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By JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR
Published 03 March 2011 11:53 PM
Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answered your questions in his weekly e-mail newsletter - Inside the Dallas Cowboys. Here are some highlights.
Hudson Houck says he has nothing but love for young offensive linemen.
OK, perhaps that's a little strong.
But the veteran offensive line coach insists he doesn't have a bias against playing inexperienced offensive linemen.
"I like guys who can play. Larry Allen played as a rookie. Flozell Adams played as a rookie," Houck said. "I love young guys. If you get the right guy, you can put them in there."
The reason for questions about Houck's like or dislike for young offensive linemen is obvious: The Cowboys' line needs a facelift.
Marc Colombo will probably be released, and there's a good chance Kyle Kosier will test free agency. We all expect the Cowboys to draft a lineman, which has seemingly been an effort in futility lately.
All we can remember is guys like Jacob Rodgers, James Marten and Robert Brewster — premium picks who contributed nothing.
The Cowboys have an aging offensive line that struggles to control the line of scrimmage. For that to change, Houck must commit to playing youngsters and living with the mistakes they inevitably make.
"You need a good athlete with good reach," Houck said. "He has to have enough confidence in his skills that he can play without thinking about what he's going to do — and when he gets beat, he doesn't question whether he has the talent to perform at this level."
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: In the event there isn’t a lockout, how does this off-season look in how the structure of workouts, conditioning, etc than under Wade Phillips. How similar will Jason Garrett be to Jimmy Johnson?
Harvey Lewis, Los Angeles
TAYLOR: There won’t be any of that. The players will be locked out — really, how silly is that? — and they will be responsible for working out on their own. Actually, the more interesting aspect to me is that if you’re not drafted, then you’re just in limbo. There won’t be any undrafted free agents signed, in part, because we won’t know how much rookies are supposed to make the team. Even though the rookies are drafted, they won’t be signed for the same reason. Remember, Tony Romo and Miles Austin were undrafted free agents. They’d be sitting on the streets this year if they weren’t drafted.
* * *
Q: What will the Cowboys do with Marion Barber, if anything? In the event of a trade, how much appeal does he have, if any?
Nathan Eltzholtz, Lewisville
TAYLOR: There’s a good chance Barber gets cut after June to save a few more dollars against the salary cap, but he’s one of Jason Garrett’s favorite players, so maybe he can figure out a way to hang around for one more season. I’d say he has less than zero trade value.
* * *
Q: What’s the probability of Marcus Spears , Marion Barber, Gerald Sensabaugh and Roy Williams being on next year’s team?
Erik Collins, Austin
TAYLOR: Not too high. Spears and Sensabaugh have been told they can test free agency, and I addressed Barber in the previous question. Here’s an interesting scenario: What if the strike lasts so long there’s no time for free agency? What if the league says all free agents can return to their team with a 10-20 percent raise and they will be free agents again after the season. That’s not a fact, just a theory.
* * *
Q: When it’s all said and done, which free agents do you think will be on the Cowboys’ 2011 roster? Bob Sanders?
Christopher Perez, Victoria
TAYLOR: It’s really too early to say because we don’t know the economic landscape that will emerge after a new CBA is signed. But I don’t like Sanders because he’s always hurt — nine games in three seasons. It doesn’t matter what kind of deal you give him if he’s always hurt. If he wasn’t, then the Colts would be happy to pay him.
* * *
Q: Why would the Cowboys consider cutting Roy Williams, Leonard Davis and Marion Barber if they can be stop-gap measures while the rookies are getting up to speed?
Roger Haywood, Las Vegas
TAYLOR: I can tell it’s not your money. Do you want to play Marion Barber $5-6 million to be a stop-gap? What about $9 million for Davis as a stop-gap? That’s just not fiscally smart.
* * *
Q: With the possibility that the entire right side of the offensive line could be replaced, do you see Kyle Kosier re-signed and kicked to right guard to balance things out?
Daniel Blue, Lyman, SC
TAYLOR: I don’t know that Kosier will be on the team. He’s a free agent. I don’t know that the Cowboys will want to spend what it will take to re-sign him. He’s missed 16 games in the last three seasons, and he’ll be 33 next season. Dallas gave Montrae Holland a two-year deal, and he’s due a $500,000 roster bonus. I think he’s your starting left guard next season.
* * *
Q: How much more or less is the Cowboys franchise worth, compared to this time last year?
Brian Beverly, Los Angeles
TAYLOR: According to Forbes Magazine, the Cowboys topped the rankings for the fourth straight year. The Cowboys rose in value by a league-best 9 percent to $1.81 billion.
* * *
Q: Do you think Tony Romo is going to be gun shy now that he has had a major injury?
Scott Hood, Watauga, Texas
TAYLOR: I wouldn’t think so. He doesn’t really have a history of being injury-prone. Chris Gronkowski missed a block, and Romo got blasted.
* * *
Q: Running back has been an area where Dallas has not fared well, do you think Mark Ingram could end up being drafted by the Cowboys?
Jonathan Green, Rowlett
TAYLOR: Not after he ran slow at the NFL combine. Dallas could use a runner with the potential to be special. I don’t see that from Ingram’s 40-time. Look at the best runners in the NFL, and they’re all smoking. Emmitt Smith wasn’t fast, but his vision made up for it. Smith, though, is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Who sees that in Ingram?
Published 03 March 2011 11:53 PM
Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answered your questions in his weekly e-mail newsletter - Inside the Dallas Cowboys. Here are some highlights.
Hudson Houck says he has nothing but love for young offensive linemen.
OK, perhaps that's a little strong.
But the veteran offensive line coach insists he doesn't have a bias against playing inexperienced offensive linemen.
"I like guys who can play. Larry Allen played as a rookie. Flozell Adams played as a rookie," Houck said. "I love young guys. If you get the right guy, you can put them in there."
The reason for questions about Houck's like or dislike for young offensive linemen is obvious: The Cowboys' line needs a facelift.
Marc Colombo will probably be released, and there's a good chance Kyle Kosier will test free agency. We all expect the Cowboys to draft a lineman, which has seemingly been an effort in futility lately.
All we can remember is guys like Jacob Rodgers, James Marten and Robert Brewster — premium picks who contributed nothing.
The Cowboys have an aging offensive line that struggles to control the line of scrimmage. For that to change, Houck must commit to playing youngsters and living with the mistakes they inevitably make.
"You need a good athlete with good reach," Houck said. "He has to have enough confidence in his skills that he can play without thinking about what he's going to do — and when he gets beat, he doesn't question whether he has the talent to perform at this level."
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: In the event there isn’t a lockout, how does this off-season look in how the structure of workouts, conditioning, etc than under Wade Phillips. How similar will Jason Garrett be to Jimmy Johnson?
Harvey Lewis, Los Angeles
TAYLOR: There won’t be any of that. The players will be locked out — really, how silly is that? — and they will be responsible for working out on their own. Actually, the more interesting aspect to me is that if you’re not drafted, then you’re just in limbo. There won’t be any undrafted free agents signed, in part, because we won’t know how much rookies are supposed to make the team. Even though the rookies are drafted, they won’t be signed for the same reason. Remember, Tony Romo and Miles Austin were undrafted free agents. They’d be sitting on the streets this year if they weren’t drafted.
* * *
Q: What will the Cowboys do with Marion Barber, if anything? In the event of a trade, how much appeal does he have, if any?
Nathan Eltzholtz, Lewisville
TAYLOR: There’s a good chance Barber gets cut after June to save a few more dollars against the salary cap, but he’s one of Jason Garrett’s favorite players, so maybe he can figure out a way to hang around for one more season. I’d say he has less than zero trade value.
* * *
Q: What’s the probability of Marcus Spears , Marion Barber, Gerald Sensabaugh and Roy Williams being on next year’s team?
Erik Collins, Austin
TAYLOR: Not too high. Spears and Sensabaugh have been told they can test free agency, and I addressed Barber in the previous question. Here’s an interesting scenario: What if the strike lasts so long there’s no time for free agency? What if the league says all free agents can return to their team with a 10-20 percent raise and they will be free agents again after the season. That’s not a fact, just a theory.
* * *
Q: When it’s all said and done, which free agents do you think will be on the Cowboys’ 2011 roster? Bob Sanders?
Christopher Perez, Victoria
TAYLOR: It’s really too early to say because we don’t know the economic landscape that will emerge after a new CBA is signed. But I don’t like Sanders because he’s always hurt — nine games in three seasons. It doesn’t matter what kind of deal you give him if he’s always hurt. If he wasn’t, then the Colts would be happy to pay him.
* * *
Q: Why would the Cowboys consider cutting Roy Williams, Leonard Davis and Marion Barber if they can be stop-gap measures while the rookies are getting up to speed?
Roger Haywood, Las Vegas
TAYLOR: I can tell it’s not your money. Do you want to play Marion Barber $5-6 million to be a stop-gap? What about $9 million for Davis as a stop-gap? That’s just not fiscally smart.
* * *
Q: With the possibility that the entire right side of the offensive line could be replaced, do you see Kyle Kosier re-signed and kicked to right guard to balance things out?
Daniel Blue, Lyman, SC
TAYLOR: I don’t know that Kosier will be on the team. He’s a free agent. I don’t know that the Cowboys will want to spend what it will take to re-sign him. He’s missed 16 games in the last three seasons, and he’ll be 33 next season. Dallas gave Montrae Holland a two-year deal, and he’s due a $500,000 roster bonus. I think he’s your starting left guard next season.
* * *
Q: How much more or less is the Cowboys franchise worth, compared to this time last year?
Brian Beverly, Los Angeles
TAYLOR: According to Forbes Magazine, the Cowboys topped the rankings for the fourth straight year. The Cowboys rose in value by a league-best 9 percent to $1.81 billion.
* * *
Q: Do you think Tony Romo is going to be gun shy now that he has had a major injury?
Scott Hood, Watauga, Texas
TAYLOR: I wouldn’t think so. He doesn’t really have a history of being injury-prone. Chris Gronkowski missed a block, and Romo got blasted.
* * *
Q: Running back has been an area where Dallas has not fared well, do you think Mark Ingram could end up being drafted by the Cowboys?
Jonathan Green, Rowlett
TAYLOR: Not after he ran slow at the NFL combine. Dallas could use a runner with the potential to be special. I don’t see that from Ingram’s 40-time. Look at the best runners in the NFL, and they’re all smoking. Emmitt Smith wasn’t fast, but his vision made up for it. Smith, though, is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Who sees that in Ingram?
