CN:Cowboys Draft 2012: Is Ben Jones the Younger Center Alternative?

[cowboyjoe]

http://www.cowboyszone.com/2012/02/cowboys-draft-2012-ben-jones-younger.html
Posted by Rafael at Thursday, February 09, 2012

The next Cowboys center?
Part one of this week's chat with the National Football Post's Scouting Director Wes Bunting examines the game of Georgia center Ben Jones, a definite Cowboys player of interest. If the team does not pursue a veteran center when the free agent window opens in five weeks, Jones could find his name on the Cowboys' draft short list, perhaps in the 2nd round.



Cowboys Nation: News has filtered out that the Cowboys have major concerns about their center play. They've apparently concluded that the Phil Costa experiment didn't work. The team spoke to Ben Jones at the Senior Bowl. You said he was the best center there. You've given him a 6.8 grade, second on your center board. He's a top 40 player on your board.


Compare him to Penn State's Stefan Wisniewski, who had a similar grade last year.

 

[CCBoy]

I would be well happy to have the pair of Ben Jones and Gordy Glenn both added to the Dallas roster in the 2nd round area if DeCastro were gone by the slot of 14 in the draft. That would mean a trade down, that reaped significant return.

I'm also wishing for a pair of cornerbacks and a prominent nose tackle/defensive end in the top four rounds here...

With Campo and his assistant gone this year, and Newman with both feet and suitecase out the door, it's hot iron time and to forge direction of a new secondary. Throw in Finnegan and Branch during free agency and don't let the swinging gate catch you on the way through...

 

[supercowboy8]

Konz and Jones are the only players I want us to draft for center. If we can get Jones in the 3rd I'm all for it. I would rather get a OG and let killer, asking, and nagy compete for center.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I'm all for Jones at #45

 

[Future]

I hope the Cowboys F.O. doesn't think we can fix this line by simply getting a guard and a center in the 3rd round. I have 0 faith in Arkin/Nagy...and with the cap room we have, and who should be available at #14 (cough decastro cough) I think Nicks/Grubbs and DeCastro are the way to go.

That means that I don't think we'll be looking to go center in the draft, but promote from within. I just think replacing the entire interior of the OLine seems like a stretch, and with the ability to have your guard positions set - with high quality players - for the next 6 years or so at least, you can't pass up that opportunity.

 

[realtick]

I'd prefer a veteran at the center position if possible.

 

[CCBoy]

I'd prefer a veteran at the center position if possible.

And I am projecting that a Gordy Glenn or Brandon Washington well could be a huge and mobile guard in the mold of a Larry Allan or Nate Newton as well. But in the second to third round range.

Myself, I wouldn't have cap room left after getting my trio of free agents to fix the veteran part of the defense.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Not that I'm some Ben Jones expert, but he's the guy I'm kind of hoping for if we don't get a vet C in free agency.

 

[burmafrd]

Konz and Jones are the only players I want us to draft for center. If we can get Jones in the 3rd I'm all for it. I would rather get a OG and let killer, asking, and nagy compete for center.

no on Konz. Too medically risky.

 

[jnday]

I really am starting to like Blake from Baylor at center . Jones has slid down my wish list .