Drafted by Cowboys 1st Round Pick - MLB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise St. (19th pick)

[CATCH17]

That's exactly what I think. LVE is going to be a rookie. I'm not sure how fast they expect for him to learn the game......

He has to come in and be a factor on 3rd downs immediately.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Negative Feelings

• Had a mid round grade on him. Many players I would have picked before him, including D.J. Moore and Harold Landry.
• More importantly, how expensive could it have been to trade up two picks and get the best safety in the class?
  
• Bad at shedding blocks (have fun playing Mike buddy).
• Negative medical (likely a smokescreen.)

Positive Feelings

• High upside player. Great measurables and described as "ascending player" by Dane Brugler.
• Addresses major need.
• Seems like a likeable person.
• He isn't Rashaan Evans.
• Not nearly as terrible as the Taco Charlton pick.

C+

P.S. This does not mean Jaylon Smith was a wasted pick. It's called a 4-3 defense because it has 3 linebackers in the formation. There's also this nickel formation called 3-3-5, where you sub out a defensive tackle instead of a linebacker; Jaylon Smith blitzed a lot as an OLB in college, so it'd be nothing new for him.

If you have a midround grade for him how can you not give him an F?

 

[Aven8]

This pick screams we f***** up the jaylon pick.

They did that the minute they made it.

 

[Hennessy_King]

Rod Marinelli is not a fan of blitzing, but he will use it here and there.

And, with a 3 man Nickel DL, bringing Jaylon Smith or anyone else is still only a 4 man pressure.

Your thoughts are all well and good and I hope marinelli is reading ur post. I just dont see us doing it.

 

[Hennessy_King]

I am gonna enjoy looking this thread up later this year.

Did you look up how much we play nickel yet?

 

[speedkilz88]

The seahawks play more 3 LB sets against RPO teams like the eagles and have been very successful. Richard is going to have the Cowboys playing much more like the seahawks.

 

[Verdammung]

If you have a midround grade for him how can you not give him an F?

It's in my post. It feels the biggest need, he's got a ton of potential, and there were legitimate considerations that could have been much worse.

Edit* Looking at the LB position, my guy would have been Josey Jewell, but every time someone bounced that name to Bryan Broaddus, he said he didn't feel the Cowboys were legitimately interested in him. That means for a starting LB in this draft, it was LVE or Evans and I'd rather have LVE.

This is in contrast to last year when Taco Charlton was the pick over T.J. Watt. Watt was clearly a better prospect, but they passed on him because "he didn't put his hand on the ground".

So I suppose the reason it's not an F is because I realize how much more angry I could have been.

 

[links18]

So, he likes Purple Drank?

 

[Bluefin]

Your thoughts are all well and good and I hope marinelli is reading ur post. I just dont see us doing it.

Marinelli already used a 3 DL NIckel here.

He just didn't have a LB with rush ability like Jaylon Smith at the time, will he now?

If Smith is improving physically the way some have indicated, it could be huge.

I'm not counting on it, just hoping for the best.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It's in my post. It feels the biggest need, he's got a ton of potential, and there were legitimate considerations that could have been much worse.

Edit* Looking at the LB position, my guy would have been Josey Jewell, but every time someone bounced that name to Bryan Broaddus, he said he didn't feel the Cowboys were legitimately interested in him. That means for a starting LB in this draft, it was LVE or Evans and I'd rather have LVE.

This is in contrast to last year when Taco Charlton was the pick over T.J. Watt. Watt was clearly a better prospect, but they passed on him because "he didn't put his hand on the ground".

So you had Jewell ranked higher than LVE and Evans?

 

[Hennessy_King]

Marinelli already used a 3 DL NIckel here.

He just didn't have a LB with rush ability like Jaylon Smith at the time, will he now?

If Smith is improving physically the way some have indicated, it could be huge.

I'm not counting on it, just hoping for the best.

He likes to use 3 dl dime zone scheme that gets beat for 30 yards to lose games. I hope for jaylon too I just think it was such a bad pick. I always hope guys prove me wrong. My recent suspect picks on this team that I disliked are byron, jaylon, taco, now LVE. It's amazing we have can't draft defense like we can offensive players.

 

[movaughn88]

So I have been looking around for personal interviews of this kid and the only one I've found is the cheesy dc.com draft dreams one where I almost fall over from awkward setup and questions. Maybe this should go in the media forum but if anyone has any links to him talking like a normal human pls post

 

[Bluefin]

He likes to use 3 dl dime zone scheme that gets beat for 30 yards to lose games. I hope for jaylon too I just think it was such a bad pick. I always hope guys prove me wrong. My recent suspect picks on this team that I disliked are byron, jaylon, taco, now LVE. It's amazing we have can't draft defense like we can offensive players.

I prefer using 4 DL in most passing situations and I don't expect to see much 3 DL formations, but it's nice if it's an option

I didn't want Jaylon Smith in round two, either. The same for Randy Gregory.

But they are here now, so I hope they prove me wrong.

I thought they would really make a push to go up for Derwin James tonight and it doesn't look like they did.

 

[Verdammung]

So you had Jewell ranked higher than LVE and Evans?

Yes, I had a high 2 on him. I thought concerns about his athleticism were overblown and aside from one game were he got eviscerated by Saquon Barkley he had good tape. Like I said though, Broaddus claims there wasn't much interest on the Cowboys part, so I wouldn't expect them to neglect their primary need on the part of player they don't want.

 

[Hennessy_King]

I prefer using 4 DL in most passing situations and I don't expect to see much 3 DL formations, but it's nice if it's an option

I didn't want Jaylon Smith in round two, either. The same for Randy Gregory.

But they are here now, so I hope they prove me wrong.

I thought they would really make a push to go up for Derwin James tonight and it doesn't look like they did.

They showed the war room they never even made a call. We have 2 4ths. Could have tried to put some package together.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yes, I had a high 2 on him. I thought concerns about his athleticism were overblown and aside from one game were he got eviscerated by Saquon Barkley he had good tape. Like I said though, Broaddus claims there wasn't much interest on the Cowboys part, so I wouldn't expect them to neglect their primary need on the part of player they don't want.

I think Jewell can't run but we will see in a few years. I put him in the 4th.

 

[cern]

new lb and d-backs asst. coaches. they'll probably have more input into game planning than their predecessors. (I think Stephen mandated it). so I wouldn't necessarily expect to see the old marinelli defenses as much. time for a few new wrinkles.

 

[Hennessy_King]

I think Jewell can't run but we will see in a few years. I put him in the 4th.

You are correct he cant

 

[Hennessy_King]

new lb and d-backs asst. coaches. they'll probably have more input into game planning than their predecessors. (I think Stephen mandated it). so I wouldn't necessarily expect to see the old marinelli defenses as much. time for a few new wrinkles.

Hate to break it to you. But this picks screams from the mountain tops. Marinelli Tampa 2. The Tampa 2 requires a guy like LVE. It gets me nauseous thinking about marinelli having an input in drafts and that old garbage scheme.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Flat out false

Prospect Grade
6.25
Should Become Instant Starter

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/leighton-vander esch?id=32462018-0002-5602-32a6-0b4e5b5e883e

Read the mock drafts. All of them. Stats don't lie, low lad!