Partly this thing is on the coaches. Particularly in the salary cap era, it is nearly impossible to stock every position with youth and talent. The Cowboys appear to have said, with their actions, that the draft was stronger at RB, CB, even TE (at least where one player was concerned). But they might have been saying something else...
Dallas appears to have more confidence in its young wideouts than it did in Julius Jones, Anthony Fasano, Nate Jones and/or Jacques Reeves. Obviously, part of the deal is that Jones, Jones and Reeves entered free agency, but they were not bank-breakers. The Cowboys could have signed them... certainly most of them.
Dallas maybe was saying, "We like Stanback, Hurd, Austin et al more than we like Reeves and Nate Jones."
That might be a good bet. The coaches seem to like Stanback, especially.
Now it's on the coaches to, um, coach. Coach them up. Look how the Giants coached up the RB position last year. Look how the Pats have covered in the past for losses in the secondary. Look how the Colts brought a rookie left tackle up to speed.
Dallas is in a lot of trouble if it loses TO, as any team likely would be. But it can't suck its collective thumb and go home. Games still must be played. It's on the coaches to get these young guys ready to do at least a credible job.
I have no disagreement with drafting players other than at the wideout position if there was agreement among parties that the position was thin. Would I have felt better if Dallas had traded up to get Limas Sweed? On paper, I probably would. But if Bennett were to become another Antonio Gates, and if Sweed were to become another Sinorice Moss, the team would be the poorer for it.
Draft the best talent possible. Coach up as much as possible the lesser talent. Pray that the injury gods are kind. That's about it, I think.
