2010 NFL Draft Primer

Hostile

The Duke
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Well, I've done a dozen mocks and read threads with hundreds of them. It is so easy to love Christmas in April.

I have to tell you this is one of the hardest years ever to project what the Cowboys will do. I think it is the waivers of Flo and Hamlin that make me so confused. Unlike Owens or Pacman they were not clubhouse distractions. Unlike Greg Ellis, the Draft was not over.

I remain convinced that the Cowboys are looking at Interior OL more than they are at OT. I am sorry to the hand wringers who want Jared Gaither, but all evidence points to the fact that the Cowboys do indeed have a lot of faith in Doug Free. Free is more suited to the LT position than his is RT. As someone recently pointed out, he is left handed, quick footed, and has long arms. I've heard he is really concentrating on improving his strength and we've all heard Ware say he will get him ready.

I have believed all off season that Mike Iupati is the guy we most want at #27. I am still on that bandwagon. He is raw. He played at a lesser school, but he is a nasty blocker who has a ceiling so high that he simply cannot be ignored. I actually think he could start over Kosier right now. He is that good.

So at pick #27, I have us looking at Iupati. I believe that Maurkice Pouncey is the #2 option and could be just as good. He can also play Center and that is a huge plus. There are rumblings that Dallas is not completely satisfied with Gurode at Center. Evidence of this exists in the fact that Kosier calls the line plays and Marco Rivera did before him. Usually that is the Center's job. This does not mean they dislike Gurode, just that he could move to Guard at some point if a better option arrives. Is that Pouncey? I don't know but I won't write it off.

If these two players are gone, Dallas will try to trade down, out of the first. Buffalo or someone else may want to get in front of the Vikings to grab Tim Tebow. I personally won't mind this at all. I think this draft is 2nd round rich. I won't be at all upset if we try to do this. If they can't move down I believe the pick at 27 comes down to 3 players in this order.

A. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers

B. Tyson Alualu, DE, California

C. Nate Allen, FS, South Florida


If the Cowboys can trade down to the top of the 2nd round those 3 players above would be joined by this list of potential candidates.

Vladimir Ducasse, OG, UMann
Morgan Burnett, FS, Georgia Tech
Akwasi Owus Ansah, CB/PR/KR, IUP
Dexter McCluster, RB/WR/KR/PR, Ole Miss
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

Finding someone to fill the return duties is as big a chore as any in this draft.

Once day 2 and the 2nd and 3rd rounds roll around there are going to be trade rumblings in Dallas. Perhaps someone looking for a TE like Bennett. Perhaps a deal for Barber or Spears could happen. It is all speculation. I think Dallas would move Bennett without much hesitation. Most likely options would be New England and Cincinnati. 2nd or 3rd rounds are where I think Dallas could add a Draft pick to the crop.

Dallas is going to look hard at ILB in this Draft. In the 3rd round 2 names stick out a lot. Sean Lee of Penn State and Brandon Spikes of Florida. I believe the Cowboys like Lee a little bit more than they do Spikes, but they would take Spikes if he is there and Lee is gone. If both players were gone I think the following list are guys the Cowboys could target.

Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh (especially if Bennett gets moved)
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale
Jason Fox, OT, Miami
Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas

Also don't rule out the Cowboys looking at Marty Gilyard or Jacoby Ford in the 3rd if they have not already nabbed a return guy.

Things are going to get interesting for the Cowboys in round 4. if they don't take Sean Lee or Spikes in the 3rd and Spikes falls to the 4th, I think Dallas will trade up to take him. I could also see them trading down and adding a 5th round pick. So maybe 2 5ths instead of a single 4th. If they hold tight the logical directions for them are OL and FS if they have not already addressed that spot. That is why the waivers of Hamlin and Flo are so troubling.

Marshall Newhouse, OG, TCU
Major Wright, FS, Florida
Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas
Myron Lewis, CB/FS, Vanderbilt
Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama

In the 6th round I have little doubt they want John Conner, FB, Kentucky. They could pass on him if they think he would last to round 7, but I think they'd simply take him and not risk it. I wouldn't be shocked if they moved up to get him. I think Deon Anderson screwed up royal and is as good as gone. Others to look at are Kevin Thomas, CB, USC and Rafael Priest, CB, TCU. Perhaps Eric Olsen C, from Notre Dame. The wildcard could be Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri, but I doubt it because he does not play Special Teams. Blair White, WR, Michigan State might also be a thought.

The 7th round could be about ILB if they do not get Lee of Spikes earlier. Darryl Sharpton of Miami is a possibility. If they miss out on Conner they could ook at FB, maybe Tonga of BYU or Reshawn Jackson of Virginia. I can see them looking for CB depth again with someone like Walter McFadden of Auburn, or Brinkley from Houston as well as the 2 CBs listed int he 6th above and possibly Devin Ross from Arizona or his backfield mate, Cam Nelson a FS.

I'd love to see us have two 2nds and two 3rds in this draft via trades of veterans. I do not expect Jerry to move up in the 1st round unless Rolando McClain falls within reach at say 17. Then I think he would get carpal tunnel
syndrome dialing the phone so fast.

Come on Thursday. You can't get here fast enough to suit me. See you in the Chat room and the Draft Day Zone.
 
Good read Hos! I will be pissed if Thursday comes and goes and we don't make a pick!
 
If we trade out of the 1st to the top of the 2nd, I hope Golden Tate enters the discussion. That would jolt the return game.

Unless Tate is slotted to go in the 1st round.
 
I really like both Nate Allen and Morgan Burnett. What I love about Burnett is he is always around the ball. (not to mention he is an INT machine, something the Cowboys really have lacked)

I think Burnett is less polished than Allen, but I think he will be more of a game impacting safety in the long run.
 
Awesome breakdown Hos.

I think Iupati will be there. Pouncey will go before him, as will a couple other OL ppl don't exactly expect to. I do think we trade Barber and/or Bennet and somehow finagle another second rounder out of the deal.

Iupati, McCluster, AOA, Lee in the first three rounds and we can go home happy
 
Gaede;3354267 said:
Awesome breakdown Hos.

I think Iupati will be there. Pouncey will go before him, as will a couple other OL ppl don't exactly expect to. I do think we trade Barber and/or Bennet and somehow finagle another second rounder out of the deal.

Iupati, McCluster, AOA, Lee in the first three rounds and we can go home happy

I don't draft kick returners in the first three rounds. While a great returner is great to have, I would rather draft a positional player that can do it. Waste way to much value on a returner when you could get a developing positional player. (Safety, DE, DT, Oline, etc) Those are for more valuable in the long run cause they spend a hell of a lot more time on the field.
 
nyc;3354284 said:
I don't draft kick returners in the first three rounds. While a great returner is great to have, I would rather draft a positional player that can do it. Waste way to much value on a returner when you could get a developing positional player. (Safety, DE, DT, Oline, etc) Those are for more valuable in the long run cause they spend a hell of a lot more time on the field.

I think I'd make an exception for McCluster, who I think is a difference maker no matter where he goes or what he does
 
Beautiful job Hos, it's nice to see all our discussion over the last month put into a perfectly thought out post. lol

I was working on some stuff last night and was wishing I would not have deleted some of our PM's.

Why could you have not done this a day sooner! lol
 
I just spent like 5 minutes looking for the "like" button. Must be spending too much time elsewhere.
 
SDogo;3354345 said:
Beautiful job Hos, it's nice to see all our discussion over the last month put into a perfectly thought out post. lol

I was working on some stuff last night and was wishing I would not have deleted some of our PM's.

Why could you have not done this a day sooner! lol
I tried to hint at some things without actually giving too much away. That isn't easy.

:laugh2:
 
Hostile;3354191 said:
I'd love to see us have two 2nds and two 3rds in this draft via trades of veterans.

Curious; would you envision this with or without trading back from our number 1 spot?
 
Joe Rod;3354412 said:
Curious; would you envision this with or without trading back from our number 1 spot?
Trading the 1st for a 2nd and a 3rd.
 
You mention Spears, Barber, and Bennett as possible trade bait but with respect to our running backs wouldn't Choice have more value given his youth and contract, say for a team like Buffalo and a potential reunion with Gailey? Any indication that the team would consider moving Choice or any interest in him from other teams?

Good post.
 
IMO, we are more likley to trade down than up for the exact reasons you pointed out Hos.
 
Sasquatch;3354449 said:
You mention Spears, Barber, and Bennett as possible trade bait but with respect to our running backs wouldn't Choice have more value given his youth and contract, say for a team like Buffalo and a potential reunion with Gailey? Any indication that the team would consider moving Choice or any interest in him from other teams?

Good post.
We won't trade Choice unless the price is amazing. Gailey is a good thought though. If he paid enough, perhaps that could happen.
 
Hostile;3354382 said:
I tried to hint at some things without actually giving too much away. That isn't easy.

:laugh2:

You did a hell of a job because even I had to read it twice and found myself going, "oh yeah!"
 
Hostile;3354191 said:
I remain convinced that the Cowboys are looking at Interior OL more than they are at OT. I am sorry to the hand wringers who want Jared Gaither, but all evidence points to the fact that the Cowboys do indeed have a lot of faith in Doug Free. Free is more suited to the LT position than his is RT. As someone recently pointed out, he is left handed, quick footed, and has long arms. I've heard he is really concentrating on improving his strength and we've all heard Ware say he will get him ready.
I think they like Free alot too, but the Charles Brown stuff wont go away. Mosley tends to nail the Dallas draft every year, and he keeps mentioning this guy.
I have believed all off season that Mike Iupati is the guy we most want at #27. I am still on that bandwagon. He is raw. He played at a lesser school, but he is a nasty blocker who has a ceiling so high that he simply cannot be ignored. I actually think he could start over Kosier right now. He is that good.
I only saw the guy play twice. In the senior bowl, I wasnt overly impressed. I didnt come away thinking the guy was a sure fire starter this year. Not saying he wont be good, but when you have a propensity to hold, coming to Dallas might be the wosrt thing for you because the refs seem so inclined to call our guys for even the most borderline stuff. He needs quite a bit of technique work IMO.

So at pick #27, I have us looking at Iupati. I believe that Maurkice Pouncey is the #2 option and could be just as good. He can also play Center and that is a huge plus.
Pouncey makes more sense to me than Iupati does, because he can play center and guard. If he doesnt start this yr, he's not a wasted pick because he can still be active on game day and be the swing G/C. If Iupati is drafted and doesnt start, he's essentially a waste this yr because he almost assuredly wont be active on game day.

If these two players are gone, Dallas will try to trade down, out of the first. Buffalo or someone else may want to get in front of the Vikings to grab Tim Tebow. I personally won't mind this at all. I think this draft is 2nd round rich. I won't be at all upset if we try to do this. If they can't move down I believe the pick at 27 comes down to 3 players in this order.



A. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers

B. Tyson Alualu, DE, California

C. Nate Allen, FS, South Florida
Mosley seems sure its McCourty or Jared Odrick.

If the Cowboys can trade down to the top of the 2nd round those 3 players above would be joined by this list of potential candidates.

Vladimir Ducasse, OG, UMann
Morgan Burnett, FS, Georgia Tech
Akwasi Owus Ansah, CB/PR/KR, IUP
Dexter McCluster, RB/WR/KR/PR, Ole Miss
Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
I dont see them picking McCluster for reasons stated before (he doesnt have a true position, and he wasnt really a good return guy in college, in fact he was below average at it). I also think the top of the 2nd is awful early for the AOA kid.

Finding someone to fill the return duties is as big a chore as any in this draft.
It would be nice, but it isnt critical.

Once day 2 and the 2nd and 3rd rounds roll around there are going to be trade rumblings in Dallas. Perhaps someone looking for a TE like Bennett. Perhaps a deal for Barber or Spears could happen. It is all speculation. I think Dallas would move Bennett without much hesitation. Most likely options would be New England and Cincinnati. 2nd or 3rd rounds are where I think Dallas could add a Draft pick to the crop.
Maybe, though I still kinda doubt it.

Dallas is going to look hard at ILB in this Draft. In the 3rd round 2 names stick out a lot. Sean Lee of Penn State and Brandon Spikes of Florida. I believe the Cowboys like Lee a little bit more than they do Spikes, but they would take Spikes if he is there and Lee is gone. If both players were gone I think the following list are guys the Cowboys could target.
Have they even showed any interest in Spikes? Havent seen it, and I think he's a guy who could drop like a rock due to his total lack of speed/quickness. I think Lee will be gone well before we pick at the end of round 3.

Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh (especially if Bennett gets moved)
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale
Jason Fox, OT, Miami
Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas
After our experience with LaFleur, I'd think they will be ultra cautious about a guy like Gronkowski. I also dont believe we'll be picking a TE early unless Bennett is traded.

Also don't rule out the Cowboys looking at Marty Gilyard or Jacoby Ford in the 3rd if they have not already nabbed a return guy.
Too early for both IMO.

Things are going to get interesting for the Cowboys in round 4. if they don't take Sean Lee or Spikes in the 3rd and Spikes falls to the 4th, I think Dallas will trade up to take him. I could also see them trading down and adding a 5th round pick. So maybe 2 5ths instead of a single 4th. If they hold tight the logical directions for them are OL and FS if they have not already addressed that spot. That is why the waivers of Hamlin and Flo are so troubling.

Marshall Newhouse, OG, TCU
Major Wright, FS, Florida
Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas
Myron Lewis, CB/FS, Vanderbilt
Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama
Love the Newhouse kid, and not just becauss his uncle played here. Shipley would be an interesting Saturday pick.

In the 6th round I have little doubt they want John Conner, FB, Kentucky. They could pass on him if they think he would last to round 7, but I think they'd simply take him and not risk it. I wouldn't be shocked if they moved up to get him. I think Deon Anderson screwed up royal and is as good as gone. Others to look at are Kevin Thomas, CB, USC and Rafael Priest, CB, TCU. Perhaps Eric Olsen C, from Notre Dame. The wildcard could be Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri, but I doubt it because he does not play Special Teams. Blair White, WR, Michigan State might also be a thought.
Yeah, Connor seems like a very likely target. Although picking another TE and dumping the FB position would be an option too.

I'd love to see us have two 2nds and two 3rds in this draft via trades of veterans. I do not expect Jerry to move up in the 1st round unless Rolando McClain falls within reach at say 17. Then I think he would get carpal tunnel
syndrome dialing the phone so fast.
I think we'll be in a good position if we decide we want to trade down. Several teams that want QB's but dont draft them in the top 10-14 will be willing to move up to the end of round 1 and get one, and that puts us into a nice position. That said, when you trade down you usually get lesser guys. We did that last yr and got very little contribution. This team is really close, I'd think they are putting a premium on finding a couple guys who can fill roles now and help the team this yr, as well as be potential long term solutions.

The other thing almost nobody is talking about is pass rusher. Wade loves those guys, and beyond Ware/Spencer we dont have a proven guy. There's a reason they are kicking around Ellis' name, and probably a reason why Wade was interested enough to be looking at OLB's and noting there's alot of talented guys there in this draft. 4-3 teams keep a number of DE's and usually keep a guy or two who are nickel/dime pass rush type guys. 3-4 teams should have several OLB's. We have a guy coming off an ACL, a special teamer, and a project that the coaches dont seem all that enamored with. I really wouldnt be shocked to see us add another pass rusher early. Especially if they get caught with an early pick, cant trade up/down and a 3-4 OLB is significantly rated higher than other guys still available. That guy would have a role on gamedays, and we know they've been saying reducing Ware's reps on a week to week basis is something they'd like to do.
 
Gaede;3354308 said:
I think I'd make an exception for McCluster, who I think is a difference maker no matter where he goes or what he does

He was a difference maker as a RB in the SEC. He's a project as a WR and he wasnt a very good returner in colege.
 
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