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Each week, SportsDay columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answers your questions in our weekly Cowboys newsletter. It’s easy to sign up for and free to receive. Just click over to our newsletter page.
Some highlights of his most recent newsletter:
Heather Hammond from Nashville writes, “ There were at least three kickers — Shaun Suisham, Nick Folk and Billy Cundiff — on playoff teams who were once Dallas Cowboys. I wonder if that will make Jerry realize David Buehler is not the answer.”
TAYLOR: Billy Cundiff kicked for eight different teams before finding success with Baltimore. There’s not a fan in Pittsburgh who wants the Super Bowl to come down to a field goal on the final play. Nick Folk has yet to prove he has overcome the struggles that made the Cowboys cut him. Here’s the point: Each one of those guys deserved to be cut, when he was released. Each had been given numerous chances to succeed, and each failed. Buehler has wonderful potential. If - and that’s a big if - he can harness his talent, then he will be among the best in the league.
Jay Jenson from Forney wonders, “ Since Anthony Spencer has not turned into the pass rusher we thought he might but is supposed to be a good run defender, how about moving him to inside linebacker and drafting Von Miller to play outside?”
TAYLOR: The outside linebacker on the strong-side has to be good against the run. Miller seems more suited for a weak-side linebacker because he’s only 237 pounds and wouldn’t have to deal with a tight end on a regular basis. Spencer is 260 pounds and does a consistently good job against the run, even though he’s lacking as a pass rusher.
Michael Lunceford writes, “The Cowboys are just one GM away from being a true contender.”
TAYLOR: It depends on whether you think Jerry Jones is the single biggest issue keeping the Cowboys from being more than a .500 team. If the answer is yes, then Dallas isn’t going anywhere with him at the helm. If the answer is no, then Dallas has an opportunity in the future. The biggest crime Jerry has committed with the Cowboys is undercutting the coach’s power. If you look at the talent he has put on the team, then you can say he’s done a pretty good job — most folks in the know call this a talented team — but when you undermine the coach’s authority, then the players don’t respect their leadership and issues occur. Jason Garrett might be strong enough to keep GM Jerry in his place. We’re about to find out.
Chris Mack from Virginia writes, “I would like your thoughts on a recent Mike Jenkins’ quote: “I’m a man corner. That’s what I came here to play.” This quote epitomizes one of the myriad problems with the Cowboys. A great athlete, Jenkins has played poorly in man coverage, yet he states that that is what he does, implying that he doesn’t like zone coverage. Do you feel it is possible for a coach to change this type of mentality among the team?”
TAYLOR: It’s really no different from Orlando Scandrick’s desire to play zone coverage because he prefers that over man. Guys always want to play in a system that gives them the best opportunity to accentuate their strengths, whether it’s cornerbacks, running backs, receivers or quarterbacks. Jenkins has shown he can be a playmaker, but he must prove it again because he was awful last season. It’s about technique and confidence. When he uses better technique and plays with more confidence, he’ll have better results.
Ron H. from Houston wonders, “ Do you still believe the Cowboys’ secondary is better without Ken Hamlin? He may not have made big plays or created takeaways, but he didn’t allow them to get roasted either. Which would you prefer?”
TAYLOR: Ken Hamlin is a nice guy who does some quality work in the community, but he was an absolute non-factor his final two seasons in Dallas. He didn’t make plays and was a liability against the run. Even if he’s better than Gerald Sensabaugh and Alan Ball, it doesn’t matter because those guys are average at best.
Some highlights of his most recent newsletter:
Heather Hammond from Nashville writes, “ There were at least three kickers — Shaun Suisham, Nick Folk and Billy Cundiff — on playoff teams who were once Dallas Cowboys. I wonder if that will make Jerry realize David Buehler is not the answer.”
TAYLOR: Billy Cundiff kicked for eight different teams before finding success with Baltimore. There’s not a fan in Pittsburgh who wants the Super Bowl to come down to a field goal on the final play. Nick Folk has yet to prove he has overcome the struggles that made the Cowboys cut him. Here’s the point: Each one of those guys deserved to be cut, when he was released. Each had been given numerous chances to succeed, and each failed. Buehler has wonderful potential. If - and that’s a big if - he can harness his talent, then he will be among the best in the league.
Jay Jenson from Forney wonders, “ Since Anthony Spencer has not turned into the pass rusher we thought he might but is supposed to be a good run defender, how about moving him to inside linebacker and drafting Von Miller to play outside?”
TAYLOR: The outside linebacker on the strong-side has to be good against the run. Miller seems more suited for a weak-side linebacker because he’s only 237 pounds and wouldn’t have to deal with a tight end on a regular basis. Spencer is 260 pounds and does a consistently good job against the run, even though he’s lacking as a pass rusher.
Michael Lunceford writes, “The Cowboys are just one GM away from being a true contender.”
TAYLOR: It depends on whether you think Jerry Jones is the single biggest issue keeping the Cowboys from being more than a .500 team. If the answer is yes, then Dallas isn’t going anywhere with him at the helm. If the answer is no, then Dallas has an opportunity in the future. The biggest crime Jerry has committed with the Cowboys is undercutting the coach’s power. If you look at the talent he has put on the team, then you can say he’s done a pretty good job — most folks in the know call this a talented team — but when you undermine the coach’s authority, then the players don’t respect their leadership and issues occur. Jason Garrett might be strong enough to keep GM Jerry in his place. We’re about to find out.
Chris Mack from Virginia writes, “I would like your thoughts on a recent Mike Jenkins’ quote: “I’m a man corner. That’s what I came here to play.” This quote epitomizes one of the myriad problems with the Cowboys. A great athlete, Jenkins has played poorly in man coverage, yet he states that that is what he does, implying that he doesn’t like zone coverage. Do you feel it is possible for a coach to change this type of mentality among the team?”
TAYLOR: It’s really no different from Orlando Scandrick’s desire to play zone coverage because he prefers that over man. Guys always want to play in a system that gives them the best opportunity to accentuate their strengths, whether it’s cornerbacks, running backs, receivers or quarterbacks. Jenkins has shown he can be a playmaker, but he must prove it again because he was awful last season. It’s about technique and confidence. When he uses better technique and plays with more confidence, he’ll have better results.
Ron H. from Houston wonders, “ Do you still believe the Cowboys’ secondary is better without Ken Hamlin? He may not have made big plays or created takeaways, but he didn’t allow them to get roasted either. Which would you prefer?”
TAYLOR: Ken Hamlin is a nice guy who does some quality work in the community, but he was an absolute non-factor his final two seasons in Dallas. He didn’t make plays and was a liability against the run. Even if he’s better than Gerald Sensabaugh and Alan Ball, it doesn’t matter because those guys are average at best.
