ZiggyZ.
03-24-2005, 11:34 AM
I'm not buying these predictions about BP taking a WR in rounds 1 or 2. Bill will give Copper and Crayton a year to develop behind Glenn and Key, and maybe add another WR with a 6th.
But Bill is going to draft linemen. He knows that the game is won and lost in the trenches. I don't care if you're starting wideouts are Braylon Edwards, Mike Williams, and Roddy White, if Bledsoe is scrambling around or on his back, they're never going to get the ball. So their skills are completely negated if the line stinks.
And Dallas's lines need a lot of work. Flozell jumps offsides so often because he can't handle speed rushers and he knows it. LA is less mobile every year. Rivera is a huge question mark at this point, and there's no one you can feel great about at tackle. So the OL desperately needs an infusion of talent.
And the DL isn't all that great either. Fergeson should be a nice addition. Glover is tenacious, and Ellis is as dependable as they come. But only Glover comes close to being spectacular, and there's really no one behind them. Carson? He's a solid backup. Coleman? Nothing. Ogbogu? Not much.
So Dallas desperately needs to start devleloping some young, stud linemen if they want long-term success. They MUST HAVE replacements for Flo and LA in place, while finding good solutions at RT and RG (if Rivera is done).
Dallas needs some young DTs to start developing, and a DE right NOW to rush the passer. (I hope Kalen Thornton has a break-out year for us, but you can't count on that alone.)
So my prediction is that Bill takes at least 4 linemen in the first 3 rounds. I see us trading down at least one of our 1st rounders, if not both, to create 4-5 selections in rounds 1-3. Then I see 4 linemen, and maybe a backup RB if we end up with 5 early picks. Another possibility is to go with 3 linemen and Brodney Pool, since he looks to complement Roy so well.
Day 2 is when you'll see the WR, a CB, and some special teamers get drafted. Maybe grab Raiola for center depth.
But the thing holding this Dallas team back is poor line play. Can you imagine what it could be like if Juke Jones had a great line to gouge holes for him? Or if Bledsoe had time to let Glenn work down the field?
And imagine the interceptions that Newman and Henry will produce if Dallas actually had anything even slightly resembling a pass rush...
No, I don't see a WR, a RB, a QB, or a CB in the early rounds. Bill won't play Henson because he knows the OL stinks. And he knows that Newman is a great corner stuck without a passrush. Bill will look to maximize the talent he's already put in place by improving line play.
But Bill is going to draft linemen. He knows that the game is won and lost in the trenches. I don't care if you're starting wideouts are Braylon Edwards, Mike Williams, and Roddy White, if Bledsoe is scrambling around or on his back, they're never going to get the ball. So their skills are completely negated if the line stinks.
And Dallas's lines need a lot of work. Flozell jumps offsides so often because he can't handle speed rushers and he knows it. LA is less mobile every year. Rivera is a huge question mark at this point, and there's no one you can feel great about at tackle. So the OL desperately needs an infusion of talent.
And the DL isn't all that great either. Fergeson should be a nice addition. Glover is tenacious, and Ellis is as dependable as they come. But only Glover comes close to being spectacular, and there's really no one behind them. Carson? He's a solid backup. Coleman? Nothing. Ogbogu? Not much.
So Dallas desperately needs to start devleloping some young, stud linemen if they want long-term success. They MUST HAVE replacements for Flo and LA in place, while finding good solutions at RT and RG (if Rivera is done).
Dallas needs some young DTs to start developing, and a DE right NOW to rush the passer. (I hope Kalen Thornton has a break-out year for us, but you can't count on that alone.)
So my prediction is that Bill takes at least 4 linemen in the first 3 rounds. I see us trading down at least one of our 1st rounders, if not both, to create 4-5 selections in rounds 1-3. Then I see 4 linemen, and maybe a backup RB if we end up with 5 early picks. Another possibility is to go with 3 linemen and Brodney Pool, since he looks to complement Roy so well.
Day 2 is when you'll see the WR, a CB, and some special teamers get drafted. Maybe grab Raiola for center depth.
But the thing holding this Dallas team back is poor line play. Can you imagine what it could be like if Juke Jones had a great line to gouge holes for him? Or if Bledsoe had time to let Glenn work down the field?
And imagine the interceptions that Newman and Henry will produce if Dallas actually had anything even slightly resembling a pass rush...
No, I don't see a WR, a RB, a QB, or a CB in the early rounds. Bill won't play Henson because he knows the OL stinks. And he knows that Newman is a great corner stuck without a passrush. Bill will look to maximize the talent he's already put in place by improving line play.