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Cowboys Mailbag
REUBEN JOHNSON - NASHVILLE, TN: Assuming the Cowboys cut Marc Colombo as expected, what's the backup plan if Tyron Smith really struggles?
Rob: Good question, and that's why it makes sense to me to keep Colombo (maybe with a restructured deal) or find a veteran backup swing tackle. Right now, Sam Young is the last line of defense. And Alex Barron won't be back.
Josh: If it were my call, I would just make Sam Young the swing tackle. Sometimes the Cowboys seem to wait around too long to let their young guys have an opportunity, and it takes a while before they find out if they can play. So long as they're comfortable with the progress Young made last year and what they've seen from him, I would think he'll be good enough to back up two positions.
JOE MONROE - VALENCIA, CA: If you could only pick one and money wasn't a factor, would you sign a free agent upgrade at offensive line, defensive line, cornerback or safety?
Rob: Of course you sign Nnamdi Asomugha, easily the top free agent on the market. But if money's no factor, then you'd have cash left over to fill other needs. That's not the way it works with a salary cap, and I'm not sure the Cowboys would be able to get free safety and defensive line help and re-sign Doug Free and maybe Gerald Sensabaugh. Sounds great, but it would be tough to pull off.
Josh: That's a hard question for me, because I just can't imagine the cornerbacks playing as badly as they did last year again, and I think there play would've been even better if the defense was better against the run and supplied a more consistent pass rush, and if they had safety help they really trusted behind them. But the pass defense was so bad overall last year, and the quickest way to fix it is to get a great cover guy. Reluctantly I would say cornerback. But if real life, where money is a factor, I don't think they can afford to ignore their other needs to fix one of 11 positions on defense.
REUBEN JOHNSON - NASHVILLE, TN: Assuming the Cowboys cut Marc Colombo as expected, what's the backup plan if Tyron Smith really struggles?
Rob: Good question, and that's why it makes sense to me to keep Colombo (maybe with a restructured deal) or find a veteran backup swing tackle. Right now, Sam Young is the last line of defense. And Alex Barron won't be back.
Josh: If it were my call, I would just make Sam Young the swing tackle. Sometimes the Cowboys seem to wait around too long to let their young guys have an opportunity, and it takes a while before they find out if they can play. So long as they're comfortable with the progress Young made last year and what they've seen from him, I would think he'll be good enough to back up two positions.
JOE MONROE - VALENCIA, CA: If you could only pick one and money wasn't a factor, would you sign a free agent upgrade at offensive line, defensive line, cornerback or safety?
Rob: Of course you sign Nnamdi Asomugha, easily the top free agent on the market. But if money's no factor, then you'd have cash left over to fill other needs. That's not the way it works with a salary cap, and I'm not sure the Cowboys would be able to get free safety and defensive line help and re-sign Doug Free and maybe Gerald Sensabaugh. Sounds great, but it would be tough to pull off.
Josh: That's a hard question for me, because I just can't imagine the cornerbacks playing as badly as they did last year again, and I think there play would've been even better if the defense was better against the run and supplied a more consistent pass rush, and if they had safety help they really trusted behind them. But the pass defense was so bad overall last year, and the quickest way to fix it is to get a great cover guy. Reluctantly I would say cornerback. But if real life, where money is a factor, I don't think they can afford to ignore their other needs to fix one of 11 positions on defense.
