The Quandry of Need, Availability, Hindsight, Guts, and Greatness

[erod]

I know exactly what the Cowboys need to draft this week. Listen up.

In the first round, the Cowboys need another guard like Larry Allen. Then, they can draft the second coming of Leon Lett in the second round, followed by the next Ed Reed in the third. Add a backup running back in the fourth, say someone like Priest Holmes, and they should be good to go this upcoming season after they sign Clabo or Winston to play tackle.

That's my strategy because I'm a football genius of the highest order. My system has a 100 percent success rating, and comes with a full money-back guarantee. It is the formula most recommended by all Super Bowl champions.

If only......

Let's be honest, deep down we all just want really good football players in the draft. Three years from now, you want to see a 2013 list that litters your starting lineup with household names. Who really cares to remember what our team needs were in 2008 or 2009? All that matters is the big bag of nothing we have left, and the gaping roster holes we've been chasing ever since. Had we drafted nine nickel backs that could play, we'd be better off.

It's a fact that we need big, fat, mean guys named Tyrone and Bubba this year. That IS the pimple on this rosters behind, and no doubt, they will throw darts at a few this week.

But more importantly - in fact, infinitely more importantly - is that they come away with major contributors that change the complexion of the team for years to come.

Let's say the o-lineman we covet are gone, as well as the top DT they have in mind. What if Tyler Eifert is the Jason Witten? What if Tavon Austin is about ready to absolutely light up the NFL? What if Eddie Lacy is the next truly great NFL running back?

This draft is said to have the most value in the second and third rounds. I've read that in multiple places. In a Jerry-run draft, I'd say "NO!" to Eifert or Austin, because he'd squander away the next few rounds. But nowdays his impact is not as great, and I trust the drafting of Ciskowski, Garrett, and the current staff to identify players that can play in rounds 2 and beyond.

The play might be to trade down if things don't fall right, but they shouldn't panic if a game-changing player falls to them that doesn't happen to play a position of need. (And I don't mean a character-issue guy.) Especially since the new format allows you to go back to the hotel and strategize for rounds 2-3 all night after the first round.

After all, Larry Allen was drafted in the second round, Darren Woodson in the third, Leon Lett in the seventh, Erik Williams in the third, and on and on. Consider current NFL players like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Arian Foster, Matt Forte, Russell Wilson, and countless other stars that did not get drafted in the first round. And countless more that were drafted in the first round that we've long since forgotten.

No doubt I'll be belly-aching if they do this. Let me go ahead and admit that right now. But I get to change my mind and be wrong, they don't. (I'll be watching Mo Claiborne this year for that very reason. He'd better be awesome.)

Bottom line: they'd better be dang sure, and they'd better get it right if they go off plan. If they nab a great player, three years from now we won't remember what we posted this upcoming May. And it's not their job to appease the internet experts.

Draft for need, but don't let the next Tony Gonzalez, Aaron Rodgers, Ray Rice, or J.J. Watt pass you by if what you hoped for isn't there.

 

[DrKennethNoisewater]

Unless Warmack or Cooper was there I could very easily be talked in to Austin. He would change the way teams would have to defend us.

 

[jobberone]

I think the OP is right on and I've said the same thing. No matter who they draft in the first couple of rounds they need to have those guys contributing during their contract and hopefully the next one as well. We have no one on the team from the 2009 draft or 0 for 12, 3 of 6 from 2010, 7 of 8 from 2011, and 7 of 7 from 2012. Hopefully we'll get three starters from this one.

 

[erod]

I think the OP is right on and I've said the same thing. No matter who they draft in the first couple of rounds they need to have those guys contributing during their contract and hopefully the next one as well. We have no one on the team from the 2009 draft or 0 for 12, 3 of 6 from 2010, 7 of 8 from 2011, and 7 of 7 from 2012. Hopefully we'll get three starters from this one.

As well as a fourth in free agency after the draft.

 

[Future]

Unless Warmack or Cooper was there I could very easily be talked in to Austin. He would change the way teams would have to defend us.

I agree.

But if we were to draft him, you'd have to ask the question of whether or not JG will be able to come up with ways to get him the football. It's a tired rhetoric, but Red has never shown the ability to be creative in getting guys touches.

 

[erod]

I agree.

But if we were to draft him, you'd have to ask the question of whether or not JG will be able to come up with ways to get him the football. It's a tired rhetoric, but Red has never shown the ability to be creative in getting guys touches.

The way to do it is make sure you get a starting offensive lineman in the second round and sign Clabo or Winston.

Garrett's issue is designing plays that don't include Romo running for his life. If they can the run game and pass protection shored up to at least average, you could better get the ball to Dez and a new guy like Austin.

On another note, it'll be strange to have two Austins at receiver.

 

[DrKennethNoisewater]

I agree.

But if we were to draft him, you'd have to ask the question of whether or not JG will be able to come up with ways to get him the football. It's a tired rhetoric, but Red has never shown the ability to be creative in getting guys touches.

Garrett emptied his bag of tricks when he called all those bubble screens to Ogletree against the Eagles.

 

[burmafrd]

BPA at position of need or trade down. IF both cooper and warmack are gone.

 

[Idgit]

I agree.

But if we were to draft him, you'd have to ask the question of whether or not JG will be able to come up with ways to get him the football. It's a tired rhetoric, but Red has never shown the ability to be creative in getting guys touches.

I haven't heard that criticism all the credibly or frequently, but the offense is based on exploiting what the defense gives you, so it's a lot less a matter of play calling and a lot more a matter of how the QB adjusts to it.

Austin would make it very tough on defenses who already struggle with Dez and Witten. Especially if we used him out of the backfield where it doesn't necessarily mean getting the other Austin out of the slot.

 

[erod]

I haven't heard that criticism all the credibly or frequently, but the offense is based on exploiting what the defense gives you, so it's a lot less a matter of play calling and a lot more a matter of how the QB adjusts to it.

Austin would make it very tough on defenses who already struggle with Dez and Witten. Especially if we used him out of the backfield where it doesn't necessarily mean getting the other Austin out of the slot.

Outside of Johnny Manziel, Austin was the most disruptive offensive force in college football last year. Oklahoma couldn't catch him no matter where WV played him.

 

[visionary]

Outside of Johnny Manziel, Austin was the most disruptive offensive force in college football last year. Oklahoma couldn't catch him no matter where WV played him.

they will catch him in the NFL i assure you

there is a reason there has never been a 5-8 170 lb "game changer" at WR in the NFL

when something has never happened in NFL history, there is usually a reason for it

the people who will be chasing and hitting him are way bigger and faster than he is used to

the 2 players that are closest to him and got at least as much hype as he is getting are reggie bush and d jax

both are very good players but disappear in games all the time

he may turn out to be a great player but the odds that he can consistently perform at an all-pro level for many seasons are very low IMO

i take the 'emmitt smith' over the 'barry sanders' any day of the week

 

[Zordon]

You know what the Cowboys need.

They need 4 starters from this draft. 3 minimum.

 

[erod]

You know what the Cowboys need.

They need 4 starters from this draft. 3 minimum.

Bottom line, right there.

 

[Maxmadden]

Darren Woodson was drafted in the second round but the point was well taken.

 

[egn22]

The way to do it is make sure you get a starting offensive lineman in the second round and sign Clabo or Winston.

Garrett's issue is designing plays that don't include Romo running for his life. If they can the run game and pass protection shored up to at least average, you could better get the ball to Dez and a new guy like Austin.

On another note, it'll be strange to have two Austins at receiver.

:laugh2:

agreed. don't be cute. fix the line so we're not sitting here next year saying "if only we woulda..."

 

[xwalker]

I know exactly what the Cowboys need to draft this week. Listen up.

In the first round, the Cowboys need another guard like Larry Allen. Then, they can draft the second coming of Leon Lett in the second round, followed by the next Ed Reed in the third. Add a backup running back in the fourth, say someone like Priest Holmes, and they should be good to go this upcoming season after they sign Clabo or Winston to play tackle.

That's my strategy because I'm a football genius of the highest order. My system has a 100 percent success rating, and comes with a full money-back guarantee. It is the formula most recommended by all Super Bowl champions.

If only......

Let's be honest, deep down we all just want really good football players in the draft. Three years from now, you want to see a 2013 list that litters your starting lineup with household names. Who really cares to remember what our team needs were in 2008 or 2009? All that matters is the big bag of nothing we have left, and the gaping roster holes we've been chasing ever since. Had we drafted nine nickel backs that could play, we'd be better off.

It's a fact that we need big, fat, mean guys named Tyrone and Bubba this year. That IS the pimple on this rosters behind, and no doubt, they will throw darts at a few this week.

But more importantly - in fact, infinitely more importantly - is that they come away with major contributors that change the complexion of the team for years to come.

Let's say the o-lineman we covet are gone, as well as the top DT they have in mind. What if Tyler Eifert is the Jason Witten? What if Tavon Austin is about ready to absolutely light up the NFL? What if Eddie Lacy is the next truly great NFL running back?

This draft is said to have the most value in the second and third rounds. I've read that in multiple places. In a Jerry-run draft, I'd say "NO!" to Eifert or Austin, because he'd squander away the next few rounds. But nowdays his impact is not as great, and I trust the drafting of Ciskowski, Garrett, and the current staff to identify players that can play in rounds 2 and beyond.

The play might be to trade down if things don't fall right, but they shouldn't panic if a game-changing player falls to them that doesn't happen to play a position of need. (And I don't mean a character-issue guy.) Especially since the new format allows you to go back to the hotel and strategize for rounds 2-3 all night after the first round.

After all, Larry Allen was drafted in the second round, Darren Woodson in the third, Leon Lett in the seventh, Erik Williams in the third, and on and on. Consider current NFL players like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Arian Foster, Matt Forte, Russell Wilson, and countless other stars that did not get drafted in the first round. And countless more that were drafted in the first round that we've long since forgotten.

No doubt I'll be belly-aching if they do this. Let me go ahead and admit that right now. But I get to change my mind and be wrong, they don't. (I'll be watching Mo Claiborne this year for that very reason. He'd better be awesome.)

Bottom line: they'd better be dang sure, and they'd better get it right if they go off plan. If they nab a great player, three years from now we won't remember what we posted this upcoming May. And it's not their job to appease the internet experts.

Draft for need, but don't let the next Tony Gonzalez, Aaron Rodgers, Ray Rice, or J.J. Watt pass you by if what you hoped for isn't there.

I interpret your entire post as "draft the best player available and try to use trades to match BPA to need".

You seem to follow it up with the idea that in a few years we just want to look back and see that the team successfully drafted good/great players and we won't care about the specifics needs of the 2013 season.

If that is what you're saying, then I agree.

 

[erod]

I interpret your entire post as "draft the best player available and try to use trades to match BPA to need".

You seem to follow it up with the idea that in a few years we just want to look back and see that the team successfully drafted good/great players and we won't care about the specifics needs of the 2013 season.

If that is what you're saying, then I agree.

Dang it!! You said that in a lot fewer words than I did.

 

[AsthmaField]

they will catch him in the NFL i assure you

there is a reason there has never been a 5-8 170 lb "game changer" at WR in the NFL

when something has never happened in NFL history, there is usually a reason for it

the people who will be chasing and hitting him are way bigger and faster than he is used to

the 2 players that are closest to him and got at least as much hype as he is getting are reggie bush and d jax

both are very good players but disappear in games all the time

he may turn out to be a great player but the odds that he can consistently perform at an all-pro level for many seasons are very low IMO

i take the 'emmitt smith' over the 'barry sanders' any day of the week

It's funny that you would mention Emmitt Smith.

In 1990 I was watching the draft with a buddy and when Dallas drafted Emmitt, the guy started shaking his head and said, "terrible pick!"

When I asked him why, he said similar things to what you said about Austin. He said Emmitt made a career out of making college guys miss and outrunning the slower college players, and that there was no way he would do that in the pros. He said "they don't miss tackles in the pros" and that "everyone runs fast in the NFL".

He said Emmitt was so special in college basically because everyone else so was not.

The rest is history, of course. Emmitt made just as many people miss in the pros, and had just as many long runs in the NFL as he did at Florida. I never let that guy forget it either.

Austin is a phenomenal football player who is going to be extremely difficult to tackle in the NFL... just like he was in the NCAA. He's going to be a monster on kick returns and smoke screens and quick hitches is going to give pro coordinators nightmares just like it did for the college guys. A streak to the endzone is still going to see him leaving his man behind in the dust and is going to stretch defenses all day long. Dez Bryant will benefit from his presence just like Steadman Bailey did.

Yeah, I'd take Austin at 18 and spend the whole summer thinking of how much he's going to give NFC East defenses fits. Just like that other guy who wasn't gonna do in the pros what he did in college.

 

[xwalker]

they will catch him in the NFL i assure you

there is a reason there has never been a 5-8 170 lb "game changer" at WR in the NFL

when something has never happened in NFL history, there is usually a reason for it

i take the 'emmitt smith' over the 'barry sanders' any day of the week

It's funny that you would mention Emmitt Smith.

In 1990 I was watching the draft with a buddy and when Dallas drafted Emmitt, the guy started shaking his head and said, "terrible pick!"

When I asked him why, he said similar things to what you said about Austin. He said Emmitt made a career out of making college guys miss and outrunning the slower college players, and that there was no way he would do that in the pros. He said "they don't miss tackles in the pros" and that "everyone runs fast in the NFL".

He said Emmitt was so special in college basically because everyone else so was not.

The rest is history, of course. Emmitt made just as many people miss in the pros, and had just as many long runs in the NFL as he did at Florida. I never let that guy forget it either.

Austin is a phenomenal football player who is going to be extremely difficult to tackle in the NFL... just like he was in the NCAA. He's going to be a monster on kick returns and smoke screens and quick hitches is going to give pro coordinators nightmares just like it did for the college guys. A streak to the endzone is still going to see him leaving his man behind in the dust and is going to stretch defenses all day long. Dez Bryant will benefit from his presence just like Steadman Bailey did.

Yeah, I'd take Austin at 18 and spend the whole summer thinking of how much he's going to give NFC East defenses fits. Just like that other guy who wasn't gonna do in the pros what he did in college.

I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with either of you; however, I'm not sure that I see relevance in the fact that your friend thought Emmitt
was a bad pick.

Player comparisons are rarely an accurate measurement of a draft picks potential.

For every Emmitt there is a Peter Warrick.

 

[AsthmaField]

I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with either of you; however, I'm not sure that I see relevance in the fact that your friend thought Emmitt
was a bad pick.

Since visionary said this:

the people who will be chasing and hitting him [Austin] are way bigger and faster than he is used to

I said this:

When I asked him why [Emmitt would be a bad pick], he said similar things to what you said about Austin. He said Emmitt made a career out of making college guys miss and outrunning the slower college players, and that there was no way he would do that in the pros. He said "they don't miss tackles in the pros" and that "everyone runs fast in the NFL".