Dallas' failure to draft well is coming back to bite them

[TheFinisher]

Dallas made the decision to switch to a 4-3 defense in 2013. Here we are, 4 off seasons later and we are still devoid of talent across the defensive line.

The best pass rusher on the roster, Lawrence, surged towards the end of the season but he had back surgery this off season to repair a herniated disc, and that should be a concern. Tyrone Crawford registered 3 career sacks before cashing in to the tune of 5 years 45 million dollars, putting him as the 7th highest paid interior lineman in all of football. This was a mistake IMO and he will never live up to that contract because although his athleticism is useful inside, he gets absolutely bullied in the run game and exposes us. And as nice as 5 sacks from a DT is, that's not anywhere close to justifying a lucrative contract for a one trick pony.

randy Gregory's issues are well documented and he leaves us all questioning if we can even count on him, let alone if he can produce in we 2 after a 0 sack rookie campaign.

The ineptitude of this FO to properly build a DL capable of allowing this scheme to work is going to force their hand in drafting for need, and when you're forced to do that with a top 5 pick it's an absolute tragedy because you're not allowed to select the best player which is the course of direction you should be going with that type of pick.

 

[reddyuta]

I will further and add that we will never have a good defense as long as Marinelli is the coach.Teams go at our smaller DTs at will and we cannot stop anybody when teams decide to run against us.look at the giants, they have Harrison and Hankins at DT and they have close to 100 pounds on our DTs.

 

[WillieBeamen]

I agree with OP, but I was told here that we have drafted better since Jerry wasnt in charge of the draft anymore

 

[texbumthelife]

I feel like the Cowboys have dedicated themselves to this idea of ignoring the big names in the draft and instead trying to outsmart everyone--generally resulting in them outsmarting themselves.

 

[MikeT22]

I agree with OP, but I was told here that we have drafted better since Jerry wasnt in charge of the draft anymore

Better is relevant.

 

[Alexander]

I agree with OP, but I was told here that we have drafted better since Jerry wasnt in charge of the draft anymore

It just seems that way since Jerry Jones isn't trading away first round choices for Joey Galloway and Roy Williams anymore.

We have hit on first rounders, but those are supposed to be the easier to hit on.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think we have been reeling from the Rob Ryan years. It was a completely different switch from man press coverage to trying to do more zone with options to press or play off.

I think Crawford was a great pick. Problem for him is he can't tackle and he got hurt this year. But for a 3rd round pick to play like he did in 2014 and even to play like he did in 2015 basically on 1 arm is a great pick. Depends on how well he recovers (and if he ever learns how to tackle, watch out). Lawrence came along nicely, but I agree, his back should be a concern.

Hitchens was a really nice pickup for us. But, Lee was healthy for this year and Hitchens really isn't a MIKE linebacker. More issues along the lines of corner (bad draft with Claiborne and spent too much on Carr) and the safeties haven't worked out (Wilcox looks like a bust and Church was a Rob Ryan guy).

Offensively, we have drafted well. Murray was a great pick. Romo was a UDFA, Dez was a great pick, so was Beasley (UDFA). Witten was a great pick. Considering we spent a 4th rounder on Free and he's been a starter for a while...that's a good pick. Same with Leary as a UDFA. Then you have Tyron, Collins, Fred and Martin.

I think the draft philosophies on offense have worked. I think the draft philosophies on defense have not worked. We've done the more read-n-react 3-4 under Parcells. We've done the more gap shooting 3-4 under Wade. And we've done the 4-3. So scheme wise we've covered our bases and nothing has worked. Instead, I think we need to look at things differently from a philosophical standpoint on defense. We need to examine what types of players we have been looking for and determine the alternative to those personnel decisions and try to move in that direction.

I think the big thing is we have undervalued the safety position or too long and overvalued the 'cover corner' for too long as well. I think you can spend more money on quality safeties (and get better coaching at the safety position) and spend less money on corners and find more zone corners and value corners that can man and zone instead of corners that are really great at one or the other and paying thru the nose for them.





YR

 

[Yakuza Rich]

It just seems that way since Jerry Jones isn't trading away first round choices for Joey Galloway and Roy Williams anymore.

We have hit on first rounders, but those are supposed to be the easier to hit on.

Yes, it's been the 2nd rounders that have killed us over the years.

2000: Dwayne Goodrich
2001: Quincy Carter, Tony Dixon
2002: Andre Gurode, Antonio Bryant
2003: Al Johnson
2004: Julius Jones, Jacob Rogers
2005: Kevin Burnett
2006: Anthony Fasano
2007: no 2nd round pick
2008: Martellus Bennett
2009: no 2nd round pick
2010: Sean Lee
2011: Bruce Carter
2012: no 2nd round pick
2013: Gavin Escobar
2014: DeMarcus Lawrence
2015: Randy Gregory

By good measure, here's the Steelers 2nd round picks over the years:

2000: Marvel Smith
2001: Kendrell Bell
2002: Antwaan Randle-El
2003: Alonzo Jackson
2004: Ricardo Coclough
2005: Bryant McFadden
2006: no 2nd round pick
2007: Lamarr Woodley
2008: Limas Sweed
2009: no 2nd round pick
2010: Jason Worilds
2011: Marcus Gilbert
2012: Mike Adams
2013: Le'Veon Bell
2014: Stephon Tuitt
2015: Senquez Golson

It's not like the Steelers have rolled 6's on every 2nd round pick. But, they have gone snake eyes far, far less that this organization. The only real hits for Dallas in the 2nd round were Burnett and Lee. And Burnett did it for another team (Chargers and Fins) instead of doing it for us. And Lee has been constantly injured. Fasano has been a solid role player for other teams. Bennett would be a nice 2nd round pick if you didn't have a clearly better TE in Jason Witten. The organization has really struggled to figure out the players, or their injury concerns or their position.

I think Julius Jones basically symbolizes our issues with 2nd round picks. He started off with an injury and showed some talent, but we tried to make him into a RB he was not and our basic projection of what we thought he could fit into was way off.

I think the Steelers have been smart enough to avoid trying to get players to fit into something that they haven't done before nor do they take injured players and use the 'redshirt year' theory. Even Limas Sweed was thought to be a quality pick in the 2nd round, he just didn't work out.






YR

 

[jnday]

It just seems that way since Jerry Jones isn't trading away first round choices for Joey Galloway and Roy Williams anymore.

We have hit on first rounders, but those are supposed to be the easier to hit on.

Other than the first rounders, they have been bad at drafting. You have to include Mo with the first rounders, so that really made the first round kinda shaky . The results on the field, 4-12, reflects the drafting and FO lack of ability to improve a team.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Come on man! The draft is a mouse trap!!!!

https://lh3.***BROKEN***/-FYNmV8DGvmU/Vu8d5PwZQ2I/AAAAAAAE2kE/LHDO2O6jFEg/w456-h256/17X7J.gif

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

The irony is that we have a good chance to take the best DE, LB, DB or even DT with our first pick and the majority seems to want a QB or RB.

 

[RS12]

Dallas' failure to draft well is coming back to bite them

If you arent good at personnel in the NFL you are going to have 3 playoff wins in 20 years. and one playoff appearance in the last 6 years.

 

[fffiasco]

And yet the Cowboys have drafted the most pro bowlers in the last 10 years.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

As I have mentioned before, defensive backs have been a big problem here for a long long time. Whether its evaluating, developing or anything else, this team has no clue when it comes to DBs. What's worst is that they keep trying to cover their tracks for bad picks year after year, which means that other positions are overlooked over and again.

 

[VACowboy]

I wish they would acquire the best personnel possible and fit the scheme to the talent instead of vice versa. Passing on great players because "we don't value that position in our scheme" always seemed like a dumb thing to do to me.

 

[dfense]

Dallas made the decision to switch to a 4-3 defense in 2013. Here we are, 4 off seasons later and we are still devoid of talent across the defensive line.

The best pass rusher on the roster, Lawrence, surged towards the end of the season but he had back surgery this off season to repair a herniated disc, and that should be a concern. Tyrone Crawford registered 3 career sacks before cashing in to the tune of 5 years 45 million dollars, putting him as the 7th highest paid interior lineman in all of football. This was a mistake IMO and he will never live up to that contract because although his athleticism is useful inside, he gets absolutely bullied in the run game and exposes us. And as nice as 5 sacks from a DT is, that's not anywhere close to justifying a lucrative contract for a one trick pony.

randy Gregory's issues are well documented and he leaves us all questioning if we can even count on him, let alone if he can produce in we 2 after a 0 sack rookie campaign.

The ineptitude of this FO to properly build a DL capable of allowing this scheme to work is going to force their hand in drafting for need, and when you're forced to do that with a top 5 pick it's an absolute tragedy because you're not allowed to select the best player which is the course of direction you should be going with that type of pick.

Ok, of the three DE's drafted ahead Lawrence that year,

Clowney 40 tackles 4.5 sacks
Dee Ford 31 tackles 5.5 sacks
Marcus Smith 7 tackles 1.5 sacks
Lawrence 64 tackles 8 sacks if you count the playoffs, he has as many sacks as all the DE's drafted ahead of him (all first rounders) combined. Good move to move up and get him. That's good drafting, not really that "inept".

Crawford played all year with a bad shoulder that required surgery. He was also double teamed all year. Completely different player with McClain starting next to him and he can't be doubled. Your way off on the "one trick pony".

Gregory was a top 10 talent. Having him fall so far was a bargain. How can you not take a chance on the guy. Small investment and it was just his rookie season. Jury is still out.

Don't worry, help is on the way in Bosa at 4.

 

[casmith07]

Ok, of the three DE's drafted ahead Lawrence that year,

Clowney 40 tackles 4.5 sacks
Dee Ford 31 tackles 5.5 sacks
Marcus Smith 7 tackles 1.5 sacks
Lawrence 64 tackles 8 sacks if you count the playoffs, he has as many sacks as all the DE's drafted ahead of him (all first rounders) combined. Good move to move up and get him. That's good drafting, not really that "inept".

Crawford played all year with a bad shoulder that required surgery. He was also double teamed all year. Completely different player with McClain starting next to him and he can't be doubled. Your way off on the "one trick pony".

Gregory was a top 10 talent. Having him fall so far was a bargain. How can you not take a chance on the guy. Small investment and it was just his rookie season. Jury is still out.

Don't worry, help is on the way in Bosa at 4.

You get a like for everything except that last sentence lol. I think Bosa would be a great late 1st/early 2nd pick.

Would rather have Nkemdiche. Guy is a freak.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Ok, of the three DE's drafted ahead Lawrence that year,

Clowney 40 tackles 4.5 sacks
Dee Ford 31 tackles 5.5 sacks
Marcus Smith 7 tackles 1.5 sacks
Lawrence 64 tackles 8 sacks if you count the playoffs, he has as many sacks as all the DE's drafted ahead of him (all first rounders) combined. Good move to move up and get him. That's good drafting, not really that "inept".

Crawford played all year with a bad shoulder that required surgery. He was also double teamed all year. Completely different player with McClain starting next to him and he can't be doubled. Your way off on the "one trick pony".

Gregory was a top 10 talent. Having him fall so far was a bargain. How can you not take a chance on the guy. Small investment and it was just his rookie season. Jury is still out.

Don't worry, help is on the way in Bosa at 4.

if the drafting was so great, why are we looking at drafting another DE, this time with a top 5 pick?

 

[dfense]

if the drafting was so great, why are we looking at drafting another DE, this time with a top 5 pick?

Because neither Gregory or Lawrence is a true strong side DE.

They did draft All Pro players the last couple years right? LT G C

 

[Oh_Canada]

If Crawford is healthy with a competent player like Thornton beside him I doubt you will be saying he was "mistake" next year.