Plaga Bellum Cella

[Sasquatch]

My overall philosophy for this draft is starting to come into focus...

I don't suppose you're inclined to elaborate, or are you going to keep us in suspense?

 

[silverbear]

I don't suppose you're inclined to elaborate, or are you going to keep us in suspense?

Patience, grasshopper... it's only just starting to round into shape...

Need more input...

 

[Zaxor]

Patience, grasshopper... it's only just starting to round into shape...

Need more input...

I already have a round shape from too much input

 

[silverbear]

I already have a round shape from too much input

OK, no being humorous when I'm talking draft stuff...

Don't make me go Hostile on ya...

 

[lkelly]

3. #91...Dorin Dickerson, FB/TE/H-Back, Pittsburgh, 6'1", 225. Goodbye Cricket. Say hello to the next FB for the Cowboys. Possibly would be used as a goal line back where he excelled at Pittsburgh. Definitely would be a receiving threat out of the backfield. Is a solid but unspectacular blocker. However, recognizes blitzes very well and that is key. I know people will say we don't need another TE and he isn't a true FB. He is a weapon. We can use him. This will be the most hated pick on this mock because it changes everything.

How many snaps did Dickerson play at RB/FB at Pitt? He had 5 career carries for 50 yards. He had one touchdown, scored when he was a freshmen on a 14 yard reverse. He had zero carries as a senior.

I just can't find where he "excelled" as a goal line back.

 

[burmafrd]

Dickerson is a pick that really should not happen. We can find a good fullback much farther back in the draft.

 

[casmith07]

Dickerson is a pick that really should not happen. We can find a good fullback much farther back in the draft.

We've already got Julius Crosslin as well.

 

[TheCount]

I think Clay Habor would be a better option than Dickerson and can be had later in the draft.

 

[Hostile]

How many snaps did Dickerson play at RB/FB at Pitt? He had 5 career carries for 50 yards. He had one touchdown, scored when he was a freshmen on a 14 yard reverse. He had zero carries as a senior.

I just can't find where he "excelled" as a goal line back.

They threw the ball to him when lined up as an H-back. He had like 10 scores and I think 7 of them were inside the 10 yard line.

He would be the most talented FB in the NFL. A true weapon.

 

[Khartun]

I already have a round shape from too much input

:laugh2:

 

[TheCount]

They threw the ball to him when lined up as an H-back. He had like 10 scores and I think 7 of them were inside the 10 yard line.

He would be the most talented FB in the NFL. A true weapon.

I don't know about that, pretty big claim. If he's that talented, he probably wouldn't play FB anyway.

 

[CanuckCowboysFan]

I think Clay Habor would be a better option than Dickerson and can be had later in the draft.

why do you say that

A FB who could potentially run a sub 4.4, line up in the slot, out wide, goaline back, would be a nightmare to matchup against, especially from the slot. I love the guy. Perhaps he could return kicks. LOL, wouldn't that be something

 

[TheCount]

why do you say that

A FB who could potentially run a sub 4.4, line up in the slot, out wide, goaline back, would be a nightmare to matchup against, especially from the slot. I love the guy.

I don't think he's a FB, and if he's now a 2nd or 3rd rounder, that's a high price to pay. I think he's more of a H-Back or undersized TE. Martellus was supposed to be our "Matchup Nightmare", so unless you're willing to give up on him, I don't know why you'd bring another guy in at that price.

Clay can be taken later, is bigger and stronger and can play the traditional FB role while still being a weapon in the receiving game. He may not run a 4.4, but against a LB, he'd be a matchup problem in his own right.

i'm not questioning Dorin's abilities, I just think Clay has more of a defined role and is a better value.

 

[CanuckCowboysFan]

I don't think he's a FB, and if he's now a 2nd or 3rd rounder, that's a high price to pay. I think he's more of a H-Back or undersized TE. Martellus was supposed to be our "Matchup Nightmare", so unless you're willing to give up on him, I don't know why you'd bring another guy in at that price.

Clay can be taken later, is bigger and stronger and can play the traditional FB role while still being a weapon in the receiving game. He may not run a 4.4, but against a LB, he'd be a matchup problem in his own right.

i'm not questioning Dorin's abilities, I just think Clay has more of a defined role and is a better value.

well, I could say the same thing, unless you're willing to give up on Martellus, Harbour's not an option. I just think Dickerson would be very dangerous, Clay not so much, he's a traditional TE. Line Dickerson up at TE, no LB or SS could cover the guy with that speed, he'd be lethal in the slot with that size/quickness, and he could run the ball. I don't know, I just love the guy. Iwill never understand why Pitt never used him as much as they should have.

 

[TheCount]

well, I could say the same thing, unless you're willing to give up on Martellus, Harbour's not an option. I just think Dickerson would be very dangerous, Clay not so much, he's a traditional TE. Line Dickerson up at TE, no LB or SS could cover the guy with that speed, he'd be lethal in the slot with that size/quickness, and he could run the ball. I don't know, I just love the guy. Iwill never understand why Pitt never used him as much as they should have.

Well I'm not going to argue since in the end this is probably all going to be a moot point, but I think you are underestimating Clay's athleticism by quite a bit.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Sorry for dropping a little Latin in the thread title there. It means Zone War Room. The Combines are over and Free Agency is about to start in 2 days. I think Jerry will play in FA only if guys are accepting salary friendly deals. Everyone dreams of an uncapped year, but if we get a CBA for 2011 and beyond we are handcuffed to those big salaries and have dead cap space. We will make a couple of moves, but they will be smart, not splashy.

That said, let's roll out the first Post Combine/Pre-Draft mock for me. You are allowed to mock me. This is one of the hardest years to gauge ever, especially the 2nd round. So, I am going to take some chances with this Mock and provide some options as well. I've never done that before.


1. #27...Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho, 6'5", 330. There is not a doubt in my mind that this is the guy Dallas hopes will be there more than any other player. He is big. He is nasty. He has potential beyond a small school like Idaho. Kosier's clock is ticking. I think Dallas would like to make him the primary OG backup and put a huge bookend on the other side of Gurode. The OL needs depth, this is a good start.

Options if Iupati is gone...

Earl Thomas, FS, Texas
Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryalnd
Taylor Mays, ILB, USC
Trade out of round 1...This is the most likely scenario if Iupati is gone.


2. #59...Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida, 6'3", 250. If his stock is truly dropping then this pick makes sense. Brooking is aging. Spikes can learn from him for a year. His stock could go up after his Pro Day workout, but I think he remains a late 2nd rounder at this point. The game film on him does not lie. He is a player.

Options...

Dexter McLuster, RB/WR/KR/PR, Ole Miss (Razorback option if we trade Choice?)
Vladimir Ducasse, OG, UMass (If Iuapti is gone at #27, expect this.)
Cam Thomas, NT, North Carolina
Damien Williams, WR, USC
Nate Allen, FS, South Florida


3. #91...Dorin Dickerson, FB/TE/H-Back, Pittsburgh, 6'1", 225. Goodbye Cricket. Say hello to the next FB for the Cowboys. Possibly would be used as a goal line back where he excelled at Pittsburgh. Definitely would be a receiving threat out of the backfield. Is a solid but unspectacular blocker. However, recognizes blitzes very well and that is key. I know people will say we don't need another TE and he isn't a true FB. He is a weapon. We can use him. This will be the most hated pick on this mock because it changes everything.

Options...

Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale
Major Wright, FS, Florida
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB/KR/PR, IUP
Javier Arenas, CB/KR, Alabama
Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson


4. #123...Jason Fox, OT, Miami, 6'6", 305. If the Cowboys prefer Free at RT where he played so well, then they will look for LT depth. Here is a guy who before an irregular heartbeat for one game and a minor knee injury was almost a 1st round grade. Now teams are shying away a little. Flozell isn't going anywhere despite a recent idea he could be released. You don't let a Pro Bowl caliber LT go when you are close to being one of the best teams in the NFL. Is his time coming to a close? Yes. We need depth at LT. Free may be ready before Fox, but Fox has value.

Options...

Tony Washington, OT, Abilene Christian
Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa
Robert Johnson, FS, Utah
Legarrette Blount, RB, Oregon


6. #187...Rafael Priest, CB, Texas Christian, 5'10", 185. A virtual unknown because there are almost no stats on him. he played 11 games and had only 18 tackles. You might immediately think that is a red flag. Not so. He had 6 pass defenses. Teams simply do not throw at him he plays such tight coverage. He provides CB depth.

Options...

Danario Alexander, WR, Missouri
Devin Ross, CB, Arizona
Van Eskridge, S, East Carolina
Jon Estes, C, Hawaii
Brandon Banks, WR/KR, Kansas State
Trindon Holiday, WR/PR, LSU


7. #219...Clifton Geathers, DE, South Carolina, 6'7", 300. I still think we will lose one of our DEs to Free Agency.

Not going to hate on this mock good job hos. Rafeal Priest sounds a bit like Courtney Brown.

 

[lkelly]

OK, I guess I was confused by your terminology. When I hear "goal line back" I think of a Mike Alstott type who is great at picking up short yardage conversions and running between the tackles inside the 5 yard line. I wasn't picturing a Jeff Robinson type who catches a bunch of one yard touchdowns off play action. I'm not convinced that dallas doesn't have enough H-back type receiving options on the roster already. If Dickerson is going to occupy a roster spot, I'd like to feel confident that he can run the ball. He hasn't done that since high school.

They threw the ball to him when lined up as an H-back. He had like 10 scores and I think 7 of them were inside the 10 yard line.

He would be the most talented FB in the NFL. A true weapon.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

We've already got Julius Crosslin as well.

:laugh2:and?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't think he's a FB, and if he's now a 2nd or 3rd rounder, that's a high price to pay. I think he's more of a H-Back or undersized TE. Martellus was supposed to be our "Matchup Nightmare", so unless you're willing to give up on him, I don't know why you'd bring another guy in at that price.

Clay can be taken later, is bigger and stronger and can play the traditional FB role while still being a weapon in the receiving game. He may not run a 4.4, but against a LB, he'd be a matchup problem in his own right.

i'm not questioning Dorin's abilities, I just think Clay has more of a defined role and is a better value.

Why not? He's 6'1" 226? That's a little taller than the normal FB, but just about the only position he could really play at that size.

Sure he has to learn the fundamentals of blocking, but he's not too tall where he can't do the job there. He could be our Le'Ron McClain.

In this O, all we really ask the FB to do is seal defenders to create holes. We don't call for our FBs to be bone-crunching lead blockers.

 

[jobberone]

I like the draft. I don't think some of them will be there but we could get lucky. We should be able to pick up an OT with 6-8 going in the first 45 picks. I'd take a chance on Campbell should Iupati be gone.