This was a Jerry, not McClay, draft

[Toruk_Makto]

How didn't you maximize your value when you got one of the best players in the draft and a position of .need

RB was not a position of need.

Defensive line was a position of need. Defensive secondary was a position of need. Running back was a position of want.

 

[MRV52]

All I know is they got an A grade for this draft, I dont care who was in charge.

 

[MRV52]

RB was not a position of need.

Defensive line was a position of need. Defensive secondary was a position of need. Running back was a position of want.

Marinelli said that Elliot was a postion of need .

 

[Rogerthat12]

That is fair and I acknowledged that in my original post. I just feel like we were too fixated on EE and not flexible enough. I would have taken the risk that EE was not Balt's target.

I think they felt EE was the missing piece not only for the offense but considering the 2014 formula and how TOP assisted the defense.

The kid is going to be fantastic and though an extra 4th would have been nice, they just did not want to chance losing their guy.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

We had the 4th pick in the first two rounds, and I do not feel like we maximized the value at those picks. I attribute this to Jerry's influence, which seemed to be more prevalent this year than in the last few drafts.

1. In the first round, there was a trade back to be had with Baltimore. We didn't because Jerry did not want to risk losing EE...

Don't you want to wait first before putting this draft on Jerry's shoulders? Wait and grade it in hindsight. If the players turn out good, then it is McClay's draft. If not, you can pin it on Jerry.

Someone reported that Balt wanted Elliott at #4. Ozzie and Stephen Jones have a good relationship. I don't think they ever finalized the parameters of a trade. And After the Cowboys took Elliott, Ozzie called and said Elliott is who they were targeting. So, the trade would have never even materialized once the Cowboys would have asked who they wanted.

 

[DFWJC]

Everyone loves the way the TFred pick worked out but it could have easily blown up in our faces.

It was great we got an extra pick and got TWill and still landed TFred. But what if someone had taken TFred in those 13 spots we moved down and we ended with Zach Ertz or ManteTeo. There was a run on OL and he was the last good one.

It is obvious EE was their guy, so getting cute and losing him is just greed. We could have traded with BAL if we believed them, but we couldn't control what JAX did. We could have lost Ramsey and EE.

Regarding the TFred thing.

If he had been gone there was plenty of room to trade down for 5-10 spots from there and get yet another pick.
Kwan Short was there. Knowing us, we end up passing on him anyway.

Two things that Dallas did that really bothered me on that draft were the next two picks.
Escobar instead of LeVeon ell, Lacy, Jamie Collins, Ty Mathieu
then
TWill instead Terron Armstead or Keenan Allen...both of who most of our board liked.

I'm a big fan of Zeke, but not a fan of that pick at 4th overall. I excited now though, as a fan.
And yes, with a trade down there's no guarantee that we'll even pick the right player.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Marinelli said that Elliot was a postion of need .

Let's say RB was a position of need (it wasn't). RB is one of the few positions that can reliably be filled with pro bowl caliber producers in the later rounds. For this reason you felt the need to spend a 4th overall pick?

You could have had Ramsey and Paul Perkins verses Zeke and Dak. Or even still had Dak by going out and buying a 4th.

Just terrible.

 

[RS12]

Offense sells tickets and gear. Defense wins championships.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Don't you want to wait first before putting this draft on Jerry's shoulders? Wait and grade it in hindsight. If the players turn out good, then it is McClay's draft. If not, you can pin it on Jerry.

Someone reported that Balt wanted Elliott at #4. Ozzie and Stephen Jones have a good relationship. I don't think they ever finalized the parameters of a trade. And After the Cowboys took Elliott, Ozzie called and said Elliott is who they were targeting. So, the trade would have never even materialized once the Cowboys would have asked who they wanted.

First I heard of that. I read their target was Ramsey. Link?

 

[MRV52]

Let's say RB was a position of need (it wasn't). RB is one of the few positions that can reliably be filled with pro bowl caliber producers in the later rounds. For this reason you felt the need to spend a 4th overall pick?

You could have had Ramsey and Paul Perkins verses Zeke and Dak. Or even still had Dak by going out and buying a 4th.

Just terrible.

All I know is guys like this with the total package don't come around that often. Would of liked them to trade down and get him but you never know so just take him at #4. Like someone said in here if Jaylon Smith comes back and plays like a stud, think of him as our #4 and Elliot as #34. We drafted some decent help on the Dline so not really sure why some of you are angry and think we are doomed. The season doesn't start today. There are going to be players released from now till end of training camp that can still land here.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

All I know is guys like this with the total package don't come around that often. Would of liked them to trade down and get him but you never know so just take him at #4. Like someone said in here if Jaylon Smith comes back and plays like a stud, think of him as our #4 and Elliot as #34. We drafted some decent help on the Dline so not really sure why some of you are angry and think we are doomed. The season doesn't start today. There are going to be players released from now till end of training camp that can still land here.

Or we could have had a guy at a position of need at 4? A position and prospect worthy of 4. Say Ramsey?

Then we could pretend that we got Ramsey at 34 and Jaylon at 4!

This is fun.

 

[scottsp]

Hard to say. Age isn't the primary factor with this position. A running back only has so many carries in him, be he 20 or 24 years old when the counter initiates. We don't know what that number is and it varies from player to player; however, if we are going by age, the decline typically begins at about 26 years. Elliott will be 21 when he sees his first NFL carry.

This isn't going to be a position by committee. If he's healthy to go every week (highly doubtful), I'm thinking we see around 300 total touches this year in addition to those plays he will be tasked with blocking or blitz pickup. Of course, I have no idea what the future brings, but if all goes well, 2016 should be Elliott's lightest workload heading into his mid-twenties. And if it isn't, then I am really wondering why the fourth overall pick was spent on him.

Come 2019, the best case would be Dallas and Elliott at odds over money, because a great runner will demand the the truck backing up for their second contract. What his physical state is by then is anyone's guess.

EDIT: To the original point, and I don't need feel the need to belabor this, but I am one who felt this was a misallocation of draft resources. Elliott is a fine runner, but the elite prospect many make him out to be. To me, Ramsey was the superior talent and a player who would provide immediate impact to an area in which this club is in dire need.

There were runners on the board in rounds two, three, and beyond who could unseat any running back on this roster. Is there a drop-off between Zeke and someone like Kenneth Dixon? Absolutely. But it's nothing like Ramsey and, say, Vonn Bell.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

RB was not a position of need.

Defensive line was a position of need. Defensive secondary was a position of need. Running back was a position of want.

Your best running back is a 29 year old injury prone Darren McFadden and a broken down Alfred Morris yet i'm suppose to believe that this isn't a position of need but its a actual luxury? You were a injury away from having Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar be your running backs.

As to Smith, Jerry admitted that they deviate from "the plan," which was to trade back up into the 2nd round to pick Smith, not pick him at 34.

So what does that mean? Their plan was to always take Smith so how is that thinking on the go?

I for one don't think EE's shelf life is limited to 5 years. He's 20 years old. He has good backups in Morris/McFadden to give him a rest. And has never suffered any leg injuries (knock on wood). I see no reason why we wouldn't give him a second contract at age 25.

Well I agree with you but I was just speaking hypothetically. If the worse case scenario is he gives us 5 good years and a Super Bowl then it was worth it.

Of course. A super bowl is always worth it...but it is not a smart plan to grind Elliot into sand and be left with nothing after 4 years. You can win a super bowl AND get high level production out of Elliot. Jason just has to COACH it that way. Instead of sticking it in Elliot gut 500 times a year. He's getting 5m a year to coach!

Ehhh if he didn't use Elliott the majority of the game then that's when id' worry about Garret. Elliot is fine. Running backs break down at 28 or 29 and he's 20.

If he only gives us 5 good years that is about on average for what all the running backs give you anyway.

 

[Nightman]

Your best running back is a 29 year old injury prone Darren McFadden and a broken down Alfred Morris yet i'm suppose to believe that this isn't a position of need but its a actual luxury? You were a injury away from having Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar be your running backs.


So what does that mean? Their plan was to always take Smith so how is that thinking on the go?



Well I agree with you but I was just speaking hypothetically. If the worse case scenario is he gives us 5 good years and a Super Bowl then it was worth it.



Ehhh if he didn't use Elliott the majority of the game then that's when id' worry about Garret. Elliot is fine. Running backs break down at 28 or 29 and he's 20.

If he only gives us 5 good years that is about on average for what all the running backs give you anyway.

Let's say RB was a position of need (it wasn't). RB is one of the few positions that can reliably be filled with pro bowl caliber producers in the later rounds. For this reason you felt the need to spend a 4th overall pick?

You could have had Ramsey and Paul Perkins verses Zeke and Dak. Or even still had Dak by going out and buying a 4th.

Just terrible.

We just solved our RB position for 5+ years with a 20 year old workhorse......

.......but we could have got my guy and know I hate everybody........WAAAAAAHHHH

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We just solved our RB position for 5+ years with a 20 year old workhorse......

.......but we could have got my guy and know I hate everybody........WAAAAAAHHHH

I'd love to know who everyone would've wanted. It would've been great to get a pass rusher but there was none there. This was a terrible year to be bad and need a pass rusher.

This outcry can't be over Ramsey. I would've taken him AS WELL. But understand that move was far riskier and it would've done nothing to take advantage of Romo's prime years he has left.

 

[Nightman]

I'd love to know who everyone would've wanted. It would've been great to get a pass rusher but there was none there. This was a terrible year to be bad and need a pass rusher.

This outcry can't be over Ramsey. I would've taken him AS WELL. But understand that move was far riskier and it would've done nothing to take advantage of Romo's prime years he has left.

I am not a supporter of the theory that anyone can play RB

I think you put a stud behind an OL like this, not a journeyman

Murray is light years better than DMC and EElliott is an upgrade from Murray

 

[Hoofbite]

Just about every source said the team was split between Ramsey and Elliot. Jerry for Elliot, pretty everyone else for Ramsey.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I am not a supporter of the theory that anyone can play RB

I think you put a stud behind an OL like this, not a journeyman

Murray is light years better than DMC and EElliott is an upgrade from Murray

Well I agree somewhat. I don't know what Murray is at the point. I guess we will find out next year.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Your best running back is a 29 year old injury prone Darren McFadden and a broken down Alfred Morris yet i'm suppose to believe that this isn't a position of need but its a actual luxury? You were a injury away from having Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar be your running backs.

The great myth is that if we didn't get Zeke at 4 we couldn't run the ball. Or that somehow there was a rule that we could only draft a RB in the 1st...instead of say grabbing Perkins who went in the 5th.

It's a pretty simple game of opportunity cost.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The great myth is that if we didn't get Zeke at 4 we couldn't run the ball. Or that somehow there was a rule that we could only draft a RB in the 1st...instead of say grabbing Perkins who went in the 5th.

It's a pretty simple game of opportunity cost.

Elliot and Perkins aren't on the same planet let alone in the same league.

And its no myth. We ran the ball well last year and it got us to 4 wins. The running game needed to get younger and improve. Or did you want to address that with less value or put it off for another year. They already made the mistake of not addressing it last year....