Machota: Mayock shares his thoughts on several possible Cowboys draft targets

[Alexander]

Mike Mayock shares his thoughts on several possible Dallas Cowboys draft targets
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By Jon Machota
jmachota@***BANNED-URL***
5:55 pm on February 19, 2014 |


NFL draft guru Mike Mayock spent nearly three hours on Tuesday taking questions from reporters about this year’s draft class. Although he specifically didn’t talk about the Dallas Cowboys, Mayock did have some good news for Cowboys fans.
Mayock, an NFL Network draft analyst, called this year’s draft class the best he has seen in probably 10 years.
Why is that good news for the Cowboys? Well, because having little to no salary cap space to sign free agents means the majority of offseason upgrades will come via the draft.

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...l-possible-dallas-cowboys-draft-targets.html/

 

[jterrell]

good share. i like mayock a lot. has both good connections and lots of access to tape.

 

[BigStar]

Thanks for these draft articles Alex.

Mayock really likes Ealy and sees Donald/Hageman as later rd1 picks (maybe after slight trade down)? Pryor seems to be like an interesting pick but it seems this team would benefit more from Clinton-Dix as a centerfielder type of S. The value in tackles goes deep and would really like the team to snag one (3-4 rd) if possible to supplant Free (FA next year). This draft is stacked with talent.

 

[Alexander]

This draft is stacked with talent.

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert is saying it is the best group he has seen in 30 years, but also the most immature.

 

[BigStar]

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert is saying it is the best group he has seen in 30 years, but also the most immature.

Immature? That is an odd statement...just in general (how would this be established)? I guess a lot of knuckle heads amongst the group?

 

[Alexander]

Immature? That is an odd statement...just in general (how would this be established)? I guess a lot of knuckle heads amongst the group?

Either that or just the sheer number of young underclassmen. I do not see any more problem children in this draft than any other year.

 

[LatinMind]

Thanks for these draft articles Alex.

Mayock really likes Ealy and sees Donald/Hageman as later rd1 picks (maybe after slight trade down)? Pryor seems to be like an interesting pick but it seems this team would benefit more from Clinton-Dix as a centerfielder type of S. The value in tackles goes deep and would really like the team to snag one (3-4 rd) if possible to supplant Free (FA next year). This draft is stacked with talent.

Mayock is the only guy that iv heard call Dix centerfield type material. All you have to do is watch the texas A&M game to see he is not that type of guy. Or watch any game with a passing offense. WRs regularly get behind him

 

[reddyuta]

Thanks for these draft articles Alex.

Mayock really likes Ealy and sees Donald/Hageman as later rd1 picks (maybe after slight trade down)? Pryor seems to be like an interesting pick but it seems this team would benefit more from Clinton-Dix as a centerfielder type of S. The value in tackles goes deep and would really like the team to snag one (3-4 rd) if possible to supplant Free (FA next year). This draft is stacked with talent.

My take is that both Dix and Pryor can play single high but I prefer Pryor.

 

[jterrell]

Mayock is the only guy that iv heard call Dix centerfield type material. All you have to do is watch the texas A&M game to see he is not that type of guy. Or watch any game with a passing offense. WRs regularly get behind him

Not sure I fully buy that.
I agree that Mayock seems far more enamored of Dix as a pure center fielder than most but WRs hardly torched him.
In the TAMU game the completed passes were all the way against the sideline and executed with a top 15 pick at WR and a top 15 pick at QB.

I think Dallas has to consider Pryor/Dix at 16 if they can't trade down for better D value.
Not sure Jernigan is there and it is probably a bit of a reach to nab any other DL in this 4-3 system at 16 though Donald is really tempting.

 

[LatinMind]

Not sure I fully buy that.
I agree that Mayock seems far more enamored of Dix as a pure center fielder than most but WRs hardly torched him.
In the TAMU game the completed passes were all the way against the sideline and executed with a top 15 pick at WR and a top 15 pick at QB.

I think Dallas has to consider Pryor/Dix at 16 if they can't trade down for better D value.
Not sure Jernigan is there and it is probably a bit of a reach to nab any other DL in this 4-3 system at 16 though Donald is really tempting.

Ok so he was going up against guys that are equal to him. And he was torched. you dont think he's going to face that in the nfl?

 

[Gaede]

Mayock's specialty is DBs. We shouldn't eliminate from consideration HaHa because of the Texas A&M game. I think Pryor is better but Clinton-Dix is a good prospect as well

 

[jterrell]

Ok so he was going up against guys that are equal to him. And he was torched. you dont think he's going to face that in the nfl?

Not sure how anyone can watch the Dallas safeties all year then believe Dix was EVER torched....

Bama gave up 180 yards per game passing this year which was one of the best totals in the country and was an average half for the Dallas Cowboys secondary.

Evans had one heck of a game and Dix certainly didn't shut that down but again the big plays were right to the sideline and plays only a few safeties in college football history make over a 6'5" Wr.

I will gladly take a guy who can play center field and cover 90% of the field. .
I will ask my CBs to handle that other 5% on each side.

 

[Nirvana]

Thanks for these draft articles Alex.

Mayock really likes Ealy and sees Donald/Hageman as later rd1 picks (maybe after slight trade down)? Pryor seems to be like an interesting pick but it seems this team would benefit more from Clinton-Dix as a centerfielder type of S. The value in tackles goes deep and would really like the team to snag one (3-4 rd) if possible to supplant Free (FA next year). This draft is stacked with talent.

Interestingly, Broaddus is very down on Ealy.

 

[Alexander]

Mayock's specialty is DBs. We shouldn't eliminate from consideration HaHa because of the Texas A&M game. I think Pryor is better but Clinton-Dix is a good prospect as well

It may be his specialty, but he is not any more accurate with his rankings with them than any other position.

 

[LatinMind]

Not sure how anyone can watch the Dallas safeties all year then believe Dix was EVER torched....

Bama gave up 180 yards per game passing this year which was one of the best totals in the country and was an average half for the Dallas Cowboys secondary.

Evans had one heck of a game and Dix certainly didn't shut that down but again the big plays were right to the sideline and plays only a few safeties in college football history make over a 6'5" Wr.

I will gladly take a guy who can play center field and cover 90% of the field. .
I will ask my CBs to handle that other 5% on each side.

What does Dallas' safeties have to do with Dix?

And in Dallas defense, that high safety needs to get to the sidelines consistently. As we saw Heath was normally late and the outcome was exactly what happened to Dix in that A&M game. Am i right?

Granted i think the team needed to cover longer because of a passrush that was lacking the rush. But knowing that, i would feel alot more comfortable with whats in Dallas with an improved Passrush.

 

[jterrell]

What does Dallas' safeties have to do with Dix?

And in Dallas defense, that high safety needs to get to the sidelines consistently. As we saw Heath was normally late and the outcome was exactly what happened to Dix in that A&M game. Am i right?

Granted i think the team needed to cover longer because of a passrush that was lacking the rush. But knowing that, i would feel alot more comfortable with whats in Dallas with an improved Passrush.

the short answer is no to all.
you are pretty far off on a non-existent tangent.

 

[Verdict]

What really concerns me about this draft is that the talking heads don't seem to indicate that there is any top end defensive line talent in the draft other than Clowney. Everyone else would seen to be a second rounder in every other year other than this year. Our arguably biggest need doesn't really line up with the available talent in the first round.

I say don't force the pick. Don't get cute. Take the BPA at #16, or trade back. It wouldn't hurt my feelings to see us trade back in the first round or to early in the second round and pick up a second and a third rounder in the trade back.

 

[Alexander]

What really concerns me about this draft is that the talking heads don't seem to indicate that there is any top end defensive line talent in the draft other than Clowney. Everyone else would seen to be a second rounder in every other year other than this year. Our arguably biggest need doesn't really line up with the available talent in the first round

That is not exactly true. There is a lot of buzz that Mack and Barr could go top 10. Ealy is considered middle first. Then you have others like Dee Ford, Crichton, Jeffcoat and Lawrence from the late first/second on. It is not any worse than any other year. I think the DT talent fits what we need, which is 3-technique. Now if I were a 3-4 team in desperate need for a nose tackle, I would be a little concerned.

 

[jterrell]

What really concerns me about this draft is that the talking heads don't seem to indicate that there is any top end defensive line talent in the draft other than Clowney. Everyone else would seen to be a second rounder in every other year other than this year. Our arguably biggest need doesn't really line up with the available talent in the first round.

I say don't force the pick. Don't get cute. Take the BPA at #16, or trade back. It wouldn't hurt my feelings to see us trade back in the first round or to early in the second round and pick up a second and a third rounder in the trade back.

It does seem as if the DL talent fit is hard to identify at 16.
Basically one guy 'seems' to fit well there: Jernigan. And he is usually penciled in to the Bears at 14.

The combine may shift thoughts and ideas but it is tough to get DL because you do have to overpay for them in the draft.
DTs are the most aggressively recruited position in college football and DL overall one of most overvalued on draft boards.
TONS of Round 1 DL that are back ups.

If I can't get a trade down I'd seriously consider a Safety or faller at 16.

 

[jterrell]

That is not exactly true. There is a lot of buzz that Mack and Barr could go top 10. Ealy is considered middle first. Then you have others like Dee Ford, Crichton, Jeffcoat and Lawrence from the late first/second on. It is not any worse than any other year.

Only issue is 75% of your list is LB.

Ealy had near zero production at Missou. He was no where near as impactful as Sam.
Jeffcoat is just not real good TBH. He's a solid player but really not elite in any area.

The DL group is not overly impressive, especially at 4-3 DE.