JJT: Not even Jones optimistic about Cowboys

[GShock]

I bet Romo is out before game 5.

And then, the catastrophe.

 

[1bigfan13]

I think that was the plan this year until our targets were gone. We didn't panic and went with plan B. I have no complaints with the first round the last couple years.

I agree. Minus the idiotic trade up for Claiborne, the first round isn't the problem. My problem is they don't use enough quality picks and resources to address a historically bad defense.

Two years in a row the defense has been awful and their response is adding marginal role players to the front 7 and wasting quality mid-round picks on small school DBs.

When the defense has been as bad as it's been you should be going all in to fix it but they treat it as if they're only a player or two away from competing.

 

[boozeman]

I agree. Minus the idiotic trade up for Claiborne, the first round isn't the problem. My problem is they don't use enough quality picks and resources to address a historically bad defense.

Two years in a row the defense has been awful and their response is adding marginal role players to the front 7 and wasting quality mid-round picks on small school DBs.

When the defense has been as bad as it's been you should be going all in to fix it but they treat it as if they're only a player or two away from competing.

The back end of the roster is what has held us back. That comes from a lack of focus and identity.

With Johnson and Parcells, we amazingly did better in that regard, getting some later picks that were solid players.

From the looks of the Phillips era and now Garrett, it is still a big problem.

That is what makes a team draft well, the ability to hit here and there with late round picks.

It is funny that we have such great success with the UDFAs. But not surprising.

That is when the GM is less involved the scouts have more input.

 

[1bigfan13]

Watching Jerry on OTL answered my question as to why they're so addicted to targeting small school players in the middle rounds.

Remember when he was talking about passing on Manziel and he told his son that "they needed to drive across the water, and not lay up". I believe his need to take risks, or drive across the water, is the main reason they roll the dice so much on small school projects.

 

[UncleMilti]

Watching Jerry on OTL answered my question as to why they're so addicted to targeting small school players in the middle rounds.

Remember when he was talking about passing on Manziel and he told his son that "they needed to drive across the water, and not lay up". I believe his need to take risks, or drive across the water, is the main reason they roll the dice so much on small school projects.

Yeah and its why the team ends up 8-8 year after year. Look at teams like the Seahawks who find gems in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the draft. Solid players from Div 1 schools.

If Jerry would defer to his scouts instead of "driving across the water " hoping for that big reward, the roster would have some decent depth. Instead we have Jeff Heath and BW Webb.

 

[NoDak]

Heath was a UDFA.

 

[UncleMilti]

Heath was a UDFA.

Doesn't matter, unless he was the only UDFA the Cowboys had to choose from...wouldn't you agree?

 

[NoDak]

Doesn't matter, unless he was the only UDFA the Cowboys had to choose from...wouldn't you agree?

I thought you were talking about how the Seahawks find gems in the 3rd and 4th rounds, then gave Heath as an example for the Cowboys drafting futility and Jerry's propensity for "driving across the water". So I mentioned that Heath wasn't a draft pick at all.

But I am curious as to how that somehow turns into him being the only UDFA to choose from.

 

[Clay_Allison]

I thought you were talking about how the Seahawks find gems in the 3rd and 4th rounds, then gave Heath as an example for the Cowboys drafting futility and Jerry's propensity for "driving across the water". So I mentioned that Heath wasn't a draft pick at all.

But I am curious as to how that somehow turns into him being the only UDFA to choose from.

Johnson, Wilcox and Webb then.

 

[NoDak]

Johnson, Wilcox and Webb then.

I wasn't disagreeing with the premise, only saying Heath was a UDFA.

Nobody is saying you have to put your pitchforks down.

 

[UncleMilti]

I thought you were talking about how the Seahawks find gems in the 3rd and 4th rounds, then gave Heath as an example for the Cowboys drafting futility and Jerry's propensity for "driving across the water". So I mentioned that Heath wasn't a draft pick at all.

But I am curious as to how that somehow turns into him being the only UDFA to choose from.

No, I was just pointing out that the Jer's big gambling style makes it easy to be ok with picking these type players UDFA or draft pick...doesn't matter.

Heath wasn't an example of drafting, but he's definitely an example of a small school prospect with good numbers- which seems to be what Jerry and his cronies are attracted to- whose numbers don't carry over to being a difference maker on the field.

All this too, despite the fact numerous experts see the negatives in these players but somehow the Cowboys don't. In Heaths case...almost every draft guy out there said the same thing...the guy is bad at finding the ball, or making a play on the ball. He struggles to cover TE's.

So if the guy can't play the ball nor cover a TE, and your S play is horrendous...why pick him? Bring someone in who fits your need.

 

[ravidubey]

Drafting Manziel would've been the dumbest move Jerry made since letting his ego get in the way of his relationship with Jimmy Johnson. We know this because Jerry's the only one in the organization that thought it was a good move.

Nailed. It.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Nailed. It.

This could be a hint that ole JJ is relaxing his grip on personnel matters.

 

[Cotton]

This could be a hint that ole JJ is relaxing his grip on personnel matters.

I highly doubt it.

 

[L.T. Fan]

I highly doubt it.

Th prior 2 or 3 drafts indicate to me that there is more input being allowed in the process.

 

[Cotton]

Th prior 2 or 3 drafts indicate to me that there is more input being allowed in the process.

Hitchens.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Hitchens.

If you look at the overall picture the priority seems to be rebuilding the front lines. The offense was a systematic process and I think the defense will get the same treatment in the future. The other rounds can be questioned but that's true with most organizations. I see a definite improvement trend.

 

[Cotton]

If you look at the overall picture the priority seems to be rebuilding the front lines. The offense was a systematic process and I think the defense will get the same treatment in the future. The other rounds can be questioned but that's true with most organizations. I see a definite improvement trend.

The problem is that it has taken too long with too many failures along the way. You can't take 3-5 years to rebuild the OLD and then shift to the other line, then shift to QB, then shift to secondary. Good GM's build all of it at the same time. Jerry has no clue as to how to do that.

 

[L.T. Fan]

The problem is that it has taken too long with too many failures along the way. You can't take 3-5 years to rebuild the OLD and then shift to the other line, then shift to QB, then shift to secondary. Good GM's build all of it at the same time. Jerry has no clue as to how to do that.

I am not saying all the problems are solved but I do see some improvising trends that lead me to believe others are having meaningful input now.

 

[UncleMilti]

The problem is that it has taken too long with too many failures along the way. You can't take 3-5 years to rebuild the OLD and then shift to the other line, then shift to QB, then shift to secondary. Good GM's build all of it at the same time. Jerry has no clue as to how to do that.

Ding Ding...winner.

That's the biggest issue. By the time Jones has gotten lucky enough to pull talent together, his core is too old to take advantage of it.

Too many missed 2nd and 3rd round prospects.