We all have our opinions about the draft.....

[dbair1967]

I'm not sold on Kosier at all. Rivera scares me. AJ does too.

Mangold at Center would be great in the 2nd.

Lutui or Spencer at OG would be good too.

so how do you know Mangold and Latui arnt the 2nd comings of Johnson and Gurode? and the two guys we drafted were carrying higher draft grades than both those guys are right now

interior OL's are almost always a waste of high picks

David

 

[bobbie brewskie]

Olineman who go in round 1 are drafted as STARTERS, so drafting a Olineman with the $ we pay our players would be stupid. 1st round OL is drafted to start and anything after that has a small chance to start and usually spends time riding the bench and learning. Oline in 1st round is bad idea IMO.

 

[CowboyWay]

There are 2 ways to win it all.

1. Have a dominant defense. (Hold opponents under 15 points per game)

2. Have a dominant offense. (Score over 28 points per game.)

We're closer to the dominant defense than we are to the dominant offense. I think we should draft 2 O-lineman in this Draft but they need to be OG and C and not in round 1. Maybe not in round 2 if a top notch NT, LB or FS is there.

Give Bledsoe and Parcells a defense that holds teams to 14 points per game and with the pieces we hav eon offense right now, we can win a lot of games.

Add young OL and leave the gaps at SOLB and FS, maybe NT not addressed and I think we finish 8-8 or 9-7. A couple of O-lineman do not put this team far enough ahead. We're not going to go from a 20 points per game offense to a 30 points per game offense just by getting more OL help.

I disagree. I think our offense can be quite good if Bledsoe just has 1 more second to throw the ball. The best defense is a good offense. What if we could just average 1 more first down per drive. That gets us an average of at least 10 yards more in feild position, something we all know bill parcells loves.

2. Look at our offensive guys. Glenn, TO, Bledsoe. These guys are at the tail end of their careers. We need to bring OL in now to contribute right away, we can't wait a year or two to bring them in and develop them.

My biggest concern is that we bring in a couple O-lineman late in the draft. You end up getting trash......see rob pettiti.

 

[Manster68]

1. Manny Lawson OLB (he's just a perfect piece for the Cowboys)
2. Best OT/OG on the board (I'm wavering between that or Maurice Stovall)
3. Pat Watkins FS
4-7, pick up 2 OLs, and an NT.

IMO, the Offensive Line isn't that horrible.

At the tackle positions, a healthy Flo, and a healthy Fabini will do wonders for our once Turnstile OT position. Flozell and Fabini should be able to solidify the OT position for atleast this year. I would draft 1-2 OTs for depth, but we have Petitti also, and he could show some improvement.

At the guard position, a healthy Rivera would do worlds for us, and a faster-than-LA OG in Kosier shouldn't be too much of a downgrade. I would draft 1 OG for Rivera's replacement.

At the center position, there isn't much we can really do. Just stick with Al Johnson and hope he shows some progress.

So really, I don't see us getting more than 2-3 O-Linemen in the draft. And most likely, all the draftees will be backups.

DragonCowboy,

We are definately on the same wavelength here.

There will be offensive linemen available after the first round.

If the Cowboys can acquire a player that can tip the scales (aka Manny Lawson), then a player like that cannot be passed up.

Remember, it is the draft where teams are supposed to be acquiring their superstars. Free agency is for filling immediate holes.

Of course, Terrell Owens doesn't exactly fit that statement. Then again, I didn't want Owens in Dallas.

 

[AsthmaField]

Of course, taking the BPA is always a good thing, and we've done well enough acquiring players since Parcells has been here that we can do that. Like someone already said though... you don't want to completely ignore needs when drafting BPA, either.

I keep looking at it and I keep coming back to LB in round 1 for Dallas.

Parcells has either said he isn't crazy about taking these positions in round 1 or his history says he isn't: WR, OG, C, and FB. That leaves QB, RB, OT, TE, NT, DE, OLB, ILB, CB, and S.

Of those positions, I just don't see us going QB, RB, TE, DE, CB, or S.
*I think Parcells likes the developmental QB's that we have (Romo, Henson).
*I also think Bill is happy with the combined skills of Julius Jones, Marion Barber, and Tyson Thompson at RB.
*While Parcells loves the TE position, with a young pro bowler there in Witten and a young FA acquisition there in Hannam, I can't see us going TE in round 1 unless V. Davis is sitting there at 18 somehow.
*We're set at DE with Spears, Canty, Ellis, Ratliff and Coleman.
*We're also set at CB with a top 5 pick in Newman and two very good FA pickups in Henry and Glenn. Those three might be the best top 3 CB's on any team. Plus, Parcells really likes Reeves and I think he will be a good one.
*I can't see us going S in round 1 because we have so much money already tied up in the secondary (Bill and Jerry both said that before last year's draft) and that is a position that teams usually try to fill outside of round 1. Plus, Jerry recently said that he didn't see us using either of our top two picks at S.

Those positions being out of consideration, leaves OT, NT, ILB, and OLB.

With us having signed Fabini, OT is no longer a pressing need. With Adams, Fabini, Petitti and Columbo, I think Dallas doesn't plan on using the 18th pick on an OT. If someone they have rated very highly is sitting there, I think they'd pull the trigger, but otherwise I think they go into the season with what we have. Maybe a later round developmental guy added to that list, but pretty much status quo.

At NT, with Glover gone, we definatley could use some depth... but why would a team that is by all accounts pushing for all the marbles this year, use their first round pick on a player that will be a backup? Personally, I'm not completely against that idea and if Ngata falls and Dallas loves the guy, I say take him at 18 and give him 50% of the snaps. He would help Ferguson out a lot and make the DL rotation a very, very good one. Still, it is doubtful that we'd draft depth in the first round.

That leaves OLB and ILB.
*Parcells has shown time and again throughout his career that he'll use a first round pick on a LB in a heartbeat.
*Parcells and Jerry both have talked about the importance of the LB corps in a 34 defense.
*We have a gaping hole at SOLB, with only an aging veteran coming off injury sitting there... and he never did fit the defense to begin with.
*I think both Jerry and Bill see the empty SOLB position being filled with quality as an important factor in the development of last year's first round pick, Demarcus Ware. In other words, they know that if we have a dangerous pass rusher at SOLB, Ware will be much, much more effective player than if we just have a guy at that spot. Take away the constant chipping from TE's and RB's, and all the double and triple teams that Ware saw, and he would've easily had double digit sacks and been a constant harassment for the offense. Put a player like Lawson or Wimbley opposite Ware and watch what happens. If the offense continues to pay all of the attention to Demarcus, Lawson or Wimbley would make them pay in a hurry. It would be a classic catch 22 for the offense.
*This is a very good year for OLB/tweener's. Lawson, Wimbley, Carpenter... they all represent good value for a 3-4 team in the first round. Athletically speaking, they're top ten talents. Because they play LB (Carpenter) or because they're tweener's and just too small to play full-time DE (Lawson, Wimbley), they'll slide down farther than their talents and athletic ability warrants. So by us using our first rounder on them, we get talent that is very nearly top ten talent... but we get it much farther down in the first round.
*Along those lines, the BPA for us, very likely will be at the OLB position because of their propensity to slide in the first round.

So, thinking it through logically, it's hard for me to see us using the 18th pick on anything other than OLB. I just keep coming back to that position every time I think about which way we'll go at 18.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Others have said it and I agree.

BPA that also fits a need.

Unless someone like Winston Justice or Brick fall (which I see no way Brick falls and it appears Winston has impressed enough now that he will not fall) then go with LB

I happen to think the LBs that will be available when we pick we be better then the OTs that will be there at 18.

I am really thinking and hoping that we trade down a few picks to get an extra third.

I think we get our O-Linemen in the second round (unless another player is such a great value falls). We have a trend of taking an Oline in the second round and I think the trend continues, I just hope the trend of them not panning out changes. If Charles Spencer falls he may be someone we would love to take.

On a side note, I found the following post very impressive and think others that do not venture to other parts of this board should see this since they may miss it.

http://dallascowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53114

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It will be an OLB unless Huff falls to us at #18.

 

[big dog cowboy]

My biggest concern is that we bring in a couple O-lineman late in the draft. You end up getting trash......see rob pettiti.

That is a uncalled for cheap shot. How do you know how good he will be in the future?

 

[AsthmaField]

It will be an OLB unless Huff falls to us at #18.

I think so too, Mike.

Given Jerry's comments earlier in the week along the lines that if a CB (that we have highly rated) fell to us in the draft, we could go in that direction and move an existing player to FS... do you think Huff would play CB or FS if we took him at 18? If you think he'd play CB... who do you think would go to FS? Henry?

 

[Bluefin]

It will be an OLB unless Huff falls to us at #18.

OLB needs to be addressed more than once in the draft at this point, IMO.

We've got DeMarcus Ware on the right side and the unproven Kalen Thornton behind him and that's it.

Al Singleton isn't a 3-4 outside linebacker and Kevin Burnett is rehabbing a late season ACL tear to go along with his lack of experience at the position.

We need another starter, a quality reserve and a few bodies for the practice squad wouldn't hurt my feelings, either.

So the OLB need is obvious just like improving depth on the offensive line.

But where does NT/DT fit in?

With La'Roi Glover gone, we now have a big need inside on defense.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think so too, Mike.

Given Jerry's comments earlier in the week along the lines that if a CB (that we have highly rated) fell to us in the draft, we could go in that direction and move an existing player to FS... do you think Huff would play CB or FS if we took him at 18? If you think he'd play CB... who do you think would go to FS? Henry?

Boy... good questions.

Who would play better at CB in '06-- Henry or Huff? My guess is Henry.

Who would play better at FS in '06-- Henry or Huff? That's probably a bit closer.

My guess is Huff would end up being the FS IF we had the opportunity to draft him.

Get us an OLB in round 2 and a OL in round 3 and I'm a happy camper!

 

[tyke1doe]

I guess I'll add my two cents.

I say go defense, particularly a pass rush linebacker, then a defensive tackle and then an offensive lineman.

Why?

1. If Manny Lawson is anything close to DeMarcus Ware, then we have our pass rush. Teams won't be able to defend against both guys coming off the edge. And, remember, Ware was excellent against the run.

2. A great pass rush negates the need for an outstanding free safety. Teams don't have to cover as long with a strong pass rush, so remove free safety from the top draft picks.

3. Aside from Ferguson and Ratliff, we do we have as a NT? That's an important cog in the 3-4 scheme. I'm skeptical of using #18 on Gabe Watson because of his mediocre, on-again-off-again playing tendencies. But if he drops to the second round, he would satisfy a need and be a BPA.

4. Of course, there's offensive tackle/guard we need to worry about, though not with a No. 1 pick. No rookie is likely to beat out who we have now. But if someone gets injured or is unable to perform, then we need someone to step in. Our offensive production depends greatly on the play of our offensive line, particularly with Drew Bledsoe behind center.

5. Although we need to groom receiving talent, it's unlikely that TO, Glenn and Crayton all get injured this year. Plus, we can always get a good wide receiver in free agency. Their value isn't what it used to be and they're a dime a dozen now. (See the TO acquisition.) I don't think that position is very important in terms of us having to invest a high pick (first or second round, that is).

What I'd like is ...

First Round, ... A.J. Hawk (yeah, I know he's not falling this far) Manny Lawson, Bobby Carpenter/ LT

Second Round, ... Gab Watson/ DT

Third Round, ... Deuce Latui, Davin Joseph, Chris Spencer/ OT-OG

Fourth Round, ... (assuming we make a trade) Anthony Smith/ FS.

 

[xpistofer]

My biggest concern is that we bring in a couple O-lineman late in the draft. You end up getting trash......see rob pettiti.

that's just silly.

a late rounder who started all 16 games as a rookie? you call that trash?
i call that the kind of hidden gem you need in order to build a super bowl roster.

c'mon, dude...
be real.

 

[vlad]

OL to me is by far the biggest need, but judging from the way the team has addressed it thus far, it looks like I don't know what the hell I'm talking about...

I seem to remember a season, even pre-Flo injury where yeah, maybe the pass protection was decent, maybe, but the run blocking was horrendous. Make that, absolutely horrendous.

My only thinking is after investing all that money in Rivera and getting burned by his performance last year, they are hesitant to find some other guys at a reasonable price because the quality ones in that price range would be older as well. My guess is that they would like to keep the older veterans down to Rivera and Flo.

Also, while I hope it won't be an issue, I have no idea how Flo will come back. Hopefully as good as ever, but that was a big injury and it's not like we're dealing with some super-fit WR. These guys carry wayyy too much weight and their legs are constantly stressed.

I just think it’s MUCH easier to mask a smaller weakness at LB than it would be to mask a larger weakness at:
LT: Let's give Flo the benefit of the doubt, I have a feeling he'll come back strong
LG: Kozier? Backup for Detroit, again I'm not one of these guys on the board who thinks watching Sportscenter makes them a qualified scout; I'm going to hope the department knew what they were doing here. But for every Henry you have to remember Wiley...I'd say this is an obvious question mark
C: This one I can't figure out. It’s like our coaches screw these guys up. Remember how good Gurode was I believe under Hudson Hawk his rookie year (Campo era)? Of course remember how good A. Bryant was that year as well. And Al Johnson showed promise as well, I can't believe he is that weak, but both these guys are still young and I'm hoping Johnson gets that strength this year and Gurode can hopefully pick up his quickness/smarts and move to one of the guards.
RG: Rivera seems like a hard working guy, an honest guy evidenced by his volunteering his signing bonus back last year after he got hurt. I'm chalking last year up to injury although I have just READ he was good in GB, never watched him play (or at least focused on him for even 1 second in GB). So I will say we are good here.
RT: Petiti/Fabini - I hope Fabini pans out. I hope Petiti develops; he seems to have the tools. But neither of the tackles is a position you want to try to develop on a Superbowl run. Question mark here (as Fabini I believe is coming off a chest injury or something)

So that leaves a injury question at left tackle, unknown previous backup at LG, two centers that each appear to have half of what the other needs, but neither is complete yet (and maybe never), will RG return to pre-Cowboy form after a back injury which are the worst (I have a bad back) and in his 30s, and RT you hope for rookie improvement and not sophmore slump (now that D. Coordinators have a full year's worth of film on him) and hope a FA tackles comes back well of an injury. I do have a hope for LT, RT, G, C, which is maybe all you can ask, but i'd still rather take another swing at OL before worrying about LB unless the value is that drastically different.

good opinions guys, its while i like this board.


Let's hope for the best.