Played perfectly, fell beautifully

[erod]

Isn't that true for every pick in the draft?

No. There were better players remaining, several of them. But they needed a defensive end, which was picked over at the top end. They took the best of the next level at that position.

It's the only pick I'm not thrilled with.

 

[Melonfeud]

Those stains are tough to remove and they tend to make the field a lot smaller.

Ha,ha,ha I remember the dude Conrad Doberler played for the saint Louis cardinals back in the day, he crapped his pants one game,,,kept playing and nobody wanted to block him,,,

 

[TheSkaven]

The venom here was unbelievable after we didn't pick a CB in the first round. But the doubters have been proven wrong - the Jones' knew that this was a deep draft for the secondary and lo and behold several cornerbacks (and one hell of a safety) fell right into their laps.

There are never an guarantees, but if we are analyzing based on value, this draft is an A+. Put it together with last year's draft and Jaylon Smith and I am fired up for the 2017 season.

 

[erod]

The venom here was unbelievable after we didn't pick a CB in the first round. But the doubters have been proven wrong - the Jones' knew that this was a deep draft for the secondary and lo and behold several cornerbacks (and one hell of a safety) fell right into their laps.

There are never an guarantees, but if we are analyzing based on value, this draft is an A+. Put it together with last year's draft and Jaylon Smith and I am fired up for the 2017 season.

Nobody has been proven anything yet.

Remember first rounders Kavika Pittman, Ebenezzer Ekuban, Shante Carver, Felix Jones, Mo Claiborne, Bobby Carpenter, etc?

 

[alicetooljam]

Draft pick is in. We picked who we did. I am not so high on the taco, but i do like the cb's we got. Our defense did get better. But we need a STANDOUT edge rusher on the one side. Im not sure taco is that guy, but i like our db's. And we have retribution coming in Tapper, and Jaylon, i think they will contribute a lot. Maliek Collins is better than given credit for... this defense will hold its own.

Agreed!

 

[DenCWBY]

Nobody has been proven anything yet.

Remember first rounders Kavika Pittman, Ebenezzer Ekuban, Shante Carver, Felix Jones, Mo Claiborne, Bobby Carpenter, etc?

This. They all look great on 20 to 30 seconds of film played 24/7 all over NFL Network and BSPN. Some picks acclimate better than others to the NFL, the $$, coaches, media, fans, teammates, off field surroundings..etc. Their goals seem to maximize at just getting drafted, then get lost among the transition with the big boys over Summer camp.
Certainly there is a small amount of science to the drafting DLinemen however I think a lot GM's are shooting craps as well.
I just hope our whole class has the maturity and character to take the next step.

 

[Diehardblues]

No. There were better players remaining, several of them. But they needed a defensive end, which was picked over at the top end. They took the best of the next level at that position.

It's the only pick I'm not thrilled with.

I understand and agree going with the position over BPA. That's part of the concession we had to make with our needs.

The only second guessing I'll be watching is Watt 2 picks later.

 

[TheSkaven]

Nobody has been proven anything yet.

Remember first rounders Kavika Pittman, Ebenezzer Ekuban, Shante Carver, Felix Jones, Mo Claiborne, Bobby Carpenter, etc?

Many of those picks were reaches. I agreed with you - nothing is proven yet. But you have to grade them upon where players were slotted to go and where they went. If you do that, the Cowboys got great value and in positions of need. Whether or not the players will pan out, well that's another question altogether.

 

[JBell]

No. There were better players remaining, several of them. But they needed a defensive end, which was picked over at the top end. They took the best of the next level at that position.

It's the only pick I'm not thrilled with.

You don't know that. The only thing we know about the Cowboys draft board is they had one first round grade still available (RB Dalvin Cook from sources). So yes, they had an RB ranked over Taco.

 

[Hailmary]

Heath absolutely does, but in terms of Zone/Man Coverage, I would have to give the nod to Woods. Heath is more of an enforcer. And, don't get me wrong, I love seeing him lay people out when they test the middle ground he is covering. But if he's tackling them, he's a step too late. At the end of the day, I'd rather see an interception/incompletion, than an Heath stain on the field.

Xaxier can lay he wood as well, pun intended.

 

[Stash]

I understand and agree going with the position over BPA. That's part of the concession we had to make with our needs.

The only second guessing I'll be watching is Watt 2 picks later.

That's the one I will be watching and judging Charlton against too. They could have had either one and made the choice to take Charlton. I can respect their decision even if I disagree with it. But now there's a clear barometer of success or failure. If Charlton is what they hope, great, better for everyone, and they were right and I was wrong. If Watt is better, they blew it and deserve any criticism they get.

I hope they're right.

 

[Bleu Star]

Here's what I think, I think: Heath will be the traditional in the box SS on early downs and in obvious running situations. 3rd and long, Xavier Woods will take his place deep, in consideration of his ball skills. I've never been a fan of showing your hand by playing situational players, but in that particular case, I think it makes the most amount of sense.

This.

Heath is the one guy where you know.. People like to toss around those played out "pump the brakes" or "anointing oil" monikers. Well, Heath is the one guy we need to keep the brakes lightly depressed on. While he stepped up in limited duty late last year, there is good reason why he hasn't just simply taken and kept a starting spot to date. Xavier is going to push him and, at the end of the day, it may work out as some form of what you've described here.

 

[Melonfeud]

Agreed!

You got the best NAME of the entire forum, IMO,,

 

[Tass]

This.

Heath is the one guy where you know.. People like to toss around those played out "pump the brakes" or "anointing oil" monikers. Well, Heath is the one guy we need to keep the brakes lightly depressed on. While he stepped up in limited duty late last year, there is good reason why he hasn't just simply taken and kept a starting spot to date. Xavier is going to push him and, at the end of the day, it may work out as some form of what you've described here.

Moreso than other teams, it seems that on the Cowboys rookies do NOT supplant the veterans unless they are head and shoulders above them. I don't see that being the case with Woods. He may be good but I doubt he is good enough to make Heath look like a scrub.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Switzer makes so much sense when you consider Beasley led us in receptions last year. In a passing league the shifty sure handed slot receiver is gold and clearly a comfort zone for our QB.

 

[PhillyCowboysFan]

I dunno. He has the range to get to the sideline and does so. He also was better at anyone else getting his hands on the football playing a third or less of the snaps.

This I totally agree with. As stated by Stephan, when he is on the field he makes plays. People have to remove that Detroit game in his rookie year out of the equation and I think his play per downs played might be better then anyone else we have had at that position on our roster in a while.

But as stated there must be a reason he hadn't seen the field more.

 

[Bullflop]

It's nice when the dominoes fall as they're supposed to. Relief and excitement dripped from the draft room all weekend.

Taco wasn't their first choice to be first choice, but he was the best choice given the position allotments of this draft. I think Kevin King was higher on their board at that point, but with pass-rushing ends drying up quickly, Taco time was upon them.

Then, magic happened. Awuzie had a first -round grade, and Lewis a second. Both were nabbed at bargain-round rates. Two sticky-fingered corners with young legs to join last year's surprise, Anthony Brown, and suddenly the corner corps looks promising, healthy, and different.

But that wasn't all. After Ryan Switzer fell far later than Dallas expected him to, they gritted their teeth and walked away from Xavier Woods to take Switzer, and you could see the excitement in their faces to get a guy they didn't think would be anywhere near them in the 4th round.

But...lo and behold, the sixth rolls around and Woods is still there! Went up and got 'em, they did. How glorious was that?

So next year's potential defensive impact additions include:

Jaylon Smith
Charles Tapper
Demarcus Lawrence (healthy hopefully)
Taco Charlton
Cheetoh Awuzie
Jourdan Lewis
Xavier Woods

And if Jeff Heath can play.....

I'm hopeful for the defense for the first time in a good while.

Nice post -- seems like our "committee" in the war room really asked the right questions and came up with the right answers again this year.

 

[Diehardblues]

That's the one I will be watching and judging Charlton against too. They could have had either one and made the choice to take Charlton. I can respect their decision even if I disagree with it. But now there's a clear barometer of success or failure. If Charlton is what they hope, great, better for everyone, and they were right and I was wrong. If Watt is better, they blew it and deserve any criticism they get.

I hope they're right.

Watt is definitely going into a defensive system and 3-4 which suits him better.

But the bigger issue is if Taco is a bust or ends up like some of the under achieving 1st round picks we've had in our history on DL and Watt has some success.

If they both have some success and Watt turns out to be greater I won't have much issue.

 

[Joe Realist]

I understand the excitement. I really do.

I also want to temper expectations, especially in the beginning. Say what you want about Carr, Claiborne, Church and Wilcox, but they had played in the system for a number of years. This influx of newbies may be more talented and I expect them to struggle for a bit with communication, coverages, until they get more experienced.

 

[Stash]

Watt is definitely going into a defensive system and 3-4 which suits him better.

But the bigger issue is if Taco is a bust or ends up like some of the under achieving 1st round picks we've had in our history on DL and Watt has some success.

If they both have some success and Watt turns out to be greater I won't have much issue.

I'm not allowing for scheme to be an excuse one way or the other. Coaches have made accommodations before for supposed "3-4 guys", like Charles Haley, and 235 lb Randy Gregory.