Just a guard man, just a guard... - Page 2 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

**MichaelWinicki** · 02-03-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrinkill

I hope they pick the best player regardless of position

And that's really the bottom line here, picking the best player.

I do not want to see the Cowboys force any selections.

If the the three clearly best players the first three rounds were:

QB
Safety
RB

Then I'm taking those players.

If you have a QB tied with a DE and a Guard... Then of course you have to consider one of the lineman.

xwalker · 02-03-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verdict

Let's suppose the cowboys select only one offensive lineman in the draft, a guard, with their first overall pick in the draft (even if it is in a slight trade down or 5 spots or less). What difference would you expect it to make next year?

Let's also assume the same situation exists, but this time it is for an OT, maybe even in a slight trade up. What difference would you expect it to make in our line next year?

In other words, how would the OLine be affected if they added either Warmack or Cooper to the roster, but no other new OLinemen?

Answer:
Just adding 1 OLineman could make a huge difference, IMO.

Bernadeau at times last year, got both overpowered and beaten by quickness.

Rookie OLineman are not going be perfect; however, I don't see Warmack getting over-powered and I don't see Cooper getting beaten by quickness. These 2 players are elite at their position. IMO, they are better at their position (OG) than Joeckel is at his position (OT).

Replacing Bernadeau with one of these players is like replacing Shante Carver with DeMarcus Ware.

Keep in mind that there is possibility of getting better at the other OLine positions with players already on the roster.

Parnell is better than Free now and has a very high upside. He just needs the experience.

Cook didn't catch the scorn of fans/media like Costa did the previous year because his problems were not as obvious while watching the game in real-time. He didn't screw up the shotgun snaps and he didn't make a large number of screw ups in pass protection; however, on review of game footage, he just cannot run block. Some 6-6 guys like Leonard Davis can play on the interior of the OLine; however, many like Cook just can't overcome the leverage disadvantage.

It's possible that either Costa, Kowalski or even Bernadeau could be an upgrade at Center.

2013 Starting OL with 1 top OG draft pick:

Tyron Smith
Warmack or Cooper
Costa/Kowalski/Bernadeau
Nate Livings (keep rookie LG at his college position and vet next to Parnell)
Jermey Parnell

My biggest concern is Center. There will be many options in the mid to late rounds of the draft to get a RT to compete with and backup at RT. There are also a very large number of projected lowish cost Free Agent OTs; however, quality Centers rarely if ever make it to Free Agency. In the draft, there are only 3 Centers that might be day-1 starters, IMO (unless Cooper can player Center, then there would be 4).

.

burmafrd · 02-03-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

And that's really the bottom line here, picking the best player.

I do not want to see the Cowboys force any selections.

If the the three clearly best players the first three rounds were:

QB
Safety
RB

Then I'm taking those players.

If you have a QB tied with a DE and a Guard... Then of course you have to consider one of the lineman.

if that is all that is available then we need to trade down and get more picks. Because frankly we should not invest in a RB in the first 4 rds and there are no QBs realistically worth it in this draft. If a guard or center or tackle is available that we have rated highly then take him. Maybe not BPA but as long as have done our homework right then he should be a good player.

**MichaelWinicki** · 02-03-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

if that is all that is available then we need to trade down and get more picks. Because frankly we should not invest in a RB in the first 4 rds and there are no QBs realistically worth it in this draft. If a guard or center or tackle is available that we have rated highly then take him. Maybe not BPA but as long as have done our homework right then he should be a good player.

I have no issues with trading down, provided you can get reasonable value for the pick.

The last couple years the Cowboys haven't wavered much from BPA, I doubt that they would deviate from that for a lineman.

RS12 · 02-03-2013

Any O Lineman picked at any position in the first two rounds would dramatically improve the running game IMO. I can think of between 5 and 10 guys off the top of my head. I still think they need to take the highest rated player on the board when they pick regardless.

Dhragon · 02-03-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by burmafrd

if that is all that is available then we need to trade down and get more picks. Because frankly we should not invest in a RB in the first 4 rds and there are no QBs realistically worth it in this draft. If a guard or center or tackle is available that we have rated highly then take him. Maybe not BPA but as long as have done our homework right then he should be a good player.

I normally hate tradedowns. I prefer to get 1 elite player over 2 good players. But with our need for Olinemen, especially guards who usually drop further in drafts than they really should, I am all for it this year.

UncFelix28 · 02-03-2013

If the Cowboys find a way to free up enough money this year & future years, then I would do whatever it takes to sign Andy Levitre if he isn't franchised, which I am thinking they will tag Byrd instead, if unable to agree to a contract.

Verdict · 02-03-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by xwalker

In other words, how would the OLine be affected if they added either Warmack or Cooper to the roster, but no other new OLinemen?

Answer:
Just adding 1 OLineman could make a huge difference, IMO.

Bernadeau at times last year, got both overpowered and beaten by quickness.

Rookie OLineman are not going be perfect; however, I don't see Warmack getting over-powered and I don't see Cooper getting beaten by quickness. These 2 players are elite at their position. IMO, they are better at their position (OG) than Joeckel is at his position (OT).

Replacing Bernadeau with one of these players is like replacing Shante Carver with DeMarcus Ware.

Keep in mind that there is possibility of getting better at the other OLine positions with players already on the roster.

Parnell is better than Free now and has a very high upside. He just needs the experience.

[View Full Quote]

This was the type of response I was looking for when I made my original post. I am also wondering if it is easier for a guy like Lane Johnson to make an immediate starter at right tackle than a rookie guard might due to the fact that speed and technique seem more important to the tackle position, where at guard it seems that strength is slightly more important and necessary.

Deep_Freeze · 02-03-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

And that's really the bottom line here, picking the best player.

I do not want to see the Cowboys force any selections.

If the the three clearly best players the first three rounds were:

QB
Safety
RB

Then I'm taking those players.

If you have a QB tied with a DE and a Guard... Then of course you have to consider one of the lineman.

Its always interesting to me year after year how people want to reach for a need position come draft time, when that strategy has shown to be an absolute failure time and time again in the draft.

Only time need should be on the level of BPA is if you are drafting in the top 5-10, otherwise your looking at the best player for your total football team. There isn't a single position group on this team that couldn't use youth or a contract cut for youth.

I certainly hope this team continues what it has done from 2010 on by going after the best player they could get, and not listen to all this need based draft screaming and yelling cause that is a sure way to fail. If the player is a guard, draft him, but stick to the actual Cowboys board and not some internet 'gurus' board of what he thinks should happen cause he read it on some website cause contrary to some people beliefs on this board.....point blank, they do know more about the players than you do.