News: ESPN: Scouts Inc.: Dallas has to be heavy on D

[Eddie]

Many of the the mock drafts have us taking this Ha-Ha guy.

I'm not too thrilled.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Say we drafted Sharif Floyd last year. Does anyone really think the defense overall would have fared any better?

From my early observations of the 2014 draft, I think there is better talent in the top half (first three rounds) of the draft on offense rather than defense. So, if you are truly going BPA, then I would lean toward offensive players early and defensive later. I think there are some nice LBs available in the 4th to 7th rounds. And LB is a definite need after what I saw last year. Sure, the DL needs help, but no point in reaching for some DL just because we need a DL.

The defense took a couple of steps back this season. I think they may rebound this year. I worry about the offense a little more. A better offense can do wonders for the defense by keeping them off the field and placing less pressure on them. So, even though it isn't defense, I would surely welcome Auburn OT Greg Robinson in the 1st, Auburn RB Tre Mason in the 2nd, and LSU WR Jarvis Landry in the 3rd followed with some good athletic LBs.

 

[big dog cowboy]

IRVING, Texas -- On Thursday Tim MacMahon and Calvin Watkins offered up their draft solutions for the Dallas Cowboys with their Final Exam takes. Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. has his NFC East draft breakdown up, and to no surprise he agreed with Tim and Calvin, believing the Cowboys have to go heavy on defense in May. He listed defensive end, defensive tackle and safety as the priorities. The Cowboys must address the defensive line somehow someway.

It wouldn't bother me to go defense with the first 4 picks with 2 DL's in there somewhere. A lot will depend on FA and what we do with Hatcher. The bottom line is we have to make a big impact on the defense this off season. BIG!

 

[TheSport78]

Might as well make McClay the GM.

 

[cmoney23]

Many of the the mock drafts have us taking this Ha-Ha guy.

I'm not too thrilled.

You should be more "thrilled"! HA HA Clinton Dix is a stud, we'd be lucky to get him or Louis Nix. I said it to some buddies last night while we where breaking down the upcoming draft, if it ends in X, lets take it! To me, DL is a much much much higher need that Saftey, JJ Wilcox is a player. He will be fine... Jeff Heath needs to get sent to the Arena leagues... he might be able to play there.

 

[Common Sense]

You should be more "thrilled"! HA HA Clinton Dix is a stud, we'd be lucky to get him or Louis Nix. I said it to some buddies last night while we where breaking down the upcoming draft, if it ends in X, lets take it! To me, DL is a much much much higher need that Saftey, JJ Wilcox is a player. He will be fine... Jeff Heath needs to get sent to the Arena leagues... he might be able to play there.

How can Wilcox be a player but Heath needs to be in the Arena League if Heath took Wilcox's starting job even after he was healthy?

 

[TrailBlazer]

So is McClay basically doing the job that a GM would?

 

[cmoney23]

How can Wilcox be a player but Heath needs to be in the Arena League if Heath took Wilcox's starting job even after he was healthy?

He was replaced due to injury and IMO was never really right after that... Heath was horrible... JJ played well enough, when healthy, to beat out a Vet FA in Will Allen for the starting job. I'd say his ceiling is higher.

 

[Verdict]

Say we drafted Sharif Floyd last year. Does anyone really think the defense overall would have fared any better?

From my early observations of the 2014 draft, I think there is better talent in the top half (first three rounds) of the draft on offense rather than defense. So, if you are truly going BPA, then I would lean toward offensive players early and defensive later. I think there are some nice LBs available in the 4th to 7th rounds. And LB is a definite need after what I saw last year. Sure, the DL needs help, but no point in reaching for some DL just because we need a DL.

The defense took a couple of steps back this season. I think they may rebound this year. I worry about the offense a little more. A better offense can do wonders for the defense by keeping them off the field and placing less pressure on them. So, even though it isn't defense, I would surely welcome Auburn OT Greg Robinson in the 1st, Auburn RB Tre Mason in the 2nd, and LSU WR Jarvis Landry in the 3rd followed with some good athletic LBs.

You are using logic and sound reasoning. I am afraid it will escape many on this board. While there is little argument that upgrading the defensive line talent should be a top priority, our need to upgrade the defensive line should NOT force the pick.

By way of example, if the first two rounds the top two players on our board turn out to be wide receiver, and tight end and both are clearly better than anyone else (and you can't trade down) you take them. Period. If they are good enough, they would eventually free up cap space by making a high priced veteran expendable.

If you don't follow that approach (and can't trade down) then you compound your original problem. If you go against the grain and take a defensive lineman in the first and second round (but they aren't worthy of the pick), then you end up with two BUSTS that didn't improve your team, you still have a hole in talent at that position, you have a progress stopper on the roster and you let a better player go to another team who will make another team better.

Also, by cutting against the grain you end up taking defense early, you generally end up trying to shore up the offense later with inferior players. That is a death spiral that you want to avoid at all costs.

If you think back to the 2009 draft (which was essentially a waste of time and energy) it would have been better to use all of our picks to trade up and get ONE serviceable player than waste time trying to fill every hole in one year. It often isn't possible. The focus on the draft must be talent acquisition. Get players that you know will make the roster and contribute. Don't be cute and swing for the fence with small school players. If you take the best player available with EVERY pick over the course of four or five years your roster holes become largely filled, and you fill in the gaps with free agents. Moreover, your salary cap stays healthier. Why take a guy in the first round to fill a hole, and end up using valuable salary cap on a player that really isn't worthy of the cap hit.

 

[xwalker]

Many of the the mock drafts have us taking this Ha-Ha guy.

I'm not too thrilled.

Sounds like you've spent exhaustive hours researching the draft before you came to this conclusion.

 

[Death Star]

Want no parts of Clinton-Dix or that LSU safety. Give me one of those big boys at tackle, the kid Nix from Notre Dame or the guy from Minnesota.

Are we switching back to a 3-4 or something because Nix is a prototypical nose tackle.

I'd be good with Hageman (Minnesota) at DT or Ealy or Tuitt at DE.

 

[cmoney23]

Sounds like you've spent exhaustive hours researching the draft before you came to this conclusion.

ROFL

 

[casmith07]

Many of the the mock drafts have us taking this Ha-Ha guy.

I'm not too thrilled.

The mock drafts are done by people who don't understand football.

Clinton-Dix would be a colossal waste of a pick in light of our pass rush problems up front. People would be screaming bust by Week 8.

Edit: and I happen to think Clinton-Dix is actually a very good player. Not as good as Mark Barron before him, but they're kind of different players...C-D is more of a FS, Barron more SS.

 

[casmith07]

So, even though it isn't defense, I would surely welcome Auburn OT Greg Robinson in the 1st, Auburn RB Tre Mason in the 2nd, and LSU WR Jarvis Landry in the 3rd followed with some good athletic LBs.

Complete and utter disaster. LOL.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Complete and utter disaster. LOL.

Yeah, I can see where someone like you would find adding three good players to be a 'complete and utter disaster.' Especially when Murray gets hurt (you know he will, don't you?), it would be a disaster to have Tre Mason come in. Much better to roll with an injured and hopefully healed Dunbar, or Tanner, or Randle. And Murray is in his final year of his contract. So, yeah, why have someone in place, someone with real speed, ready to go for 2015? OT Robinson would be an upgrade over Free and help keep Romo and Orton standing upright a little more. But, yeah, why would we want that complete and utter disaster? And if Free or Smith got hurt, what a complete and utter disaster that would be to have Robinson come in? And WR Jarvis Landry wouldn't be an upgrade over Beasley and a great insurance policy in case Dez or TWill would get injured? And we really wouldn't want these three players helping the offense average several points more per game and help keep the defense off the field? No, we don't want any of that disaster. No, no, no.

You having a bad day by chance?

 

[Manster54]

Sounds like you've spent exhaustive hours researching the draft before you came to this conclusion.

HA HA you so funny.

 

[Hostile]

Interesting. I read right here on this very message board that Ciskowski was the real mover and shaker and that Jerry Jones is a figurehead for all of us title-obsessed folk.

This is huge news. I wonder why it is not being shouted from the rooftops.

I can't help but wonder where you get your logic from sometimes? I'm adding this clip from a recent article to help you see past your blindness to the truth. I doubt it will make any difference, but perhaps others will see how wrong you have been for a long time.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4723087/cowboys-make-switch-in-war-room

For the first time since 2008, somebody else will put together the Dallas Cowboys' NFL draft board.

Will McClay, the assistant director of player personnel, will handle those duties this spring.

Tom Ciskowski, the director of scouting, produced the board the past few years, but things have moved in a different direction.

***

I can't help but notice that it does NOT say that the GM, the man whose title you ARE hung up on, produced those draft boards. I can't help but notice that it in fact ratifies exactly what I said, that Jerry is NOT the personnel guy here, and never has been. I can't help but notice that it pretty much shows that his duties as GM are confined to the money side of this team, exactly what I said when I called him a figurehead. I admit, it was not the best choice of words, because he does in fact wield the ultimate power in the Cowboys Universe as owner of the Death Star. The same ultimate power all owners wield, yet another of my claims that keeps getting ratified, that you all tried to deny.

Now you can try and spin doctor your way out of it all you want, and I am sure you and your cabal of title obsessed flunkies will do exactly that, but the fact remains, that what I said about GMs is EXACTLY true. That all teams have people doing different roles and some of them have people called GM who are involved as the chief personnel guy. I continue to laud Ozzie Newsome as one of the best in that role as GM. But not all teams are structured exactly the same as it pertains to their titles, and Dallas has NEVER been structured that way. Gil Brandt was the personnel guy in the Tex Schramm era.

Gil Brandt
Bob Ackles
Larry Lacewell
Jeff Ireland
Tom Ciskowski
Now it seems Will McClay (the guy I said would move into that role if Indy hired Ciskowski as GM) may be adding his skills to the job.

GM is just a title for you guys to yell at. Jerry is the owner. All owners have final say. Not all of them are as involved as he is. None are as visible. He does not do the scouting. He does not negotiate contracts. The scouting is done per the directions of the Head Coach, that is why you see shifts in quality of drafting and Free Agent signing as there are coaching changes.

You might as well take a big old swig of Glenlivet, because I was right, and all of you guys who howled about it and continue to drop little barbs like that sad attempt, are and always have been, wrong.

Go Cowboys.

 

[Risen Star]

GMs don't do the grunt work and put together draft boards. I actually feel sorry that this is what it's come to for some folks in their desperate attempt to excuse this floundering fatally flawed franchise every year.

The scouting department is responsible for that and reports to the GM. Then he, if he's actually a real GM and didn't buy the gig, will add his own input to it. Because a real GM has a personnel eye and a vision. Changes are made, a new board is the result. It can and does change several times in the weeks before the draft but the actual grunt work is done by the scouts.

Will McClay is now responsible to report to Jerry Jones. Will McClay is not, in any way, acting as the GM. He is not overseeing our draft. He is not making any decisions. He is not building the team for the future. He is the architect of nothing. He's evaluating the prospects and feeding that info to Harry and Lloyd. Nothing more.

 

[Alexander]

I can't help but notice that it does NOT say that the GM, the man whose title you ARE hung up on, produced those draft boards.

Wait, who has ever said Jerry Jones produced the draft boards? You have started your ramble on a very bad foot here. Good luck arguing a point that nobody has ever suggested.

I can't help but notice that it in fact ratifies exactly what I said, that Jerry is NOT the personnel guy here, and never has been.

It appears you are arguing with your own delusion that people honestly believe Jones does what Ozzie Newsome or any other GM does. He does not go out and scout players and never has. I am fairly certain that nobody has argued that, yet you continue to preach to a bunch of empty pews.

I can't help but notice that it pretty much shows that his duties as GM are confined to the money side of this team, exactly what I said when I called him a figurehead. I admit, it was not the best choice of words,

You can say that again. And that is the problem you have had all along. A figurehead has nothing to do with the personnel process, from scouting to selection. Jones has always and continues to be the one responsible for making the final call.

because he does in fact wield the ultimate power in the Cowboys Universe as owner of the Death Star. The same ultimate power all owners wield, yet another of my claims that keeps getting ratified, that you all tried to deny.

"It's often said that, why don't I get someone to be the GM? Why don't I get someone to pick the players? Well, who in the world do you think that person when they walk through the door and say, 'We want to get this player or we want to pay this player,' what in the world do you think I'm going to do? I'm going to sit down and I'm going to go through it and I'm going to say, 'Show me the player. Show me everything about the player before I write the check. Show me the player and let me see everything about the player.'

Well, rather than have that happen, I get involved in it and know everything about the players before they get to the door. That, if you've got the time to do it, that's a better way to do it."

This must be what a figurehead sounds like.

Now you can try and spin doctor your way out of it all you want

No spin doctoring here. If anyone is doing that it is you with your continuous desire to spin a tale where somehow you have the secret insight into how the organization is run just like every other team and every other owner does what Jones does. That is completely incorrect and the only one who comes close, Paul Brown, stops short at what Jones does.

I find it utterly amazing that despite the man's own words that come out of his mouth, you continue to insist you know differently.

and I am sure you and your cabal of title obsessed flunkies will do exactly that, but the fact remains, that what I said about GMs is EXACTLY true.

Oh yeah, the cabal. You really should come up with a catchy nickname for your own non-title obsessed flunkies and we can all have a rumble.

That all teams have people doing different roles and some of them have people called GM who are involved as the chief personnel guy. I continue to laud Ozzie Newsome as one of the best in that role as GM. But not all teams are structured exactly the same as it pertains to their titles, and Dallas has NEVER been structured that way. Gil Brandt was the personnel guy in the Tex Schramm era.

Gil Brandt
Bob Ackles
Larry Lacewell
Jeff Ireland
Tom Ciskowski
Now it seems Will McClay (the guy I said would move into that role if Indy hired Ciskowski as GM) may be adding his skills to the job.

And again, you are going on and on about how Jones is different. And?

I pay attention to what he says and what he says is the way it is. He has already stated over and over how unique his special arrangement is. It still does not make Ciskowski, McClay or anyone else more than an information gatherer.

What Jones does is what other GMs do at the end of the process. He picks the players. That is what has people angered at the results.

GM is just a title for you guys to yell at. Jerry is the owner. All owners have final say. Not all of them are as involved as he is. None are as visible. He does not do the scouting. He does not negotiate contracts. The scouting is done per the directions of the Head Coach, that is why you see shifts in quality of drafting and Free Agent signing as there are coaching changes.

It is his role in the process that is continuing to bring the franchise down into mediocrity. Next year the coach will be gone and the syndrome continues.

Go Cowboys?

 

[visionary]

GMs don't do the grunt work and put together draft boards. I actually feel sorry that this is what it's come to for some folks in their desperate attempt to excuse this floundering fatally flawed franchise every year.

The scouting department is responsible for that and reports to the GM. Then he, if he's actually a real GM and didn't buy the gig, will add his own input to it. Because a real GM has a personnel eye and a vision. Changes are made, a new board is the result. It can and does change several times in the weeks before the draft but the actual grunt work is done by the scouts.

Will McClay is now responsible to report to Jerry Jones. Will McClay is not, in any way, acting as the GM. He is not overseeing our draft. He is not making any decisions. He is not building the team for the future. He is the architect of nothing. He's evaluating the prospects and feeding that info to Harry and Lloyd. Nothing more.

This will not go over very well for the usual suspects but is the truth