CenterPiece of Our Draft...a BP draft

[Chuck 54]

Frankly, I feel pretty good about this draft, and I'm the guy who has questioned Parcells all off-season. I'm also the guy who doesn't think we got very good value for the long drop we made from #22 to #43. However, I've said all along that the biggest problem with our offense is one of the worst OL's in the league, made up of one good player, Adams, two of the worst guards in the NFC, and two undrafted free agents playing way over their heads at RT.

However, like it or not, and regardless of whether you believe Jackson or Jones or anyone else was a better RB, you have to accept the fact that Bill Parcells thought Julius Jones was the best RB in this draft...period.

He didn't move down that far just for a 5th and a 1st next year that could end up anywhere. He never wanted Jackson or Jones. If he'd made that trade and had taken an OT or CB or DT or WR first, then we'd never know, but using his first pick on Julius Jones tells us all we need to know.

Jacobs, OT USC, was taken before scheduled by the experts...I love USC, but this kid was injured a bit during his career, missing games or parts of games every year...I never thought that was a BP guy...hmmm. Stephen Peterson was selected when most "experts" had him going in round 5 and while there were very very highly rated OG's still on the board, not to mention two CB's who could have gone 1st or 2nd round (Ware and LaSeur), a tremendous FS who plays like a CB in Shivers with a 9.1 kiper rating...hmmm.

The bottom line on the OL selections is that Parcells and Warhop are the men who love and coach linemen, so I'm trusting these are their type guys...we are now looking at the prospect of Adams, Allen/Peterson, Johnson, Gurode/Peterson, and Jacobs running out on day 1....I'm impressed. That puts Dinapoli, Lehr, Vollers, and Tucker where they belong...great depth. Our offensive line is going to be better, young, and inexpensive...cool. All I really knew about most of the offensive linemen was what I read, so naturally I'm going to assume the Cowboys know what they're doing. Watching some of the other seemingly crazy picks by other teams, you have to be happy your coaches got the guys they wanted...why gamble and wait...maybe other teams saw what BP and Warhop saw...can't afford to lose em.

Again, even with the Running BAcks, most of us go by what we read and seeing a few games...I'll be honest...I didn't see much of Julius at all since ND didn't get much TV time. We could have sat right were we were and had the same two linemen and Steven Jackson...losing out on the extra 5th. Hey, if Parcells really wanted Jackson or Jones, no way he'd have given them up for a first round pick next year...let's just accept the fact that Julius JOnes was Parcells centerpiece, the guy he coveted.

Frankly, after watching the highlight films, I think Greg Jones and Julius Jones looked better than any of the big three we all talked about. Steven Jackson looked great catching the ball and running to daylight, and I loved the way he lowered his shoulder, but I swear I didn't see one move on the entire highlight clip...not one. He's not going to run over players in the NFL like he did in college fellas...but dayum, I was impressed with him in the passing game.

Kevin Jones: I was never sold on...he bounces outside too much and doesn't break tackles...I saw nothing awesome in his highlight film...just my opinion. I was excited about Tatum Bell, but again, it was mostly speed, not making guys miss.

When I saw Julius Jones's highlight reel, I saw why they were saying he looked more like Emmitt than any runner in the draft...he also had great hands in the passing game, but did you see how he ran in traffic? He slithered back and forth using his blockers, he made guys miss, he gave them his hip and leg, then took it away, always running upfield, and when he slid horizontally, his shoulders were still square leaning forward...no loss of speed either...I'm no KookAid drinker...I was duly impressed with those highlights.

Finally, and this isn't about our draft, but Greg Jones's highlights were also better than Jackson's or KJ's...in addition to that great hit we saw, we also saw more wiggle and hips from this big man than Jackson or JOnes...he has quick feet and sudden moves...Julius JOnes and Greg Jones showed me more moves and elusiveness than anyone else i watched all day.

I still think we should have gotten more for moving down, but clearly no one coveted Jackson and Jones up there as much as we fans did...Dallas got what they could get for moving down, and they still got their man. There's no logic at all in arguing we made this move just for the picks...if Jackson was our man, we'd have taken him.

Julius Jones was the centerpiece of Bill Parcells' plan, like it or not. I wish him the best, and I hope he runs for Dallas the way I saw him running behind that ND OL, which by the way, had no stand out blockers.

I love taking two offensive linemen to block for Jones and Carter...now it's time to get back at it tomorrow...best player available tomorrow, I hope. We can still get a CB higher than Pete Hunter or Mario Edwards were drafted...there's hope.

The only real argument against this draft, considering the guys who went off the board before that #22 pick, would have to be based on the belief that we don't think Julius Jones is what BP clearly thinks he is. This is the RB of the future...we'll be using our 2 #1's next year on other positions...you can bank on that. If there was any thought at all of using them to position ourselves for a back next year, we would have taken a RB much later in the draft this year.

Like it or not, Julius Jones is Bill Parcells Centerpiece this year...that's the running back he really wanted...let's see what happens.

[MichaelWinicki]

FYI...

Ourlads had Rogers going at #36 to Detroit and Peterson in the fourth at #115.


Good analysis overall.


I welcome you to the "light" side Wayne.

[jumanji]

not a glamour day - oline never are....but a solid B is how I would grade us today.

we needed oline help and we needed a rb better than hambrick...we got that.

[Woods]

nice post, Wayne

[wileedog]

Originally Posted by wayne_motley

When I saw Julius Jones's highlight reel, I saw why they were saying he looked more like Emmitt than any runner in the draft...he also had great hands in the passing game, but did you see how he ran in traffic? He slithered back and forth using his blockers, he made guys miss, he gave them his hip and leg, then took it away, always running upfield, and when he slid horizontally, his shoulders were still square leaning forward...no loss of speed either...I'm no KookAid drinker...I was duly impressed with those highlights.

Great post. I feel exactly the same. Especially about Julius who I considered "Emmit Lite" going into the draft.

It all comes down to if BP is right about JJ. If he is, this trade is a slam dunk. We may or may not be all that in 2004, but how pretty are we sitting in 2005 with Henson ready to start, and 2 #1's to play with?

In the grand scheme of things I would have taken Jackson. It was just too good a value IMO to pass up on. But what we did do is hardly a disaster, and if JJ can play (he HAS to be better than T-Ham) than overall I think the long-term benefits could be significantly better.

[Duane]

Good stuff Wayne...I've seen Peterson rated the #2 guard in the draft. From all accounts he's someone who will mix it up and play hard on every down. If nothing else we have someone to groom behind LA.

[jay cee]

I never saw any of the top backs play in college. but I really got excited about your analysis of Jones running style. Since most runners in the NFL don't get to break the long runs like they do in college, I prefer the ones that run well in traffic. Smith was great at it, and I hope Jones can have at least half of Smith's success.

[Diehardcowboy]

First post, avid (daily reader of TC), really support this take on the our draft this year. I too was shocked today after seeing the seemingly impossible happen-that being SJ sliding to us and then watching as we traded out, but as the day wore on I started to see the value in these picks. Really nice insight to this post.

[Chuck 54]

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

FYI...

Ourlads had Rogers going at #36 to Detroit and Peterson in the fourth at #115.


Good analysis overall.


I welcome you to the "light" side Wayne.

Good evening Mike...I just typed a nice reply, but then it made me go back because it said I had used too many icons, 3...sheesh...and then my message was gone...I miss the old board and the banghead and beer icons, etc...I don't do change well...lol

anyhow, kiper had Rogers as the 7th tackle and in round 3 due mostly to not staying on the field (injury history), but I love USC, so I'm glad he's here.

Kiper had Peterson 9th OG and in round 5...I'm not going back looking up details a second time...sorry.

But that sort of makes my point, most of us only know what we read, right..we don't really see more than a game or two and then we don't study players...we watch the game...all that matters is how BP and Warhop graded them...

Go Cowboys but dang...I would have loved Andrews lining up at G or T for us....lol...maybe we'll still snag his brother before it's over.

[Bach]

Originally Posted by wayne_motley

I'll be honest...I didn't see much of Julius at all since ND didn't get much TV time.

Well, except for every home game being on NBC and at least half of there away games being televised by somene.

Other than that I do agree that BP had Julius targeted. I also think we helped ourselves on the OL.

[Phrozen Phil]

Originally Posted by jumanji

not a glamour day - oline never are....but a solid B is how I would grade us today.

we needed oline help and we needed a rb better than hambrick...we got that.

That summarizes things well. I wouldn't classify these picks as reaches. THe talent level whee we picked was pretty level for quite a while. The Rogers pick may be the best of all, but it certainly was not sexy. Tommorrow will tell the whole tale.

[LaTunaNostra]

Those who want a little more "dark" side, can make a round of the Bills boards, where the consensus threads seemed to be named "Day One Comes to a Merciful Close'". And they went home with Lee Evans today.

They think they got "buffaloed", if not by the Dallas FO, by their own.

[Mavs Man]

Great analysis, Wayne.

[chicago JK]

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Those who want a little more "dark" side, can make a round of the Bills boards, where the consensus threads seemed to be named "Day One Comes to a Merciful Close'". And they went home with Lee Evans today.

They think they got "buffaloed", if not by the Dallas FO, by their own.

Herms,
ESPN had a piece on Losman a few days ago. It was a draft diary and they followed him around to different workouts. I wasn't impressed with him at all. He looks like a kid who has a lot of physical ability but lacking the leadership skills and football smarts. Donahoe, Bills GM, is good, so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Although I just don't see big things from Losman.

[Chocolate Lab]

Yes, very good post, Wayne... I think we did get good value on the trade considering the Bills' likely record next year... We couldn't move around this year or trade for player because we didn't have enough ammo, but next year we will with two first rounders.

And on the picks, I like all of them. I don't know much about Rogers, and a guy nicked up a lot doesn't sound like a Parcells guy, but he was the 3rd best tackle by all accounts and is tall and lean like Parcells prefers.

Jones I like because he's shifty, has cutting ability, and is instinctive... He reminds me of Martin, which isn't a bad thing. He's a super kickoff returner, too.

And I love the Peterman pick -- a guy who is tough, aggressive, plays hurt, and just enjoys mixing it up in the trenches... He's a guy who can play on your line for 10 years and really be a leader.

Overall, not flashy, but very effective. You can't spend all your picks on receivers and corners.