Another Way to Look At a Potentially Great Draft

[Chuck 54]

I'll keep this short and get to some interesting facts about our selections, but I have to say that in 1975 the cowboys became famous for the Dirty Dozen (if you don't know what I'm talking about, do some research). I find it interesting and maybe ironic that as we enter our new stadium, we have another dozen selections in a 7 round format...who'd have ever guessed that.

This team had needs everywhere, but mostly for depth and competition. Every player we selected has a chance to make this team because they are workers and used to success.

Maybe you didn't like many of our selections because they weren't "sexy" names you'd become familiar with at the largest programs; more likely because they weren't first or second round selections, and most of us do most of our predraft reading and dreaming about those players. However, for a team that went in looking at selections #51, 69, and 101 for starters, I think you'll be impressed with the types of players we got. These are guys who are used to being the best and won't be intimidated.

#69 Jason Williams, LB...2006-->92 tackles...honorable mention as a Safety before the move to LB; 2007-->All American and All Gateway Conference, 107 tackles, 8 sacks, 16.5 TFL; 2008-->Consensus All American, unanimous All Gateway Conference, tied the all-time NCAA record for forced fumbles in a career with 14 (only 4 others in history, including Terrell Suggs).

#75 Robert Brewster, OL...1st team All MAC

#101 Stephen McGee, QB...as junior led all Big 12 QBs with 899 rushing yards...as senior, played in 6 games but only started 3 (injury), but completed 66%...no actual awards.

#110 Victor Butler, DE/OLB...1st team All-Pac10, Sun Bowl MVP with 11 tackles, 4 sacks, caused fumble and recovery...12 sacks and 21.5 TFL for season.

#120 Brandon Williams, DE/OLB...1st team All Big 12, led league with 13 sacks...a true junior.

#143 DeAngelo Smith, CB...no awards, but as junior had 8 ints to tie for the lead in the entire nation; as senior, led team in pass breakups and had 9.5 yard average on 23 punt returns.

#166 Michael Hamlin, FS...only player in the ACC to post 100 tackles (110) and 6 ints...no actual awards.

#172 David Buehler, K...1st team All PAC 10...54.5% of all kickoffs for touchbacks.

#197 Stephen Hodge, SS...1st team All Mountain West as SS, 81 tackles and 23.8 yard average on kick off returns.

#208 John Phillips, TE...no awards, but played in all 12 games as a freshman TE at UVA; called one of the best all-around TE's.

#227 Mike Mickens, CB...1st team All Big East as Junior with 6 ints....senior year missed 3 full games with injury--still had 70 tackles, 4 ints, 10 pass breakups to lead team in coverage stats...3 career ints for TDs.

#229 Manuel Johnson, WR...having huge senior year before elbow injury...missed 3 full games and still had 42 catches for 714 yards (18 yd avg), 9 tds...called a speed guy who can run by Cbs or take a short pass to the house...probably a slot guy due to size...no awards. Had the 66 yard TD against Texas Tech in Oklahoma's loss.

Dallas had no first round choice; one 2nd rounder in the second half and only 1 3rd rounder, yet somehow turned that into 12 very productive players who have proven themselves on the collegiate level.

These guys are NOT projects...they are all big-time players who either won awards or produced big in top conferences or dominated the lower conferences they were playing in.

These players are used to being leaders and producers and are used to being among the best on the field...no underachievers with gaudy workout numbers here.

Do I wish we'd had two first rounders and three 2nd rounders? Of course, but the Cowboys did a lot with this draft, and I think they brought in some real players who will all bring something to the table.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Hamlin was All-ACC 1st team in '08 (media)
'07 All-ACC 2nd team (AP)

John Phillips was '08 All-ACC 1st team

 

[ChrisCanty99]

How many will make the team? 7, 8?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'm actually quite happy they got Hamlin.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm actually quite happy they got Hamlin.

me too, say what you want about him not being a burner, but you can do just as much damage reading and diagnosing the plays faster than anyone else, and Hamlin does that

unlike his namesake

 

[Hypnotoad]

How many will make the team? 7, 8?

That sounds about reasonable... They wanted to churn 20% of the roster, so that's 11 guys. In the press conference they also said somewhere around 6-8 undrafted free agents.

 

[Brooksey]

I like the draft, we built defense and special teams big time and we also picked up a qb, receiver and TE. I like all of these picks. If our scouts thought Unger and Duke robinson were that good, we would have had them. There was a couple of safeties early that we liked but they were taken when our turn came, so be it. This was a very Solid draft, I love the Special teams/Defensive moves.

 

[Bigdog]

I think I read where all of these individuals have a very strong work ethic and want to be teh best at their position. If I remember straight, Bulter gave O-line from USC fits when they played them. I think Mr. Sanchez remember his name alot becasue he was under constant pressure.

 

[Angus]

Another good post. Thanks.

 

[Bluefin]

I'm not happy about our decision to vacate the second round.

If it got down to only liking Max Unger, we should've bitten the bullet and moved up to get him instead of risking someone else would.

But I love Jason Williams, he has a great opportunity to be everything Kevin Burnett was supposed to be.

Robert Brewster? Time will tell.

And I like how we targeted character players who love the game and have ability on special teams.

Hopefully, our third phase will really turn the corner when it comes to covering kicks.

 

[Chuck 54]

Hamlin was All-ACC 1st team in '08 (media)
'07 All-ACC 2nd team (AP)

John Phillips was '08 All-ACC 1st team

Nice additions...I didn't find those. These are good, solid players.

To answer another poster's question, who knows how many will make the team...maybe 7 or 8; maybe all of them. None of them were taken at a position where the starters and depth are already entrenched...they'll all battle to at least be a backup player, but most of those defenders have the looks of guys who were chosen with a role in mind.

I could see J. Williams being the #3 guy at ILB and starting in the nickle.
I could see Brewster making the team as a swing guy at OT/OG and pushing someone else off the roster.
I could see McGee making the team as our #3 QB to run the wildcat formation, or he could be cut and he or someone else would end up on PS.
Butler will be DWare's backup and will get on the field as a pass rusher, imo.
Williams will be Spencer's backup and may see time as well...some of our other backup LB's could easily be gone.
Smith and Mickens could both make it as CB's or they may battle for one spot.
Hamlin gets to battle to back up our other Hamlin (could be end of Watkins).
HOdge gets to battle with Sensabaugh and at least back up SS.
Phillips beats out Hannah for 3rd TE.
Johnson has the speed to beat out one of the bottom WRs to backup the slot.

They all have a chance, and if they make it, it will mean the end of someone else like Rogers or Polk at LB or Stanback at WR....It's going to be a battle, and it's going to be fun.

 

[CF74]

Based on your analysis I feel relieved even more and it sure seems like somebody did some homework on these selections. Good stuff...

 

[Chuck 54]

I'm not happy about our decision to vacate the second round.

If it got down to only liking Max Unger, we should've bitten the bullet and moved up to get him instead of risking someone else would.

But I love Jason Williams, he has a great opportunity to be everything Kevin Burnett was supposed to be.

Robert Brewster? Time will tell.

And I like how we targeted character players who love the game and have ability on special teams.

Hopefully, our third phase will really turn the corner when it comes to covering kicks.

From what's been said, I don't think we ever considered taking an OLman at #51...the word was we liked some safeties and WR's, but the last 2 guys we would have taken both went in the 3 picks before us.

If that's the truth, then we were looking at McBath the S and Massaquel the WR. Unger was selected between them...to me that's the only reason you'd say that the final 2 guys were taken in the 3 picks before you.

 

[TNCowboy]

The Cowboys reached for a bunch of projects. More than likely, this draft will turn out to be a disaster. No matter how many All-MAC players were selected.

 

[CF74]

All-MAC players.

Is this one of those I hate this draft because my college fav's were passed up?

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

How many will make the team? 7, 8?

The scary answer is: Most of them. Why? Because Jerra will want it known that most of his picks (or by proxy) stuck and will be productive. And then we can all call him a "football guy."

THAT is the other scary thing about Jerra. He wants "his" picks to succeed no matter how it affects the team.

 

[Hoofbite]

#172 David Buehler, K...1st team All PAC 10...54.5% of all kickoffs for touchbacks.

NFL.com

Still, it is his strong kicking leg that he will make his professional living. He holds the distinction of being the only the second kicker in school history to score at least 100 points (2007) in a season, joining Ryan Killeen (122 in 2003, 112 in 2004). Buehler's kickoff abilities are also quite special. On 180 kickoffs, 105 of them (58.3 percent) have pinned opponents within the 20-yard line, with 69 resulting in touchbacks (38.3 percent).

 

[CF74]

The scary answer is: Most of them. Why? Because Jerra will want it known that most of his picks (or by proxy) stuck and will be productive. And then we can all call him a "football guy."

THAT is the other scary thing about Jerra. He wants "his" picks to succeed no matter how it affects the team.

 

[tyke1doe]

#229 Manuel Johnson, WR...having huge senior year before elbow injury...missed 3 full games and still had 42 catches for 714 yards (18 yd avg), 9 tds...called a speed guy who can run by Cbs or take a short pass to the house...probably a slot guy due to size...no awards. Had the 66 yard TD against Texas Tech in Oklahoma's loss.

Was that the game from last year. Oklahoma won that game, and it wasn't even close.

 

[Future]

However, for a team that went in looking at selections #51, 69, and 101 for starters, I think you'll be impressed with the types of players we got. These are guys who are used to being the best and won't be intimidated.

That is the only thing I'm going to hang my hat on when it comes to this draft class.