Why Dallas will NOT draft a LB with the 1st round pick

[Displaced Cowboy]

He had a knee injury. What other injuries happened that means he can't stay healthy? One ACL does not make a person injury prone.
Irvin tore his ACL early in his career also.

Knee injury forced him to miss all of 2003 while at Tennessee.

Had the surgery in May right after being drafted on his hip.

In early september had surgery to clean up cartilage in his knee.

Then he tore his ACL.

I stand by my comment that he can't stay healthy.

 

[Derinyar]

Neither Carpenter or Lawson are great talents. They are good talents. A great pass rusher gets drafted higher than 18. People that are though to be good pass rushers tend to rocket up the draft boards, see DeMarcus Ware.

 

[speedkilz88]

This is a deeper draft and these guys still could shoot up the draftboard. Ware was also considered a 2nd round pick at this time of last season.(Many didn't like the pick because of this, called him a workout warrior) The talking heads don't know everything.

Burnett had a bonespur taken off his hip in training camp, it wasn't a knee cartilage then.

Yes, Manny Lawson was a LB up until they moved him to DE in college. I think he is a carbon copy of Ware, their 40 times were off of different surfaces so who knows which is faster for sure.

 

[JonCJG]

http://footballsfuture.com/2006/prospects/manny_lawson.html

As a linebacker in 2002, Lawson had 35 tackles, with one of them coming for loss. As a part time starter in 2003, he improved on all his numbers. He totaled 53 tackles, seven for loss, with three sacks. Lawson made the switch to DE in 2004, and became a full time starter for the first time in his career. On the year, he finished with 50 tackles, 12 for loss, and seven sacks. As a senior, Manny put it all together. He finished the season with career highs across the board: 58 tackles, 19.5 for loss, and 10.5 sacks.

He has gotten better every year and has great upside, and great physical tools. He is a great prospect in a 3-4 defense IMO.

I think Lawson is worth our 1st round pick. About 2 weeks before the draft we will see how GM's around the league really feel. Too early to tell right now.

 

[JonJon]

http://footballsfuture.com/2006/prospects/manny_lawson.html

As a linebacker in 2002, Lawson had 35 tackles, with one of them coming for loss. As a part time starter in 2003, he improved on all his numbers. He totaled 53 tackles, seven for loss, with three sacks. Lawson made the switch to DE in 2004, and became a full time starter for the first time in his career. On the year, he finished with 50 tackles, 12 for loss, and seven sacks. As a senior, Manny put it all together. He finished the season with career highs across the board: 58 tackles, 19.5 for loss, and 10.5 sacks.

He has gotten better every year and has great upside, and great physical tools. He is a great prospect in a 3-4 defense IMO.

I think Lawson is worth our 1st round pick. About 2 weeks before the draft we will see how GM's around the league really feel. Too early to tell right now.

Read my sig

 

[JonCJG]

Would be the perfect draft if it fell that way.

ray2:

 

[AsthmaField]

Ware has better change of direction skills

Hey David, according to the two links that are in this thread, it looks like Lawson has better times in the 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle. Those two drills show change of direction better than any other drill.

Ware:

3 cone = 7.08 seconds

20-yard shuttle = 4.27 seconds


Lawson:

3-cone = 6.90 seconds

20-yard shuttle = 4.18 seconds


Ware was 0.18 seconds slower on the 3-cone.
He was 0.09 seconds slower on the 20-yard shuttle.

Those results point to Lawson having a little better change of direction... although not much.

 

[JonJon]

Hey David, according to the two links that are in this thread, it looks like Lawson has better times in the 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle. Those two drills show change of direction better than any other drill.

Ware:

3 cone = 7.08 seconds

20-yard shuttle = 4.27 seconds


Lawson:

3-cone = 6.90 seconds

20-yard shuttle = 4.18 seconds


Ware was 0.18 seconds slower on the 3-cone.
He was 0.09 seconds slower on the 20-yard shuttle.

Those results point to Lawson having a little better change of direction... although not much.

I agree that Lawson is by far the better athlete than Ware was at this point. He may even be a better pash rusher, though Ware may have been better all around. If this was last year, Lawson may have been a top 15 pick right up there with Ware, Johnson, and Merriman. Last years draft was dominated by RBs and WRs, but his year the talent is more evenly spread, which is why many consider Lawson to be a 2nd round draft pick with 1st round talent.

 

[ddh33]

I think Dallas will look hard at LBs early. That's where the value will be.

I'm most interested to see where Kevin Burnett fits in all of this. I have a hard time believing that the Cowboys have given up on him. Everything I read about him was that he had the makings of a star, if he could stay healthy.

With news that Ayodele is likely going to play outside, where does that leave Burnett? I had been under the impression that he was moving inside. Does Dallas think that he won't be able to take the beating in there? Does Dallas not think he can play at all?

 

[JonJon]

I think Dallas will look hard at LBs early. That's where the value will be.

I'm most interested to see where Kevin Burnett fits in all of this. I have a hard time believing that the Cowboys have given up on him. Everything I read about him was that he had the makings of a star, if he could stay healthy.

With news that Ayodele is likely going to play outside, where does that leave Burnett? I had been under the impression that he was moving inside. Does Dallas think that he won't be able to take the beating in there? Does Dallas not think he can play at all?

I thought I read that Parcells said Ayodele is the inside starter? I believe that makes more since, then we will draft Lawson or Carpenter to play SOLB, with Ware as the opposite OLB and Burnett competing against Shanle, Singleton, Thornton (if he makes the roster) and James for the other ILB.

 

[ddh33]

I understand what you're saying, and I believe in competition with all of my heart...

But I have to believe that 3 of the LB spots are sewn up. Ware and Ayodele will be starting, and Bradie James really established himself last season as well. That leaves one spot. Does Burnett take it? If not, is someone else drafted?

In fairness, we do have a coach here who strongly believes in role players. Someone like Burnett may get plenty of snaps as a nickle LB. I guess we'll just have to see how it sorts itself out.

 

[Paniolo22]

I think that LB is the pick, but let me tell you, Ko Simpson would be a sick pick for us, especiall if we stay with killer in the back. I wouldn't mind a small trade down and pick up Simpson in the mid 20's.