Manster68
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2008 Draft Analysis
I love Draft weekend. I especially love it when at the end of the day on Sunday; I am geeked over Dallas’ future. For the third time this decade, this has been one of those weekends. I was excited like this after the 2002 draft, although it was disappointing that Antonio Bryant and Derek Ross didn’t blossom like I had hoped. In 2005, the only disappointment was that Justin Beriault could not stay healthy. Regardless, the 2005 draft I have ranked in my top five along with 1975, 1991, 1964, and 1989.
Will this draft rank among the other top five? I am not holding my breath for that, as there were only six picks. I do think that this draft could put Dallas over the top for the next three to five years. We will have to wait and see.
The biggest needs that prevented Dallas from going to the Super Bowl were addressed in this draft. The running game never really flourished as many Cowboy fans had hoped. Much of this was I attest to Julius Jones not being able to hit a hole and letting the first man tackle him nearly every time. I am very confident that Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will be immediate upgrades over Julius Jones and Tyson Thompson. These two young backs will prevent Barber from wearing down later in the game and later in the season.
Yes, I was disappointed at first when the Cowboys did not select Rashard Mendenhall. After thinking about it for a while, it was a very wise choice. Had Dallas selected Mendenhall:
- I truly believe the Steelers would have taken Jenkins.
- I truly believe the Seahawks or the Texans would have taken F. Jones.
- San Diego still would have taken Antoine Cason.
That would have left Dallas at #28 with the second tier corner in Brandon Flowers. The way it actually happened, the Cowboys got one of the best corners in the draft, along with a dynamic running back who is the perfect compliment to Marion Barber.
Plus, the Cowboys got their tough running back in the 4th round with Tashard Choice. This kid can be special (much like Barber is now).
Sorry for the pun, but DALLAS MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE here!
Pass defense has been another Achilles heel for the Cowboys for quite some time. The pass rush has been upgraded over the past couple of seasons. This should only get better this year as Anthony Spencer enters his sophomore year with the Cowboys.
What needed upgrading for Dallas was the secondary…..and upgrade it did.
The possible addition of Adam Jones, plus Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick is a mega upgrade over former seventh-round picks Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones. Dallas now has THREE FIRST ROUND CORNERS (Pacman pending), a seasoned vet in Henry, and promising second day picks in Alan Ball and Orlando Scandrick. How can a Cowboy fan NOT be geeked about that!?!? The secondary has been addressed!
On Friday, I was some irate over the trade Jerry made giving Ayodele and Fasano to Miami for a 4th round pick. After sleeping over it, I have to believe that for him to make that trade so cheap, there had to be something more to this than what we know. Not only has Ayodele and Fasano underachieved, but also I am guessing that Jerry is sending over to Bill some damaged goods.
The loss of Fasano and Ayodele got addressed with the two remaining picks I have yet to mention.
Martellus Bennett definitely went under my radar. The highlights I saw of him though leads me to believe that it will not take long for this guy to be more productive than his predecessor now wearing aqua. I would love to see this guy get to the status of Antonio Gates in San Diego. That may be asking too much though. I’ll be happy for half.
Erik Walden? I certainly hope he turns into something. At this time, I foresee him making it on the practice squad though. So what? He is a sixth round pick, and that is the time for risk taking anyway.
In closing, not only did the Cowboys acquire five players I think we will be seeing quite a bit from on Sunday, but also the fact that the Cowboys gained a third round pick from Cleveland and a fourth round pick from Detroit next season.
I am very pleased with the way things turned out this weekend.
I love Draft weekend. I especially love it when at the end of the day on Sunday; I am geeked over Dallas’ future. For the third time this decade, this has been one of those weekends. I was excited like this after the 2002 draft, although it was disappointing that Antonio Bryant and Derek Ross didn’t blossom like I had hoped. In 2005, the only disappointment was that Justin Beriault could not stay healthy. Regardless, the 2005 draft I have ranked in my top five along with 1975, 1991, 1964, and 1989.
Will this draft rank among the other top five? I am not holding my breath for that, as there were only six picks. I do think that this draft could put Dallas over the top for the next three to five years. We will have to wait and see.
The biggest needs that prevented Dallas from going to the Super Bowl were addressed in this draft. The running game never really flourished as many Cowboy fans had hoped. Much of this was I attest to Julius Jones not being able to hit a hole and letting the first man tackle him nearly every time. I am very confident that Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will be immediate upgrades over Julius Jones and Tyson Thompson. These two young backs will prevent Barber from wearing down later in the game and later in the season.
Yes, I was disappointed at first when the Cowboys did not select Rashard Mendenhall. After thinking about it for a while, it was a very wise choice. Had Dallas selected Mendenhall:
- I truly believe the Steelers would have taken Jenkins.
- I truly believe the Seahawks or the Texans would have taken F. Jones.
- San Diego still would have taken Antoine Cason.
That would have left Dallas at #28 with the second tier corner in Brandon Flowers. The way it actually happened, the Cowboys got one of the best corners in the draft, along with a dynamic running back who is the perfect compliment to Marion Barber.
Plus, the Cowboys got their tough running back in the 4th round with Tashard Choice. This kid can be special (much like Barber is now).
Sorry for the pun, but DALLAS MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE here!
Pass defense has been another Achilles heel for the Cowboys for quite some time. The pass rush has been upgraded over the past couple of seasons. This should only get better this year as Anthony Spencer enters his sophomore year with the Cowboys.
What needed upgrading for Dallas was the secondary…..and upgrade it did.
The possible addition of Adam Jones, plus Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick is a mega upgrade over former seventh-round picks Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones. Dallas now has THREE FIRST ROUND CORNERS (Pacman pending), a seasoned vet in Henry, and promising second day picks in Alan Ball and Orlando Scandrick. How can a Cowboy fan NOT be geeked about that!?!? The secondary has been addressed!
On Friday, I was some irate over the trade Jerry made giving Ayodele and Fasano to Miami for a 4th round pick. After sleeping over it, I have to believe that for him to make that trade so cheap, there had to be something more to this than what we know. Not only has Ayodele and Fasano underachieved, but also I am guessing that Jerry is sending over to Bill some damaged goods.
The loss of Fasano and Ayodele got addressed with the two remaining picks I have yet to mention.
Martellus Bennett definitely went under my radar. The highlights I saw of him though leads me to believe that it will not take long for this guy to be more productive than his predecessor now wearing aqua. I would love to see this guy get to the status of Antonio Gates in San Diego. That may be asking too much though. I’ll be happy for half.
Erik Walden? I certainly hope he turns into something. At this time, I foresee him making it on the practice squad though. So what? He is a sixth round pick, and that is the time for risk taking anyway.
In closing, not only did the Cowboys acquire five players I think we will be seeing quite a bit from on Sunday, but also the fact that the Cowboys gained a third round pick from Cleveland and a fourth round pick from Detroit next season.
I am very pleased with the way things turned out this weekend.
