Unlikely, but possible scenario...

[TXCowboyVol]

Jenkins, Ingram, Kirkpatrick, DeCastro, Coples all slide to 14...who we taking??

[casmith07]

DeCastro.

[CCBoy]

Heck no, Griffin from Baylor...:) One can't replace Tony Romo too soon.:rolleyes:

I'd fire, without more than a hipshot, for Coples. A strong guard/center can be attained in round two, or three.

[GloryDaysRBack]

Coples and it isnt even close

id turn that card in so fast

[NeonDeion21]

It is between DeCastro and Coples. Depending on what we do in FA I would go Coples.

[RS12]

Coples mailed it in this year. Already got enough of those guys on the roster.

[CCBoy]

Coples mailed it in this year. Already got enough of those guys on the roster.

He already knows how to explode on a play. In the NFL, that will be turned back on...

[Bigdog]

DeCastro even if we sign Grubbs or Nicks in FA. I want a strong OL that will protect Romo so he has time to get the ball to our playmakers. Also our running game will vastly improve which means we can keep the ball away from other teams. Can't score if don't have the ball.

[BAT]

Coples mailed it in this year. Already got enough of those guys on the roster.

Mailed it in and still generated 7.5 sacks. Played out of of position at DT last season and collected 10 sacks.

Cowboys need this kind of "slacker".

[Randy White]

Jenkins, Ingram, Kirkpatrick, DeCastro, Coples all slide to 14...who we taking??

Coples.

[Hoofbite]

DeCastro

With the way the OL played, I wouldn't be too happy to pass on a guy as highly touted as he is.

[GroundUp]

Considering the depth at the position I'd go with Coples, there aren't many pass rushers that I'm sold on in this draft and I believe we go O-line in FA.

[Joe Rod]

Jenkins, Ingram, Kirkpatrick, DeCastro, Coples all slide to 14...who we taking??

Right now (right now), I would probably go with DeCastro first, Jenkins second, then Ingram.

DeCastro is precisely what the O-Line needs and the type of player the team needs. He is smart and can run any type of scheme (zone or power ahead). He was dominant at Stanford for the last two seasons so the body of work is there. He is passionate about football. That is important. Like Tyron Smith last season, you simply cannot lose by drafting this kid. A first year starter that will instantly upgrade the line. No downside to his game, character or attitude.

Jenkins is very, very intriguing. He might even be first on my list of not for those troubles at UF. He has been a model citizen at North Alabama and he says he has stopped hanging around the bad influences. He "seems" to get it now. Plus, he is precisely what Dallas needs to combat The Eagles and Giants WRs. Fluid hips and the speed to stick with the receivers that the Giants and Eagles put out on the field. His addition would go a long way in giving the D-line more time to get to the QB. Those issues at UF prevent him from being the first choice. I hope the kid does well at the combine with his interviews. I want him to clean up his act and become a Dallas great.

Ingram is going to be a playmaker in the NFL. I really believe that. He plays with intensity and has one of those high motors that does not shut off until the play is done. I watched him more than any of the other players and the dude simply took over games at times. He was a one man wrecking crew against Auburn. 18 sacks the last two seasons. Great hands for a guy his size and the quicks to go with his power. He would at least be as good as Spencer in coverage but with better hands. He would be an upgrade as a pass-rusher over Spencer. He was banged up mid-season in 2011 and still notched 8.5 sacks with two interceptions. He also plays special teams and had a fake punt run for a touchdown against Georgia. Good catalog of moves and sheds blockers well. He would complement D-Ware better than any player Dallas currently has on their roster.

Kirkpatrick is an incomplete at the moment. The driver said the weed was his, but I would to if the guy sitting next to me was my cash cow of the future. The law says he is free from charges, so I can't condemn him, but I am interested in seeing if anything else comes out prior to the draft (including if he tests clean at the combine and how he interviews).

Coples, no. This team needs players that play hard every snap and Coples is just not that guy. Dallas simply does not have the type of leaders in the lockerrroom to set him straight when he checks out of games. Plus, Mike Adams and Mitchell Schwatrz really stoned him in the Senior Bowl. That is the type of talent that he will face in the league each week. He would not be an upgrade over Spencer unless there were strong leaders on this football team to put him in his place and show him how to work each day. His deficiencies are simply not a good match with the players that are on this roster.

[Gaede]

Agree with NO on Coples. Too many players like that already on the team. Between Ingram and Decastro for me...Think I'll go with Decastro

[CowboyHawg2012]

My wish list:
1. David Decastro G Stanford
2. Casey Heyward CB Vandy (love, love his ballhawk skills and he plays physical)
3. Josh Chapman NT Bama ( the NT from the #1 defense in the land and allows JRat to move outside and comes from NFL style D? yes pls)
4. Joe Adams WR Arky (special teams stud plus a very underated reciever prospect.

[cobra]

He would be an upgrade as a pass-rusher over Spencer.

Obviously, either (a) you did not watch Ingram or (b) you have never watched Spencer. Because your statement is completely ridiculous and false.

Spencer is a better pass rusher than Ingram. Spencer was more productive in college and got more sacks. Spencer has better athleticism. Spencer did better in the pre-draft process (and will have better Combine numbers once Ingram does it). All the scouting reports about Spencer talked about his explosion off the ball and his elite pass-rushing skills. With Ingram the book is he is slow to react and no one says he has elite or plus pass-rushing skills. There is absolutely no objective basis from which to conclude that Ingram would be more productive than Spencer. All of the objective evidence indicates the contrary.

Drafting Ingram to replace Spencer is a waste of the 14th pick because the defense gets worse by playing Ingram instead of Spencer. The smarter thing to do is improve at Guard, CB or D-line where the team would be better when we draft someone at 14.

[Doomsday101]

Obviously, either (a) you did not watch Ingram or (b) you have never watched Spencer. Because your statement is completely ridiculous and false.

Spencer is a better pass rusher than Ingram. Spencer was more productive in college and got more sacks. Spencer has better athleticism. Spencer did better in the pre-draft process (and will have better Combine numbers once Ingram does it). All the scouting reports about Spencer talked about his explosion off the ball and his elite pass-rushing skills. With Ingram the book is he is slow to react and no one says he has elite or plus pass-rushing skills. There is absolutely no objective basis from which to conclude that Ingram would be more productive than Spencer. All of the objective evidence indicates the contrary.

Drafting Ingram to replace Spencer is a waste of the 14th pick because the defense gets worse by playing Ingram instead of Spencer. The smarter thing to do is improve at Guard, CB or D-line where the team would be better when we draft someone at 14.

a lot will depend on what Spencer agent is asking for. I don't dislike the guys but he is not producing. Hell Greg Ellis was a lot more productive working opposite of Ware. Spencer was suppose to be an upgrade to Ellis he has not been that. If Spencer can be resigned at a reasonable cost fine but if he is looking for top dollar then Dallas should let him walk

[ABQcowboyJR]

Coples and it isn't close. I've been on the trade up and get Coples train. I think he might be top five pic though.

[cobra]

a lot will depend on what Spencer agent is asking for. I don't dislike the guys but he is not producing. Hell Greg Ellis was a lot more productive working opposite of Ware. Spencer was suppose to be an upgrade to Ellis he has not been that. If Spencer can be resigned at a reasonable cost fine but if he is looking for top dollar then Dallas should let him walk

Spencer is an upgrade over Ellis, once you realize that a SOLB has value beyond sack totals. A SOLB in a 3-4 is not all about pass rushing.

I'd like to see Spencer get more sacks and think he is capable of it, but he has been ok. He has been very good in the other responsibilities of a SOLB.

Obviously it is correct to say that if he demands a crazy contract, we shouldn't give him one. But he deserves to be paid like a solid starting OLB.

I don't think many of you realize that it is going to be very difficult to improve on Spencer. As a 3-4 SOLB, there are just a handful of guys who are better than him, and none of those guys are available or affordable. Certainly no one in this draft will be an improvement on Spencer.

The smarter thing to do, if he is reasonable, is to keep Spencer and look to improve the lines. It will be substantially easier to improve at DE and NT than it will be to improve on Spencer. We should look in Free Agency and the Draft to improve the DL and that will help on the pass rush.

But if you think letting Spencer walk and plugging in Ingram or Upshaw will make this team better, I think you are in for a rude awakening when you realize we are no better (and possibly worse) at SOLB and were not able to improve at OG or DL with that first round pick. That's a bad draft.

[BraveHeartFan]

If we wound up with Grubbs or more importantly Nicks and then this happened I wouldn't be upset, in the least, to go after Coples.

If not then I'd want DeCastro without a doubt.

[Joe Rod]

Obviously, either (a) you did not watch Ingram or (b) you have never watched Spencer. Because your statement is completely ridiculous and false.

Spencer is a better pass rusher than Ingram. Spencer was more productive in college and got more sacks. Spencer has better athleticism. Spencer did better in the pre-draft process (and will have better Combine numbers once Ingram does it). All the scouting reports about Spencer talked about his explosion off the ball and his elite pass-rushing skills. With Ingram the book is he is slow to react and no one says he has elite or plus pass-rushing skills. There is absolutely no objective basis from which to conclude that Ingram would be more productive than Spencer. All of the objective evidence indicates the contrary.

Drafting Ingram to replace Spencer is a waste of the 14th pick because the defense gets worse by playing Ingram instead of Spencer. The smarter thing to do is improve at Guard, CB or D-line where the team would be better when we draft someone at 14.

I don't know exactly has caused your posts to spiral down to venemous drivel lately, but can you please consider coming back to the world of posters who actually contribute thoughts rather than someone who tries to place them in around insults and attacks? No one minds responses and critques, but the borderline personal attacks you have posted lately are beneath what I used to think about when your name came up. When you were throwing out insults at idgit the other day I just chalked it up to your having an off day, but that is obviously not the case.

I live in South Carolina. I am in a neighborhood with a massive amount of SC alumns and watched every single game of Ingram the last two seasons. All of them. I was offered tickets a few times to watch them live, but could not spare the travel time due to some things I had already planned with my kids. Now, your comments make it seem that you are an authority on Ingram's game-by-game performances, so I would welcome your thoughts on a few of them. How about the ECU, Auburn or Georgia game? Please provide me with a breakdown of his play and your thoughts on his highs and lows. I would not ask but for the fact that your attempts to insult must be accompanied by some scathing reviews of his play on a game to game basis.

I think Dallas will resign Spencer. I would welcome it. I would want Ingram only if they can't resign him and they need a replacement. Guard and DB are the first two options on my list, so I am not sure why you even posted your comment about the order of preference unless you simply did not read my post through. Having said all of this, I also stand by what I said with Ingram. I am not going to add any additional thoughts on why until I get the requested game by game critique. Given your scathing response, you must have watched a lot so I am very interested in your negatives in his game on a weekly basis.

Thanks.

[natedoug]

DeCastro even if we sign Grubbs or Nicks in FA. I want a strong OL that will protect Romo so he has time to get the ball to our playmakers. Also our running game will vastly improve which means we can keep the ball away from other teams. Can't score if don't have the ball.

:starspin

[Sandyf]

Based on no free agency, would have to go with the highest guy on the board which would probably be Coples.

But the perfect world would be you have the same grade on all of them and then able to trade down 3 or 4 spots and still get one of them along with picking up an extra third.

[CCBoy]

I don't know exactly has caused your posts to spiral down to venemous drivel lately, but can you please consider coming back to the world of posters who actually contribute thoughts rather than someone who tries to place them in around insults and attacks? No one minds responses and critques, but the borderline personal attacks you have posted lately are beneath what I used to think about when your name came up. When you were throwing out insults at idgit the other day I just chalked it up to your having an off day, but that is obviously not the case.

I live in South Carolina. I am in a neighborhood with a massive amount of SC alumns and watched every single game of Ingram the last two seasons. All of them. I was offered tickets a few times to watch them live, but could not spare the travel time due to some things I had already planned with my kids. Now, your comments make it seem that you are an authority on Ingram's game-by-game performances, so I would welcome your thoughts on a few of them. How about the ECU, Auburn or Georgia game? Please provide me with a breakdown of his play and your thoughts on his highs and lows. I would not ask but for the fact that your attempts to insult must be accompanied by some scathing reviews of his play on a game to game basis.

I think Dallas will resign Spencer. I would welcome it. I would want Ingram only if they can't resign him and they need a replacement. Guard and DB are the first two options on my list, so I am not sure why you even posted your comment about the order of preference unless you simply did not read my post through. Having said all of this, I also stand by what I said with Ingram. I am not going to add any additional thoughts on why until I get the requested game by game critique. Given your scathing response, you must have watched a lot so I am very interested in your negatives in his game on a weekly basis.

Thanks.

I'm sure Cobra doesn't mind you standing your ground. I know I respected and liked your response as well.

OK, we're talking football now. So does the addition of Flannagan and Tyvon Branch do it for you as to settling starter issues in the Dallas secondary?

It does it for me. I would smack my lips on a pair of 4.3 additions to Sensabaugh and Jenkins. Leaving Scandrick in the slot. I would then pick up a corner by the 3rd round in the draft. I'm on Cas's brandwagon player, Minnifield.

I would resign Spencer and Robinson before the start of actual free agency. And leave Mike Jenkins contract to mid-way in the season.

If that happened, then I would be very tempted to grab:

02 Luke Kuechly ILB 6-3 237 Boston College 7.0 J

[Joe Rod]

I'm sure Cobra doesn't mind you standing your ground. I know I respected and liked your response as well.

OK, we're talking football now. So does the addition of Flannagan and Tyvon Branch do it for you as to settling starter issues in the Dallas secondary?

It does it for me. I would smack my lips on a pair of 4.3 additions to Sensabaugh and Jenkins. Leaving Scandrick in the slot. I would then pick up a corner by the 3rd round in the draft. I'm on Cas's brandwagon player, Minnifield.

I would resign Spencer and Robinson before the start of actual free agency. And leave Mike Jenkins contract to mid-way in the season.

If that happened, then I would be very tempted to grab:

02 Luke Kuechly ILB 6-3 237 Boston College 7.0 J

CC. Do you mean Finnegan (or Flannagan, the C from the Texans)? Could be that I am being dense, but a Free Agent secondary player named Flannagan is simply escaping me at the moment.

Kuechly is a tackling machine and, quite honestly, the type of nasty player that can put some attitude in the defense. He was all over the field against FSU and Miami. I personally think he is a little more suited for a 4-3, because one thing I see is he has some troubles disengaging from blockers. He may end up making too many tackles downfield unless Dallas makes a few changes to suit his style (like bringing in a bigger NT like Soliai). His blitzing tends to remind me of the older Keith Brooking, so he would not be much help there. Not sure if that is the route they want to go or if they want to see how Carter develops.

[visionary]

Spencer is an upgrade over Ellis, once you realize that a SOLB has value beyond sack totals. A SOLB in a 3-4 is not all about pass rushing.

I'd like to see Spencer get more sacks and think he is capable of it, but he has been ok. He has been very good in the other responsibilities of a SOLB.

Obviously it is correct to say that if he demands a crazy contract, we shouldn't give him one. But he deserves to be paid like a solid starting OLB.

I don't think many of you realize that it is going to be very difficult to improve on Spencer. As a 3-4 SOLB, there are just a handful of guys who are better than him, and none of those guys are available or affordable. Certainly no one in this draft will be an improvement on Spencer.

The smarter thing to do, if he is reasonable, is to keep Spencer and look to improve the lines. It will be substantially easier to improve at DE and NT than it will be to improve on Spencer. We should look in Free Agency and the Draft to improve the DL and that will help on the pass rush.

But if you think letting Spencer walk and plugging in Ingram or Upshaw will make this team better, I think you are in for a rude awakening when you realize we are no better (and possibly worse) at SOLB and were not able to improve at OG or DL with that first round pick. That's a bad draft.

i agree with this
the other plus with keeping spencer is that he already knows the system
the caveat is that we have to improve NT and DE positions along with CB and FS

if we do all that, i am OK with keeping spencer as long as he does not break the bank

[CCBoy]

CC. Do you mean Finnegan (or Flannagan, the C from the Texans)? Could be that I am being dense, but a Free Agent secondary player named Flannagan is simply escaping me at the moment.

Kuechly is a tackling machine and, quite honestly, the type of nasty player that can put some attitude in the defense. He was all over the field against FSU and Miami. I personally think he is a little more suited for a 4-3, because one thing I see is he has some troubles disengaging from blockers. He may end up making too many tackles downfield unless Dallas makes a few changes to suit his style (like bringing in a bigger NT like Soliai). His blitzing tends to remind me of the older Keith Brooking, so he would not be much help there. Not sure if that is the route they want to go or if they want to see how Carter develops.

I was wishing on Cortland Finnegan, the CB with the Titans. He ran a 4.3 at his Combine. Just a few years back, he made the All Pro team and was at the Pro Bowl. He has maintained a high number of interceptions through his years in the NFL. He is still young at 28. He is known for laying the wood upon any and all with the ball...and that attitude is as much a reason for my liking him.

Durn, when typing in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I get a bit brick headed on names. Never was much good at remembering a ton of them. I struggle mightily there. My apologies for my denseness on that issue.

On the humorous side, there's not a set of breasts that I don't recall...

On Kuechly, I feel that he is the dominant force that would pair with Sean Lee in the middle. A strong side and weakside type is paired and used just like that. I think the pairing of the two, would be ideal for the needs of Dallas. The need for a large and double team nose tackle would still remain as long as Jay is in the middle. As long as he's there, that problem of a guard moving to the second level and creating initial gain will remain. That is trainable as to skills at the professional level, when a linebacker adjusts and learns the higher levels of pad height, short and straight line explosions, and standing up an offensive guard physically. I have no doubt in the skillset of Kuechly. He will gain some additional strength and even size once he would hit the Dallas conditioning program in effect at Valley Ranch now. But unlike Bradie James, who's initial skillset no where approached that of Kuechly coming in, Kuechly also is not the defined burden in pass coverage as well.

I would make the adjustment at nose, either in free agency or the draft, and never look back to turn into a pillar of salt from Kuechly's selection there. He will have to adjust his reads on offensive line and their size, strength, and speed levels...but that isn't building again, simply recognizing pulling techniques and zone blocking reads. He will adjust pretty rapidly, and already has the skillset to counter big ugglies. He will be faster, although, and will quickly arrive at defeating linemen in the NFL.