How the non-Claiborne rookies connected with the Cowboys are doing so far

[xwalker]

Originally Posted by honyock

Here is a just-past-mid-season report on the rookies around the league who were speculated about, lusted over, or connected with the Cowboys pre-draft.

Excellent post.

It's funny how much time fans (myself included) and media spend analyzing the draft before it happens, but very little time following up on it afterwards.

Does Bruce Irvin always play DE in their 4-3, or does he play LB and DE like Von Miller?

[DBOY3141]

I heard they liked Bobby Wagner, but not sure they said he would have been the pick.

After signing Carr to a huge contract, I don't think in the long run Claiborne will be better than a Brockers/Konz tandum.

Brockers would be starting on this defense this season. He has played 6 games and has 2.5 sacks for the rams and is getting better.

DL and OL are more important than 2 stud CB's. You can win in this league without shut down CB's, you can't without a good DL and OL.

[Oh_Canada]

Originally Posted by DBOY3141

I heard they liked Bobby Wagner, but not sure they said he would have been the pick.

After signing Carr to a huge contract, I don't think in the long run Claiborne will be better than a Brockers/Konz tandum.

Brockers would be starting on this defense this season. He has played 6 games and has 2.5 sacks for the rams and is getting better.

DL and OL are more important than 2 stud CB's. You can win in this league without shut down CB's, you can't without a good DL and OL.

I am with you to some degree, but they felt Claiborne was going to be special and to there credit he's already very good. At the time I would have stayed put for Brockers or moved up a few spots to pick Cox, but I like Claiborne and the defense is infintely better with he and Carr at the corners.

[Rack Bauer]

Originally Posted by honyock

David DeCastro- even before his knee injury and surgery in the preseason, he was admittedly struggling in adjusting to the pro game., second string on the Steelers depth chart. The team is unsure of his return this season

Their OL is looking good this year. They basically plug any of their 3 RBs into the lineup and they run for 100 yards. DeCastro may be a backup for them (who knows if he would be listed as a backup if he didn't get hurt) but he'd be starting for us, easily (sadly).

DeCastro is going to be a good one.

[Denim Chicken]

Still can't believe Cox would have fell to us

[CopenhagenCowboy]

I still don't like the trade. They should have went OL in round 1 or 2, and continued that trend in next year's draft.

You can always pick up a good enough CB in round 2 or 3, if needed, and if your scouting department is doing a good enough job.

[Doomsday]

Originally Posted by Dallas4ever

Being able to respectfully hold down a starting CB role in the NFL as a rookie is an impact. Some, like myself would argue that it's a significant impact. He's playing one of the toughest and most visable positions in the NFL.

I agree, Mo has already a pretty big impact on the defense.

[DBOY3141]

Originally Posted by Oh_Canada

I am with you to some degree, but they felt Claiborne was going to be special and to there credit he's already very good. At the time I would have stayed put for Brockers or moved up a few spots to pick Cox, but I like Claiborne and the defense is infintely better with he and Carr at the corners.

I like Claiborne as well, but I think in today's NFL you don't need a bunch of "special" players. A bunch of really good players will get a Super Bowl.

Over time, giving up picks to acquire "special" players will get you know where.

We gave up a 3rd to get Dez because they thought he was "special", they give up a 2nd to get Claiborne because they think he is "special". In the end, it's not working. Stop going for "flash" and get some substance on this team.

I hope I'm wrong but I think down the road I think we would have been better with two solid players vs one "special" player. It will really be bad if Brockers becomes "special", which I think he will.

[sideon]

Originally Posted by T-RO

Yes that was a great post. And it makes one again re-evaluate the risk-reward of Jerry's trade-up.

I wasn't a critic of the Claiborne trade, and I'm not going to rail on Jones about this. But the reality is...

We could have had TWO starters, had we stayed put. Morris will need to play near an all-pro level at some point...or the trade will go down as a mistake.

People never take into account how the Cowboys trading up might have affected the draft order, Bob Sturm from the ticket uses that same logic but who knows if those guys would've still been there. I loved the pick then and i love it now since you can tell he's going to be great for years to come.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Denim Chicken

Still can't believe Cox would have fell to us

He ended up going 12th; our original selection was 14.

[Denim Chicken]

Originally Posted by Idgit

He ended up going 12th; our original selection was 14.

That's right, the Eagles moved up. thanks.

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Denim Chicken

That's right, the Eagles moved up. thanks.

I'd have been bummed if he'd been there at 14, too. He was the guy I wanted most of the people I thought might actually be there for us. (I was sure Claiborne would be long-gone, obviously).

[dwmyers]

Just a correction here..

Originally Posted by honyock

Peter Konz - got his first start at guard in game eight (due to injury) and has gotten solid reviews since then, credited with helping Atlantas improved running game.

Atlanta's running game has not improved from 2011 to 2012, it's become considerably worse. While having Konz prevented a G disaster after ATL lost a starter, it's not as if Atlanta fans consider him the second coming or the like.

D-

[Rack Bauer]

Originally Posted by dwmyers

Just a correction here..




Atlanta's running game has not improved from 2011 to 2012, it's become considerably worse. While having Konz prevented a G disaster after ATL lost a starter, it's not as if Atlanta fans consider him the second coming or the like.

D-

I don't think he's saying it improved over last year. He's saying with Konz in tehre it improved over how they did before he got the start THIS year.

[mortboy]

Originally Posted by xwalker

Excellent post.

It's funny how much time fans (myself included) and media spend analyzing the draft before it happens, but very little time following up on it afterwards.

Totally agree. I used to like to go back and look at drafts a few years later. Wife, kids, more responsibility at work, etc have sapped me of that time needed to do this. I used to save a few draft mags per year and keep them so I could go over them a few years later or to see what people were saying about guys before they were drafted and "what if". Now the internet can take care of that for me. Still never have the time to do it. So my long winded point is, I appreciate these types of posts. I wish there more of these and less of the "Fire Garrett", "Fire Romo", "Fire Jerry" type posts.