DC: Same Round & Position Flex, Cowboys Hope Wilson Can Produce Like Hitchens

[Floatyworm]

I am having difficulty comprehending the post-draft ruing over not selecting Jay Ajayi during the first four rounds. He lasted easily into the fifth round. Every team passed him up a minimum of two times each. Heck, Cleveland selected a running back before picking Ajayi. Saying Ajayi would have been a steal in the fourth round is akin to someone stealing apples from a fruit stand with the attached sign: ROTTEN FRUIT/NOT FOR SALE!

Speculation of whether the team would have used a pick on Ajayi after the fourth round? That I can understand. The team would have addressed a problem area of the roster with a mid-round pick and took a chance on the health of a suspect running back afterwards.

This whole Ajayi's knee is shot story is BS. Just like the La'el Collins story that was he was involved a double homicide. There was some confusion about a medical retest @ the combine. He showed up for the re-test. Yet when asked who ordered the test....Officals had no clue who ordered them. So he wasn't tested. Then the story turned he skipped the check up....which was complete BS. And that is why he dropped.

Don't be shocked if he leads Miami in rushing this season. Rumors are already swirling Miami is looking to trade Lamar Miller

 

[DallasEast]

This whole Ajayi's knee is shot story is BS. Just like the La'el Collins story that was he was involved a double homicide. There was some confusion about a medical retest @ the combine. He showed up for the re-test. Yet when asked who ordered the test....Officals had no clue who ordered them. So he wasn't tested. Then the story turned he skipped the check up....which was complete BS. And that is why he dropped.

Don't be shocked if he leads Miami in rushing this season. Rumors are already swirling Miami is looking to trade Lamar Miller

Then it will turn out to be an excellent draft pick by the Dolphins. Undervalued draft picks who perform well in the regular season happen every year throughout the league. However, at the time of the draft, every team valued Ajayi as a fifth or lower prospect because of genuine or totally bogus perception of his knee's condition. That cannot be changed.

So why must Dallas be the atypical choice for extending a fourth round pick for Ajayi? Perhaps because of how fans gauged the team's running back position? Or maybe the gamble, which may have been totally false, wasn't worth enough to the front office to pick Ajayi. Just like every other team. The front office must address every area of the roster and not solely the position which fans are most apprehensive.

Personally, I will be evaluating how well all our picks will perform this season. Teams roll with what they have and not what they do not have. Ajayi's not in the mix. Yet if he had been added to the mix, it is likely Dallas would have picked him after the fourth round like every other team.

 

[speedkilz88]

Broaddus and Brugler talked about this on The Draft Show right before the draft. Broaddus said the the Cowboys had serious concerns about Ajayi's knee and that it was a bone on bone condition. The fact he fell to the fifth round shows that the rest of the league had concerns as well.

Broaddus did think the team would gamble on him in the fourth though. Afterwards he felt that he might have been the pick had he reached their fifth round pick.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If a lot knew it before, they sure forgot it quickly when Hitch was drafted... and it appears that a select few still haven't learned it.

A few? Appears?

 

[Maxmadden]

I think we have seen a change in philosophy with drafting of LB's. We tried to get by for years on retread players who were once serviceable, but I think lately, we have been looking for young guys in the draft with potential. As much as I love Lee and Ro, neither one can be counted on for 16 games. I'm onboard with drafting a LB over Ajai simply because I am tired of picking up LB's at Home Depot. If they really liked Ajai they could have easily traded up and got him. They viewed Wilson as a better player. I think we are set at LB and with a little luck maybe one of the best in the league.

 

[DallasEast]

Broaddus and Brugler talked about this on The Draft Show right before the draft. Broaddus said the the Cowboys had serious concerns about Ajayi's knee and that it was a bone on bone condition. The fact he fell to the fifth round shows that the rest of the league had concerns as well.

Broaddus did think the team would gamble on him in the fourth though. Afterwards he felt that he might have been the pick had he reached their fifth round pick.

I have no evidence to state otherwise but this has been my impression as well. The front office shored up linebacker. Ajayi was the best running back left on the board potentially regardless of his true health condition. I had anticipated him lasting to Dallas' next pick but the Dolphins beat them to it.

 

[Idgit]

If Wilson makes it, it would be the equivalent of lightening striking twice at the same place. I hope it happens, but the chances are slim.

It's the 4th round. The odds aren't great, but I do like the way he plays fwtw.

 

[Floatyworm]

I think we have seen a change in philosophy with drafting of LB's. We tried to get by for years on retread players who were once serviceable, but I think lately, we have been looking for young guys in the draft with potential. As much as I love Lee and Ro, neither one can be counted on for 16 games. I'm onboard with drafting a LB over Ajai simply because I am tired of picking up LB's at Home Depot. If they really liked Ajai they could have easily traded up and got him. They viewed Wilson as a better player. I think we are set at LB and with a little luck maybe one of the best in the league.

You just don't reach for need.....And IMO Wilson was reaching to fill a need. Especially when you have the chance to draft a starter @ RB.

Hopefully I'm wrong and Wilson fills Bruce Carter's shoes.....but I don't see it. Not by running a 4.8 @ the combine.

And then there is this.....off NFL.com

Draft Projection
Round 6 or 7
Bottom Line
Fills the stat sheet, but is missing traits associated with becoming a starting linebacker in the NFL. He is an average athlete with average speed and loses leverage in his run responsibilities. He's a willing chaser and he's around the action, so a move to the WILL outside 'backer spot might make the most sense in order to limit his liability against downhill rushing attacks.

So how many weakside LBers are we gonna carry? Lee, Hitchens, Wilson, Nzeocha, Baggs

 

[BAT]

You just don't reach for need.....And IMO Wilson was reaching to fill a need. Especially when you have the chance to draft a starter @ RB.

Hopefully I'm wrong and Wilson fills Bruce Carter's shoes.....but I don't see it. Not by running a 4.8 @ the combine.

And then there is this.....off NFL.com

Draft Projection
Round 6 or 7
Bottom Line
Fills the stat sheet, but is missing traits associated with becoming a starting linebacker in the NFL. He is an average athlete with average speed and loses leverage in his run responsibilities. He's a willing chaser and he's around the action, so a move to the WILL outside 'backer spot might make the most sense in order to limit his liability against downhill rushing attacks.

So how many weakside LBers are we gonna carry? Lee, Hitchens, Wilson, Nzeocha, Baggs

All these LBs have position flex to play all 3 LB positions, not just WILL. If anything, what happens to the FA LBs that Cowboys signed, that is the more intriguing question to me. Cowboys can't keep them all and it would be wasteful to cut Wilson and Nzeocha, 2 very athletic LBs, so soon.

 

[speedkilz88]

The 40 time is not indicative of the speed Wilson has on the field. His best position is Will for a reason. He's a chase LB and is an explosive hitter. Nzeocha best chance at the roster is likely as a STs ace. Speaking of 40 times he ran a 4.5 coming off a knee injury that wasn't fully rehabbed if going by the standard rehab time. It's been said that he could have ran in the 4.4s if he had more time. Although somewhat raw because of inexperience in football if he shows STs ability he could buy some time.

Marinelli wants LBs that can play multiple positions.

Lee can play all 3 spots at a high level. Will is likely his best position.
Hitchens can play all 3 spots at a high level with Mike his best position. (Sam is probably his worst position due to lack of length)
Wilson can play all 3 spots with Will his best position.
Nzeocha can play both outside spots but is either a STs guy or practice squad guy for now.
Baggs is likely either a Mike or a Sam. But he's just a UDFA trying to get notice at this point.


Here is my depth chart. I think Wilber may not make the team. He's just a poor fit for the 4-3. He is likely battling Nzeocha and Rivers for a 7th spot.


50 6-2 245 Sean Lee . . . . . . . .44 6-0 245 Damien Wilson . . 49 6-2 238 Mark Nzeocha . . . . 46 6-1 237 Donnie Baggs
55 6-4 249 Rolando McClain . 54 6-1 252 Jasper Brinkley .53 6-2 236 Cameron Lawrence
59 6-0 235 Anthony Hitchens 52 6-3 240 Andrew Gachkar 48 6-2 235 Keith Rivers . . . . . . 51 6-4 252 Kyle Wilber

 

[xwalker]

The 40 time is not indicative of the speed Wilson has on the field. His best position is Will for a reason. He's a chase LB and is an explosive hitter. Nzeocha best chance at the roster is likely as a STs ace. Speaking of 40 times he ran a 4.5 coming off a knee injury that wasn't fully rehabbed if going by the standard time. It's been said that he could have ran in the 4.4s if he had more time. Although somewhat raw because of inexperience in football if he shows STs ability he could buy some time.

Did Nz participate in the rookie mini-camp? I'm curious about his knee.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Many people don't realize that Hitchens started over Carter. Hitchens started 11 games including weeks 12-16. Carter was active weeks 12-16 but was not a starter.

Who starts a game is pretty arbitrary. For instance is a nickel/slot cb a starter? Well technically sometimes. Sometimes not. Circumstance.

 

[speedkilz88]

Did Nz participate in the rookie mini-camp? I'm curious about his knee.

He was there but this pic shows him working with bands so that might be just rehab.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You just don't reach for need.....And IMO Wilson was reaching to fill a need. Especially when you have the chance to draft a starter @ RB.

Perhaps the Cowboys felt drafting a RB then was a bigger reach.

Also, there weren't any starting RB's on the board when we drafted Wilson.

 

[CATCH17]

This pick will always be tainted for me. We should have stolen Jay Ajayi in the 4th round. A starting RB. Instead we selected a backup LBer

4th round was way too soon for Ajayis type of talent.

 

[big dog cowboy]

4th round was way too soon for Ajayis type of talent.

32 NFL teams agree with this.

 

[Redball Express]

This team's defense has invested strongly into the linebacker positional group...for this season. They have added both 3 veterans and two drafted linebackers. I would think that the linebacker group will be very tight and aggressive as a group. I also am looking forward to banner seasons for Anthony Hitchens, Sean Lee, and Rolando McClain.

Well..

To me we were rolling the dice from the start with guys coming back from injuries or being out of football for some parts of their carriers.

It's refreshing to see new faces with healthy histories ready to play if the old guard falters again.

And the guys we lost were not worth investing more time into.

I strongly think we have rebuilt the guts of the defense well by the draft and the FA signings.

Let's just stay healthy and see what happens.

 

[Maxmadden]

You just don't reach for need.....And IMO Wilson was reaching to fill a need. Especially when you have the chance to draft a starter @ RB.

Hopefully I'm wrong and Wilson fills Bruce Carter's shoes.....but I don't see it. Not by running a 4.8 @ the combine.

And then there is this.....off NFL.com

Draft Projection
Round 6 or 7
Bottom Line
Fills the stat sheet, but is missing traits associated with becoming a starting linebacker in the NFL. He is an average athlete with average speed and loses leverage in his run responsibilities. He's a willing chaser and he's around the action, so a move to the WILL outside 'backer spot might make the most sense in order to limit his liability against downhill rushing attacks.

So how many weakside LBers are we gonna carry? Lee, Hitchens, Wilson, Nzeocha, Baggs

So, what you are saying is we reached for the wrong position?