Arch Stanton
04-21-2005, 03:27 PM
AP Sports
04/21/2005
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Bill Parcells has spent the entire offseason getting ready for this weekend.
That's how important this draft is to the Dallas Cowboys and, perhaps, the final chapter in his coaching career.
The Cowboys own the 11th and 20th picks and are desperately seeking what Parcells likes to call "catalytic" players, the kind of game-breakers opposing coordinators spend all week trying to stifle yet still end up making big plays.
While that includes receivers, expect Parcells to pluck someone who can pressure quarterbacks as a defensive end, linebacker or, preferably, both.
Parcells has spent much of his time since ending a 6-10 season trying to decide whether to change from a 4-3 to the 3-4 defense. A DE-LB hybrid who could be effective in either formation would give him flexibility to make a wholesale change or just mix things up now and then.
"To me, you've got to find guys who fit both schemes," said Jeff Ireland, Dallas' new scouting director. "The more things you can do the more opportunities you have to make plays."
Parcells began studying the lack of plays his team made right after a season-ending loss to the New York Giants on Jan. 2. He attended Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Ala., and went to the scouting combine in Indianapolis. He didn't go to either last year or the previous one - when just taking over in Dallas consumed much of his time.
"I'm very impressed with the amount of his focus and the amount of resolve that I see," team owner Jerry Jones said. "It's more than what I saw last year."
Studying hard has paid off for Parcells before, especially for these types of players. He took Willie McGinest fourth overall for the Patriots in 1994 and John Abraham at No. 14 for the Jets in 2000. He'd love to come away with anyone that productive again.
So, who might it be this time?
Shawne Merriman of Maryland seems like a perfect fit, as does speedy Demarcus Ware of Troy. A possible tiebreaker for Merriman is that he excelled against better competition in college, something Parcells values in the early rounds.
Marcus Spears of LSU is another name to watch, although he's a different kind of hybrid. He'd be a down lineman in either system and might be best suited to be a block-eating end in the 3-4. Dallas already has added one widebody to the front in free agent Jason Ferguson, but another Parcells principle is that you can't have enough big guys.
Oklahoma's Dan Cody and Wisconsin's Erasmus James also are possible targets, especially if Dallas moves down or tries moving up with its second pick. It's worth noting that the Cowboys have used their own No. 1 pick only once in the last five drafts.
Another reminder is that Jones and Parcells went into last year's draft looking for a running back. When they had their pick of them all, they instead moved into the second round and got Julius Jones, whom they ranked almost on par with the players everyone else had rated as first-rounders. Jones exceeded expectations on the field and that deal is how Dallas got this year's extra first-rounder.
The Cowboys also have the 10th pick in the second round, but lack a third-rounder because of the trade to get quarterback Drew Henson. Jones would like to replace that pick.
One possible trading partner is New Orleans. The teams have discussed Dallas acquiring defensive end Darren Howard, but talks stalled. If they heat up, the Saints probably would demand a second-round pick. Getting Howard, however, could adjust what the Cowboys look for in the draft - such as a young receiver to help veterans Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn, both coming off injuries.
Between Mike Williams of Southern Cal, Mark Clayton of Oklahoma and Troy Williamson of South Carolina, at least one is likely to be available at No. 11 and maybe even at 20.
If Williams is there, it could be a test of how truthful Jones is. Or maybe he was just trying to downplay Dallas' interest in Williams and Maurice Clarett when asked about them last week.
"I think you've got to dock them and handicap the decision because they haven't been on the field in a year," Jones said.
04/21/2005
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Bill Parcells has spent the entire offseason getting ready for this weekend.
That's how important this draft is to the Dallas Cowboys and, perhaps, the final chapter in his coaching career.
The Cowboys own the 11th and 20th picks and are desperately seeking what Parcells likes to call "catalytic" players, the kind of game-breakers opposing coordinators spend all week trying to stifle yet still end up making big plays.
While that includes receivers, expect Parcells to pluck someone who can pressure quarterbacks as a defensive end, linebacker or, preferably, both.
Parcells has spent much of his time since ending a 6-10 season trying to decide whether to change from a 4-3 to the 3-4 defense. A DE-LB hybrid who could be effective in either formation would give him flexibility to make a wholesale change or just mix things up now and then.
"To me, you've got to find guys who fit both schemes," said Jeff Ireland, Dallas' new scouting director. "The more things you can do the more opportunities you have to make plays."
Parcells began studying the lack of plays his team made right after a season-ending loss to the New York Giants on Jan. 2. He attended Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Ala., and went to the scouting combine in Indianapolis. He didn't go to either last year or the previous one - when just taking over in Dallas consumed much of his time.
"I'm very impressed with the amount of his focus and the amount of resolve that I see," team owner Jerry Jones said. "It's more than what I saw last year."
Studying hard has paid off for Parcells before, especially for these types of players. He took Willie McGinest fourth overall for the Patriots in 1994 and John Abraham at No. 14 for the Jets in 2000. He'd love to come away with anyone that productive again.
So, who might it be this time?
Shawne Merriman of Maryland seems like a perfect fit, as does speedy Demarcus Ware of Troy. A possible tiebreaker for Merriman is that he excelled against better competition in college, something Parcells values in the early rounds.
Marcus Spears of LSU is another name to watch, although he's a different kind of hybrid. He'd be a down lineman in either system and might be best suited to be a block-eating end in the 3-4. Dallas already has added one widebody to the front in free agent Jason Ferguson, but another Parcells principle is that you can't have enough big guys.
Oklahoma's Dan Cody and Wisconsin's Erasmus James also are possible targets, especially if Dallas moves down or tries moving up with its second pick. It's worth noting that the Cowboys have used their own No. 1 pick only once in the last five drafts.
Another reminder is that Jones and Parcells went into last year's draft looking for a running back. When they had their pick of them all, they instead moved into the second round and got Julius Jones, whom they ranked almost on par with the players everyone else had rated as first-rounders. Jones exceeded expectations on the field and that deal is how Dallas got this year's extra first-rounder.
The Cowboys also have the 10th pick in the second round, but lack a third-rounder because of the trade to get quarterback Drew Henson. Jones would like to replace that pick.
One possible trading partner is New Orleans. The teams have discussed Dallas acquiring defensive end Darren Howard, but talks stalled. If they heat up, the Saints probably would demand a second-round pick. Getting Howard, however, could adjust what the Cowboys look for in the draft - such as a young receiver to help veterans Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn, both coming off injuries.
Between Mike Williams of Southern Cal, Mark Clayton of Oklahoma and Troy Williamson of South Carolina, at least one is likely to be available at No. 11 and maybe even at 20.
If Williams is there, it could be a test of how truthful Jones is. Or maybe he was just trying to downplay Dallas' interest in Williams and Maurice Clarett when asked about them last week.
"I think you've got to dock them and handicap the decision because they haven't been on the field in a year," Jones said.