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[h=2]Rafael: Dallas' Biggest Need Sits Front and Center[/h]
Dallas' Biggest Need Sits Front and Center
by Rafael
Chris Myers -- a free agent target?
Free agency creeps another week closer. As you scan the UFA lists, think not just in terms of need, but of the biggest needs.
Last April, Dallas approached the draft with two names on its short list -- USC OT Tyron Smith and Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt. Both had outstanding rookie seasons. Either would have been an outstanding pick. In n the end, I think the Cowboys' needs helped tip the pick towards Smith.
Think of that 6-10 2010 roster. Start at the bottom. Which were the worst positions on Dallas' roster? On defense, it was free safety, where Alan Ball was over-matched, as Keith Davis had been in 2006. On offense, the biggest wound was at right tackle, where Marc Colombo could no longer hold the edge.
Ask the same question of the 2011 team. Where are the biggest holes? I think the biggest is at center. On defense, I'll say left corner, where Terence Newman again broke down.
Both positions offer free agent options, but corner costs a lot more. Look at 2011's free agency sweepstakes winners. Nnamdi Asomugha pocketed $25 million guaranteed on a five-year, $60 million deal. The Texans paid Johnathan Joseph $48.75 million for five years, with $23.5 million guaranteed.
The Cowboys could pay a top corner, but would you take an eight-figure annual risk on a player like Atlanta's Chris Grimes, who has two strong seasons back to back, but who is also 29?
On offense, New Orleans' Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks gets the most publicity, but might Dallas' money give it a better return at center? Ponder these points:
-- Nicks' guard partner Jahri Evans landed the biggest guard contract in NFL history, a seven-year, $56.7 million whopper last year. Being 25, Nicks stands to make as much money, if not more, when he hits free agency.
-- Panthers center Ryan Kalil, the older brother of top OT prospect Matt Kalil, signed a 6-year, $49 million deal last summer. That's comparable to Evans' contract, but the center market does not seem as hot overall. The Vikings signed 26 year old standout John Sullivan to a 5-year, $25 million extension last month.
-- The center class offers several quality veteran prospects, led by the Texans Chris Myers. He anchors the best zone-blocking unit in the league. Today, Myers faced the Ravens' Haloti Ngata and not only survived but thrived. Myers' line outmuscled the Ravens front, helping Arian Foster gain 132 yards. Myers topped the Pro Football Focus center metrics this year, with a combination of quickness and power. The Cowboys run a combination of zone and man schemes and will likely continue these under new line coach Bill Callahan. Myers would fit in easily.
Myers weighs 289 lbs. but that's normal for his position. Center is about quickness and leverage. Long-time Pro Bowler Kevin Mawae played his career at 289. Cowboys' standout Mark Stepnoski anchored championship lines listing between 269 and 283 lbs. If Houston retains Myers, Dallas could turn to the Packers Pro Bowler Scott Wells. He'll also become a free agent in March.
-- Both centers are 30. I would be wary of giving a big contract to a corner, running back or receiver that age, but centers are another story. Mawae made All Pro at age 36 and 37. In '95, the 37 year old Ray Donaldson replaced Stepnoski and made the Pro Bowl. Jeff Saturday soldiers on as the Colts pivot man and he turned 36 this year.
-- Callahan produced several outstanding lines for the Jets. They ranked 9th, 1st and 4th in rushing yards between 2009 and 2011. His rushing attack carried rookie Mark Sanchez to the AFC Championship Game in 2010 and again last season. Callahan did it with a Pro Bowl left tackle (D'Brickashaw Ferguson) a road grader right tackle (Damien Woody) and marquee center Nick Mangold. Callahan has tackles to work with in Dallas, but doesn't have the pivotman.
The Cowboys have gone thin at center in recent years and Tony Romo's body has paid the price. Dallas started Cory Proctor for eleven games in 2008. He crumbled against a December slate that included the Steelers, Ravens, Giants and Eagles. Romo took the blame for Dallas' 1-3 finish, but his line gave up fifteen sacks against those teams.
Costa got sixteen starts this year and played at Proctor's level. Teams blitzed heavily up the middle and put Costa on skates. The Patriots blew him up with big tackles and big linebackers. Romo was bagged nineteen times by Dallas' last five opponents. The Giants sacked him nine times in their meetings. Romo absorbed 39 sacks in 2011 and gutted through a fractured rib and a punctured lung.
Can Dallas afford to risk Romo's health another season going cheap at center? If the team pays big money for a Nicks and drafts a David DeCastro, will Romo still be vulnerable with an inferior center? The front office wonders.
I'm betting Dallas makes some big bids on centers come March.
by Rafael
Chris Myers -- a free agent target?
Free agency creeps another week closer. As you scan the UFA lists, think not just in terms of need, but of the biggest needs.
Last April, Dallas approached the draft with two names on its short list -- USC OT Tyron Smith and Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt. Both had outstanding rookie seasons. Either would have been an outstanding pick. In n the end, I think the Cowboys' needs helped tip the pick towards Smith.
Think of that 6-10 2010 roster. Start at the bottom. Which were the worst positions on Dallas' roster? On defense, it was free safety, where Alan Ball was over-matched, as Keith Davis had been in 2006. On offense, the biggest wound was at right tackle, where Marc Colombo could no longer hold the edge.
Ask the same question of the 2011 team. Where are the biggest holes? I think the biggest is at center. On defense, I'll say left corner, where Terence Newman again broke down.
Both positions offer free agent options, but corner costs a lot more. Look at 2011's free agency sweepstakes winners. Nnamdi Asomugha pocketed $25 million guaranteed on a five-year, $60 million deal. The Texans paid Johnathan Joseph $48.75 million for five years, with $23.5 million guaranteed.
The Cowboys could pay a top corner, but would you take an eight-figure annual risk on a player like Atlanta's Chris Grimes, who has two strong seasons back to back, but who is also 29?
On offense, New Orleans' Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks gets the most publicity, but might Dallas' money give it a better return at center? Ponder these points:
-- Nicks' guard partner Jahri Evans landed the biggest guard contract in NFL history, a seven-year, $56.7 million whopper last year. Being 25, Nicks stands to make as much money, if not more, when he hits free agency.
-- Panthers center Ryan Kalil, the older brother of top OT prospect Matt Kalil, signed a 6-year, $49 million deal last summer. That's comparable to Evans' contract, but the center market does not seem as hot overall. The Vikings signed 26 year old standout John Sullivan to a 5-year, $25 million extension last month.
-- The center class offers several quality veteran prospects, led by the Texans Chris Myers. He anchors the best zone-blocking unit in the league. Today, Myers faced the Ravens' Haloti Ngata and not only survived but thrived. Myers' line outmuscled the Ravens front, helping Arian Foster gain 132 yards. Myers topped the Pro Football Focus center metrics this year, with a combination of quickness and power. The Cowboys run a combination of zone and man schemes and will likely continue these under new line coach Bill Callahan. Myers would fit in easily.
Myers weighs 289 lbs. but that's normal for his position. Center is about quickness and leverage. Long-time Pro Bowler Kevin Mawae played his career at 289. Cowboys' standout Mark Stepnoski anchored championship lines listing between 269 and 283 lbs. If Houston retains Myers, Dallas could turn to the Packers Pro Bowler Scott Wells. He'll also become a free agent in March.
-- Both centers are 30. I would be wary of giving a big contract to a corner, running back or receiver that age, but centers are another story. Mawae made All Pro at age 36 and 37. In '95, the 37 year old Ray Donaldson replaced Stepnoski and made the Pro Bowl. Jeff Saturday soldiers on as the Colts pivot man and he turned 36 this year.
-- Callahan produced several outstanding lines for the Jets. They ranked 9th, 1st and 4th in rushing yards between 2009 and 2011. His rushing attack carried rookie Mark Sanchez to the AFC Championship Game in 2010 and again last season. Callahan did it with a Pro Bowl left tackle (D'Brickashaw Ferguson) a road grader right tackle (Damien Woody) and marquee center Nick Mangold. Callahan has tackles to work with in Dallas, but doesn't have the pivotman.
The Cowboys have gone thin at center in recent years and Tony Romo's body has paid the price. Dallas started Cory Proctor for eleven games in 2008. He crumbled against a December slate that included the Steelers, Ravens, Giants and Eagles. Romo took the blame for Dallas' 1-3 finish, but his line gave up fifteen sacks against those teams.
Costa got sixteen starts this year and played at Proctor's level. Teams blitzed heavily up the middle and put Costa on skates. The Patriots blew him up with big tackles and big linebackers. Romo was bagged nineteen times by Dallas' last five opponents. The Giants sacked him nine times in their meetings. Romo absorbed 39 sacks in 2011 and gutted through a fractured rib and a punctured lung.
Can Dallas afford to risk Romo's health another season going cheap at center? If the team pays big money for a Nicks and drafts a David DeCastro, will Romo still be vulnerable with an inferior center? The front office wonders.
I'm betting Dallas makes some big bids on centers come March.
