Aaron Donald is who this board wants?

[SportsGuru80]

I hope they go best player available...

 

[kramskoi]

Here's my issue: if we let Hatcher go and draft Donald, will this defense really be that much improved?

They're ignoring the importance of safety once again and the rest of the DL is a huge question mark.

Well the defense surely won't be improved by merely adding a safety, no matter how good he is. Marinelli's defense relies on copious amounts of pressure from the front four. If the d-line can't pressure then safety does not solve that issue. Sure the Cowboys have not had a real one since Woodson but the defensive line should be THE area the Cowboys are MOST concerned with right now. To retain Hatcher would be silly, given his cost, age and the tendency of players to relax a bit once the contract season is over.

Dallas has to rebuild the d-line in much the same way they did the o-line, and that does not happen in just one draft. They not only need quality but also depth. Another year of defense like last year will cost Garrett and likely Marinelli their jobs.

 

[kramskoi]

I like Donald however for the Cowboys to maximise his potential we’ll need to have the right pieces in place on the DL.

Here’s a good article on how three technique players faired with the correct (or otherwise) pieces in place.

http://www.cowboyszone.com/2014/02/cowboys-2014-draft-would-aaron-donald.html

If we don’t get at least one of (Ware, Spencer) back and playing well and manage to land a better one technique that Hayden, I feel we won’t get what we should expect from Donald.

If we pick Donald then well need to add quality pieces to the DL pretty sharpish.

I don't think that Dallas can wait around until Ware and Hayden are replaced to get an undertackle, the most disruptive feature of a proper Tampa-2 variant. Donald meets virtually every metric that Dallas needs at the 3-tech position. Maybe he won't be there for them when they pick but to pass that guy up would be absolute heresy of the highest order. If he's not there then you go best available or Pryor at safety. In any event, Dallas will be hamstrung in FA, although the latest cap revision might help...I absolutely agree that they should add a beast 1-tech "much" more capable than Hayden, who is just keeping the seat warm until the big upgrade the Cowboys need to make the line a strength, not a weakness. I will say again that Dallas also needs quality depth, especially at DT if they are going to run Marinelli's Tampa variant. As the line goes so does the defense in his scheme. We all know this first-hand after the past season.

 

[kramskoi]

I've read everywhere that Donald is a good fit for Marinelli's defense. Rumor has it that the cap is supposed to balloon up to $130+ million. Here's the scenario. Jerry is somehow able to re-sign Hatcher. We're on the clock. Donald and Prior are there for the taking. Does Jerry:

• Draft Donald anyway and pair him up with Hatcher to shore up up our front 7 or...
• Draft Prior and shore up our porous secondary?

Well you can't actually pair him up with Hatcher per se because he is too light to play 1-tech, so then Pryor makes more sense, and hope that Hatcher's last season wasn't some sort of hyper-aberration. I don't like what I saw from him down the stretch, even though he was injured...he sort of went away after he got hurt. The big negative is of course his age and the Cowboys can ill afford another high priced, ever-hobbling veteran eating up cap space. There is only so much you can do with restructuring, which is really borrowing against the team's future anyway. The secondary, although hamstrung at safety, really got roasted without good pressure up front. Personally, I would welcome a stud at free safety, as the Cowboys have neglected that position for over ten years now. Woodson was a highly-versatile, smart and savvy player who they still miss.

 

[kristie]

i mentioned aaron donald in my newest podcast:

https://soundcloud.com/kristie-wilson-1/possible-draft-needs-for-the

 

[TheSport78]

Well the defense surely won't be improved by merely adding a safety, no matter how good he is. Marinelli's defense relies on copious amounts of pressure from the front four. If the d-line can't pressure then safety does not solve that issue. Sure the Cowboys have not had a real one since Woodson but the defensive line should be THE area the Cowboys are MOST concerned with right now. To retain Hatcher would be silly, given his cost, age and the tendency of players to relax a bit once the contract season is over.

Dallas has to rebuild the d-line in much the same way they did the o-line, and that does not happen in just one draft. They not only need quality but also depth. Another year of defense like last year will cost Garrett and likely Marinelli their jobs.

I'm with you on not re-signing Hatcher, but there are so many other question marks.

1. Will Ware accept a pay cut and will his play and durability continue to decline?

2. Do the Cowboys have Crawford pegged is their 1 technique? A player who's coming off of a torn Achilles' tendon?

3. Who plays the other end spot? The street free agent the Cowboys picked up last year, who's also coming off of shoulder surgery?

Ugh, the whole thing's a mess.

The problem that I have with the Cowboys and their evaluation of the safety position is that Church is already entrenched as a starter. This is a big mistake. Smart organizations are better evaluators of their own talent and Church is a replaceable player. The Cowboys probably view him as a valued commodity.

 

[Bullflop]

Aaron Donald would seem to me to be the best we might do at pick #16. Other than that, I think McClay and the rest of our scouts and staff will get their stuff together this time around and get a good handle on what's best. Hopefully, they're on the same page.

 

[Doomsday101]

I've said all along I want a OL early and late the rest all D all the time. My only concern is WR because there will be a hole to fill when Austin leaves. We need someone we can count on if Dez or Twill gets dinged. The Bease and Harris make me nervous as starters even part time. FA addition perhaps.

I feel more comfortable today with Harris and Beasley than heading into last season. While a WR would be nice I am content on what we have.

 

[tyke1doe]

Whoa... who's the new avi, my man?

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I'd rather Magneto then- if we're going in that direction...

Well........if we're playing that game, I'll take the Hulk

 

[TwoDeep3]

Yahoo has a mock draft out and Dallas takes a cornerback in the first round. Donald falls to the end of the first round.

Yahoo, when you absolutely, positively need it to be wrong.

 

[Rockport]

Just looking for the consensus of who this board wants to draft. Aaron Donald seems to fall to us in most of the mock drafts.

There's a great chance Donald won't be there at 16.

 

[Lonestar94]

There's a great chance Donald won't be there at 16.

Are you suggesting we draft a running back or tight end? How about Carlos Hyde or Eric Ebron?

 

[Rockport]

Are you suggesting we draft a running back or tight end? How about Carlos Hyde or Eric Ebron?

Hmmm. Just wondering how anyone would conclude that from my post. I'm all for drafting either the DL or OL in the first 2-3 rounds.

 

[BaybeeJay]

Would you want Donald if it meant having to trade to 13 to take him?
(Trade ahead of the Bears)

 

[CyberB0b]

Would you want Donald if it meant having to trade to 13 to take him?
(Trade ahead of the Bears)

No.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Would you want Donald if it meant having to trade to 13 to take him?
(Trade ahead of the Bears)

no

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Clowney
Robinson
Mack
Matthews
Barr
Lewan
Donald
Watkins
Evans
Martin
Jernigan
Ealy
Mosely
Pryor
Dennard
Clinton Dix