Cowboys always have a backup plan
by Todd Archer
DMN
IRVING – As Jason Ferguson sat on the bench Sunday night, knowing his season was over because of a torn right biceps, the Cowboys already had a plan to replace their starting nose tackle.
During the 45-35 win over the New York Giants, vice president of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland handed a list of potential nose tackles to owner and general manager Jerry Jones and vice president of player personnel Stephen Jones.
"He's always got a list he keeps with him," Stephen Jones said.
For the immediate future, Jay Ratliff will replace Ferguson in the starting lineup, and the Cowboys signed Remi Ayodele, who was among the team's final cuts, to be the backup.
The Cowboys went through a similar "short-list," exercise last week when Terry Glenn suffered a knee injury that could keep him out for a month or for the rest of the season. They looked at the veteran possibilities, such as Reche Caldwell and Keenan McCardell, and possible poaches from other teams' practice squads.
In addition to those categories, Ireland and assistant director of pro scouting Brian Gaine have lists of every team's potential cuts or trade possibilities, according to Jones, on a board inside the personnel department office.
"Jeff and Brian are constantly looking at tape and seeing who are the top guys at every position," Jones said.
Bill Parcells used to call this kind of work his "Tidewater team," a reference to the old Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.
Parcells always kept his eye on the bottom of the roster, looking for ways to get better for the short and long term. Part of that thinking came from his time as general manager of the New York Jets and part of it was his pessimism. But it helped the Cowboys land offensive linemen Marc Colombo, Cory Procter and Joe Berger.
As evidenced by Ferguson's injury, the work never ends. The Cowboys may have a 53-man roster, but the personnel department is always looking. They have to be prepared for all scenarios, like injuries, because the games don't stop.
"It's the most challenging part, because you never know when you're going to end up with a Procter or a Berger," Jones said. "Those guys are two products of this, getting guys off practice-squad claims. So as long as you keep looking, you never know who you're going to find that can be productive for you."
On Friday, the Cowboys worked out eight players but signed none.
With issues at outside linebacker, they looked at Torrance Daniels and Tyson Smith. Thin at defensive tackle, even before Ferguson's injury, the Cowboys looked at Alfred Malone.
With Terence Newman slowed by a partially torn plantar fascia, they looked at returners Carlos Francis (also a receiver) and Justin Phinisee, a defensive back. Dallas only carries two quarterbacks on the active roster, so David Greene, a former third-rounder by Seattle, was given a tryout.
Already set with 10 offensive linemen on the active roster, the Cowboys looked at two guards, Terrance Dotsy, who plays for the Desperados, and Andrew Hoffman.
"A lot of it is fact-finding too," Jones said. "Of those guys we brought in, we probably found out there were four guys we'd never have any interest in. It wasn't what we thought it was."
DMN
IRVING – As Jason Ferguson sat on the bench Sunday night, knowing his season was over because of a torn right biceps, the Cowboys already had a plan to replace their starting nose tackle.
During the 45-35 win over the New York Giants, vice president of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland handed a list of potential nose tackles to owner and general manager Jerry Jones and vice president of player personnel Stephen Jones.
"He's always got a list he keeps with him," Stephen Jones said.
For the immediate future, Jay Ratliff will replace Ferguson in the starting lineup, and the Cowboys signed Remi Ayodele, who was among the team's final cuts, to be the backup.
The Cowboys went through a similar "short-list," exercise last week when Terry Glenn suffered a knee injury that could keep him out for a month or for the rest of the season. They looked at the veteran possibilities, such as Reche Caldwell and Keenan McCardell, and possible poaches from other teams' practice squads.
In addition to those categories, Ireland and assistant director of pro scouting Brian Gaine have lists of every team's potential cuts or trade possibilities, according to Jones, on a board inside the personnel department office.
"Jeff and Brian are constantly looking at tape and seeing who are the top guys at every position," Jones said.
Bill Parcells used to call this kind of work his "Tidewater team," a reference to the old Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets.
Parcells always kept his eye on the bottom of the roster, looking for ways to get better for the short and long term. Part of that thinking came from his time as general manager of the New York Jets and part of it was his pessimism. But it helped the Cowboys land offensive linemen Marc Colombo, Cory Procter and Joe Berger.
As evidenced by Ferguson's injury, the work never ends. The Cowboys may have a 53-man roster, but the personnel department is always looking. They have to be prepared for all scenarios, like injuries, because the games don't stop.
"It's the most challenging part, because you never know when you're going to end up with a Procter or a Berger," Jones said. "Those guys are two products of this, getting guys off practice-squad claims. So as long as you keep looking, you never know who you're going to find that can be productive for you."
On Friday, the Cowboys worked out eight players but signed none.
With issues at outside linebacker, they looked at Torrance Daniels and Tyson Smith. Thin at defensive tackle, even before Ferguson's injury, the Cowboys looked at Alfred Malone.
With Terence Newman slowed by a partially torn plantar fascia, they looked at returners Carlos Francis (also a receiver) and Justin Phinisee, a defensive back. Dallas only carries two quarterbacks on the active roster, so David Greene, a former third-rounder by Seattle, was given a tryout.
Already set with 10 offensive linemen on the active roster, the Cowboys looked at two guards, Terrance Dotsy, who plays for the Desperados, and Andrew Hoffman.
"A lot of it is fact-finding too," Jones said. "Of those guys we brought in, we probably found out there were four guys we'd never have any interest in. It wasn't what we thought it was."
posted by The Gryphon at 9:55 PM
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