ESPN: Barr, Donald, Ward among draft visitors

[NewsBot]

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IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have signed three defensive players in free agency, but that does not mean they have fixed the woes on that side of the ball in the offseason. Among the national visitors to the Cowboys next week for pre-draft visits are UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr, Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward, according to sources.

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[morasp]

I knew Barr, Donald, and Shazier were coming. Lawrence and Ward are new.

 

[tm1119]

Good to see they are at least looking at safeties. 2nd round would be a good spot to grab 1.

 

[RS12]

Among the national visitors to the Cowboys next week for pre-draft visits are UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr, Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward, according to sources.


Teams are allowed 30 national visitors leading up to the draft. They do not work out, but they meet with coaches and scouts and are put to the test mentally. The Cowboys can have an unlimited number of players work out at their Dallas day session on April 17 that includes players from local colleges or who played high school football in the area.


http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4726562/barr-donald-ward-among-draft-visitors

 

[RS12]

Good to see they have an interest in Ward. Also means not necessarily set at safety, not that those of us with two eyes thought they were.

 

[Gaede]

Ward is probably my favorite player in the draft. I'm completely sold on him, more so than the other safeties.

Lots of mid to late 1st rounders being brought in. Very telling IMO

 

[Idgit]

Good to see they have an interest in Ward. Also means not necessarily set at safety, not that those of us with two eyes thought they were.

They can't really believe they're set at S.

 

[Alexander]

Pleased to see Lawrence on this list.

 

[Fredd]

Ward being on the visit list tells me that they are prepping 2nd/3rd round for BPA...gotta be prepared if the guys you want aren't there, but a "next tier" Safety is there

 

[Nirvana]

They like Barr, Lawrence, Shazier and Ward - interesting. Be curious to see if they invite Mosley, Telvin Smith, Jackson Jeffcoat and Ealy. These visits mean a lot with this team.

 

[tideh20heel]

Ward being on the visit list tells me that they are prepping 2nd/3rd round for BPA...gotta be prepared if the guys you want aren't there, but a "next tier" Safety is there

I would love to see Ward in the second but he is prob a 1st round trade down option

 

[Woods]

Some draft notes on Ward from Ourlads . . . . He's pretty small though, only around 5' 10" and 190 lbs or so. Seems like a guy you want in your nickel packages.

Analysis:


Jimmie Ward has led the Huskies in tackles for three years. Works through traffic and wraps up on wide receiver screens. Explosive coming downhill on plays in front of him. Takes good angles in support or pursuit. Accepted an invitation to the 2014 Senior Bowl. Ourlads' Snippet
DRAFT NOTES: Semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (Nation's Best Defensive Back). Leads team in passes defended (14) and interceptions (6), tackles (77) and solo stops (50).

Fourth year senior, three year starter that has been very productive. Ward is an undersized safety that lacks a physical presence. While he is aggressive and consistently hustles all over the field, he fails to make an impact on the game as a power player. He has made a lot of tackles over the past three years, but he is an ankle diver and won’t send any jolt to the ball carrier. I think he is the kind of defensive back that misses a lot of tackles at the next level, which isn’t the end of the world for his potential but I tend to stay away from safeties like this. As a cover man he man, he has the tools and plays the position like a cornerback sometimes. Very quick feet and agile hips. Diagnoses well and has made some tremendous plays on the ball in the three games I’ve watched. I think Ward ends up going between rounds 3 and 5….I am likely going to have him grade out a bit lower. Dave Syvertsen, Ourlads' Draft Analyst

 

[SportsGuru80]

Jimmie Ward is the guy I want starting next to Barry Church... We need a true cover safety, it's the missing ingredient in this defense!

 

[Fredd]

Jimmie Ward is the guy I want starting next to Barry Church... We need a true cover safety, it's the missing ingredient in this defense!

Other than a DLine and healthy LBs and CBs of course

 

[Szczepanik]

Does that mean we might have a possible trade UP into the early 2nd to grab shazier/ward now? Or do you think that is just a fallback option if we trade down?

I would be inclined to hope its trade up scenarios.

 

[Questfor6]

First time I ever watched Jimmie Ward was this year's bowl game against Utah State, dude single handedly kept his team in the game with play after play. I wouldnt take him at 16 but a trade down to somewhere like 26 or deeper I'd definitely pull the trigger.

 

[xwalker]

Ward is almost 5-11, with ok arm length.

Jimmie Ward
NFLDS rank 41
arm: 31
hand: 9-3/8
Height: 5105
Weight: 193
40 Yrd Dash: 4.47
20 Yrd Dash: 2.54
10 Yrd Dash: 1.56
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 9
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 10'05"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.24
3-Cone Drill: 6.89

The next Safety in the NFLDS rankings:

Terrence Brooks
NFLDS rank 73
arm: 31
hand: 9
Height: 5107
Weight: 198
40 Yrd Dash: 4.42
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash:
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 10
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 09'11"
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill: 7.35

 

[TheCount]

They can't really believe they're set at S.

Maybe they want Ward to play CB, we could use another one of those!

 

[Gaede]

My dream draft would include getting Donald or Barr at 16, and then getting Ward with our second pick (which would likely have to include a trade up)

 

[Idgit]

Maybe they want Ward to play CB, we could use another one of those!

As they say, you can't ever have too many CBs. I bet we look at another press CB late in the draft again, too. But at S, we don't even really have two definite starters. And with Decoud signing in CAR this week, I haven't heard of any rumored interest in any vets, either.