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Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Jones and the Cowboys still feel good about their core, but realize certain upgrades are needed.
IRVING, Texas - By the end of draft weekend, it became evident the Cowboys would need free agency to fill the rest of their roster needs.
Of course they do. Eight rookie draft picks aren't quite enough.
And in saying that, a lot's changed in a year, huh?
Back on Super Bowl week, reflecting on how the host franchise must re-route back toward the big game, Jerry Jones admitted roster complacency factored into the Cowboys' 2010 failures.
"I've done my worst work when I thought I had a pretty good hand," Jones said. "I started the season off saying, 'What's not to like about where we are?'"
Now eight months later, Jones clearly isn't satisfied with their circumstances. A top-10 pick sounds nice, but it means they weren't very good the year before. And he has promised they'll do whatever they can within the league's undecided financial structure to improve personnel.
Yes, a lot's changed in a year. For a team that felt they had very few holes in 2010 - evidenced by only two new starters (Doug Free and Alan Ball) - they now believe certain parts of the roster need renovation.
Some of it will be gradual. See, the Cowboys still like a large chunk of their veteran core, and Jones has indicated that on more than one occasion since the season ended. They believe they fundamentally underachieved a year after the same team won a division title and a playoff game. Maybe that 2009 group overachieved, but the Cowboys have been in playoff contention every year with Tony Romo and Co. - until 2010. And he missed 10 games with a fractured collarbone.
With all due respect to Wade Phillips, I believe team brass felt on-field discipline was lacking, that Romo's absence left the offense without its top playmaker (despite Jon Kitna's success), and that for whatever strange reason, the defense just didn't execute Phillips' schemes with the same consistency. A coaching change had to be made, and now it's up to Jason Garrett and Rob Ryan to maximize their players' production.
That doesn't mean the roster can return fully intact again. And they know that.
I don't believe you'll see 10 new starters next year. But you'll see more than two - perhaps five or six. Some, like Dez Bryant and Sean Lee, are incumbent challengers for jobs. Others, like first-round pick Tyron Smith, must step in and perform.
Last month I said this draft was the most important in recent memory because if the current core is expected to contend again, they need help around them as well as better depth. The 2011 class, they hope, has provided a mix of immediate starters (Smith, maybe Shaun Chapas) key rotation players (DeMarco Murray, Bruce Carter if healthy, maybe Dwayne Harris), depth (David Arkin, Bill Nagy) special-teamers (Carter, Chapas, Josh Thomas, Harris). This roster isn't as young as it used to be. The average age of last year's expected starters is now 29.0 years old, creeping toward 3-0.
All eight picks helped fill needs: offensive tackle, inside linebacker, running back, guard/center, cornerback, wide receiver, fullback. Yet there's work left to do.
Still need an experienced free safety with Ball likely moving back to corner, and it doesn't surprise me that the Cowboys passed in the draft because they thought the pool was very shallow overall. They'll need a strong safety, too, if Gerald Sensabaugh takes a better offer elsewhere.
Still could use another defensive lineman. Jones hinted D-Line, along with safety, will be free agent targets, but the market for 3-4 ends and tackles looks thin. Few appear to be clear upgrades over Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher, and maybe the Cowboys actually feel re-signing some combination of the three will be good enough. Still, they need pass rushing help.
And depending on whether Kyle Kosier re-signs, guard or even backup tackle could be targets. Alex Barron shouldn't be back. Would they be comfortable with Montrae Holland or Arkin at left guard?
All of this depends on how much the Cowboys can spend under the to-be-determined guidelines, and keep in mind some money must go to Doug Free's new contract.
But it's clear the Cowboys have to be more active than last offseason if they want to stay competitive. The draft was only a start.
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Jones and the Cowboys still feel good about their core, but realize certain upgrades are needed.
IRVING, Texas - By the end of draft weekend, it became evident the Cowboys would need free agency to fill the rest of their roster needs.
Of course they do. Eight rookie draft picks aren't quite enough.
And in saying that, a lot's changed in a year, huh?
Back on Super Bowl week, reflecting on how the host franchise must re-route back toward the big game, Jerry Jones admitted roster complacency factored into the Cowboys' 2010 failures.
"I've done my worst work when I thought I had a pretty good hand," Jones said. "I started the season off saying, 'What's not to like about where we are?'"
Now eight months later, Jones clearly isn't satisfied with their circumstances. A top-10 pick sounds nice, but it means they weren't very good the year before. And he has promised they'll do whatever they can within the league's undecided financial structure to improve personnel.
Yes, a lot's changed in a year. For a team that felt they had very few holes in 2010 - evidenced by only two new starters (Doug Free and Alan Ball) - they now believe certain parts of the roster need renovation.
Some of it will be gradual. See, the Cowboys still like a large chunk of their veteran core, and Jones has indicated that on more than one occasion since the season ended. They believe they fundamentally underachieved a year after the same team won a division title and a playoff game. Maybe that 2009 group overachieved, but the Cowboys have been in playoff contention every year with Tony Romo and Co. - until 2010. And he missed 10 games with a fractured collarbone.
With all due respect to Wade Phillips, I believe team brass felt on-field discipline was lacking, that Romo's absence left the offense without its top playmaker (despite Jon Kitna's success), and that for whatever strange reason, the defense just didn't execute Phillips' schemes with the same consistency. A coaching change had to be made, and now it's up to Jason Garrett and Rob Ryan to maximize their players' production.
That doesn't mean the roster can return fully intact again. And they know that.
I don't believe you'll see 10 new starters next year. But you'll see more than two - perhaps five or six. Some, like Dez Bryant and Sean Lee, are incumbent challengers for jobs. Others, like first-round pick Tyron Smith, must step in and perform.
Last month I said this draft was the most important in recent memory because if the current core is expected to contend again, they need help around them as well as better depth. The 2011 class, they hope, has provided a mix of immediate starters (Smith, maybe Shaun Chapas) key rotation players (DeMarco Murray, Bruce Carter if healthy, maybe Dwayne Harris), depth (David Arkin, Bill Nagy) special-teamers (Carter, Chapas, Josh Thomas, Harris). This roster isn't as young as it used to be. The average age of last year's expected starters is now 29.0 years old, creeping toward 3-0.
All eight picks helped fill needs: offensive tackle, inside linebacker, running back, guard/center, cornerback, wide receiver, fullback. Yet there's work left to do.
Still need an experienced free safety with Ball likely moving back to corner, and it doesn't surprise me that the Cowboys passed in the draft because they thought the pool was very shallow overall. They'll need a strong safety, too, if Gerald Sensabaugh takes a better offer elsewhere.
Still could use another defensive lineman. Jones hinted D-Line, along with safety, will be free agent targets, but the market for 3-4 ends and tackles looks thin. Few appear to be clear upgrades over Marcus Spears, Stephen Bowen and Jason Hatcher, and maybe the Cowboys actually feel re-signing some combination of the three will be good enough. Still, they need pass rushing help.
And depending on whether Kyle Kosier re-signs, guard or even backup tackle could be targets. Alex Barron shouldn't be back. Would they be comfortable with Montrae Holland or Arkin at left guard?
All of this depends on how much the Cowboys can spend under the to-be-determined guidelines, and keep in mind some money must go to Doug Free's new contract.
But it's clear the Cowboys have to be more active than last offseason if they want to stay competitive. The draft was only a start.