For the Aaron Donald Fans...

[CowboysLaw87]

I tweeted at Bryan Broaddus about him this morning and got the following response...

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus1h
“@BryanEtter87: Lack of quick twitch 3-techs may make Donald a realistic option at 16/17 as a function of supply/demand?” I believe so.

So, for what it's worth. Donald is on the preliminary list of candidates for sure.

 

[supercowboy8]

And he should be. I said this a month ago. Donald will be a first round pick and Marinelli will love him.

 

[JDSTAR]

I really hope so!! It would be a sigh of relief to know he was our 1st pick.

 

[Common Sense]

It's an interesting thought, but supply and demand goes both ways. Lots of teams won't have much early-round interest because of scheme fit. That said, it only takes one. Could Tampa Bay be interested at the top of the second to rotate with McCoy?

 

[CowboysLaw87]

It's an interesting thought, but supply and demand goes both ways. Lots of teams won't have much early-round interest because of scheme fit. That said, it only takes one. Could Tampa Bay be interested at the top of the second to rotate with McCoy?

Sure they could. Once you get past the top 15 or so players there seems to be a group of about 20-30 guys all with similar grades. It then becomes a "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "pick your flavor" situation. Donald looks like he'll be the right kind of flavor for teams that value quickness to power in their DT's. If we want him we'll probably have to take him with our 1st rounder.

 

[xwalker]

I tweeted at Bryan Broaddus about him this morning and got the following response...

Bryan Broaddus ‏@BryanBroaddus1h
“@BryanEtter87: Lack of quick twitch 3-techs may make Donald a realistic option at 16/17 as a function of supply/demand?” I believe so.

So, for what it's worth. Donald is on the preliminary list of candidates for sure.

You can get the same answers form a magic eight-ball. Broaddus does not even follow anything draft related until the Cowboys season is over.

 

[Common Sense]

Sure they could. Once you get past the top 15 or so players there seems to be a group of about 20-30 guys all with similar grades. It then becomes a "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "pick your flavor" situation. Donald looks like he'll be the right kind of flavor for teams that value quickness to power in their DT's. If we want him we'll probably have to take him with our 1st rounder.

It could end up being another trade down scenario if everything falls just right. I'd be perfectly fine with that. This team could desperately use another third rounder.

Also, I find it interesting that Donald's college height is listed as 6' exactly. Think there's a chance he's shorter? How might that affect draft stock for DTs? I can't think of an example offhand but we see it with QBs and LBs all the time, Dat Nguyen being a case in point.

 

[Future]

You can get the same answers form a magic eight-ball. Broaddus does not even follow anything draft related until the Cowboys season is over.

Yea, he's pretty vanilla when it comes to draft stuff.

Mostly, I think Bryan is just trying to get a few new followers lol

 

[xwalker]

Yea, he's pretty vanilla when it comes to draft stuff.

Mostly, I think Bryan is just trying to get a few new followers lol

It was a great idea when ESPN radio hired an ex NFL scout to be their NFL/Cowboys guru; however, it's unfortunate that he is just not very good at it. He seems a bit lazy and prefers to talk about NASCAR when given the opportunity. When he got hired by the Cowboys, ESPN-radio hired another ex Cowboys scout/coach, Glen Stretch Smith. He is even worse with logic than Broaddus.

 

[Future]

It was a great idea when ESPN radio hired an ex NFL scout to be their NFL/Cowboys guru; however, it's unfortunate that he is just not very good at it. He seems a bit lazy and prefers to talk about NASCAR when given the opportunity. When he got hired by the Cowboys, ESPN-radio hired another ex Cowboys scout/coach, Glen Stretch Smith. He is even worse with logic than Broaddus.

haha, he has said on Twitter that he actually likes Nascar more than football.

 

[tm1119]

It could end up being another trade down scenario if everything falls just right. I'd be perfectly fine with that. This team could desperately use another third rounder.

Also, I find it interesting that Donald's college height is listed as 6' exactly. Think there's a chance he's shorter? How might that affect draft stock for DTs? I can't think of an example offhand but we see it with QBs and LBs all the time, Dat Nguyen being a case in point.

Very possible. Also very possible that his actual playing weight isn't all that close to the 284 they have him listed at. Only time will tell on that. But what I really think could make or break Donald as a high pick is his arm length. Anything below 32" (31" would be normal for a guy his size) is going to turn a lot of scouts away from him, at least as a 1st rounder.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Very possible. Also very possible that his actual playing weight isn't all that close to the 284 they have him listed at. Only time will tell on that. But what I really think could make or break Donald as a high pick is his arm length. Anything below 32" (31" would be normal for a guy his size) is going to turn a lot of scouts away from him, at least as a 1st rounder.

Bingo. Arm length will be huge for him. There are shorter pass rushers who excel (e.g., Freeney, Dumerville), but those guys have disproportionately long arms. If Donald's arm length is equal to that of your average 6'3 DT, then we get the benefit of his low center of gravity without losing "length" to fend off blockers.

 

[supercowboy8]

It's an interesting thought, but supply and demand goes both ways. Lots of teams won't have much early-round interest because of scheme fit. That said, it only takes one. Could Tampa Bay be interested at the top of the second to rotate with McCoy?

That's why if he is there I would like to see dallas trade back alittle.

 

[xwalker]

It could end up being another trade down scenario if everything falls just right. I'd be perfectly fine with that. This team could desperately use another third rounder.

Also, I find it interesting that Donald's college height is listed as 6' exactly. Think there's a chance he's shorter? How might that affect draft stock for DTs? I can't think of an example offhand but we see it with QBs and LBs all the time, Dat Nguyen being a case in point.

At DE, Dumerville was a 4th round pick because he is 5-11.

 

[xwalker]

Bingo. Arm length will be huge for him. There are shorter pass rushers who excel (e.g., Freeney, Dumerville), but those guys have disproportionately long arms. If Donald's arm length is equal to that of your average 6'3 DT, then we get the benefit of his low center of gravity without losing "length" to fend off blockers.

They Cowboys had 2 DLinemen this season that demonstrate the reason arm length is important.

Drake Nevis (31.5) is very quick/athletic, but was not effective because he couldn't get off blocks if he didn't win with his 1st step.

Corvey Irvin (34.75) is not as quick or athletic and is about the same size; however, he was more effective than Nevis at getting off blocks.

 

[AsthmaField]

At DE, Dumerville was a 4th round pick because he is 5-11.

Yeah, at DE being short is even worse than at DT. Playing against OT's when you have short arms is very difficult, at best. Guards and centers have shorter arms themselves, so you can much more easily get away with it at DT.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Reminds me a little of John Randle... I'd gladly take him in Dallas as I stated in the other Donald thread.

 

[Risen Star]

Well that means something when a guy like Bryan Broaddus, who doesn't even know the names of these prospects in December, chimes in with his view of the first round values in January.

I'm going to see if my Mom can confirm this.