Sean Lee

[Randy White]

It's the off season, I'm a bit bored, baseball doesn't start for another 5 hours, so here it goes.

Sean Lee's positives have been well documented. There's no doubt he was one of the highest rated LB in this draft and many teams thought highly of him. There's no question the Cowboys selected a good player.

However, there is a concerns I have ( minor one ) about him. Aside from his injuries, which were well documented as well, he's bit older than your typical rookie coming out of college. He's going to turn 24 years old ( holy crap he's almost eligible for social security ) in a couple of months. Looking at his projected path, he should start for the Cowboys after next season ( barring injuries ) in 2012. He'll be 26 years old by then, which is right about the begining of NFL players' prime years. Using a moderate to conservative career model, meaning no major injuries and he living up to expectations, he should contribute at a high level ( Pro bowl level ) of play for roughly 4, perhaps 5 years. After 30-31 years of age most probably he won't be playing at the same high level, but still be a solid contributor.

My questions are:

would most fans be satisfied with that ( if that's the case ) ? is it enough ? Or should the Cowboys, perhaps, have gone in a different direction, selecting a younger player at another position ( Vladimir Ducasse for example ) that usually lasts a few more years ?

 

[speedkilz88]

Draft the best players, whenever teams deviate from that they tend to get in trouble. 23 years old when drafted is the typical age from what I've seen over the years anyways.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

I bet you clicked the "Start New Thread" button, and then drew a blank . . . so you just figured you'd throw this up and hope for the best.

Amirite?

 

[Randy White]

I bet you clicked the "Start New Thread" button, and then drew a blank . . . so you just figured you'd throw this up and hope for the best.

Amirite?

:laugh2:

Naaa.. Like I said, I'm bored.

I was actually at the Scouts recruiting site, looking back at the Cowboys draft picks when they were recruited out of highschool. I had completely forgotten that Sam Young is from a near by area ( Ft. Lauderdale, St Thomas Highschool ). I remembered when he was recruited by ND thinking he reminded me Jon Runyan. I looked up Dez, but even though he was a " 4 star " recruit, I didn't remember hearing much about him. Then I went to Lee and noticed how his recruiting class was at least a year older than the other two, and I found it interesting that he was a year older than I thought he was... For some reason I imagined him being 22 years old..

 

[Chocolate Lab]

If he's a Pro Bowl player for four or five years? Of course you take that for a second round pick.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I bet you clicked the "Start New Thread" button, and then drew a blank . . . so you just figured you'd throw this up and hope for the best.

Amirite?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

It's the off season, I'm a bit bored, baseball doesn't start for another 5 hours, so here it goes.

Sean Lee's positives have been well documented. There's no doubt he was one of the highest rated LB in this draft and many teams thought highly of him. There's no question the Cowboys selected a good player.

However, there is a concerns I have ( minor one ) about him. Aside from his injuries, which were well documented as well, he's bit older than your typical rookie coming out of college. He's going to turn 24 years old ( holy crap he's almost eligible for social security ) in a couple of months. Looking at his projected path, he should start for the Cowboys after next season ( barring injuries ) in 2012. He'll be 26 years old by then, which is right about the begining of NFL players' prime years. Using a moderate to conservative career model, meaning no major injuries and he living up to expectations, he should contribute at a high level ( Pro bowl level ) of play for roughly 4, perhaps 5 years. After 30-31 years of age most probably he won't be playing at the same high level, but still be a solid contributor.

My questions are:

would most fans be satisfied with that ( if that's the case ) ? is it enough ? Or should the Cowboys, perhaps, have gone in a different direction, selecting a younger player at another position ( Vladimir Ducasse for example ) that usually lasts a few more years ?

I take 5 or 6 years of high quality play, over 5 6 years of carpenter. wouldnt' you?

 

[TwoDeep3]

It's the off season, I'm a bit bored, baseball doesn't start for another 5 hours, so here it goes.

Sean Lee's positives have been well documented. There's no doubt he was one of the highest rated LB in this draft and many teams thought highly of him. There's no question the Cowboys selected a good player.

However, there is a concerns I have ( minor one ) about him. Aside from his injuries, which were well documented as well, he's bit older than your typical rookie coming out of college. He's going to turn 24 years old ( holy crap he's almost eligible for social security ) in a couple of months. Looking at his projected path, he should start for the Cowboys after next season ( barring injuries ) in 2012. He'll be 26 years old by then, which is right about the begining of NFL players' prime years. Using a moderate to conservative career model, meaning no major injuries and he living up to expectations, he should contribute at a high level ( Pro bowl level ) of play for roughly 4, perhaps 5 years. After 30-31 years of age most probably he won't be playing at the same high level, but still be a solid contributor.

My questions are:

would most fans be satisfied with that ( if that's the case ) ? is it enough ? Or should the Cowboys, perhaps, have gone in a different direction, selecting a younger player at another position ( Vladimir Ducasse for example ) that usually lasts a few more years ?

How's Keith Brookings holding up?

 

[YosemiteSam]

It's the off season, I'm a bit bored, baseball doesn't start for another 5 hours, so here it goes.

Sean Lee's positives have been well documented. There's no doubt he was one of the highest rated LB in this draft and many teams thought highly of him. There's no question the Cowboys selected a good player.

However, there is a concerns I have ( minor one ) about him. Aside from his injuries, which were well documented as well, he's bit older than your typical rookie coming out of college. He's going to turn 24 years old ( holy crap he's almost eligible for social security ) in a couple of months. Looking at his projected path, he should start for the Cowboys after next season ( barring injuries ) in 2012. He'll be 26 years old by then, which is right about the begining of NFL players' prime years. Using a moderate to conservative career model, meaning no major injuries and he living up to expectations, he should contribute at a high level ( Pro bowl level ) of play for roughly 4, perhaps 5 years. After 30-31 years of age most probably he won't be playing at the same high level, but still be a solid contributor.

My questions are:

would most fans be satisfied with that ( if that's the case ) ? is it enough ? Or should the Cowboys, perhaps, have gone in a different direction, selecting a younger player at another position ( Vladimir Ducasse for example ) that usually lasts a few more years ?

If you get a great player for 5-6 years in his prime you're doing damn good. Free agency usually limits how long some players stay with teams anyhow.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I'm not concerned because the draft and free agency happen every year.

By the way, the same concerns were raised when we drafed an "older" Terrence Newman. Since drafting him, we've drafter more CBs and are now 3-deep at starting CB, and could be 4-deep if Ball wasn't being moved to starting FS.

If CB is a need next season we'll draft that again. Same goes for LB years from now if Lee needs to be replaced; then we draft LB.

Finally, to turn this concern on its head, older players bring more immediate leadership to the table. Newman surely did when we drafted him and sorely needed leadership at the CB position.

So it's nice to learn that Lee is a bit older/more mature too. What you raise as a concern can be the ultimate blessing; for a team trying to win "now", Lee's ability to contrbute now (leadership and play) should be the main ofcus, and it appears he has a chance to do that.

 

[jterrell]

It's the off season, I'm a bit bored, baseball doesn't start for another 5 hours, so here it goes.

Sean Lee's positives have been well documented. There's no doubt he was one of the highest rated LB in this draft and many teams thought highly of him. There's no question the Cowboys selected a good player.

However, there is a concerns I have ( minor one ) about him. Aside from his injuries, which were well documented as well, he's bit older than your typical rookie coming out of college. He's going to turn 24 years old ( holy crap he's almost eligible for social security ) in a couple of months. Looking at his projected path, he should start for the Cowboys after next season ( barring injuries ) in 2012. He'll be 26 years old by then, which is right about the begining of NFL players' prime years. Using a moderate to conservative career model, meaning no major injuries and he living up to expectations, he should contribute at a high level ( Pro bowl level ) of play for roughly 4, perhaps 5 years. After 30-31 years of age most probably he won't be playing at the same high level, but still be a solid contributor.

My questions are:

would most fans be satisfied with that ( if that's the case ) ? is it enough ? Or should the Cowboys, perhaps, have gone in a different direction, selecting a younger player at another position ( Vladimir Ducasse for example ) that usually lasts a few more years ?

In r1 you take guys under 23 imho.
In r2 you take age into consideration for sure.

Why the difference?

Players have different shelf lives and by round the expected shelf is different.

I discuss age a lot. TNew was one of these older rookies. So was Jordan Shipley at UT. You really can't "redshirt" these guys. They need to be able to help early.

BUT, you also need to look at position. Older LBs can play in this league. Reading plays doesn't go away. Brookings helped us a great deal last year.

But would I draft a 24 year old CB again in the top 10 or a 24 year old RB? Nope.

Witten was a pup when we drafted him. I like that for a few reasons. Not only do we have him for longer potentially but he was excelling versus older players in college. Same with Felix.

 

[Randy White]

I take 5 or 6 years of high quality play, over 5 6 years of carpenter. wouldnt' you?

how fast can someone say YES ?

 

[jobberone]

I don't think we should annoint Lee just yet. He may be the nickel LB this year but I think it will be Williams.

 

[DanTanna]

I'm praying he's as good as Dat Nguyen.

 

[MagicMan]

 

[BAT]

Lee > Ducasse (or any other OL that was available in the 2nd)