They cannot make the Lamb mistake again

[Verdict]

But you have to keep trying to address your weaknesses even if you miss. Which we have far too often this era on defense and what’s probably prevented this franchise from more success.

Unfortunately a top offense hadn’t been enough to carry us further . We could probably argue we’ve over invested on offense.

We have invested adequately on defense. We have just chosen poorly. I think a lot of that was on Marinelli. It will take a few years to rebuild this roster.

 

[CouchCoach]

Trust you or trust the various beat guys who said they were stunned Lamb was still on the board when he slid to 17?

Lamb was in the top 3 talk on every board and even #1 over Jeudy on some. LVR passes over both and takes Ruggs and I thought the spirit of Crazy Al had descended upon Mayock and Gruden.

It's not about the player, it's about the position. I didn't have him but 4th on my board but that's still 1st round, just not for the Cowboys.

Some don't want to admit it but they've got some of that Booger making a splash on draft day in them. The fact that some were so giddy about a player falling to the Cowboys was not my take. Pre draft grades are wrong, they've been proven wrong every draft since it started. So are the post draft grades because the players haven't played. All opinions flow from the first ones formed about players in the draft and it that first opinion is wrong, so are all subsequent ones.

 

[blueblood70]

We have invested adequately on defense. We have just chosen poorly. I think a lot of that was on Marinelli. It will take a few years to rebuild this roster.

 

[Sydla]

Ok. Interesting stuff. But if you look at the most recent 3 drafts, it tells a different story. In 2017, our draft ranks 18th. In 2018, our draft ranked 9th, and in 2019 we ranked 27th. Those are hugely important b/c that shows you the quality of the guys working on rookie contracts which are the NFL's most valuable commodity. If you have quality starters working on rookie wages, that frees the cap up to invest in better players elsewhere. The cowboys have been duds in free agency so they didn't capitalize on the good drafting.

That's because the Cowboys in 2017 and 2019 they went "need" with their top picks. And low and behold, their two worst drafts of the last decade were when they went need along the DL with their premium pick in those drafts.

 

[Diehardblues]

That's how you end up with crap drafts and a bad roster............. if you just keep throwing draft picks at problems even if you keep missing.

The top level of the draft should be largely BPA, with some exceptions. Then you can use the middle rounds and later rounds to go more need based for depth, etc. Trysten Hill was a "need" pick. So was Charlton. Not exactly great results.

But you have to keep trying to hit. A top offense isn’t enough to meet our goals.

BPA has a different meaning in Cap era. Cant afford to stockpile positions of strengths.

 

[Verdict]

Franchises that can afford a luxury pick like some of the top teams in the league .

Unfortunately we aren’t one of those with so many glaring weaknesses on one side of the ball. Perhaps our ownership believed we were. That would certainly help explain the choice.

There are no "luxury picks". LMAO. You either acquire talent, or not. It is always better to acquire talent and "hit" than to swing based on need and miss. Its great when need lines up with available talent, but that often isn't the case.

 

[Sydla]

Lamb was in the top 3 talk on every board and even #1 over Jeudy on some. LVR passes over both and takes Ruggs and I thought the spirit of Crazy Al had descended upon Mayock and Gruden.

It's not about the player, it's about the position. I didn't have him but 4th on my board but that's still 1st round, just not for the Cowboys.

Some don't want to admit it but they've got some of that Booger making a splash on draft day in them. The fact that some were so giddy about a player falling to the Cowboys was not my take. Pre draft grades are wrong, they've been proven wrong every draft since it started. So are the post draft grades because the players haven't played. All opinions flow from the first ones formed about players in the draft and it that first opinion is wrong, so are all subsequent ones.

Except if you look, the Cowboys have been one of the better drafting teams over the last decade. Some of their worst drafts of the last decade? The two where they forced need picks along the DL with their best pick in those drafts.

 

[Diehardblues]

We have invested adequately on defense. We have just chosen poorly. I think a lot of that was on Marinelli. It will take a few years to rebuild this roster.

Correct. We have chosen poorly. But we have to keep trying and investing more until you get closer . Especially while your fat on your positions of strength.

 

[NeonNinja]

Lamb was absolutely the correct selection.

 

[Sydla]

But you have to keep trying to hit. A top offense isn’t enough to meet our goals.

BPA has a different meaning in Cap era. Cant afford to stockpile positions of strengths.

BPA is actually great with the cap era. By taking Lamb, not only did they get a dynamic 3rd WR that could play 40-50 snaps a game on average as a rookie, they also now have the luxury of being able to avoid having to pay Gallup a massive contract if he gets to FA where he likely will get paid. So no, taking BPA isn't a bad move in the cap era.

 

[CouchCoach]

You are right. We should draft for need on defense, throw the pick away, and then talk about how we "haven't addressed the defense, even though we did with the wasted pick". LOL

Verdict, the Cowboys had a woeful D in 2019 and were 8-8 but they had the #1 O and #2 Pass O. They lose the two best players off that mediocre D and take a WR with their 1st pick. Now, they have the absolute worst D in the league and in their history and was that O any better?

Using FA and the draft is all about addressing the team's needs and shortcomings, the fact that it might not work cannot stop them from doing what they can and did they? The son is so concerned about making a high profile FA mistake that they sign a bunch of JAGs and the old man wanted some applause for the draft and got exactly the oohs and ahhs he wanted.

Because Booger is all about what the Cowboys are all about. It is not what they are; it's about what they appear to be. Some magic act in the Big Top.

 

[CouchCoach]

We have invested adequately on defense. We have just chosen poorly. I think a lot of that was on Marinelli. It will take a few years to rebuild this roster.

It was all, 100%, on the GM who makes every final decision. We are not just subject to his whims but those voices in his ears. Like we need Clinton-Dix.

 

[Diehardblues]

Except if you look, the Cowboys have been one of the better drafting teams over the last decade. Some of their worst drafts of the last decade? The two where they forced need picks along the DL with their best pick in those drafts.

But our misses on defense have arguably prevented us from more success .

We’ve had several misses starting with Claiborne, Taco and probably Tristen although verdict isn’t in on him. And that doesn’t include the injury risk and off field issues we’ve invested high picks on which either have under achieved or can’t stay in the field like Van Esch , Smith and Gregory.

But that’s on our poor evaluators on defense and in FO. You can’t let that prevent you from continuing to attempt to hit. But we had a couple near hits which did contribute like Jones and Collins for example we just let walk last year. We let 4 defensive starters walk to FA last year. Just saying..

We’ve had more success in the draft on offense which has carried us but without a better defense it will all be for naught.

 

[mathew1184]

We could not have picked a better player than Lamb...did you want Chaisson or Terrell, instead?

Looking past players like Lamb is how you end up with a Bobby Carpenter or Taco Charlton.

 

[triplets_93]

really no good draft picks LMAO the draft the last 5-6 years have been GREAT, mostly offense but that will change..

A PB OL, QB, and a WR group that will make some jealous, plus zeke/Pollard and lastly add Shultz and Jarwin,..thats some nice drafting not by Jimmy./.. insane kneejerk baseless replies

if you said havent had many good defensive players come out of the draft, sure..

Good Defense wins SuperBowls, along with great wide receivers and a great RB.

 

[Diehardblues]

BPA is actually great with the cap era. By taking Lamb, not only did they get a dynamic 3rd WR that could play 40-50 snaps a game on average as a rookie, they also now have the luxury of being able to avoid having to pay Gallup a massive contract if he gets to FA where he likely will get paid. So no, taking BPA isn't a bad move in the cap era.

I’ve already stated that taking Lamb only makes sense if we are planning to let Gallup or Cooper go.

Otherwise it’s a luxury pick a 8-8 team can’t afford to make in Cap era stockpiling a position of strength.

The results speak for themselves.

 

[Diehardblues]

We could not have picked a better player than Lamb...did you want Chaisson or Terrell, instead?

Looking past players like Lamb is how you end up with a Bobby Carpenter or Taco Charlton.

But you have to keep trying or you end up in a perpetual 8-8 mode. A top offense without a defense isn’t carrying us far enough.

Stockpiling on positions of strength isn’t sound team building in Cap era.

 

[Diehardblues]

Good Defense wins SuperBowls, along with great wide receivers and a great RB.

Actually the model in Cap era is great defenses and QB’s with few exceptions.

 

[CouchCoach]

Except if you look, the Cowboys have been one of the better drafting teams over the last decade. Some of their worst drafts of the last decade? The two where they forced need picks along the DL with their best pick in those drafts.

If they're one of the better drafting teams over the last decade, then why are they 92-83 with no divisional round playoff wins? In the last 11 seasons, only 4 have been better than 8-8. That look like a draft day demon to you?

Oh wait, please don't tell me it's all that squandered top shelf talent. The greatest perception issue on this board is that of the talent on this team. Many think they become better by just becoming Cowboys. Too many take skill position talent and team talent and it's not even close.

 

[Blackspider214]

We have invested adequately on defense. We have just chosen poorly. I think a lot of that was on Marinelli. It will take a few years to rebuild this roster.

Taco instead of TJ Watt was downright criminal. Not to mention we passed on many really good safeties. This staff has zero idea how to build a defense. They ignore safety and DT and don't think they are important. And wonder why year after year we get gashed up the middle and so many big plays in the pass game. And now, our LBs are a huge need. We thought Jaylon and LVE were the future lmao. Both of those were god awful picks. Not even in hindsight, in real time. Especially Jaylon. We are very poor at drafting.