Steelers cut Ta'amu

The Steelers cut rookie nose tackle Alameda ta'amu just weeks after a drunken driving arrest. He was 3rd on their depth chart and just fell out of favor there. I would put in a claim on him as fast as possible, if only our teams GM priority was about finding players to upgrade the roster. #canwefiretheowner

Ta'amu was the most ideal two-gap nose tackle in the 2012 draft and he destroyed the South's offensive line in the Senior Bowl. He needs a fresh start and this is just a rookie! I wanted him as high as the second round and the #steelers got him early in the 4th. Maybe the #cowboys can finally get something from the 4th round of the 2012 draft with Ta'amu since neither Matt Johnson or Kyle Wilbur have done ANYTHING on defense.

Trimming the fat off this Cowboy team

I get sick looking at these numbers of under performing players making too much money and interesting to see how many were on the list of questionable moves when they were brought in.

Doug Free - $5.3 million

Perhaps the Cowboys most disappointing offensive lineman especially in regard to compensation is Doug Free. He can't hold up in pass protection and just really struggles vs counter moves from even average NFL pass rushers. His run blocking has been better and more so when he pulls and can get out in space. Bottom line, he should not be starting on this team and I need to find out what I have in Jeremy Parnell during this year before I add offensive tackle to need list in the offseason. But I highly doubt Parnell will see the field without an injury because this organization does not have faith in playing young players on the offensive line.

Dez Bryant - $3.6 million

Outside of the offensive line, no other player is holding back the offensive line more than Dez, simple as that. Romo has little to no confidence in Bryant, the more simplified the offense gets the more of a contribution this knucklehead can make. He is the poster boy for lack of accountability, preparation and football IQ that is flooding throughout the entire roster. His route running, attitude and character have not improved to the level expected in his NFL career and I would be trying desperately to trade him in the offseason, seriously Jacksonville asking for Laurent Robinson straight up. But this organization will continue to throw Dez out there and he will frustrate you to the point you want to bench him, then during the same game make a play that makes you think "if only he was consistent, oh what a player."

Orlando Scandrick - $2.9 million

Dallas paid Scandrick to go along with Mike Jenkins to form a solid tandem of corners to last them next 5-6 years, plan didn't work. Unfortunately for Scandrick, he's still the same player he was as a rookie, a solid cover corner but who is not a consistent tackler, comfortable pressing at the line nor able to make a play on the ball when in position. He's a solid nickel corner but he's paid like a top starting corner.

Marcus Spears & Kenyon Coleman - $2.7 and $2.3 million totalling $5 million

The strongside defensive end position has been a sore spot for Dallas for years and they keep thinking former first round pick Marcus Spears is going to show up. He's a 2 down run stuffing end who gives you nothing as a pass rusher and even when Spears is in position to stuff the run, rarely does he finish the play. His impact would be solid if he finished plays he is in position to make. Yet because Dallas had no depth, they resigned Spears to an extension that he did not earn. Coleman has been an adequate player for Dallas mostly because they put him in position that he is most comfortable in, 2-down run stuffer and just bull rush in pass rush situations. Unlike Spears, Coleman plays his role well stuffing the run and just simply not allowing anywhere for ballcarriers to go. These players are situational average players but paid like full-time solid starters, wasted money. This team should insert Sean Lissemore into the starting lineup once he returns from injury and move on from these guys in the offseason. Develop and play your younger players.

Dan Connor - $2.1 million

Unfortunately for Connor, he never had the inside track to the inside linebacker job as second year pro Bruce Carter took the job and ran with it. I argued when Dallas signed Connor that he did not fit the scheme as he was not the thumper inside backer needed to stand up to guards in the hole, stack and shed blockers to make plays in the running game. Connor was a huge liability in man coverage at Carolina and hoped he could step up in Sean Lee's absence as the weakside inside backer job better suited his skills. Then he got hurt and now just seems the season will be lost for him. He is signed through next season and would provide good depth behind Lee but again, he is not well suited for the thumper backer job in Dallas.

Felix Jones - $1.8 million

If it wasn't for Dez, Felix would be the most frustrating offensive player on this team. Fact is, he still is. First of all, he let a 3rd round pick take his job last year in DeMarco Murray and then showed up out of shape to training camp this year failing the opening conditioning test. Factor in several times he's run without confidence, showing poor vision and a lack of burst we saw as a rookie. He is as good as gone in the offseason and with Murray's lack of ability to stay healthy, runningback will again be on the list of needs in the offseason.

Mackenzy Bernadeau - $1.8 million Dallas signed Bernadeau knowing he was not a finished nor a day one plug in and go starter after being a backup during his time in Carolina. They were hoping to find a player on the rise and give him an opportunity to play. Unfortunately they have gotten a above average run blocker and a below average pass blocker. His play has improved since nearly being benched in favor of Derrick Dockery but fact is, the quality of play for Bernadeau is not on the level of the contract given.

Favorite draft prospect in some trouble

One of my favorite 2012 draft targets was nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu from Washington. He was drafted in the 4th round by the Steelers, well he was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle and felony fleeing police following a traffic incident. Ta'amu fled police after he reportedly crashed into four parked cars, injuring a woman in the process. Ta’amu has yet to play this season. Thanks to GBN report

Bad to worst on Longhorn Injury Front

Well from bad to worst. Longhorn pass rusher Jackson Jeffcoat will miss the rest of the season. He suffered a right pectoral injury during the OU loss Saturday.

Texas' depth along the Dline was already in bad shape, this does not help. This should mean Jeffcoat will return to Austin next year instead of opting for the NFL Draft.

Brandon Moore was carted off the field with a neck injury was released from the hospital Sunday with all test results coming back normal.

Also on the injury front, test have confirmed QB David Ash has a broken wrist on his non-throwing arm and will be out for 2-3 weeks according to sources. He has not been officially ruled out of the Baylor game but Case McCoy should start for the Horns. Keep an eye out for freshman Connor Brewer to get some snaps as well.

Copy cat league changing thoughts on QB prospects

The success of RG3, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and even Andrew Luck has teams reconsidering the way they rate the QB coming out of college.

I find this absolutely ridiculous, does a QB need to be a runner, no but does he have to be athletic to side step the rush?  Yes most definitely.

There is a difference between the two.  The NFL has taken so many steps to protect the QB to ensure offenses continue to succeed to put points on the board which keeps butts in the seats as well as viewers watching on TV. Fact

All bets are off when it comes to protecting the QB as soon he becomes a runner. Yes, they can still slide to avoid a tackle but if you are running inside consistently, you are going to get your guy roughed up. It takes a toll on your thrower and can impact the entire team, ask Phildelphia.

Personally, your QB needs to have the athleticism to extend a play with his feet but complete it with his arm. Teams mortgage their future to hit on a franchise QB (Washington) and why in the hell would you put your most prized and valuable commodity in a position to take more hits.

A QB prospect that cannot extend the play with his feet and beat you with his arm should be not be a high prospect regardless. A QB that can only run the ball but struggles to beat you through the air can be easily defeated in the NFL.  They can get away with it in college but not in the pros.  Fact until proven otherwise where it counts, Super Bowls son!

The count is still at zero!  Ask Philadelphia (Vick, Randall Cunningham), Denver (Tebow), Minnesota (Tavaris Jackson), Dallas (Quincy Carter), Tennessee (Vince Young) and Pittsburgh (Kordell Stewart). The arguement can go on forever debating whether or not the likes of John Elway, Steve Young, Steve McNair and Donovan mcNabb were running QBs or QBs who could extend plays with their feet but beat you with their arm.

Fact is there are about 15-20 great to quality quarterbacks capable of handling an NFL offense and beating a defense consistently on Sundays, that means there are less than one for every team in the NFL. With the hopes of a championship riding on keeping your quarterback in the game, again I ask, why in the hell would you put them in that position to take more hits?

I am not changing what I look for in a NFL QB prospect, a good arm, anticipate your throws with accuracy, plus footwork, progress through your reads, find passing lanes and extend the play with your feet but beat the defense with your arm.

Cowboys vs Seahawks recap

Cowboys vs Seahawks recap

- Dallas once again could control the line of scrimmage offensively, the tackles Tyron Smith and Doug Free did not perform well. Smith had his worst game of his short career but was abused in pass protection as well as blitz pick up. Free was better than his Giants performance but if you are happy with a C- grade I suppose you can be happy about that.

Factor in all the drops by Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, simply could not get any rhythm offensively. The offense flows through DeMarco Murray and since they could not run the ball consistently, and receivers not help Romo.

Defensively, the gameplan was to play coverage vs Russell Wilson and force the rookie to throw into lots of coverage where Rob Ryan figures is the strength of his unit. He did not want to blitz Wilson due to the fear he would beat the Cowboys with his feet where he is most comfortable. It is a good theory unless you spot your opponent 10 points before the fans get to their seats. Factor in that the Cowboys D could not control the defensive line of scrimmage either and that let Marshawn Lynch to pound the ball consistently especially in the second half.

Then to complete the recipe of defeat, the special teams unit fumbles the opening kickoff and gives up a blocked punt which was Dan Connor's screw up for a touchdown. Game over

How good is Ranger pitching?

The Rangers are poised to make a 3rd consecutive postseason appearance while at the same time completely re-loading their starting rotation. 

2010 did it with Cliff Lee, C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis with a rookie Tommy Hunter as well.
2011 They almost won a world series with a very shaky rotation, C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland Matt Harrison filling out the rotation.

Introduce the 2012 rotation and the entire 2010 postseason rotation is gone, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Ryan Dempster and rookie Yu Darvish.

That is unbelievable to reload a rotation like that without breaking the bank or your farm system, are they even better?  Check out these numbers.

The Rangers projected postseason starting rotation since the middle of August.

Ryan Dempster
Since August 20th
36 1/3, 31 hits, 13 walks with 36 strikeouts. ERA of 2.97

Derek Holland
Since August 22
42 Innings Pitched, 33 hits, 9 walks with 38 strikeouts. ERA of 2.78

Matt Harrison
Since August 14th
46 2/3 IP, 40 hits, 11 walks, 33 strikeouts. ERA of 3.09 and its 1.96 if you take out his 5 & 1/3 inning start where he gave up 7 runs to Tampa Bay.

Yu Darvish:
Since August 17th
41 Innings Pitched, 17 hits, 9 walks with 48 strikeouts. ERA of 1.76
Only given up 8 hits in month of September.

Does this team have an ace? No they do not, what they do have is depth and that gives them an edge in a long series. Texas will be at a disadvantage in a elimination game versus another teams No.1 starter as this offense has failed to consistently produce in 2012 especially with Josh Hamilton and Michael Young in the heart of the lineup.