My "Who catches the flu in April?" Mock

[tm1119]

Sick in bed so I mock.....


1st- Kony Ealy DE Mizzu- Not really my choice here but there is such a hole at DE that I can't see Jerry going anywhere else with the 1st round pick. Barr could be here but it's far from a lock and even if he is there has to be huge ?'s on wether he can be a 3 down 4-3 DE.

2nd Round- Telvin Smith OLB FSU- Marinelli wants speed infused in the D and I don't think he trusts Carter at the WIL at all. He's undersized for sure, but he has the speed and coverage skills of a safety. If the D line is capable of keeping blockers off of him he should excel.

3rd round- Dakota Dozier G/T Furman- I''ll just post directly from scout's Inc for this 1..."COMPARES TO: Jonathan Cooper, Guard, Arizona Cardinals - Dozier's "plus" athleticism and movement skills are extremely impressive for a big man, and may remind some of last year's seventh overall pick Jonathan Cooper. Dozier's limited experience against high-level competition and very recent conversion to guard (Shrine Game) certainly differentiate him from Cooper in terms of draft value, but his upside could be massive and it wouldn't be surprising to see him gone by the end of round three."

4th round- George Uko DT USC- Athletic, long armed DT with tons of room to grow and improve. Shoots gaps very well and uses his quickness to be opposing guards and centers. Not a finished product by any means, but has a very high ceiling. Should have Kiffin ties as long as old Monte's long term memory still works.

5th round- Devin Street WR Pitt- We would be crazy not to take advantage of a really talented WR that is bound to fall. Could be a # of guys here but I went with Street because of his size, toughness, and reliable hands. Leaves Pitt as their all time leader in catches.

Trade 2 7th's for a 6th- Ethan Westbrooks DE West Texas A&M- Small school project but there is potential here.

7th + Comp picks
Chris Whaley DT Texas
Jeff Matthews QB Cornell
Silas Redd RB USC
Walt Aikens CB Liberty

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I had the flu all last weekend. Feel much better now but nose is still running and I still have a cough. Annoying.

And I'd want another DE. I think we need 2 DEs and a DT within the first 4-5 rounds.

 

[xwalker]

Sick in bed so I mock.....


1st- Kony Ealy DE Mizzu- Not really my choice here but there is such a hole at DE that I can't see Jerry going anywhere else with the 1st round pick. Barr could be here but it's far from a lock and even if he is there has to be huge ?'s on wether he can be a 3 down 4-3 DE.

2nd Round- Telvin Smith OLB FSU- Marinelli wants speed infused in the D and I don't think he trusts Carter at the WIL at all. He's undersized for sure, but he has the speed and coverage skills of a safety. If the D line is capable of keeping blockers off of him he should excel.

3rd round- Dakota Dozier G/T Furman- I''ll just post directly from scout's Inc for this 1..."COMPARES TO: Jonathan Cooper, Guard, Arizona Cardinals - Dozier's "plus" athleticism and movement skills are extremely impressive for a big man, and may remind some of last year's seventh overall pick Jonathan Cooper. Dozier's limited experience against high-level competition and very recent conversion to guard (Shrine Game) certainly differentiate him from Cooper in terms of draft value, but his upside could be massive and it wouldn't be surprising to see him gone by the end of round three."

4th round- George Uko DT USC- Athletic, long armed DT with tons of room to grow and improve. Shoots gaps very well and uses his quickness to be opposing guards and centers. Not a finished product by any means, but has a very high ceiling. Should have Kiffin ties as long as old Monte's long term memory still works.

5th round- Devin Street WR Pitt- We would be crazy not to take advantage of a really talented WR that is bound to fall. Could be a # of guys here but I went with Street because of his size, toughness, and reliable hands. Leaves Pitt as their all time leader in catches.

Trade 2 7th's for a 6th- Ethan Westbrooks DE West Texas A&M- Small school project but there is potential here.

7th + Comp picks
Chris Whaley DT Texas
Jeff Matthews QB Cornell
Silas Redd RB USC
Walt Aikens CB Liberty

I would prefer to try to trade down instead of taking Ealy at #16.

Taking Smith in the 2nd seems like forcing the pick when he could easily be available in the 3rd. There is a lot of risk when a guy is that much undersized. The LBs in Marinelli's scheme do have to take on blocks in a lot of situations. When all of the DL have a "go" in terms of getting into the backfield without hesitation and playing the run on the way to the QB, they end up will a lot of situations where OL come free to block LBs. When he has the WDE crash down inside, the WLB usually has to be responsibility to set the edge in the event of a run.

I would prefer to take a RB that is faster than Redd and wait to see if Redd is available as a UDFA.

There are several late round DTs that I like better than Whaley.

 

[reddyuta]

I had the flu last month ( my first in seven years) and I could barely move out of the bed for 2 days.

 

[tm1119]

Well glad I'm not the only unlucky fool to catch the flu during this time of year. And yes its absolutely horrible.

 

[tm1119]

I would prefer to try to trade down instead of taking Ealy at #16.

Taking Smith in the 2nd seems like forcing the pick when he could easily be available in the 3rd. There is a lot of risk when a guy is that much undersized. The LBs in Marinelli's scheme do have to take on blocks in a lot of situations. When all of the DL have a "go" in terms of getting into the backfield without hesitation and playing the run on the way to the QB, they end up will a lot of situations where OL come free to block LBs. When he has the WDE crash down inside, the WLB usually has to be responsibility to set the edge in the event of a run.

I would prefer to take a RB that is faster than Redd and wait to see if Redd is available as a UDFA.

There are several late round DTs that I like better than Whaley.

I would prefer Ealy in a trade down too, always easier said than done. And like I said, seems like Jerry is backing himself into a corner to have to take a DE in round 1.

As for as Smith.....I completely get what you are saying and it is a concern, but I think you are also discounting the amount of 3 and 4 WR sets used in today's NFL and what an asset he would be to combat that. Gotta adjust to the times and adapt. Having Smith would be like having 3 safeties on the field, a system that is becoming more and more popular nowadays. Having a LB who can both play the run and excel in coverage would be great, but I don't think its going to happen. And if I have to choose 1 I would take not seeing Carter burnt down the field for big chunks of yards constantly.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Had flu fri thru mon. Better now.

I want Romo to cap off his statistical, magical, physical wonderment career in Cinderella fashion.

Come on ... and come on and ... Raise your Lombardi trophy.... FOR ME!

 

[Manster74]

If Ealy is there in the 2nd I wouldn't mind it but please not in the 1st. At least not at 16

 

[xwalker]

I would prefer Ealy in a trade down too, always easier said than done. And like I said, seems like Jerry is backing himself into a corner to have to take a DE in round 1.

As for as Smith.....I completely get what you are saying and it is a concern, but I think you are also discounting the amount of 3 and 4 WR sets used in today's NFL and what an asset he would be to combat that. Gotta adjust to the times and adapt. Having Smith would be like having 3 safeties on the field, a system that is becoming more and more popular nowadays. Having a LB who can both play the run and excel in coverage would be great, but I don't think its going to happen. And if I have to choose 1 I would take not seeing Carter burnt down the field for big chunks of yards constantly.

With regards to Smith, I would love tp have the luxury to just let him stay at 220 and be used only on passing downs; however, the Cowboys don't that luxury with a 2nd round pick, IMO.

I do like the idea of a LB that excels in coverage even if it is at tne expense of not being the greatest run defender. I have a feeling that Smith will bulk up and lose some of the quickness that made him a terrific college player.

I would like to have him on the team, just not at the cost of a 2nd round pick.

With regards to the 1st round pick and DE, I don't see the Cowboys being backed into a corner.

Selvie and Mincey are legit NFL DEs, they're just not star players. Crawford has upside as a SDE. I think Selvie will move to WDE with Mincey and Crawford at SDE. They will have a draft pick competing for playing time in the nickel. Guys like Martez Wilson and Rayford with get a complete offseason to work with Marinelli. It's likely that one of them or a late round pick shows something in training camp to get one of the final spots on the DL.

Selvie
Melton
Mincey
McClain
Crawford
Early Draft pick (somewhere in the top 3 rounds)

That leaves 2 or 3 spots between:
Bass
Wilson
Kearse
Rayford
Late round pick
Some of the practice squad squad type guys that they signed.

 

[NeonDeion21]

With regards to Smith, I would love tp have the luxury to just let him stay at 220 and be used only on passing downs; however, the Cowboys don't that luxury with a 2nd round pick, IMO.

I do like the idea of a LB that excels in coverage even if it is at tne expense of not being the greatest run defender. I have a feeling that Smith will bulk up and lose some of the quickness that made him a terrific college player.

I would like to have him on the team, just not at the cost of a 2nd round pick.

I guess scouts told Smith to stay around 220-225 during his Pro Day and not to gain any weight up to the NFL Draft. I actually worry that a team is going to try to make him a SS.

 

[xwalker]

I guess scouts told Smith to stay around 220-225 during his Pro Day and not to gain any weight up to the NFL Draft. I actually worry that a team is going to try to make him a SS.

I definitey don't think he is a 2nd round pick as a Safety. He's a 4.6 guy, not a 4.4 guy like Darren Woodson.

 

[NeonDeion21]

I definitey don't think he is a 2nd round pick as a Safety. He's a 4.6 guy, not a 4.4 guy like Darren Woodson.

And I don't necessarily think speed would be the problem either for him at safety. I just don't think he possess the necessary man-to-man skills to make it in the secondary. He is a fantastic zone linebacker though. I wouldn't even think about moving him.

 

[tm1119]

With regards to Smith, I would love tp have the luxury to just let him stay at 220 and be used only on passing downs; however, the Cowboys don't that luxury with a 2nd round pick, IMO.

I do like the idea of a LB that excels in coverage even if it is at tne expense of not being the greatest run defender. I have a feeling that Smith will bulk up and lose some of the quickness that made him a terrific college player.

I would like to have him on the team, just not at the cost of a 2nd round pick.

With regards to the 1st round pick and DE, I don't see the Cowboys being backed into a corner.

Selvie and Mincey are legit NFL DEs, they're just not star players. Crawford has upside as a SDE. I think Selvie will move to WDE with Mincey and Crawford at SDE. They will have a draft pick competing for playing time in the nickel. Guys like Martez Wilson and Rayford with get a complete offseason to work with Marinelli. It's likely that one of them or a late round pick shows something in training camp to get one of the final spots on the DL.

Selvie
Melton
Mincey
McClain
Crawford
Early Draft pick (somewhere in the top 3 rounds)

That leaves 2 or 3 spots between:
Bass
Wilson
Kearse
Rayford
Late round pick
Some of the practice squad squad type guys that they signed.

You have higher opinions of Selvie and Mincey than I do. I think combined they make 1 pretty good NFL starter, but they aren't guys you can put on the field at the same time and expect much results. And who the heck knows what we have in Crawford? Is he a DE, 3 tech, 1 tech? I don't think he's a guy you can count on going into this season, especially after a achilles injury. Overall you're putting way too much stock into marginally talented players. Drinking a little too much of that Cowboys/Marinelli cool-aid it appears.

 

[Tobal]

I'd like 3 lineman out of the top 4 picks, prefer two dlineman and one Olineman. I realize it might not fall that way though. I think the right guys on that line will help the back 7...

 

[Fredd]

With regards to Smith, I would love tp have the luxury to just let him stay at 220 and be used only on passing downs; however, the Cowboys don't that luxury with a 2nd round pick, IMO.

but look at how well that luxury worked out for us last year in the 2nd????

 

[xwalker]

You have higher opinions of Selvie and Mincey than I do. I think combined they make 1 pretty good NFL starter, but they aren't guys you can put on the field at the same time and expect much results. And who the heck knows what we have in Crawford? Is he a DE, 3 tech, 1 tech? I don't think he's a guy you can count on going into this season, especially after a achilles injury. Overall you're putting way too much stock into marginally talented players. Drinking a little too much of that Cowboys/Marinelli cool-aid it appears.

I expect this year to be more about building the team than an all out attempt to win games. They need to develop a base defense where there have players that are well versed in the scheme and they're playing the right way. The talent is still going to be lacking at some positions. They just had too many issues to resolve in 1 off-season. Last season was just a mess. They were trying to implement a new defense and ended up just struggling to stay afloat due to an extreme number of injuries. You just can't implement a new scheme when there is that much change with the roster from week to week.

Good teams have base roster and draft picks come in to supplement the veteran core. The stability of the core makes it easier for the draft picks.

The Cowboys don't have that stability. It's doubtful that draft picks are going to make them a contender. Everything might come together and they could be really good, but the probabilities make that doubtful.

If they can keep players like Selvie, Mincey and Crawford on the field week after week and get them to the point that they are executing all of their assignments properly, that will be better than having a Star player like Ware in 2013 that was in and out of the lineup and often not at full speed when he was in the lineup. When a rookie comes into the game, he needs the surrounding players to be executing properly even if they aren't all super talented.

Last season you can't expect a rookie Safety like Wilcox or Heath to have any chance to succeed when they have guys like Carter and Claiborne on the field with them not properly executing their assignments. It would have been better for Wilcox/Heath to have a slower, less talented WLB than Carter on the field if he was an expert in the defensive scheme and was executing all of his assignments properly.

I expect Mincey, Selvie and Crawford to be the steady players and then with a little luck a draft pick or a player like Martez Wilson or Rayford will develop into a threat as a pass rusher.

Even if you could draft the top 2 DEs and top 2 DTs in the draft, it would be a mess if you put them all on the field together. They're still rookies regardless of how talented there are.

Summary: I'm not over estimating the players, I just have limited expectations for the Cowboys' defense in 2014. Just add as many talented draft picks as possible, put everything together in training camp and give it a chance to develop. Then come back next off-season and be more specific in addressing needs. I'm hopeful that by the end of 2014, we look at the team and think they are legitimately 1 or 2 players away from a top 5 defense. At that point they can go all in on a free agent or take a 1st round pick based on need, but doing that this season is not the best option based on where they are in terms of talent and scheme knowledge at this point in time.

 

[xwalker]

but look at how well that luxury worked out for us last year in the 2nd????

You've got me there.

I do think the Escobar will be a good player and is very similar to Witten; however, I also thought that there were some players with similar talent at positions of bigger need in that draft.

 

[BAT]

I definitey don't think he is a 2nd round pick as a Safety. He's a 4.6 guy, not a 4.4 guy like Darren Woodson.

Smith ran a 4.52 at combine. Woodson (and Shazier) ran a 4.51 at the combine. Smith chose not to run at his pro day but would have put up similar times as Woody and Shazier did at theirs.

Smith is more than fast enough to play either WILL or SS at NFL level. Smith's speed is not an issue.

 

[BAT]

And I don't necessarily think speed would be the problem either for him at safety. I just don't think he possess the necessary man-to-man skills to make it in the secondary. He is a fantastic zone linebacker though. I wouldn't even think about moving him.

Not sure if you are watching the same Telvin Smith after that analysis. Smith is the top coverage LB in the draft, and that includes Shazier, IMO.

 

[Fredd]

You've got me there.

I do think the Escobar will be a good player and is very similar to Witten; however, I also thought that there were some players with similar talent at positions of bigger need in that draft.

I agree on Escobar...I think, if used correctly, he can be effective...but, there are likely guys around that spot that could have REALLY helped the team this year on the respective lines