Will McClay on drafting offense or defense

[AzorAhai]

Look, I know everyone will type out the old cliche here, but that isn't how the draft works in actuality. It doesn't work like that for any team. Rarely do teams draft players they don't have a need for. Likewise, most teams don't draft much lower players on their board just because it's their biggest need. It is and always will be a balancing act. Teams always have a lot of positions they need to improve because of the salary cap and the only time you really see a pick solely based on bpa is when the value is far and above anyone else on your board. If the next DE or CB is 15 spots lower than where you pick, but there's a TE or WR that ranks high at your pick, you take the WR or TE. That's still a need. The Cowboys aren't taking a RB or a QB at 28 even if that player is highest on their board though.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I agree with McClay on going BPA, but it's pathetic that he's trying to suggest that the defense is good enough since we went 13-3.

 

[Tabascocat]

Best part of the interview was the teams direction to only draft players from big schools. Garrett wants guys who can perform under those tougher conditions. Those days of small school projects are all but over

 

[AzorAhai]

You are missing the point of bringing up Spence. Not that the two are the same situations but rather that a tainted history hurt Spence and that it's possible we passed on him because of Gregory. I mean it's hard to deny that Spence slid because of his past history.

You should always take chances on talent. I'd take a chance on a kid like Gregory again in the future. I am not afraid of failure to take a chance on a primo talent.

I'm not afraid to take risks either. I wanted to draft Spence because the reports were that he had actually turned a corner and been clean. Yes his past hurt him, but he had established a good enough history to be worth the risk. Gregory had only established that he couldn't control himself and in that situation I wouldn't have touched him. If the reports are accurate about T. Williams, I wouldn't touch him either.

You are right though. I fear they will probably go to extremes and completely remove questionable players like Spence from their boards after being burned. That is a mistake imo. They should be evaluating each of these situations individually and I fear they will be too afraid of being burned for a while after Gregory.

 

[haleyrules]

BPA is an opinion. The draft especially after the first10 players has proven to be a real crap shoot. The Cowboys need defensive help and thats what they should draft. They should have learned their lessons regarding the mercenaries and choice FA 's very, very carefully.

 

[KingintheNorth]

You can make legit arguments for at least 3 offensive positions.

WR - Terrence Williams and Brice Butler are pending free agents. It would be nice to have that burner/homerun threat to go with this offense. Washington's John Ross fits that bill.

TE - Gavin Escobar never really worked out. The team likes Swaim, Hanna, and Gathers but they are mostly unproven (especially Gathers) and none might not really be # 1 TE material. Jason Witten will be 35 next season. Alabama's OJ Howard is an athletic specimen and would form a young, talented trio with Dak and Zeke for the next several years.

OT - Now hold on. Yes, we have the best O Line in football, but there were times this year where Doug Free (age 33) was a real liability. Also, releasing Free this off-season frees up about $5M in cap room. Joshua Garnett, an o-lineman taken at the 28th spot last year, had a 1st year cap hit of about $1.6M. Utah's nasty tackle Garett Bolles would fit in quite nicely with this group.

 

[Tristan]

I'm not afraid to take risks either. I wanted to draft Spence because the reports were that he had actually turned a corner and been clean. Yes his past hurt him, but he had established a good enough history to be worth the risk. Gregory had only established that he couldn't control himself and in that situation I wouldn't have touched him. If the reports are accurate about T. Williams, I wouldn't touch him either.

You are right though. I fear they will probably go to extremes and completely remove questionable players like Spence from their boards after being burned. That is a mistake imo. They should be evaluating each of these situations individually and I fear they will be too afraid of being burned for a while after Gregory.

I agree, getting to strict and closed minded cost us Moss, never get over that pick!

 

[BAZ]

Because pretending to be an orc to escape the crippling boring mundaneness and banality of your empty useless existence is about a sad as it gets. Was that one of them rhetorical questions?

 

[Plankton]

I actually listened to the interview - it was on the air on Saturday night.

The most interesting thing that McClay said was in regards to Jason Garrett and his draft philosophy. Garrett is a big believer in drafting from big schools, and prioritizing them, as they have played/competed in big time environments. McClay said that Garrett prefers to have the board stacked with players from the larger conferences.

 

[Cowboys_22]

Can't argue with 13-3. The league has been put on notice. The Cowboys are back!

Just have a little patience my fellow Cowboys fans.

 

[RS12]

I agree Marinelli did the best he could with what he had to work with, in particular pass rush. Compound W only removes so many warts.

 

[dogberry]

We passed on LeSean McCoy when we had a one on him.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Sure, I'm not saying they should avoid draft picks on defense, I'm saying they don't have to reach for anyone. Like you say, even in a draft where we picked Zeke and Dak, we still got contributors like Collins and Brown.

I think we add several more guys like that next year, especially at CB and DL. I also daydream about getting a good pick for Romo and then packaging picks to move up into the top five for an impact DE. I have a friend that is a Bears fan that says if the Cowboys offered Romo and their late first for the Bears pick in the top five, the Bears would jump on it. I don't see that happening, but a deal could happen.

I'm in agreement there. This team has done a good job of drafting based on value. Maybe the Jaylon Smith pick is debatable but I don't know if anyone knows where he goes if the Cowboys don't pick him. Jags took Myles Jack right behind us.

But yeah they've done a good job of drafting based on value and they should stick with that regardless of position.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I agree Marinelli did the best he could with what he had to work with, in particular pass rush. Compound W only removes so many warts.

So let me ask you something about Maranelli.......there was a time when he had Ware, Spencer, Ratliff and Hatcher on this defensive line. All former Pro Bowlers......now i'm a bit foggy on that year because I don't know if Ratliff ever showed up and I know Spencer got hurt. Doesn't it seem like Maranelli gets the best out of guys who you don't expect much from? Like the Hayden's(I know hew as bad but he was far better under Maranelli then anywhere else), Selvie's, Hatcher's, Irving's, etc. as opposed to what he does with accomplished talent like a Ware and a Spencer?

 

[Tristan]

Is LB really a need?

At Will you have All Pro Sean Lee and Hitchens backing him up.

At Mike you will have Jaylon Smith, Hitchens and Nzeocha.

At Sam you have Damien Wilson and Kyle Wilbur, who has 16 starts in the NFL.

And that assumes you don't resign Durant or Gachkar. I'm sure they draft a LB if he is BPA but I think they would be fine going into next season with the players already on the roster.

I think if Smith is good then not big need at all. But remembering the difference R . Mcclain made a couple years ago I think its a need unless jaylon can fill that need.

 

[Plankton]

So let me ask you something about Maranelli.......there was a time when he had Ware, Spencer, Ratliff and Hatcher on this defensive line. All former Pro Bowlers......now i'm a bit foggy on that year because I don't know if Ratliff ever showed up and I know Spencer got hurt. Doesn't it seem like Maranelli gets the best out of guys who you don't expect much from? Like the Hayden's(I know hew as bad but he was far better under Maranelli then anywhere else), Selvie's, Hatcher's, Irving's, etc. as opposed to what he does with accomplished talent like a Ware and a Spencer?

Julius Peppers, Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice say hi.

 

[Philmonroe]

I understand what he is saying, I think we all do, or should. However when may lose 4 players in the secondary, and still need major upgrades on the DL. Still may need a LB or two.
And they will not be active in the FA market, other than getting the same type of players we may lose....you better be drafting defense, as the only thing we need on the offensive side is a future RT and a WR opposite of Dez.

Defense dude, defense......unless we resign more than half of our FA's on D...draft defense....

I don't care as long as the players are good what side tbh. It would be nice to be defense but at the same time a lot of people on here were shaking in their boots because of Atlanta O so if we can add more O I'm all for it.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Julius Peppers, Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice say hi.

What do you mean?

 

[Risen Star]

McClay: I understand the draft.

Most fans: I don't.

 

[Reality]

Because pretending to be an orc to escape the crippling boring mundaneness and banality of your empty useless existence is about a sad as it gets. Was that one of them rhetorical questions?

I would never pretend to be an orc!






Their intelligence stat is too low