Mock Draft on ESPN Last night

[Aven8]

I've heard there is definitely at least 1 player that they really like but that is not on the list of players that they've had contact with.

Leonard Williams???

 

[Tobal]

Where are you hearing this? Link?

They've mentioned it on some of the DallasCowboys.com shows more than once and more than one person. Doesn't mean it's true

 

[xwalker]

Leonard Williams???

I should have specified, a player that is likely to be available for them to pick.

 

[Tobal]

DT pressure is the key to stopping great QB's if they don't value the position they are doing it wrong. I can see that they might not like some players better than our players, but I'm not buying that they don't value the position.

 

[xwalker]

Where are you hearing this? Link?

They've mentioned it on some of the DallasCowboys.com shows more than once and more than one person. Doesn't mean it's true

I didn't hear it from the Cowboys media guys. My brother's wife's uncle's cousin's neighbor works for the Cowboys.

 

[texbumthelife]

DT pressure is the key to stopping great QB's if they don't value the position they are doing it wrong. I can see that they might not like some players better than our players, but I'm not buying that they don't value the position.

I think they see Crawford as that player. It's the other DT position they don't value. They don't believe in drafting a guy high to stand there and basically just sustain and eat double teams.

 

[Stash]

LOL.
I have seen zero indication Dallas would draft a DT in round 1 even if it was Randy White reincarnated.

I just don't think they value the position and I believe they like their DTs more than the fans do.
They also like Crawford quite a lot and think DTs should be rotated frequently.

Dallas had a pretty clear pattern to the visitors: CB/RB/DE.

I think early targets will be fairly concentrated in those positions.

I completely agree with you on this.

 

[Tobal]

I think they see Crawford as that player. It's the other DT position they don't value. They don't believe in drafting a guy high to stand there and basically just sustain and eat double teams.

who backs up or replaces Crawford if he's injured?

 

[jterrell]

Let's wait until he gets to Hatchers level before we call him a souped up Hatcher.

To me he is a ok talent that is injury prone.

So was Hatcher.
Through 5 years here Hatcher had 7.5 sacks TOTAL.
He was often banged up and played rotationally.
Even last year in Wash as a huge money guy he had only 5.5 sacks and missed time.

 

[Tobal]

I didn't hear it from the Cowboys media guys. My brother's wife's uncle's cousin's neighbor works for the Cowboys.

You can just think I made it up or you can believe it, no skin off my back

 

[jterrell]

who backs up or replaces Crawford if he's injured?

terrell mcclain, davon coleman.
also possible any draftee from later rounds.

 

[xwalker]

DT pressure is the key to stopping great QB's if they don't value the position they are doing it wrong. I can see that they might not like some players better than our players, but I'm not buying that they don't value the position.

I don't think they value a pure 1tech run stopper as much as some other teams, but I do think they value the DT position. IMO, they like the players on the roster at DT better than the fans do. They have options with guys that either didn't play last year or didn't play much or were not healthy.

Josh Brent - Sollid run stopper when in shape. Was never in shape last season and only played about 3 games.
T. McClain - Good pass rusher in terms of 1techs. Was never healthy last season.
Ken Bishop - Between Brent and McClain from skill perspective. Not quite as strong as Brent but a better pass rushing option.
Chris Whaley - Basically the same as a draft pick this year after being on IR all of last season. He likely would have been a mid-round pick if healthy at draft time.
Coleman - Talented but goofy.
Jack Crawford - His best game last season was the one where he moved from DE to DT.
Hardy and Mincey have played many snaps at DT in their careers. If the Cowboys draft more DEs, then it's an option to use Hardy or Mincey as pass rushing DTs.
Nick Hayden - He was the starter last year at the 1tech and they won a playoff game so he must have done a few things right. Hopefully some of the other players can beat him out.

 

[jterrell]

I think they see Crawford as that player. It's the other DT position they don't value. They don't believe in drafting a guy high to stand there and basically just sustain and eat double teams.

Yes, or some Aaron Donald type not a 325 pound monster.

 

[jterrell]

I don't think they value a pure 1tech run stopper as much as some other teams, but I do think they value the DT position. IMO, they like the players on the roster at DT better than the fans do. They have options with guys that either didn't play last year or didn't play much or were not healthy.

Josh Brent - Sollid run stopper when in shape. Was never in shape last season and only played about 3 games.
T. McClain - Good pass rusher in terms of 1techs. Was never healthy last season.
Ken Bishop - Between Brent and McClain from skill perspective. Not quite as strong as Brent but a better pass rushing option.
Chris Whaley - Basically the same as a draft pick this year after being on IR all of last season. He likely would have been a mid-round pick if healthy at draft time.
Coleman - Talented but goofy.
Jack Crawford - His best game last season was the one where he moved from DE to DT.
Hardy and Mincey have played many snaps at DT in their careers. If the Cowboys draft more DEs, then it's an option to use Hardy or Mincey as pass rushing DTs.
Nick Hayden - He was the starter last year at the 1tech and they won a playoff game so he must have done a few things right. Hopefully some of the other players can beat him out.

good post:

1T: of Brent/Hayden seems likely unless a young guy beats one or both out.
3T is Crawford plus McClain and likely a kid at 3 like Coleman or Whaley if he beats out Coleman who apparently has few fans in the locker room(if Ben Rogers is correct).

and that isn't to say dallas wouldn't grab a michael bennett or mario edwards later in the draft.

 

[xwalker]

You can just think I made it up or you can believe it, no skin off my back

No, I'm sure you are correct. I was just attempting to use self-depreciating humor. I don't want to start claiming a bunch of inside sources. There was a rash of that here in years past and 90% of it was by guys that are known to make things up.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

If they don't like Shane Ray due to his turf toe and or his arrest...Kendicks could indeed be the pick.

I just don't know how they feel about Malcom Brown since they have not shown much interest in him however I also don't know if they think he would not fall so they did not bring him in.

They have had multiple visits, talks, views with Kendricks so I think they do indeed like him. I get the feeling he is the guy they like but might pass on him if there was a top end RB (gurley or gordon) that fell to them or a CB they really liked (not sure all of the considered first rounders would trump kendricks for them).

I think they know enough about him to not have to study him in more detail. I think he could be the pick at 27.

 

[reddyuta]

who backs up or replaces Crawford if he's injured?

We do need a backup for Crawford but not sure they need to spend a first rd pick.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I just do not understand how they think they can have a dominant defense without a dominant tackle inside. I am not downing Crawford, but he is no more than a souped up Hatcher, which is a far cry from how Marinelli had success with Tampa with Sapp. It is okay to have a blob 1-technique if you have that disruptive 3-T. I just do not think Crawford is at that level.

This.

I want Brown, Davis, or Goldman somewhere in this draft. Anywhere.

 

[xwalker]

I think they see Crawford as that player. It's the other DT position they don't value. They don't believe in drafting a guy high to stand there and basically just sustain and eat double teams.

Part of the issue is that if they have a quality second 3tech, then that player would play in the Nickel with Crawford and backup Crawford in the base. The second 3tech type player could end up playing as many snaps as the guy that is the 1tech starter in the base.

If they played 100 snaps on defense, then there would be 200 total snaps between the 2 DT spots
Crawford 80 (80% of the total)
1tech 50 (All snaps in the base, none in the Nickel)
Second 3tech type DT 70 (50 in the Nickel with Crawford and 20 replacing Crawford)

That converts directly to percentage regardless of how many snaps they actually play on defense:
Crawford 80%
1tech in base 50%
Second 3tech type player 70%

I say 3tech type player because sometimes that player is in the 1tech position on the field in the Nickel, but is not playing that same actual technique as the 1tech in the base. Sometimes they actually spread out the DTs and play them both as 3tech in the Nickel.

 

[Tobal]

Brown is much better than anyone on our team except Crawford and he'd probably be more consistent than Crawford was last year. He has versatility to both stop the run and get pressure, he requires a double team freeing up Crawford to destroy guards one on one. I have no clue how you couldn't value that. He's not just a guy taking up space.

This is all pointless because the guy won't be there at 27