ESPN Watkins: Team's first draft choice (J-Will) still working

[Bluefin]

While I agree that Adams is on the decline and Free is an unproven commodity I don't think you want to mortgage the farm to draft a player that might or might not work out.This team has enough holes that you take the BPA approach,especially when you consider that this team has not had the best success rate when drafting for need (ex. LaFluer,Ekuban).

Reaching for need, a la Dwayne Goodrich, Kareem Larrimore, Shante Carver and Kavika Pittman is a definite no no.

But offensive tackles are the safest position to select in the first round, so I don't mind moving up to get one as long as the cost isn't absurd.

The team still might decide to shift Leonard Davis over, which looked like the plan early in camp before Doug Free assuaged their fears concerning his ability to be Flozell Adams' back-up.

Hell, we might even try to get another year out of the Hotel.

 

[jobberone]

I'll be happy when Bobby Carpenter (Ken Hamlin & Flozell Adams, too) are ex-Cowboys.

If possible, what I'd like to look at next year on the nickel is Jason Williams replacing Bradie James and Stephen Hodge (if he recovers from micro-fracture sx.) taking over Carpenter's spot.

Williams is a much better athlete than James, who is much more effective playing forward instead of in space. Hodge is a natural for the nickel with his college background in pass defense, I really hope he recovers and gets to play for us.

I can understand Carp and Hamlin. I could even understand Flo if I stayed up a couple of nights.

But James? Are you talking about replacing him on passing downs or completely? And do you remember how many sacks he got last year, how well he plays the 46, and how well he plays the run. You have to at least give him a pass in the pass coverage role although that's the weakest part of a pretty strong game he has.

Williams is new to this and won't be a lot more than raw natural talent next year either. Hodge is a converted safety who probably can transition to the nickel LB role. Although that remains to be seen. I wouldn't place any major money on that bet.

Hope I'm wrong and you're right though. Just wouldn't bet that way.

You are most likely correct about Carpenter being kicked to the curb after the season.I don't know which way they will go in the draft next year,I think it will depend on whatever coaching staff is in place.I believe that this team has enough voids that you should take the "best player available" though.

Craig

Now this is a good sensible post. As usual. I would put safety (today not necessarily in the future), OL, and OL center as the musts in next years draft. That's today. But depends on the rest of the year and if we have a new regime here next year.

 

[craig71]

Reaching for need, a la Dwayne Goodrich, Kareem Larrimore, Shante Carver and Kavika Pittman is a definite no no.

But offensive tackles are the safest position to select in the first round, so I don't mind moving up to get one as long as the cost isn't absurd.

The team still might decide to shift Leonard Davis over, which looked like the plan early in camp before Doug Free assuaged their fears concerning his ability to be Flozell Adams' back-up.

Hell, we might even try to get another year out of the Hotel.

Tackles seem to be safer but with this teams luck we would wind up with a Robert Gallery or Tony Mandarin type.

Craig

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I think he can be a Thomas Howard type