Am I the only one underwhelmed by our draft?

[Alexander]

to answer the question at hand - i'm with you.

when the draft was over, many many many fans crowd "this is what happens when you draft BPA and not need!!!!"

man i got tired of hearing that. i then read someone who replied:

we went in needing an OLB, we drafted one.
we went in needing a 2nd TE, we drafted one.

clearly our 1st two picks then, by defination, are for "need" not BPA. maybe BPA for a given need, but my own "track record" shows i'm mortified (or pick a less offensive word if you'd like) we totally failed to address the OL. (2) 7th round picks is too little, to late. it's gonna cost us.

but after that one person posted the "need, not BPA" that mantra died down. in the end, i think it was an average draft that didn't do much to address needs we clearly have. 3rd string DE before ANY form of OL? made no sense to me. when it was over i was more just glad it was over than pumped up for the season.

in the end, i hope all can play - sure. i hope all turn out fine and play for us for many many years to come. i just think we could have done a better job addressing obvious needs. fasano i'm ready to see play. carpenter? sure - but not really 'thrilled' with it. seems like bp continues to stick close to the vest and takes his "past" all over again.

now - here will come the excuses of no OL there, no "value", not BPA (even though we didn't do it for the 1st 2 rounds AT LEAST - you'll hear that from someone i'm sure) and how time and again excuses will take the place of action.

You keep on about the OL, but I think you are completely overrating the talent at offensive tackle. When the consensus second ranked OT in Justice goes in the second round, what does that tell you? Dallas along with 30 other teams didn't see the value. Max Jean-Gilles went on the second day. Of course, OL was a need. Ireland said so. But we weren't going to trap ourselves and reach. We stuck to our guns and our board. We didn't do that two years ago, we took two OL and neither have played a meaningful snap.

Is that assuming it was the right course of action? No. But you appear like you aren't even making the attempt to understand the reasoning and chalk it up to kool aid drinking and excuse making.

 

[iceberg]

i dont know, i think we needed both and carpenter seems to be pretty close to a sure thing. The good LB's are not easy to find later in the draft.

parcells must think Johnson can improve at center, and he must think between fabini and pettiti one of them will work out. then there is columbo for depth and Kosier as a new face at guard. maybe parcells thinks there is enough potential between these guys to develop a decent line

maybe, and sure - all possible. but again, if we *needed* these players we didn't draft BPA and i've heard how great it was we did that, too. which "fan" do you in the end listen to?

all of 'em. : ) i'll still form my own opinions, i'll still state them and no - it's NOT a goal to be condecending, mean, offensive - but it *is* my goal to talk cowboys. MY opinions (not just "in bill i trust") and learn from others who also have valid opinions and talk about them in a intelligent manner.

so if we go for "need" like we did for the 1st two picks, carpenter is more of a reach at need than fasano given the two TE set we're gonna do more of, but OL was also a huge need. we ignored it.

will it cost us in the end? maybe - maybe not. no one will be "right" about it till the end of the season but you sure get told you're wrong a lot along the way if you "swim upstream".

 

[DLCassidy]

clearly our 1st two picks then, by defination, are for "need" not BPA. maybe BPA for a given need, but my own "track record" shows i'm mortified (or pick a less offensive word if you'd like) we totally failed to address the OL. (2) 7th round picks is too little, to late. it's gonna cost us.

You do the best you can with the draft. Sometimes you need to get lucky to have a great draft that combines value with need. I think we had hoped Darryn Colledge was around at 49. He was a guy we liked because he could play both tackle slots and guard. But we weren't going to trade up to get him and he was not likely to start as a rookie. He would have greatly improved our depth but I think barring injuries Fasano will have a greater impact than Colledge would have this year. I am certain the depth at OL is still a concern for Dallas. But I don't blame the brain trust one bit for not reaching for depth. If we can avoid serious injuries this year we will be fine and IMO we will draft an OL guy early next year. It is what it is. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.

 

[iceberg]

You do the best you can with the draft. Sometimes you need to get lucky to have a great draft that combines value with need. I think we had hoped Darryn Colledge was around at 49. He was a guy we liked because he could play both tackle slots and guard. But we weren't going to trade up to get him and he was not likely to start as a rookie. He would have greatly improved our depth but I think barring injuries Fasano will have a greater impact than Colledge would have this year. I am certain the depth at OL is still a concern for Dallas. But I don't blame the brain trust one bit for not reaching for depth. If we can avoid serious injuries this year we will be fine and IMO we will draft an OL guy early next year. It is what it is. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.

you're right - and i've come to accept it better, hence my lesser disdain for the fasano pick. he *can* help with blocking and if he can be a target/threat - then hey, it can be a good pick despite it not being *my* pick.

not reaching for depth? in the 3rd we took a what, 3rd string DE in hatcher? maybe 2nd? i doubt he'll start. i hope like all of us he turns out but this is one the picks i understood the least.

fingers crossed - hopefully they'll "stud out" and i'll want their jersey one day. : ) maybe i'll put a crow on it just as a reminder.

CAA CAA!

 

[speedkilz88]

Jerry said that there were four players they liked in the first round, and that if Carpenter wouldn't have been there then they would have traded down with the other three. So they had him listed higher than the others. That is not drafting for need, that is BPA.

They also said that in the second they liked Daryn Colledge, but not quite as well as Fasano and what he could do in their two te formations. Colledge was drafted two spots ahead of their pick anyway so they traded down to a few spots and were still able to get thier guy. That is still BPA, their top scout and Jerry said they took the top guy off the board on thier picks thoughout the day and into the second day they continued to say that. They even brought in a FA TE(Hannam) just in case they couldn't get a TE in the first day.

They also have said that they had interest in Paul McQuistan who was taken early in the third by the Raiders, way before their pick came up.

 

[burmafrd]

Bottom line is that there really was not anyone that was going to step up and start this year and maybe not next year either. Justice had all sorts of questions; Colledge got grabbed or we probably would have gotten him. Some people need to get their heads out of the clouds and think that just because they want something it should happen.
We needed another pass rushing OLB. We got him. We needed another good blocking/pass catching TE. We got him. Our needs this off season were O line, OLB, FS, NT. We got all those in FA and the draft. And we got extra people that should help us down the line in other areas (ST- Green, Vandy-ST). We picked up 2 players for the O line. ANd that was about all that was available that was WORTH GETTING. BOTH IN THE DRAFT AND FA.

 

[superpunk]

They even brought in a FA TE(Hannam) just in case they couldn't get a TE in the first day.

That is nice - that they covered all their bases like that - but I thought Hannam would have filled that need just fine. I'd have liked a trade down, but I'm not unhappy with Fasano. Just want some "show-me" first. Plus, Witten's my favorite player, so I want him getting his catches, LOL

jk - just win baby.

 

[burmafrd]

Fasano is much more of a threat as a pass catcher then Hannam is. Hannam is a younger, somewhat better Campbell. That is all.

 

[DLCassidy]

trade down, get picks.

i understand other philosophies - i really do. i understand what was done - but that doesn't mean i'm "thrilled" with it. it seems when you critisize the team you're force fed the "kool aide" and told you're wrong even though the "other side" can't prove they're right.

this is a place to trade opinions to me - not prove i belong on in the NFL scouting teams.

The thing is- none of us really know that much about ANY of the players in the draft. It's not Kool Aid drinking to acknowledge that bright guys like Parcells and Ireland that work really, really hard at talent evaluation can build a solid draft board that incorporates both value and team needs. Normally guys selected in the 1st and 2nd rounds are expected to start right away- we drafted 2 guys that are expected to do so. Since you seem to think you could have done better, who should we have taken on the OL and when would you have taken them?

 

[superpunk]

Fasano is much more of a threat as a pass catcher then Hannam is. Hannam is a younger, somewhat better Campbell. That is all.

And you know this how?

 

[Alexander]

Since you seem to think you could have done better, who should we have taken on the OL and when would you have taken them?

You won't get a straight answer, DL.

 

[MONT17]

I think the Boys draft was solid nothing to get excited about but thats what BP does! They tried to draft OL from the first DAY BP was here... they cant do it!!! let me say that again they cannot draft OL its either a breakdown in Scouting, Management or Coaching but this team CANNOT DRAFT and DEVELOPE young OL!!! So they draft what they know!!!


I dont think much of Carpenter (thanks to the scouting report on NFL.com) or Fasano but its better than watching guys like Jacob Rogers and Peterman! Yeah thats the wrong attitude to take if I was running the team but I'm not so I'm kinda glad (as a fan) they went with what they know!

 

[theogt]

And you know this how?

That's basically what everything I've read states.

 

[Hoov]

maybe, and sure - all possible. but again, if we *needed* these players we didn't draft BPA and i've heard how great it was we did that, too. which "fan" do you in the end listen to?

all of 'em. : ) i'll still form my own opinions, i'll still state them and no - it's NOT a goal to be condecending, mean, offensive - but it *is* my goal to talk cowboys. MY opinions (not just "in bill i trust") and learn from others who also have valid opinions and talk about them in a intelligent manner.

so if we go for "need" like we did for the 1st two picks, carpenter is more of a reach at need than fasano given the two TE set we're gonna do more of, but OL was also a huge need. we ignored it.

will it cost us in the end? maybe - maybe not. no one will be "right" about it till the end of the season but you sure get told you're wrong a lot along the way if you "swim upstream".

since in a 3-4 your LB's are your playmakers, i still think we needed to draft someone to play that OLB spot. LB's are definitely a need in this defense, and i would bet all 4 starters wont play all year. LB's get banged up in a 3-4 more so than in 4-3 so we need all we can get there. i actually think carpenter was more need than fasano.

Now the whole draft for need vs BPA arguement, i think there is always overlap. If there was a great CB at 18 and the cowboys took that player id be real upset. But if you have a few positions that you need upgrade or depth at, then you go by BPA IF he is one of those targeted positions. there is always going to be some overlap....so was carpenter a NEED or a BPA ? i would say we needed another LB and he was best value for the positions we need help at with #18. Fasano i wouldnt say was such a need because of Hannum, but more of a security thing with BP, parcells saw a great player and thought he had good value at that spot and knew that it filled a position he wanted upgrade at. so that would probably be BPA, Hatcher would definitely ahve to fall into the BPA category, Green was a pick like carpenter, we NEEDED an upgrade there and at that round he was BPA compared to the other positions we needed to upgrade. Same with Watkins. But arent you glad we didnt draft a FS with the first or second pick knowing that we got watkins in the 5th ?

Anyway, i am pretty happy with this draft......but if we cant run for a first down when we need to on 3rd and 1 i may change my mind.

 

[burmafrd]

Hannam was described as that by everyone who talked about him. BP pretty much said the same thing.

 

[speedkilz88]

And you know this how?

I really don't think he's going out on a limb on that. The league and the Cowboys scouts project Fasano to be a very good receiver in the nfl while Hannam hasn't done much in that department and is known more for his blocking.

 

[burmafrd]

THERE IS NO O Lineman that we could have got that you could be sure would have started this year. Ferguson was the only one of which that could be said. honestly- outside of Ferguson I don't think there was an O lineman in the draft that could start NEXT year and really do all that well.

 

[Alexander]

THERE IS NO O Lineman that we could have got that you could be sure would have started this year. Ferguson was the only one of which that could be said. honestly- outside of Ferguson I don't think there was an O lineman in the draft that could start NEXT year and really do all that well.

We got burned with the rookie tackle with Petitti, why would we burn the draft choice when we could get two starters in the first two rounds?

 

[superpunk]

Hannam was described as that by everyone who talked about him. BP pretty much said the same thing.

But we haven't seen them both in action. Hannam might not be able to stretch the seams, but he doesn't appear to be pathetic offensively, like Campbell. In any case, I'm glad to have him, and Fasano both. Fasano was just unexpected. And until I actually do see him on the field, that pick is going to be somewhat unjustified, IMO.

 

[Sandyf]

Something for us to remember that being underwhelmed is not a bad thing. Most people have been underwhelmed with New England's and Pittsburgh's draft for years.

We got guys that can and will start in Carpenter and Fasano. Carpenter is the perfect compliment to Ware and truly makes the defense stronger. Fasano will allow Dallas to run basically the same set every down with far more options for Bledsoe giving the defense fits on what personnel to play.

Hatcher is an unknown but most of us have the feeling he will be a force in the rotation with Ellis, Spears and Canty if not also Ratliff.

Skylar will be a starter in terms on returns and we all the how valuable that can and will be.

Stanley and Watkins may prove to the steals of the draft if Stanley can supplant Ferguson and Watkins takes over the FS role.

Yes, we did not get the named guys but we got football players and team guys. It will not surprise many to see the last two drafts go down as the best in team history. Our roster is getting better and younger (yes, I know about the QB and WR spots) and we should see the fruits of the last three years happen this year in a very tough division.

Where onced we prayed just for an 8-8 record, now we can truly dream of the 16-0 season, likely probably not but realistically 11-5 or 12-4 are great possiblities.