casmith07
Attorney-at-Zone
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In this mock draft, we see the Cowboys create a lot of media buzz but not a "wow" splash in free agency by signing both Carl Nicks and Ben Grubbs as Offensive Guards. This allows the Cowboys to really address the defense in the draft -- arguably our achilles heel.
The Cowboys let Costa and Kowalski battle it out at Center, and forego adding a center for another year in order to get the right guy, also with the hopes that leaps and bounds of improvement at both Guard spots helps lessen the burden on Mr. Short Arms or Killa.
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Round 1: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Alternatives - Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina; Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
Courtney Upshaw hails from Alabama, a football program under the tutelage of Nick Saban, arguably the best defensive coach in college football. Upshaw will come in and start on Day 1, allowing the Cowboys to allow Anthony Spencer to walk without feeling bad about anything. His improved pass rush ability will not only help out DeMarcus Ware, chasing plays to Ware's side where Ware disrupts more pass and running plays than is given credit for, but it will also greatly improve the play of the secondary by forcing QBs to make bad throws and forcing opposing offensive coordinators to account for him on the field.
Round 2: Jayron Hosley, CB/KR/PR, Virginia Tech
Alternatives - Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia; Brandon Boykin, CB/KR/PR, Georgia
Once again, I put in my casmith07's Bona Fide Homer Pick Of The Draft! pick in round 2. Jayron Hosley is the definition of a ball hawk. While only picking off 4 passes this year, he led the Hokies defense with 9 the year before, with about half of those interceptions coming from his incredible leaping ability, "climbing the ladder" to steal touchdown passes from the waiting hands of WRs. He also picked off a few passes in deep coverage, seemingly covering "center field" like a safety...only he was running from the opposite side of the field! With his smaller size, he isn't going to tackle guys like Patrick Peterson or Dre Kirkpatrick, but he isn't afraid to hit...I would liken his tackling ability to our own Mike Jenkins, or Joe Haden of the Cleveland Browns.
Hosley will come in and immediately start at CB opposite Jenkins unless Scandrick really ups his game in the off-season. He also can return punts and kicks, relieving Dez Bryant of the duty, with a 12.0 yards per return average and two punt return touchdowns in three years at Virginia Tech.
Round 3: Brandon Boykin, CB/KR/PR, Georgia
Alternatives - LaMichael James, RB, Oregon; Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State; Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsion
For many of the same reasons as Hosley above, the Cowboys should select Brandon Boykin in the 3rd round, and I would suggest even moving some picks to trade up to get him in the late 2nd if necessary. Boykin is an electric punt returner, with 4 kickoffs returned for touchdowns, 3 of those being 100 yards. He also notched 9 interceptions in his career at Georgia, and is a pretty good cover guy and a sound tackler. He would definitely push the Cowboys to consider moving Scandrick this off-season, which would save the Cowboys in $5.3M in cap space (source: AdamJT13). This would give us three fast, athletic CBs under the age of 26, adding some much needed youth to the defensive secondary as well as insurance in case Mike Jenkins desires to test free agency instead of extend with Dallas before his contract expires after next season.
Round 4: Ladarius Green, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette
Alternatives - Juron Criner, WR, Arizona; DaJohn Harris, DT, USC
Martellus Bennett seems to be looking to be on his way out of the door, and though his blocking has been very helpful to our running and passing game the last two to three seasons, I am not certain the Cowboys will look too long to bring him back unless his asking price ends up being too rich for other teams.
Ladarius Green is probably the best TE prospect in the draft this year, an extremely weak year for tight ends. The 4th round is generally where the Cowboys like to take a gamble on projects from small schools or depth-chart guys that have entered the draft. We should be able to get by with Witten and Phillips if Green doesn't pan out in training camp the first part of the year, but he is extremely athletic and could possibly be like Jimmy Graham - basically a little bit slower, oversized WR (what we all hoped Bennett would become).
He'll need to be able to block NFL big bodies, though...
Round 5: Deunta Williams, S, North Carolina*
Alternatives - Josh Oglesby, T, Wisconsin; Case Keenum, QB, Houston
Yes, from what I have read, he is planning to re-enter the 2012 draft as long as his leg is healed. I'm not sure where he will project, and it's highly likely that someone could reach as early as round 2 for him, but I'm going on hopes and dreams here!
Deunta Williams can come in and immediately make us say "Abram who?" He is a tough and smart, physical football player who if not for injury would have been the top safety out of college probably since Polamalu came out. He is the kind of guy that has the range to cover, and the smarts to quarterback the defense. If he re-enters the draft and somehow were to fall to round 5, I would hope the Cowboys would pounce. Potential perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro Safety based on my observations of his skill at the position.
Did I mention he is smart? Garrett likes guys that are smart, good guys.
Round 6: Chris Gallippo, ILB, USC
Alternatives - Jonathan Bostic, ILB, Florida; Johnathan Massaquoi, DE, Troy
Once again, another pick to help strengthen the depth at ILB. If there was a Linebacker U-West, Southern Cal would be it. I'm still a little miffed Dallas didn't take Rey Maualuga a few years ago, but it is what it is...we'll need depth at ILB behind Lee and Carter with Bradie James and Keith Brooking likely being done in Dallas this year.
Round 7: Bryan Anger, P, California
Alternatives - Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois; Jeff Demps, RB/KR, Florida
This is my Stone Cold Hostile's Favorite Pick Of The Draft! pick
In all seriousness, with Chris Jones not exactly being stellar, and Mat McBriar hurting, it might behoove the Cowboys to bring in college football's best punter, planting 71 punts inside the 20, forcing fair catches on 62 punts, and registering 54 punts of 50+ yards. This one solely depends on the health of McBriar, and whether the Cowboys feel Chris Jones is the answer if McBriar can't go any longer...McBriar, however, is only 32 years old. If he's able to get healthy and stay healthy, he can probably punt for us until he's 40 to 45 years old.
Tear it up!
The Cowboys let Costa and Kowalski battle it out at Center, and forego adding a center for another year in order to get the right guy, also with the hopes that leaps and bounds of improvement at both Guard spots helps lessen the burden on Mr. Short Arms or Killa.
- - - - - - - - - -
Round 1: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama
Alternatives - Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina; Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
Courtney Upshaw hails from Alabama, a football program under the tutelage of Nick Saban, arguably the best defensive coach in college football. Upshaw will come in and start on Day 1, allowing the Cowboys to allow Anthony Spencer to walk without feeling bad about anything. His improved pass rush ability will not only help out DeMarcus Ware, chasing plays to Ware's side where Ware disrupts more pass and running plays than is given credit for, but it will also greatly improve the play of the secondary by forcing QBs to make bad throws and forcing opposing offensive coordinators to account for him on the field.
Round 2: Jayron Hosley, CB/KR/PR, Virginia Tech
Alternatives - Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia; Brandon Boykin, CB/KR/PR, Georgia
Once again, I put in my casmith07's Bona Fide Homer Pick Of The Draft! pick in round 2. Jayron Hosley is the definition of a ball hawk. While only picking off 4 passes this year, he led the Hokies defense with 9 the year before, with about half of those interceptions coming from his incredible leaping ability, "climbing the ladder" to steal touchdown passes from the waiting hands of WRs. He also picked off a few passes in deep coverage, seemingly covering "center field" like a safety...only he was running from the opposite side of the field! With his smaller size, he isn't going to tackle guys like Patrick Peterson or Dre Kirkpatrick, but he isn't afraid to hit...I would liken his tackling ability to our own Mike Jenkins, or Joe Haden of the Cleveland Browns.
Hosley will come in and immediately start at CB opposite Jenkins unless Scandrick really ups his game in the off-season. He also can return punts and kicks, relieving Dez Bryant of the duty, with a 12.0 yards per return average and two punt return touchdowns in three years at Virginia Tech.
Round 3: Brandon Boykin, CB/KR/PR, Georgia
Alternatives - LaMichael James, RB, Oregon; Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State; Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsion
For many of the same reasons as Hosley above, the Cowboys should select Brandon Boykin in the 3rd round, and I would suggest even moving some picks to trade up to get him in the late 2nd if necessary. Boykin is an electric punt returner, with 4 kickoffs returned for touchdowns, 3 of those being 100 yards. He also notched 9 interceptions in his career at Georgia, and is a pretty good cover guy and a sound tackler. He would definitely push the Cowboys to consider moving Scandrick this off-season, which would save the Cowboys in $5.3M in cap space (source: AdamJT13). This would give us three fast, athletic CBs under the age of 26, adding some much needed youth to the defensive secondary as well as insurance in case Mike Jenkins desires to test free agency instead of extend with Dallas before his contract expires after next season.
Round 4: Ladarius Green, TE, Louisiana-Lafayette
Alternatives - Juron Criner, WR, Arizona; DaJohn Harris, DT, USC
Martellus Bennett seems to be looking to be on his way out of the door, and though his blocking has been very helpful to our running and passing game the last two to three seasons, I am not certain the Cowboys will look too long to bring him back unless his asking price ends up being too rich for other teams.
Ladarius Green is probably the best TE prospect in the draft this year, an extremely weak year for tight ends. The 4th round is generally where the Cowboys like to take a gamble on projects from small schools or depth-chart guys that have entered the draft. We should be able to get by with Witten and Phillips if Green doesn't pan out in training camp the first part of the year, but he is extremely athletic and could possibly be like Jimmy Graham - basically a little bit slower, oversized WR (what we all hoped Bennett would become).
He'll need to be able to block NFL big bodies, though...
Round 5: Deunta Williams, S, North Carolina*
Alternatives - Josh Oglesby, T, Wisconsin; Case Keenum, QB, Houston
Yes, from what I have read, he is planning to re-enter the 2012 draft as long as his leg is healed. I'm not sure where he will project, and it's highly likely that someone could reach as early as round 2 for him, but I'm going on hopes and dreams here!
Deunta Williams can come in and immediately make us say "Abram who?" He is a tough and smart, physical football player who if not for injury would have been the top safety out of college probably since Polamalu came out. He is the kind of guy that has the range to cover, and the smarts to quarterback the defense. If he re-enters the draft and somehow were to fall to round 5, I would hope the Cowboys would pounce. Potential perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro Safety based on my observations of his skill at the position.
Did I mention he is smart? Garrett likes guys that are smart, good guys.
Round 6: Chris Gallippo, ILB, USC
Alternatives - Jonathan Bostic, ILB, Florida; Johnathan Massaquoi, DE, Troy
Once again, another pick to help strengthen the depth at ILB. If there was a Linebacker U-West, Southern Cal would be it. I'm still a little miffed Dallas didn't take Rey Maualuga a few years ago, but it is what it is...we'll need depth at ILB behind Lee and Carter with Bradie James and Keith Brooking likely being done in Dallas this year.
Round 7: Bryan Anger, P, California
Alternatives - Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois; Jeff Demps, RB/KR, Florida
This is my Stone Cold Hostile's Favorite Pick Of The Draft! pick
In all seriousness, with Chris Jones not exactly being stellar, and Mat McBriar hurting, it might behoove the Cowboys to bring in college football's best punter, planting 71 punts inside the 20, forcing fair catches on 62 punts, and registering 54 punts of 50+ yards. This one solely depends on the health of McBriar, and whether the Cowboys feel Chris Jones is the answer if McBriar can't go any longer...McBriar, however, is only 32 years old. If he's able to get healthy and stay healthy, he can probably punt for us until he's 40 to 45 years old.
Tear it up!
