in the 4th or 5th round.
A good KR/PR is a powerful weapon in the field position battle (hold on, let me cross that off my list of football cliches to use), and we wouldn’t be risking our 1a receiver’s health like when Dez handles those duties.
TheBlueBaron - January 25, 2012
I mean you're right...
It’s a cliche but the return game was ATROCIOUS, on both sides. They couldn’t cover returns and their returners did dumb things like bring it out of the endzone five or seven yards deep. Awful awful unit. That was probably the worst unit of the team.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
our return game just stinks
billstickers - January 25, 2012
Joe Adams, the top punt returner in the nation last year.
The only player in the nation with a receiving, rushing and returning TD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxW2mL8BbOA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byPjkmgUcWg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M8sU8f_Aes&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_mMERZ6fRo&feature=related
Rena - January 25, 2012
The one against Tennessee
I find hard to believe no matter how many times I watch it. He’s nasty with it.
Bermystar - January 26, 2012
He broke at least 6 tackles on that one.
He is a shift little bugger isn’t he.
Rena - January 26, 2012
Shifty lol.
Rena - January 26, 2012
Broyles would be great in the slot if Robinsion isn't resigned or they just add a WR late in the draft.
Broyles has great hands & does very well route running.
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
Oh, don't forget bringing Lumpy back
Very underrated season, he was great.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
I agree
& if he spend the offseason at that O lineman camp again, who knows, he could come back even better than last year.
matt575 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Agree
of the interior linemen, I thought his play was the most consistent and I would not be disappointed if he started.
With all the talk about G and C, I am really curious how they will self-scout their guys – Costa, Kowalski, Arkin. I think Houck is gone in large part because for a couple of years in a row, he’s been wrong in his assessment of linemen, leading to poor results. So Callihan’s perspective after watching film is going to be really interesting….
dunkman - January 25, 2012
I have no idea where all these came from
and like DalaiLuke, all the content disappeared. Someone get OCC out of that meeting!!!!
dunkman - January 25, 2012
And now they're all gone
bizarre….
dunkman - January 25, 2012
Well I think we'll probably see something like...
One of Costa or Kowalski go to the practice squad for a bit. The interior OLmen will hopefully be DeCastro, FA Center, Lumpy, Kowalski, Akrin, and Nagy.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
Costa can't go to the practice squad. He has played too many games.
football mensa - January 25, 2012
WAS OK when he played
but you can`t count on him, I doubt he draws a ton (or his body weight) of interest from other teams so cagey crafty Jerry will probably get him back where he`ll get paid to IR.
ziggy19 - January 25, 2012
I like the few pass rush moves I saw from ingram, but his short arms concern me
I liked Upshaw’s brute power moves and bull rush, but he’s lacking a great first step. At this point, I would prefer Upshaw. He seems to be the more powerful of the two, and seems like he would take advantage of having dware as a teacher for learning additional pass rush finesse moves. I think it’s easier to build technique in pass rush than it is to teach power. After all, ingram seemed to lack that power, and I don’t think he could pack on any more mass to his frame.
matt575 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Upshaw looked more powerful imo
DCNation73 - January 25, 2012
Upshaw is similar Harrison or Woodley of the Steelers. I think Ingram resembles our own D Ware,
and would be his perfect compliment. Please, don’t crucify me for comparing him to Ware.
pfloyd1 - January 25, 2012
mayock was talking about the two during today's practice, and set dware as the benchmark.
Of course, none of these guys are on Dware’s level, that’s obvious. Then again, DWare was once just a prospect. I’m sure there were message board discussions about whether they should take dware or Sean merriman. Maybe one of these guys is the next dware, maybe not. But damn its fun to speculate.
matt575 - January 26, 2012 via mobile
In case anyone missed Jerry Jones' interview on NFL Network
Here’s a link to my fanpost which discusses what was said
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2012/1/25/2731928/analyzing-jerry-jones-interview-on-nfl-network
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012
Ain`t gonna click on that link
Jerry should just shut up. I`d love to see him in the war room hog tied and squirming with Duct tape over his mouth…Jerry we`re up for our pick…anything you wanna add? no? ok!!!
ziggy19 - January 25, 2012
You really should.
Roh did a great job translating from Jerryspeak. And there might be a witty comment or two to read, as well.
Tom Ryle - January 25, 2012
Is there a universal translator for Jerryspeak?
pfloyd1 - January 25, 2012
Just like he did with Jimmy and Parcells
Jerry has handed over the football operations to Garrett which is a very good thing and will allow the team to get to the next level.
At this point, Jerry is simply a talking head taking credit for every football decision, but the “real” decisions regarding personnel is being made by Garrett, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Terry - January 25, 2012
I think it's good to a point
JJ’s made some great moves and I think he should still have a voice in the room, a voice not a megaphone. There’s some contrition in his moves. Cutting TO, firing Wade midseason, and drafting the WR and T in the first round that people said that he would never do.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
Stephen or Garrett were behind those moves
Terry - January 25, 2012
Nooooo....
Tyron Smith? Jerry was signing his praises for quite some time. Cutting TO? Yeah probably a Stephen move. Firing Wade? Did you hear Jerry after the Green Bay game? He knew he was going to fire Wade, for whatever reason he didn’t want too…who knows maybe Wade’s a really cool guy, but that was all Jerry. Hiring Garret? Also a Jerry move, paid him handsomely to remain as OC knowing that he was going to be the future head coach. Maybe Murray was a Garrett move, but Jerry’s made some good decisions lately. If you’re going to blame him for the bad ones at least give him credit for the good ones.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
Garrett was behind drafting Smith, don't kid yourself
Stephen has been gaining more trust with Jerry to allow him to influence more and more the past few years and Garrett has been the man since he was named HC last year.
Jerry just becoming a talking head is a good thing and allowing the real football guys to run the football operations
Terry - January 25, 2012
Well actually...
The way I heard it was that both Jerry and Garrett agreed on every player. Which is probably a pretty safe way to draft, obviously there will be great players that one guy likes and the other doesn’t, but two heads are better than one.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
They don't have to agree
Garrett is now calling the shots regarding player personnel and it’s the way it should be
Terry - January 25, 2012
I think it is more like Jerry agrees that Garrett knows what he is doing.
Tom Ryle - January 25, 2012
this is it right there
Jerry trusts the work Jason is doing.
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Lets stop pretending like Jerry's incapable of having a good idea...
He had great things to say about Smith and sounded thrilled about taking him. That’s not just figurehead talk.
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
This
It really is logically weak to insist that all bad things are Jerry and all good things are someone else. My guess is that Jerry is very emtional about anything Cowboys. The good side is that he spares no effort or expense trying to help the team. The bad side is that he can lose objectivity and fall into error. Parcells helped him improve his scouting processes. That was the start of the upward trend. Garrett is the next phase.
Wade was a bad interlude and probably helped Jerry veer off the track of tying to separate emotion and “gut feel” from scouting. Garrett strikes me as more of an OCC guy – more robot than human. He’s bringing a nice balance to their decision-making and I think we will see it happen again this spring. They won’t be perfect, but I think the trend will continue.
dunkman - January 25, 2012
That draft had JG's fiingerprints all over it.
pfloyd1 - January 25, 2012
Cowboys spent time talking to
Jake Bequette DE Arkansas
at first I was speculating maybe the plan to convert him to OLB? BUT seems like they are considering him at DE? unless they are thinking of a 4-3 switch to some degree???
ziggy19 - January 25, 2012
he`s tall enough but at most 270
so would need to add some weight for a 3-4 DE.
ziggy19 - January 25, 2012
Maybe they'll start to have more flex packages soon?
Omar Little - January 25, 2012
How much weight?
They are having Hatcher drop weight right now.
Final Frame - January 25, 2012
he's under 270
he can play OLB
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
I'm talking about 3-4 OLB
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Interesting, they would like him as a RKG.
Never quits on a play, very instinctive, hard worker. Will probably go in the 4th-5th round as he isn’t the best athlete. He gets his sacks and TFL’s on determination and intelligence.
Rena - January 25, 2012
Poor man's JJ Watt?
ary201 - January 25, 2012
HELL NO.
Not in the same country as Watt.
football mensa - January 25, 2012
no JJ Watt is a 3-4 End
Bequette is built like a 3-4 OLB
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
If you're looking for JJ Watt
check out Jared Crick
Rohpuri - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Yep, he's the poor man's JJ Watt.
pfloyd1 - January 25, 2012
I'm not sure I'd go as far as saying he's a "poor man's" JJ Watt.
They’re very similar players.
TXHC - January 26, 2012
This.
TXHC - January 26, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Blogging The Boys to post a comment.