Getting a legit FS is just as big a need as getting Dline help

[CowboysLaw87]

I completely disagree on Dix being a better cover guy. Watch the bowl game, he got smoked several times in coverage. I think Pryor, Ward and Brooks are better in coverage the Dix

This may sound unclear, but Dix is more of a "range" guy than a "coverage" guy. He's not necessarily someone you want to play a lot of man with, but he's very capable of closing space quickly. It's actually the primary thing Earl Thomas brings to the Seattle D... Chancellor is used to run with TE's more often, and Thomas is the "eliminator" or "space eater" that allows the other 10 guys to do things they otherwise couldn't (because Thomas has more space "covered" than a typical FS).

 

[KDM256]

I agree with the OP 100% with this topic, Everybody wanna harp on DLINE DLINE DLINE, Yes we can all pretty much agree with the fact that Dallas DL needs improvement in that area but Marinelli pretty much made street corner guys productive within our scheme last year. On top of that we get guys back into rotation that were hurt/IR last year.
DLinemen in this draft is way deeper than the Safety Position, I would rather us address this issue now with a great pick with Clinton-Dix/Pryor and have our shot with DLinemen inthe 2nd & 3rd & 6th rounds in this draft.
I trust Marinelli more to coach up our mid round DL draft picks more so than I trust than I trust Jerome Henderson to coach up mid/late round safety picks. Not a shot at Henderson either but if we picked up Clinton-Dix/Pryor (FS) to go along with Barry Church at (SS) with Carr, Scandrick, Claiborne.... Thats a pretty good secondary and make life alot easier for him IMO.

 

[reddyuta]

This may sound unclear, but Dix is more of a "range" guy than a "coverage" guy. He's not necessarily someone you want to play a lot of man with, but he's very capable of closing space quickly. It's actually the primary thing Earl Thomas brings to the Seattle D... Chancellor is used to run with TE's more often, and Thomas is the "eliminator" or "space eater" that allows the other 10 guys to do things they otherwise couldn't (because Thomas has more space "covered" than a typical FS).

well we dont have anybody who can run with TEs either.

 

[4lifecowboy]

I completely disagree on Dix being a better cover guy. Watch the bowl game, he got smoked several times in coverage. I think Pryor, Ward and Brooks are better in coverage the Dix

Pryor is my first option as well.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

well we dont have anybody who can run with TEs either.

We can't have a dime at every position. A really quality FS is a rarity (maybe 2 in an average draft). Other guys like Church, Wilcox, Heath, Holloman, Carter have to pick up the slack in the short/intermediate game. My point is that those guys can be more aggressive and play to their strengths if they have a stud covering their back at FS. Chancellor benefits from having Thomas behind him... he can play with confidence to land his jam or undercut a route because he knows if the WR/TE gets over the top of him, the league's best FS will clean up his mess.

That's a bit simplistic, and I still prefer to address the DL if an equal quality prospect is there, but the OP's point is well taken here.

 

[bodi]

Pryor is my first option as well.

true enuf he would bring Attitude to this team

 

[HellCrowe]

The stronger our DL gets the better it will make our secondary look. Get some quality DL and a quality LB so we can actually stop the run without safety help. There is no reason for Church to be one of our leading tacklers (135). But if we see a Safety worth taking in the 1st or 2nd I wouldn't be opposed to it. I just prefer taking a chance on shoring up the trenches in the first few rounds. Nevertheless when our safety is making 135 tackles it goes to show you how poor our whole defense is.

A late round gem who I'd like to pick up late is Dontae Johnson from NCState. Another CB turned safety but has also seen time at LB and had good reviews at the senior bowl. Go in with Wilcox, Church, Dontae, Heath, Johnson, and a FA to fight it out.

 

[jobberone]

Missing my point. I believe upgrading the D L is a need, a priority even. All I'm saying is getting an impact safety decreases significantly after the top two are gone. We can find a starting lineman in the second round for sure and possibly going into third as well. Not to mention a middle of the road free agent like Joseph or Melton would ease the desperation as well.

I agree. Safety is a good bet these days even at 16ish. You take the BPA out of LB, S, CB, DL, pass rusher and I'd even throw a WR in there although they'd have to be really dynamite. If a playmaker falls you always have to consider it.

 

[jnday]

I hope the team goes with the BPA instead of approaching the draft with a DL only attitude. I am not crazy about the DL draft prospects and I don't want to see a reach. It seems every DL prospect has some big question about their talent.

 

[Parcells4Life]

No way, Kyle Wilber, Tyrone Crawford, Ben Bass, and Wilcox/Heath are going to save our D.

But to respond to the thread topic......I agree that it's a big need, but I think it can be filled without using a premium pick or big $. Clemons or Gamble in free agency should be fairly reasonable contracts, or Jimmie Ward or Terrance Brooks in the 3rd/4th would be more than enough to adequately fill the position in my opinion.

We can't keep just throwing 3rd/4th round picks at the position. That's what we've done the last 2 years in Johnson and Wilcox. Get PLAYERS not prospects.

 

[tm1119]

We can't keep just throwing 3rd/4th round picks at the position. That's what we've done the last 2 years in Johnson and Wilcox. Get PLAYERS not prospects.

You can't even compare Wilcox and Johnson. They were D2 guys. I'm talking about proven college studs who proved it on the biggest stages. Ward and Brooks are short or they'd be much higher picks

 

[casmith07]

This is not a good college safety draft.

We missed the boat on them the last handful of years because of different areas we needed to focus on for the draft.

We need to continue to build from the outside in. Obviously if there was a surefire, second coming of Woody at 16 I would say to go for it, but that would have to be with the understanding that we're probably going to be atrocious rushing the passer for 16 games again, and likely struggle to finish above .500 again.

The only players I would take at 16 without moving other than a DT or DE at this point are either Sammy Watkins or Kelvin Benjamin.

 

[jobberone]

This is not a good college safety draft.

We missed the boat on them the last handful of years because of different areas we needed to focus on for the draft.

We need to continue to build from the outside in. Obviously if there was a surefire, second coming of Woody at 16 I would say to go for it, but that would have to be with the understanding that we're probably going to be atrocious rushing the passer for 16 games again, and likely struggle to finish above .500 again.

The only players I would take at 16 without moving other than a DT or DE at this point are either Sammy Watkins or Kelvin Benjamin.

I'd take either of those receivers in a heartbeat. Unlikely to happen but you never know. Safety is a very good risk in the draft lately but you're right; they have to deserve a first round pick. You can get a good safety in the 2-3rd, too. I'd look for someone with speed who is reasonably tall and long. I do wonder if they think they have someone in either Wilcox or Johnson. I realize Johnson is a joke around here but they really like this guy. If he can be healthy then between Wilcox and Johnson you just might find a FS.

 

[VACowboy]

This is not a good college safety draft.

We missed the boat on them the last handful of years because of different areas we needed to focus on for the draft.

We need to continue to build from the outside in. Obviously if there was a surefire, second coming of Woody at 16 I would say to go for it, but that would have to be with the understanding that we're probably going to be atrocious rushing the passer for 16 games again, and likely struggle to finish above .500 again.

The only players I would take at 16 without moving other than a DT or DE at this point are either Sammy Watkins or Kelvin Benjamin.

Focusing on any position in the draft is a huge mistake, IMHO. There are a bunch of players I'd take over "the best remaining DL," if any of them are still on the board when we're up. Barr and Khalil Mack are just as likely to be there at 16 as Watkins, and I'd take either of them over any DT in this draft.

 

[4lifecowboy]

Focusing on any position in the draft is a huge mistake, IMHO. There are a bunch of players I'd take over "the best remaining DL," if any of them are still on the board when we're up. Barr and Khalil Mack are just as likely to be there at 16 as Watkins, and I'd take either of them over any DT in this draft.

The point I was trying to make, I used FS as another position that could be addressed with the first round, but that philosophy extends to almost every position; at least on the defensive side of the ball. Once again not opposed to taking a DL with the first pick, but believe we can still find one or two impact linemen in the later rounds. After the first two safeties are gone the drop off is significant not so much with the Defensive line man.

I also disagree that there aren't any good safeties in this draft. I think Dix or Pryor could impact the defense as much as Vaccaro impacted the Saints or Reid impacted the 49ers.

If a player like Barr fell to us at 16 we shouldn't waste no time getting our card to the commissioner.

 

[conner01]

the dline guys will drop off just as much after the first round and well before we pick in the 2nd. i would love a stud safety but i think people are forgetting we are losing our most productvie dlienman and no rookie is gonna match his production. but if you think the secondary struggled last year, go into this year with even less of a pass rush and you will see a repeat or worse. we have to fix the dline and not with just one pick. we need a couple of guys. safety is an issue but atleast we have some young guys there who may develope. we don't have that on the dline and if the dline is weaker next year than this year we will be an even worse team

 

[4lifecowboy]

the dline guys will drop off just as much after the first round and well before we pick in the 2nd. i would love a stud safety but i think people are forgetting we are losing our most productvie dlienman and no rookie is gonna match his production. but if you think the secondary struggled last year, go into this year with even less of a pass rush and you will see a repeat or worse. we have to fix the dline and not with just one pick. we need a couple of guys. safety is an issue but atleast we have some young guys there who may develope. we don't have that on the dline and if the dline is weaker next year than this year we will be an even worse team

There is no hope for improvement from within with the defensive secondary, the dline on the other hand should have two possibly three(if spencer returns) guys returning to the rotation next year. A DT capable of getting a push up the middle would be a welcomed addition to this unit, and im not opposed to trading back up to the late first or early second to get one, but lets not kid ourselves the odds of getting a stud Dlineman in the later rounds are way higher than finding that impact safety. Look no further than our own roster for the proof in that theory. Hatcher, Ratliff, and Canty all were 4th rounders or less.

 

[Macnalty]

I completely disagree on Dix being a better cover guy. Watch the bowl game, he got smoked several times in coverage. I think Pryor, Ward and Brooks are better in coverage the Dix

I agree the bowl game was not a highlight reel for him, but during the season he was very good and in the SEC vs AAC for Pryor, I agree that Pryor brings a larger hammer to the table not ready to concede a better coverage guy IMO.

 

[Macnalty]

I agree the bowl game was not a highlight reel for him, but during the season he was very good and in the SEC vs AAC for Pryor, I agree that Pryor brings a larger hammer to the table not ready to concede a better coverage guy IMO.

Upon further inspection I watched more of Pryor I admit that he can cover as well if not better than Dix, on the flip side Dix seems to be around the ball more on all plays Either one improves the defense IMO.

 

[Alexander]

While I agree with the general premise, I do not believe the Cowboys agree. Especially Marinelli and/or Kiffin.

Just take a look at who the Buccaneers and Bears drafted to play safety. Most of the time it was a middle round choice, rarely a top choice. Even John Lynch was a third round selection.