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Latest News
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2007 SCHEDULE
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
PRE-SEASON
Thu Aug 9 INDIANAPOLIS
(FOX) 7:00 pm
Sat Aug 18 DENVER (BSM)
7:00 pm
Sat Aug 25 @ Houston
(BSM) 7:00 pm
Thu Aug 30 @ Minnesota
(BSM) 7:00 pm
REGULAR SEASON
1. Sun, Sept. 9 NY GIANTS
(NBC) 7:15 pm
2. Sun, Sept. 16 @ Miami
(FOX) 3:05 pm
3. Sun, Sept. 23 @
Chicago (NBC) 7:15 pm
4. Sun, Sept. 30 ST. LOUIS
(FOX) Noon
5. Mon, Oct. 8 @ Buffalo
(ESPN) 7:30 pm
6. Sun, Oct. 14 NEW
ENGLAND (CBS) 3:15 pm
7. Sun, Oct. 21
MINNESOTA (FOX) Noon
8. Sun, Oct. 28 BYE WEEK
9. Sun, Nov 4 @
Philadelphia (NBC) 7:15
pm
10. Sun, Nov. 11 @ NY
Giants (FOX) 3:15 pm
11. Sun, Nov. 18
WASHINGTON (FOX) Noon
12. Thu, Nov. 22 NY JETS
(CBS) 3:15 pm
13. Thu, Nov. 29 GREEN
BAY (NFL) 7:15 pm
14. Sun, Dec. 9 @ Detroit
(FOX) Noon
15. Sun, Dec. 16 PHILLY
(FOX) 3:15 pm
16. Sat, Dec. 22 @
Carolina (NFL) 7:15 pm
17. Sun, Dec. 30 @
Washington (FOX) Noon
| Cowboy's Trivia Question of the Week! Who is the oldest player on the Cowboys' roster? Last Week's Answer: Danny White |
My Huge Off-Season Article
Sorry about the long vacation. I've been in grieving and haven't
been able to force myself onto my laptop.
I'll start with all the coaching news. I'm sorry to lose Sparano and
the defensive assistants, but I think we are doing a great job of
replacing them. It also helps we kept Garrett who is the one guy we
needed to keep. He did a smart thing by not leaving. I don't care
how good of a coach he is, he needs a talent especially at QB to
succeed and there wasn't one in Baltimore or Atlanta. If we would
have went to one of those places, we likely would have been one of
the promising young head coaches that gets fired after three
years. To be successful, you need a combination of luck, talent,
and assistant coaches. Look at Bill Belicheck's tenure in Cleveland.
I hate that we lost Tony Sparano, but I'm happy he is getting his
shot. I'm surprised he hung around in Dallas as long as he did. He
pretty much took a demotion when Jason Garrett came so that
shows the kind of guy he is. We hired Hudson Houck as our line
coach. This was a great hiring. He coached with the team for most
of the 90's and he is used to coaching big lineman. He is a guy that
isn't as good of an all-around coach as Sparano, but he is probably
just as good or better at coaching an offensive line. He has 25
years of pro experience doing so. Sparano got better, but I
remember the first year Sparano was named offensive line coach or
line was horrible.
I don't think we will miss the three defensive assistants we lost. I
don't think any of them were extraordinary. Pasquoloni or however
you spell it stunk as a Tight Ends coach and he did a solid job at
coaching linebackers. Rodgers isn't even getting a promotion in
Miami and I've never been that impressed with our defensive line's
pass rushing ability. I like Bowles, but again our secondary hasn't
exactly lit it up the past few years.
Our new defensive line coach, Grantham, is probably an upgrade
over Rodgers. He is a promising young coach that was the
defensive coordinator in Cleveland. He obviously didn't do a great
job, but he had to have made a good impression as a defensive line
coach to get that job in the first place. He also has extensive
experience working with the 3-4 which is big.
Dave Campo is probably coming back to coach or secondary.
Again, the Jaguars' secondary didn't look good in the play-offs, but I
will take all the ex-head coaches/coordinators I can fit on my
coaching staff. This guy was good enough to be our head coach
for three years so he should be able to handle the secondary.
Off-Season Moves
Free Agency will be hear at the beginning of March. Here is a look
at what I think will happen this off-season in free agency and April's
draft.
Re-Sign
LT Flozell Adams
FS Ken Hamlin
CB Jacques Reeves
I’m not much of a Jacques Reeves fan, but we don’t have much
choice. I wouldn’t give him anything over the veteran’s minimum
though for maybe two years. If some team wants to make him their
2nd corner like DC.com’s Nick Eatman said may happen, they can
have him. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read that one.
We could instead sign some other low budget guy similar to Reeves
that played for another team, but I can’t really just throw a random
name out there. Reeves isn’t very good, but at least he has some
experience. We don’t want to go into the draft with Henry, Newman,
and Alan Ball as our only corners on our roster. We could spend
big money on Asante Samuel or Marcus Trufant, but that would
likely mean letting Ken Hamlin and Flozell Adams go.
We need to save money to give WR Roy Williams an extension as
well as Terence Newman and possibly Marion Barber. All three
contracts expire after next season.
Trade #29 to Detroit for WR Roy Williams
Roy Williams wants out of Detroit and they certainly have the depth
at receiver that they could get rid of him since it seems unlikely he
wants to stay there long-term. I would jump on this if I was Dallas.
He is a Texas Longhorn who would love to sign a long-term deal to
play in Dallas. This trade makes sense for Dallas because you get
a 26 year old receiver that is obviously still young, but proven. You
can spend that pick on a WR and he may take two years to become
productive assuming he ever does. Even if he does, what are the
chances he is as good as Roy Williams. This guy outperformed
Terrell Owens in 2006 with 1310 yards. If we are unable to land this
guy, I'd use that pick on a wide receiver. Michigan's Mario
Manningham would be the best fit. He is a fast, big play receiver,
but he is far from one dimensional. He isn't a big guy, but he makes
tough catches in traffic and he goes up over defenders and catches
the ball. He is also a big red zone threat catching 12 touchdowns
this past season. He had a huge game against Florida in the
Capital One Bowl. You should watch his highlights on Youtube if
you want to see his well-rounded game.
Trade Marcus Spears to Miami for 4th Round Pick
I'm sure you guys have heard that we are shopping Spears and
Bobby Carpenter. I would trade both for the right price, but I
definitely wouldn't give away Carpenter just because he has been
disappointing. I want to upgrade over Akin Ayodele which Burnett
will start over him before Carpenter does. Still though, Carpenter
can start at all four linebacker spots if needed and what if we lose
Burnett in free agency next season? Still, Parcells should do the
right thing and give us his 2nd and 3rd round picks for these
players since he drafted them. That won't happen, but they would
have some value for him while trying to build his 3-4 defense in
Miami. Carpenter also would have good value among 4-3 teams
because a lot of people seem to think he is in the wrong scheme
which I disagree with. A good player can play in any scheme.
Carpenter simply hasn't done enough. He is a perfect fit for a
blitzing ILB in a 3-4, he just hasn't been good enough to win the job.
This may not sound like much in return, but I believe Marcus is in
the last year of his rookie contract. I would rather keep him as a
backup, but he probably wouldn’t like that and I could understand
why. Either way, Ratliff will start next season at the expense of
Spears or Ferguson. Cutting Ferguson would save cap space
which is great, but the best defensive line we can put on the field is
Ratliff, Ferguson, and Canty.
My Mock Draft
1 – CB Leodis McKelvin Troy
2 – RB Jamaal Charles Texas
3 – CB Antoine Cason Arizona
4 – RB Tashard Choice Georgia Tech
4 – WR Lavelle Hawkins Cal
5 – QB Matt Flynn LSU
6 – C John Sullivan Notre Dame
7 – OLB Curtis Gatewood Vanderbilt
It may seem strange that the first four picks are CB, RB, CB, RB, but
let me explain. Cornerback is our biggest area of weakness.
Marion Barber is great, but he is the only back that is for sure
coming back next season. Charles is a speed guy, but I don’t want
a draft a guy that doesn’t have starting potential. If Charles lights it
up, we won’t be forced to pay Barber big money if we don’t want to.
The way I look at the third and fourth picks is that we have great
talent. I could see as few as five rookies making this team. If that is
the case, our first four or five picks need to be at positions that the
player can actually make the team. I can take a lineman or a
linebacker or safety in the 4th round, but that doesn’t guarantee
you they will even make the team. Nobody wants to cut a decent
rookie with potential that is a 4th round pick.
McKelvin has everything you look for in a shutdown corner plus he
is an amazing punt returner. He has good size, he is fast, he has
great feet and ball skills. He is also a four year starter. The only
thing he needs to work on is his hands. He could have had ten
interceptions this season if not for drops. Tashard Choice is a good
runner I really like, and it helps to know that he is at a position
where he is most surely going to make the team. As for Cason, he
is a corner without great speed, but he has great ball skills and lots
of experience. He is a guy who should be able to come in right
away and help out. It won’t take him two or three years to contribute.
I will mention to more of my potential picks in Matt Flynn and Lavelle
Hawkins. I'm an LSU fanatic, and I know Matt Flynn very well. I'm
not going to lie and say he is some underrated prospect who is
going to light it up in the NFL. He struggled at times this season
which was his first as a starter. His decision making and accuracy
were iffy at times though I will say his receivers really hurt him early
in the year.
Flynn has the tools you can't teach though and he kind of reminds
me of Romo. The guy is a great leader and he is at his best in big
games and in crunch time in the 4th quarter. His physical tools are
also decent. Definitely good enough to start. He has good arm
strength, good accuracy, and he is very mobile.
Hawkins is a smallish receiver with good speed and quickness that
adds value as a return man. He would be a good guy to bring in to
help us to develop some speed at the position because Roy
Williams isn't slow, but he isn't really a true deep threat.
Sorry about the long vacation. I've been in grieving and haven't
been able to force myself onto my laptop.
I'll start with all the coaching news. I'm sorry to lose Sparano and
the defensive assistants, but I think we are doing a great job of
replacing them. It also helps we kept Garrett who is the one guy we
needed to keep. He did a smart thing by not leaving. I don't care
how good of a coach he is, he needs a talent especially at QB to
succeed and there wasn't one in Baltimore or Atlanta. If we would
have went to one of those places, we likely would have been one of
the promising young head coaches that gets fired after three
years. To be successful, you need a combination of luck, talent,
and assistant coaches. Look at Bill Belicheck's tenure in Cleveland.
I hate that we lost Tony Sparano, but I'm happy he is getting his
shot. I'm surprised he hung around in Dallas as long as he did. He
pretty much took a demotion when Jason Garrett came so that
shows the kind of guy he is. We hired Hudson Houck as our line
coach. This was a great hiring. He coached with the team for most
of the 90's and he is used to coaching big lineman. He is a guy that
isn't as good of an all-around coach as Sparano, but he is probably
just as good or better at coaching an offensive line. He has 25
years of pro experience doing so. Sparano got better, but I
remember the first year Sparano was named offensive line coach or
line was horrible.
I don't think we will miss the three defensive assistants we lost. I
don't think any of them were extraordinary. Pasquoloni or however
you spell it stunk as a Tight Ends coach and he did a solid job at
coaching linebackers. Rodgers isn't even getting a promotion in
Miami and I've never been that impressed with our defensive line's
pass rushing ability. I like Bowles, but again our secondary hasn't
exactly lit it up the past few years.
Our new defensive line coach, Grantham, is probably an upgrade
over Rodgers. He is a promising young coach that was the
defensive coordinator in Cleveland. He obviously didn't do a great
job, but he had to have made a good impression as a defensive line
coach to get that job in the first place. He also has extensive
experience working with the 3-4 which is big.
Dave Campo is probably coming back to coach or secondary.
Again, the Jaguars' secondary didn't look good in the play-offs, but I
will take all the ex-head coaches/coordinators I can fit on my
coaching staff. This guy was good enough to be our head coach
for three years so he should be able to handle the secondary.
Off-Season Moves
Free Agency will be hear at the beginning of March. Here is a look
at what I think will happen this off-season in free agency and April's
draft.
Re-Sign
LT Flozell Adams
FS Ken Hamlin
CB Jacques Reeves
I’m not much of a Jacques Reeves fan, but we don’t have much
choice. I wouldn’t give him anything over the veteran’s minimum
though for maybe two years. If some team wants to make him their
2nd corner like DC.com’s Nick Eatman said may happen, they can
have him. I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read that one.
We could instead sign some other low budget guy similar to Reeves
that played for another team, but I can’t really just throw a random
name out there. Reeves isn’t very good, but at least he has some
experience. We don’t want to go into the draft with Henry, Newman,
and Alan Ball as our only corners on our roster. We could spend
big money on Asante Samuel or Marcus Trufant, but that would
likely mean letting Ken Hamlin and Flozell Adams go.
We need to save money to give WR Roy Williams an extension as
well as Terence Newman and possibly Marion Barber. All three
contracts expire after next season.
Trade #29 to Detroit for WR Roy Williams
Roy Williams wants out of Detroit and they certainly have the depth
at receiver that they could get rid of him since it seems unlikely he
wants to stay there long-term. I would jump on this if I was Dallas.
He is a Texas Longhorn who would love to sign a long-term deal to
play in Dallas. This trade makes sense for Dallas because you get
a 26 year old receiver that is obviously still young, but proven. You
can spend that pick on a WR and he may take two years to become
productive assuming he ever does. Even if he does, what are the
chances he is as good as Roy Williams. This guy outperformed
Terrell Owens in 2006 with 1310 yards. If we are unable to land this
guy, I'd use that pick on a wide receiver. Michigan's Mario
Manningham would be the best fit. He is a fast, big play receiver,
but he is far from one dimensional. He isn't a big guy, but he makes
tough catches in traffic and he goes up over defenders and catches
the ball. He is also a big red zone threat catching 12 touchdowns
this past season. He had a huge game against Florida in the
Capital One Bowl. You should watch his highlights on Youtube if
you want to see his well-rounded game.
Trade Marcus Spears to Miami for 4th Round Pick
I'm sure you guys have heard that we are shopping Spears and
Bobby Carpenter. I would trade both for the right price, but I
definitely wouldn't give away Carpenter just because he has been
disappointing. I want to upgrade over Akin Ayodele which Burnett
will start over him before Carpenter does. Still though, Carpenter
can start at all four linebacker spots if needed and what if we lose
Burnett in free agency next season? Still, Parcells should do the
right thing and give us his 2nd and 3rd round picks for these
players since he drafted them. That won't happen, but they would
have some value for him while trying to build his 3-4 defense in
Miami. Carpenter also would have good value among 4-3 teams
because a lot of people seem to think he is in the wrong scheme
which I disagree with. A good player can play in any scheme.
Carpenter simply hasn't done enough. He is a perfect fit for a
blitzing ILB in a 3-4, he just hasn't been good enough to win the job.
This may not sound like much in return, but I believe Marcus is in
the last year of his rookie contract. I would rather keep him as a
backup, but he probably wouldn’t like that and I could understand
why. Either way, Ratliff will start next season at the expense of
Spears or Ferguson. Cutting Ferguson would save cap space
which is great, but the best defensive line we can put on the field is
Ratliff, Ferguson, and Canty.
My Mock Draft
1 – CB Leodis McKelvin Troy
2 – RB Jamaal Charles Texas
3 – CB Antoine Cason Arizona
4 – RB Tashard Choice Georgia Tech
4 – WR Lavelle Hawkins Cal
5 – QB Matt Flynn LSU
6 – C John Sullivan Notre Dame
7 – OLB Curtis Gatewood Vanderbilt
It may seem strange that the first four picks are CB, RB, CB, RB, but
let me explain. Cornerback is our biggest area of weakness.
Marion Barber is great, but he is the only back that is for sure
coming back next season. Charles is a speed guy, but I don’t want
a draft a guy that doesn’t have starting potential. If Charles lights it
up, we won’t be forced to pay Barber big money if we don’t want to.
The way I look at the third and fourth picks is that we have great
talent. I could see as few as five rookies making this team. If that is
the case, our first four or five picks need to be at positions that the
player can actually make the team. I can take a lineman or a
linebacker or safety in the 4th round, but that doesn’t guarantee
you they will even make the team. Nobody wants to cut a decent
rookie with potential that is a 4th round pick.
McKelvin has everything you look for in a shutdown corner plus he
is an amazing punt returner. He has good size, he is fast, he has
great feet and ball skills. He is also a four year starter. The only
thing he needs to work on is his hands. He could have had ten
interceptions this season if not for drops. Tashard Choice is a good
runner I really like, and it helps to know that he is at a position
where he is most surely going to make the team. As for Cason, he
is a corner without great speed, but he has great ball skills and lots
of experience. He is a guy who should be able to come in right
away and help out. It won’t take him two or three years to contribute.
I will mention to more of my potential picks in Matt Flynn and Lavelle
Hawkins. I'm an LSU fanatic, and I know Matt Flynn very well. I'm
not going to lie and say he is some underrated prospect who is
going to light it up in the NFL. He struggled at times this season
which was his first as a starter. His decision making and accuracy
were iffy at times though I will say his receivers really hurt him early
in the year.
Flynn has the tools you can't teach though and he kind of reminds
me of Romo. The guy is a great leader and he is at his best in big
games and in crunch time in the 4th quarter. His physical tools are
also decent. Definitely good enough to start. He has good arm
strength, good accuracy, and he is very mobile.
Hawkins is a smallish receiver with good speed and quickness that
adds value as a return man. He would be a good guy to bring in to
help us to develop some speed at the position because Roy
Williams isn't slow, but he isn't really a true deep threat.