Jaylon Smith and the knee jerk reaction to Rolando McClain

[darthseinfeld]

In the wake of the McClain suspension, Ive been reading some venom over the Smith pick. I think its a bit short sighted and misguided.

I wouldnt have picked Smith personally, and I derided the pick when it happened (called it terrible which was admittingly knee jerk). But Smith or any draft pick for that matter should have little to do with what happended with McClain this offseason, even if they knew it was going to happen. You dont force a pick to cover a potential short term problem. You make to pick to assemble the most talented roster you can.

As far as covering McClain. The people asking " Who is out there we can sign/trade for" are much closer to the point. To cover that hole you want a known quantity. Your definitely not going to get an All Pro, but teams almost never emerge from this situation with an All Pro in tow. Similarly people hoping Hitchens or even Wilson to step in effectively have the right idea as well. We drafted 2 LBs in the 4th round the last 2 years. Maybe thats where we need to look for an immediate replacement.

As far as Smith, Im gonna echo Risen's sentiments on the pick. Its pure talent acquisition. Its adding the best talent you can for your draft pick. Whether you agree with ths pick or not, its a good personel policy. The value of the pick is not in its immediate returns

 

[jazzcat22]

So did Dallas cover their picks last year in signing Gregory to cover for Hardy. As they knew Hardy was going to be suspended. Or did they truly think taking a chance on this guy in the 2nd round was worth the long term help....but yet where is Gregory...suspended.....

I know that is a far reach form what you are saying, and I understand what you are saying.
But the reality is, we have TWO 2nd round draft picks that are not helping the team. Especially when we need it the most.

 

[darthseinfeld]

So did Dallas cover their picks last year in signing Gregory to cover for Hardy. As they knew Hardy was going to be suspended. Or did they truly think taking a chance on this guy in the 2nd round was worth the long term help....but yet where is Gregory...suspended.....

I know that is a far reach form what you are saying, and I understand what you are saying.
But the reality is, we have TWO 2nd round draft picks that are not helping the team. Especially when we need it the most.

I did defend there startegy, so I did open myself up to that criticism. They seem to have taken to a strategy of gambling on talent with that 2nd round pick. I think the Smith pick was a more sound gamble then the Gregory pick personally. They had( assumption) much more intimate knowledge on Smith then Gregory. Im hoping they learn from the Gregory situation and look more at the liklihood that the reasons the pick was such a gamble in the first place dont resurface

 

[jazzcat22]

Yes, hope this all works out for them. But it may be more lucky than smart.........
I can see the gamble on Smith in a way, as well as Gregory. The upside on both can be tremendous. But when you claim you want a SB for tony, yet don't take the help now players. Just does not make sense.
They gamble enough on later round picks that have not worked out yet. But now 2 years in a row on 2nd round picks. Just doesn't seem right.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Yes, hope this all works out for them. But it may be more lucky than smart.........
I can see the gamble on Smith in a way, as well as Gregory. The upside on both can be tremendous. But when you claim you want a SB for tony, yet don't take the help now players. Just does not make sense.
They gamble enough on later round picks that have not worked out yet. But now 2 years in a row on 2nd round picks. Just doesn't seem right.

Gregory probably should have been a day 3 pick in hindsight with how much of a risk he was to fail a drug test. Pass rushers blind people though. Too bad he blinded us.

I wouldnt have done the Smith pick myself. With that capitol and how the draft played out I would have taken a player at a money position like WR or CB ( Thomas or Alexander)

I think the " Super Bowl for Tony" is alot of fan speak. I think they are saying it to get the fans to believe thats the goal. I really believe they take a QB at 4 if Wentz or Goff fell, and they tried like hell to get Lynch. I think there eyes are more towards the future then the present, although the Elliott pick sure does skew that

 

[vlad]

I think criticism has to do with our atrocious record on 2nd round picks recently. In the past ten years this talent acquisition strategy we are supposedly playing with high risk/reward has resulted in Sean Lee...one of my favorites but he's been around about 50% of the time. The 2nd best pick in that window never realized anything with us, Marty B. The 3rd best is who, Anthony Fasano? Maybe, Bruce? I don't say Lawrence because he carries at minimum as asterisk if you even count him at all since he cost a 3rd round pick as well. 3 TE whiffs in there, that's unbelievable when we had arguably the best 2 or 3 TEs in the game during that time.

That was the Romo window - and we've blown it in terms of adding pieces when you what turned out to be a legit capable young QB to build around.

Note this post has more to do with history than just this last 2nd round pick...of course we all hope he turns out to be amazing. Those numbers are the overall pick they were taken.

2006 Anthony Fasano 53 TE
2008 Martellus Bennett 61 TE
2010 Sean Lee 55 LB
2011 Bruce Carter 40 LB
2013 Gavin Escobar 47 TE
2014 Demarcus Lawrence 34 DE
2015 Randy Gregory 60DE

 

[speedkilz88]

So did Dallas cover their picks last year in signing Gregory to cover for Hardy. As they knew Hardy was going to be suspended. Or did they truly think taking a chance on this guy in the 2nd round was worth the long term help....but yet where is Gregory...suspended.....

I know that is a far reach form what you are saying, and I understand what you are saying.
But the reality is, we have TWO 2nd round draft picks that are not helping the team. Especially when we need it the most.

All indications are that they were going RB in the second round last year but they went with Gregory when he fell.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I think criticism has to do with our atrocious record on 2nd round picks recently. In the past ten years this talent acquisition strategy we are supposedly playing with high risk/reward has resulted in Sean Lee...one of my favorites but he's been around about 50% of the time. The 2nd best pick in that window never realized anything with us, Marty B. The 3rd best is who, Anthony Fasano? Maybe, Bruce? I don't say Lawrence because he carries at minimum as asterisk if you even count him at all since he cost a 3rd round pick as well. 3 TE whiffs in there, that's unbelievable when we had arguably the best 2 or 3 TEs in the game during that time.

That was the Romo window - and we've blown it in terms of adding pieces when you what turned out to be a legit capable young QB to build around.

Note this post has more to do with history than just this last 2nd round pick...of course we all hope he turns out to be amazing. Those numbers are the overall pick they were taken.

2006 Anthony Fasano 53 TE
2008 Martellus Bennett 61 TE
2010 Sean Lee 55 LB
2011 Bruce Carter 40 LB
2013 Gavin Escobar 47 TE
2014 Demarcus Lawrence 34 DE
2015 Randy Gregory 60DE

As far as the OP is concerned, I dont think there should be much of a connection between our 2nd round pick this year and compensating for McClains suspension. Ive seen clamoring for an ill fit like Ragland or an injured rookie with a short shelf life like Jack. I believe if this the complaint, then the ones making it are looking at both the draft and McClains immediate replacement wrong

 

[darthseinfeld]

All indications are that they were going RB in the second round last year but they went with Gregory when he fell.

I think I heard they wanted Yeldon but he went way earlier then they expected

 

[speedkilz88]

I think I heard they wanted Yeldon but he went way earlier then they expected

I think the miami rb (Duke Johnson) was next man available they liked. Though they did like David Johnson. Tevin Coleman was also available.

 

[casmith07]

Solid post. Jaylon Smith was never intended to replace Rolando McClain this year.

 

[vlad]

As far as the OP is concerned, I dont think there should be much of a connection between our 2nd round pick this year and compensating for McClains suspension. Ive seen clamoring for an ill fit like Ragland or an injured rookie with a short shelf life like Jack. I believe if this the complaint, then the ones making it are looking at both the draft and McClains immediate replacement wrong

I hear you, and that's fair re: OP's topic. I got the impression on draft day after the 2 DEs went before them, and they couldn't find a trade partner they took Smith, moreso than they were hoping he fell to him. Seemed a bit of a panic move, to me. Of course if he hits, then you have this amazing player, but that's the rub - same with Lee, Carter, Gregory..

 

[darthseinfeld]

I hear you, and that's fair re: OP's topic. I got the impression on draft day after the 2 DEs went before them, and they couldn't find a trade partner they took Smith, moreso than they were hoping he fell to him. Seemed a bit of a panic move, to me. Of course if he hits, then you have this amazing player, but that's the rub - same with Lee, Carter, Gregory..

They tries to use Leary to move for Ogbah or Dodd didnt they?

They werent too happy when they lost both. They were in a bad spot DL wise after that because anyone else would have been a 1) Reach 2) Same type of gamble as Gregory

 

[speedkilz88]

They tries to use Leary to move for Ogbah or Dodd didnt they?

They werent too happy when they lost both. They were in a bad spot DL wise after that because anyone else would have been a 1) Reach 2) Same type of gamble as Gregory

From what Broaddus and others have said they tried to move up for Ogbah (not Dodd - they are more interested in REs), but I think it was a draft pick and not Leary involved.

 

[Killerinstinct]

I hated the draft and the offseason was a big blah. It seems like groundhog day to me. A 2nd rd pick that wont contribute(practically a 1st rd pick), a 3rd rd pick with injury problems already, a 1st rd pick that upgrades a position that didn't need upgrading.

Our Dline is in worse shape than this time last year, our LB corp is in worse shape than last year, Carr and Claiborne still being counted on and Church is still the starting safety. Everyone acts like Scandrick is the GOAT when he has hands made of stone but admittedly he is at least not lost out there so having him back assuming he can avoid injury is a plus. Having Jones at FS is an upgrade so at least one position should show some improvement. Yeah!

On offense we are hoping our QB can avoid injury, the Oline is more than solid, we suddenly have a glut of starting caliber RB's but WR 2 is still a sore spot, Dez is more of a questionmark than a sure thing, and the jury seems to be in on Escobar. A waste of a 2nd rd pick. Chaz Green needs to show something or else we also wasted a 3rd rd pick.

The needs going into the offseason in my mind were, DE, CB, SS, WR2, QB2, DT, and LB.

We only improved one of the positions needed and that was the with the lone FA signing. I don't remember Thornton being a stand out player on Philly but he is being paid like one so I hope he performs. He certainly should be an upgrade over the Golden Cock.

I am not a fan of the offseason moves at all but I hope for the best. This is about the least excited I have ever been leading into Training camp but I just hope we don't suffer any injuries but history shows that is unlikely to happen.

 

[plymkr]

I think our RB corp did need upgrading. Maybe not with the 4th overall pick so I agree in part with you. But overall I wouldn't have been happy going into the season with Morris, McFadden, Smith and Dunbar. Especially after McFadden broke his elbow, but he didn't break his elbow saving his cell phone, but he still broke it.

 

[plymkr]

I don't care about McClain as much as I am stressed about not having a solid #2 QB for the second straight year. But I agree with the OP's overall point. Jaylon Smith pick and McClain are two separate issues that shouldn't be compared. Our poor 2nd round picks is a valid complaint and McClain not being smart is a valid complaint but there's not a connection between the two.

I was thinking about this the other day. If Ezekiel and Jaylon pan out. Our draft this year could produce an Adrian Peterson type RB and a Keuchly(sp) type LBer.

Just think how much better the 90's Cowboys would have been if they got Emmitt Smith and Junior Seau in the 1990 draft. Potentially, if things go great and I know that's a big if, but if these two players pan out and be special then this was a really good draft. I'm more worried about Smith panning out, obviously, but it's not too unreasonable to think Zeke may be one of the best RB's in the league behind our offensive line.

 

[JDSmith]

I think criticism has to do with our atrocious record on 2nd round picks recently. In the past ten years this talent acquisition strategy we are supposedly playing with high risk/reward has resulted in Sean Lee...one of my favorites but he's been around about 50% of the time. The 2nd best pick in that window never realized anything with us, Marty B. The 3rd best is who, Anthony Fasano? Maybe, Bruce? I don't say Lawrence because he carries at minimum as asterisk if you even count him at all since he cost a 3rd round pick as well. 3 TE whiffs in there, that's unbelievable when we had arguably the best 2 or 3 TEs in the game during that time.

That was the Romo window - and we've blown it in terms of adding pieces when you what turned out to be a legit capable young QB to build around.

Note this post has more to do with history than just this last 2nd round pick...of course we all hope he turns out to be amazing. Those numbers are the overall pick they were taken.

2006 Anthony Fasano 53 TE
2008 Martellus Bennett 61 TE
2010 Sean Lee 55 LB
2011 Bruce Carter 40 LB
2013 Gavin Escobar 47 TE
2014 Demarcus Lawrence 34 DE
2015 Randy Gregory 60DE

My only issue with the picks is that there are too many Tight Ends. I could see taking 1 in that span, but we nabbed Witten in the 3rd round and he's been OK. I can't see taking 3 TEs when the odds of any of them becoming the starter were exceedingly small. Gregory, Lawrence, Carter and Lee are all solid picks IMO.

 

[big dog cowboy]

My only issue with the picks is that there are too many Tight Ends.

Another way of looking at it is to say we have drafted 1 TE in the last 8 drafts in the 2nd round.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I read the title and for a second I thought, "yes... just what we've been waiting for!"