My two cents on this weekend.

[Barrister]

These are the times that try the souls of your average NFL fan. And that's especially true today, the first day in the post 2004-draft era.

We all go through this ritual every year. We watch college football. We read the offseason draft reports. We watch the endless blitz of draft specials. We've all created (in our minds, at least) our own individual draft boards. We've flagged certain players for greatness, and we just ASSUME that our front office MUST be thinking the same.

But, every year, many fans are forced to realize that football teams aren't a democracy. The front office is hardly a medium through which the wishes of the majority of fans are realized. If so, we could have a computer run our draft room, simply picking players based on the latest "who-should-we-pick" poll. That would certainly make each fan that much happier after each draft, but it may not necessarily be the best strategy.

But, before I continue, let me say that I was disappointed with this draft. Like many others, I wanted Jackson or K. Jones (preference for the latter). I was hanging out with my buddies, sitting in front of the TV, counting down the picks. As I watched--inexplicably--as team after team passed on Stephen Jackson. I was part-excited, because he was rated the best RB in this draft, and part-concerned, because I thought KJ was the better prospect. I actually told them I hoped Jackson would be picked before our spot, thus saving us from having to pick between the two (and therefore avoiding any buyer's remorse) and just getting KJ. And we'd all end up happy.

Funny thing is, a third, heretofore unseen, scenario unfolded. We traded the pick. Over the next few, interminably long minutes I discovered that we had traded down to the 11th pick of the 2nd round. I watched, in horror, as Jackson fell off the board, then C Perry, then K Jones, and finally T. Bell. Plan A, B, C, and D of my personal draft strategy had been shattered. By the time the smoke cleared on day 1, a quick inventory of our newly-acquired assets included: RB Julius Jones, 2 OL and a 1st-round pick next year.

I was steaming the whole day, and it didn't help that over the next 24-36 hrs I listened to analyst after analyst rip our decision. Our day 2 picks weren't all that comforting, as most of them were just projects and reaches designed--at best--to improve our special teams or provide a 3rd stringer in some spots.

Still, I've found small reasons to be comforted: One, we improved our team. That's the LEAST you can ask for on draft day. We've added solid talent and depth to our OL, and, if Al Johnson can come back healthy and Larry Allen just comes back, we could have the most depth at our OL since the mid-nineties. Two, Julius Jones gives us instant improvement at RB, and is the first real breakaway RB we've had starting since Herschel. I expect a lot of screens to this guy. And three, we're poised to make a real splash in next year's draft, especially if Buffalo falters this year.

More final thoughts:

1. It's always fun when the media strokes your ego by praising your draft (like they have for us the past two years), but we must remember that when these various analysts and publications give out these high marks, they're basically saying, "good job, coach/GM....you're as good evaluating talent as we are!"

2. I love getting OL early in the draft. I read somewhere that a GM (I think it was Ron Wolf) believes in drafting a QB every year. I don't think that's prudent in the salary cap era, but I DO believe in drafting an OL on the first day every year. You can NEVER have enough talent and depth in the OL, and it seems that lately Dallas has been severely lacking in both.

3. It was nice to see us finally draft for the offense after all these defense-heavy drafts. We hadn't used our first 3 picks on offense since '89, when we got Aikman, G Wisniewski, and FB Johnston. Not a bad haul that day.

4. Everyone talks about this draft being encouraging in that it demonstrates Parcells' desire to stay for the long-term. That is all well and good in-theory, but I never thought desire/motivation was what would determine how long Parcells stays. It's always going to be about his health, and if that deteriorates anytime soon, then all this "Parcells is in it for the long haul" talk becomes moot.

5. I have not been this excited to watch the preseason games for a long time. It's been a LONG time since we were being offered a glimpse of two players who could possibly be our future franchise QB and RB. I'm not saying Henson and Jones will fit the bill (no pun intended....well, maybe just a bit), but, upside-wise, they've been the best candidates we've had since Aikman and Smith in the early 90s.

6. Great site, guys.

My two cents. Now it's time to dig in for the LONG offseason.

[wileedog]

Originally Posted by Barrister

1. It's always fun when the media strokes your ego by praising your draft (like they have for us the past two years), but we must remember that when these various analysts and publications give out these high marks, they're basically saying, "good job, coach/GM....you're as good evaluating talent as we are!"

LOL! Line of the day...

4. Everyone talks about this draft being encouraging in that it demonstrates Parcells' desire to stay for the long-term. That is all well and good in-theory, but I never thought desire/motivation was what would determine how long Parcells stays. It's always going to be about his health, and if that deteriorates anytime soon, then all this "Parcells is in it for the long haul" talk becomes moot.

Very true, but I think it eases some of the worry that Bill would, in his desire to 'win now', strip the franchise of future potential to stock the team with veterans and 'win now' type contracts. There was a legitimate concern by some that while he might win while he was here, he would leave the team much worse off when he left. This draft goes a long way towards dispelling that notion.

Great post.

[Tony D]

Next time can you just give us your 1 cent instead of your 2 cents?

J/K

Good post.

[LaTunaNostra]

As usual, Barrister, your two cents is a treat!

Thinking back over the years, at how many players I have wanted to see drafted by a team, and how many actually were..well, for example. this weekend I went 0 for 8 with the Cowboys and got lucky with ONE Jet out of TEN (Strait). And that one is unusual.

Only when you're picking so high the choices becomes so narrowed, do you stand any real chance at happiness, I think.

But it's still a wonderful weekend, every year.

[Meat-O-Rama]

Great Post.

I appreciate someone being able to articulate their disappointment in the draft in a manner other than insulting Jones and Parcells intelligence.

I was in utter shock myself when the trade partner was announced as the Bills. I was pretty sure a trade of some sort was going to go down once we got past the 3 minute mark for our selection, but I assumed we would be moving down a couple spots knowing Jackson would not be taken by those couple of teams. Once I realized how far down we dropped, I started hoping and praying that we were trying to package for a trade back up into the first. When the Jones pick was announced I nearly fell out of my chair. I am a USC fan, so having Jones drafted to my beloved Boys is something of a double whammy.

Now that the draft is over I am starting to feel a little better about the Jones pick. They addressed some needs along the line which should give Jones some room to move out there.

I am most excited about the first rounder next year though. The flexibility that extra 1st gives us is immeasurable. We are almost guaranteed a shot at whoever we covet the most going into next years draft.

[Barrister]

LOL. I know it was a LONG post, Tony D, but remember, I'm a lawyer....we're long-winded for a living. Add to that the fact that I type about 90-100wpm and you can easily see why I always go overboard.

[da_boyz_mk]

2 cents??? that was at least a nickels worth...

nice post

[Barrister]

I guess I'm just one of those rare lawywers w/ whom you get your moneys worth. Better be glad I decided not to write Saturday night. I had enough crap swirling in my mind for a dime's worth.

[dstew60105]

3. It was nice to see us finally draft for the offense after all these defense-heavy drafts. We hadn't used our first 3 picks on offense since '89, when we got Aikman, G Wisniewski, and FB Johnston. Not a bad haul that day.

Actually we drafted Wisniewski and then traded him to Oakland for Moose. Mark Stepnoski was drafted with our 3rd pick. I believe we then went defense with Tony Tolbert.


Don

[BrAinPaiNt]

Very good Post barrister.

The draft was a roller coaster ride for me...up and down round and round.

However we have always heard that a good offense starts in the trenches....

Well we just helped improve those trenches IMO....sure they were not sexy picks but they do help plenty.

How many times did we hear multiple posters complain about the O-Line this past season...I but some of those same posters are also complaing about the draft now.

The 3 players we took for the trenches IMO were very good....however I will say this.

I have to wonder why or what did Bill see in Peterman that he thought was better then Locklear?

Ryan maybe a reach but he will help.

Now we got an OT to take over where Young failed...and this will also give the Tuna some time to see if Torrin Tucker will ever pan out.

Peterman will be there in case Allen plays and acts like last year. If allen pouts, if allen comes off the field limping, If allen makes a play and just sits on the turf for a few seconds before getting up looking around like he does not want to be there, in case Larry Allen starts talking retirement again like he did last camp.

Ryan...I and many others were saying when we took Ryan...we were all asking why a TE.
However we know that last week or the week before the Journeyman TE Battaliga(sp?) was brought into camp because Bill wanted a strong blocking TE for two TE sets.
Now we get Ryan who fits that role, and despite the draft reports is also able to get down field and catch passes just as he did at BC.
We also learned POST draft that Ryan was brought in for a Look/see so it is not as if they just spazzed out and took a TE out of the blue when they drafted.

How many time has the offense sputtered once it got to the Red Zone because the O-Line could not block well and Hambrick would tuck his head 3 yards before he touched anyone instead of keeping his head up and looking for a hole to run forward?
We get that Two TE in package in there, put a RB back there that can move around and find some lanes and we are better in the Redzone, goaline offense and short yardage/3rd and short situations.


Another player they brought in and then took that many have never heard off...Clayton.
I have never heard of this kid but it seems as if they knew about him.

He may have played in a small school that people have never heard of, he maybe a player that nobody ever heard of...but I have to be honest and say that he REALLY intrigues me.

I do not care what people say about this kid and I do not have to have seen this kid play to know that he is an athlete and a talent.

For a kid to put up these types of numbers in so many different areas...

1,518 career receiving yards, 1,717 rushing yards, 1,967 passing yards and a combined 12 touchdowns on kick returns.

That tells me the kid can play and has some talent no matter where he played....now what we will have to wait and see is where he winds up position wise.
With that much talent he may wind up (down the road) being more then just a Returner.
This is a project player IMO...if he can be molded I think he may a type of player like he was in college....A player that could wind up being groomed for different positions until they find the right one.

Now as far as the those picks and Julius Jones I have to say I am not impresed at all...the other players we took in the 2nd day seem to be camp bodies and special teamers...but I will give them some time to see how they pan out...maybe one of those guys has an upside at FS...maybe it is nothing more then depth at CB...who knows we will see...but I would not be shocked to see some of these guys get cut during camp.

[Tony D]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Very good Post barrister.

The draft was a roller coaster ride for me...up and down round and round.

However we have always heard that a good offense starts in the trenches....

Well we just helped improve those trenches IMO....sure they were not sexy picks but they do help plenty.

How many times did we hear multiple posters complain about the O-Line this past season...I but some of those same posters are also complaing about the draft now.

The 3 players we took for the trenches IMO were very good....however I will say this.

I have to wonder why or what did Bill see in Peterman that he thought was better then Locklear?

Ryan maybe a reach but he will help.

Now we got an OT to take over where Young failed...and this will also give the Tuna some time to see if Torrin Tucker will ever pan out.

[View Full Quote]Peterman will be there in case Allen plays and acts like last year. If allen pouts, if allen comes off the field limping, If allen makes a play and just sits on the turf for a few seconds before getting up looking around like he does not want to be there, in case Larry Allen starts talking retirement again like he did last camp.

Ryan...I and many others were saying when we took Ryan...we were all asking why a TE.
However we know that last week or the week before the Journeyman TE Battaliga(sp?) was brought into camp because Bill wanted a strong blocking TE for two TE sets.
Now we get Ryan who fits that role, and despite the draft reports is also able to get down field and catch passes just as he did at BC.
We also learned POST draft that Ryan was brought in for a Look/see so it is not as if they just spazzed out and took a TE out of the blue when they drafted.

Another player they brought in and then took that many have never heard off...Clayton.
I have never heard of this kid but it seems as if they knew about him.

He may have played in a small school that people have never heard of, he maybe a player that nobody ever heard of...but I have to be honest and say that he REALLY intrigues me.

I do not care what people say about this kid and I do not have to have seen this kid play to know that he is an athlete and a talent.

For a kid to put up these types of numbers in so many different areas...

1,518 career receiving yards, 1,717 rushing yards, 1,967 passing yards and a combined 12 touchdowns on kick returns.

That tells me the kid can play and has some talent no matter where he played....now what we will have to wait and see is where he winds up position wise.
With that much talent he may wind up (down the road) being more then just a Returner.
This is a project player IMO...if he can be molded I think he may a type of player like he was in college....A player that could wind up being groomed for different positions until they find the right one.

Now as far as the those picks and Julius Jones I have to say I am not impresed at all...the other players we took in the 2nd day seem to be camp bodies and special teamers...but I will give them some time to see how they pan out...maybe one of those guys has an upside at FS...maybe it is nothing more then depth at CB...who knows we will see...but I would not be shocked to see some of these guys get cut during camp.

Good work, BP. Well said.

[morasp]

I was happy with the draft from the beginning. Going in I never thoght that we would take one of the top two guys. I always felt that we would be getting the next curtis martin (time will tell). The herd was on the radio this morning blasting Buffalo for giving up so much to get a quarterback. Maybe we did do something right. I'm not sure about the cornerback from Georgia, his review didn't look that good but we must have seen something. I think the Tightend, running back, and two lineman will play and contribute this year, not to mention that we may have some new return specialist in the kicking game that they seem excited about. And I think we will make the playoffs this year and win some games. In the end that's the bottom line.

[Barrister]

Don,

My bad. I got my info from this site: http://www.drafthistory.com/teams/cowboys.html
Blame them.

Brain,

The draft really wasn't a roller-coaster for me. More like a ski slope. Downhill all the way. I am glad we got the O-Linemen, but I don't know enough about Julius to know if I should be impressed w/ him or not. Didn't watch any ND games this year. But he impressed Parcells enough for Tuna to actually tell the guy they may draft him, so I guess I'll have to hang my hat on that till the preseason starts.

I am worried, though, that Parcells will keep using his same approach every year to the later rounds (find special teamers and a kick returner). Zuriel Smith last year, and a bunch of no-names this year. I mean, getting guys w/ good kick and punt return stats is good, but with so many good players being found in later rounds these days, I just can't help that while the Tuna continues his annual search for a good kick returning gem, we're missing out on the next Brady or Terrell Davis. Heck, even the next larry brown or mario edwards wouldn't be bad.

[BrAinPaiNt]

Originally Posted by Barrister

Don,

My bad. I got my info from this site: http://www.drafthistory.com/teams/cowboys.html
Blame them.

Brain,

The draft really wasn't a roller-coaster for me. More like a ski slope. Downhill all the way. I am glad we got the O-Linemen, but I don't know enough about Julius to know if I should be impressed w/ him or not. Didn't watch any ND games this year. But he impressed Parcells enough for Tuna to actually tell the guy they may draft him, so I guess I'll have to hang my hat on that till the preseason starts.

[View Full Quote]I am worried, though, that Parcells will keep using his same approach every year to the later rounds (find special teamers and a kick returner). Zuriel Smith last year, and a bunch of no-names this year. I mean, getting guys w/ good kick and punt return stats is good, but with so many good players being found in later rounds these days, I just can't help that while the Tuna continues his annual search for a good kick returning gem, we're missing out on the next Brady or Terrell Davis. Heck, even the next larry brown or mario edwards wouldn't be bad.

I was more talking about Roller Coaster in the first day...however your analogy for the second day works

I noticed as well that the KR and CB thing in the second day...and silly me thought bill was once quoted as saying he likes LBs and Collects them...yet so far in two drafts he has only taken ONE LB.

[wileedog]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

How many time has the offense sputtered once it got to the Red Zone because the O-Line could not block well and Hambrick would tuck his head 3 yards before he touched anyone instead of keeping his head up and looking for a hole to run forward?
We get that Two TE in package in there, put a RB back there that can move around and find some lanes and we are better in the Redzone, goaline offense and short yardage/3rd and short situations.

Actually this is one of the reasons I liked the Keyshawn trade as well. A big receiver who can catch in traffic makes a great Red Zone target, and even better he is a solid blocker who can help a speedy guy like Jones (or even a bootlegging Carter) turn the corner on short yardage plays.