Do you use a 14th Pick on a Guard?

[MichaelWinicki]

take DeCastro if you think he can play center

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

I don't think center is any bigger a need than guard at this point.

Both starting guards are coming off of season-ending surgery... more extreme in Kosier's case. Plus Kosier's season was pretty poor overall.

And none of the OLBers are gang-busters.

 

[Zaxor]

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.

Mike while I agree DeCastro is going to be good I am not so sure that he is that much better than a guy you can pick up in the 2nd round as a guard...were as the CB or OLB you get at pick 14 the guy in the 2nd rnd is not usually even comparable.

now if we had only one pick I would agree but if we are trying to get as many good players as possible than the way ABQ and I are proposing makes more sense...

let me put it this way
Decastro= 4.0 perfect prospect
the guy we could get in the 2nd= 3.2 not so perfect but a very good player none the less

the OLB/CB at 14 = 3.4 the OLB/CB in rnd 2 = 2.5

if we did it the way ABQ and I suggest you would get a 3.4 and a 3.2 guy instead of a 4.0 and a 2.5 guy.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't think center is any bigger a need than guard at this point.

Both starting guards are coming off of season-ending surgery... more extreme in Kosier's case. Plus Kosier's season was pretty poor overall.

And none of the OLBers are gang-busters.

I agree. Holland,Dockery and Kosier are also all up in age. Even a full recovery from Kosier will not change he is on the downhill side and we need to address OG.

At this stage I would just as soon see Kowalski at Center, Move Smith to LT move Free to RT and have Nagy,Arkin and Holland fight it out for the one of the G spots and draft DeCastro

 

[jnday]

Mike while I agree DeCastro is going to be good I am not so sure that he is that much better than a guy you can pick up in the 2nd round as a guard...were as the CB or OLB you get at pick 14 the guy in the 2nd rnd is not usually even comparable.

now if we had only one pick I would agree but if we are trying to get as many good players as possible than the way ABQ and I are proposing makes more sense...

let me put it this way
Decastro= 4.0 perfect prospect
the guy we could get in the 2nd= 3.2 not so perfect but a very good player none the less

the OLB/CB at 14 = 3.4 the OLB/CB in rnd 2 = 2.5

if we did it the way ABQ and I suggest you would get a 3.4 and a 3.2 guy instead of a 4.0 and a 2.5 guy.

I understand your reasoning on this . This is one thing to consider , there are two elite CB prospects . Kirkpatrick and Claibourne are projected to be gone by the 14th pick . The rest of the CB prospects are late first and second round grades . All these later CBs , are very , very close in grading and they will be picked by teams to fit their system the best . If Dallas picks one of these at 14 , it will be a reach . It is a very high chance that the CB will be there in the second . That is the way this year's class grades out at this time . The CB position is very deep into the mid third round . If you picked one of these at 14 , yu are a round too early .

 

[Doomsday101]

I understand your reasoning on this . This is one thing to consider , there are two elite CB prospects . Kirkpatrick and Claibourne are projected to be gone by the 14th pick . The rest of the CB prospects are late first and second round grades . All these later CBs , are very , very close in grading and they will be picked by teams to fit their system the best . If Dallas picks one of these at 14 , it will be a reach . It is a very high chance that the CB will be there in the second . That is the way this year's class grades out at this time . The CB position is very deep into the mid third round . If you picked one of these at 14 , yu are a round too early .

I agree. Outside of Claibourne and Kirkpatrick you find decent talent in the 2nd to 3rd rd. Having said that if Kirkpatrick falls to 14 I would take him, if he is gone DeCastro is the top player at his position and an area of need for the Cowboys

 

[jnday]

I agree. Outside of Claibourne and Kirkpatrick you find decent talent in the 2nd to 3rd rd. Having said that if Kirkpatrick falls to 14 I would take him, if he is gone DeCastro is the top player at his position and an area of need for the Cowboys

If Kirkpatrick is still on the board it would create a tough decision . IMO you couldn't go wrong either way .

 

[Doomsday101]

If Kirkpatrick is still on the board it would create a tough decision . IMO you couldn't go wrong either way .

I agree. I never go into any draft thinking of only 1 player. Frankly there are about 4 guys at 14 I would not mind getting. Kirkpatrick is one of them

 

[Tobal]

I think Center is a bigger need than Guard, I think it's needed more than anything but CB.

knowing that and knowing that there is no center in the 14th pick range I feel if you can find a defensive player who is BPA in that range then you take him.

I'd like a CB, but a guy capable of collapsing the pocket at DE, NT or a guy flying off the edge would be a good pick.

In the 2nd round you hope that the Center is there.... If not You can go anywhere on the defense or OG

3rd round again you can take almost any position on defense and their should still be oline guys, and even now just about anything on defense.

 

[RS12]

The people that dont want DeCastro are the same the said dont draft Tyron Smith last year. Obviously that was the right move. DeCastro is a dominant player in a pro style offense which by the way was a dominant run offense as well. Now if his line mate Martin falls and they are both there, that would be a tough decision. Be honest, as bad as the secondary and pass rush are, the O Line is probably worse.

 

[Doomsday101]

The people that dont want DeCastro are the same the said dont draft Tyron Smith last year. Obviously that was the right move. DeCastro is a dominant player in a pro style offense which by the way was a dominant run offense as well. Now if his line mate Martin falls and they are both there, that would be a tough decision. Be honest, as bad as the secondary and pass rush are, the O Line is probably worse.

I agree. If by chance we do not get him I would not mind getting his teammate Kevin Zeitler


Pass blocking: Anchors against larger defenders in the middle, resets hands to maintain distance. Athletic enough to help on nose tackle then pick up twist or late blitzer. Mirrors quick interior rushers. Looks to help the center, or even the tackle a few yards upfield, if he is uncovered.

Run blocking: Good fit in a zone system, uses mobility and strength to move defender down the line. Dips shoulder and moves his feet to get outside leverage when needed. Strong and low coming out of his stance, effective in short-yardage situations. Finds the mike quickly and negates him when it is his responsibility. Gives effort to hit as many targets as possible, even if on the ground. Need to work on keeping outside leverage when doubling on the nose.

Pulling/trapping: Good foot quickness working behind the line, though losing a few extra pounds around the middle would help his agility. Brings hips to knock back linebackers in his way, maintains block until running back finds the hole behind him. Gets down low quickly to defeat defenders trying to cut down running backs. Ducks his head at times, must keep his posture to see and sustain against his target.

Initial Quickness: Possesses adequate quickness off the snap to get his hands into defenders and attack linebackers at the second level, but is not elite in this category and can be a step late at times.

Downfield: Regularly hits second-level targets, uses strong hands to latch on, and keeps legs churning to carry them out of the play. Knows correct blocking angles inside, gets into position with good footwork. Will punch at smaller defenders at times instead of latching on, allowing them to get off the block.

Intangibles: Dependable, no-nonsense mauler who works hard in the weight room and on the field. Did not start the first four games of 2010 due to a high ankle sprain suffered during the summer.

 

[VACowboy]

Mike while I agree DeCastro is going to be good I am not so sure that he is that much better than a guy you can pick up in the 2nd round as a guard...were as the CB or OLB you get at pick 14 the guy in the 2nd rnd is not usually even comparable.

now if we had only one pick I would agree but if we are trying to get as many good players as possible than the way ABQ and I are proposing makes more sense...

let me put it this way
Decastro= 4.0 perfect prospect
the guy we could get in the 2nd= 3.2 not so perfect but a very good player none the less

the OLB/CB at 14 = 3.4 the OLB/CB in rnd 2 = 2.5

if we did it the way ABQ and I suggest you would get a 3.4 and a 3.2 guy instead of a 4.0 and a 2.5 guy.

I couldn't disagree more, especially in this draft. Give me DeCastro and Minnifield over Dennard and Washington ANY DAY.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

There are a lot of pretty good Guard prospects in this draft guys. As to the comment that those who do not want DeCosta in this draft are the same that didn't want Smith last year, well, that doesn't mean all those people were wrong either. I wanted Aldon Smith over Tyron Smith last year. Certainly Tyron had a great, great season but it still doesn't mean those folks were wrong. Aldon Smith did have 14 sacks in his rookie season and it has been reported that if Aldon Smith would have fallen to us, the Cowboys would have taken him over Tyron.

 

[RS12]

There are a lot of pretty good Guard prospects in this draft guys. As to the comment that those who do not want DeCosta in this draft are the same that didn't want Smith last year, well, that doesn't mean all those people were wrong either. I wanted Aldon Smith over Tyron Smith last year. Certainly Tyron had a great, great season but it still doesn't mean those folks were wrong. Aldon Smith did have 14 sacks in his rookie season and it has been reported that if Aldon Smith would have fallen to us, the Cowboys would have taken him over Tyron.

Yes Aldon Smith had a nice year, and yes it would be nice to have him opposite of Ware. On the other hand take away Tyron Smith away from the O Line and what do have? I'm thinking Romo on a stretcher. Tyron Smith gives the Cowboys exactly one good O Lineman out of five IMO.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes Aldon Smith had a nice year, and yes it would be nice to have him opposite of Ware. On the other hand take away Tyron Smith away from the O Line and what do have? I'm thinking Romo on a stretcher. Tyron Smith gives the Cowboys exactly one good O Lineman out of five IMO.

I agree. We had no one there to play the spot unless we choose to keep Colombo and I don't think anyone wanted to see that. There are always players in the draft you can look back and say what if but Dallas needed to address OT in the worst way and we ended up getting one of the tops in the nation and a young man who will only get better as he develops

In regards to DeCastro he is a clear cut option for the Cowboys at 14, depending on how the draft falls. DeCastro would in my view really make this line a strength of the team for years to come.

 

[Zaxor]

I wanted Tyron Smith last year as tackles/CB/pass rushers/QB's are the hardest to fill positions we need CB and Pass rusher...if a good one is there at 14 the Cowboys would do themselves a huge favor in taken them imho...

now of course this is all contingent on who graded out at what but if a Guard/Pass rusher/CB are all there at 14 and all grade out exceptionally well it would seem to me the play is at Pass rusher than CB than Guard in that order as it has been proven as to which the harder positions is to fill.

by the way I really appreciate the civil conversation guys

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Yes Aldon Smith had a nice year, and yes it would be nice to have him opposite of Ware. On the other hand take away Tyron Smith away from the O Line and what do have? I'm thinking Romo on a stretcher. Tyron Smith gives the Cowboys exactly one good O Lineman out of five IMO.

I understand what you are saying but there were other options at Tackle for us in the draft. There were also options in FA. I'm saying that those who wanted other players besides Tyron were not necessarily wrong last year. Same as this year IMO.

 

[visionary]

I don't think center is any bigger a need than guard at this point.

Both starting guards are coming off of season-ending surgery... more extreme in Kosier's case. Plus Kosier's season was pretty poor overall.

And none of the OLBers are gang-busters.

\

I think OC is a bigger need than OG but i was thinking in terms of "need" as well as "value"

with the 14th pick, i am not sure i would want and OG but an OC might be OK (although borderline)

my preference would be

trade down and get OLB

 

[Tobal]

I understand trading down, but in this case I don't think you do that Someone will fall to 14 that you love and this team needs everything just about. So unless we are at 14 and theres not a CB, C, OG, OLB, DT, DE or even an OT we have a top 14 grade on I think you use that pick.

 

[jnday]

I understand what you are saying but there were other options at Tackle for us in the draft. There were also options in FA. I'm saying that those who wanted other players besides Tyron were not necessarily wrong last year. Same as this year IMO.

I didn't want Tyron last year and I was wrong . I watched 3 games of his and he didn't look like the player that he is now . After Dallas drafted him , I watched the same 3 games again and came up with the same opinion . Two lessons came from Tyron . The first being that scouts have more knowledge and access to players than I will ever have . The second lesson is that it's hard to scout OL from a TV . I was right about the fact that he needed to get bigger . I agree with the coaching staff , he still needs to gain about 20lbs to be at his best . None of us should take this draft talk to heart . We are all wrong on some players .

 

[reddyuta]

I wouldnt be unhappy if we took him but our secondary is down to one man who is seems to get injured on every play and Spencer is not coming back.We need a OLB and another top CB desperately.