Do you use a 14th Pick on a Guard?

[Marktui]

I keep hearing how great Decastro is, and how if he's there at 14 we need to take him. I'm just wondering if the 14th pick should really be used on a guard with all of the glaring holes in our defense.
I don't have anything against Decastro, and I'm not saying he isn't worth a 14th pick, i'm just wondering if that's really the best move for the Boys to make at this point.

Our pass rush this year seemed extremely pedestrian, and with a poor secondary, you simply can't afford to not get pressure on the QB. It seems as though we could really use a few linebackers.

Move Josh Brent to Center, slide Ratliff over, and inject some youth into the LB corps.
Pick up a Free Agent corner and draft one late. That's what would be ideal in my world.

Our defensive needs are glaring, but DeCastro is a pretty good lineman. He can improve our rushing attack and also improve our redzone rushing. Something that was also very pedestrian. Plus if we score points and eat clock, we can help the defense out even more.

 

[jnday]

well that's all i need to hear.

question is, is he worth trading up for b/c i don't think he falls to us. arizona needs a guard too.

I read that they really like him but they also need a tackle . Who knows ? As for trading up , I guess it would depend on cost .

 

[Dough Boy]

You don't think DeCastro is worth the 14th pick but Gilmore is?

Great point. Gilmore is not worth a top 54 pick.

 

[Dough Boy]

OK, I did what you asked. Actually, I went through the first ten and only one said he was the best prospect and they actually said he was the best Guard Prospect in 5 years but whatever. I don't think anybody is saying he's not a good prospect or Guard prospect but how can anybody say he is the best in 10 or 20 years when the combine hasn't even happened. You can't possibly grade him out until you have that information. That's just the bottom line on any of these players.

Were is Mr Gilmore on any of those list you read. Talk about reaching because of a need, Gilmore is just that. You will not take the # 1 rated guard @ 14 but you are willing to take the #5 rated CB @ 14.

Great way to build a team!

Also, forget the combine- how do they play on the field.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I do not recall when Larry Allen was drafted....but if that draft was re-done...he would be a top 5 pick.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I stated in a previous post that DeCastro's rating was at this time . Sure , the combine could change things . I don't think it will , but it might . If you want to read more , check out Wes Bunting's scouting report .

I read that report. I don't think I would take a guard at 14.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Were is Mr Gilmore on any of those list you read. Talk about reaching because of a need, Gilmore is just that. You will not take the # 1 rated guard @ 14 but you are willing to take the #5 rated CB @ 14.

Great way to build a team!

Also, forget the combine- how do they play on the field.

He plays pretty well on the field. The only issue I have with him is his closing speed. We need CBs. I will admit that the selection of a CB at 14 might be a reach but we can get guards later. We can't get good CBs later. Not guys who can come in and start. Sure I would like one of the top CBs but they will probably be gone at 14. I would not take a Guard at 14.

 

[Dough Boy]

He plays pretty well on the field. The only issue I have with him is his closing speed. We need CBs. I will admit that the selection of a CB at 14 might be a reach but we can get guards later. We can't get good CBs later. Not guys who can come in and start. Sure I would like one of the top CBs but they will probably be gone at 14. I would not take a Guard at 14.

I'm willing to venture that Gilmore will not be a top 50 rated player while DeCastro will be a top 15 rated player.

I understand you don't value guards or you would rather go the free agent route; i think it's an opinion that you are entitled to. If I could get Larry Allen @ 14, i think we both jump on that. But I understand your logic even though I disagree with you.

As to Gilmore, you are way off the mark. He is not a 1st round CB regardless of how he runs @ the combine. He doesn't play fast in pads so I don't care about a combine 40 time.

 

[jnday]

I read that report. I don't think I would take a guard at 14.

That's cool . We will agree to disagree . I can't say that if it was any guard other than DeCastro , that I would pick a guard at 14 .

 

[Oh_Canada]

This is one of the deeper drafts for guards in recent memory....I pass on a guard in the first round. Defense, defense, defense.

 

[Zaxor]

He plays pretty well on the field. The only issue I have with him is his closing speed. We need CBs. I will admit that the selection of a CB at 14 might be a reach but we can get guards later. We can't get good CBs later. Not guys who can come in and start. Sure I would like one of the top CBs but they will probably be gone at 14. I would not take a Guard at 14.

I agree ABQ...CB or OLB with a 14th pick as a serviceable guard can be found later

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I agree ABQ...CB or OLB with a 14th pick as a serviceable guard can be found later

I think in most years that would be the best avenue to take BUT DeCastro looks like the best guard to come out in the last 3 years and maybe the best since Steve Hutchinson. If DeCastro is there at 14, then you have to take him and not worry about one of your guard positions for the next decade.

The other thing to keep in mind is that DeCastro is tall enough and moves well enough to play tackle if need be. Then in case Dallas loses a tackle for an extended period of time, I think this kid could man the position adequately.

 

[Hailmary]

I'm just wondering if the 14th pick should really be used on a guard with all of the glaring holes in our defense.

Absolutely you take DeCastro. He'll help the offense stay on the field more and the best cure for an ailing defense (or any defense for that matter) is to keep them off the field.

The top teams this year (GB, NO, NE) all rank near the bottom in total defense, and yet they seem unstoppable because of their prolific offenses and their ability to stay on the field, preventing their defenses from getting exposed too much.

Not saying we shouldn't address the D, but I think it would be more beneficial to shore up the OLine and see how much further we can go if Romo's not running for his life every other play.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Absolutely you take DeCastro. He'll help the offense stay on the field more and the best cure for an ailing defense (or any defense for that matter) is to keep them off the field.

The top teams this year (GB, NO, NE) all rank near the bottom in total defense, and yet they seem unstoppable because of their prolific offenses and their ability to stay on the field, preventing their defenses from getting exposed too much.

Not saying we shouldn't address the D, but I think it would be more beneficial to shore up the OLine and see how much further we can go if Romo's not running for his life every other play.

Plus the running game did reasonably well, not because of the interior blocking but in spite of it.

The Cowboys run blocking was abysmal all season and this kid would help amp that up– a lot!

Put him next to Smith and you at least have one side of the line you can run behind.

 

[VACowboy]

I agree ABQ...CB or OLB with a 14th pick as a serviceable guard can be found later

I think this is a lot of the problem with our OL: We've been ok with "serviceable" players for a very long time.

I don't get this attitude. The offensive line has more effect on the outcomes of football games than any other position group (unless you include QB). A dominant offensive line makes the whole team better, from the QB to the defense. Why would anyone believe drafting great offensive lineman is any less important than drafting great linebackers or cornerbacks?

Particular to the 2012 draft, I firmly believe that DeCastro is a much better guard than any OLB or corner likely to be available at #14. I deplore any logic that says we must draft a pass rusher or DB because that's what we need. What we need is good football players, top to bottom, and DeCastro is one of the very best in this draft.

I have no problem taking a LB or CB over DeCastro if he's a better player, but from everything we know, unless Claiborne falls, this just isn't reality.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I have no problem taking a LB or CB over DeCastro if he's a better player, but from everything we know, unless Claiborne falls, this just isn't reality.

I agree with that.

The top corners are good, but not DeCastro-good. They aren't as dominant at their positions as he is at his.

And the OLBers?

Forgettem.

I don't see any of them that are "knock-it-out-of-the-park" types at number 14.

I'd rather keep Spencer.

 

[burmafrd]

serviceable is what we have heard for too long. They said the interior of this line was serviceable. So said red ball and company. I call BS.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Some times people will say you take the BAP no matter what. Some times people say you go with need. I always liked the idea of getting a need that is also the BAP on the board.

Sometimes you might have two guys at different positions that grade out pretty much the same but one guy would fit a need where the other guy would be a position that you already have some strength in. So I say take the guy that fits the need since they are so close.

If DeCastro falls to us, and unless some other top end talent falls for some reason, I really think he would be the BAP and would also fit a need and would be a no brainer. I just think he would be graded out higher than the other players that would be available (once again unless another player falls).

This team has went so many years without taking Linemen in the first round and it has hurt us a great deal over recent years. Not only in the lack of young Olinemen but also in the cap area because many times we would have to go out and pay big money to FAs. Last year we took a step and took a good OT and it has paid off for us a great deal. This year I say we continue a good thing and get DeCastro who should be the BAP and a need. We need to shore up this oline or we will continue to see Tony Romo getting injured like we have the last two seasons.

I think he will be better than any 3-4 DE, 3-4 OLB, ILB, NT that will be available and the only other positions we could use would be DBs and I think DeCastro will be better than the DBs that will fall to us.

I will not be upset if we take another good player but I think if he falls to us he will probably be the best combination of BAP and Need pick to be taken and we run to the podium and take him.

 

[Doomsday101]

Some times people will say you take the BAP no matter what. Some times people say you go with need. I always liked the idea of getting a need that is also the BAP on the board.

Sometimes you might have two guys at different positions that grade out pretty much the same but one guy would fit a need where the other guy would be a position that you already have some strength in. So I say take the guy that fits the need since they are so close.

If DeCastro falls to us, and unless some other top end talent falls for some reason, I really think he would be the BAP and would also fit a need and would be a no brainer. I just think he would be graded out higher than the other players that would be available (once again unless another player falls).

This team has went so many years without taking Linemen in the first round and it has hurt us a great deal over recent years. Not only in the lack of young Olinemen but also in the cap area because many times we would have to go out and pay big money to FAs. Last year we took a step and took a good OT and it has paid off for us a great deal. This year I say we continue a good thing and get DeCastro who should be the BAP and a need. We need to shore up this oline or we will continue to see Tony Romo getting injured like we have the last two seasons.

I think he will be better than any 3-4 DE, 3-4 OLB, ILB, NT that will be available and the only other positions we could use would be DBs and I think DeCastro will be better than the DBs that will fall to us.

I will not be upset if we take another good player but I think if he falls to us he will probably be the best combination of BAP and Need pick to be taken and we run to the podium and take him.

I fully agree. I think BPA that fits a need is the right approach. I do think you can always make exceptions to any rule for example QB is not a big need area for us but if by some crazy turn of events Luck was sitting there hell I take him. Having said that Luck will not fall to 14 but I think you get the jest of it.

 

[visionary]

take DeCastro if you think he can play center

if not, trade back into the 20's and take best OLB