Players to target at #14

[MichaelWinicki]

I think the OP's list is far to wide... Several players there I don't think merit the consideration of the 14th pick like Still & Glenn.

DeCastro & Kirkpatrick. Those are it for me.

I don't see any of the OLBers being a big improvement over Spencer quite frankly when you look at both pass rush and run defense.

[RamziD]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

I think the OP's list is far to wide... Several players there I don't think merit the consideration of the 14th pick like Still & Glenn.

DeCastro & Kirkpatrick. Those are it for me.

I don't see any of the OLBers being a big improvement over Spencer quite frankly when you look at both pass rush and run defense.

You're right...I wanted to thin down the list, but didn't want to leave out anyone from a position of need. Some of those guys I would be disappointed if we drafted without a trade down to about #20. If we stay at #14, I only really like 4...DeCastro, Kirkpatrick, Ingram, and Kuechly.

[burmafrd]

the single greatest need is a second pass rusher. We need to identify how to get that player and concentrate on that. As much as we need to get a CB and some help in the inside of the O line that is PRIORITY ONE.

We MUST have someone the O has to account for besides Ware

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

the single greatest need is a second pass rusher. We need to identify how to get that player and concentrate on that. As much as we need to get a CB and some help in the inside of the O line that is PRIORITY ONE.

We MUST have someone the O has to account for besides Ware

The challenge is that it's not a good year for 3-4 OLBer pass-rusher types... At least those that can step right in and give this team say double-digit sacks. I don't see any of them that are are "gimmees". Most seem rather "Spencer-like" in that they'll give you a solid half-dozen sacks, but then I question their ability to stop the run.

I think the best potential for generating more pass rush is grab one of the guys like Winn or Wolfe who seems to have some potential for creating some pass rush as a 3-4 DE.

If you want more pass rush here are the numbers to chew on...

Coleman 1 sack
Spears 1 sack
Ratliff 2 sacks

[jnday]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

the single greatest need is a second pass rusher. We need to identify how to get that player and concentrate on that. As much as we need to get a CB and some help in the inside of the O line that is PRIORITY ONE.

We MUST have someone the O has to account for besides Ware

I agree with you but this draft is OG/CB strong draft and I rather not reach for a need position .

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by jnday

I agree with you but this draft is OG/CB strong draft and I rather not reach for a need position .

Agreed.

Not in the first couple of rounds anyway.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

The challenge is that it's not a good year for 3-4 OLBer pass-rusher types... At least those that can step right in and give this team say double-digit sacks. I don't see any of them that are are "gimmees". Most seem rather "Spencer-like" in that they'll give you a solid half-dozen sacks, but then I question their ability to stop the run.

I think the best potential for generating more pass rush is grab one of the guys like Winn or Wolfe who seems to have some potential for creating some pass rush as a 3-4 DE.

If you want more pass rush here are the numbers to chew on...

Coleman 1 sack
Spears 1 sack
Ratliff 2 sacks

yeah hard to chew that. I would love a Seymour type at DE but they are very rare. easier to get a OLB that can rush the passer. We need someone that can give us Ellis type numbers; 8-10 a year

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by jnday

I agree with you but this draft is OG/CB strong draft and I rather not reach for a need position .

frankly this reach stuff is all too often BS. If the guy will do what you need him to do then where he is picked is meaningless. We need a guy who can rush the passer seriously on a steady basis. FA, Draft, trade whatever.

[Ntegrase96]

Originally Posted by jnday

I agree with you but this draft is OG/CB strong draft and I rather not reach for a need position .

I think the reasoning for this is that most, including me, assume we can beef up the OL and secondary in FA. To me, that's the more surefire way to know what you're getting.

Sadly, for OLBs, there aren't any better FA OLBs on the market than Spencer. Both Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw wouldn't be bad. Ingram is an instinctive play maker, and Upshaw is Alabama's best pass rusher. Either would be fine with me, and then take the best available CB in the second.

If it were up to me I'd take a run at Michael Griffin and Ben Grubbs/Carl Nicks in FA, get an OLB to replace Spencer and the money he really doesn't deserve, and take the 350 lb NT Dontari Poe, allowing Ratliff to move over to DE and also help with the pass rush. Jenkins and Scandrick on the outside with good safety help are a much improved secondary over what we have, might as well give the QB even less time to throw the ball.

Of course, I wouldn't mind the reverse approach. Depends on who is available when it's our turn up. I just think the best 2 CBs will be gone by the time we're up.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

Sounds like a pretty good list. There is good and bad about going into this draft. The bad news is we need so much help in so many areas. The good news is nose should have a very good player fall to us since we have so many needs in so many positions. So even if we miss out on someone like decastro we should still be able to get another good player who can help us.

If the Cowboys do not go G with the 1st pick I think OG Kevin Zeitler would be a nice addition in the 3rd if he last that long.

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't see this team being that far off...

3 question marks on offense G C G
5 question marks on defense DE, OLB, ILB, CB, S

Now you could say that 8 is a lot, but at least a couple of these are going to be solved by resigning guys like Spencer, Elam or by filling in with youngsters already on the club like Carter or one of the young offensive linemen.

That will leave 5 or 6 spots left.

If the Cowboys have a good draft 3 of those spots could be filled.

The rest will need to come from free agency.

Bottom line is that I do not think it's that dire.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

I think the OP's list is far to wide... Several players there I don't think merit the consideration of the 14th pick like Still & Glenn.

DeCastro & Kirkpatrick. Those are it for me.

I don't see any of the OLBers being a big improvement over Spencer quite frankly when you look at both pass rush and run defense.

Since Spencer is a FA though I would expect he will want to see what is out there. I have no problem having Spencer return but I would be leery on the size of the contract given to him.

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Since Spencer is a FA though I would expect he will want to see what is out there. I have no problem having Spencer return but I would be leery on the size of the contract given to him.

No doubt.

If the Cowboys thought he was worth big $$ he probably would have been resigned during the season. Obviously they're a little unsure of him also.

[gmoney112]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

I don't see this team being that far off...

3 question marks on offense G C G
5 question marks on defense DE, OLB, ILB, CB, S

Now you could say that 8 is a lot, but at least a couple of these are going to be solved by resigning guys like Spencer, Elam or by filling in with youngsters already on the club like Carter or one of the young offensive linemen.

That will leave 5 or 6 spots left.

If the Cowboys have a good draft 3 of those spots could be filled.

The rest will need to come from free agency.

Bottom line is that I do not think it's that dire.

It certainly couldn't be any worse than this year.

[Primetime42]

Originally Posted by casmith07

This is one draft that if Jerry were going to trade a future first rounder to get back in the first round, he should go ahead and do it.

The corner crop this year sucks. I'd almost rather trade out then go all out next year for the Honey Badger.


Almost.