Cowboys 2023 Offseason Thread

[Aggiepride]

I wouldn't do it. He's a really good player but he also had a major injury. I'm not sure he'd garner much interest (especially in the initial weaves of free agency) anyway.

Unless they are tagging him with the intent to trade him (doubtful, because the Jones' are stupid when it comes to this) then franchise tagging him seems like a waste. He plays a position which teams have clearly learned is not all that hard to fill.

I'd rather draft one early (even with our pick in the 1st) rather than tag Pollard and keep Zeke. The difference in cap numbers is enormous and we'd be getting a really talented young player on a rookie deal for a minimum of 4 or 5 years.

I wouldn't do it either. I argued to not sign Zeke to a bigger contract because we had Pollard. Few believed me. We could have traded Zeke and sent a message to all the other players who think they are indispensable.

I don't claim to be the greatest talent evaluator, but I see lots of RBs. Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) is also an explosive back toughly the size of Pollard. We could probably take him in round 1 if we can't get Bijan.

If we're dead set against taking a RB in round one (although 26 is a lot different from 4 (Zeke) then there are guys like Zack Charbonnet (could get him with a trade back from 26, or he could land to us in round 2.

If we can't pull that off then I see other possibilities. Achane is small, but I don't need a RB to last more than 3–4 years anyway.

Sean Tucker out of Syracuse has decent size and is a speedster.

 

[Aggiepride]

I'm encouraged to read that McCarthy isn't necessarily interested in having the number 1 offense in the NFL. He wants to be more strategic and run the ball more when he senses his defense is tiring.

Does anyone remember Micah Parsons so tired that he was on one knee asking for a breather and a timeout?

Now McCarthy has said he isn't going to completely change the offense. I think this is a logical move. BUT, traditionally, a fullback has been part of a West Coast.

I get that using a FB is out of style, but I'd like to see the Cowboys use one. And I don't mean a battering ram. And I don't mean twice a game. I think it was preposterous to use Conor McGovern at FB.

I mean a guy who can also run and is on the field on most plays. Just like we have TEs who can catch and block, we should have a FB who can run, catch, and block.

I think of guys like Robert Newhouse, Timmy Newsome, or Mike Alstott.

Back in the day, some of the best running backs were technically FBs. Larry Csonka, John Riggins.

Then incorporate some Coach Landry-style pitch out fake outs. Pretend you're pitching it to Dorsett, but give it to Newhouse, etcetera.

I think that with defenses going small to stop the pass that a more old school battering ram approach can work to eat clock, but also score.

I think Hunter Luepke from ND State can be such a FB. And I'd try to pair him with Sean Tucker out of Syracuse, if I don't want to use one of the first 3 picks on RB.

I get that the franchise tag for a RB won't be astronomical, but we pay coaches to coach. Get a couple draft picks up to speed. Besides, RB is an instinctual position. Many RBs get going right away.

Oh, and Nashon's brother is in the draft. I think I read that he's better than Nashon. We need CBs. Why not draft him if we are happy with Nashon's progress? Some brotherly rivalry is bound to make each better.

 

[English Cowboy]

 

[English Cowboy]

I'm encouraged to read that McCarthy isn't necessarily interested in having the number 1 offense in the NFL. He wants to be more strategic and run the ball more when he senses his defense is tiring.

I'll believe it when I actually see it. His last few years in GB indicated that he doesn't give a toss about running the ball.

 

[daboyz]

The real grid iron. Sign him Jerry. Quinn will never leave lol.

He had a decent season. But that didn't make up for all the crappy & missed games in prior seasons. There was a reason they only signed him for a one year deal in 2022.

I'll believe it when I actually see it. His last few years in GB indicated that he doesn't give a toss about running the ball.

He led the Packers for 13 seasons, compiling a record of 127-79-2. In 2010, the Packers won the Super Bowl. Pretty dang good record. Only reason he was fired was due to creepy Wodgers whining. But, I think most of us will agree it's an upgrade from Moore calling plays.

 

[English Cowboy]

He led the Packers for 13 seasons, compiling a record of 127-79-2. In 2010, the Packers won the Super Bowl. Pretty dang good record. Only reason he was fired was due to creepy Wodgers whining. But, I think most of us will agree it's an upgrade from Moore calling plays.

2016 - GB were 29th in rush attempts.
2017 - GB were 27th in rush attempts.
2018 - GB were 32nd and last in rush attempts.

This was despite averaging close to 5 yards per carry in each of those seasons.

Like I say, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[dbair1967]

I'll believe it when I actually see it. His last few years in GB indicated that he doesn't give a toss about running the ball.

Well he had arguably the best QB in the league for his entire time there. He also had excellent receivers and TE's, you can hardly blame him.

 

[dbair1967]

He had a decent season. But that didn't make up for all the crappy & missed games in prior seasons. There was a reason they only signed him for a one year deal in 2022.

He didnt have much of a market last yr due to his health. Alhought he did turn down more money on a 1yr deal (New England) to stay here.

It appears this year there will be some teams offering multi yr deals for him.

He had a solid year last year and when he was not on the field for those couple games or so there was a definite difference in the defense.

 

[dbair1967]

I'm encouraged to read that McCarthy isn't necessarily interested in having the number 1 offense in the NFL. He wants to be more strategic and run the ball more when he senses his defense is tiring.

Does anyone remember Micah Parsons so tired that he was on one knee asking for a breather and a timeout?

Maybe, but the problem wasn't a lack of attempting to run the ball or that Moore was "pass happy"

We finished 6th in the league in rush attempts this year and were 7 attempts away from 4th. The team that ran the ball the most in football had only 28 more rush attempts than we did.

What they need is to run it more efficiently. The past several years the run game has not been as good as it was from say 2013-2016, when we probably had the best run blocking scheme in the league. They get stuffed for far too many zero gains or losses on 1st and 2nd downs, and that's got to get better.

That, and the idiot QB has to stop throwing so many damn interceptions. They do those two things, and they'll win a lot of games and have more success in the postseason.

 

[bbgun]

The past several years the run game has not been as good as it was from say 2013-2016, when we probably had the best run blocking scheme in the league. They get stuffed for far too many zero gains or losses on 1st and 2nd downs, and that's got to get better.

Watching them try to run in the Jax and Tennessee games was painful. Combination of Zeke being done and getting manhandled up front. I keep hoping Frederick reconsiders and comes out of retirement but that's probably a long shot.

 

[RogtaDru]

2016 - GB were 29th in rush attempts.
2017 - GB were 27th in rush attempts.
2018 - GB were 32nd and last in rush attempts.

This was despite averaging close to 5 yards per carry in each of those seasons.

Like I say, I'll believe it when I see it.

Yep, I lean a little more towards a lip service Mac here based on past running game history and philosophy while at GB. My concern is not with returning to a 2016 style offense, Im all for it. Anything that lessens Dak's passing volume I'm for. My concern is the current oline is not even close to resembling that force that was the dominating 2016 oline model.

The contradiction of claiming an offseason run first mentality for this year contrasted by all the interest in a second pass catcher is also a little concerning imo.

I am also interested in how Mac and Solari plan an effective rushing attack while the 2 returning starters at RB are health compromised along with the health and contract status of the 2 returning starting tackles.
Lots of moving parts to get this rushing offense back to where it needs to be in order to support Prescott to win against better competition. It's been proven it won't be by his arm.

So with all this being said, I'm somewhat skeptical of this staff's ability to pull off a successful offensive transiton myself.
Even after the draft and free agency.

 

[Aggiepride]

Maybe, but the problem wasn't a lack of attempting to run the ball or that Moore was "pass happy"

We finished 6th in the league in rush attempts this year and were 7 attempts away from 4th. The team that ran the ball the most in football had only 28 more rush attempts than we did.

What they need is to run it more efficiently. The past several years the run game has not been as good as it was from say 2013-2016, when we probably had the best run blocking scheme in the league. They get stuffed for far too many zero gains or losses on 1st and 2nd downs, and that's got to get better.

That, and the idiot QB has to stop throwing so many damn interceptions. They do those two things, and they'll win a lot of games and have more success in the postseason.

What you wrote is why I would love them to draft an OT instead of thinking that Tyler Smith is the future at OT. There are higher rated OTs than Dewand Jones (Ohio), but I would be very happy if the Cowboys took him in round 1.

The thought of Jones playing next to Tyler Smith at LG reminds me of The Great Wall. Those two guys should be able to push some beef and that should make the running game better. I know, I know, the OT needs to also be able to get to the second level. I'll settle for someone who can blow the first level.

Then, if we can somehow get lucky and take John Michael Schmitz...

Tyron, Jason Peters, and Biadasz can all be valuable backups for a year.

I know, we also need another CB etc etc. So I'm not holding my breath on going back to back OL.

 

[Aggiepride]

2016 - GB were 29th in rush attempts.
2017 - GB were 27th in rush attempts.
2018 - GB were 32nd and last in rush attempts.

This was despite averaging close to 5 yards per carry in each of those seasons.

Like I say, I'll believe it when I see it.

It's hard to run the ball if you have a young Aaron Rodgers, no? I can't remember how those teams were constructed. But sometimes what a coach wants to do, and what he can do, are two different things.

Is it possible that, philosophically, Mcarthy wanted to run the ball, but in Green Bay he had a team that wasn't as conducive to doing that?

I don't think McCarthy got to buy the groceries in Green Bay.

Not that McCarthy buys them in Dallas, but he is apparently much more involved.

Just a thought.

 

[dbair1967]

2016 - GB were 29th in rush attempts.
2017 - GB were 27th in rush attempts.
2018 - GB were 32nd and last in rush attempts.

This was despite averaging close to 5 yards per carry in each of those seasons.

Like I say, I'll believe it when I see it.

How do you know his all pro QB didn't change a lot of run calls to passes (like our last two QB's had/have a propensity to do)

 

[dbair1967]

 

[dbair1967]

Then, if we can somehow get lucky and take John Michael Schmitz...

They had a formal meeting with Schmitz at the combine according to a report I saw.

Biadasz is in the final year of his contract, they may be thinking about letting him leave via FA next year.

That said, Biadasz was really improved last year.

 

[icup]

i dunno if twitter is broken atm but the tweet below is about tony pollard being officially franchise tagged by DAL

 

[icup]

 

[Aggiepride]

You have a good hunch, but that's an awful lot of tackles gone from the defense. I'd like to think that Jerry can find a way to keep one.

Jerry didn't confirm that Plloard will be franchised and even suggested he might be using the tag to force someone else to sign.

I get that Pollard is exciting. BUT, I think Pollard is more easily replaced than all of those tackles.

Between LVE and Wilson, I'm not sure who I'd choose, but I lean toward LVE if for no other reason than to not let go of a number 1 pick.

I just don't agree with franchising a RB in the modern NFL.

 

[icup]