2008 Offseason

[boogiesdad]

Regular Offense
POS STARTER 2nd 3rd 4th
WR Terrell Owens Sam Hurd Miles Austin
WR Patrick Crayton Isaiah Stanback Terry Glenn

Crayton has been re-uped. But clearly is not a #2 receiver. Glenn may or not return to a starter status.
Stanback is out. We need to draft, sign or trade for a #2 receiver.

TE Jason Witten Anthony Fasano Tony Curtis

We are set here.

LT Flozell Adams Pat McQuistan Doug Free
LG Kyle Kosier
C Andre Gurode Cory Procter L.P. Ladouceur
RG Leonard Davis Joe Berger
RT Marc Colombo James Marten

Clearly we need to invest in the middle rounds on our offensive lines.
Berger is a FA.

QB Tony Romo Brad Johnson
We are set here.

FB Oliver Hoyte Deon Anderson
RB Julius Jones Marion Barber Tyson Thompson

Jones is definately a goner. I still don't think Barber can last a whole game or season with his brusing style.




Base 3-4 D
POS STARTER 2nd 3rd 4th
LDE Marcus Spears Jason Hatcher
NTJason Ferguson Jeremiah Ratliff Akin Ayodele Tank Johnson
RDE Chris Canty Stephen Bowen

I'm happy with this group. Some depth is still needed.

LOLB Greg Ellis Anthony Spencer
LILB Bradie James Bobby Carpenter
RILB Akin Ayodele Kevin Burnett
ROLB DeMarcus Ware Justin Rogers

Probaly the best group in the NFL.

CB Terence Newman Nathan Jones Evan Oglesby
SS Roy Williams Keith Davis
FS Ken Hamlin Pat Watkins Courtney Brown
CB Anthony Henry Jacques Reeves

Hamlin will rake in the dough. We need another shut down corner.


FREE AGENTS
2008 unrestricted free agents

Flozell Adams

Patrick Crayton (resigned)

Keith Davis

Ken Hamlin (hit the jackpot)

Julius Jones (needs to go)

Nate Jones

Jacques Reeves



2008 restricted free agents

Marion Barber

Joe Berger

Chris Canty

L.P. Ladouceur

Jay Ratliff (resigned)

Tyson Thompson


2008 restricted free-agent tender offers
First and third: $2.562 million

First: $2.017 million

Second: $1.417 million

Low: $927,000

FROM: FOXSPORTS.COM
Biggest need area: Offensive assistants. The Cowboys could be in need of a new coordinator and offensive line coach if Jason Garrett (Baltimore) and Tony Sparano (Miami) leave for head coaching jobs elsewhere.
Player/coach to watch: Left tackle Flozell Adams. Adams is arguably the NFL's best shut-down left tackle and will expect to get paid accordingly as a pending unrestricted free agent. The Cowboys may not want to spend that much on the 31-year-old Adams, especially after selecting potential replacements Pat McQuistan and Doug Free in the past two drafts.
Projected cap space: $16 million. The Cowboys are loaded with young talent already under contract through at least 2008 after negotiating in-season extensions with quarterback Tony Romo, nose tackle Jay Ratliff and wide receiver Patrick Crayton. Running back Marion Barber and cornerback Terence Newman are the next Cowboys who could cash in with new deals. Dallas seems likely to let Ken Hamlin test the free-agent market and may seek a free safety with better coverage skills to complement strong safety Roy Williams.
2008 outlook: Excellent provided they learned a lesson from their early postseason exit.

My Projected Draft Picks:
2008 Draft Picks
#22 Limas Sweet WR Texas Sweet would be a perfect fit here. If we are so lucky
#31 Leodis McKelvin CB Troy 5-11 4.4 speed may be the perfect guy to stand across the field from Newman.
#63 Johnathan Stewart RB Oregon He should be the perfect compliment to Barber.
#95 Either another WR, CB or invest in the OL
#127 Definately OL
#157 Definately OL
#189 Best Left on Board
#221 Best Left on Board

[catalyst]

Good assessment of our favorite team. I think cowboys need a #1 receiver. There is talk of Cowboys trading a 1st for Roy Williams. I think that would make sense, and acquire a #1 proven receiver. I think Glenn retires. That makes Owens, Williams, Crayton, with the following year Williams, Stanback(?), Crayton.

The net of it is that Cowboys are very well positioned to draft or acquire players that they need. I think you go WR and CB early unless someone really good falls. I think to go trade these two 1st and next years for McFadden is insanity. I love Talib, and see him as a great pick for Dallas. I do not want Cowboys to go draft a wispy WR like Jackson or Doucet. I want a big strong fast guy to fill TO's shoes after next year. I want a fast RB to fill Jones' shoes and provide Barber some rest in the 3rd so he can come in annd beat down the defense in the 4th. The back up CBs here stink, and clearly another one is needed. I am not sure you draft 3 OLs. I think you go BPA and catch the falling players.

[boogiesdad]

Roy is solid, while not a good cover guy, he has a place on this team.

[catalyst]

Roy is more interested in making highlight films. I think Hamlin is a better technical SS, and Watkins was really coming on as a FS. Roy needs to commit to being a football player and nit a highlight feature. He is undeserving of the last two pro bowl games. We talk about high basketball IQ. Roy has very low Football IQ. I think in the past Woodson helped him on the field, and then Roy thought he was Woodson and teams would fear andn respect him. When I hear QBs say they specifically looked for receivers withe #31 guarding them, that says it all. Also, his stupid horsecollar tackles. The penalties were designed for him, and he continues to tackle players like that. how stupid do you have to be to ignore a "Roy Williams" rule. He is so football dumb that he probably thought it was for the Lions Roy Williams. Part of this could also be giving him more responsibilities than his feeble mind can handle. Woodson overcompensated for him.

[collin_k41]

It would be sweet if the boys got limas sweed. I think we should also look at a RB with breakaway speed like johnathon stewart or felix jones

[HMFFL]

Cowboys analyze prospects for 2008

Top prospects at three positions the Cowboys likely will target in the draft:

Wide receiver

Limas Sweed, Texas (6-5, 220): Will miss the Senior Bowl after reinjuring his surgically repaired left wrist during practice. Possesses size and good hands, but the wrist leaves a question mark.

DeSean Jackson, California (6-0, 166): Lightweight play-maker not expected to fall into Cowboys' range in first round.

Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma (6-4, 219): Player from Longview came out as a junior and had 19 TD catches combined the past two seasons. Projected to go in the top 15 picks.

Mario Manningham, Michigan (6-0, 178): Junior had 12 TDs and 1,174 receiving yards and is a big-play threat.

Jordy Nelson, Kansas State (6-2, 216): Answered some doubters with an impressive showing at Senior Bowl workouts, getting past corners and showing great hands.

Best shot for Cowboys: Manningham, above, could be the vertical speed threat the Cowboys need. He never averaged less than 16 yards per catch in any season at Michigan.

Cornerback

Mike Jenkins, South Florida (6-0, 197): Would be ideal for the Cowboys, but is not expected to be around late in the first round. Same school as Cowboys cornerback Anthony Henry.

Leodis McKelvin, Troy (5-11, 186): His stock is soaring. McKelvin is physical, excels in all forms of coverage and led the nation with three punt returns for touchdowns.

Reggie Smith, Oklahoma (6-0, 196): Former safety could be available at the bottom of the first round.

Aqib Talib, Kansas (6-2, 205): Player from Richardson was an amazing play-maker and could be the first corner taken.

Tracy Porter, Indiana (5-11, 181): Was told at the Senior Bowl he was comparable to the Cowboys' Terence Newman.

Best shot for Cowboys: Smith, above, has good size, ball-hawking skills to go with speed, and experience as a punt returner.

Running backs

Darren McFadden, Arkansas (6-2, 205): The Cowboys thought the Cleveland pick would give them a shot at him. Now could Jerry Jones and Al Davis be working a deal for the Raiders' No. 4 overall pick?

Jonathan Stewart, Oregon (5-11, 230): Had two games of 250 or more rushing yards this season and averaged 6.2 yards per carry.

Felix Jones, Arkansas (6-0, 207): McFadden's backfield mate produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 8.7 yards per carry this season.

Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois (5-11, 224): Did you see the 79-yard run against USC in the Rose Bowl. Enough proof.

Jamaal Charles, Texas (6-1, 205): Part of a talented crop of junior backs and could jump in quickly as a change-of-pace backup.

Best shot for Cowboys: Jones. He's a Razorback, he'll be available, and Jerry Jones has gone too long without a Hog on the roster. Plus, Jones, above, is used to sharing the load like he would have to do with Marion Barber.

Link

[catalyst]

Good article. I always forget to read the STartelgram. Great sports writers that get the scoop.

[shakeandbake]

Should the Cowboys make a run at Asante Samuel? Samuel and Newman would be near the top in the NFL. Not sure though how much he will be asking though. It may be better to look at a corner via the draft.

[studcrackers]

asante is going to get a record deal unless he reups w/the patriots think what nate clement got last year and he might get more. we dont have that kind of cap room to sign him resign our own guys and sign all our draft picks. we're going to get a corner in the draft

[catalyst]

IRELAND AND PARCELLS CUTS IN MIAMI

Any of these interest the board?

Marty Booker
L.J. Shelton
Keith Traylor
Anthony Alabi,
Anthony Bryant,
Marion Dukes,
Marquay Love
Joe Toledo.

Shelton would be of interest, and I think Booker still has something if Glenn retires.

[studcrackers]

if keith traylor was like 5 years younger id consider him perfect for a 3-4 NT, booker sucks id rather let hurd/austin/stanback develop

if we lose flozell id consider shelton

[catalyst]

I guess Booker is old, 32 in camp. He could not hurt being in camp.

[studcrackers]

its not that he's old he's just not that good, he doesnt score td's either, he's just a mediocre WR on a bad team

if people want to develop our young WR's (not to mention add another one in the draft) you cant bring in these old castoffs that wont bring anything to the team

[catalyst]

I can buy that. Just looking at the opportunity.

What kind of blocker is shelton? His dad was a hell of a power forward in the day. My image of him has always been when Leonard Davis plays Tackle. But if Adams did leave, could he replace him?

[studcrackers]

who shelton or davis? im sure shelton could do ok but i want davis to stay at G. there's a reason he was considered a disappointment in arizona b/c he was to big and slow to be a tackle

i think id franchise flozell and keep him for one more year and either see how the progression of our young backups go or you could draft a tackle this year b/c its a good year for them and one or 2 is bound to fall in the draft

[catalyst]

I mean shelton. I do not want Davis on the outside.

[Geddy]

What do you guys think of making a run at Bernard Berrian? I've always thought the guy could be a great receiver with his speed and agility, and with the quarterback situation in Chicago, his full potential hasn't been seen yet.

[studcrackers]

he can stretch the field, which would help especially if we release glenn, it'd give us 2 WR's that are great #3 WR's or decent #2 WR's in him and crayton

o and anyone hate the cowboys franchising ken hamlin over flozell adams, pretty dumb IMO adams is the perfect guy to franchise since he's 32 i believe and only has a couple more years

[NeedsMoreCheese]

he can stretch the field, which would help especially if we release glenn, it'd give us 2 WR's that are great #3 WR's or decent #2 WR's in him and crayton

o and anyone hate the cowboys franchising ken hamlin over flozell adams, pretty dumb IMO adams is the perfect guy to franchise since he's 32 i believe and only has a couple more years

I think there was a bigger chance of losing Hamlin.

[studcrackers]

well i happen to think watkins is fully capable of being a quality S and its much safer then going into next year with 2 unproven left tackles (though i think they both can be good)

im not as high on hamlin as some though