What Do The Cowboys Free Agent Signings Bring? Pt 2

By:  Bobby Shores

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The Cowboys had a strange free agent period, instead of going after the "big name" players (even though Brandon Carr is a fairly big name), they instead filled a lot of holes with guys that can contribute in multiple ways and provide some MUCH needed depth which is needed to make it through the long NFL season! I've been holding this (and other) articles to not only "refresh"people's memory on the off-season transactions, but also as a way to get ready for the season! Enjoy reading Part 2 as much as I enjoyed writing it!!

Brandon Carr - CB - The Cowboys signed him to the biggest contract for any free agent defensive back, a 5-year $50.1 million deal and we all know that his primary responsibility will be to lock down the opposition's #1 receiver. Carr is just what Rob Ryan needs as a #1 corner, he plays a physical press-man style coverage that will hamper receivers trying to get off the line and screw up the offense's timing allowing rushers to get to the quarterback

Cowboys CB Brandon Carr

But Carr brings something else to the team, his physical style of play (press man) carries over into practice where he is regularly jamming guys like Dez Bryant and Miles Austin at the line. Both of these guys have struggled in the past getting off the line when people are in their face, now they have to learn how to use their hands properly and get a good release. I really believe that his practice value is just as good as his defense will be in real games, he is forcing our receivers to get better! While a lot of people don't think that he was worth $50.1 million, and he might not be when it comes to on-field production, but $10 million per year was the going rate for the top corners on the market this year, and being a big physical corner that will interrupt the rhythm that is so important to quarterbacks and receivers (especially in west coast style offenses which both Eagles and Redskins run) I believe  he is more than worth it.

If Carr is so valuable, then why did the Chiefs let him go? Well you can only devote so much money to the defensive side of the ball, especially one group like the secondary. Remember that they have huge contract obligations to safety Eric Berry, they also resigned Brandon Flowers at corner who was drafted the same year as Carr. I believe Carr is better but remember as a second round pick, they sometimes get priority over a later round pick, it's just the economics of the NFL. The Chiefs also don't play as physical defense as the Cowboys do, making Carr expendable. 

The other benefit that Carr brings is his durability, as a 5th round pick out of Grand Valley State he has been in the NFL for 64 games (4 years) and has NEVER missed a start. If you have watched the Cowboys much lately then you know how banged up our secondary has been. I honestly can't remember the last time we had our secondary at or near 100% for a game. Carr's durability will help with the continuity, especially as the #1 cornerback.

Dan Connor - ILB - My thoughts on this signing were nothing but positive, and it even spawned a separate article that will be posted in the next few days. The first thing Connor brings to the team is depth at the important inside linebacker position where I think him Sean Lee, and Bruce Carter will all get a lot of snaps.We aren't sure yet what we have in Carter, but I believe that at the worst he is Kevin Burnett, a linebacker that can cover any tight end or running back in the league. His speed is probably his best atrribute while one of the knocks I have on him is that he seems to be a robotic type player and less instinctual than the other guys. This is not necessarily a bad thing as he gets himself into position and will not do a lot of freelancing, meaning he will not have huge "impact" plays but should also not make many "impact" mistakes.

Cowboys Backup QB Kyle Orton

Before signing him the Cowboys had the motor of the defense Lee and 2nd year player Carter, both players that have struggled with injuries during their football careers with Carter only being healthy for about half of his rookie year due to a knee injury suffered in college and Lee having both a knee injury, thigh bruise and broken hand among others. Connor and Lee both excelled playing together at Penn State, and I think they will have great chemistry again.

Connor is a smart instinctive player that can diagnose plays quickly, much like Lee, and while I hear a lot of people claiming that he is a liability against the pass and that we will see the back of his jersey chasing linebackers, I don't see it in my film study, and I think he is more than capable. He is a strong tackler and has good sideline-to-sideline range.

Kyle Orton - QB - This was the most surprising signing of the off season for me, Orton is good enough to
be a starter in this league, but I think he got tired of ALWAYS being the veteran guy and teams ALWAYS trying to replace him (much like Doug Flutie). He comes to Dallas as the clear cut backup, and with Tony Romo's injury history the last few years, there is a good chance he will get a chance to play. I honestly believe that having Orton on the roster gives the Cowboys the best quarterback depth chart in the NFL.

No matter how much Cowboys fans want Orton to be "the guy", it's not going to happen, the only facet of Orton's game that is better than Romo's is his awesome beard. Orton will never (and better never) threaten Romo's grip on the starting job, but what he can do is push Romo to be better. At no time in Romo's 6(?) years starting has he had anybody to push him (sorry A&M fans, Stephen McGee is better suited to be a "yell leader" than a starting NFL QB). And from what I know of Romo, particularly off the field when he is playing pickup basketball and golf, he loves to be pushed and challenged, and I think Orton will do that.

Signing Orton fills two needs, he gives the Cowboys arguably the best backup quarterback in the NFL, and he should bring out the best in Tony Romo. Orton may be the best Denver Broncos quarterback ever, but he  is barely even the best backup in the storied history of the Dallas Cowboys.

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