sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
SportsDayDFW.com writer Rick Gosselin chatted with fans on Thursday and answered questions about the Dallas Cowboys and the draft. Here are some highlights:
Is it unusual that so few candidates were interviewed for the Cowboys head coaching job?
If Jerry interviewed three candidates, it’s already two too many. He knew he was going to make Jason Garrett his next head coach the moment he hired Wade Phillips. He was close-minded on this -- it didn't matter who else was available, he was going to promote Garrett.
For your team, would you prefer a veteran backup QB or a backup learning his craft? The Cowboys had both and I wanted to see more of Stephen McGee.
Think young. If you're a non-playoff team like the Cowboys last season, you were better off playing your young backup. If you were a playoff team, you'd want the older guy. I'm with you -- I would have liked to see more of Stephen McGee last season. I'd already seen about 15 years worth of Jon Kitna before he ever took a snap in 2010.
Do you like the defensive coordinator hire in Dallas?
The Cowboys will be more entertaining on defense, also more aggressive. I think you're also going to see more of a mean streak. Also more of a swagger. Those are the common traits of a Ryan-coached defense, whether it be Buddy, Rex or Rob.
Should we draft a center and move Andre Gurode back to guard? There seems to be too many mistakes on the center to quarterback exchange.
Never hurts drafting a couple of linemen each year -- and you don't have to draft them high. The Raiders took Jared Veldheer out of tiny Hillsdale in the third round and he wound up starting at left tackle most of the season on an 8-8 team. The Patriots drafted Ted Larsen in the sixth round, waived him on the final roster cut, and he was claimed by Tampa Bay. He wound up starting at guard most of the season on a 10-6 team. The Colts have built their blocking front on second-day draft picks for most of the 2000 decade. One of the key coaches on any staff is the offensive line coach. You need someone there who can teach young blockers and get them on the field early. In today's NFL, you cannot fear the youth on your roster. The Cowboys do.
I hear about trading down in the upcoming draft but what are the chances and what would it take to trade up to get a guy like Peterson from LSU?
The Cowboys have been trading down ever since Jimmy Johnson left and what's it gotten them -- one playoff victory in the last 14 seasons. You win in this league with quality, not quantity. The blue chippers in the draft annually come in the first 8-10 picks. If you have a selection in the Top 10, you stay there and take the best player. When the St. Louis Rams were dreadful in the 1990s, they landed Kevin Carter , Orlando Pace, Grant Wistrom and Torry Holt with Top 10 picks. All became Pro Bowlers and the Rams became Super Bowl champions with them. So stop all this talk about trading down. I'd take one great player over two good ones any day.
I don't believe that Tony Romo is the quarterback for this team. In my humble opinion, he is not a leader and he can't perform when the pressure is on. That is the reason he was not drafted. What is your opinion?
Tom Brady was a sixth rounder. You can find gems late in drafts and even the undrafted ones. Arian Foster was undrafted in 2009 and won an NFL rushing title in 2010. LeGarrette Blount was undrafted in 2010, cut in training camp and wound up rushing for 1,000 yards this season. Drafting is an imperfect science. High picks are blown and quality players are passed over. Romo has the skills to be an elite quarterback. We've seen that in the regular season. I agree that his leadership skills are lacking. I'm not sure you can ever change that. It takes time to develop into an elite quarterback. The Cowboys invested the time. I do think the clock is ticking. He's 31 this coming season. The window is still open for him. But at some point we're going to need to see an extended playoff run by this team to convince us that Romo can be the answer. Until someone better comes along, though, Tony Romo has to be the answer for the Cowboys. He certainly provides the Cowboy Nation more hope than Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson and Vinny Testaverde.
What should the Cowboys do about their defensive backs? Should they draft one in the first round?
I say take the best player on the board. If it's a left tackle, take him. If it's a cornerback, take him. If it’s a safety, take him. I also wouldn't close my eyes to a quality running back or defensive end. The Cowboys are a 6-10 team. They have plenty of holes. There should be a player available when they go on the clock that can address one of several needs. Do not reach. Take the best player and you'll still be able to address a glaring need.
So should the Cowboys trade Dez Bryant?
No. He's the future. Even if you did want to trade him, you wouldn't receive maximum value in a trade. Let him put up 1,000 yards and go to a Pro Bowl. Then you can get value for him if you feel so inclined to trade him. I wouldn't.
Any chance of a new name joining the Cowboys Ring of Honor? It seems Darren Woodson is overdue. Larry Allen, too.
It's a one-man committee with Jerry Jones making the call. Drew Pearson is overdue as well. I'd be surprised if Allen gets any consideration before he goes into Canton. Woodson should go in soon. He was a great player hurt by the fact he was not named to the 1990s NFL all-decade team. I thought that was an injustice. If you aren't going to be enshrined in Canton, the Ring of Honor is the highest honor out there for him.
Why aren't we seeing Sam Young? Is he that terrible? A bit of an underachiever at Notre Dame, but he has the size. He should have something better than Alex Barron.
Twenty teams are playing in the NFL these days with a Sam Young at right tackle. It mystifies me why we saw so little of him this season. But, as I mentioned above, the Cowboys fear the youth on their roster. That's why it took Doug Free so long to get onto the field.
Is it unusual that so few candidates were interviewed for the Cowboys head coaching job?
If Jerry interviewed three candidates, it’s already two too many. He knew he was going to make Jason Garrett his next head coach the moment he hired Wade Phillips. He was close-minded on this -- it didn't matter who else was available, he was going to promote Garrett.
For your team, would you prefer a veteran backup QB or a backup learning his craft? The Cowboys had both and I wanted to see more of Stephen McGee.
Think young. If you're a non-playoff team like the Cowboys last season, you were better off playing your young backup. If you were a playoff team, you'd want the older guy. I'm with you -- I would have liked to see more of Stephen McGee last season. I'd already seen about 15 years worth of Jon Kitna before he ever took a snap in 2010.
Do you like the defensive coordinator hire in Dallas?
The Cowboys will be more entertaining on defense, also more aggressive. I think you're also going to see more of a mean streak. Also more of a swagger. Those are the common traits of a Ryan-coached defense, whether it be Buddy, Rex or Rob.
Should we draft a center and move Andre Gurode back to guard? There seems to be too many mistakes on the center to quarterback exchange.
Never hurts drafting a couple of linemen each year -- and you don't have to draft them high. The Raiders took Jared Veldheer out of tiny Hillsdale in the third round and he wound up starting at left tackle most of the season on an 8-8 team. The Patriots drafted Ted Larsen in the sixth round, waived him on the final roster cut, and he was claimed by Tampa Bay. He wound up starting at guard most of the season on a 10-6 team. The Colts have built their blocking front on second-day draft picks for most of the 2000 decade. One of the key coaches on any staff is the offensive line coach. You need someone there who can teach young blockers and get them on the field early. In today's NFL, you cannot fear the youth on your roster. The Cowboys do.
I hear about trading down in the upcoming draft but what are the chances and what would it take to trade up to get a guy like Peterson from LSU?
The Cowboys have been trading down ever since Jimmy Johnson left and what's it gotten them -- one playoff victory in the last 14 seasons. You win in this league with quality, not quantity. The blue chippers in the draft annually come in the first 8-10 picks. If you have a selection in the Top 10, you stay there and take the best player. When the St. Louis Rams were dreadful in the 1990s, they landed Kevin Carter , Orlando Pace, Grant Wistrom and Torry Holt with Top 10 picks. All became Pro Bowlers and the Rams became Super Bowl champions with them. So stop all this talk about trading down. I'd take one great player over two good ones any day.
I don't believe that Tony Romo is the quarterback for this team. In my humble opinion, he is not a leader and he can't perform when the pressure is on. That is the reason he was not drafted. What is your opinion?
Tom Brady was a sixth rounder. You can find gems late in drafts and even the undrafted ones. Arian Foster was undrafted in 2009 and won an NFL rushing title in 2010. LeGarrette Blount was undrafted in 2010, cut in training camp and wound up rushing for 1,000 yards this season. Drafting is an imperfect science. High picks are blown and quality players are passed over. Romo has the skills to be an elite quarterback. We've seen that in the regular season. I agree that his leadership skills are lacking. I'm not sure you can ever change that. It takes time to develop into an elite quarterback. The Cowboys invested the time. I do think the clock is ticking. He's 31 this coming season. The window is still open for him. But at some point we're going to need to see an extended playoff run by this team to convince us that Romo can be the answer. Until someone better comes along, though, Tony Romo has to be the answer for the Cowboys. He certainly provides the Cowboy Nation more hope than Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson and Vinny Testaverde.
What should the Cowboys do about their defensive backs? Should they draft one in the first round?
I say take the best player on the board. If it's a left tackle, take him. If it's a cornerback, take him. If it’s a safety, take him. I also wouldn't close my eyes to a quality running back or defensive end. The Cowboys are a 6-10 team. They have plenty of holes. There should be a player available when they go on the clock that can address one of several needs. Do not reach. Take the best player and you'll still be able to address a glaring need.
So should the Cowboys trade Dez Bryant?
No. He's the future. Even if you did want to trade him, you wouldn't receive maximum value in a trade. Let him put up 1,000 yards and go to a Pro Bowl. Then you can get value for him if you feel so inclined to trade him. I wouldn't.
Any chance of a new name joining the Cowboys Ring of Honor? It seems Darren Woodson is overdue. Larry Allen, too.
It's a one-man committee with Jerry Jones making the call. Drew Pearson is overdue as well. I'd be surprised if Allen gets any consideration before he goes into Canton. Woodson should go in soon. He was a great player hurt by the fact he was not named to the 1990s NFL all-decade team. I thought that was an injustice. If you aren't going to be enshrined in Canton, the Ring of Honor is the highest honor out there for him.
Why aren't we seeing Sam Young? Is he that terrible? A bit of an underachiever at Notre Dame, but he has the size. He should have something better than Alex Barron.
Twenty teams are playing in the NFL these days with a Sam Young at right tackle. It mystifies me why we saw so little of him this season. But, as I mentioned above, the Cowboys fear the youth on their roster. That's why it took Doug Free so long to get onto the field.
