DeCastro at Center

[sonnyboy]

I'm no expert on Decastro, any other prospect or the Cowboys thinking.....but I think the odds we end up with him aren't great.

For a lot of obvious reasons but also because I believe we'll successfully trade down with him availible at 14 thinking that we can still get him a little later AND that there's good OL depth to tap into later.....if we do miss out on him.

But I want him above all other 1st rd options for this team.

[jdnoyes]

If anyone is interested there is video of him at C in high school on youtube. The footage of Lucks pro day is also out there and he does rougly 20 or so shotgun snaps there, most of which are better than what we've seen out of recent Cowboys centers. I have no doubt with his skillset and smarts he can make the transition to center the question is can we really expect the guy to be a week one starter on the OL adjusting to the NFL and a position change all at once. Might take a bit more patience in that case.

[brooksey1]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

Nobody.

And there's your history.

I believe the quote about Callahan was taken from Ourlads scouting service under the Cowboys draft choice. Link below.

http://www.ourlads.com/nfl-mock-draft/2012/

[JBell523]

This move makes sense. Center = arguably the most imporant position on the OL.

I know a lot of people are against the idea of drafting a guy and playing him "out of position" because of the risk involved, but worst case scenario is that he doesn't work out at Center, and you just slide him back to guard.

[gimmesix]

Originally Posted by Beast_from_East

I dont think DeCastro was ever not in play at 14.

I think it comes down to 3 players....DeCastro, Cox, and Barron

Whoever is left at pick 14 is the guy we take, odds are one of these guys will be there.

Well, since Ciskowski (sp?) said there are two offensive players and two defensive players expected to be in consideration when we pick, I'd expect one of the offensive guys to be DeCastro.

Not sure who the other offensive player would be, though, since it appears Michael Floyd is the only other player expected to be taken in that area.

[RS12]

Beat writer on NFLN just mumbled something about DeCastro worst case playing Center for a year if they have to draft him as fall back position.

[Aliencowboy]

Originally Posted by RS12

Anyone hear Broaddus on the Lunch Break today? Supposedly mentioned the Cowboys worked DeCastro out at Center. If that is true maybe that puts him back in play at 14.

It's the only reason to draft him at 14. Center is the
weakest position Dallas has.

[honyock]

Originally Posted by Aliencowboy

It's the only reason to draft him at 14. Center is the
weakest position Dallas has.

That's a pretty good reason. Assuming he can do it, having him come in and handle center for the next decade would make it a sweet pick at 14.

[Zaxor]

yeah I like DeCastro way better at center than I do guard

[rwalters31]

Originally Posted by cowboyjoe

That was mentioned last week about OL coach Callahan. Callahan has a history of taking best OL and moving him to C, while turning that player into all pro. Probably why Callahan looked at Zeitler too, see if he could transition to C, and I have heard in draft reports Zeitler could play C too.

DeCastro is a Pro Bowler this year at guard. At center I don't know about that. However, we would have the first pulling center since Mark Stepnoski. See if you see something special, read about Mark :
"Stepnoski, was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He dropped in the draft, because the scouts thought that he was undersized for the NFL.
The Cowboys switched him to center, although he never played that position before. During his rookie year he was tutored by Tom Rafferty, who was playing his last season in the NFL. He became a starter for the last four games of the season.
Stepnoski used his athletic ability, leverage and balance, to outmaneuver bigger defensive players and become one of the leagues best centers of his era."


Special players only come around every so often. DeCastro is one.

[InmanRoshi]

A lot of the center position revolves around snapping the ball and firing off the snap. It's a little different when you've got to focus on accurately snapping the ball first and foremost while everyone else on the OL gets to just fire off. A lot of guards have made the transition, but a lot of guards haven't. I really don't know how you evaluate that against thin air without being in a game situation against a real live NT/DT.

[Dmoore Esq]

Originally Posted by JBell523

This move makes sense. Center = arguably the most imporant position on the OL.

I know a lot of people are against the idea of drafting a guy and playing him "out of position" because of the risk involved, but worst case scenario is that he doesn't work out at Center, and you just slide him back to guard.

Center is not the most important position on the line. Both tackle spots are more important.

Nobody is planning to move DeCastro to center, and no center is ever getting drafted at 14. It's not a premium position.

[Chuck 54]

I don't want an OG at 14, and I certainly don't want a Center that high in round 1. That's the ultimate reach for need. Centers and guards are never noticed and not considered your championship positions...all pro or average, you only notice when they suck, which is Dallas' problem.

Has any team ever drafted a center as high as #14 in round one in the history of the NFL?

I would love to have DeCastro at C or G if no DL or DB is in play when we are on the clock, but you have to trade down if possible. I do not think you draft a center or even a guard that high unless you've decided your need outweighs everything else.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by Chuck 54

I don't want an OG at 14, and I certainly don't want a Center that high in round 1. That's the ultimate reach for need. Centers and guards are never noticed and not considered your championship positions...all pro or average, you only notice when they suck, which is Dallas' problem.

Has any team ever drafted a center as high as #14 in round one in the history of the NFL?

I would love to have DeCastro at C or G if no DL or DB is in play when we are on the clock, but you have to trade down if possible. I do not think you draft a center or even a guard that high unless you've decided your need outweighs everything else.

your kind of thinking is what has gotten us pretty lousy OL interior the last few years. Happy?

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by InmanRoshi

A lot of the center position revolves around snapping the ball and firing off the snap. It's a little different when you've got to focus on accurately snapping the ball first and foremost while everyone else on the OL gets to just fire off. A lot of guards have made the transition, but a lot of guards haven't. I really don't know how you evaluate that against thin air without being in a game situation against a real live NT/DT.

DeCastro was either a 3* or 4* (not sure which) center prospect out of High School. So he played pretty well there. While of course that was years ago he has indeed played the position.