1992 Team....

[garyv]

Amazing several Posts mention the 92 Cowboys. One stating that they could have created 2 Superbowl teams from that squad. This maybe totally true. The thing that amazes me is the fact if you Draft smart every year than the flow of players will continue to flow even with losing players to Free Agency. The part that just simply blows me away is its not that complicated to Draft correctly. I have done Cowboy Mock Drafts every year and every year there are one or two players that make the Pro-Bowl or have super seasons. The things that make winners and successful teams like the early 90's Cowboys is staying where you are in the Draft and selecting the best possible player no matter what position. You fill needs through Free Agents. If you take the best available talent no matter what position every year than your team will be solid season after season. For example if you get top heavy at a certain position such as Runningback, Linebacker or even Cornerback than the extra talent allows you trade material to shore up a weaker position.

[Dangerous Dave]

The Boys drafted well, but we were helped by Minnesota's brain fart
Herschel Walker trade.

Thanks Vikes !!

[Eddie]

Actually, the Cowboys didn't draft well. Most of their picks were duds, but they also hit a few solid.

Here's the 1989-1992 drafts. Most players didn't cut it ... but a few turned into superstars.

1989
1. Troy Aikman, QB, UCLA (Overall First Pick)
2. Daryl Johnston, FB, Syracuse
3A. Mark Stepnoski, OL, Pittsburgh
3B. Rhondy Weston, DE, Florida
4. Tony Tolbert, DE, Texas-El Paso
5A. Keith Jennings, TE, Clemson
5B. Willis Crockett, LB, Georgia Tech
5C. Jerr Roth, DT, Florida
7. Kevin Peterson, LB, Northwestern
8. Char Vez Foger, RB, Nevada-Reno
9. Tim Jackson, DB, Nebraska
10. Rod Carter, LB, Miami, Fla
11. Randy Shannon, LB, Miami, Fla
12. Scott Ankrom, WR, TCU

1990
Supplemental Draft
Steve Walsh, QB, Miami (in place of 1st round pick)
Mike Lowman, RB, Coffeyville J.C (in place of 12th round pick)

1. Emmitt Smith, RB, Florida
2. Alexander Wright, WR, Auburn
3. Jimmie Jones, DT, Miami
5. Stan Smagala, DB, Notre Dame
9. Kenneth Gant, DB, Albany St., NY
11. Dave Harper, LB, Humboldt St.

1991
1A. Russell Maryland, DT, Miami (Overall First Pick)
1B. Alvin Harper, WR, Tennessee
2A. Dixon Edwards, LB, Michigan St.
3A. Godfrey Myles, LB, Florida
3B. James Richards, G, California
3C. Erik Williams, T, Central St.
4A. Curvin Richards, RB, Pittsburgh
4B. Bill Musgrave, QB, Oregon
4C. Tony Hill, DE, Tennessee-Chattanooga
4D.Kevin Harris, DE, Texas Southern
5. Darrick Brownlow, LB, Illinois
6. Mike Sullivan, OL, Miami
7. Leon Lett, DE, Emporia St. (KS)
9. Damon Ma Ys, WR, Missouri
10. Sean Love, G, Penn St.
11. Tony Boles, RB, Michigan
12. Larry Brown, CB, TCU

1992
1A. Kevin Smith, CB, Texas A&M
1B. Robert Jones, LB, East Carolina
2A. Jimmy Smith, WR, Jackson St.
2B. Darren Woodson, DB, Arizona St.
3A. Clayton Holmes, DB, Carson-Newman
3B. James Brown, OL, Virginia St.
4. Tom Myslinski, OL, Tennessee
5A. Greg Briggs, DB, Texas Southern
5B. Rod Milstead, OL, Delaware St.
6. Fallon Wacasey, TE, Tulsa
9A. John Terry, OL, Liningstone
9B. Nathaniel Kirtman, DB, Pomona-Pitzer (CA)
9C. Cris Hall, DB, East Carolina
11. Tim Daniel, WR, Florida A&M
12. Don Harris, DB, Texas Tech

http://www.geocities.com/~jrbeasley/dallas/cowboys/draft.html#1989

[ravidubey]

Besides getting Emmitt Smith, Dallas drafted normally; what saved them were the extra draft picks which let them gamble and trade up and down!

Without those extra picks they might not have been able to trade up with Pittsburgh and get Smith.

[AsthmaField]

That is 52 players in four drafts! It's no wonder we were able to be successful then. Getting Novacek in Plan B helped a lot too.

The things that make winners and successful teams like the early 90's Cowboys is staying where you are in the Draft and selecting the best possible player no matter what position.

While I don't neccessarily disagree with you, Jimmy and Jerry moved all over the place in the early 90's drafts. They hardly ever stayed pat and took the best available. At least with the early picks.

In 1989, they took Steve Wisnewski at the top of round 2 and then promptly traded him to the Raiders for a combination of picks.

In 1990, they moved up to take Emmitt Smith at no. 17 in the first round... that's only after a trade to move up and get James Francis fell through and another for a DT out of NC State (I can't remember his name) didn't happen. If Jimmy had been successful on either of those trade attempts, we might not be having this discussion now. Stan Smagala was part of a trade too... I think left over from the Steve Wisnewski trade the year before. Also, they used a first rounder on Steve Walsh which certainly wouldn't be thought of as staying put with your draft pick. Of course they traded him to New Orleans for more picks later.

In 1991, using amunition from the Walker trade, Jimmy moved up to the number one pick in the entire draft. Of course he did that thinking Rocket Ismail would be there for him to take. We all know Ismail went to the CFL for a time and in one of the weaker drafts in recent history, JJ was stuck taking Russell Maryland at one... not exactly a difference maker, but still an important cog in a DL rotation that wore offenses out. They stood pat for Alvin Harper, I believe, but they also had another no. 1 and took Kelvin Pritchett. As soon as the pick was made, they traded his rights to Detroit for a number of picks. I can't remember who those picks turned out to be, but I don't think it was anyone of note.

In 1992, unless I'm mistaken, JJ stood pat for K. Smith after he failed to trade up for Troy Vincent. There was a little movement (back I think) when we picked Robert Jones.

That isn't taking into consideration all the later round picks that we moved on in those four drafts. I'd say one thing the Cowboys of the early 90's didn't do is stay put and take the best available athlete.

Also, Jimmy didn't do such a great job of drafting either.

When he got here, we already had Michael Irvin, and we also had the first pick overall in 1989 from Landry's last season. Anyone with any brains would've taken Aikman. That's two of the "Triplets" pretty much already onboard when Jimmy got here.

I already mentioned above how Jimmy tried to trade for two other guys before "setteling" for Emmitt Smith.

Who else besides those three were stars? Harper? Maryland? Tolbert? Stepnoski? Johnston? They were good picks... solid players... but I don't think they could be called stars. On another less successful team they would've been relative unknowns, I'd wager. They're good bit players. Steady and smart. A lot like Greg Ellis actually.

With 52 picks in 4 years, I'd hope Jimmy would have found some good players to go with his stars.

And most of the OL was here when JJ arrived. Out of the nine OL that Jimmy drafted in those 4 years... only 2 turned out to be worth anything. Stepnoski and Erik Williams. The others were nothing. If the current staff were to have that record... they would be tarred and feathered.

Anyway... you get the point. We definately didn't stand pat and take the best available player back then and as good as the team was, Jimmy's drafts weren't all that exceptional for anything other than sheer numbers.

[Irving Cowboy]

^^^^ Great post ^^^^

You can look at the the drafts of today by teams like New England, Baltimore, and some of the other better teams and see that they have like 7 starters out of their last 3 drafts... mind you a 7 round draft!!!

Jimmy had a 12 round draft with 3, sometimes four picks in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round and was able to hit on one or two from those four rounds and was touted as a drafting genius... he wasn't a drafting genius, he was a trade sheister, usually fleecing whoever was on the other end of the trade. Like what was said before, having all those picks just made it more possible that he would find a diamond in the trash {oops!} rough. He got as many starters out of his drafts back then as the better GMs do today with just over half the picks...

[Eddie]

Jimmy may have had numerous picks, but he didn't reach for players like Shante Carver, Kavika Pittman, Dwayne Goodrich, David LaFluer, Ebenezer Ekuban, Tony Dixon, Quincy Carter, etc, etc.

He moved around alot, and took the best player available. He didn't take 4th round QB's in the 2nd round, nor did he take 12th round Safeties who didn't start for their college teams 4 picks after taking the 4th round QB in the 2nd round.

[AsthmaField]

Jimmy may have had numerous picks, but he didn't reach for players like Shante Carver, Kavika Pittman, Dwayne Goodrich, David LaFluer, Ebenezer Ekuban, Tony Dixon, Quincy Carter, etc, etc.

He moved around alot, and took the best player available. He didn't take 4th round QB's in the 2nd round, nor did he take 12th round Safeties who didn't start for their college teams 4 picks after taking the 4th round QB in the 2nd round.

LOL. I don't disagree with you at all. Although LaFluer and Ekuban went exazctly where everyone thought they should go, and if it weren't for his back, LaFluer probably would've been a pretty good player.

I wasn't really saying that we've done a good job lately... Only that Jimmy didn't do nearly as well as a lot of people seem to think he did in the early 90's drafts.

He did think Jimmy Smith was whiney and got rid of a pro bowl WR and kept a horribly one dimensional Alvin Harper instead.

He took Alexander Wright a little sooner than some though he'd go because he fell in love with the guy's speed. He overlooked the fact he couldn't catch a football though.

Moving up to the 1st spot in the 1991 draft when everyone knew Ismail was thinking of going to the CFL was a big mistake. He should've waited for draft day to roll around before moving up.

He made his mistakes. None quite as glareing as QC in round 2, Dixon, Pittman, etc.... but he did have goof-ups.

[Eddie]

LOL. I don't disagree with you at all. Although LaFluer and Ekuban went exazctly where everyone thought they should go, and if it weren't for his back, LaFluer probably would've been a pretty good player.

I wasn't really saying that we've done a good job lately... Only that Jimmy didn't do nearly as well as a lot of people seem to think he did in the early 90's drafts.

He did think Jimmy Smith was whiney and got rid of a pro bowl WR and kept a horribly one dimensional Alvin Harper instead.

He took Alexander Wright a little sooner than some though he'd go because he fell in love with the guy's speed. He overlooked the fact he couldn't catch a football though.

Moving up to the 1st spot in the 1991 draft when everyone knew Ismail was thinking of going to the CFL was a big mistake. He should've waited for draft day to roll around before moving up.

He made his mistakes. None quite as glareing as QC in round 2, Dixon, Pittman, etc.... but he did have goof-ups.


I definitely agree with your assessment about Jimmy. He wasn't a draft genius ... he simply had more numbers to play with. But damm, he nailed a few on the head nicely.

Then again, luck did fall in his favor ... Norv Turner and Emmitt Smith were more conciliatory picks when his top choice fizzled out.

[AsthmaField]

Norv Turner and Emmitt Smith were more conciliatory picks when his top choice fizzled out.

So true. Things could've been way different for us in the 90's had those two guys not ended up in Dallas.

It could've been, "Troy Aikman!, Michael Irvin!, and Terrence Flagler?" We would've had to call them the twins and their retarded sibling.

To me the worst pick lately for the Cowboys is none other than Tony Dixon. Worse than QC? Yes. At least Quincy had upside and was a starter for his college team. Dixon wasn't even a starter. Good Lord! If he couldn't start for Alabama... what in God's creation ever made Jerry think he could start in Dallas?

Jerry was reaching for another Woodson. Dixon is smart and well spoken. A very nice, sincere guy... just like woodson. Jerry thought he was gonna sneak one by the rest of the league and find a heady safety who would add character to the lockerroom. Mr. Jones overlooked that there was no talent there. The guy just can't play football.

[joseephuss]

LOL. I don't disagree with you at all. Although LaFluer and Ekuban went exazctly where everyone thought they should go, and if it weren't for his back, LaFluer probably would've been a pretty good player.

I wasn't really saying that we've done a good job lately... Only that Jimmy didn't do nearly as well as a lot of people seem to think he did in the early 90's drafts.

He did think Jimmy Smith was whiney and got rid of a pro bowl WR and kept a horribly one dimensional Alvin Harper instead.

He took Alexander Wright a little sooner than some though he'd go because he fell in love with the guy's speed. He overlooked the fact he couldn't catch a football though.

Moving up to the 1st spot in the 1991 draft when everyone knew Ismail was thinking of going to the CFL was a big mistake. He should've waited for draft day to roll around before moving up.

He made his mistakes. None quite as glareing as QC in round 2, Dixon, Pittman, etc.... but he did have goof-ups.


Johnson did not get rid of Jimmy Smith. Jerry Jones and Barry Switzer made the decision on Smith.

[Cbz40]

Johnson did not get rid of Jimmy Smith. Jerry Jones and Barry Switzer made the decision on Smith.


You are absolutely correct Sir. :)

[jcblanco22]

That is 52 players in four drafts! It's no wonder we were able to be successful then. Getting Novacek in Plan B helped a lot too.



While I don't neccessarily disagree with you, Jimmy and Jerry moved all over the place in the early 90's drafts. They hardly ever stayed pat and took the best available. At least with the early picks.

In 1989, they took Steve Wisnewski at the top of round 2 and then promptly traded him to the Raiders for a combination of picks.

In 1990, they moved up to take Emmitt Smith at no. 17 in the first round... that's only after a trade to move up and get James Francis fell through and another for a DT out of NC State (I can't remember his name) didn't happen. If Jimmy had been successful on either of those trade attempts, we might not be having this discussion now. Stan Smagala was part of a trade too... I think left over from the Steve Wisnewski trade the year before. Also, they used a first rounder on Steve Walsh which certainly wouldn't be thought of as staying put with your draft pick. Of course they traded him to New Orleans for more picks later.

In 1991, using amunition from the Walker trade, Jimmy moved up to the number one pick in the entire draft. Of course he did that thinking Rocket Ismail would be there for him to take. We all know Ismail went to the CFL for a time and in one of the weaker drafts in recent history, JJ was stuck taking Russell Maryland at one... not exactly a difference maker, but still an important cog in a DL rotation that wore offenses out. They stood pat for Alvin Harper, I believe, but they also had another no. 1 and took Kelvin Pritchett. As soon as the pick was made, they traded his rights to Detroit for a number of picks. I can't remember who those picks turned out to be, but I don't think it was anyone of note.

In 1992, unless I'm mistaken, JJ stood pat for K. Smith after he failed to trade up for Troy Vincent. There was a little movement (back I think) when we picked Robert Jones.

That isn't taking into consideration all the later round picks that we moved on in those four drafts. I'd say one thing the Cowboys of the early 90's didn't do is stay put and take the best available athlete.

Also, Jimmy didn't do such a great job of drafting either.

When he got here, we already had Michael Irvin, and we also had the first pick overall in 1989 from Landry's last season. Anyone with any brains would've taken Aikman. That's two of the "Triplets" pretty much already onboard when Jimmy got here.

I already mentioned above how Jimmy tried to trade for two other guys before "setteling" for Emmitt Smith.

Who else besides those three were stars? Harper? Maryland? Tolbert? Stepnoski? Johnston? They were good picks... solid players... but I don't think they could be called stars. On another less successful team they would've been relative unknowns, I'd wager. They're good bit players. Steady and smart. A lot like Greg Ellis actually.

With 52 picks in 4 years, I'd hope Jimmy would have found some good players to go with his stars.

And most of the OL was here when JJ arrived. Out of the nine OL that Jimmy drafted in those 4 years... only 2 turned out to be worth anything. Stepnoski and Erik Williams. The others were nothing. If the current staff were to have that record... they would be tarred and feathered.

Anyway... you get the point. We definately didn't stand pat and take the best available player back then and as good as the team was, Jimmy's drafts weren't all that exceptional for anything other than sheer numbers.

Bravo! Down here in Miami, I remember arguing this point with some Dolphins fans ecstatic when Jimmy was hired in 1996. With the Cowboys situation, not only was Irvin already here, not only was Aikman a no-brainer, three fifths of the OL was already here in Gogan, Newton and Tunei, as you pointed out. Who I will give immense credit to there is Tony Wise, who had those guys playing at a level they never even sniffed before 1989.

One thing I've also seen in the media from time to time (not the Dallas media, but others outside) is Jimmy also getting the credit for Larry Allen, when Switzer, Jerry, and Lacewell made that call.

Let's not forget Ken Norton, Jr., Kelvin Martin, Mike Saxon, Robert Williams and Jim Jeffcoat already being in place as well, and they all played important roles in the eventual success of the early 90s teams (Williams primarily on special teams).

The role of Jimmy and his assistants in helping to take some of those guys to new levels is what might need more attention, not necessarily his alleged drafting acumen.