3 Things I Hope Our GM Has Learned

[cmd34]

If you know me, you already know I'm not a fan of Jerry Jones at all. Never have been. I realize this is his show and he's going to run it however he wants. I don't think he's capable of realizing he's the problem but I do think he is capable of improvement. Here's a few things I hope he has learned recently.

1) No more big trades for Wide Receivers. Both the Joey Galloway and Roy Williams trades have set this organization back. Hindsight is 20/20 but people were warning you against the Roy Williams trade before you pulled the trigger. Who would you rather have? Roy Williams or Michael Oher AND Mike Wallace? Seems easy now but we need our GM to not just think of possible immediate gains but instead think of the long-term health of this franchise.

With the majority of college football teams running a Pro Style or Spread offense there are several young, talented receivers available every year. Look to this year's Superbowl participants for evidence. Green Bay has Greg Jennings (2006 2nd round), James Jones (2007 3rd round), and Jordy Nelson (2008 2nd round). Pittsburgh relies heavily on Mike Wallace (2009 3rd round) and Emmanuel Sanders (2010 3rd round). We should be spending a 2nd through 5th round pick on a receiver almost every year. There will be some misses but hopefully we'll never be in a position to be desperate for a Wide Receiver.

2) NBC, Never Be Complacent. We had a pretty good team in 2009 but we were destroyed 34 to 3 in the playoffs. A year before that, with the playoffs on the line, we lost to the Eagles 44 to 6. It was obvious to many that this Wade Phillips led team did not show up when it counted most. Yet Jerry chose to bring back Wade and we all know how that ended up. Not only did he bring back Wade but he didn't sign a single free agent. He didn't even schedule a visit. A team that lost 34 to 3 would somehow improve by letting Flozell Adams and Ken Hamlin leave and relying solely on the draft for new players? This was a flawed strategy. Not hindsight, it was obvious at the time.

Kids grow up Dallas Cowboys fans. Whenever they poll NFL players and ask them where would you like to play, Dallas is always at or near the top of that poll. Bring guys in and give us a chance. The Green Bay Packers almost never sign big-named Free Agents but even they opened up the checkbook when a player the caliber of Charles Woodson was available. If Nnamdi Asomugha wants to consider us, we should at least try. If he wants DeMarcus Ware money then maybe he's not right for us at this time,but if he wants to be paid like a superstar, he's earned that. If being reunited with Rob Ryan gets us an "in", use it. The worst thing that happens is he signs somewhere else. We need to bring these kind of players in and see if the allure of America's Team can help seal the deal.

3) Big, physical defenses are your best friend. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Green Bay all run the 3-4. The difference between their 3-4 and ours is they can stop the run. This defense rarely made the tough stop and it haunted us all year.

Getting Rob Ryan is an excellent start. I'm confident his attitude and schemes will help us improve. Now go out and get bigger defensive linemen. While you're at it, get bigger Inside Linebackers too. I want big, physical guys who play with a mean streak. Two under the radar guys I think would be stars for us are Rey Maualuga and Ahmad Brooks. Both are big, solid, and nasty. Neither are Free Agents but are being utilized incorrectly by their current teams. These are the kind of players I want us looking at.

 

[sbk92]

I think he does know he's the problem. I think he simply doesn't care. He's more important than the team. Always has been. That's why he's miserable during a dynasty run.

 

[sbk92]

Hard to take this seriously when it's advocating wasting big FA dollars in a multi year contract for a 30 year old corner.

 

[Midswat]

Jerry isn't going to learn.

Regarding the WR trades, I can understand WHY he did them at the time. In hindsight, we definitely overpaid, especially with Galloway.

But no, Jerry isn't going to learn because like you said, he doesn't think he's the problem. He's hell bent on showing everyone he can do it. He'll fail time and time and time again, and if we ever caught lightening in a bottle and did succeed, and hoist that Lombardi over his head and declare that his way worked. See everyone, I know what I'm doing. ~wink~

The homer in me thinks we win this year. I can make myself believe that when I buy into the message Jason is saying, coupled with the excitement a Rob Ryan hire will bring. I believe coaching matters more in the NFL than any other sport. And I have more confidence in our current coaching staff than I do since my misguided early allegience to Parcells. The difference is, I think Jason is an innovative young coach willing to adapt, as opposed to a relic dinosaur set in his proven failing ways.

The realist in me, however, knows that it is so hard to win a SB, and so much crap has to fall your way, and it wouldn't suprise me if we didn't win another SB anytime soon. As in decades...

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't mind the trade for Roy so much as signing him to an immediate extension, a big one at that. So no matter what happens with him, you're strapped for a long time. And voila, he ends up sucking and we have people seriously considering keeping him because of that.

BTW cmd, their ILbs aren't that big, Desmond Bishop is actually smaller than Sean Lee. In fact none of their starting ILBs are at least 250. And Spencer is plenty big at OLB, but he's just slow. We need speed at LB and bulk on the Dline.

 

[cmd34]

Hard to take this seriously when it's advocating wasting big FA dollars in a multi year contract for a 30 year old corner.

like Green Bay wasted their money on Woodson ?

 

[sbk92]

like Green Bay wasted their money on Woodson ?

I wouldn't pay Woodson half that either.

Woodson made no impact. Capers and Matthews did. As soon as they arrived, they suddenly were a terrific D.

And they won the Super Bowl with Woodson's arm in a sling, as the irrelevant player he is.

 

[cmd34]

I wouldn't pay Woodson half that either.

Woodson made no impact. Capers and Matthews did. As soon as they arrived, they suddenly were a terrific D.

And they won the Super Bowl with Woodson's arm in a sling, as the irrelevant player he is.

If you can't admit that Woodson had a huge impact on that team's success then it's just like arguing with the Jerry homers. You are not being objective and it's waste of time to debate you.

Woodson was the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year as a 33-year old Cornerback. How do you explain that?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I wouldn't pay Woodson half that either.

Woodson made no impact. Capers and Matthews did. As soon as they arrived, they suddenly were a terrific D.

And they won the Super Bowl with Woodson's arm in a sling, as the irrelevant player he is.

Woodson had 19 INTs before Clay Matthews showed up.

 

[sbk92]

If you can't admit that Woodson had a huge impact on that team's success then it's just like arguing with the Jerry homers. You are not being objective and it's waste of time to debate you.

I wouldn't waste time debating me either. You're bringing a butter knife to a gun fight.

Woodson was the 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year as a 33-year old Cornerback. How do you explain that?

Easily. Dom Capers. Once he got there and worked his magic confusing QBs, he maximized Woodson's ability. Combine that with the overall success of the defense, and Woodson got the attention. Because prior to that Woodson put up the same kind of meaningless numbers but because he doesn't impact a defense, the defense wasn't any good. Nobody paid any attention him.

The bottom line is Green Bay became a dominant defense again the day they rediscovered a front seven. Their cornerbacks don't matter.

It's a bad comparison anyway. Woodson is effective on the blitz. He can actually make some plays at the line of scrimmage. Probably more than any other corner in the league. Asomugha doesn't. He's been nothing but a pure cover guy his entire career.

 

[sbk92]

So if your plan is to throw away huge money on some 30 year old cornerback, you've lost me. I don't even respect your opinion at that point.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Look at Pittsburgh...

They thrive year after year with corners that aren't very good... It's because the rest of the defense is so good.

SBK is right to that extent. If you have a terrific front 7 and decent safety play you can survive nicely with average corners. The problem is getting the terrific front 7 and decent safeties. The more sub-par those units are the more you need better corners.

 

[sbk92]

Look at Pittsburgh...

They thrive year after year with corners that aren't very good... It's because the rest of the defense is so good.

SBK is right to that extent. If you have a terrific front 7 and decent safety play you can survive nicely with average corners. The problem is getting the terrific front 7 and decent safeties. The more sub-par those units are the more you need better corners.

I don't agree with that either.

If you don't have a front seven, it doesn't matter who your cornerbacks are. QBs will find open receivers all day on your defense. You can't win.

You take Revis and the eyechart. I'll take Ngata and Matthews. Fill the rest in with average players. See the difference between those two defenses.

 

[Midswat]

I'd love to get an irrelevant player like Charles Woodson on our team.

 

[Plymkr]

I'd love to get an irrelevant player like Charles Woodson on our team.

No doubt. That is dumbass talk thinking that Woodson ain't worth the coin.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Jerry needss to be PROACTIVE, and not REACTIVE.

 

[Midswat]

No doubt. That is dumbass talk thinking that Woodson ain't worth the coin.

It's schtick. Good ol' pot stirring at it's finest.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It's schtick. Good ol' pot stirring at it's finest.

Isn't it just...

To listen to SBK is to believe that a 9-man defense sans corners is superior to an 11-man defense with corners... not that he really believes that, but what the hey.

 

[sbk92]

Isn't it just...

To listen to SBK is to believe that a 9-man defense sans corners is superior to an 11-man defense with corners... not that he really believes that, but what the hey.

What I believe is cornerbacks can't make plays and be productive unless the players around them do their job. They are completely reliant on the front seven.

Whereas players like Ware and Ratliff can dominate on their own. An elite safety can do that too. They are true impact players who make their teammates better. Those are the kind of guys I'd spend FA money on.

I wouldn't even contact Asomugha's agent. No interest whatsoever.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

What I believe is cornerbacks can't make plays and be productive unless the players around them do their job. They are completely reliant on the front seven.

Whereas players like Ware and Ratliff can dominate on their own. An elite safety can do that too. They are true impact players who make their teammates better. Those are the kind of guys I'd spend FA money on.

I wouldn't even contact Asomugha's agent. No interest whatsoever.

I wouldn't contact him either. Use the money on an offensive or defensive lineman.