DC.com: Fairley Back In Play For Cowboys?

[CCBoy]

Fairley Back In Play For Cowboys?
Posted by jellis at 2/28/2011 12:53 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com


http://www.truebluefanclub.com/blog...&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest



I wouldn't advise anyone to be on the edge of their seat between now and the draft, because players will be said to "rise and fall" a lot between now and then, and ultimately that chatter doesn't amount to much.

But, just to pass along some of the whispers coming out of the combine, there seems to have been a flip-flopping among the top defensive linemen in the minds of some personnel guys around the league. Leading up to Indy, most everyone viewed Auburn's Nick Fairley as a top-three pick, with Marcell Dareus of Alabama ending up somewhere lower in the top 10, maybe even falling to the Cowboys at No. 9, dedepending on whose mock draft you trusted.

In his Monday Morning Quarterback column, SI.com's Peter King passed along the thought that Fairley may be a little smallish at 6-4, 291 pounds, but that wouldn't be too little for the Cowboys, who could plug him into a 3-4 end spot...

 

[AbeBeta]

Fairley seems to be falling in mocks -- but I doubt he falls in the actual draft -- lots of teams are going to have him as their top guy on the board and if he falls to say 4 or 5 there will likely be a ton of action to get him - the teams at 3-7 all might be interested in a QB but not at that spot so trading back to the middle of the first might look real nice

 

[ThreeandOut]

If he does fall, Tennessee would likely scoop him up at #8.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Fairley has some issues but I'll tell you what, he moves like a OLB. He has those kinds of skills. He has excellent feet. I was amazed watching him in drills, at his size. He's a real interesting player.

 

[burmafrd]

unless he matures fast, he will get at least one PF call a game and be suspended by midseason if he signs with us. He will be fine if he signs with the Squeelers.

 

[Yeagermeister]

unless he matures fast, he will get at least one PF call a game and be suspended by midseason if he signs with us. He will be fine if he signs with the Squeelers.

He'd make all pro in Pitt

 

[DCBoysfan]

I would take him in a heartbeat if PP is gone.

 

[DCBoysfan]

If he does fall, Tennessee would likely scoop him up at #8.

They need a QB.

 

[TNCowboy]

They need a QB.

But both the top 2 QBs will be gone and I can't imagine even they would reach for Locker or someone at 8.

 

[TNCowboy]

I would take him in a heartbeat if PP is gone.

I'd take Fairley over PP every day of the week. IMO, he's a different level of prospect from PP.

 

[Gaede]

Fairley will boom or bust depending on what coach he goes to. I know that goes for every rookie, but it's especially the case with Fairley IMO. He goes to Cincy? Bust big time. Goes to Dallas? All pro, rookie year. This is EXACTLY the type of guy I picture in Rob Ryan's defense

 

[YosemiteSam]

Fairley's ability to dominate the line of scrimmage says there is zero chance he makes it to #9. Even if he has questionable work ethic.

 

[Doomsday101]

Warren Sapp has said after seeing both Fairley and Dareus he feels Dareus is the better player. He said Dareus is better at using his hands to get off O-lineman. It would not surprise me to see coaches seeing the same things Sapp is seeing.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Warren Sapp has said after seeing both Fairley and Dareus he feels Dareus is the better player. He said Dareus is better at using his hands to get off O-lineman. It would not surprise me to see coaches seeing the same things Sapp is seeing.

Yeah, but Fairley has more ability to dominate the line of scrimmage. Technique can be taught.

This goes back to Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy argument from last year. Technique wise, McCoy was far and away superior to Suh, but Suh athletically was freakishly better than McCoy. We see how that turned out.

Now, there is a difference here. Fairley has work ethic questions, Suh did not. If you can keep Fairley motivated, he is easily better than Dareus and teams know that.

IMO, you have the same questions with Prince and Peterson. Prince has better CB skills than Peterson, but Peterson is far superior talent wise. You can teach Peterson technique, you take Peterson without thinking twice. He is just a better player.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yeah, but Fairley has more ability to dominate the line of scrimmage. Technique can be taught.

This goes back to Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy argument from last year. Technique wise, McCoy was far and away superior to Suh, but Suh athletically was freakishly better than McCoy. We see how that turned out.

Now, there is a difference here. Fairley has work ethic questions, Suh did not. If you can keep Fairley motivated, he is easily better than Dareus and teams know that.

IMO, you have the same questions with Prince and Peterson. Prince has been CB skills than Peterson, but Peterson is far superior talent wise. You can teach Peterson technique, you take Peterson without thinking twice. He is just a better player.

I'm not saying Fairley is a not good but I would not be shocked to see Dareus go ahead of Fairley.

 

[Gaede]

Fairley's ability to dominate the line of scrimmage says there is zero chance he makes it to #9. Even if he has questionable work ethic.

I disagree. He's got plenty of questions surrounding him, and if you're looking for a DT/DE, Dareus is a way safer pick since a) he's bigger b) tested better c) not of questionable character.

We see it EVERY single year, a great, top 5/10 talent falls because teams are scared of who they are. We got a top 10 talent last year in the bottom third of the first round. It happens.

I think teams are going to be scared of Fairley. Very scared. If he doesn't go to Carolina, I see him falling all the way to 8 or 9

 

[The Quest for Six]

I think Fairley is too small to play nose in the Pros, he is NOT SUH, I see him more as a one gap tackle in a 4-3. Rather keep Ratliff and Brent rotating at nose and draft a defensive end

If the choice was Fairley and Dareus, I'd go with Dareus, but my preference is to move down, draft an offensive tackle.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I think Fairley is too small to play nose in the Pros, he is NOT SUH, I see him more as a one gap tackle in a 4-3. Rather keep Ratliff and Brent rotating at nose and draft a defensive end

If the choice was Fairley and Dareus, I'd go with Dareus, but my preference is to move down, draft an offensive tackle.

I think Fairley could go #1 overall to Carolina. They are sticking with a 4-3. (Ron Rivera's forte) He will line Fairley up the way the Bucs did with Sapp.

 

[TheCount]

I'd gladly take Fairley.

If he does fall, Tennessee would likely scoop him up at #8.

If I was running a 4-3 Defense, I'd probably be as excited about scooping up Cameron Jordan as Fairley. Cam's hand play is excellent where as Fairley is just a bully, I think Jordan would have an excellent career as a 4-3 DE though.

 

[bayeslife]

If the Cowboys got Fairley I'd wet myself more than getting a Patrick Peterson or Robert Quinn.

After the BCS title game, everyone had him pegged as #1 overall.