IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' Twitter mailbag is ready.
In it we discuss:
The draft dilemma
Coordinator calls
A free agent running back
Away we go:
#cowboysmail How can we overlook the best Defensive player at pick 4? QB to sit or instant starter on D?
— Jason Knight (@jhknight11) January 7, 2016@toddarcher: You have hit on the dilemma the Cowboys face. I can understand arguments on both sides. The best quarterbacks come early in the draft. The Cowboys hope never to be in this position again, so why not grab Tony Romo's successor? People always bring up Aaron Rodgers as an example of taking a first-rounder and having him sit. Well, Rodgers went No. 24 overall. It’s easier to take a player that late and have him sit. At No. 4 I think you need immediate impact if you’re not completely sold on a quarterback. By drafting at another position, offense or defense, the Cowboys get the instant benefit presumably of seeing their first-round pick play. If I’m convinced one of these quarterbacks is a lock to be successful, I’d probably take him, but if I have any question I’ll go with another position and take a chance in the second or third round on a quarterback. There’s no doubt the Cowboys are in a win-now mode with Romo, so my guess this early in the process would be they would go with immediate help at No. 4 overall.
@toddarcher think all coordinators stay? I feel like our defense isn't up to par and maybe a switch at DC would be helpful. #cowboysmail
— Tyler Trepp (@therealsnctyler) January 14, 2016@toddarcher: If the Cowboys were going to make a coordinator change it would have already been made. Or it should have been already made because teams with new coaches are filling up their staffs with the best available. I’m on record saying Jason Garrett deserves a chance to get out of this 4-12 mess. So do his coordinators Scott Linehan and Rod Marinelli. But let’s keep this on the DC. Garrett has gone through Rob Ryan and Monte Kiffin. Now he has Marinelli. What hurt the Cowboys defense most of all was the ineffective offense. In 2014 they were able to play with leads a lot of the time that forced teams to pass, which led to takeaways. That didn’t happen in 2015. The defense needs to be better in 2016, but I think it will be better with a healthy Romo and additions through free agency and the draft.
@toddarcher Are The Boys looking for a big FA RB, like Ivory or Doug Martin, or just a backup for DMC? #cowboysmail
— Mark Muntean (@M2M3P) January 14, 2016@toddarcher: I think the Cowboys answered this question when they passed on the chance to keep DeMarco Murray. You’re asking about Chris Ivory and Doug Martin. Others have mentioned Lamar Miller. I don’t see the Cowboys making major free-agent investments in a runner. They knew all about Murray and said no. I don’t view any of those backs mentioned as better fits than Murray. Maybe Martin, but there is a good chance he will not be available when the market opens. Taking a chance on a guy they don’t know isn’t worth it. Now, if the contract is right, then fine, do it. But I’d look to the draft and pair that guy with McFadden with the idea he becomes the every-down back eventually in 2016 and definitely in 2017.