Four Downs: Breaking down the NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5320496
What happened last year?
The Cowboys started the season 7-3 and looked like a lock to make the playoffs. An injury to tackle Flozell Adams ended up weakening both ends of the offensive line. The early season success of the passing game disappeared as Drew Bledsoe found himself on his back more often than he found himself throwing long touchdown passes to Terry Glenn.
According to the innovative DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) ratings from FootballOutsiders.com (click here for a further explanation), all three units in Dallas finished the year near the league average. Dallas had the No. 14 offensive DVOA, was No. 12 in the passing offense and a lowly No. 22 running the ball.
Defensively, the team jumped from No. 25 in 2004 to No. 14 in 2005, despite having the No. 20 rushing defense — thanks to a pass defense that was No. 9 in the league. Special teams hurt Dallas, as they finished No. 20, according to our rankings, with the second worst field goal unit in the league.
Who's leaving?
Dallas is slightly under the cap and will need to cut some salary or restructure some veteran contracts to make moves in free agency. La'Roi Glover and Larry Allen are the most likely players to have their contracts restructured, as the two veterans account for nearly $15 million against the cap. It is also doubtful that anyone whose foot came in contact with a football in Dallas in 2005 will be back with the team, except for punter Mat McBriar — who will probably have to fight for his job in training camp.
The only potential free agent that Dallas may lose who was a significant part of its 2005 season is tackle Torrin Tucker, a restricted free agent. Tucker was significant to Dallas more for what he didn't do — block oncoming pass rushers — than for anything positive he did on the field. Bill Parcells has indicated some affinity towards Tucker; so the Cowboys will likely tender at least a minimum offer to the restricted free agent.
Who should they sign?
Dallas needs an upgrade at tackle, but there doesn't look to be too many quality options available on the free agent market. The best name out there will be the Atlanta Falcons' Kevin Shaffer, who is a nice tackle but will be vastly overpaid because of the lack of free agent options and the plethora of teams who could use an upgrade at the position. A lower cost option could be Detroit tackle Jeff Backus. The Lions offensive line was a disappointment overall in 2005, but Backus would be a huge upgrade over Tucker or Rob Petitti.
The Cowboys also could use an upgrade at safety over restricted free agent Keith Davis. Ideally, it would be a safety that would excel in pass coverage, to complement Roy Williams' great run stopping abilities. As Football Outsiders writer Michael David Smith has noted, unrestricted free agent Corey Chavous of the Vikings isn't that great in run support, but he can still cover a receiver one on one. Next to Williams, who struggled at times against the pass this season, Chavous would strengthen the middle of Dallas' pass defense, which was the second worst in the league in defending passes to tight ends in 2005.
Place kicker is another position of need for the Cowboys, who rotated through three below-average options in 2005. The biggest name on the market will be Mike "idiot kicker" Vanderjagt from Indianapolis, but he doesn't seem like the type of player Bill Parcells will be running out to sign. More than likely, the Cowboys will bring in another group of rookies and veterans who can be had for the league minimum to compete for the honor of raising Parcells' blood pressure during field goal attempts in 2006.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5320496
What happened last year?
The Cowboys started the season 7-3 and looked like a lock to make the playoffs. An injury to tackle Flozell Adams ended up weakening both ends of the offensive line. The early season success of the passing game disappeared as Drew Bledsoe found himself on his back more often than he found himself throwing long touchdown passes to Terry Glenn.
According to the innovative DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) ratings from FootballOutsiders.com (click here for a further explanation), all three units in Dallas finished the year near the league average. Dallas had the No. 14 offensive DVOA, was No. 12 in the passing offense and a lowly No. 22 running the ball.
Defensively, the team jumped from No. 25 in 2004 to No. 14 in 2005, despite having the No. 20 rushing defense — thanks to a pass defense that was No. 9 in the league. Special teams hurt Dallas, as they finished No. 20, according to our rankings, with the second worst field goal unit in the league.
Who's leaving?
Dallas is slightly under the cap and will need to cut some salary or restructure some veteran contracts to make moves in free agency. La'Roi Glover and Larry Allen are the most likely players to have their contracts restructured, as the two veterans account for nearly $15 million against the cap. It is also doubtful that anyone whose foot came in contact with a football in Dallas in 2005 will be back with the team, except for punter Mat McBriar — who will probably have to fight for his job in training camp.
The only potential free agent that Dallas may lose who was a significant part of its 2005 season is tackle Torrin Tucker, a restricted free agent. Tucker was significant to Dallas more for what he didn't do — block oncoming pass rushers — than for anything positive he did on the field. Bill Parcells has indicated some affinity towards Tucker; so the Cowboys will likely tender at least a minimum offer to the restricted free agent.
Who should they sign?
Dallas needs an upgrade at tackle, but there doesn't look to be too many quality options available on the free agent market. The best name out there will be the Atlanta Falcons' Kevin Shaffer, who is a nice tackle but will be vastly overpaid because of the lack of free agent options and the plethora of teams who could use an upgrade at the position. A lower cost option could be Detroit tackle Jeff Backus. The Lions offensive line was a disappointment overall in 2005, but Backus would be a huge upgrade over Tucker or Rob Petitti.
The Cowboys also could use an upgrade at safety over restricted free agent Keith Davis. Ideally, it would be a safety that would excel in pass coverage, to complement Roy Williams' great run stopping abilities. As Football Outsiders writer Michael David Smith has noted, unrestricted free agent Corey Chavous of the Vikings isn't that great in run support, but he can still cover a receiver one on one. Next to Williams, who struggled at times against the pass this season, Chavous would strengthen the middle of Dallas' pass defense, which was the second worst in the league in defending passes to tight ends in 2005.
Place kicker is another position of need for the Cowboys, who rotated through three below-average options in 2005. The biggest name on the market will be Mike "idiot kicker" Vanderjagt from Indianapolis, but he doesn't seem like the type of player Bill Parcells will be running out to sign. More than likely, the Cowboys will bring in another group of rookies and veterans who can be had for the league minimum to compete for the honor of raising Parcells' blood pressure during field goal attempts in 2006.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:15 AM
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