Which rush linebacker in the draft will be a Cowboy?

[morasp]

Shawne Merriman: Led the Terps with 8.5 sacks as an end/linebacker last season. He plays with a lot of energy, gets to the ball and is strong enough, big enough and fast enough to be solid against the run. He also can slip through holes and is a fine tackler. He is a bit of a developmental player and is raw in coverage, but he should be fine in time.

David Pollack: Pollack, who had 12.5 sacks as an end for the Bulldogs in 2004, is smart and has good insticnts, power and technique. He also is effective against the run. He has a nonstop motor and is a fine tackler, but he is short for an end (6-2) and could get overpowered at times if he plays that position in the pros. As an outside linebacker in a 3-4, he has the quickness, tenacity and power to be superb.

Darryl blackstock: He Doesn't have much size (6-3, 233) or strength, but he's an exceptional pass rusher. He has a wicked first two steps, anticipates extremely well and has a lot of moves. He can beat blockers at the snap and has the speed and burst to chase down quarterbacks. He never quits on a play. He also has a lot of college experience in the 3-4, but his instincts and technique against the run and in coverage must improve.

Justin Tuck: He is strong for his size (6-5, 245). He is an excellent pass rusher because of his quickness, speed and instincts. He also has solid moves and is agile. But Tuck is limited against the run because he gets poor leverage and doesn't use his hands well. He lacks the lower-body strength to play end and needs to improve his recognition skills.

Demarcus Ware: He always is around the ball and anticipates very well. He has the first step, burst and quickness to win plenty of battles. He also is very fast and can turn the corner as an edge rusher. Ware's aggressiveness sometimes works to his disadvantage as he takes himself out of some plays. He also must improve his technique and play with leverage. Ware needs to add bulk and strength, but he has the frame (6-3, 247) to do it.

[SuperSafety_31]

My gut feeling is Darryl Blackstock at 20.

[Rush 2112]

Yes, Blackstock is a very small OLB at 6-3/247.

Justin Tuck is now 268.

[jobberone]

Shawne Merriman: Led the Terps with 8.5 sacks as an end/linebacker last season. He plays with a lot of energy, gets to the ball and is strong enough, big enough and fast enough to be solid against the run. He also can slip through holes and is a fine tackler. He is a bit of a developmental player and is raw in coverage, but he should be fine in time.

Merriman has the look of a boom or bust player but I think I'd take a chance on him at LB at 20. Depends on what happens with Howard too.

David Pollack: Pollack, who had 12.5 sacks as an end for the Bulldogs in 2004, is smart and has good insticnts, power and technique. He also is effective against the run. He has a nonstop motor and is a fine tackler, but he is short for an end (6-2) and could get overpowered at times if he plays that position in the pros. As an outside linebacker in a 3-4, he has the quickness, tenacity and power to be superb.

Pollack does not have the ability to play LB at the NFL level IMO. He will be a good or better down lineman.

Darryl blackstock: He Doesn't have much size (6-3, 233) or strength, but he's an exceptional pass rusher. He has a wicked first two steps, anticipates extremely well and has a lot of moves. He can beat blockers at the snap and has the speed and burst to chase down quarterbacks. He never quits on a play. He also has a lot of college experience in the 3-4, but his instincts and technique against the run and in coverage must improve.

2nd round pick could be a good pickup but not first pass rushing LB IMO

Justin Tuck: He is strong for his size (6-5, 245). He is an excellent pass rusher because of his quickness, speed and instincts. He also has solid moves and is agile. But Tuck is limited against the run because he gets poor leverage and doesn't use his hands well. He lacks the lower-body strength to play end and needs to improve his recognition skills.

Another 2nd round pick very intriguing player who could become full time DE and is perfect for 3-4.

Demarcus Ware: He always is around the ball and anticipates very well. He has the first step, burst and quickness to win plenty of battles. He also is very fast and can turn the corner as an edge rusher. Ware's aggressiveness sometimes works to his disadvantage as he takes himself out of some plays. He also must improve his technique and play with leverage. Ware needs to add bulk and strength, but he has the frame (6-3, 247) to do it.

Probable round 3 pick heading up. Another tweener with speed. Small school hurts.

[Eskimo]

I think a lot depends on the Howard signing. I think if you are going to invest that much of the cap on DL players, you've got to have a 4-3 base. This means we need guys who can play 4-3 LB and be effective blitzers.

Obviously, the best choice under those circumstances is Derrick Johnson.

In terms of the guys you listed, I wouldn't mind Pollack at #20. His performance at the Combine was sensational - when you combine that with his motor and consistent domination of the SEC, I think you just have to overlook his size limitations and call him a player. If you are just talking about on the field performance, this guy is a top-5 pick in this draft.

[Fletch]

Y'all(s) guess is as good as mine. Nobody knows.

[Shotgun Dave]

My gut feeling is Darryl Blackstock at 20.

Gawd, I hope not! Blackstock can be had in the second round. Of the guys you mentioned, the only one I'd take at #11 is Merriman.

Pollack at #20 is a possibility, but I doubt it.

[Avery]

How is 247 small for a LB?

[JackMagist]

Assuming we go 3-4 and are looking for a pass rushing LB; Merriman if he falls to us would likely be our first target. Possiblely Pollack at #20 if we don't get Merriman. Then Blackstock, Ware and Tuck in that order at the #42 pick. I do think we might be going for two of them if we go 3-4. This whole deal changes IMO if the Howard deal goes through and we are more likely to see more conventional LB's such as D. Johnson at #11.

[Dale]

I think a lot depends on the Howard signing. I think if you are going to invest that much of the cap on DL players, you've got to have a 4-3 base. This means we need guys who can play 4-3 LB and be effective blitzers.

Obviously, the best choice under those circumstances is Derrick Johnson.

In terms of the guys you listed, I wouldn't mind Pollack at #20. His performance at the Combine was sensational - when you combine that with his motor and consistent domination of the SEC, I think you just have to overlook his size limitations and call him a player. If you are just talking about on the field performance, this guy is a top-5 pick in this draft.

I agree, Eskimo. If Howard is acquired, and Johnson were to slip and we got him, that'd really only leave Singleton and the free safety positions on defense as places where you couldn't really expect too many "plays" to be made (dependent upon what is done at free safety).

[ghst187]

I want Jonathan Goddard in the late second or third (presuming a trade down)

Blackstock ran a 4.67 or 4.7 or something like that 40 and will probably go in the second round.
I agree with above on Merriman, really not sure what to expect from him. I'm not sold on him at 11, esp if we get Howard. I was sold on him as a 4-3 DE.

[Natedawg44]

Rien Wallace would be a steal in round 4. Derek Wake from PSU is extremely athletic and productive could be had later on. I think he had something like a 45 inch vertical. :eek: Jonathan Jackson is a productive player that will be around in the 6th or 7th round.

[zagnut]

I'd say Blackstock is the LEAST likely to be a Cowboy. He is not even remotely a physical player. He rushes the passer and that's it. He may be 247 now, but he played between 230 and 235 at UVA. If you look at his face and frame, he is not a naturally big player. 247 would be pumped up for him.

I think Pollack and Merriman are the ones Parcells would want most out of the original group listed...if we were switching to a 3-4. Otherwise, I'd say Justin Tuck, but it would be for LDE. The 3-4 fantasies may be cloming to a close. Of course, I prefer DJ over any of them.

We might want to start familiarizing ourselves with names like Kevin Burnett, Kirk Morrison, Channing Crowder, Michael Boley, Boomer Grigsby, Robert McCune, Alfred Fincher, Roger Cooper, Jordan Beck, and Tyjuan Hagler for 4-3 LBs.

Maybe rush linebackers come later as a situational 4-3 specialist like Kalen - Trent Cole (cincinnati), Phillip Alexander (duke), Eric Moore (fsu), Jonathan Goddard (marshall), Derek Wake (penn st), Jonathan Jackson (okla), Brady Poppinga (byu), Andre Frazier (cincinnati), Jonathan Welsh (wisc), Ryan Riddle (cal), or Ken Pettway (grambling). I'd be surprised if any of them were gone by our 4th rounder. Maybe Wake goes earlier.

[AsthmaField]

If we trade for Howard, then I think we probably stay 4-3. In that case I think our LB targets would be something like this:

At #11: D. Johnson

At #20: Crowder

At #42: Morrison or Blackstock

I still say that if we stay a 4-3 team, we don't go LB in round 1 but we go WR or OL. LB's would come from round 2 and 3 if we can somehow acquire picks in those rounds (assuming we give our 2 for Howard), or round 4.

_________________________________________

If we don't get Howard and we decide to go 3-4 then I think our LB targets look like this:

At #11: Merriman or D. Johnson.

At #20: Ware, Crowder, Pollack, or Tuck

At #42: Morrison or Blackstock.

[LoneStar22]

Merriman at 16

[Qwickdraw]

Of course my first choice would be DJ.

After that, I could see (and would like to see) Shawne Merriman, Demarcus Ware or Robert McCune in Dallas.

[Rack Bauer]

Of course my first choice would be DJ.

After that, I could see (and would like to see) Shawne Merriman, Demarcus Ware or Robert McCune in Dallas.


The question was "Which rush linebacker in the draft will be a Cowboy?"

Robert McCune would be a solid pick as an inside LB, but he's far from being a good "rush backer."

[AdamJT13]

Pollack does not have the ability to play LB at the NFL level IMO. He will be a good or better down lineman.


Pollack was the only linebacker or defensive end at the Combine who did the 20-yard shuttle in less than 4.00 seconds and the three-cone drill in less than 7.00 seconds. The only other players at the combine to do that were six defensive backs, WR Chad Owens, RB Darren Sproles and QB Alex Smith. Pollack (at 265 pounds) was by far the biggest guy to do it. That's some tremendous quickness for a big guy.

[Qwickdraw]

The question was "Which rush linebacker in the draft will be a Cowboy?"

Robert McCune would be a solid pick as an inside LB, but he's far from being a good "rush backer."

I know that. I just included his name because of the recent consideration that we may trade Dat. That and the fact that a previous poster mentioned some ILBs that "we should start to familiarize ourselves with."
(and yes, I know, we've stated now that we are not trading Dat)

[Rack Bauer]

I wouldn't mind if we drafted McCune even if we keep Dat. He's a monster. Doesn't move exceptionally well laterally, but is very fast running straight and is incredibly strong. He'll get juked out of his shoes from time to time, but that happens to every defensive player sometimes.

[Qwickdraw]

Robert McCune (Louisville)
Senior
6'1" 245lbs
40 TIME:
4.55
Amazing speed for a MLB. Very strong with alot of potential. A playmaker. Holds up well in coverage. Lacks consistency. Will be a 26 year old rookie. Lacks height.
PROJECTED PICK:
2nd Round
BEST SEASON:
(2003)
143 tackles
5 tackles for loss
? forced fumbles
4 sacks
0 INT