Allocation of Draft Resources vs. Offensive Line Needs - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Verdict · 01-16-2013

I think a majority of Cowboys fans would correctly take the position that the the offensive line is a significant weakness of this team. I think at best, we have Tyron Smith at LT, and a mediocre player at LG and a mediocre platoon of Bernadeau/Costa/Cook at center a black hole at RG and a career backup at RT in Parnell. At worst we have Tyron Smith at LT and a black hole at the other four positions. Or, arguably, we have something in between.

The problem is we now have a new defensive scheme and probably need new players on defense. Realistically, the chances of getting three legitimate starters in the first three rounds are slim, and the chances fall off even further in rounds four through seven.

That indicates that we will have more holes than draft picks to fill them next year. If so, then I think that it is a serious mistake to try to force fit a draft pick based on need and go best player available all of the way through this draft. I would try to get four to five eventual starters out of this draft, even if they do not fit positions of need. It is much easier to do that by drafting the best player available rather than trying to reach to fill a pick based on need.

Realistically, I would be OK moving up if a top 10 talent fell close to us and we gave up a 4th or 5th to move up one or two spots to get a truly impact player at DT, DE, or RT mainly.

The problem with drafting an offensive lineman with a first round pick is that they generally do not come into their own until they have been in the league a few years. Then again, that thought process is probably part of the reason why we haven't addressed the OL or DL early with the exception of Tyron Smith for many years.

I think it would be possible to move down in the first round and probably still get the best guard, best center, or a top 3 right tackle with that pick. But to expect a player drafted in the 20's to be a world beater in his first year might be asking a bit much.

I guess what I am saying is that although we desperately need to upgrade the OL, that attempting to "force" that in this offseason is probably the wrong thing to do. If we had drafted DeCastro and Zeitler or Glenn (in a trade up) we would now be held hostage at corner this year and be forced to draft a corner high, or pay out the *** in FA to get one.

This team needs to draft the best player available and keep churning the roster as we can to improve it however and whenever we can in free agency. Since we are more than one or two players away, I wouldn't pay out the *** to keep Spencer.

We really ****ed up when we didn't take advantage of Romo's low cap number and the fact that we hit big on him without spending a draft pick on him. I think we have to pay to keep Romo, and also be looking to draft his replacement soon. I want to see the offensive line fixed as much as anyone, but I'm still not sure we should try to fix it at all costs, unless the opportunity lines up with need ... then we pull the trigger and address it.

SWG9 · 01-16-2013

Great post.

This team is riddled with holes to begin with, and the simple fact of the matter is that it's going to take (minimum) 2 offseasons to fix the OL and get the right personnel to play the 4-3.

If rumors are to be believed, we may or may not have a new head coach in place by that time, bringing with him a new system and new philosophy (that our existing players may or may not fit into)

In short, the franchise is in flux. We simply cannot afford to get cute with these picks and try for a quick fix.

The only goal should be to stockpile talent regardless of position with a eye to the long term health of the team. If that means some players don't start or even contribute until 2014, so be it.

DFWJC · 01-16-2013

A 4th , 5th or 6th rounder could possibly be used, but I really hated coughing up a 2nd rounder last year.
I so hope we don't do that again....not that I'm down on Mo Claiborne.
2nd rounders should be starters. We need help.

CowboyStar88 · 01-16-2013

We still have FA as well and we will have resources to get a mid-level mid 20's player with some decent upside. I think if we can go into FA and get 2-3 mid-level guys it will help our draft out. Also he will help with the flux this team has over the next 2 years.

Kangaroo · 01-16-2013

I think it is very possible Dallas could draft a tackle before interior linemen in the first two rounds. We are thin at Tackle and if Free gets cut that leaves us with Smith, Parnell and cook has played RT before.

They need to add another tackle as well and with the amount of guards & centers on the rosters that will be competing would not surprise me if they go after another young FA linemen for the interior and have them fight out in camp.

Drafting a Tackle in the 2nd round and dline in the first

Verdict · 01-16-2013

I would hope that the best player available when we draft in the first round is a right tackle and we get a bookend opposite of Tyron Smith. I'm not even opposed to us drafting a LT and moving Smith back to RT if it improves the team. I think Parnell should remain the swing tackle. That would get us set at both ends of the line. I think we would then actually be ABOVE AVERAGE at LT, RT and Swing Tackle.

blackbull · 01-17-2013

You guys kill me with this (it's going to take 2 years) stuff. Why even play next season? Free agency/draft hasn't even started and the excuses are coming.

rwalters31 · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWG9

Great post.

This team is riddled with holes to begin with, and the simple fact of the matter is that it's going to take (minimum) 2 offseasons to fix the OL and get the right personnel to play the 4-3.

If rumors are to be believed, we may or may not have a new head coach in place by that time, bringing with him a new system and new philosophy (that our existing players may or may not fit into)

In short, the franchise is in flux. We simply cannot afford to get cute with these picks and try for a quick fix.

The only goal should be to stockpile talent regardless of position with a eye to the long term health of the team. If that means some players don't start or even contribute until 2014, so be it.

Taking the best player available only works when you do not have areas of need. Teams that try this have good players but not good teams. Because the Cowboys made a change in Defense the needs of the team just got bigger. However, the Cowboys need to fix the OL first, second, and third in the draft order. From this point forward in the draft the Cowboys need to be creative. The draft is suppose to be deep in Defensive Tackles so save this position to get two 325 pounders latter (like they had in the old Tampa 2). This next pick to me now is a Safety that meets the Tampa 2 philosophy. I think this is all that can be done in this draft and have immediate impact this year. Everything else would be done in the undrafted and FA arena this year.

IrishAnto · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verdict

I think a majority of Cowboys fans would correctly take the position that the the offensive line is a significant weakness of this team. I think at best, we have Tyron Smith at LT, and a mediocre player at LG and a mediocre platoon of Bernadeau/Costa/Cook at center a black hole at RG and a career backup at RT in Parnell. At worst we have Tyron Smith at LT and a black hole at the other four positions. Or, arguably, we have something in between.

The problem is we now have a new defensive scheme and probably need new players on defense. Realistically, the chances of getting three legitimate starters in the first three rounds are slim, and the chances fall off even further in rounds four through seven.

[View Full Quote]That indicates that we will have more holes than draft picks to fill them next year. If so, then I think that it is a serious mistake to try to force fit a draft pick based on need and go best player available all of the way through this draft. I would try to get four to five eventual starters out of this draft, even if they do not fit positions of need. It is much easier to do that by drafting the best player available rather than trying to reach to fill a pick based on need.

Realistically, I would be OK moving up if a top 10 talent fell close to us and we gave up a 4th or 5th to move up one or two spots to get a truly impact player at DT, DE, or RT mainly.

The problem with drafting an offensive lineman with a first round pick is that they generally do not come into their own until they have been in the league a few years. Then again, that thought process is probably part of the reason why we haven't addressed the OL or DL early with the exception of Tyron Smith for many years.

I think it would be possible to move down in the first round and probably still get the best guard, best center, or a top 3 right tackle with that pick. But to expect a player drafted in the 20's to be a world beater in his first year might be asking a bit much.

I guess what I am saying is that although we desperately need to upgrade the OL, that attempting to "force" that in this offseason is probably the wrong thing to do. If we had drafted DeCastro and Zeitler or Glenn (in a trade up) we would now be held hostage at corner this year and be forced to draft a corner high, or pay out the *** in FA to get one.

This team needs to draft the best player available and keep churning the roster as we can to improve it however and whenever we can in free agency. Since we are more than one or two players away, I wouldn't pay out the *** to keep Spencer.

We really ****ed up when we didn't take advantage of Romo's low cap number and the fact that we hit big on him without spending a draft pick on him. I think we have to pay to keep Romo, and also be looking to draft his replacement soon. I want to see the offensive line fixed as much as anyone, but I'm still not sure we should try to fix it at all costs, unless the opportunity lines up with need ... then we pull the trigger and address it.

While I agree with your post for the most part, the one area I would disagree is that a Guard or Centre picked at 18 (or in the 20’s if we traded down) couldn’t help straight away.

Firstly that Guard/Centre you drafted would in all likelihood be the best player at his position as opposed to the 3rd best (or worse) DL (even if we traded up two or three places).

Secondly (and I do stand to be corrected) most Guards/Centres taken in the 1st round start straight away and many play very well.

If you mean by “come into their own until they’ve been in the league a few years” that they are at their peak, then I would suggest that is true for nearly all players irrespective of position.

Eddie · 01-17-2013

Jerry Jones will follow the BPA philosophy as long as it adheres to a premium position: QB, LT, CB, and Pas Rusher in the first round.

Obviously, cross out QB, LT, and CB. So that leaves us with pass rusher.

Get ready for another Shante Carver/Kavika Pittman/Ebenezar Ekuban !!! oh yeah !!!

Kangaroo · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

Jerry Jones will follow the BPA philosophy as long as it adheres to a premium position: QB, LT, CB, and Pas Rusher in the first round.

Obviously, cross out QB, LT, and CB. So that leaves us with pass rusher.

Get ready for another Shante Carver/Kavika Pittman/Ebenezar Ekuban !!! oh yeah !!!

The last two guys we drafted in the first round where Ware and Spencer that are pass rushers Ware has been outstanding and Spencer was a good draft pick.

Once again more hyperbole that Dallas always drafts bad

visionary · 01-17-2013

yes, we can fill most of our holes this offseason if we are smart becasue htis draft is deep at DL, OL, and safety

our major needs are 2 DL, 2-3 OL, 1 safety
there are other needs like backup RB and slot receiver that are further down the list

what we should do is:

FA:
1 DL
1 OL

Draft:

if possible, trade down into mid 20s and get extra 3dr round pick

Rd 1: OL or DL (based on value and our draft board)
Rd 2: OL or DL (whichever was not obtained in Rd 1)
Rd 3: FS (this is a deep safety class at safety and there will be someone available here who can potentially compete for a starting spot and cettainly develop into a starter)
Rd 3: OL
Rd 4: slot receiver or back up RB
Rd 5: slot receive or back up RB

and so on

we can make it work if we are smart

jjktkk · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

Jerry Jones will follow the BPA philosophy as long as it adheres to a premium position: QB, LT, CB, and Pas Rusher in the first round.

Obviously, cross out QB, LT, and CB. So that leaves us with pass rusher.

Get ready for another Shante Carver/Kavika Pittman/Ebenezar Ekuban !!! oh yeah !!!

Your sig pic., suggests your stuck in the 80s. Your post suggests your stuck in the 90s.

ABQcowboyJR · 01-17-2013

You always draft bpa first, need second. This draft is deep at positions of need for us. Trading down would do us well this year.

jjktkk · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABQcowboyJR

You always draft bpa first, need second. This draft is deep at positions of need for us. Trading down would do us well this year.

Agree. Jerry and co. have had a couple of nice drafts since the 09 draft debacle. Lets hope the trend continues.