From: rjk@DINO.QCI.BIOCH.BCM.TMC.EDU (Raymond K)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Suggested trades for the Cowboys.
Date: 17 Aug 1992 13:14:23 GMT
Organization: X-Ray Crystallography / Howard Hughes Medical Institute

In article <1992Aug15.084043.29211@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> aa05@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (ABDULMALIK A. ALHUSSEINI) writes:
>
>    The Cowboys need a lot of help on defense if they want to make it to the
>    big party. In my opinion the priorities are:
>
>    1. Proven OLB (to improve the pass rush)
>    2. Proven CB or FS (more INT's)
>    3. Proven DE (pass rush)
>    4. MLB (in case Jones disappoint or gets injured).
>
>    Here are some suggested trades that made sense to me:

     [ ... trades deleted  ... ]

>    I am sure you have better ideas. Let's here it.
>    Malik......

It's always good to read postings about the Cowboys, and I enjoyed
this one, but just want to add some comments.

First off, I think all of the trades you mention would be almost
impossible to make.  Sure, JJ is a master of wheeling and dealing,
but he's at his best when he can get a player who might be on the
outs with his current team (Beuerlein, Casillas) yet can still help
the Cowboys, or when he can peddle something for a windfall to a team
that is desparate for a specific need (Walker, Walsh).  Trading Noonan,
Casillas, or Jimmie Jones isn't going to get a Junior Seau or a James
Francis.  These players are key players for their teams, and they wouldn't
give up on them.  JJ is good, but he's not THAT good!

Secondly, sure the Cowboys want to upgrade their defense.  But, JJ is
doing it the patient way.  Let's not forget that the 'Boys aren't too
many years removed from the 1-15 season.  Sure, most of those players
are gone now, but that only means the ones that are here now are young.
I'm glad to see JJ does not have the same mindset as a lot of fans who
might be tempted to give up a little of the future for the present.
The guys the Cowboys have on defense now are not All-Pros currently,
they are not even household names (except in Cowboys fans' houses),
but guys like Tony Hill, Tony Tolbert, Jimmie Jones, Leon Lett, Godfrey
Myles, Dixon Edwards, and Darren Woodson will combine with slightly
bigger name players like Russell Maryland, Robert Jones, and Kevin Smith
to form a pretty good defense in due time.  It's still only preseason,
slightly more than halfway through, and the defensive unit is still 
coming together.  With quite a few holdouts coming in late and their desire
to critique many young players, it would be harsh to judge them at this
stage.  Remember last season, it took Maryland until the second half of
the year to really come on and make an impact.  It wouldn't be unrealistic
to expect the rookies this year to do the same.  But, the Cowboys have a
pretty good Defensive Coordinator in Dave Wannstedt.  He was able to come
up with a pretty good defense in 1990 with patchwork players, and worked
some new faces into the lineup last season.  But, as JJ has said before,
the players they want are in place now, it's just a question of them
getting experience and learning.  When they do get it together, it'll be
solid for quite a while since it was built on quality youth.

I expect the Cowboys aren't showing all their cards on defense this
preseason and things will firm up quite a bit when the games start counting.
But, it will still take a while for the young guys to come on and prove
their worth.  JJ is still building for the future, but he doesn't want
to just sacrifice the present.  He'll put a defense on the field that can
help the Cowboys win games, it just won't be as strong as the one he 
envisions when everyone gets up to speed.  As Cowboys fans, we have to be
a little patient.


Ray     GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!