Looking Back: Tyron Smith or JJ Watt?

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think you are in a win situation whoever you chose.
It's ok to argue and debate if this or that player was the better choice for a team and sometimes I think it is a clear cut choice.

With these two...you can't go wrong choosing either.

 

[dfense]

Watt eventually cost a lot more money. Tyronasaur signed a long term cap friendly contract.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I was all in on Watt, but even I never in my wildest dreams thought he would be what he is now. Having said all that, Smith can have a career as a fifteen year top three annual LT. That is an amazing return on the pick.

 

[benson]

What good would having a JJ Watt do our team when Romo has 2 seconds to throw the ball and RB's are getting tackled in the backfield.

Just about the same success Watt has brought the Texans, nothing.

 

[cowboyuptx]

What good would having a JJ Watt do our team when Romo has 2 seconds to throw the ball and RB's are getting tackled in the backfield.

Just about the same success Watt has brought the Texans, nothing.

What good having a "dominant" LT if Romo Keeps getting injured despite his presence? At least if we had Watt, we'd be better prepared for the times when Romo's out...

And as a Cowboy fan, you should know better than to judge a players value based on his team's success or failure, unless you're also a Romo hater... Again, the offense never had that much difficulty moving the ball and scoring a decent amount of points even before we had the "all-world OL"... We did have a problem with Romo running for his life and ultimately getting injured, and what do ya know, we still have that same problem.

 

[hornitosmonster]

What good having a "dominant" LT if Romo Keeps getting injured despite his presence? At least if we had Watt, we'd be better prepared for the times when Romo's out...

And as a Cowboy fan, you should know better than to judge a players value based on his team's success or failure, unless you're also a Romo hater... Again, the offense never had that much difficulty moving the ball and scoring a decent amount of points even before we had the "all-world OL"... We did have a problem with Romo running for his life and ultimately getting injured, and what do ya know, we still have that same problem.

Help is coming. Gregory, Hardy, and Ro will be back soon. Romo and Dez will return as well. This season is far from over if you are in Dallas. If you are in Houston you have no chance (even with JJ)

 

[perrykemp]

Mr. Smith please... I really like that Watt guy but a stud LT is more valuable when you have a franchise QB to protect. IJS

How about this.

Cowboys take Watt in 2011 and then draft a LT in the 1st round in 2012 instead of Mo.....

 

[btcutter]

I <believe> Watt is the only player in the modern era, since they started counting sacks as an official statistic, to have more than 20 sack season more than once (he has 2 of them).

8 just isn't possible, but it wouldn't shock me if he had a couple more.

Watts is more of an impact player than Demarcus Ware. That's saying a lot.
You can't pass up that type of defensive talent.

LT can be neutralized in some ways.

Great pass rushers can be moved around and must be accounted for on every defensive snap.

 

[btcutter]

How about this.

Cowboys take Watt in 2011 and then draft a LT in the 1st round in 2012 instead of Mo.....

wait....Mo is balling now...actually our best DB.

 

[perrykemp]

wait....Mo is balling now...actually our best DB.

Yes, but little good that did the team in 2012-2013 when Mo was struggling mightily and the team was stuck at 8-8.

I am happy that Mo, miraculously in his contract year, is finally not stinking up the joint. The team NEEDS him to keep it up this year. Cross fingers.

 

[VACowboy]

In a vacuum, it's Watt, all day, every day. He's one of the best players to enter the league in the last quarter century. But I don't think JJ can have the same dominant effect on games that Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White did. The rules favor the offense so much these days that a great defensive player just isn't the game-changing force he used to be. So while a sure fire first ballot Hall of Fame defensive end is better than a left tackle who's top-ten among current offensive linemen, I'm not sure he's more valuable.

 

[calico]

Sucks watt is wasting his prime years on the Texans. Guy deserves better.

 

[btcutter]

In a vacuum, it's Watt, all day, every day. He's one of the best players to enter the league in the last quarter century. But I don't think JJ can have the same dominant effect on games that Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White did. The rules favor the offense so much these days that a great defensive player just isn't the game-changing force he used to be. So while a sure fire first ballot Hall of Fame defensive end is better than a left tackle who's top-ten among current offensive linemen, I'm not sure he's more valuable.

I disagree. Just look at most drafts. Impact DL get over drafted every year.

I take Hall of Fame DL over Hall of Fame OL every time with unless it's a borderline *** DL player.

Reggie White and Taylor were also surrounded by other great defensive players or/and very good offenses. Watts isn't getting any help.

 

[Garrettop]

Maybe if Clowney would stop clowning.

 

[foofighters]

jj watt. it's ok guys to admit it.

and if we would have beaten ATL, you'd be saying the opposite. NFL fans are a fickle bunch. lol.

 

[physeter]

Looking back on it, who would you rather have?

Would Romo's career be over had we not drafted Smith when we did by way of taking more hits and sacks?

Would JJ Watt be on the same level on our team?

I know this has been covered before, I just find it to be interesting.

Best (arguably) LT in the NFL, or best DT in the NFL?

JJ Who?

 

[VACowboy]

I disagree. Just look at most drafts. Impact DL get over drafted every year.

I take Hall of Fame DL over Hall of Fame OL every time with unless it's a borderline *** DL player.

Reggie White and Taylor were also surrounded by other great defensive players or/and very good offenses. Watts isn't getting any help.

Could be. I don't know the answer. But I do think I'm safe in saying the rules prevent great defensive players from having the impact they used to. I think the way the rules disallow contact with receivers and QB's these days, they probably reduce the value of the "franchise" LT, too.

 

[KJJ]

This has come up a number of times and I would take Watt over Tyron in a heartbeat. Watt is the most dominate defensive player in the league and is better than Demarcus Ware ever was. The guy can do it all If he can continue his level of play for another few years he may go down as the greatest defensive player in history. The Cowboys OL would still be solid without Tyron to get to the next level they need a disruptive force on the DL and you can do no better than JJ Watt. The Cowboys haven't gotten past the divisional round of the playoffs in 20 years primarily because of their defense.

 

[KJJ]

Of course they'd say Watt now because they have never had a QB actually worth protecting, but if they had one I'd be curious what they'd say.

Carr was worth protecting they gave up the #1 overall pick for him and the biggest regret most in their front office had was not building a solid OL around him. He was beaten up so much it destroyed his confidence. He got sacked 68 times in 2005 if that's not a record he has to be close.

 

[TheCoolFan]

Watt might be an All-Time Great. It's not even about Tyron, if the league re-did the 2011 Draft, Watt probably goes #1 overall ahead of Tyron, Julio Jones, Cam Newton, Von Miller, etc.