If Cowboys wanted a day 1 starter they didnt get it

[big dog cowboy]

They said all along that that second round pick needed to be a day 1 starter. Thornhill fell right in their laps. He would have started day 1 and solidified this defense and could have made this defense a force THIS year.

That isn't what the draft is about. The draft is about the future. That's the way the Cowboys view it and the way they draft. They can say whatever they want. But their actions always prove that true. Sure it would have been nice to get an immediate starter. But in their long term view of the team McGovern serves them better.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Roy, I think it's obvious they were not as high on upgrading the safety position as we were led to believe. Thornhill AND Rapp both were there at 58 but if reports of the amount of time Marinelli spent with Hill is true, he was their target IMO. Notice the vet free agents we brought in or consider before the draft before ultimately signing SS IIoka. With the exception Earl Thomas, ALL were SS. ET was the only FS we considered. Based on IIoka signing now Woods is the starting FS from my understanding. Other words, are we sure they were as high on Thornhill we many thought. Hell, there were some saying they like Rapp better ( kinda make more sense coz he's more of SS ) but they passed on him too. Garrett even admitted they spent a ton of time with Hill. Just me, but it appears the decision to go with Hill over Thornhill was made out the gate.



This from 247....

The meeting with All-Pro safety Eric Berry proved fruitless, and the Cowboys were not twiddling their thumbs — not that they were fully sold on Berry's health in the first place.

The club went on to meet with George Iloka just three days later, as they continued their efforts to upgrade the safety position. Based on the meetings with Geathers, Berry and now Iloka, it was clear the Cowboys are no longer eyeing a move of Xavier Woods, but instead a replacement for Jeff Heath in the strong role. Iloka immediately resolves that issue, and in a big way, without the need to give up draft assets or a mega-contract in the process. It's a ready-made fix for the Cowboys and he's also a former Boise State player, the school the Cowboys have recently fawned over the past few years, along with being a native of Texas.

His 6'4", 226 lb. frame and proven NFL track record were things Kris Richard couldn't pass up on, and he's now locked into a one-year deal.

If Iokka comes in and starts over heath and Hill is a big part of the rotation and getting major reps by the 2nd half of the season, I will have no issues.

 

[CowboyRoy]

That isn't what the draft is about. The draft is about the future. That's the way the Cowboys view it and the way they draft. They can say whatever they want. But their actions always prove that true. Sure it would have been nice to get an immediate starter. But in their long term view of the team McGovern serves them better.

I completely agree and like the McGovern pick. But they passed on a safety with the first pick that fills both those needs.

 

[CowboyRoy]

You’re right. I liked thornhill but he wouldn’t come in here and start. Hill has a very good chance to. Especially with the uncertainty for suspension with Crawford.

Are you suggesting that Thornhill wouldnt start over Heath? Thats not possible.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Tito and Janet are waiting...meh, never mind: played.

As for the OP's thread, he doesn't know there "won't be any starters" from this draft. Could be 0, 1,2,3,....who the hell knows? Dumb thread.

"Day 1 starter"

I tried to make it idiot proof, but I guess I failed.

 

[Boys122]

They said all along that that second round pick needed to be a day 1 starter. Thornhill fell right in their laps. He would have started day 1 and solidified this defense and could have made this defense a force THIS year. Not to mention finally getting rid of the weakest link on your team and defense in the horrid Heath.

Now Im not a guy that thinks THIS year only. I like longer term goals. But this DT will be a rotation guy this year and will probably take over for Collins next season. He will have to be better than both Collins AND Crawford or really its just a wash. Which is fine, but not when you passed up on a bonafide day one starter in Thornhill at your weakest position.

I agree and I wanted Thornhill bad but they apparently had other ideas for safety and as you know they like our current safeties to so they figured take a position BPA who they thought was McGovern.

 

[Boys122]

I think Donovan Wilson in the rotation will be nice. Will he eventually take the starting position is yet to be seen. Draft for the future coach up players and if they don’t succeed we move forward. It’s a crapshoot

 

[slick325]

Hill will be the best DT on the team before the 2nd week of Training Camp is finished. They had ZERO talent at the position. Thankful that they actually addressed the 3Tech position with someone who genuinely has Day One physical talent.

Had they signed Earl Thomas in free agency, this defense would possibly be top 3 to 5 in the League. But...they didn't want a HOF caliber All Pro at the position I guess. Glad they didn't get any of the ho-hum safeties folks were clamoring for...especially the UVA kid. Thornhill is Byron Jones at FS. Athletic but not a difference maker. Only safety I was remotely interested in was Abram.

 

[starfan1]

No, I agree. DT was a major need. But we drafted a guy with a lot of question marks that many people had as a later round pick instead of a stud safety that everyone agrees would come in day one and start.

The last guy we drafted with question marks turned out to be a good gamble. (Jaylon)I’ll trust the process here I love the kids sparq scores and as Hawkeye correctly identified I think this was indeed the target all along and Thornhill was gonna be option 2

Hope it plays out well . Go cowboys

 

[johneric8]

They said all along that that second round pick needed to be a day 1 starter. Thornhill fell right in their laps. He would have started day 1 and solidified this defense and could have made this defense a force THIS year. Not to mention finally getting rid of the weakest link on your team and defense in the horrid Heath.

Now Im not a guy that thinks THIS year only. I like longer term goals. But this DT will be a rotation guy this year and will probably take over for Collins next season. He will have to be better than both Collins AND Crawford or really its just a wash. Which is fine, but not when you passed up on a bonafide day one starter in Thornhill at your weakest position.

Man, too bad the Cowboys cant borrow your crystal ball!! Not... You're so far off base youve been tagged out. dline was why we lost to the Rams not safety play. Sure the coaching sucked as well, but safety play was not the problem. iLoka was signed and will be great under richard relax.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I agree and I wanted Thornhill bad but they apparently had other ideas for safety and as you know they like our current safeties to so they figured take a position BPA who they thought was McGovern.

LOL......Oh yah, they really like the guys they have now. Thats why they have been trying to replace them in FA and the draft.

 

[Flamma]

In hindsight I would have traded our entire draft including comp picks to move up for one good player. That probably would have worked out better than what we did. I could be, and hope to be proven totally wrong. But that's the mood I'm in after this draft.

 

[CowboyRoy]

The last guy we drafted with question marks turned out to be a good gamble. (Jaylon)I’ll trust the process here I love the kids sparq scores and as Hawkeye correctly identified I think this was indeed the target all along and Thornhill was gonna be option 2

Hope it plays out well . Go cowboys

Jaylon was widely regarded as a top 5 pick without the injury concerns. Comparison is weak.

 

[ghst187]

I think we badly reached for Hill and should’ve taken a S in 2 and Hill in 3 but honestly I didn’t feel like this draft was full of starters at any position. This draft reminds me of 2009 not in that we had a horrid draft but just in terms that the general talent level was terrible.

 

[starfan1]

Jaylon was widely regarded as a top 5 pick without the injury concerns. Comparison is weak.

But he had the injury which makes it gamble. Which makes it a good comparison we’ll just have to disagree a bit. I like the draft . I think they got iloka so they weren’t pushed to have to go safety and I’m not sure Thornhill would have started here anyway at least not right away

Anyway we’ll see how it plays out go cowboys

 

[xwalker]

They said all along that that second round pick needed to be a day 1 starter. Thornhill fell right in their laps. He would have started day 1 and solidified this defense and could have made this defense a force THIS year. Not to mention finally getting rid of the weakest link on your team and defense in the horrid Heath.

Now Im not a guy that thinks THIS year only. I like longer term goals. But this DT will be a rotation guy this year and will probably take over for Collins next season. He will have to be better than both Collins AND Crawford or really its just a wash. Which is fine, but not when you passed up on a bonafide day one starter in Thornhill at your weakest position.

Did you consider David Irving a starter?

Hill be at Irving's level before the season is over.

 

[CowboyRoy]

But he had the injury which makes it gamble. Which makes it a good comparison we’ll just have to disagree a bit. I like the draft . I think they got iloka so they weren’t pushed to have to go safety and I’m not sure Thornhill would have started here anyway at least not right away

Anyway we’ll see how it plays out go cowboys

The gamble part is the only similarity. Now if Hill was rated a top 5 prospect but for the attitude issues, I would have a problem. But people had him as a 4-5 round pick.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Did you consider David Irving a starter?

Hill be at Irving's level before the season is over.

When he played he was the best DT we had. If hill averages close to a sack a game Ill be very happy.

 

[starfan1]

The gamble part is the only similarity. Now if Hill was rated a top 5 prospect but for the attitude issues, I would have a problem. But people had him as a 4-5 round pick.

That’s fair but some people also had him as a 2 and 3rd round value. Perhaps a bit of a reach but it also fills teams biggest need

Now he’s an RKG lol

 

[pansophy]

IM not worried about those issues. Marinelli will straighten that out. But when you pass on a bonafide day one starter at year weakest position, it better be for a guy that is a stud. Mixed reports about Hill. And certainly being a "1 technique" he probably would have been available in the 3rd.

Look, the Cowboys gambled and they lost. Simple as that. It could have been a home run strategy. But by the time the Cowboys picked in the 3rd round all the other safeties were toast.

Guys have wanted Heath gone for a long time. Clearly they believe he fills a gap in the most important part of their scheme, which if everything hinges on that position being effective, we can cover up for. They believe they can cover up for so-so safety play.

Hard to argue with them. Also sounds like some guys fell right before we picked in the 4th.