This board is overlooking our needs at linebacker

[17yearsandcounting]

Just like every OL from Wisconsin is a for sure NFL stud right, or every WR from OSU is a Dez carbon copy, and Randle is a Kendall Hunter cloan? I think you have to look at each individual player.

Its not just the linebackers, most of the first round big hype Bama players have fallen on their face.

 

[Verdict]

I don't think the board is overlooking. its a matter of priority. we need help everywhere, but the question is which area needs the most help. with limited cap room and so many draft picks (higher ones that have better value), you can only do so much. so is the LB needs bigger than DL? I say now. do we need help at LB? yes. but if you have to make a decision and have so much money to spend and get the most value, is it better spent on DL? or LB? given what's out there both in FA or draft.

I think the picks should be made based on best player available. Fill in the gaps in the roster using free agency after the draft. Don't force a pick because of the perceived lack of talent at any position. But I think that our linebacking corps needs an upgrade more than safety or corner. With the signing of Melton, it might be the area most needing an influx of talent on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'm not overlooking that position I'm down with either of the FSU guys in the middle rounds, Shazier if by some devine miracle he falls to 47, or Smallwood or Tripp in round 4 or later.

I'd love to see Barr fall to 16 because I think we could use him a lot like Denver deploys Von Miller.

I don't think Barr will be a LB in the NFL. I think he's going to be a 43 DE.

 

[the_h0wey]

Its not just the linebackers, most of the first round big hype Bama players have fallen on their face.

Like Julio Jones, Eddie Lacy, Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner, Dont'a Hightower, and Mark Barron?

 

[Verdict]

Like Julio Jones, Eddie Lacy, Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner, Dont'a Hightower, and Mark Barron?

Maybe he was thinking more about a guy like Richardson who was at the very top of the draft.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

In a trade up opportunity I wouldn't mind getting Barr

 

[Questfor6]

I don't think Barr will be a LB in the NFL. I think he's going to be a 43 DE.

I'd prefer him at DE but listening Broaddus he seems to believe he'd play Sam and be a nickel rusher. Broaddus doesn't know everything so if Barr falls to 16 I'd just turn his card in and not worry about it because the kid can play some football.

 

[Eddie]

I have a great idea ... how about we NOT draft an injured LB with our 2nd round pick ???

 

[NJ22]

How would you like this? Think I would be fine with this.
1. CJ Mosely
2. Dominique Easly
3. Jackson Jeffcoat
4 Brooks from FSU

 

[silver]

Thing is had Dallas taken Floyd instead many would be talking of the urgent need of drafting a center. Dallas got a damn good Center who is only going to improve and has a great work ethic and heck got a starting quality WR to boot. Gaffe? I'll take gaffes like that every year. lol

We could've gotten both. We ended up with a slow as mollasses TE in the second round.

 

[DTown214]

Let's say we resign Spencer, which I believe is gonna happen... then I think our secondary actually becomes our number 1 need for the draft. At least on the D-line you'd have a stud (Melton) and another solid player (Spencer). For linebackers, the same thing -- stud (Lee), another good player (Carter). But in the secondary we got nobody. We can all pretend Carr is a good CB, but the truth is, he had a historically bad season last year. Claiborne is a bust. Heath isn't an NFL player. Webb and Wilcox are projects. Church had a lot of tackles, but that's because he was forced to because the other team was constantly running right through our front 7 (because of injuries).

I mean, if Anthony Barr or CJ Mosley fall to 16, we should probably take one of them... but I wouldn't be upset at all if we took Calvin Pryor or Clinton-Dix in the first round. Maybe even trade back, pick up another pick, and take one of those two guys. Then in the 2nd and 3rd we take a DE and a LB.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'd prefer him at DE but listening Broaddus he seems to believe he'd play Sam and be a nickel rusher. Broaddus doesn't know everything so if Barr falls to 16 I'd just turn his card in and not worry about it because the kid can play some football.

If we draft him, I think it's for WSDE. I don't see him as a 43 LB at all. HIs lateral agility isn't all that good. I think that where the Cowboys are concerned, he's a pass rushing DE, which means that he's got to be a DE IMO. We can't draft a SAM LB at 16 IMO.

 

[Doomsday101]

We could've gotten both. We ended up with a slow as mollasses TE in the second round.

Says who? As I mentioned no one expected a record setting run in the 1st rd on OL players in that draft. Frederick lasting later in the 2nd rd is very doubtful. meantime Floyd looks like crap, why would I want him? He was on the 31st rank defense and could not break into the starting lineup? Question now about his physical ablity and his lack of hustle should be a big concern. I hope we do much better than Floyd.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Let's say we resign Spencer, which I believe is gonna happen... then I think our secondary actually becomes our number 1 need for the draft. At least on the D-line you'd have a stud (Melton) and another solid player (Spencer). For linebackers, the same thing -- stud (Lee), another good player (Carter). But in the secondary we got nobody. We can all pretend Carr is a good CB, but the truth is, he had a historically bad season last year. Claiborne is a bust. Heath isn't an NFL player. Webb and Wilcox are projects. Church had a lot of tackles, but that's because he was forced to because the other team was constantly running right through our front 7 (because of injuries).

I mean, if Anthony Barr or CJ Mosley fall to 16, we should probably take one of them... but I wouldn't be upset at all if we took Calvin Pryor or Clinton-Dix in the first round. Maybe even trade back, pick up another pick, and take one of those two guys. Then in the 2nd and 3rd we take a DE and a LB.

The major flaw, as I see it, in this strategy is that you are forced to depend on Spencer and that could end up being a big mistake. One, the injury he is recovering from only has something like a 40% success rate. Two, I don't believe that he will be ready by the start of the season.

 

[silver]

Says who? As I mentioned no one expected a record setting run in the 1st rd on OL players in that draft. Frederick lasting later in the 2nd rd is very doubtful. meantime Floyd looks like crap, why would I want him? He was on the 31st rank defense and could not break into the starting lineup? Question now about his physical ablity and his lack of hustle should be a big concern. I hope we do much better than Floyd.

In that case the board was wrong since we had him rated in the top 5. I'm not arguing that Fred was wrong. I'm going back to the OP that we need LB's to which I say that if one of the top 3 falls to 16 not to worry based on our recent history we will probably pass on them since we have a more pressing need at DL. Who knows maybe Barr and Co will crap out like Floyd did. It remains to be seen if Floyd is a bust like the guy in my sig apparently is.

 

[Doomsday101]

In that case the board was wrong since we had him rated in the top 5. I'm not arguing that Fred was wrong. I'm going back to the OP that we need LB's to which I say that if one of the top 3 falls to 16 not to worry based on our recent history we will probably pass on them since we have a more pressing need at DL. Who knows maybe Barr and Co will crap out like Floyd did. It remains to be seen if Floyd is a bust like the guy in my sig apparently is.

I'm not opposed to getting a LB even in the 1st rd if top DL players and players Marinelli may not see as a fit in his scheme like a Louis Nix. My objection was claiming last year as some gaffe, Dallas got 2 very fine players in Frederick and Williams and Floyd does not look like a 1. Had Dallas taken Floyd I'm sure Jerry would have caught hell for that as well.

 

[silver]

I'm not opposed to getting a LB even in the 1st rd if top DL players and players Marinelli may not see as a fit in his scheme like a Louis Nix. My objection was claiming last year as some gaffe, Dallas got 2 very fine players in Frederick and Williams and Floyd does not look like a 1. Had Dallas taken Floyd I'm sure Jerry would have caught hell for that as well.

You know what youre right. Im ok with the trade and the result. Maybe Fred woulda dropped to the Escobar pick, maybe not. The gaffe I refer to is passing on a top 5 rated player. If you do that then whoever makes that board needs to go. Yes we got two for one with Fredd and TW, all I'm saying is just because we have a more pressing need elsewhere we should pass on a top 5 prospect that drops. Hey history might prove you right, or not. And dont worry, we wont take a LB, we'll trade down first if we follow the same script.

 

[Doomsday101]

You know what youre right. Im ok with the trade and the result. Maybe Fred woulda dropped to the Escobar pick, maybe not. The gaffe I refer to is passing on a top 5 rated player. If you do that then whoever makes that board needs to go. Yes we got two for one with Fredd and TW, all I'm saying is just because we have a more pressing need elsewhere we should pass on a top 5 prospect that drops. Hey history might prove you right, or not. And dont worry, we wont take a LB, we'll trade down first if we follow the same script.

I'm just glad they corrected it before they took him. I think a lot had to do with the unexpected which was OL players flying off the board as they did. As far as trading down, Dallas may end up doing that depending on how players fall in the draft.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It's important to keep in mind that in a 4-3, the linebackers are 2nd class citizens by in large. That doesn't mean you want "trash" out there, but Lee has been darned good. Carter was darned good in 2012. The Holloman kid showed something last season and Wilber play surprisingly well as a strong-side linebacker. And Durant (who didn't play badly) is still on the roster. The cupboard isn't nearly as bare as the defensive line when it comes to talent.

I'm not saying another linebacker isn't needed but if a DL or OL of equal value is available when the Cowboys draft in the first round... then I'm going DL or OL.

 

[Doomsday101]

It's important to keep in mind that in a 4-3, the linebackers are 2nd class citizens by in large. That doesn't mean you want "trash" out there, but Lee has been darned good. Carter was darned good in 2012. The Holloman kid showed something last season and Wilber play surprisingly well as a strong-side linebacker. The cupboard isn't nearly as bare as the defensive line when it comes to talent.

I'm not saying another linebacker isn't needed but if a DL or OL of equal value is available when the Cowboys draft in the first round... then I'm going DL or OL.

I agree and if a top LB'ing prospect is sitting there at 16 I have no issue with the Cowboys taking him. That does not change the fact the Cowboys are in serious need of DL help and hopefully we can address it in the draft.