A quick look ahead to the 2nd pick...

[silverbear]

After first noting that as I said in my predraft analysis, Carpenter really did make more sense for the Cowboys in their hunt for an OLB on the other side of DeMarcus Ware... Ware is the pure pass rusher, but on the other side you need more of a "classic" linebacker, one who makes plays versus the run, one who can cover the TE... and one that can offer some pass rush...

Carpenter does all that, while Lawson offered a whole lot of pass potential, but somewhat less in the other areas... I would have been happy with either one of them, but Carpenter was my preference...

Now, what to do in Round Two?? Well, the way the draft is shaping up right now, the two other positions most folks figured they'd target on Day One-- offensive line and free safety-- have several interesting prospects still on the board, 28 picks before the Cowboys' turn comes around:

OFFENSIVE LINE

Winston Justice-- probably not on the board for much longer...
Eric Winston
Charles Spencer
Max Jean-Gilles-- not a good fit for the Boys IMO...
Davin Joseph
Darryn Colledge-- read several reports the last coupla days that he was high on the Cowboys' list...

FREE SAFETY

Jimmy Williams-- like Justice, will probably be claimed in the near future...
Ko Simpson-- another player repeatedly linked to the Boys in recent days...
Daniel Bullocks
Cedric Griffin-- would suit this ol' Longhorns fan, LOL... me might be there in the 3rd round, too...

With running backs like DeAngelo Williams and LenDale White still on the board, and receivers like Chad Jackson and Santonio Holmes, the likelihood of one of the above falling in the Boys' laps seems rather high to me... Colledge and Simpson have been the hot names here lately, either one would fill a need with a fair to middlin' talent...

 

[Arch Stanton]

Colledge or Spencer.

 

[VACowboy]

Can Colledge play guard?

My choice would be Simpson, but he'll prolly be gone before #49.

Carpenter has been my preference for months.

 

[Westcoasthabsfan]

Simpson for sure, will step in and start right away

 

[Displaced Cowboy]

If Jimmy Williams is available at the top of round 2 i start working the phones to move up.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Silverbear........

FIRST ROUND

Manny Lawson* 6-5 240 OLB/DE North Carolina St. 4.55 sec. 40
Kamerion Wimbley* 6-4 250 OLB/DE Florida St. 4.65 sec. 40
Bobby Carpenter* 6-3 250 OLB Ohio St. 4.65 sec. 40
Thomas Howard* 6-3 235 OLB Texas-El Paso 4.45 sec. 40

COMMENTS-- I'm not saying that linebacker is the only position the Cowboys should be targeting here, but if Jerry's being straight with us, and offensive line or safety aren't likely, that leaves wide receiver as the other option, and frankly, I'm not that enthused by the likely first round wideouts. I hate ignoring fine options at DB like Jason Allen, Ko Simpson or Donte Whitner, or quality offensive linemen like Marcus McNeill (though his reported back problems worry me some) and Max Jean-Gilles, but again, I'm taking Jerry at his word.

At the same time, if the Boys do draft somewhere between pick 18 and pick 35, then the four linebackers listed above would all represent good value, and they DO need to bring in more quality linebackers if they wish to make the 3-4 work. Lawson and Wimbley are classic "tweeners", in the mold of DeMarcus Ware. Of course, the Cowboys already have a DeMarcus Ware, and he looks like he's gonna be a good one, but I guess a team can never have enough quality pass rushers.

Personally, I like Carpenter the best at this spot, because he's more of a "classic" linebacker in the traditional sense, and as such would be a nice bookend on the opposite side of the defense from Ware. He has some pass rush skills, too. Howard is also more of a traditional linebacker, but a bit rawer talent than Carpenter. His raw speed is eye-opening, I have a hunch he'd be the type of linebacker who would not need to come off the field on obvious passing downs. Besides, once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I went to UTEP, so I naturally have a fondness for Miners.

PERSONAL PREFERENCE-- Like a lot of Cowboys fans, I'm holding out hope for Bobby Carpenter; if he hadn't gotten hurt late last season, he would probably have been a top 10 pick in this draft. As things stand now, though, the Boys could probably move down to pick 25 or so, and still have a good shot at picking him up.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Davin Joseph is off the Board...Went to Tampa

 

[silverbear]

Silverbear........

FIRST ROUND

Manny Lawson* 6-5 240 OLB/DE North Carolina St. 4.55 sec. 40
Kamerion Wimbley* 6-4 250 OLB/DE Florida St. 4.65 sec. 40
Bobby Carpenter* 6-3 250 OLB Ohio St. 4.65 sec. 40
Thomas Howard* 6-3 235 OLB Texas-El Paso 4.45 sec. 40

COMMENTS-- I'm not saying that linebacker is the only position the Cowboys should be targeting here, but if Jerry's being straight with us, and offensive line or safety aren't likely, that leaves wide receiver as the other option, and frankly, I'm not that enthused by the likely first round wideouts. I hate ignoring fine options at DB like Jason Allen, Ko Simpson or Donte Whitner, or quality offensive linemen like Marcus McNeill (though his reported back problems worry me some) and Max Jean-Gilles, but again, I'm taking Jerry at his word.

At the same time, if the Boys do draft somewhere between pick 18 and pick 35, then the four linebackers listed above would all represent good value, and they DO need to bring in more quality linebackers if they wish to make the 3-4 work. Lawson and Wimbley are classic "tweeners", in the mold of DeMarcus Ware. Of course, the Cowboys already have a DeMarcus Ware, and he looks like he's gonna be a good one, but I guess a team can never have enough quality pass rushers.

Personally, I like Carpenter the best at this spot, because he's more of a "classic" linebacker in the traditional sense, and as such would be a nice bookend on the opposite side of the defense from Ware. He has some pass rush skills, too. Howard is also more of a traditional linebacker, but a bit rawer talent than Carpenter. His raw speed is eye-opening, I have a hunch he'd be the type of linebacker who would not need to come off the field on obvious passing downs. Besides, once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I went to UTEP, so I naturally have a fondness for Miners.

PERSONAL PREFERENCE-- Like a lot of Cowboys fans, I'm holding out hope for Bobby Carpenter; if he hadn't gotten hurt late last season, he would probably have been a top 10 pick in this draft. As things stand now, though, the Boys could probably move down to pick 25 or so, and still have a good shot at picking him up.

I'm on a hot streak-- ONE IN A ROW!!!

 

[VACowboy]

Why am I reading in multiple other threads that Carp will have to move inside? He was a great pass rusher in college and he's no slower, at 85%, than Wimbley. And Wimbey's claim to fame is that he's a speed rusher.

 

[jbsg02]

Why am I reading in multiple other threads that Carp will have to move inside? He was a great pass rusher in college and he's no slower, at 85%, than Wimbley. And Wimbey's claim to fame is that he's a speed rusher.

you are correct. 8 sacks last year. not too shabby for an OLB who wasnt rushing the passer every down

 

[Mr Cowboy]

If the OLB from UTEP is still on the board in the second, do we take him?

You can never have too many good OLB's.

 

[Woods]

One other guy to keep an eye out for is Chris Chester C/Guard in the 2nd.

I remember we worked this guy out and showed interest.

Also, Goss has him ranked number 48.