First, I just want to say hi to all you Patriots fans. I'm a Cowboy fan, visiting to get your take on this prospective trade. I won't be one of your regular visitors, but thought I would throw a couple things your way.
Box_O_Rocks said:
This thread must be what it's like trying to open a store for the day after Thanksgiving shoppers...
Tackles on roster: Light, Gorin, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Britt, Hand
Guards: Mankins, Neal, Hochstein, Mruczkowski, Yates, Stevenson, Barthelmes, Hand
But before we get too excited about swapping one of the tackles, where is our beloved Drew most susceptible to the pass rush? Those of you singing "Heh diddle diddle straight up the middle" get a gold star. If I recall correctly, Dallas was desperate enough last season to move one of their more functional tackles inside to protect Drew - of course this is my memory and I'm still looking for the mind I misplaced. As long as we're living in fantasy land, lets send Billy Yates home to Texas shore up their middle. If not, Britt and Hand are expendable, Gorin would be a show me the money deal if that was who they wanted. As much as he disappoints with his pass protection gaffes, he is still a proven game day commodity compared to O'Callaghan, and I expect him to start the season at RT, no matter who ends it.
Or we could make NEM really happy and swap Light for Ware, move Mankins outside until Kaczur is healthy, and run Mruczkowski at LG. Heh, this is the fantasy thread, right?
I think you have a good point about the middle. Rivera and Kosier are set, but the depth there is rookies or young guys yet to take a snap. Gurode backs up RG, but he's the only real experience there is at backup.
Another speculation has been NT, because Parcells isn't completely happy with the depth behind Ferguson. Not much experience at all.
We're generally satisfied with what we have starting at tackle, but the depth is still a concern because there's youth/inexperience there as well. When Jacob Rogers wimped away into the sunset and Adams went down last, we were left with a late round rookie at RT, and a UFA who played RG in college, then RT in 2004 moved to LT, where he'd never played. Right now we have Adams and Colombo who are trying to get back in the swing of things, Pettiti, who's improved and Fabini, who's been less than impressive. If we cut Fabini loose, we have Adams, Colombo, Pettiti, and the rook McQuistan who's been pretty good, but isn't ready to step in.
The players being "showcased" Saturday were Shanle and Kenyon Coleman, and it's thought they're the primary bait. They're looking at an extension for Bradie James, and Ayodele has been making a good adjustment inside. Shanle will never be a pro bowl player or anything but he doesn't make many mistakes at all, and he's a solid player. I like the kid, he always brings it 100% and I feel he's still got some upside. Not the sky's the limit mind you, but he hasn't reached full potential. He was thrown into the fire with little experience and responded well.
Coleman's a good player against the run, but he's not much of a pass rush threat. He can also play some tackle in a pinch. I highly doubt you all are interested regardless.
A wild, and I do mean wild card is Ellis. We've got a few guys who can play the strong side, so he
may get his wish and be traded. He's 1st string over there but Carpenter was drafted to play there at some point, Singleton plays there and Junior Glymph has been playing there and has been coming on. We would still have Singleton to play there until the younger guys are ready, and Ellis' contract isn't prohibitive to a trade. Not saying it would happen, but who knows?
Oh, and no WRs looking for big extensions. We've already got you know who, and Terry Glenn signed an extension in the spring. Any WRs we do look at will likely be #3,#4 type guys.