Another week gone by, another week closer to the onset of the new league year; something that can't get here quick enough for fans of 30 of the 32 NFL teams. In the meantime, in between time, here's some news that might have slipped past you this week. As always, click on the headlines to link to the full articles.
Friday
Suggs, Ware Named Co-Winners of 4th Professional Butkus Award: MarketWatch.com | Dallas' DeMarcus Ware and the Ravens Terrell Suggs share the award presented to the NFL's best linebacker for the 2011 season. Another trophy for the mantle for the Cowboys illustrious sack master.
Jerry Credits Stephen For Getting Cowboys Out Of Salary Cap Armageddon: Star Telegram |
"I give Stephen a lot of credit for taking a year we thought would be Armageddon for us, and we were able to do some things last year with the cap that puts us and gives us some viability," Jones said. "Stephen and a lot of the crew he works with regarding the caps, regarding the contracts, all of that has given us a chance to have some room to improve this team this year.
"And we will use it."
Thursday
Jerry says Murray's Power Separates Him From Felix: Star Telegram | Point of order. I love Murray, I am uber-excited to see him as the lead back for the next 5 years hopefully. However, it really pisses me off that people don't give Felix Jones the credit for breaking the tackles that he does. You know how many yards after contact Murray averaged? 3.01 per attempt. Felix Jones averaged 2.98 per attempt. Felix may be fragile, but he never gets the credit he deserves for fighting through tackles; something I commented on over and over this past season.
More...
Wednesday
Jerry Jones Hasn't Spoken To Dez About Night Club Altercation: ESPN Dallas | The Cowboys owner has yet to have a conversation with the talented wideout, and neither has head coach Jason Garrett. This is Bryant's second public altercation in the last two offseasons, to go along with his legal debt issues. Last year, he got into it with mall security he claims harassed him and his friends in a Dallas shopping establishment.
2011 Tackling: The Safeties: Pro Football Focus | The Cowboys could be looking, once again, at trying to shore up the safety position in this coming off season. It feels like the umpteenth consecutive year we've said that. However, PFF says that even though he was the 55th ranked safety with a -5.3 cumulative grade, Abe Elam did some nice things in his first year in Dallas.
In a year of league-wide atrocity for the safety position, Elam tackled extremely well while in pass coverage. He played 608 coverage snaps, made 37 coverage tackles and didn't miss a single one; best marks in the league. He missed five tackles in 361 run stop plays however, leaving his total efficiency at 12.6% (969 snaps, 63 attempts, 5 misses) and 13th ranked in the league.
Tuesday
2011 PFF All-NFC East Team: Pro Football Focus | Cowboys honored include:
TE Jason Witten (1 of 1), WR Dez Bryant (1 of 3), T Tyron Smith (1 of 2), DT Jay Ratliff (1 of 2), LBs Sean Lee and DeMarcus Ware (2 of 3), and K Dan Bailey (1 of 1). DE Sean Lissemore also got an honorable mention (of sorts) for great production in limited snaps.
Dallas Cowboys Notes On The Senior Bowl: Tom Ryle | BloggingTheBoys
Tom does a great job of intertwining Jerry speak with whom the Cowboys talked to as the Senior Bowl week kicked off.
Bonus
One of the lasting impressions from the playoff teams not in the Super Bowl may be the aggression shown by Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints. In their playoff game against Detroit, Payton threw caution to the wind and showed confidence in his offensive juggernaut. They went for it on fourth down four times, converting three of them; exhibiting a rather large brass pair. Here's a look at Advanced NFL Stats visual on what a team should do when presented with fourth down situations.
Football Outsiders clocks a metric they are calling Aggressiveness Index. It is basically their way of measuring how gutsy a coach is when his team is trailing in a game. They define it as follows:
To compute AI, we analyzed fourth-down decisions when the offense was in the opponent’s territory, where a coach’s tendencies were most distinguished from his peers. We also excluded obvious catch-up situations: Third quarter, trailing by 15 or more points; Fourth quarter, trailing by 9 or more points; Last five minutes of the game, trailing by any amount. AI measures how often a coach attempted a fourth-down conversion compared to the league averages in similar situations, based on the field position and the distance needed for a first down.
Cowboys head coach and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett ranked 25th of all 32 NFL play callers; going for it only three times, in 46 "AI" opportunities for an AI of .816 and a rate of 6.5%. Sean Payton, the former Cowboys coordinator, ranked fifth. Aaaaand... go!
0 recs | 244 comments
If Dallas had the Oline the Saints have
I believe that Garrett would go for it on a 4th and manageable (between inches-2yards) more than he does right now.
Rohpuri - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Yeah
To go for such plays on 4th and short, you would need an interior line.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
And considerng his line,
I think he still goes for it more than Parcells or Wade ever did.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
that's why we need carl nicks
ratware - January 28, 2012
No way. DeCastro! Cheaper younger, better?
And in FA get a Center, and blow the rest on the D!
thebigham - January 28, 2012
A lot to be said for pairing DeCastro and Tyron.
That’s 10 years of never looking back. Good position to be in.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
yes very good.
Can imagine blocking assignments and protections only having to worry about one side? Wow. Everyones life would be easier.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
You keep saying that
and your starting to make a believer out of me Bigham. But here is my question to you- what FA center do you think we should go after?
I like the direction you were pointing to in my fanpost “the Comparison poll”, but you have o give me something to chew on at least.
DeCastro, but who at center? That’s the question.
Now, if only DeCastro makes it to #14……right?
DallasPalace - January 28, 2012
Well for the time being any center really as long as they are avg.
Myers from Hou, Hardwick from SD are two that come to mind.
thebigham - January 29, 2012
A rookie guard
is “better” than the best guard in the NFL? Come on now. This is getting ridiculous. If you are going to spend money in FA why not spend it on the best player at the position of need? Nicks is 26 and a two time Pro Bowler. DeCastro has great NFL potential which means he hasn’t done anything yet.
jevans1729 - January 29, 2012
When you weigh in the fact that DeCastro is younger and cheaper and the money you saved went to the D
And the drop off won’t be that much different. Yes better.
thebigham - January 29, 2012
i agree not spending huge money on the Guard position in FA.
theres a few decent Guards in FA this year & theres some pretty capable Guards in the 3rd-4th rounds of the draft.
drafting Decastro would be a safe move but expecting him to make this OL a brick wall won’t happen. imo even the best OL’s only hold up split seconds longer then just the average ones & the amount of improvement won’t even come to close to what T.Smith was able to provide.
imo you want an impact player with a top 15 pick. i think DeCastro is a great player & could possibly be the best Guard in the draft but i just think Garrett/Jerry/Ryan could do more with that pick. UpShaw, Coples, Ingram, Jenkins, the BC ILB, DE/DT would all make more sense considering how those positions are hard to find or way more expensive.
who knows what Callahan, Garrett, Pete & Wolchik (so) will be able to do with the guys already i house. Houck was a warm body & now with a legit OL coach i wouldn’t be surprised to someone in house really step up
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
KD The stat you used for Felix and Murray shows you that stats can lie.
If you don’t dig a little further.
Att Ydg Avg
DeMarco Murray 164 897 5.5
Felix Jones 127 575 4.5
The eye test tells you Murray moves the pile constantly. Felix doesn’t do that. He starts spinning and fighting but goes nowhere.
Far as both of them being the starter Murray carried a heavier load per game than Felix.
He’s a bust. Get over it.
Sharksbreath - January 28, 2012
How is Felix Jones a bust?
BrickTop - January 28, 2012 via mobile
He's a back up.
Can not, and will never be able to carry the load of a starter type runningback. I see the light now, you don’t draft that type of running back with a 1st rnd pick.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
How is he not?
He was a first round pick who hasn’t even rushed for 1000 yards and can’t stay healthy. If I’m not mistaken hasn’t even had over 3 rushing TDs in a single season. That’s bust all day just not your obvious one that stands out like a Ryan Leaf. But yes he’s a bust.
CowboyWay - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Same thing for Murray.
LG4DC - January 28, 2012
Some people's definition of busts are different than mine.
A big bust is a 38DD, but seriously …
I don’t call a guy with a career rushing average of 5.1 yards/carry a bust. As for staying healthy, Mr. Murray has already shown that he cannot either.
Felix can only rush the ball when it is given to him. Wade/Garrett/many Cowboys fans had a love affair with MBIII that should have ended 3 years before it did. MBIII showed great heart when he was a backup, but he was never a starter and lost his mojo when he got hurt. MBIII should have been out the door awhile ago, and Felix should have been getting those carries.
Regardless, Felix and Murray are a good pair to have. Injuries happen to RBs, so you better have more than just 1 good one. As far as running backs go, they are both very cheap, so there really isn’t much to complain about.
Fix the offensive line and either of them would look very good toting the rock.
Conn Cowboy - January 28, 2012
Whats the same thing for Murray?
AmericasTeamm - January 30, 2012
In your eyes hes a bust
But in the teams eyes you may not be able to say that. He was drafted for a specific reason to complement our lead back. He does that and does it well. Maybe h was taken in the first but not his fault and can’t say he is a bust for doing exactly what he was drafted for and doing well.
Sado44 - January 28, 2012 via mobile
You are dead Wong if you think he was drafted to compliment our lead back, he was drafted IN THE FIRST ROUND to be our lead back
He hasn’t accomplished that so his roll has been reduced to compliment a “lead back”. He was expected to be “the guy” but has been unsuccessful. He is without a doubt a bust, he should have never been taken in the first round.
Dynamicduo - January 29, 2012 via mobile
ham & CowboyWay you nailed it perfectly
why some fans still can’t see el gato for what he is amazes me.. Do i think he should be cut? Not necessarily but jason & jerry screwed that pick up it is what it is tho, the team needs more drafts like 2010/2011.
DarkKnight88 - January 28, 2012
the difference isn't power it's vision.
Felix has as much power as murray. But felix will miss a hole and run right into the defensive linemen. Murray finds the hole and accelerates through it. Felix is a good third down/change of pace back. Like it or not, that’s what they drafted him for. Felix is good at what he was drafted for. The question is: why did they draft a third down back in the first round.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
Don't give up on Felix
I too like Murray over Felix and believe the difference is Murray’s ability to find holes that aren’t there (and they aren’t there.) However, Felix is still able to take it the distance on any given play where the O-line happens to create a real hole (or defender falls down). Even if you must consider Felix a backup and Murray the starter, we still need a good backup. Murray, Jones, and Tanner seem to be a very good backfield, especially with Fiametta in the mix. Not sure that Fiametta’s vertigo doesn’t come back though, so I wouldn’t give up on finding another FB late in the draft or as a cheap FA
Silverblue - January 28, 2012
On the contrary. Felix was never drafted to be the starter at RB
It was stupid to draft him where we did (although it was a late first rounder, not at 14 like we’re picking now). He was drafted to complement Marion Barber. To be the third down back and change of pace back. He’s okay at that job. He’s fine at that position. Problem is the value of drafting that position in the first round. It’s like drafting a fullback in the first round. you just don’t do it.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
Not really disagreeing with you,
In the present day game, I’m not sure that the terminology of starter vs backup is as relevant as it used to be. Murray is a 3-down back and Felix is a 3rd down back. I think the scouting dept saw Felix’s speed and knew he would be a good compliment to Barber, but hoped he could be more. Not sure he can’t be more – injuries have limited the ability to give a fair evaluation – but it appears he doesn’t have the vision or anticipation of someone like Murray. I think Murray was somewhat of a surprise, otherwise, maybe we should have traded up to make sure we got him. Point is with draft picks you see things and you roll the dice. Sometimes you get disappointed, sometimes the ball goes over the fence. That’s why I’d pick up a G or C in FA – a [better-]known commodity.
Silverblue - January 28, 2012
I have too say both were a wasted pick.
Running backs are a waste of a pick in any round. Undrafted RBs are just as good as the drafted ones.
LG4DC - January 28, 2012
I mostly agree with you ...
When Shannahan was coaching, Denver showed that when you have a good scheme and a good offensive line, you can make anybody a quality back.
Still, there are special backs (Sanders, Emmitt, Peterson) that are truly special. However, if your offensive line is stout, you are good. Running the football is far more about the offensive line than it is about the running back.
Conn Cowboy - January 28, 2012
+1, We have a winner...
And to think this concept may work on the defense line as well! (it may not be visible, but that last sentence was in the sarcasm font)
DCB* - January 28, 2012
I'm with you man, I don't know why these big guys are underappreciated and under valued so often.
DCB* - January 28, 2012
Really ? Good o line and good scheme can make a good rb ?
2 names. Sherman Williams and Derrick Lassic. Who was their o line and what scheme did they play in ? They both sucked like a vaccum cleaner.
Totally disagree. Talent matters.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Can make an average running back good, yes.
But they do have to have some natural ability, I do not think I would have fared to well behind Emitt’s o-line. lol
DCB* - January 28, 2012
you're reply shows how little you are interested in being objective
the ONLY point I made was that Felix doesn’t get the credit for fighting through tackles, yet you don’t really argue that point with anything backing it up except YOUR eye test. Your disdain for Felix is obvious, so it’s pretty clear that you are going to watch him with negative expectations and render your eye test skewed in this case.
Telling me that the stat I have that measures fighting after contact with both players total yards per carry… dude… I think it’s pretty clear that the stat I quoted does a better job arguing the point. Total ypc includes everything about a runner’s ability, not the specific point I’m making.
Murray is a powerful back, but his vision and instincts is what made him a super successful runner, things that Felix falls short in. Not running people over, he did that but not at the rate people want to remember.
And even though Felix finished Top 20 in the league amongst RB’s with at least 100 carries, I guess he has no redeeming skills, because our O-Line opened up 4.5 yards for him on every carry. [/sarcasm]
Stats don’t lie, people that try to extrapolate more out of them than what they truly explain, do. If you truly watched this past season and your impression is that Felix goes down on the first hit, well, so be it.
KD Drummond - January 28, 2012
Wow, I actually agree with you KD
Felix is good at what he was drafted for. He only downfall was being drafted in the first round. That’s not his fault, it’s Garrett. You can here the audio of Garrett telling Jerry to draft him because we already had a guy like Mendenhall (refering to Marion Barber). The fault was with thinking Barber was a starter. He wasn’t. Otherwise we’d have Mendenhall. But now that we have Murray. Felix is back to the position he was drafted for. Felix was never drafted to be a starter. Murray was. IMO, Garrett doesn’t and never has looked at Felix as a starter. Felix started this year because he earned it as Murray was hurt to start the year.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
It's become a habit for me
to immediately disregard anyone who comes with the “eyeball test”. The eyeball test is just a euphemism for “I’ve got nothing but I am completely invested in my biases”.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
LOL
gotta love committed biases! This site has totally changed that for me in the way I view sports. I love this site so much it’s got everything from blind fanatics to worn down skeptics. Keep it up guys you are what makes this site the best!
Cowboys_Attack - January 28, 2012
Color me a worn down skeptic.
But where would the site be without the blind fanatics.
stubabe - January 28, 2012
what drives me crazy is when the blind fanatics
rage on the worn down skeptics. I’m not a blind fanatic more of a fanatic that just stepped outside into the sunny day, after being asleep in his dark room from working all night. It’s so bright you can barely see the light, but you can still see it so you squint to see how much of it you want to!
Cowboys_Attack - January 29, 2012
Well said, C_A.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
Thanks BNSB
Sure was a tough season so much hope then not so much then so much again boy what a year!
Cowboys_Attack - January 29, 2012
It was...
BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
NICE.
You can go on to point out that eyeballs that see Murray run through the Rams will see the greatest running back this world has ever seen. Statistics are less bias than eyeballs, but statistics compared with statistics while considering statistics are even better than just statistics. :)
LG4DC - January 28, 2012
I generally stop reading when someone mentions the “eye test” because I always feel awkward watching people flaunting their ignorance in public. In many ways it’s like watching a Jerry Springer show.
One.Cool.Customer - January 28, 2012
It's better for your blood pressure
or ummm….Maximum CPU Temperature….
dunkman - January 28, 2012
LOL
Rena - January 28, 2012
hahahaha Awesome!
Cowboys_Attack - January 29, 2012
Eye test! Eye test!
OCC is the coolest guy ever.
But you didn’t read that, did you? :P
Nickthegrip - January 28, 2012
I have never
heard it said so well.
jevans1729 - January 29, 2012
I agree KD, I have had this argument a few times on here this season.
When Felix was in with Fiammetta he looked really good and had 100 yard games, just like Murrey did. Is he quite a good a Murrey? I don’t know, I really don’t feel that DeMarco has had enough games to show that he can sustain the production. He looks like he can move piles more than Felix in what he has shown so far. But again, having Fiammetta helps a lot.
And how easily people toss away and call Felix a bust when he is used as a receiver quite a bit also. In 2010 Felix had 1250 yards rec/rushing. I really don’t call that a bust.
Rena - January 28, 2012
I get your point KD
Felix doesn’t get the credit he deserves… he had a couple big games this year on limited carries. You can thank the FB for that, Fiammetta can give these guys space for big holes.
Murray definitely has that Emmitt Smith physicality to him and he can run people over too. He can get hit and keep his balance something that Felix lacks. Felix has had some 10-yard runs that looked like they could have been 40 but he lost balance, it takes a great runner to take hits and keep his balance enough to finish the run. Demarco has that.
The coaching staff clearly made a mistake by not replacing Deon with a top FB, they thought they could use TE’s, well, I’d rather see Phillips and Bennett on the line. As soon as we picked up Fiammetta that philosophy began to change for the better.
If we fix our interior line problems there’s no reason why these 2 guys can’t push 6 ypg this year, and expect both of them to be more explosive as receivers.
scraig - January 28, 2012
Felix may not be the most bruising back and has injury issues
but last year excepted, he’s been a decent home run hitter. He was picked too high but just because he’s not Walter Payton, that doesn’t mean he’s not a “bust.”
ScottB1985 - January 28, 2012
Murray is a downhill runner, Felix is not
Yes the numbers may be similar, breaking tackles etc., but if we are in the redzone and Felix is in then its a pass defense, even with John Brent at FB. If Murray is in there its a run defense, especially if we have Fiammetta in there. Felix can certainly break tackles in the open field, but he can’t run over people like Murray does. Murray compliments Felix and vice-versa as good as I’ve ever seen in Dallas since Dorsett-Springs.
This is becoming a Landry-offense… have you noticed?
scraig - January 28, 2012
Josh Brent
scraig - January 28, 2012
Elam offers nothing in the way of impact plays....
o line needs at least one mauler….
Felix ran stronger once he saw Murray run…..should have run like that to begin with…..he will forever be the worst back of that draft in the first 3 rounds
Garrett coaches scared…..right now he isn’t half the coach Payton is….
Good thing Stephen is helping Jerry get out of salary cap hell because Jerry needs no help getting in salary cap hell
football mensa - January 28, 2012
It's easier to go for it on fourth down when your Guards are Nicks and Evans
Not so easy when they are Holland/Dockery/Nagy and Kosier
just4fun - January 28, 2012
299lbs guards fail at the goal line. See the Detroit game. I think it was a mistake to target small guards.
All the trapping and misdirection doesn’t work when your guards are getting blown into the backfield.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
This was a rebuilding year, we had to get younger
Meaning Davis and Gurode had to go. They couldn’t play anymore. Past sins of the Phillips campaign came to collect last year. We’ll see what Garrett does with it this year.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
Agree 100% we had to get younger..However if Dallas would learn how to actually hit on an offensive lineman
they wouldn’t be stuck having to use 3 picks in one draft.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Well, we got two starters last year
Nagy may not be all world but he’s at least good value as a 7rd pick
just4fun - January 28, 2012
Nagy will be a good backup.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
arkin isn't a bust just yet
Houck is finally gone and maybe we can actually develop young linemen for a change. I’m soooo glad he’s gone. You realize Free would be starting for the
Eagles on the cheap is Columbo hadn’t gotten injured that year. Freakin’ stupid.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
I agree Arkin isn't a bust yet. Imo he has a higher ceiling than Nagy.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
the key was getting rid of Houck
He didn’t want to develop any young players. He wanted veterans that already knew how to play (I guess he lost it in his old age and didn’t want to work). IMHO, I think he was a big reason behind the bad contracts with Davis, Columbo and Gurode. I, also, think that was why we hadn’t drafted any replacements lately. Houck didn’t want to coach them up.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
and houck was fired, kindly and gently, but he was fired
just4fun - January 28, 2012
He was but at least Dallas let him go away gracefully.
No reason to embarrass the guy. However like you I am ready for some new blood in there.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
I agreed with how it was done
but you know how it is here. I’m waiting for the post about how great a coach he was and Garrett was begging him not to retire..yada yada
just4fun - January 28, 2012
give nagy a chance and a solid offseason...
wasn’t this his first year after coming back from that scooter accident in college?
TruBluToTheCore - January 28, 2012
No, he played in Wisconsin last year.
http://badgerherald.com/sports/2011/05/01/three_more_badgers_t.php
Rena - January 28, 2012
People like to complain that Nagy wasn't a starter and won't ever be good as he was a 7th round pick.
But they never stop to consider who else was on that OL with him.
Let me refresh some memories.
Gabe Carimi 1st round 2011
John Moffitt 3rd round 2011
Pete Konz, possible 1st round 2012
Kevin Zeitler possible 2nd/3rd round 2012
Ricky Wagner high round prospect, possibly 1st round in 2013.
That is a hell of a lineup to break into after a major injury.
Rena - January 28, 2012
I don't understand it either.
He was a starter, he got hurt in a freak accident, and he got replaced. I don’t understand why people are so ready to get rid of/replace the guy. I’m betting he’s gonna come back a beast.
If he doesn’t, he’s a seventh round pick. I think it was a great/shrewd pickup by the Cowboys.
Nickthegrip - January 28, 2012
Agreed
And why the rush to decide? The guy is young yet.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
Because it's the Dallas Cowboys?
Because many of the fans on this site won’t accept the team needs to build for the future, and aren’t one or two players away?
I like the young guys. I want to see what Nagy (My prediction for next year’s center), Costa, Kowalski, and especially Arkin can do for the team next year after Woicik gets ahold of them, and they have a training camp under their belt.
Let them duke it out and may the best men win.
Nickthegrip - January 28, 2012
the impatience of the Madden generation....
now now now….can’t wait….I want it now….
TruBluToTheCore - January 29, 2012
I agree, the young guys need time to work out.
There is a huge amount of impatience, some of which is deserved. But OL guys take 2-3 years work to come up to close to their level of play they will reach.
We have a lot of people on here that want immediate, perfect results. And if they don’t get them or they aren’t exactly the way they want them, then they want to say the player sucks, dump him.
It doesn’t work that way, it takes some time with most of these guys.
Rena - January 29, 2012
That might be true but Nagy was more NFL-ready last year
scraig - January 28, 2012
Or coach linemen
Maybe Free digressing is why Houck needed to retire. We keep having the same issues again and again, bring in new coaches to see whats going on.
Final Frame - January 28, 2012
same thing with the secondary....
you can change the pieces all you want but if the teaching stays the same the results won’t be any different….
TruBluToTheCore - January 28, 2012
Very true
We always seem to digress after making progress a year. One step forward two steps back mentality………its weird.
Final Frame - January 28, 2012
Pssst - FF, its "regress" - just helping you out here my man :)
Nickthegrip - January 28, 2012
ooopss
Thanks :(
Final Frame - January 28, 2012
A double post, separated by two hours? WTF?
Nickthegrip - January 28, 2012
and who is this
“299lbs guard you speak of?
As per NFL.com:
Smith- 311
Koiser-305
Costa-314
Holland-340
Free-323
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Kosier is under 300. Nagy is 299 and you could see the difference when Lumpy came back.
And Costa , well he just isn’t any good. IN his case w ejust need a better player.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Kosier is a good player, he's just gotten to old and gets hurt too much
time to double down on Nicks, then get lower cost cb like Thomas of the Giants. Then draft a center in the 2-3rd round a pass rusher with the first. a safety with the 2-3rd.
See, good as new.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
You have been reading my notes on Nicks and Thomas.
Think I need to put my notes in the safe. HEH !!
football mensa - January 28, 2012
I've been thinkin' about FA (as if I had any control)
But we can’t afford to get the very best FA at every position and it usually doesn’t work anyway (Isn’t that right Andy). So, it’s Finnegan and Carr or Nicks. And their is very little after Nicks at guard but there is a plethora of CBs out this year in FA. I’m also counting on Robinson giving us a home town discount.
Not to mention that Ingram and Upshaw have been killin’ it at the Senior bowl. Oh wait, we should draft Jones instead because he has longer arms (sarcasm)
20 mil’s not that much when you start breaking down needs.
just4fun - January 28, 2012
I don't know how Nicks would fit into our system
he’s 343. I just don’t know. I thought JG leaned toward the smaller linemen.
It’d be great to have Tyron Smith (LT), (Nagy, Arkin, Kowalski, Lumpy for LG), (Kowalski or FA/draft at Center), DeCastro (RG), and a healthy Free (RT).
ScottB1985 - January 28, 2012
Hahahahaha. Douche.
Jones will have the best pro career. Just wait.
matt575 - January 29, 2012 via mobile
Kosier is under 300?
Seriously Can you not Effing READ?
As per NFL.com:
Smith- 311
Koiser-305
Costa-314
Holland-340
Free-323
how about you stop and effing read for once……
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
and technically
Nagy is 303…..but I will agree that Nagy needs to add some Weight….
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Hi, Ironman. Hope your weekend is coming together well.
I wanted to say that I have stopped trusting NFL.com. They are pretty unreliable for rosters and player data. Stats are normally kept up-to-date, but not player/roster stuff. Weights are updated once a year at best…
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
I could see
Smith, Nagy, and Arkin all gaining a little bit of weight in the offseason. Might be an entirely different story once things start up for preseason.
Final Frame - January 28, 2012
I can read just fine. How about you learning something for once.
Your blind defense is laughable. The middle of the Dallas o line is bad. They are light without Lumpy in there and were getting sent backwards.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
One of the reasons why some of us are excited about Woicik.
If there is anything a S&C coach can do, it is build up the linemen with proper weight training.
I think those “light” guards will be more to your liking, sizewise, by the start of the season.
Tom Ryle - January 28, 2012
Tom, I completely agree about about Woicik
He has also been doing ground breaking work in Prehabing. This is taking a look at a players injury history (even minor) and developing an offseason and in season program that will help them overcome these problems in the future. This is something he began when he was orginaly with the Cowboys. At the time Emmitt Smith had a history of problems with his hamstring. Woicik developed a program conditioning, nutrition and hydration that was able to solve the problem for Smith.
Birddog26 - January 28, 2012
I would give an eye to work with that man.
That is the same thing I have been working on. It is our early injuries that set up our posture and patterns for injuries throughout adulthood. Prehab is all about helping the structures that support the injured area in massage therapy.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
Oh man, lets hope he gets Austin on that program right away!
thebigham - January 28, 2012
x$$
KD Drummond - January 28, 2012
+19!!!
Cowboys_Attack - January 29, 2012
That is great stuff
but interestingly, not everyone has caught on. There are still a lot of programs that are doing things the same way they were done 30 years ago.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
That is awesome, I really hope that we have a couple great students learning under him to continue after he retires.
Rena - January 28, 2012
Exactly
between Woicek working on their strength and Callahan working on their technique the kids are going to be much improved. Tyron being the exception NFL linemen are not built in a season.
sexililkitti - January 29, 2012
Nagy was listed as 318 at Wisconsin
scraig - January 28, 2012
Wow! Your glass half empty view of things had you miss a point that you laid out so beautifully
“Felix ran stronger once he saw Murray run”
Garrett has said over and over again he wants to create competition at all positions. I think he’s done this at several positions including RB position. Creating competition means getting better players. Getting the right personnel is step one to a winning team. I wouldn’t say Garrett coaches scared, he just didn’t have the talent to take the risk. In face, when he did take the risk, the players didn’t execute and Garrett was raked over the coals for poor coaching decisions.
I think Garrett will be a very successful coach but needs to continue to change/upgrade the talent and change the culture. He’s taken some great steps to do that this past year and I fully believe he’ll continue that this year with a full off-season.
staubachfan - January 28, 2012
I agree
dunkman - January 28, 2012
Some right, some wrong
RBs taken in the first three rounds:
Given that Felix has played behind a s&^%y line, I don’t think the 2nd best yard/rush average out of this very distinguished list of RBs isn’t too bad. Worst back? Time will tell, but Felix’s numbers show that he can tote the rock when given the opportunity.
I’ll actually agree with you on that one — and I’ve written about that very thing before. I’m not a fan of Garrett’s play calling — too much Wade rubbed off on him and he is too passive to my liking. The strength of the Cowboys is their offense (particularly their pass offense). Garrett needs to remember that and think pass (before run) and think go for the jugular (instead of let’s hope the defense will stop them).
Conn Cowboy - January 28, 2012
Total yards and td's scored. Thank you for playing . Next !
football mensa - January 28, 2012
yeah really.
Felix won’t get a 2nd contract on this team.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
Total yards and TD scored
are metrics more removed from the player because they rely pretty heavily on opportunities. YPC best reflect what a guy can do with the ball when given it. Not making a claim that Felix is the same, better or worse, but using other metrics begins to add in variables not under his control.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
You can lead a horse to water ...
Total yards and td’s are heavily based upon carries, carries in the red zone, and the effectiveness of you offensive line in the red zone, which is out of the player’s hands.
Dallas doesn’t have a good offensive line, so they don’t run in the red zone.
DeMarco Murray nearly had 900 yards this year but only 2 TDs (the most memorable being the 91 yard romp). That’s got to be one of the worse yards/TD avearge in the league. FYI — it is the worse for any player with 600 yards of rushing.
Why am I bringing up Murray when we are talking about Felix? Well, it is important to establish the environment that Felix runs the ball. The Cowboys don’t rush in the red zone so both Jones and Murray have bad TD numbers.
Conn Cowboy - January 28, 2012
ypg is also a key stat, Demarco had 69 and Felix has never been over 50
If you can get 90+ out of Demarco then combined they should be around 150… but still you might need one more back in there if one goes down
scraig - January 28, 2012
Remember how JG called plays in 07 and beginning of 08?
I seem to remember a lot more aggressiveness there
thebigham - January 28, 2012
I would agree.
We were ALWAYS attacking with T.O. I scratch my head when wondering if Garrett really has less confidence that Dez will complete a route than T.O.
If that is true… FML.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
TO is the 2nd best WR of all time. So I don't quite understand what you mean.
Of course JG will have less confidence in Dez so will Tony but also the point is the OL doesn’t allow for much attack plays either.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
If it weren't for the many drops and broken routes, he would be second best.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
Please the drop stat was only created when TO joined to the Cowboys so ESPN could slander both.
10 drops a season is NOT a big deal when you are catching 80 balls a year. And regardless what you see there is no denying TO is the 2nd best WR of all time. Some discussion could be made for best WR ever.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
I never had an issue with the drops them selves
as you said 10 drops isn’t that bad….My issue is it just seemed that most of them were “gimmie’s” where the Pass was perfect, hit TO right in the hands , then the ground…..
Never understood that….
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Hey it happens. Look what he was still able to do, EVERYWHERE he went.
He was a playmaker, truly gifted, and understood the game. My favorite play has to be the “TO!!” shoutout playe against the Eagles in their house.. 07 I guess it was.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
Owens was one of the truly gifted wr's in the history of football.
The defense had to account for him, db’s feared him.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
like Irvin, TO would look forward to DBs trying to jam him.
He would just shove them aside like rag dolls.
Rohpuri - January 28, 2012 via mobile
TO was an excellent receiver but
he did not have great hands. Irvin, Rice, those guys had incredible hands. TO is more like Miles. He can catch the ball, but hands are not his greatest attribute.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
Hes 6th in receptions, 2nd in yards and TDs and he did that on 5 teams with a variety of different skilled QBs.
thebigham - January 29, 2012
To confirm, you just said that TO was possibly better than Jerry Rice?
T.O. dropped a TON of easy passes! It was not a fictitious stat created to mess with him and the Cowboys…
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
Yes Jerry had the benefit of playing with Montana and Young.
TO was successful everywhere. Its not a very big case but TO is easily the 2nd best WR ever. You remember him dropping a “ton” of passes but that isn’t reality. Just like people remember Romo chokes in the 4th quarter more than he does good.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
I was not going to go here,
but what the hey? Dunk made a couple comments to this effect over the last couple of days also, so I’ll say this.
As a fan I watch games and see what I see. Yes, it is emotional and very up-and-down. However, when I go back and watch DVR footage of our team and other teams around the league, I stay disinterested. To say that I value a Romo interception more than a Freeman interception is off-base. I can watch what happened, how that pick changed momentum or had no real effect beside giving the other team the ball.
TO had a lot of easy drops everywhere he went. Short-arming easy balls was his MO.
I am sorry (Tan,) that I don’t have access to game tape so I can break down specific numbers on TO’s drop %, or Romo’s propensity to throw high and behind on crossing routes. I know what I see, though.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
But what determines the value of an interception?
The rest of the team. Defense can stop them, etc. Mannings 18 picks don’t mean a thing now that his team is in the superbowl. Repeat, team is in the superbowl. Brady’s pick, good or bad, depended on a Field goal and a receiver dropping the ball. Interceptions are negative momentum on a bad TEAM and nothing on a good TEAM. Your argument actually supports the notion that Romo’s percieved performance relies heavily on the rest of his team. Did Brady choke or not in the championship?
LG4DC - January 28, 2012
Exactly the points I've made
Two things determine the fan’s valuation of a pick – the outcome of the game and fan’s investment in the team. Jets game is an example. Romo and Sanchez turn the ball over in identical ways – one fumble and one pick each. At the end the night Romo is a choker and Sanchez was gritty. It’s crap. Romo’s turnovers were only “worse” because Dallas made special teams errors and the defense couldn’t hold while the Jets as a team made more plays. Said another way, Dallas was slightly worse than the Jets that day so Romo had a smaller margin for error than Sanchez.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
The value of an interception...
Could be judged on a sliding scale with the value increasing as deficit increased or game clock counted off. Could be measured by points allowed or an intelligently formulated probability for points lost.
What I would count as a costly interception is an interception that takes the wind out of your team, like a body blow. For example, if you have momentum, throw an easy INT, your D pulls a three-and-out, then you pick back up where you were; no harm, no foul.
However, if you are already struggling in a game against a quality opponent (like every week in the NFL, [especially for the Cowboys and other elite teams, but that’s an extension of this conversation,]) and you throw a gimme pick when your defense is exhausted and your ST will not get your back…
Part of living in any moment is accepting each thing for what it is, the goal is to have as much knowledge as possible so that you can qualify what your eyes and heart tell you. In any given week in the NFL, I could tell you more about non-Cowboys teams than most people who don’t get paid for this sort of thing. At least enough to follow the story line of a game, hypothesize (educated guess,) where the ebb and the flow of each team’s squads were, then guess more often than not if the D will fold or stand, or fold if they don’t get a three and out.
Point being, I try to take all of that into account.
Why do you guys think sayings like “That one really took the wind out of their sales,” and “They have to make a stand here” exists. Stereotypes aren’t universal, but some exist for a reason. Momentum is a real thing. Some people shine, some moments glimmer. We are luminescent beings, and when you put 100,000 of us in a stadium, with millions channeling their thoughts toward that field, those are big moments.
I am not a Romo hater. Romo has more magic in his 16 – 20 weeks than the average person channels in their year. There is a weight that comes with the Star, and especially supporting sub-par line play, shortened offseasons and regime changes, Romo never found his center this year.
The crossing pattern thing is something that I have noticed 2007-2011.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
I'm not sure we are in disagreement
If you are talking about the impact on the game, of course all turn-overs have a different context and therefore different results. So in that sense they have different values.
My point is that players don’t inherently turn the ball over differently. Eli’s picks are just the same as Romo’s, in that they are the result of poor routes, bad reads, errant throws, bad luck or a combination of those factors. Except where a player and coach should have been more cautious in a certain part of a game (Detroit example) there is no difference between Romo’s picks and Eli’s except that Eli’s team could make up for it better than Romo’s because they are a better team. But the old saw that all of Romo’s picks are boneheaded and all of Eli’s are the result of taking well-thought out risk or all someone else’s fault is just the injection of people’s biases into the analysis. And whil eyou watch more football than the average fan, you don’t have the same emotional investment in every team you watch. We also have preconceived biases. We all do. If Tom Brady throws a pick, my first thought is that the WR made an error. If Rex does it, I think it was Rex.
Eli’s picks are “gimme picks” too, they just have enough depth and talent on defense for it not to lose the game. So you don’t judge the pick as harshly because the Giants might comoe back and win. And sure Romo could play it McGee and dink and dump, but that’s a way to lose as well. That’s not the real world. The real world is that when you throw passes, a certain number will be intercepted for a wide variety of reasons. Trying to read intrinsic character traits out of those picks is not good analysis. First a lot of it is chance. Second, you don’t know the play call, you don’t know the adjustments, you don’t know the depth of the route and you can’t see from the QB’s field view to know what he could see and not see, what lanes he had, what pressure he felt. So in the end, fans judge it primarily on a cursory view of the play and an emotional reaction,.
Momentum is not real. There are psychological effects of doing well or doing poorly, but the momentum you are seeing is more the result of having slightly inferior talent and not being able to tolerate many errors and still win. People put a lot of stock in the psychological aspects, but the truth is more talented teams tend to have the “momentum” and tend to win the games.
As far as “finding his center”, I don’t know what else you’d be looking for. He was the team’s most consistent player and played extremely efficiently even while injured. The center Romo needed to find was the guy snapping the ball.
dunkman - January 29, 2012
well said
eom
Conn Cowboy - January 29, 2012
I agree likewise, with most of what you said.
Eli throws some bad picks, and I expect the best out of Brady.
but this:
Here is my argument. Fans can be taken out of games, right? Swag and sharpness even influence refs. Brady is a very good example of that. He is so sharp and, quite frankly, has such good self projection, that he influences the moment. Of course, there is the school of thought that says you can not observe a moment without changing it, and that illustrates my point.
IMO no human should be taken lightly. but men who shine in great moments outshine other elite athletes. They outshine 65,000 screaming fans. They make full grown, intelligent men who are totally disinterested from the situation pay attention and experience the plethora of emotions.
I see inferior teams beat superior teams every week in the NFL. The NFL is about parity, though, so the majority of games each week are decided by intangibles: game planning and execution, lack of drive-killing penalties, Killer instinct to force punts preserving your defense, not making unnecessary turnovers. Those things all preserve momentum.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
You make some good points
certainly there are psychological aspects and of course the fans. But for the most part I think the concept of momentum is overrated and sort of only seen after the fact. For example Team X is doing well and then they miss a FG. The other team eventually comes back and wins the game. Any number of things probably led to the other team winning, but humans attribute the win to Team X losing momentum. I think that’s actually just people connecting events after the fact.
The NFL is so close in talent that very small things will make the difference in winning and losing, increasing the chance that we look for those intangible things when in fact chance and small differences in talent and execution probably play a much larger role.
JMO though.
dunkman - January 29, 2012
Cool, cool.
Thanks for chatting, bro.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
To carry on the earlier thought...
The average fan’s argument is that TO was the second best receiver in history because his numbers say so.
I would say I do not want him on my team and would take ten other receivers before him. Give me guys that love to do exactly what they are supposed to be doing. Guys that will be where they are supposed to be, and (in public business,) say what they are supposed to say. Those are the things that allow a team to build momentum. Few stupid errors and costly distractions.
Big,TO had Garcia, McNabb and Romo throwing to him. While not Young and Montana, not a bad group.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
I think early in his career some of those things might have been problems for Tony
He changed his throwing motion significantly coming out of college. I’ve watched every snap and haven’t seen that trend after about 2008 or 2009.
There are times in games when a QB should take less risk. There have been games when Romo should have played it safer this season and didn’t. But if you listened to him, the coaches and the WRs, it wasn’t his throws but rather him trying to make plays when the receiver had not run the pattern properly and Romo tried to improvise and fit it in when he should have come off that WR or thrown the ball away. He adjusted from that after Detroit and you didn’t see that problem again.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
And maybe you can be objective
or maybe not. I’m not pointing a finger at you.
Here’s my view, to be clear. Judging a QB’s effectiveness cannot be done with the “eye test” (even if you are a professional scout). If you think to yourself “Romo isn’t accurate” or “Romo doesn’t play well late in games” checking stats is critical because humans’ impressions are heavily shaped by what they already believe. So in my examples, you see that Romo’s completion percentage is very high among NFL QBs, even while having a high YPC, then you should question your impression.
That’s the issue I have with the lazy sports media and a lot of so-called fans. They see a game here or there where they “feel” that Romo gave it all away and from that point on they discount his successes and magnify his failures. It’s human nature, so you have to balance that tendency by comparing him objectively with others playing his position across the league. A whole lot folks just can’t do that.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
Why do you think the Pats win big games and we don't?
Why do BAL and PIT, NYG mostly win, and we don’t in big games?
It is not at all about the outcome of the game. Do you think I approve of Romo’s 5 picks against BUF in ‘07 because he played like a BA and Folk saved us? No way.
Like I said, I don’t hate Romo. I own a Romo jersey and wear it proudly. I just don’t see us winning a championship with him unless our team’s focus changes. And please no one downplay that and list the SB winning QBs who are not half the QB Romo is, but had a far superior squad. If our focus changes he should win championships, but a great QB would have elevated his squad to more than one PO win in what, like, five years?
BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
because the Pats have a better team than the Cowboys
It’s really that simple. And you’re dead wrong about us not winning a SB with Romo, thats complete BS and you know it.
The team simply needs to acquire better talent in certain areas, then Romo will lead this team to championships in bunches.
Terry - January 29, 2012
It's that easy!!!
But seriously, are you even reading what I wrote?
Like Dunk and myself, our opinions aren’t that far apart. Except you’re a blind Romo lover who would not know a productive QB if he saw him ;)BlueNSilverBlood - January 29, 2012
that's why Laurent got so many receptions - the safety would take out Dez and Laurent would be in 1-on-1 coverage
scraig - January 28, 2012
I am with you on Felix
in fact I would go a step further and say that other than the injuries Felix has done everything that has been asked of him.
do the injuries suck? yes of Course. But I cannot hold those against him, because frankly you cannot predict, nor truly prevent them.
And to all those that say you can, you would be wrong, as al you can truly do is minimize the risk of injury.
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Another flaw in the Dallas system when your purposely draft backups with first round picks.
Felix is the worst of all the rb’s in that draft sans Kevin Smith selected in the first 3 rounds.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Well those days are behind us. Jerry only does that when we're good
just4fun - January 28, 2012
I disagree
here are the stats from the first round picks in 2008
Felix Jones:
TOTAL 458 2,326 5.1 60 8 102 800 7.8 71 1 10 5
Chris Johnson:
TOTAL 1,187 5,645 4.8 91 38 194 1,426 7.4 69 4 10 7
Rashard Mendenhall:
TOTAL 813 3,367 4.1 68 29 68 599 8.8 35 1 6 6
Darren McFadden:
TOTAL 553 2,627 4.8 70 16 116 1,191 10.3 67 4 13 8
Jamal Charles:
TOTAL 499 3,027 6.1 80 12 117 1,046 8.9 75 6 10 8
Amazing how if you look at the stats, Felix is just as good as anyone of them….but off course you all are going to zero in on the total rushing yards,(and completely disregard the fact that Felix has less than half the number of Carries, yet has outproduced them al on a per carry basis…
But yeah Go ahead and stick with saying that Felix is a bust…..
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
LOL uh yep. Total rushing yards and td's scored. Give the man AP money. LOL
football mensa - January 28, 2012
If you think that Felix Jones is just as good as Jamal Charles and Chris Johnson you are nuts
just4fun - January 28, 2012
I think Iron would argue that Scott Laidlaw is better than all of those other backs.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Wow!
A Scott Laidlaw reference. Nice! Haven’t heard, or even thought of that name in YEARS.
sportsfanatic21 - January 28, 2012
I never said that Felix was Better
I said that On a Per Carry Basis, Felix was just as good….
BUt of Course you what to take everything I say out of Context, because I bring actually stats to the discussion…
you bring “the eye test”
S.T.F.D. mensa(HAHAHA)…you ain’t winning this one….
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
No, really per carry can only go so far.
Face it Ironman, injuries are part of the player and Felix can’t stay healthy. We drafted a part time player and get part time production from a part time player. Its a bust. Hindsight is 20/20.
Draft position aside, Felix is great at what he does, when he gets to do it. Though Felix is not the type of player that can carry/take over/make something happen etc. I mean he even admitted that he wasn’t trying as hard because Barber was the “starter” and didn’t want to dsrespect him. Felix will not get a 2nd contract will Dallas.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
I already beat you Iron. It's all about production.....
Felix sits on the bench and isn’t as productive as those guys on a game by game basis.
It wasn’t hard.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
The per carry thing is cool,
but when he has 100 less attempts than the next lowest player, that is an issue. He has been hurt a LOT! And, I’m sorry, but he was a first rounder – remember what we could have gotten if we did not draft a RB in the first. I would go back to draft day and trade Felix for Mendenhall, Charles or CJ. Heck, CJ had as many yards in one season as FJ has produced in his entire career ;)
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
and again
IMO that yes the injuries have hurt, but other than that Felix has been everything Dallas has asked for and more.
and I would Counter that NONE of those backs would have produced in Dallas….
Carries per game for Felix:
2008-5 carries per game(30 carries in 6 games)
2009- 8.2 carries(116 carries in 14 games)
2010- 11.5 carries per game(185 in 16 games)
2011-10.5 carries per game(127 in 12 games)
that means that Felix has Average less than 10 carries a game in his Career….
is that his Fault, over is it the Team?…….and what if “limiting his carries” is what has caused his injuries? By not allowing him to stay in the game, they creating the issue where HE would “warm up” , then get cold, then Warm up again. Over and Over again..
That is a recipe for injury right there…..
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Cmon Felix has proved over and over
he can’t handle the load. Look at this injury, he strings together and couple games and then bam injured again.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
I completey agree!
The most frustrating thing about Coach’s tenure has been his inability to perceive and manage momentum. Players can play their way into and out of games, just like a stock trader or surgeon. You have to find a healthy level of activity, not too far in, then too far out of the game.
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
Forte plays behind a dismal o line. He craps on Felix.
Those other rb’s play every game and get more carries. Felix is a spot player when he can play.
LOL.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Wrong
Chicago has a really good run blocking Oline…..but they suck in pass protection…
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Iron you lose more cred with each post. Stop while you are ahead...
They have shuffled tackles and guards for a good while now.
You lost get over it. No shame in losing.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
I never admit Defeat
Especially when I haven’t been beaten…..
and to your point…They may have , but hasn’t Dallas?
and agin it goes back to the offensive Philosophy…I contend that NONE of those backs would have produced in Dallas….and we would be calling them all a “bust”…..
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Easily defeated. I didn't even have to work up a sweat.
Next !!
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Of course you don't want to continue....
you can’t refute ANYTHING I have Said….so you lose…
Nice try…next time you go to a gun fight…bring an appropriate weapon……
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Iron look down a couple of post. I made it simple for you.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
true while someone like CJ or Mendy might not have faired well in Dallas because of the system
Felix hasn’t performed up to par because he is always hurt. Someone like Ray Rice, Charles, would absolutely take over with a threat of Romo and Austin and Witten. Similar to what Murray did.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
and Again BH
how can a RB “perform” if given< 10 carries a game?
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Because he has shown time and time that he can't handle more than that without getting hurt.
Look at what happened when Murray went down.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
Felix was a part time change of pace SEC RB
playing in the gimmic WILD CAT offense at Arkansas. The reason he had great stats in college: McFadden was Wild Cat QB, Hillis would be the RB flanked to McFadden’s righ or left, and Felix would run those damn Jet Sweep Plays.
Felix never carried the load at Arkansas because his game is based on speed, yeah, he’ got a little deceptive power in him, but he mainly gets by with speed, he’s much better being used as an “inspace” type player.
In the NFL, Felix as an “inspace” type of player means that if he’s used correctly he needs at most 10 carries a game out of spread formatiom, about 3 screen passes a game, a wheel route in the flat, and needs to handle return duties-essentially the role he thrived in his rookie season prior to getting hurt.
Rohpuri - January 28, 2012 via mobile
and I have never disagreed with any of this
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
just let it go man
some people are just obstinate, they have already decided felix is a bust wade philiphs carries all fault for jerry’s mistakes, romo is average, ratliff is done, ware vanishes in pressure time and some other stuff
ratware - January 28, 2012
Rat there is a little truth and phallacy in all of that except Felix being a bust.
That is truth.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
if felix had the chances they he would have better numbers
for sure i think he’s better than rshard mendenhall, the guy averaged just 3.9 yards per carry last year, that’s not good
ratware - January 28, 2012
Felix has had the chance, he just can't stay healthy.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
Chris Johnson - 4.0 ypg in 2011, Felix - 4.5
scraig - January 28, 2012
And fans this year were saying CJ was washed up, cut him after that huge extension when he sucked.
Rena - January 29, 2012
If youre going to bring up injuries people...
Than, how much preseason and season has Murray missed? He has missed around 40% of his games too. He’s a bust, can’t stay healthy. Use same categories when comparing players people.
LG4DC - January 28, 2012
Murray in 7 games was able to do what Felix has been given the chance to do for 4 years and hasn't done it.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
I disagree there
Felix has NEVER been given the carries that Murray got…..
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Because he would get hurt. LOL
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Just like Murray???
Thanks for playing!
Conn Cowboy - January 28, 2012
Maybe we should be drafting another RB? Since all ours are fragile...
scraig - January 28, 2012
yes he has but its obvious to everyone he gets hurt.
Look as you said wait til they played behind the same lines right, well after murray went down felix did it for 2-3 games then guess what HURT!
thebigham - January 28, 2012
He was supposed to this year...
but in his four games he topped out at 17 carries, when both him and Fiammetta were back he did get 22 carries vs Tampa Bay.
Demarco had an incredible start when Felix was out but he also got the tough yards against WAS, MIA & ARI. I don’t think we would have kept handing the ball off if this was Felix… but we were able to grind out wins with our running game.
scraig - January 28, 2012
Are you bragging about a 3.4 yard/rush average
That Murray’s average in the 3-game stretch of Washingto, Miami, and Arizona.
The Cowboys would have been better off not handing it to Murray. You don’t win many games with that kind of average, and we barely won the 2 against Miami and Washington (while losing to Arizona).
This is part of Garrett’s problem. He’s got a running back that excels against some of the weakest rush defenses in the league and then he thinks he’s got the second coming of Emmitt Smith and that our offensive line turned the corner. Sorry folks, but against good/average defenses, Murray got stuffed because our offensive line isn’t that good.
When will Garrett ever learn that you win by throwing the ball in the 10’s (this isn’t the 70s, 80s or 90s) or by having an top-5 defense. We don’t have a top-5 defense, so let’s throw the ball.
Conn Cowboy - January 28, 2012
um 3.4 x 3 = first down.
Ill take it.
thebigham - January 29, 2012
3.4 x 3 = first down
Wow … do you know so little about football?
Do you know anything about basic, basic statistics (i.e., averages)?
I didn’t think so. Nobody … ahem … let me restate …. NOBODY!!!! thinks a 3.4 rushing average is good or even marginally good.
Conn Cowboy - January 29, 2012
So 3.4 x 3 isn't a first down?
thebigham - January 29, 2012
that is true
but do you really think that you can run the ball 3 straight times and get a consistent 3.4 ypc?
I am Ironman!!! - February 1, 2012
What good does he do you on the sideline ?
He is more injury prone than the others. It is a huge factor.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
And I said that yes the injury factor sucks
But going into the draft NOONE thought that Felix was an injury risk…and he was considered one of the better backs…..
And Dallas wasn’t the only team to rate Felix above the Others, Jeff Fisher stated that had Dallas not taken Felix they would have.
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
ok. but we are allow to admit it was a mistake now.
Hindsight being 20/20 and all. Felix is the worst back out of the group.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
this is where we differ I guess Big
I don’t fault Felix for being injured…I feel that while it can be minimized, there is too much risk in football to call a player a bust because he is injured….
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
Injuries are a part of it.
It happens, but he can’t stay healthy. He is a bust. There are a lot of players that never lived up to their potential because of injuries and a lot of them are bust especially first rounders.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
its his running style I think... he's not a power-back and if you use him in that situation he will get injured
that’s why we need Murray to be healthy
scraig - January 28, 2012
What u don't get Iron is all those other backs have better vision and are more instinctive runners.
Felix isn’t good at finding the hole or making one. All of those other back would not have been bust. They are just better.
There I made it simple for you.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
See I don't think that
Felix has Averaged more yards per carry than All of them except Charles…so how is it that they are “better” yet haven’t produced?
I am Ironman!!! - January 28, 2012
because yards per carry only go so far when you are trying to compare to different sample sizes.
Its not the system that is holding Felix back, its his fragile body. JG is ready to have a workhorse back. Just look at how he ran Murray.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
+1 on Murray
were lucky they ht on Murray in the draft bc he’s everything you want in a NFL RB. Felix is a good back in space but Murray seems to do more with the same holes. Jerrah swung & missed on Felix (the wow factor) Jones but no sense in not getting the most of out him while he’s here.
Felix with 10 touches a game would be ideal but until Murray proves he can stay healthy that 3rd RB must be someone the can trust. last season was a disaster when Murray went down & it was probably the main reason Dallas didn’t make the playoffs. Felix can’t handle the lead role & i woulnd’t be surprised to see Garrett grab another one on day 3 or a couple of the better undrafted RBs.
i dont know how strong the FB class is but getting one those guys who can do it all make it a lot easier on the OL, QB & RB. (V.Leach nasty)
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
If he carried the ball 25 times a game his average would be less.
However he can’t handle it. He gets hurt.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Our Roster
has 23 rookies or 1st year players. Because of the lockout, virtually no training camp.We really do have a young team. Was it Jimmy or Bill that said if a player doesn’t produce by the 3rd year, go another direction? Adhering to that mantra, what 4th year players should go?
DarthGrumpa - January 28, 2012
Martellus for sure. Spencer will cost too much. Problem is Dallas has very few legit replacements in place.
Spears isn’t a 3-4 de. Jerry had no choice but to sign him because he had nothing to replace him with.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
I think Butler is better than Spencer and probably would start over him next year anyway
just4fun - January 28, 2012
Butler will have to prove he can play the run before he can play the position full time.
i’m excited to see what Butler can do myself but if he’s really weak against the run then guys like Bradshaw or McCoy will eat you alive.
i’m on the record for wanting to upgrade Spencers position but i’m not in the market for it go the other direction. Dallas can’t get worse at OLB or there in huge trouble with a young ILB core & average safety’s.
i like Upshaw but a couple of those guys projected in the second round have a ton of upside.
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
Bennett may be
the second best blocker on a line that scored 5 rushing TDs. I wouldn’t be so fast to just jettison the guy. Without him, your two tight end option goes with him.
jevans1729 - January 29, 2012
WOW I would be stunned to see Butler start next year.
It looks like he is a situational player.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
The RB's I'd Keep
Would be Murray, Tanner and MORRIS (for another year or two while they rebuild the defense and solidify the Oline.) Felix can be traded for a draft pick to HELP with that rebuilding.
Howleyesque - January 28, 2012
no one's trading for RBs any more
too much time share, too much talent in the mid to late rounds of the draft, too much specialization.
Unless it’s an AP or Arian Foster, dont think a RB is netting much if anything
KD Drummond - January 28, 2012
+1
Cowboys_Attack - January 28, 2012
Morris is too old, he was a nice stop gap, but Felix, Murray and Tanner are the RBs next year.
Unless someone comes along in training camp and makes a splash.
DIRE WOLF - January 28, 2012
i wouldn't be surprised to see them draft one on day 3 if its the right situation.
with the risk of injury to Felix & Murray i just think that 3rd/4th RB becomes a little more important position.
they cant afford to call Sammy Morris off the couch next season & Tanners not so valuable he cant be replaced with someone they trust more.
i think Murray will have a heck of a season if he plays 16 games & i’m excited to see him healthy
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
Agree with football mensa
Spencers replacement is not presently on the team
nycowboysfan - January 28, 2012
I think so as well
just don’t tell mensa that. :D
I like Butler, great guy- pleasure to talk to, a lot of enthusiasm.. but I don’t see him as a full timer
KD Drummond - January 28, 2012
Great situational guy!
I would love to see him get more reps, but after what I saw at the end of the season he needs more training for sure! He gets man-handled if Dware isn’t out there commanding the extra attention. He does get good pressure though when they are both on the field so given Ware’s late injury last year I can see why he started to drop in the rankings. Definatly a solid backup given his 4th round selection which is important too a great spot for him to be in.
Cowboys_Attack - January 28, 2012
Let's see more of the situational guys
I want to see more of Butler and Lissy. I think they both made more plays on a per snap played basis than some of the guys that were playing in front of them, especially Lissy. Not sure either are starting full time starters yet. But look at Coleman/Spears. To me, seemed like a no brainer that Lissy should have played about 25% of the snaps that those guys had, plus the ones he already was playing. Everyone wants more pass rush, so let’s get Butler in the game. He may have been the best pass rusher on the team per snap played other than Ware.
Elkmgr - January 28, 2012
Cowboys what you see in Butler is what he is. Nothing wrong with being a solid situational player.
Where he was taken he was the best value we got out of the 09 draft.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Best and only value from 09?
Yeah I used to advocate big on his behalf to start over Almost Anthony but after what I saw late last year he is right where he belongs. Does a great job of it too and I hope we can keep him for awhile nice and cheap and a great backup. One of the very few where the drop form starter to backup isnt quite so vast! Other then him and a couple other guys the drop off from starter to backup is quite significant.
Cowboys_Attack - January 29, 2012
we need to upgrade situational players with more bodies that can do it all.
getting caught with some run stoppers on defense with a couple TEs that can line up at WR will get you burnt or a timeout.
all players need to be able to defend the run but they need to be better pass rushers with QBs throwing 5,000 yards in a season. the top 10 QBs are accurate enough to beat any CB if they have the time & if your pass rush doesnt get there fast enough then it wont matter whos in the secondary. OL have to be lucky every play but a DL/OLB only has to be lucky once to change a game. give me 5 of those guys who can get after the QB & lets see how quick the QB can make decisions.
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
LOL KD.
Kd agree or disagree I like your stuff dude.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
haha- just messing with ya fam
appreciate ya
KD Drummond - January 28, 2012
Jerry's comments at the Senior Bowl
complementing Mike Jenkins and O. Scandricks play this past season, as well as his stated beliefs that the lack of a pass rush will render your defense “toast”,makes me think that the early part of our draft may concentrate on outside pass rushers (Ingram,Upshaw,Irwin etc). Not convinced first pick will focus on DB. Of course trying to interprate “jerryspeak” is virtually impossible, even for him.
nycowboysfan - January 28, 2012
I think so too
this is where I think they’ll get the most impact early, especially because it’s a deep draft for DBs. Go pass rusher early, DBs and OL later, depending on what they can pick up in FA.
dunkman - January 28, 2012
If Jerry ever watched himself on tv even he would say wtf ?
football mensa - January 28, 2012
I always get the feeling he is thinking about three sentences ahead of himself.
And he doesn’t fully complete his thoughts – a little ADD and OCD mixed in there, maybe.
Tom Ryle - January 28, 2012
You're probably right about the 3 sentences ahead thing.
I wonder if he speaks to his wife like that ? She probably has an assistant to help her.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
I have a feeling he doesnt even speak to her
He probably just snaps his fingers and points to his crotch when he’s horny and his stomach when he’s hungry. He only speaks when it concerns the cowboys… Or oil.
matt575 - January 29, 2012 via mobile
Maybe you should read up on his wife, I seriously doubt she would accept that kind of treatment.
For example she was in charge of doing the art included in the new stadium, she is also co-owner of the Cowboys.
Here is a video she did on the stadium and it’s art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo1LWbJBSvE
Rena - January 29, 2012
it more likely the other way around
I am Ironman!!! - February 1, 2012
Tom I agree with you about Jerry
I have similar problems when I speak, my brain moves faster than I get a sentence out, as a result, I end up giving people an a sense of “WTF did he just say?” In my mind I said what is correct/what was needed to be said, however, in actuality, I just confused the hell
out of every one.
Rohpuri - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Did u ever say "left tackilish" ?
football mensa - January 28, 2012
Elam does some good things, but he's not a ball hawk.
I want a head hunter, ball hawk at safety. Can someone stop by 7-11 and pick one up?
DIRE WOLF - January 28, 2012
Defense definitely needs a another game changing player
… And it would be great if he played safety. Beyond Ware, closest thing we have to this is probably Lee, who is very good, but not yet a player that teams have to go out of their way to account for on every play. Thinking about a Polamolu type here. Obviously, he’s far and few between, but he makes game changing plays and demands attention on every play.
Elkmgr - January 28, 2012
Home Depot > tool section
football mensa - January 28, 2012
LOL! I thought that's where you were located!
I’m just playing, FM. I actually don’t mind your pessimism. Just scoring one for the people who do ;)
BlueNSilverBlood - January 28, 2012
That was in response to the 7-11 and picking up a safety. LOL
Good one though Blue.
football mensa - January 28, 2012
out of all the possible safeties in the draft there has to be one somewhere.
its never going to be perfect situation but you got to keep drafting them when they show up on your boards if you need one
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
I agree about the Cat
If he can stay healthy he is such an explosive runner. I hope he is a cowboy for life
Trueblue122 - January 28, 2012
sorry no way he gets signed back.
He hasn’t been healthy ever. Thanks Felix cya around.
thebigham - January 28, 2012
lol
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
Prediction
By 2013, Felix, Spencer, and Sensless will not be on the roster.
Felix will reprise his 2008 role on another team, Spencer will seek leave for a team like the Bills who are in dire need of a pass rusher.
Sensless, I just feel he won’t play here through the end of his contract.
Rohpuri - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Felix is a pinball who keeps his feet pumping
Like a poor man’s Roger Craig. But he won’t move a pile on his own. Murray has much more power, but getting hit low brings him down more easily, IMO.
Lord Humungus - January 28, 2012 via mobile
Murray has better vision & made plays when nothing was there
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
kudos to Stephen
This team had 5 or 6 contracts that were weighing this organization down. It seems like he rectified that in a single offseason. It prevented us from signing any FAs last year but thats ok.
foyesboys - January 28, 2012
I'm Not Talking About
Keping Morris for several years! I’m talking one or two more; while they get the defense rebuilt! Oh, and that guy who is “too old” isn’t a bit older than some of the OTHER RB’s who are still in the league. It ISN’T about AGE, it’s about what you bring to the feild on gameday!
Howleyesque - January 28, 2012
I may be a homer here
but I’m still have the belief that Felix will play a key role to an exposive offense for us next yr. I was on pins and needles seeing him carry the load when Murray went down and knew the way he was being used he would get hurt again. Mr Garrett had no choice. True he shouldn’t have been drafted so early but that shouldn’t have an impact on how big of a contract he gets next time. Thats just the nature of backs. They get hurt alot. They need to be used wisely. Depth at that position is so important. Take a look at the Lions, they had Leshore go down in preseason, tried to go with Javid Best, he got hurt and they end up having to go with Kevin Smith in the playoffs. He was banged up trying to carry the load too. The lockout was hard on everyone. Alot of luck is involved in a successful season. Lets see whos lucky with a full year of football and a team thats trained to take advantage of it. You can’t win a race with a lame horse! Let Felix be what he is. A thoroughbred. lol
letsgtld - January 28, 2012 via mobile
lmao a thoroughbred, nice letsgtld
DarkKnight88 - January 28, 2012
5-10 touches a game is what Felix Jones is.
he’s a situational player that could provide a spark in games. he won’t make a living running through the tackles but if they can get him space he can make big plays. i’m sure he’s a great guy & one of Jerrahs/Garretts pick but he won’t be back after his contract.
you can replace players with Felix’s skillset pretty easy.
DCNation73 - February 11, 2012
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