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Draft Series: MLB Position Not As Deep In 2010
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
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Draft SeriesQuarterbacksRunningbacksTight EndsWide ReceiversGuard/CenterTackleDefensive LineOutside Linebackers
(Editor's Note: With the Cowboys heading into the April 22-24 NFL Draft with six picks, DallasCowboys.com's 11-part Draft Series will break down the team, analyzing what they have at each particular position, what their needs are and just who might be available, along with including some interesting draft nuggets. Part 8 will feature the inside linebackers.)
What They Have: The Cowboys have a combination of experience, leadership, depth and even uncharted youth at the inside linebacker position, a spot that was upgraded last year with the addition of the vocal Keith Brooking. Not only did he prove to have a little more gas in his tank than the Falcons expected, but the 12-year veteran also turned into the inspirational leader of not only the defense, but the entire team. Who can forget his "bloody-their-nose" rants before every game towards the end of the season? But in terms of productivity, Bradie James once again led the way for the Cowboys, leading the team in tackles for the fifth straight year. James might have allowed Brooking to take over the leadership role, but he still made the majority of the plays from that position.
Bobby Carpenter might have had the most productive season of his four-year career, but that doesn't mean he will ever live up to the expectations of a first-round draft pick. Carpenter played well in his role as the team's nickel linebacker, but don't expect him to push for a starting job. The Cowboys drafted Jason Williams last season and hope to see more from the 2009 third-round pick. Also, Stephen Hodge could figure somewhere into the middle linebacker situation after being hurt all last season with a knee injury.
What They Need: The Cowboys could go through the entire draft without taking an inside linebacker and wouldn't be concerned at all. Then again, don't be surprised if the Cowboys took a middle linebacker - even in the first three rounds - if it meant selecting the highest-rated player on the board. With Brooking at age 34 and James at 29, the Cowboys could stand to get some inside backers for the future. It doesn't appear that Carpenter will ever get that opportunity and it's way too early to expect that from Hodge or Williams. Even if drafting a linebacker might clog up the depth chart, that position usually gets on the field in some capacity - mostly on special teams.
Who's Out There: The top inside linebacker prospect appears to be Alabama's Rolando McClain, a captain and stalwart on the Crimson Tide's national championship team last year. McClain figures to be a perfect fit for either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon continues to rise on the draft boards and now is expected to go anywhere from the middle to late first round. Some teams view Weatherspoon as more of an outside backer, but he could be moved inside, especially in a 3-4. Other top line backers include Penn State's Sean Lee, Florida's Brandon Spikes and North Carolina's Quan Sturdivant.
Draft Nuggets: Mississippi State ILB Jamar Chaney ran the fastest 40-time at the scouting combine among the inside 'backers, clocking a 4.51 in Indy . . . Washington's Donald Butler led the group in the bench-press, with 35 reps of 225 pounds . . . Florida's Brandon Spikes was suspended for a half against Vanderbilt last season after TV cameras caught him trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia player. Spikes later came back and made a public statement to suspend himself for the entire game . . . Penn State's Sean Lee, who visited the Cowboys earlier this month for a pre-draft visit, suffered a torn ACL injury last season, possibly hurting his chances of being a first-round pick.
Look Back: The Cowboys thought they had a great player in the 1975 draft when they took a linebacker out of Maryland. They were right about having a great player - just not at linebacker. Tom Landry initially thought Randy White, albeit a bit undersized to play on the line, would develop nicely into a pro linebacker. Actually, White stayed at defensive tackle and became arguably one of the best to ever play the position. White has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Nicknamed the "Manster," White proved to be a lot of things in the NFL - just not a middle linebacker.
Up Next: Safety
Draft Series: MLB Position Not As Deep In 2010
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Send an EmailEmail Print Facebook Twitter ShareThis
Draft SeriesQuarterbacksRunningbacksTight EndsWide ReceiversGuard/CenterTackleDefensive LineOutside Linebackers
(Editor's Note: With the Cowboys heading into the April 22-24 NFL Draft with six picks, DallasCowboys.com's 11-part Draft Series will break down the team, analyzing what they have at each particular position, what their needs are and just who might be available, along with including some interesting draft nuggets. Part 8 will feature the inside linebackers.)
What They Have: The Cowboys have a combination of experience, leadership, depth and even uncharted youth at the inside linebacker position, a spot that was upgraded last year with the addition of the vocal Keith Brooking. Not only did he prove to have a little more gas in his tank than the Falcons expected, but the 12-year veteran also turned into the inspirational leader of not only the defense, but the entire team. Who can forget his "bloody-their-nose" rants before every game towards the end of the season? But in terms of productivity, Bradie James once again led the way for the Cowboys, leading the team in tackles for the fifth straight year. James might have allowed Brooking to take over the leadership role, but he still made the majority of the plays from that position.
Bobby Carpenter might have had the most productive season of his four-year career, but that doesn't mean he will ever live up to the expectations of a first-round draft pick. Carpenter played well in his role as the team's nickel linebacker, but don't expect him to push for a starting job. The Cowboys drafted Jason Williams last season and hope to see more from the 2009 third-round pick. Also, Stephen Hodge could figure somewhere into the middle linebacker situation after being hurt all last season with a knee injury.
What They Need: The Cowboys could go through the entire draft without taking an inside linebacker and wouldn't be concerned at all. Then again, don't be surprised if the Cowboys took a middle linebacker - even in the first three rounds - if it meant selecting the highest-rated player on the board. With Brooking at age 34 and James at 29, the Cowboys could stand to get some inside backers for the future. It doesn't appear that Carpenter will ever get that opportunity and it's way too early to expect that from Hodge or Williams. Even if drafting a linebacker might clog up the depth chart, that position usually gets on the field in some capacity - mostly on special teams.
Who's Out There: The top inside linebacker prospect appears to be Alabama's Rolando McClain, a captain and stalwart on the Crimson Tide's national championship team last year. McClain figures to be a perfect fit for either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon continues to rise on the draft boards and now is expected to go anywhere from the middle to late first round. Some teams view Weatherspoon as more of an outside backer, but he could be moved inside, especially in a 3-4. Other top line backers include Penn State's Sean Lee, Florida's Brandon Spikes and North Carolina's Quan Sturdivant.
Draft Nuggets: Mississippi State ILB Jamar Chaney ran the fastest 40-time at the scouting combine among the inside 'backers, clocking a 4.51 in Indy . . . Washington's Donald Butler led the group in the bench-press, with 35 reps of 225 pounds . . . Florida's Brandon Spikes was suspended for a half against Vanderbilt last season after TV cameras caught him trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia player. Spikes later came back and made a public statement to suspend himself for the entire game . . . Penn State's Sean Lee, who visited the Cowboys earlier this month for a pre-draft visit, suffered a torn ACL injury last season, possibly hurting his chances of being a first-round pick.
Look Back: The Cowboys thought they had a great player in the 1975 draft when they took a linebacker out of Maryland. They were right about having a great player - just not at linebacker. Tom Landry initially thought Randy White, albeit a bit undersized to play on the line, would develop nicely into a pro linebacker. Actually, White stayed at defensive tackle and became arguably one of the best to ever play the position. White has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor. Nicknamed the "Manster," White proved to be a lot of things in the NFL - just not a middle linebacker.
Up Next: Safety
DAL @ GB
