What to do in the Off Season

As the off season is officially upon us, with the Cowboy releasing Adam "Pacman" Jones, there comes to mind a list of certain things that I feel need to be done by the team in order to begin the climb back towards the top of the NFC's elite. Since the team did not fire Wade Phillips like I had hoped, I am left with a strong sense of doubt about this season, however there are some off season moves that we could make to allay my fears and perhaps actually make us respectable.

1. Avoid big name free agents:
- Everyone is talking about how Ray Lewis could make an immediate impact as a leader in our locker room, but for how long? A leader is good, but you can not just come to a new team and expect to take the reigns as a leader, as Zack Thomas stated early into last season. In my opinion, we should be going after a Raven free agent, just not Ray Lewis. That man's name would be Jim Leonhard. Yes I am talking about the Ravens strong safety who is to be a free agent. Watching him in the Dolphins game, and several other games this season gave me all the information I need to know about him. He has incredible range, speed, and great instincts. To me he would be the ultimate compliment to Ken Hamlin, who must bounce back from a sub par 2008 performence. He would also come cheap, so seriously Jerry, take a look at him.

2. Cut T.O.
- This seems to be a hot topic amongst Cowboys fans, as people are either for him or against him. In my opinion T.O. must go (pardon the rhyme). His skills are declining rapidly, especially to the point where he has trouble beating simple press coverage as exposed in the first Redskins game. He is too big of a distraction and as RW1 recently stated, he creates a horrible impression on younger players. Cutting him would be great for our chemistry, and finally give Miles Austin a chance to be that second reciever; a role I think he would flourish in.

3. The Draft
- Here is a sticking point. We need to have success in the later rounds of this years draft like we did last year with Scandrick and Choice. We have 9 picks in this years draft, and the probability that we end up with near 11 is very good. We need to parlay these picks into either moving up in the draft to have more 2nd or 3rd rounders, or to gaining picks for next years draft.

We need a space eating nose tackle first and foremost. I love the Rat, but ideally he would be a quick release D End. Look at the sacks that James was able to accumulate this year. Just imagine what he could have done had he had a Vince Wilfork or Shaun Rogers clogging up the middle for him.

If we can not sign Jim Leonhard, get a safety in the 2nd round, possibly using our extra picks to trade up to the top of the round in order to get a safety, as the general consensus is there will be a run on safeties near the beginning of the 2nd. Rashad Johnson out of Alabama would be my favorite choice. Coming from Saban's defense would leave a small window for transition into the NFL (see Laron Landry) and would allow for the most immediate impact.

We also need to draft O-Line depth, a young backup (im feeling Graham Harrell in the 4th), and possibly some linebacking depth.

These are just my first quick thoughts of the off season. There will be more to come.

-Tucker

First Post

Hello, for those of you who are here hopefully you have an interest in the Dallas Cowboys, lovingly known as America's Team. If you do not have an interest for them, stick around and maybe I will be able to conjure up a passion for them in you similar to my own. I am a student at the great Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, but my one true love is the Dallas Cowboys. This blog will serve to let me voice my opinions about the team, the direction they are traveling, league news and sometimes just random thoughts. I also want to use this space as a sounding board for others interested in the Cowboys organization where we can bounce ideas off of each other, rant about last weeks game or discuss why we think if we ran the Cowboys there would be no end to the Super Bowl titles. Hopefully you will stick around and enjoy what I have to say.
Thanks for checking in,
Tucker