Jonathan Bales: If there at 18, OLs Warmack, Cooper should be favorites

[jobberone]

Jonathan Bales: If there at 18, OLs Warmack, Cooper should be favorites to come to Dallas; why Cowboys should pass on S Vaccaro

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/incomin..._51.JPG_11-07-2012_UID_STATE_2_1_28210960.JPGhttp://www.***BANNED-URL***/incoming/20130326-ns_14cowsravens_bl_51.jpg_11-07-2012_uid_state_2_1_28210960.jpg.ece/BINARY/w620x413/NS_14COWSRAVENS_BL_51.JPG_11-07-2012_UID_STATE_2_1_28210960.JPG
Brad Loper/Staff Photographer
SportsDayDFW.com's Jon Machota projects the Cowboys' starting lineup on offense and defense for 2013. Note: These are pre-draft projections.

​

Special contributor Jonathan Bales answered your questions about the Cowboys in a chat Wednesday. Here are some highlights.

Randy M ... Who is the better fit of the three safties you name?
Jonathan Bales: Those three safeties--Matt Elam, Phillip Thomas, and Shamarko Thomas--are three guys I really like. I think all of them could potentially play the deep half or underneath zones in the Cowboys' new scheme. They'll probably have Elam rated highest, although I think Phillip Thomas might be the best fit.

Steve the draft pirate ... Yarr! I be seein' lots of folks mocking Chance Warmack to fall to the 'Boys at 18! If be the case, I think they should maybe trade up in the second 5-8 picks and get Larry Warford as well. We would be set with two massive guards for the next decade, and everyone would learn to fear the WARmachine! Your' thoughts, kind sir?

Jonathan Bales: Well, I don't think Warmack will be available at No. 18, but it's certainly possible considering the perceived value of interior linemen. If he or Jonathan Cooper are there, they have to be the favorites to come to Dallas. If that's the case, I don't think you'll see the Cowboys target Warford in the second round because that would mean benching or cutting two veteran guards that they signed to fairly significant deals just last year.

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...llas-why-cowboys-should-pass-on-s-vaccaro.ece

 

[DFWJC]

I agree about Thomas possibly being the best fit at Safety amoung those three. I like all three though. All the more reason to not take Vaccaro in the 1st.

 

[xwalker]

Steve the draft pirate ... Yarr! I be seein' lots of folks mocking Chance Warmack to fall to the 'Boys at 18! If be the case, I think they should maybe trade up in the second 5-8 picks and get Larry Warford as well. We would be set with two massive guards for the next decade, and everyone would learn to fear the WARmachine! Your' thoughts, kind sir?

Jonathan Bales: Well, I don't think Warmack will be available at No. 18, but it's certainly possible considering the perceived value of interior linemen. If he or Jonathan Cooper are there, they have to be the favorites to come to Dallas. If that's the case, I don't think you'll see the Cowboys target Warford in the second round because that would mean benching or cutting two veteran guards that they signed to fairly significant deals just last year.

Warmack and Warford together would be the slowest pair of Guards in the NFL. Many OL schemes can have 1 OG that is the slow but powerful guy; however, having two of those guys together is a recipe for disaster even in a man-blocking scheme.

Average fans think that teams should just get Sumo Wrestlers for OLinemen. They think that run blocking means driving the DL straight backwards and that speed/quickness is just for skill position players.

All many fans know or remember about Larry Allen was his great strength and 700 lbs bench press. They forget or never knew that he was a superior athlete with elite foot speed. When LA was had to retire, it was not because he was not strong enough anymore. He was probably still as strong as anyone. He retired because he lost his foot speed with age.

 

[jobberone]

Warmack and Warford together would be the slowest pair of Guards in the NFL. Many OL schemes can have 1 OG that is the slow but powerful guy; however, having two of those guys together is a recipe for disaster even in a man-blocking scheme.

Average fans think that teams should just get Sumo Wrestlers for OLinemen. They think that run blocking means driving the DL straight backwards and that speed/quickness is just for skill position players.

All many fans know or remember about Larry Allen was his great strength and 700 lbs bench press. They forget or never knew that he was a superior athlete with elite foot speed. When LA was had to retire, it was not because he was not strong enough anymore. He was probably still as strong as anyone. He retired because he lost his foot speed with age.

I agree. You need enough strength but u have to have the balance, speed, agility, foot speed and technique to play. One of the reasons we don't run screens etc is we don't have the personnel.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Warmack is technically sound and if he only has to move in a 5 yard box he is great. He just isn't very fast nor quick and not exceptionally powerful.

Cooper is the better prospect but he is not as technique polished. I watched MD run slant at him over and again and he couldn't get his hands on guys to slow them down.

That being said in terms of man power, agility and speed Cooper has Warmack beat solid.

For that matter I would rather have DJ Fluker than Warmack. He is bigger with longer arms. He is just about as quick as Warmack but you can really tell the difference in power when they are asked to man block. Where Warmack hold his own on iso's, Fluker destroys people 5 yards downfield. I also love the way that Fluker just naturally sits down and leans a little bit as he goes into his stance. The technique is natural.

He also has the better leadership qualities but he strikes me as a bit dumb. Can't really say for certain on brief interview blurbs. Fluker can be slid in at RG or RT to boot.

Star
Richardson
Cooper
Fluker
Warmack
Vaccaro

That's the Fuzzy short draft board for 18.

 

[xwalker]

Warmack is technically sound and if he only has to move in a 5 yard box he is great. He just isn't very fast nor quick and not exceptionally powerful.

Cooper is the better prospect but he is not as technique polished. I watched MD run slant at him over and again and he couldn't get his hands on guys to slow them down.

That being said in terms of man power, agility and speed Cooper has Warmack beat solid.

For that matter I would rather have DJ Fluker than Warmack. He is bigger with longer arms. He is just about as quick as Warmack but you can really tell the difference in power when they are asked to man block. Where Warmack hold his own on iso's, Fluker destroys people 5 yards downfield. I also love the way that Fluker just naturally sits down and leans a little bit as he goes into his stance. The technique is natural.

He also has the better leadership qualities but he strikes me as a bit dumb. Can't really say for certain on brief interview blurbs. Fluker can be slid in at RG or RT to boot.

Star
Richardson
Cooper
Fluker
Warmack
Vaccaro

That's the Fuzzy short draft board for 18.

Fluker ran a faster forty than Warmack (5.31 vs 5.49). They had the exact same 10-yard time.

I personally think that Cooper is hands down a better NFL prospect than any of the Alabama OLinemen.