S Ahmad Dixon --- Baylor

[DEMARC0MURRAY29]

2013 1st Team All-American. 3 Year Starter at Baylor. Played LB/S in 2011 & 2012. Played strictly SS this year.

Dixon has a ton of athletic ability and physical potential. The Baylor defense asks him to do virtually everything in their scheme which is good and bad. He has a ton of experience fulfilling all kinds of different roles which is great, but he has not really mastered any of them yet. Dixon still has potential to get better at the next level, but much of that will depend on how he can improve his fluidity and ability to change direction. If he can do that, Dixon can become a really versatile option at strong safety that can play in the box and help in coverage over the top.

Projected: 2nd/3rd Rd

 

[supercowboy8]

Everyone looks good in a highlight video

Don't need another SS . We need a cover FS that can play day one. I don't see that in this draft. I like calvin pryor but he will take some time before he can be a true starter.

I would love to sign Jarius Byrd but that's not going to happen, $$$$.

Chris Clemons and Major Wright are two that I would like for dallas to bring in. Clemons is a very good cover safety. Wright struggled this year but was very good last year under Marinelli.

 

[IAmLegend]

He didn't look good against UCF, but I try not to judge players off of one game. He's a good athlete with nice size, but I wouldn't take him unless he fell to the 4th round, which I'm sure he won't.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Everyone looks good in a highlight video

Don't need another SS . We need a cover FS that can play day one. I don't see that in this draft. I like calvin pryor but he will take some time before he can be a true starter.

I would love to sign Jarius Byrd but that's not going to happen, $$$$.

Chris Clemons and Major Wright are two that I would like for dallas to bring in. Clemons is a very good cover safety. Wright struggled this year but was very good last year under Marinelli.

I think Tre Boston FS can start day 1. Will make rookie mistakes but has potential as a playmaker back there. I agree about not needing SS, really need a FS that has ball skills and thats Boston.

 

[supercowboy8]

Tre Boston is probably the most raw safety prospect that will be drafted in the 1st 4 rounds. He has a lot to learn. He also has the most potential. Alot like Wilcox last year. No way is Boston a day one starter.

There isn't one safety in this draft I would take as a day one starting free safety

 

[tm1119]

I lik Dixon. He's got more than enough size and speed to do anything on a football field. He's an elite athlete, just because he didn't cover in college doesn't make him completely incapable.

 

[xwalker]

IMO, if the Cowboys use resources to obtain a Safety, it needs to be for one that is ready immediately. They already have a group of players with very good athletic ability (Wilcox, Heath, Matt Johnson, Jakar Hamilton). I see a good chance that one of the existing players steps up and "gets it"; however, if the Cowboys don't think that will happen in 2014, then they either need to consider a Free Agent or a very early draft pick at the position.

 

[Future]

I like him, but he would be more of an in-the-box safety, Dallas has Church so he wouldn't really be a fit here.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Tre Boston is probably the most raw safety prospect that will be drafted in the 1st 4 rounds. He has a lot to learn. He also has the most potential. Alot like Wilcox last year. No way is Boston a day one starter.

There isn't one safety in this draft I would take as a day one starting free safety

Clinton-Dix for me. Easy.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

IMO, if the Cowboys use resources to obtain a Safety, it needs to be for one that is ready immediately. They already have a group of players with very good athletic ability (Wilcox, Heath, Matt Johnson, Jakar Hamilton). I see a good chance that one of the existing players steps up and "gets it"; however, if the Cowboys don't think that will happen in 2014, then they either need to consider a Free Agent or a very early draft pick at the position.

Completely agree. Between the 4 guys you mentioned, I feel like we can count on one (Wilcox) making a jump and becoming at least an acceptable starter, and the other 3 serving as solid depth and our special teams core guys. I don't think the upgrade from a better-developed Wilcox, who we used a 3rd round pick on last year, to any of these other guys (Clinton-Dix, Pryor, etc.) would be worth the pick, unless we're stuck with few alternatives.

 

[supercowboy8]

Clinton-Dix for me. Easy.

Not for me. I have seen every game he has played at Bama. Over rated. Also history of bama secondary players in NFL is not good.

I hope you have watched Clinton Dix more than once and not basing your opinion on what some website says .

 

[bodi]

we need a FS bad

you don't think Calvin Pryor, Dix

would be first day starters

I believe you can go even lower rounds and find a first day starter

 

[bodi]

oh yes lets watch more of Heath following guys

 

[CowboysLaw87]

Not for me. I have seen every game he has played at Bama. Over rated. Also history of bama secondary players in NFL is not good.

I hope you have watched Clinton Dix more than once and not basing your opinion on what some website says .

I usually watch 2-4 videos of a prospect on draftbreakdown.com, which highlights that individual player on each play (good and bad, not just a highlight reel). I read/follow about a dozen scouts and aspiring scouts on Twitter. I'm also a former coach and have D1 coaching connections and hear certain things/opinions. Wrap it all up, slice and dice it, and walla! My opinion and analysis is born.

I respect your opinion on the guy though. If everyone shared the same opinion then the NFL Draft would be an exact science and not so fun.

 

[DEMARC0MURRAY29]

we need a FS bad

you don't think Calvin Pryor, Dix

would be first day starters

I believe you can go even lower rounds and find a first day starter

I agree. I don't like drafting safeties high.

 

[DEMARC0MURRAY29]

Also to note, Dixon was a 5* star prospect and #15 recruit in the 2009 class.

 

[supercowboy8]

we need a FS bad

you don't think Calvin Pryor, Dix

would be first day starters

I believe you can go even lower rounds and find a first day starter

Ok you can find first day starters anywhere but are they good enough to make a difference day one. I like Pryor and Bailey but to me I wouldn't put them out there to start year 1. I just think there aren't ready.

If you draft Dix you have to start him day 1 due to 1st round pick. I'm not sold on Clinton Dix in this scheme. We need a true center field ball hawk. Dix will fir perfectly in some schemes.

 

[bodi]

I think you need to widen your base

Kenny Ladler can be had in the 3 rd

2013 First Team All-SEC Defensive Back (Coaches)
Ladler's 65 solo tackles paced the squad and ranked 2nd in the SEC.
Also led the Commodores with 91 total tackles... Averaged 9.0 tackles against SEC competition

Coverage

Ladler offers teams a ton of options in coverage and he shows off a great deal of versatility in the Vanderbilt secondary. He reads and diagnoses passes quickly and has a good understanding of where receivers are attacking and where he needs to support. Ladler is extremely aggressive in zone and will go up and try to jump routes and is a good support safety to help in coverage. He shows impressive closing speed when the ball is in the air and has a ton of range on the back end to help in coverage and make plays.

Additionally, Ladler shows ability to help in man coverage and looks the part of a corner in those situations. He has shown the ability to cover receivers in the slot and does a great job of mirroring routes. Athletically, he should have no problem matching up with tight ends but he needs to prove he can be strong enough to hang with them.

Between his instincts, athletic ability and technique, Ladler really allows the Commodore defense to operate in a number of different ways. Being able to play so well in man as well as being a good center fielder in zone makes him extremely valuable against the passing game.

Ladler’s best fit is as a free safety that can protect on the back end as a center fielder. Because he can cover in the slot and take on receivers, he can be used as a nickel corner and give teams a big nickel package if he is not starting at free safety. He has shown he can cover, he can blitz off the edge and it just adds more to his value to teams. Ladler appears to be a good player in passing situations but he needs to improve as a run defender to make that big nickel have the benefits it is supposed to have.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Dallas doesn't need another SS, they need a true FS... I like the kid Boston from UNC.

 

[ghst187]

Everyone looks good in a highlight video

Don't need another SS . We need a cover FS that can play day one. I don't see that in this draft. I like calvin pryor but he will take some time before he can be a true starter.

I would love to sign Jarius Byrd but that's not going to happen, $$$$.

Chris Clemons and Major Wright are two that I would like for dallas to bring in. Clemons is a very good cover safety. Wright struggled this year but was very good last year under Marinelli.

I agree with all of the above EXCEPT I would still go grab Dixon if he was still available late 4th or 5th round. I saw a lot of Baylor games and he is better than anything we have back there. He's a big hitter, good tackler, always around the ball, great athlete, and gets his share of passes defensed and INTs. Clear upgrade on day 1. Pair him with Major Wright in a Marinelli defense (or any COMPETENT D coordinator)...heck yes!