WHY LVE? Someone please convince me!

[Sydla]

Oh, I'm absolutely with you there. My dream mock:

1. Vita Vea DT
2. Braden Smith / Austen Corbett OG
3. Anthony Miller WR
4. Genard Avery and Tegray Scales LB (the Cowboys have two picks in the fourth)
5. Akrum Wadley RB
6. PJ Hall DT, Dimitri Flowers FB, Tre Flowers S (3 in the 6th)
7. Daurice Fountain WR (maybe)

So, like I said, I'm absolutely with you. But if they have to take a linebacker at 19, Rashaan Evans over LVE...even if that's still a bit of reach, I don't care, because we all know neither will be there in the second round at 50.

I was just thinking about posting the same thing I had............

1) Vea
2) Smith
3) St. Brown
4) Kiser
4) Jewell

 

[McKDaddy]

Oh, I'm absolutely with you there. My dream mock:

1. Vita Vea DT
2. Braden Smith / Austen Corbett OG
3. Anthony Miller WR
4. Genard Avery and Tegray Scales LB (the Cowboys have two picks in the fourth)
5. Akrum Wadley RB
6. PJ Hall DT, Dimitri Flowers FB, Tre Flowers S (3 in the 6th)
7. Daurice Fountain WR (maybe)

So, like I said, I'm absolutely with you. But if they have to take a linebacker at 19, Rashaan Evans over LVE...even if that's still a bit of reach, I don't care, because we all know neither will be there in the second round at 50.

Ohhh, I like those first 3!!! Really haven't studied the rest that much so can't say either way.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

He’s excellent in pass coverage.

 

[MonsterD]

I seriously think having Sean Lee is the key here. Most of the time I scoff at the suggestions about an old vet coaching a rookie, i.e. Romo/Dak, but Lee will be a coach in the NFL after he retires and he actually will be able to coach LVE up. I have no fear in drafting him.

 

[Chuck 54]

Furthermore, the guy has clearly struggled getting off of blocks.

If he put up those stats and won that conference recognition while struggling to get off blocks, just imagine what he'll be when he learns to get off them! I'm all in on LVE if the pick is LB. I think he can play inside in the 4-3, and I think he's ready to be Lee's backup on day 1.

 

[jujoboys]

Oh, I'm absolutely with you there. My dream mock:

1. Vita Vea DT
2. Braden Smith / Austen Corbett OG
3. Anthony Miller WR
4. Genard Avery and Tegray Scales LB (the Cowboys have two picks in the fourth)
5. Akrum Wadley RB
6. PJ Hall DT, Dimitri Flowers FB, Tre Flowers S (3 in the 6th)
7. Daurice Fountain WR (maybe)

So, like I said, I'm absolutely with you. But if they have to take a linebacker at 19, Rashaan Evans over LVE...even if that's still a bit of reach, I don't care, because we all know neither will be there in the second round at 50.

I would be dancing in the streets if that was our draft haul.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

JPP in USF. He had one good year and was a traits and body player that draft scouts loved.
He was not as good as his fellow DE at USF in George Selvie until his last season.

I would say he went on to have a decent NFL Career so far.

Ezekiel Ansah did not put up big college numbers until his last season, that combined with his althletic ability and body got him drafted.
He started out slowly but has come on well.

Jordy Nelson did not really become a big WR until his last season at Kansas St...his NFL career turned out pretty well.



Now that is just a few.

But Just because a player has one good season prior to being drafted it does not mean he will be a bust.

Hell Most people love DaRon Payne from Alabama and he pretty much vaulted to the first round (if he goes there) on two games at the end of the season.

 

[Typhus]

Are you confusing Evans with someone else? Maybe Edmunds, the LB from Virginia Tech?

Because there's a decent chance Evans will be there at 19.

Not in my book, and my book could be a bad read,,, I will man up,, tag this post, lets see after the draft, but I just don't see Smith, Evans even getting close.

 

[Verdammung]

Personally, I wouldn't take either at 19. For comparison's sake, I prefer LVE over Evans.

You're right about the block shedding; it's LVE weakness and Evans strength.

In my opinion, you're wrong to dismiss Evans's coverage issues as simply being "he wasn't asked to do that". I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert on coverage ability, but from my eye he consistently struggled with it.

LVE has a higher ceiling; he tested well and improved as he got more playing time. Evans put up mediocre numbers at the combine, and refused to run the 40 yard dash, even when healthy.

Probably the main reason I don't like Evans? He's from Alabama, and I'm not talking about school prejudice. I like to know that a player can be "the guy" and Alabama's defense is so loaded with talent that I don't know if Evans is that. Evans had to make 6 tackles per game; LVE had to make 10 per game.

 

[McKDaddy]

Is it the elite athleticism? Or the otherworldly stats he put up in his one year of starting?

Whatever the reason, all those reasons are reasons I see as buyer beware. He used his athleticism, not technique, to garner all those stats. And in my experience of watching football tells me you never take that guy in the first round because he is going to have to learn to not rely so much on his athleticism.

Furthermore, the guy has clearly struggled getting off of blocks. If he is to be our new Middle Linebacker, that is something he will encounter on almost every play. I have no questions on his ability to get from sideline to sideline and I will grant you he probably adds something in coverage, which will certainly be useful. But if he can't get off NFL blocks (when he struggled to do so against questionable competition), then he, in my opinion, has the highest bust potential of anyone currently being linked to the Cowboys.

Meanwhile, Rashaan Evans has exhibited the ability to get off blocks and explodes to the ball carrier. I suspect his stats are not all that impressive because he has been sharing a field with several other players slotted to go in the first two days (Minkah Fitzpatrick and Daron Payne, for example). He faced better competition and played with better competition to get to the ball. Between he and LVE, he is by far the most pro ready. So why is LVE being viewed as the better option over Rashaan? Can anyone make a logical argument that makes sense to take LVE over Rashaan?

No, you nailed it. There is no logical argument other than the hope that he becomes what his athleticism suggests he could be. Everyone likes to pick a diamond in the rough & see it pay off. And he certainly could become that kind of player with a few years experience. What folks don't keep in mind is that you go broke quick picking athletes over football players. Especially with your premium picks.

 

[McKDaddy]

Floor and ceiling.

And Evans is probably a two down player while they are LVE as never coming off the field

Don't understand. Our primary immediate need is a MLB. Lee & Smith supposedly aren't coming off the field as Will & Sam. So, a two down player is exactly what we are looking for. Which is why I am fine with getting a MLB later in the draft. Now, if you are talking about getting a player who can be MLB with ability to be a backup or future starter at the other LB spots, then I can see a higher draft priority.

 

[McKDaddy]

JPP in USF. He had one good year and was a traits and body player that draft scouts loved.
He was not as good as his fellow DE at USF in George Selvie until his last season.

I would say he went on to have a decent NFL Career so far.

Ezekiel Ansah did not put up big college numbers until his last season, that combined with his althletic ability and body got him drafted.
He started out slowly but has come on well.

Jordy Nelson did not really become a big WR until his last season at Kansas St...his NFL career turned out pretty well.



Now that is just a few.

But Just because a player has one good season prior to being drafted it does not mean he will be a bust.

Hell Most people love DaRon Payne from Alabama and he pretty much vaulted to the first round (if he goes there) on two games at the end of the season.

Certainly, there are always exceptions but its perilous to disregard the rule. As for Payne, even if you say the CFP games were his only real production they were still crazy good against the best of the best. That goes a long way for me.

 

[bayeslife]

He’s a prototype 3 down linebacker with very good coverage skills already and a high ceiling. He’s a better prospect than Evans who is also an option at that spot yet everyone drools over him.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Not in my book, and my book could be a bad read,,, I will man up,, tag this post, lets see after the draft, but I just don't see Smith, Evans even getting close.

I would go as far as to say that it would be very surprising if Evans isn't there at 19.

 

[CATCH17]

Hmmm. Interesting argument. I've seen this before.

Let's flesh it out, shall we?

People call Rashaan Evans more of a two-down player because he excels against the run and wasn't used as much in coverage at Alabama. Therein is the conclusion I suspect many have leaped to regarding Rashaan; he wasn't used in that capacity therefore he must not be very good at it. Sound about right?

Meanwhile, LVE put up stupid stats both against the run and showed flashes in coverage. Here's the problem: he did all of that exclusively using his elite (especially compared to that level of competition) athleticism. In the pro's, his athleticism while still on par, will not get him very far if he can't get off blocks. As a MLB, he will be next to useless if he can't get off blocks.

So while his ceiling as result of his athleticism may be higher, the leap many fans are asking him to make is truly unreal. If he can't get off blocks against his current level of competition, how in the heck do you expect him to do it in the pro's?

As many times as we Cowboys fans in particular have seen this story play out, it truly boggles my mind that there are actual people whose opinion I respect are actually hoping for this guy at 19. Our teams history is littered with players who were more athlete than football player and were out of the league within 3 years of being drafted...and we want this guy at 19?

I want defense over everything, but I'd rather have Ridley than LVE if for no other reason at least with Ridley we will get some immediate returns on our investment. I'm not seeing it with LVE.

He's 6'4 or 6'5 and he's 255 pounds.. I'll take my chances on him getting better at shedding blocks.

 

[Sydla]

He's 6'4 or 6'5 and he's 255 pounds.. I'll take my chances on him getting better at shedding blocks.

I don't know. If I am looking for a MLB, I think I'd rather take the kid who also has some athleticism and has shown he can get off blocks than the guy who hasn't but just runs faster.

 

[CATCH17]

Sutton will be the pick at 19 with Ridley already gone, and Jerry having a hypertension attack thinking about no Dez,,,,,,
Not really just bustin your balls, but either pick would be like sucking cow manure through a straw.

NFL network said last night that Ridley is not the #1 WR on the Cowboys board.

It's probably DJ Moore but who knows. I don't get the DJ Moore hype.

 

[CATCH17]

I don't know. If I am looking for a MLB, I think I'd rather take the kid who also has some athleticism and has shown he can get off blocks than the guy who hasn't but just runs faster.

You want the best player today... That's not what the draft is about.

I envision Rashaad Evans being a good ho hum solid player.

I envision Vander Esch being more then that.

If he somehow busts then fine. But i'm swinging for the fences with the 19th pick. We've seen this player be productive and all signs point to him not even scratching the surface of his potential.

 

[Sydla]

You want the best player today... That's not what the draft is about.

I envision Rashaad Evans being a good ho hum solid player.

I envision Vander Esch being more then that.

No, I think it's shortsighted to simply suggest Evans is a guy who is what he is and that he can't get better.

That's the excuse people give when they love the toolsy guy who has issues. That he's the long term play over another pick.

I reject that notion with Evans that he has this low ceiling.

 

[reddyuta]

Why roquan Smith? That guy cannot get off blocks at all.