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The Dallas Morning News NFL columnist Rick Gosselin answered your questions in a Thursday morning chat. Here are some highlights.
On if Dez Bryant is another Terrell Owens in the making:
Gosselin: Look at Dez. You see his talent. All 32 NFL teams saw his talent -- yet he slid to the 24th overall selection of the draft. Everyone knew if you drafted Dez you were drafting a handful. Bryant has the makings of the next T.O., the next Randy Moss, the next Chad Ochocino, the next Brandon Marshall -- both on and off the field. He's going to be high maintenance. The Cowboys knew that. I think Jerry regretted passing up the talent of a Randy Moss and he wasn't going to repeat his mistake. He also knew the Cowboys would have to work hard to keep Bryant within the confines of "team." But the Cowboys believed the talent of the player was worth the risk in the player.
On the chances Dom Capers comes to the Cowboys as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach:
Gosselin: Lateral move. The Cowboys would have to hire him as head coach to get him away from Green Bay. I'd love to have him. If the Cowboys stay in a 3-4, Capers would be on the short list of coaches I'd want to run it.
On if Jon Kitna brought more leadership to the QB position:
Gosselin: Unquestionably. He's always been well-liked and respected whevever he's been, be it Seattle, Cincinnati or Detroit. I think that's why Kitna has lasted this long. He can motivate a team and move an offense. You're seeing that right now. His problem has always been the turnovers. I think a lack of leadership was the major failing of the 2010 Cowboys. Neither Wade Phillips nor Tony Romo was a natural leader. For a team to have a chance, at least one of those guys has to lead, preferably two. That's not going to change if Romo stays as your quarterback. You'd need a Michael Irvin in the huddle with him to supply the leadership. Maybe that could be Dez Bryant -- but there's a lot of maturing that needs to take place in the meantime.
On if Jerry Jones will get some offensive line help in free agency:
Gosselin: That's been the problem. The Cowboys have relied too long on veteran players. Every team in the NFL is drafting young blockers, developing them and playing them. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted two offensive tackles in 2009 and started them both as rookies. The Jaguars share the AFC South lead today with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts always seem to have a rookie in the starting offensive line. The Raiders are starting a third-round pick at left tackle this season and have more victories than the Cowboys. I've never understood why the Cowboys feared playing young offensive linemen. If this line is going to get better, it's with youth, not age. Draft them.
On Cowboys' fans cutting Roy Williams some slack:
Gosselin: Short of enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, I'm not sure Cowboys fans will ever cut Williams any slack. He has not lived up to the contract Jerry paid him when he acquired Roy in trade from Detroit. He was supposed to be Tony Romo's go-to guy. But Miles Austin developed beyond anyone's expectations and the arrival of Dez Bryant has pushed Roy even deeper into the offensive shadows. If Roy was still playing on his Detroit contract, he wouldn't be taking half the grief he's taking now. But when Jerry gave him that money, the fans expected an Andre Johnson/Calvin Johnson type of performer. With Austin and Bryant now on the flank, Roy will never have the opportunity to put up those type of numbers. So fans will be forever disappointed in him. I like Roy. I liked Roy coming out of college and I liked him coming into this season. I think he worked harder to be a good player last offseason than he ever has. I like him in my three-deep at WR. But the contract bothers folks. They can't and won't get past that.
The Dallas Morning News NFL columnist Rick Gosselin answered your questions in a Thursday morning chat. Here are some highlights.
On if Dez Bryant is another Terrell Owens in the making:
Gosselin: Look at Dez. You see his talent. All 32 NFL teams saw his talent -- yet he slid to the 24th overall selection of the draft. Everyone knew if you drafted Dez you were drafting a handful. Bryant has the makings of the next T.O., the next Randy Moss, the next Chad Ochocino, the next Brandon Marshall -- both on and off the field. He's going to be high maintenance. The Cowboys knew that. I think Jerry regretted passing up the talent of a Randy Moss and he wasn't going to repeat his mistake. He also knew the Cowboys would have to work hard to keep Bryant within the confines of "team." But the Cowboys believed the talent of the player was worth the risk in the player.
On the chances Dom Capers comes to the Cowboys as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach:
Gosselin: Lateral move. The Cowboys would have to hire him as head coach to get him away from Green Bay. I'd love to have him. If the Cowboys stay in a 3-4, Capers would be on the short list of coaches I'd want to run it.
On if Jon Kitna brought more leadership to the QB position:
Gosselin: Unquestionably. He's always been well-liked and respected whevever he's been, be it Seattle, Cincinnati or Detroit. I think that's why Kitna has lasted this long. He can motivate a team and move an offense. You're seeing that right now. His problem has always been the turnovers. I think a lack of leadership was the major failing of the 2010 Cowboys. Neither Wade Phillips nor Tony Romo was a natural leader. For a team to have a chance, at least one of those guys has to lead, preferably two. That's not going to change if Romo stays as your quarterback. You'd need a Michael Irvin in the huddle with him to supply the leadership. Maybe that could be Dez Bryant -- but there's a lot of maturing that needs to take place in the meantime.
On if Jerry Jones will get some offensive line help in free agency:
Gosselin: That's been the problem. The Cowboys have relied too long on veteran players. Every team in the NFL is drafting young blockers, developing them and playing them. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted two offensive tackles in 2009 and started them both as rookies. The Jaguars share the AFC South lead today with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts always seem to have a rookie in the starting offensive line. The Raiders are starting a third-round pick at left tackle this season and have more victories than the Cowboys. I've never understood why the Cowboys feared playing young offensive linemen. If this line is going to get better, it's with youth, not age. Draft them.
On Cowboys' fans cutting Roy Williams some slack:
Gosselin: Short of enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, I'm not sure Cowboys fans will ever cut Williams any slack. He has not lived up to the contract Jerry paid him when he acquired Roy in trade from Detroit. He was supposed to be Tony Romo's go-to guy. But Miles Austin developed beyond anyone's expectations and the arrival of Dez Bryant has pushed Roy even deeper into the offensive shadows. If Roy was still playing on his Detroit contract, he wouldn't be taking half the grief he's taking now. But when Jerry gave him that money, the fans expected an Andre Johnson/Calvin Johnson type of performer. With Austin and Bryant now on the flank, Roy will never have the opportunity to put up those type of numbers. So fans will be forever disappointed in him. I like Roy. I liked Roy coming out of college and I liked him coming into this season. I think he worked harder to be a good player last offseason than he ever has. I like him in my three-deep at WR. But the contract bothers folks. They can't and won't get past that.
