Some Targets the Cowboys Should Go After
As of now, most of us know that no teams can talk to players until the lockout has ended. Until then, there can only be speculation on who the Cowboys will go after in terms of free agency. Here are a few positions that need to be filled and the best solutions to the problems.
The Secondary
As far as the secondary goes, it needs more than just “patching up.” It needs to be rebuilt. Currently, the situation is an aging Terrence Newman and an underperforming Mike Jenkins at cornerback, and then Gerald Sensabaugh at safety and either Alan Ball, Barry Church, or Akwasi Owusu-Ansah at the other safety position. It can be argued that the entire secondary performed to less than their ability.
To rebuild the secondary, I think the Cowboys need to go after at least one safety and one corner. I believe Gerald Sensabaugh and Mike Jenkins will perform next season, but the Cowboys lack any depth in the secondary.
For cornerback, there is more than one option, but I think the Cowboys should only have one target in mind; and that one is pretty obvious. Nnamdi Asomugah is a premier defensive back and regarded by most as the best shutdown corner in the league. His defensive assignments were only targeted a total of 33 times last season, or less than twice a game. This is an impressive stat, and it could help restore the Cowboys defense to their former selves from 2009. As far as other targets go, the Cowboys could also target Champ Bailey, Ike Taylor, or Antonio Cromartie. I believe the best option for the Cowboys is Asomugah though. If the Cowboys don’t land him, I think it is safe to say that many Cowboys fans will be severely disappointed. He will be a hot target this offseason, however, and many teams will be going after him, but the Cowboys are close to being the premier team they can be, and that is something the Cowboys have to offer besides the money.
At safety, there are a few good options. The best option, in my opinion, is Darren Sharper. This is a defensive back who has shown how consistently he can play, and he has shown that he can play on the big stage. From what it looks like, Sharper is most likely going to return to New Orleans. He has shown by his offseason actions with his teammates that he is happy in New Orleans. What he has to offer to the Cowboys is something they dramatically need. One thing about Sharper is that he always plays with a chip on his shoulder. He goes all out every single play, and he plays with an intensity that automatically makes him a leader on the field. The Cowboys secondary is led by veteran Terrence Newman, who has never been a leader vocally or on the field. Darren Sharper would be perfect for the Cowboys.
Some other options that are more likely, however, include Michael Huff, Eric Weddle, and Brodney Pool. These guys are all great fits for what the Cowboys need right now. They are able to drop back and defend, and they also know how to snuff out guys busting up field for big gains.
Michael Huff is an Arlington native who has spent too much time with the Raiders. He knows that it is time for him to leave, and could very likely find himself landing in Arlington. Huff has vocally shown interest in joining the Cowboys to the press, and he would be a great fit for the Cowboys. I don’t think he is as good an option as Sharper, but he would provide a much needed patch in the secondary. I believe he is probably the second best option for the Cowboys.
Eric Weddle has done a great job for San Diego. He is a guy that is very rarely caught out of position, and he is not afraid to go up to break up a pass. This is a consistent guy who will help whoever he ends up playing with next season, and if he ends up in DFW, then I think Cowboys fans will find themselves surprisingly happy.
Brodney Pool is exactly what the Cowboys weren’t last year. He does not give up the big play. He doesn’t get many interceptions, and he doesn’t have super great numbers at safety. What he does, though, is prevent touchdowns. The Cowboys found themselves being burned over and over again last year, while Brodney Pool allowed zero touchdowns through the last 8 games of 2010. This would help the Cowboys dramatically. Of course, Pool did have much help from two outstanding cornerbacks, but that stat speaks for itself in such a passing-oriented league.
Offensive Skill Positions
This next part may sound crazy, but I think the Cowboys should go after a star wide receiver. In the Cowboys best days this past decade, they have had a huge name wide receiver. The main one worth mentioning is T.O. He brought to the team what nobody has brought in the same way since. Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge Miles Austin fan. He is going to be one of my favorite players as long as he is a Cowboy. He is strong and lighting fast, and he has shown that he has the ability to keep the number one receiver spot.
Also, Dez Bryant‘s contribution to the team in the coming years is bound to become mind-blowing. He is the exact physical specimen you want in a wide receiver, and he very soon will be the exact star wide receiver that I am speaking of. As of now, though, I would love to keep him in the same role that he had last year. He made an amazing impact on the team when he was healthy last season, and he will only flourish more as he gains experience in the league. In a perfect world, we would all like to say Roy Williams is that perfect wide receiver the Cowboys need, but he was about as big a bust as the Cowboys could have ever imagined.
The future of the Cowboys receiver corps is bright, but I am looking for a guy that the Cowboys can sign to a one-year contract that will make an immediate impact. In my mind, there is only one real option for a one-year contract that could have that kind of impact, and that receiver is Randy Moss. Do you remember when the Cowboys signed T.O.? Every Jerry Jones hater was jumping onto this idea that T.O. would somehow hurt the team more than he would help. He made an immediate impact and led the team in touchdown catches. I think Moss could do the same thing, and could ultimately help propel the Cowboys to Super Bowl status. Imagine having Miles Austin as the number one receiver, Dez Bryant and Randy Moss switching duties as number two and slot, and Jason Witten at tight end. That would be an unstoppable receiver corps. Who would the number one DB on the other team cover? With Romo back and healthy, he would be salivating at the thought of having that many solid receivers.
Just as a side thought, Plaxico Burress could be that guy. It would be a huge risk though.
As far as a running game goes, the Cowboys don’t have one. You can argue with me all you want about how Felix Jones is a good running back and that the Cowboys only do what they need to do in the run game. I love Felix because he is a big play threat guy, but in the Cowboys system, he has shown that he is not a number one running back. I have been a fan of making Tashard Choice the main man for a long time, but it is obvious that the Cowboys don’t want to go that way. The Cowboys recently drafted DeMarco Murray, and he very possibly could be the answer, being a solid back at OU. However, DeAngelo Williams is up for free agency. The Panthers more than likely won’t let him go that easily. They are most likely going to tag him and trade him. Even then, he would be worth the asking price for the Cowboys who haven’t had a solid number one running back since Emmitt Smith. Williams would be a consistent back as long as he is healthy. He is able to handle the workload, and he is blazing fast.
The Cowboys did a good job drafting a lot of what they need, but they made it pretty obvious that they are going to be playing the free agent market quite a bit when they are able to. If I know one thing about Jerry Jones, it is that he can not stand to have a bad team. He will do everything he can to get players before next season that are able to make an impact. This team, like I said, is so close to being at the top of the division and maybe a Super Bowl caliber team.