Preparing for the Cowboys Draft, Part Two: Fun With Numbers
Posted: March 27, 2005 @ 12:47 pm
Draft picks are fungible, and one of the fun games in preparing for the draft is working out trade scenarios. Since Jerry Jones is a noted mover and shaker, working out scenarios is almost a must for Cowboys fans.
Fortunately, the Cowboys have made it easy for GMs and fans to calculate the value of a trade. Back in ‘89 when Jimmy and Jerry were the NFL’s young punks, they had a chart created which assigned a numerical value to every pick in the draft. For a brief time, it was their sole property. But as coaches like Dave Wannstedt and Norv Turner left for other jobs, the chart became known league wide. It has become almost standardized in its use. You can see one here.
With this chart, you can play armchair GM and plot the Cowboys reconquest of the NFL. Here’s a hypothetical to give you an example of how it works. Let’s say it is draft day and the Cowboys’ pick at 11 is fast approaching. The Green Bay Packers, who have the 24th pick, call you. They need secondary help and want to get Antrell Rolle, who is still on the board.
That’s a steep drop for Dallas, but you consider it because the Packers have two 2nd round picks. You know they can afford to wheel and deal. You look at your draft chart and see that the 11th pick is valued at 1250 points. The Packers pick at 24 has a value of 740 points. In order to make it work, the Packers have to come up with extra picks worth 510 points, the difference in value between the Cowboys’ pick and theirs.
Your chart shows that their first 2nd round pick, the 51st, is worth 390 points. Their 3rd round pick, the 89th, is worth 145. That’s 535 points worth of picks. You tell the Packers you’ll drop to 24th if they’ll give you the higher of their 2nd round picks and their third.
Green Bay comes back and says you would owe them 25 points if this deal went through. That’s the value of a high sixth round pick. You’re willing to give them your sixth, but you don’t have one. (Dallas has two sixth round supplemental picks, but supplemental selections cannot be traded, by league rule.) You offer your seventh, which is worth 10 points. You also offer your sixth round pick in 2006, which will probably be worth 16 to 22 points. Green Bay says okay, but they want it upgraded to a 5th rounder. When future picks are factored into deals, NFL teams upgrade them one round; in other words, a sixth rounder today is worth a fifth rounder next year. That’s how Dallas got Buffalo’s #1 in the Julius Jones trade.
To summarize, your charts calculate the following deal:
Green Bay gets: Dallas’ 11th pick, Dallas’ 7th round pick, and Dallas’ 5th rounder in 2006.
Dallas gets: Green Bay’s 24th pick, Green Bay’s 2nd rounder (51st) and Green Bay’s 3rd rounder (89th).
Again, this is hypothetical. I have heard nothing about such a trade. But if this were to come Dallas’ way on April 23rd, and the decision was yours, would you take this deal? It would give Dallas two first rounders, two second rounders, and recoup the third rounder Dallas lost in the Drew Henson trade. On the other hand, you lose your pick in the top 12. What do you do?
The clock is ticking.
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I would make that trade in a minute if that were to happen on draft day
I think that would be a great move only if they handle their defensive end position before the draft.
Rafael, its a nice hypothetical.
Playing Bill Parcells for a minute, I would trade down, unless a guy I absolutely covet is still on the board. Then I might look to trade down a few lesser spots and try to nab him while still possibly picking up more selections.
As far as need and value, there are a handful of edge pass rushers bunched up, (Pollack, Merriman, James, Tuck, Roth, ect.) some of them should be there at 20 and 24. Jamaal Brown should be there as well, and he could be the solution to the Boys RT problem. Boy predraft, that looks like an awesome trade. Imagine getting Pollack and Brown in the 1st round, and then possibly Anttaj Hawthorne and Bullocks or Shazor in the 2nd round. All four could contribute right away! And we would still have that 3rd rounder!!
Rafael, get Green Bay on the phone already!
If I had no chance of acquiring Derrick Johnson or Pollack, I would jump at that deal. It would make perfect sense. The deal is a win win sceniario(?) for the Cowboys. This is almost like that coup the Cowboys pulled on the Vikings a few years back. Who benefits the most from this type of trade?
The Fans.
eric….great point…. brown and pollack would make me happy as hell
lets get GB on the phone..whats the number, ill call!
Eric,
Yeah, I think it would be much harder to convince Green Bay to pull the trigger on this than Dallas. But then Brett Favre’s in his last year and you’ve got to give him every chance to get back to the Super Bowl and….
The four players you mentioned are choice, but it also would allow Dallas to deal one of the seconds to N.O. for Howard and still come out with a safely like Bullocks in the middle of the round. My thinking is that you could still get Spears and Brown in round one. (There is a lot of variance on him. I’ve seen him in the 11-14 range and in the 20-25 range). Then look safety and either take another CB (the value is better there than WR in the early 2nd, IMO, or trade down again and try to pick up another 3 or 4.)
It’s a hypothetical, but it’s MY kind of hypothetical!
exactly…nice thinkin guys hopefully parcells will see our comments and agree…. this site is awesome and rafael i love how there is always a new report or column each day, keep it up because this is all we fans got until draft day…and then the season opener…
Excellent thoughts, bro. Nice blog too. Keep up the good work!
Rafael, we have to believe that if the draft falls the Boys way, then Howard may be out of the picture. Right? If Tampa and Chicago draft RBs and start a run on them, then there is a chance that Dallas will have the opportunity to get an edge rusher and a lineman that can play DE in the 3-4 with 2 of their first 3 picks, (possibly while trading down and picking up another choice on the first day like your hypothetical suggests). If the Cowboys address their pass rush needs on the first day of the draft, then why give up anything for Howard? And paying a rookie would come with a smaller price tag too.
The trade value chart must rely on many years worth of research and reflects the average value of each position. I’m not a very good evaluator of talent coming out of college, but from what I have read, there is not as steep a drop off in value as you go down the list of top candidates as in most of the past years. In that case, it makes more sense to trade down if other teams are willing to trade according to the trade value figures in the chart. I wonder if the teams recompute their own version of this chart based on their own evaluation of the pool of available talent.
Cly,
It makes less sense to trade up into the top five, since there’s nobody who’s head and shoulders above the rest. However, I think teams like Dallas and San Diego might find it just as easy to trade down once the top 8-10 picks are cleared. For instance, Len Pasquarelli of ESPN noted last week that Shawne Merriman is a hot number on many team’s draft boards. But is he now rated higher than Derrick Johnson? I don’t think so. My point is, if there are now three to four teams in love with Merriman and he’s on the board at 11, is he worth more to Dallas as the newest Cowboys or as trade bait? We’ll know a lot more in the three to four days before the draft, when teams finally get serious about trades.
In the meantime, however, it’s fun to calculate who might be willing to move up to get him, and what they might be willing to pay.
Eric,
I don’t know if Howard is dead. What if you could make a deal like the Packers trade and used one of the twos on him? You would still have two number ones, a two and a three. Now, however, you could get more creative, and entertain getting a Mark Clayton and a Jamaal Brown, and filling the safety in two.
Whatever the case, if you can find serious suitors for the 11, or even the 20, you can really have fun. Let’s say for arguments sake that Tennessee takes Pac-Man Jones and the Cardinals take Rolle, which they will likely do if they can get Travis Henry. If you’re K.C., do you wait until 15 to take Carlos Rogers, or do you move up to 11 and assure yourself of a corner? San Diego and Houston both need OLBs and OTs. Will they deal with you to assure the other team — or YOU — don’t get their player of choice.
And the list goes on. Right after Dallas at 20 are several teams that are looking for DEs. I’d put Jacksonville, Seattle, Green Bay and Denver in that bunch. Can you reclaim a third round pick by trading down two to five spots with one of them? When you’ve got the chart in front of you, the permutations never end.
What do you guys think of this other possibility? Williamson still on the board for the 11th pick, there r teams interested in him (San Diego, Kansas, Minnesota, Baltimore and Denver) and you get a call from Philadelphia at 31st, they offer you their 31st, their first 2nd rounder (35th), their 4th rounder (132nd) and their first 5th rounder (146th), for a total value of 1228 for the value of the 11th pick (1250).
The only thing that would make me think twice about it, is having to face twice in the year a WR duo of T. O. and Williamson, otherwise we could really cover the 4 glaring needs in the first 2 rounds and Philadelphia gets their most glaring need answered and they would still have 10 draft pick.
Interesting info I was unaware the Jimmy and Jerry were the Dynamic Duo behind weighting Draft Picks. I knew they were two of the pioneers of Draft Day Trades and bargains.
If press reports of Parcells desire to WIN NOW, and Bill disappearing and avoiding the media after the season indicate……..I think Dallas will use all three of their picks of Players. Unless they draft the 2nd pick for a DE before the Draft.
We need good quality Starters and other quality back ups for rotation in the line up.
WR………an aging position although currently talented with Glenn and Johnson…….we need YOUTH and SPEED………Williams, Edwards, Williamson and many others look talented enough to me…….Bryant is gone and so is our Heir apparent at this position…….Crayton and Copper have potential……..but get me a PLAYMAKER…….does any corner in the league fear our corp of WRs……Glenn is surprisingly fast and was catching everything thrown his way last year……..nonetheless I want a guy that can run the GO and Fade routes………
DE………we already know the score……..perhaps if we paid up for Bertrand Berry instead of Wiley we would not be in this position today……but hey we did not so we here we are again……….Draft One trade for one……..just get ONE to help Glover, Ferguson and Ellis. Also watch Ellis explode into a 15 sack guy if the other DE can pressure the QB, I already like the idea of Ferguson and Glover rushing up the middle along with Ellis on the end but one more piece here be it a DE or DT either way get us some pass rush.
FS/CB……Hey Woodson was a bigger and unexpected loss. Deal with it NOW, Henry will help, Roy is solid, Newman will recover, but we lost our Defensive QB last year, if Roy wants that responsibility fine, but if not we gotta fill this position with a quality talented player that can also COVER. (i personally like the Ty Law at Safety idea looks like his stock is weak and wasnt he a Bill Parcells draft pick way back when?) Rolle in the draft is a guy that could play Corner or Safety and hits hard. He is a big strong kid that played in both Big East and ACC with Miami moving. He faced some pretty talented recievers and played them tough. I like this kid if we can get him, Jones at WV is another possibility……..either way in the pass happy NFL we gotta have 4 good cover guys……..ROY is a tackler not the best coverage guy………we need a Corner or Free Safety that can COVER…….Rolle, Williams, Henry and Newman…….with Hunter as the Nickel sounds good to me
LB………Coakley will be missed, James and Thornton need to MAN UP, but the LB position looks pretty good for Parcells in this Draft, add a great big strong guy that can tackle and rush the qb………..
FB/RB I think Moose gets overlooked often. Ask Barry Sanders if he would have liked Emmit’s line and he might admit he would have liked Johnston blocking in front of him also. FB is not a high dollar or high round draft pick, however a guy that could offer BLOCKING, carry the ball 5-10 times a game and give another recieving threat TE like skills is a weapon on offense that should not be underestimated with the type of Offense the Cowboys run. I personally do not care what the guy played in college………I want him on the field for a lot of plays and blocking for Jones mostly……….think a young Richie Anderson…..block, run, catch, special teams………will do whatever Bill asks. I liked Reshard Lee running last year but Bill says he cant block……so either train him up or get a guy that can. Having a powerful fullback who can mostly block but give us some short yardage and shave Jones down to 25 carries a game instead of 30+ would be invaluable both to the Cowboys and to Jones career…….
Offensive Tackle……I am not ready to give up on Rogers……Tucker has to shape up or get shipped out……..Peterman can be a decent guy and alternate………but Allen is getting old so we need to draft a Tackle somewhere in there………..we spent a 2nd round pick last year……..not sure we have to go that high…….but if we can add another talented Tackle to our group……….if Rogers can develop or possibly switch sides…….
Chandus,
Interesting, but I think three things would get in the way.
1. Jerry would not leave 22 points laying out there. That’s a sixth rounder
and he would ask for it.
2. I think the value of their fourth and fifth rounders this year add up to a 3rd next year. IF the deal went though, Dallas would ask for that. I think Philly would balk;
3. You’re helping your biggest rival and target. I don’t think Parcells would do this. Jerry, who knows?
Speculation, Speculation, Speculation,
There is no way we can even assume we know what the Dallas war room would do, because we do not know what the other War rooms are going to do. If Credic Benson was to Hypothetically fall to 11, Parcells would Jump all over that. (Draft For a trade or Trade Jones) We will just have to play the cards were delt. However, the sereious news I am excited about. I don’t mean to ruin your fun, but every sports writer is doing the same thing. Their accuracy is nonexistsnt, kind of like a economist or a weather man.They can only analize the aftermath. Please no more Speculation.
Jesse,
Stop speculating? Are you kidding? This is a blog, not a newspaper. The point of hypotheticals is to get an idea of what value you can get for a pick. And do you really think they’re not doing this in the Dallas war room, or other war rooms? They do this every day. It’s just like war gaming at the Pentagon. They do it because they will field calls and they will do it with real time limits. Real SHORT time limits. If they don’t, this is how you get snookered on draft day.
What’s the point of being a fan if you can’t play the same game?
Rafael,
Hey lets say we do trade a #1 for an extra #2, I have been lobbing hard for a person that isn’t on anybodys radar. How many games has Dallas lost in the last couple years do to miss field goals?? LOTS?? I want Mike Nugent from OSU, this guy is Unbelievable.
I know we need a safety, and we need DE and WR..BUT most drafts have him going in the mid to late 2nd…why not The BOYS???
DALLAS HAS THE #11 PICK FOR THE SAME REASON SAN FRANCISCO HAS THE #1 PICK. THEY NEED THE OPERTUNITY TO GET THEIR HANDS ON QUALITY PLAYERS. DALLAS COULD EASILY FILL THE VOID AT SAFTY WITH THE FIRST ONE AND DEFENSIVE END WITH THE SECOND. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF OFFENSIVE LINEMEN OR KICKERS LEFT FOR THE SECOND ROUND. I WOUL HOLD ON TO BOTH FIRST ROUND PICKS.
SCOTT
I’M WITH YA ON THAT, I SAY WE TAKE MIKE NUGENT WITH THE 2ND PICK, EVEN IF WE USE #11 AND #20
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS GUY PLAY, HE MAY BE OUT THERE 5-9 PLAYS A GAME, BUT EVERY PLAY IS POTENTIONAL POINTS
Chadd,
Kickers taken in the first two rounds since 1982:
John Lee,
Chip Lohmiller,
Jason Hanson,
Sebastian Janikowski
One out of four ain’t bad. One truly exceptional kicker in 24 years. But how many championships has Hanson decided? How many playoff games?
Nugent is an excellent kicker, but I’d only spend a high pick on a kicker if he was the last piece to the puzzle. And you’ll notice, all the guys on this list save Lee were for good teams that had bad kickers. As much as Parcells values special teams, I don’t think he’ll use one this high on that need.
Rafael, I was thinking in the same line of thinking as you are in the time before I wrote that draft day trade, but I just thought that the trade would be great aide for both teams, yeah, there’s something called rivalry that could get in the line, but looking at it as it is and I mean for the Cowboys to add 4 posible starters and to the Eagles add that 2nd wide the team sorely misses, and is a win-win situation, say to me where the trigger is for me to pull it.
Ok I’ll play the what if game!
What if Dallas could actually score four touchdowns a game!
What if Tony Brackens didnt Start Troy down the road to the finish.
If Only we could get a Field Goal Kicker,Safety, Three Offencive Linemen that can start, and a slew odd defencive linemen that we can do what ever we want on that side of the ball.
See what happens when you deal with imperfect information. Now, Owners deal with almost perfect information.(Roy Williams) but we don’t I cant tell you if Nugent is bipolar, a drunk, or a perfect kicker. but as long as he gets the ball through the uprights most people are willing to overlook his flaws, no matter what it does to the team.
Moral: Speculate all you want,WE DONT EVEN HAVE A CLUE!!!
Give Me SOME REAL NEWS!!!
Our kicker ain’t that bad………this ain’t a soccer team it is football. If Dallas had done one thing well over the entire History of the Franchise it is probably the K. We always have a guy that seems pretty much Money from 40 on in.
Kickers are Free Agents or late late round picks at best. Ask Bobby Bowden about pinning your hopes on the great leg of a talented young man. It never works out.
If it were up to me I would find a guy who could both PUNT and KICK so you could save a roster position for a FOOTBALL PLAYER not a soccer player.
Considering the draft is as weak as it is, I wouldn’t do it. Id rather have a shot at, Mike Williams, Merriman, DJ, Spears. If not you’d only have shots at guys like Roddy White and others that would normally be 2nd round talents.
Suppose the Cowboys actually do trade down in the first round. OK, we all know who we like in the early rounds, but say we do add a few extra picks in the later rounds, who do you like? Two players I wouldn’t mind seeing stars on their helmets and could be had with late round picks, T.A. McClendon and David Greene. Who are your sleepers?
jesse,
how the hell can you say “we need three offensive lineman that can start?” hmm….lets see, flozell? Allen? AL johnson? do you not recognize those names as starters? do you even know that players on our team? it dont sound like it. and if you dont like speculation, or rumors then get out of here no one is forcing you with a gun to your head to read our columns or rafael’s at that. if all you’re gonna do is complain on each of rafael’s columns then stay out, this is for real fans who like to play with ideas and speculations and just get their minds into the mock draft to see who they might get, when draft day comes and we’re wrong by a long shot, who cares! its just for fun! and youre right that we dont have a clue, no one does at this point except God, so either speculate with us or dont…like rafael said….ITS A BLOG!
now with the speculating….jon u raise a good point with kicker. i agree. kicker can come later, billy aint that bad for now anyway but we could still bring in another guy for the heck of it later on or undrafted just for competition for the best kicker for 2005. i’ve got a good feelin with this draft that we’ll be able to get some great talent and starters on either side fo the ball. i mean look at baltimore last year…they got clarence moore with the 199th overal pick (6th round) and he was also off of a compensatory! and the guy is like 6′-6″ and even though he didnt play too much, he showed alot of talent…just read the story on espn.com….so what im sayin is that we’ll probably be able to get backup RB’s and FB’s later on..for right now lets worry about the bigger needs at hand, what do ya say?
Ryan,
I hope so. Whether we use all our picks or trade one away for more later……..we need football players that can contribute this year.
I personally think we can address DE, LB, CB/FS/, WR and possibly another Tackle on the line……..in this draft. While QBs look less talented than last years a lot of teams are going to go after the talented crop of RB/WRs and the few good QBs……I think dallas can significantly upgrade the DE/LB position as well as WR with their First couple of picsk……..maybe a great CB/ or later round a FS……..
Whatever we do I want 10 wins. How many years has it been since we had a double digit win season. I want a Defense that people FEAR……..and I want a WR that CBs fear. If we can get that done, I will be happy………and maybe our Defense can have that swagger and the boys can get to the playoffs and beyond.
One thing about the Salary Cap and Free Agency………the difference between the Patriots and say the Eagles…….and everybody else in the league is RAZOR THIN……….we got a good coach………we just need a few good players……….and lets Go COWBOYS lets GO………..
Yeah as much as I would love getting nugent, we have other key areas that need to be addressed first. Now if we did somehow pick up a late second rounder or if by some chance he remains when I 3rd rounder comes up, then I would probablly take him. But thats cause I like the guy, the cowboys may too, but I doubt the cowboys pick him up.
Obviously I have no idea what I am doing, hopefully the cowboys do. What I am wondering is how you gusy know and remember all this info. I will admit, I have been a cowboys fans since the 90’s. I was a youngster then, and they won. But I have stuck with them throught he bad times as well, so I consider myself a true fan, and not just a front runner. But this is the first year I have actually paid any attention to the offseason stuff. Normally I just wantched the games. But this free agency and drafting and all that looks fun. But how is it that you guys all seem to know who is available at what position from other teams, like guys you expect other teams to let go or trade or whatever. And you all also have a much better grasp on the draft class then I do.
mike,
to be honest im only 17 years old. i dont know all of it, but lately, just like you, ive been into it all too. i mean my dad has been a fan forever and now ive gotten to LOVE the game and the ‘boys too because im thrilled at our high potential to be a front runner next year for the ‘bowl. i know we have a good chance. i dont know everything that some others know but i find it interesting to find out which player they were talkin about on like the history of the cowboys on some other dallas sites. as fas as knowing other players who are available and when, i think we all get it as rumors or as facts. most of that news is on espn.go.com and nfl.com all the time. they always have rumor stories around the league and who “might” be interested in someone, only sometimes though they are correct. but to really get into the news ’round the league ya gotta go to like espn, nfl, this site, and dallas homepage weekly or daily and soon youll be talkin to people about things u didnt know before. and just like you, ive stuck with them through thick and thin in the past five years so i can say im a true fan as well. i hate people who just jump on the bandwagon of other teams like the ‘pats just cuz they won the super bowl ya know? to be a true fan, ya hafta be there whether they go 0-16 or 16-0 and hold your head high.
Ryan wrote: i hate people who just jump on the bandwagon of other teams like the ‘pats just cuz they won the super bowl ya know? to be a true fan, ya hafta be there whether they go 0-16 or 16-0 and hold your head high.
You know Ryan, I’m hungry to see the Cowboys win again. Everybody here is. But you know what, NOW is probably my favorite time to be a fan. When they’re on the upswing and have the picks and cap space to do some damage. When they’re winners, everybody acts like experts, because winning is a lot more obvious than rebuilding. Its the decisions in the next month and next offseason that will tell if we’ll be back in the Super Bowl sweepstakes. And its the true fans who know it. They’re the ones paying the most attention now, because they know what’s really at stake.
Jesse,
Who made you the policeman of the blogosphere? You want news on demand? Shell out two bits and buy a paper. I’m not your butler, mister and this is MY blog — and Raul’s too. You don’t like how we run it, go somewhere else. It’s a big internet out there.
I agree Rafael…..I been a fan since as long as I can remember. Staubach days……..and it was hard the last few years with the Legend Landry struggling………..then Jerry and Jimmy come in…..and we did not improve right away…….but the bandwagon fans………come and go and change jerseys……….you gotta stick with your team…….and for me the Cowboys have always been it……….we got a good little Bar here at the Beach that is a Cowboys hang out…….well it is big time Football and many teams but the Owner is a Cowboy fan and it fills up with hardcore Dallas Fans. It is a dive, and tiny………but you know it is my favorite place to watch a game because you are among friends……..
Lets Go Cowboys……….
BTW…….this Blog is great……I think Spagnola must have got wind of it he did a fake blog of his own this week……….but this site is easy to use and has great comments……….keep up the good work…….
this talk about drafting a kicker is insane we need quality players to fill positions that we have needs at . ive heard of de -wr-safety- in that order in the draft assuming the right guy is there after that i think we need offensive-RT then a backup running back would it be in our best interest to trade i first riound pick to hopefully be able to grab a player at one of those positions if someones stock seems to fall later in the second round like a tackle then maybe a player in the third running back or will the quality tacles be taken by that time though i think running back can be achieved in the later rounds/ everyone is so worried about the draft hey parcells track record isnt to bad just in the last two seasons we have witten/julius-johnson-newman and he has picked more pro bowl players and solid players i would bet more than 90% of the coaches ever
kickers suck………All of except Pat Summeral according to Madden……he never puts a kicker on the all Madden Team.
My favorite kicker was probably Danny White cuz he played QB and punted for a few seasons. Parcells would have loved that, has trick play written all over it.
WR/DE/LB/CB-FS/OT/ maybe a FB or RB…….maybe another LB or DT…..
I would rather have Bill Parcells whispering in Jerry Jones ear, than Chan Gailey, Barry Switzer, or Dave Campo………
with what has already been improved via free agency, lets not forget what happened last tear at corner. maybe we should take the best corner at the
#11 pick for insurance due to possible injuries. we could still get a def. end or lb at #20. i think we could still get a starting wr in the second round.
Hey, great site……..First of all Dallas cannot afford to play around and not get quality drafts this year especially at the wide reciever position….They know all about messing up with Randy Moss…..My solution is take Williamson at 11 pick and trade up for Shawne Merriman from 20….Never under estimate what a good young WR can do for you……
Second solution do not continue to count on Newman to be a savior he will get picked on once again until he can prove himself ….bring in another DB or two to challange him for his spot if it can work for Troy Aikman back when he started it can work for Newman….Either get better or ride the pine….
You guys that are true Cowboys fans know in the 70’s you had a great WR in Drew Pearson and a good one in Tony Hill w/ Tony Dorsett run in the show…
In the 90’s you had a great WR in Micheal Irvin and a good one in Alvin Harper w/ Emmitt Smith (what else to say about the man)…….
We already have our Jay Novacek ………Witten, we have our Emmitt w/Jones……Now if Williamson can step up to be that great WR like Irvin w/ Terry Glen on the other side and Give me the damn ball Johnson in short routes….GUESS WHAT BOYS LOOK WHO’S BACK
OH I just wanted to say last year was my first game at the stadium since being from New Jersey now in Atlanta and always wishing I could go but never had a chance……..Lets just say there’s nothing like being surrounded by people who love the Cowboys just as much as they love there wives….PRICE-LESS
i love you rafael, marry me
Ray,
There’s a fair chance Williamson won’t be there at 11. Let’s look at the teams that could take WRs. Cleveland doesn’t seem like a likely suspect, but they had Williamson in this week. Chicago could take a wideout. So could Tampa Bay, Minnesota and even Washington. And there’s a rumor floating around on ESPN that the Chargers and 49ers have discussed swapping the #1 overall pick for Philip Rivers. San Diego’s alleged target: Braylon Edwards. That would all but assure that the WRs go earlier than expected and that the RBs will slide. I don’t think the QBs will slide too far if this happens, since they’re always in demand, but who knows.
Rafael,
Good point, you never know how this draft will turn out. At the same token you cant just fall asleep at the wheel and watch other teams improve while you gamble on sleepers…..Big WR are more in demand than ever thanks to Randy Moss and T.O….I say we dont bank the house but at least play our cards like we are truly hungry to win right now…….
The needs I see: DE, LB, WR, FS, DT and OL, in that order. I’m reading some corner and safeties in the first round, let’s see: 2 years ago in the first round we drafted Newman and 3 years ago we drafted Williams, you just can’t draft defensve backs in the first round only, that’s a recipe for economical disaster, you have to be able to draft guys in later rounds and groom them, Frazier looks the part in there, also Nate Jones, last year they were burned like toast but they both survived back there and at times looked good, just as Crayton and Copper did in the other side of the field, the staff needs to groom them, I see some future in there for at least a couple of those 4 guys.
In other news, Kyle Turley, the problematic RT in St. Louis looks to be free in June 1st, I hear that he wasn’t a problematic player in N. Orleans, if we don’t sign Terry or a draft pick, and we don’t have an answer for RT in camp, look for the Cowboys to sign him or possibly other guy then. That’s why is so important to keep some cap space free for those dates, there were so many guys jumping for D. Sharper and some others that weren’t thinking about that.
Rafael - What if the Rams really wanted to move up and take our no. 11 pick and offered us their 1st and 2nd (19 and 50). It is a net gain on the draft pick value chart. Would you do it? What if they wanted our 5th as well?
Here is what I am trying to understand about the thinking (or lack there of) going on at the Ranch. I know I may just have a case of the “hurry ups” but I would love the Cowboys to fill this FS position so I can get rid of my Lynn Scott jersey. I will not be able to handle another year of Mr. Scott doing anything other than running down on punts and kickoffs and trying to miss a tackle. Dallas needs experience at this vital position, and I am not so sure the draft is a way to fill this need. FS are cheep this time of year, and anyone, even the Pope himself, is a better fit in this D then Scott, Davis, or anyone else on the roster last year. Did you hold your breath everytime a pass was thrown deep last year? In fact, at the end of the year I was finding myself surprised when there was not a completed pass or a P.I. flag on any pass play. T-New was getting it back together late, and Williams is a Stud when playing close to the LOS. Henry should be a decent replacement for Frazier/Thorton/Hunter/Reeves/whoever that old guy was that got hurt in his first game/No one.
Anyway I hope Big Bill and Scary Jerry (is that really his face) go D and go often. I love thinking about turnovers, QB sacks, and bone jarring hits that result in fumbles. I never realized how good we Cowboy fans had it with Lett/Henning/Jeffcoat/J. Jones/Haley/Tolbert/Tony C./Maryland and Shante Carver (oops) on the line during all those years. New England has proved to me that LB’s are important and I would like to see an upgrade during the draft at this position, and the rush DE needs to be found somewhere. I think I heard the Saints are willing to trade Howard for the Cowboys 06′ 2nd, 07′ 5th, 09′ 1st, the Destroyers 3rd in 07′, and some beads. I would give the Saints, for a bag of offical size kicking balls; Lynn Scott (aka the dirty rug), free pass to Club Cowboy (Did you all see Dr. Phil last night?), Lynn Scott’s helmet, and a signed Quincy Carter mini helmet.
To sum this all up, take defense with the 2 first round picks, with the 2nd rounder take defense, and with the 3rd rounder Dallas traded to Houston for Henson, see if Houston will take Henson and Scott to get the pick back. Hope Easter went well for everyone!
P.S. Any one going to the draft besides me this year?
My hope for the draft is that the boys trade down and end up with an extra 2nd and a 3rd. I think with two first rounders, two seconds, and a third…we could fill three NEED positions and get two future starters and immediate contributors. I would be thrilled with a group including DE Justin Tuck, OLB Daryl Blackstock, FS Josh Bullocks, DL Luis Castillo, and gamble on WR/TE Matt Jones with the third rounder. That would make for an interesting first day.
wade, whats wrong with henson? its only been a year and hes still gettin back into the swing of things…you were talking throughout your whole entry about grooming so why not him??
Jake, I don’t see the Boys getting 5 selections on the first day of the draft (the first 3 rounds), but getting four may be more likely. Out of all the DEs that might end up playing OLB in a 3-4 defense, I love Tuck (I am glad you mentioned him, he reminds me a lot of Willie McGinest, a “Parcells’ guy”). I think he might be the best all around player there. And I am with you on possibly getting a true OLB to man the other side, and Blackstock could be a steal if he falls into the second round. If the Boys do go that way, then getting some size to play DE in that set is a must, and Markus Spears or Anttaj Hawthorne are nice fits. Boy that would give Parcells a lot of flexability up front!
To everyone who keeps saying “draft Williamson (or any other WR” in the 1st round” I am definately not a person lobbying to draft a WR early in this draft, I would be happy with a free agent addition like Cory Bradford. Tuck and Spears are my idea guys, but with the Cowboys having two 1st round picks, and the fact that there are a handful of DE/OLB “tweeners” bunched up and expected to go in the 1st and 2nd rounds, if the Cowboys can trade down in the 1st round, there is a good chance that the Boys can get two edge rushers (like Tuck and Blackstock), and some size to play DE in a 3-4 set (a player like Hawthorne or Spears), and still get a RT like Adam Terry or Jammaal Brown. Or quite possibly the Boys could draft a big defensive end, an edge rusher (OLB or smaller DE to play OLB in the 3-4), a right tackle, and then a safety. This scenario would really fill out our offensive line and would give Parcells a lot of flexability with the front seven, switching from 4-3 to 3-4 at will, and also it gives Parcells another option at safety. Trust me, if Parcells can protect Bledsoe, then Keyshawn, Glenn, Morgan, Witten, (possibly) Bradford, Crayton, and Copper pose serious a threat to NFL secondaries. The Cowboys’ biggest need isn’t WR, and devoting 2 possibly 3 early draft choices to address the lack of a pass rush is the better way to go!!! Didn’t you all watch McNabb scramble and scramble and scramble!! What makes you think getting a deep threat WR, is going to change that! Let’s get a pass rush!!!
Okay heres my thought, it may be way off base, so just let me know. LIke I said, I am still learning how the offseason stuff works.
First a question, say we do switch to the 3-4, what do we do with guys like glover and ellis, who I hear are not thr right size or speed or whatever to play in the 3-4? Are we gonna trade em, have them ride the pine, or keep them for the occasional 4-3 set?
While you won’t hear it from Jerry Jones apparently, most people here think we are interested in NO’s Howard at DE. They also have a pretty good FS in Tebucky Jones(he is decent at least right? His stats looked oaky, but nto sure if he is what we need). Would we maybe be able to do some kind of package deal, like howard and jones for say glover or ellis and maybe a draft pick?
Again I don’t know exactly the value of each of these players, so I have no idea if this is a good deal, for us or them, so let me know.
I would make that trade only if the guy I really wanted at pick #11 (Merriman) was off the board. I’d then take a WR with the #20 pick (Williamson), a safety (Poole) or best available linebacker with the #24 pick, trade one of my #2 picks to New Orleans for Howard, use the other #2 pick to grab what I didn’t get in the first round (safety or LB), and use my 3rd rounder on the best available guy or trade it for an ‘06 #2 pick. The key here at the end of the day is how many starters did you end up with? Original picks would yield you 3 starters. A trade like this would probably yield you 4 starters.
Mike,
Tebucky Jones was released by the Saints two weeks ago and is now a Miami Dolphin.
One more thought regarding the hypothetical trade. I realize the Cowboys need a lot of talent, but we have to remember one thing…you can only fit 53 guys on a roster. You wouldn’t want to find yourself having to cut a guy that may have future potential because you just don’t have enough room on the roster. I mean, add ‘em up, take all the known quality players (Williams, Glover, etc.) plus the current young potential (Peterman, Rogers) and how many roster spots are left for new draft choices? Just a thought.
Mike,
Glover and Ellis for Jones and Howard isn’t happening.
We have to believe that Parcells likes Ellis. He is a work horse, and if they had help on the defensive line Ellis and Glover could cause some problems for a defense. Ferguson already adds some help. Howard would add more and give Dallas a good front 4. It would seem that some Cowboys fans have the idea that Jerry is playing poker with N.O., but others like me believe he is going to see how the draft unfolds before he gives up anything and overpays for Howard. If the Cowboys address their need for a pass rush in the draft, then Howard may be out of the picture. However if there is a rush for edge pass rushers, and/or Jerry and Parcells decide to address other needs early on, then the Howard deal may have more life. But giving up Ellis or Glover is out of the question.
But does Parcells want to play the 4-3 exclusively? Let’s say the Cowboys do draft Merriman at 11, then draft Spears at 20. Their defensive sets could include the 3-4 (Spears, Ferguson, and Ellis on the line) & (Merriman, Nygen, Singleton, and James would be our LBs), the 4-3 (possibly Spears, Glover, Ferguson, Ellis on the line on rushing downs) & (possibly Merriman, Glover, Ellis, and Leo Carson on passing downs) & (Nygen, Singleton, and James playing LB). In any case the Cowboys would have a line for the 3-4 in the range of 950lbs total weight, now with Ferguson and Spears. Last year they didn’t have that type of size. That is what they would get with Spears, size and skill, and the ability to play DE in either 3-4 or 4-3. Merriman could swing back and forth from OLB in the 3-4 to a down lineman in the 4-3. Adding both players (or two similar players) gives Parcells the flexability to switch alignments.
why not leave Glover out there on the 3-4 he is the strongest guy on our team………if he cannot play DE in a 3-4 who can?
Ryan You missed the point, I was adding to the speculation of prospective drafts;that is the whole point. The team needs three offencive linemen IN ADDITION to ALLEN,Adams,and Johnson. I have forgot more of the players than you cane name. (From inception to Now) But if you want to insult rather than reinforce your argument so be it . I guess its a free blog. A new perspective should be welcome not pounced on.
The problem with speculation is its riddeled with inaccuracy. Has any of your sooth saying turned out true. Go ahead lie and tell me you know what your talking about. Conjure on Just look for honest feedback. That is all I offer.
Jesse spoke:
“The problem with speculation is its riddeled with inaccuracy. Has any of your sooth saying turned out true. Go ahead lie and tell me you know what your talking about. Conjure on Just look for honest feedback. That is all I offer.”
I have predicted — and have the folks to back me up:
A. Daryl Johnston as a 2nd round pick
B. Mark Stepnoski as a 3rd round pick;
C. Randall Godrey as a 2nd round pick
D. Sherman Williams as a 2nd round pick;
E. Darren Smith as a 2nd round pick (for some reason I’ve had success predicting the 2nd round;
F. And the one I’m most proud of — thought he turned out to be a stiff — Macey Brooks in the 5th round;
I’ve done this before Jesse. I wrote for a couple of years on usenet on the rec.sport.football.dallascowboys list and I was the main writer for TheBoys.com back in ‘95 and ‘96. I got PAID for that work, and brought in 10,000 hits a day when the Cowboys won (and about 2,000 when they lost). So you see, Jesse, I don’t care what you think about my “soothsaying.” I know I’ve been right in the past. My friends and colleagues know I’ve been right. And I’m hopeful that this will help a lot of *other* people who dabble in the draft be right this year.
We’re going to have a contest before the draft. Let everyone put their predictions online. Go ahead, lie to me and tell me you *won’t* be looking at it.
And what are you doing here if my posts disgust you so much? Don’t you have a newspaper to read, or something?
#1 pick: 49ers pick Aaron Rogers or (trade for Phillip Rivers Chargers draft Braylon Edwards)
#2:Dolphins picks Ronnie Brown
#3: Browns pick Alex Smith or Derrick Johnson (Vikings could trade up and pick WR Mike Williams if Chargers take Braylon Edwards)
#4: Bears pick Braylon Edwards (If Vikings trades up they go for Cedric Benson)
#5: Bucs pick Carnell Williams
#6: Titans pick Adam Jones
#7: Vikings pick Mike Williams if 49ers don’t trade for Phillip Rivers
#8: Cardinals take Cedric Benson
#9: Redskins take Antrell Rolle
#10: Lions take David Pollack or Derrick Johnson
#11: The Boys take Shawne Merriman or (if Derrick Johnson is still here they trade down with Chiefs and the Chiefs pick up Derrick Johnson and the boys still pick Shawne Merriman with the 15th pick and get a 3rd rounder we are very happy with this)
#12: Chargers take Marcus Spears
#13: Texans take Alex Barron
#14: Panthers take Troy Williamson
#15: Chiefs take David Pollack if Lions take Derrick Johnson
#16: Saints take Travis Johnson
#17: Bengals take Erasmus James
#18: Vikings take Dan Cody
#19: Rams take Carlos Rogers
#20: The Boys take Demarcus Ware
#21: Who cares after we pick
Jesse,
Why do the cowboys need 3 more OL (that can start) when they only start 5? It would be nice to go 10 deep with OL that could start but, other positions need to be addressed. They have 8 picks total in the draft, and you want to use half of them on the OL and a kicker? I’m not saying different opinions aren’t welcome but that is a little far fetched and was bound to draw some critcism.
I have just started participating in this blog recently, so I do hope the unconstructive criticisms and bickering will soon cease.
On another note:
I’ve read that Spears is a hot and cold player, and can be lazy at times when he relies on his size and athleticism. Doesn’t really sound like a Parcells player to me.
Johnson’s (OLB) value seems to be ever increasing so my hopes of obtaining him seem to be fading. BUT…….
After looking at the draft pick value chart (my new toy) I have schemed a trade to move into the 5th spot (Buccaneers) to take Johnson by trading the 11th pick and the 42nd pick (giving the Bucs an extra 30 points, or take one of their 5th rounders). I’ll probably get alot of heat from this scenario but I’m sold on Johnson being the impact player (and possible leader) that the ‘boys so deperately in the front 7. I still think a good pass rushing DL (i.e. Tuck from ND), or DB can be picked up at the 20th, but if nothing of great value falls to them at 20 they can trade down from there to get back into the 2nd round. How they trade down and with whom I haven’t gotten that far yet, I’m tired of counting points.
Thanks for the making us aware of the value chart Rafael. It will be my new companion on draft day.
Ricky
if you think this draft sounds good holla. If the draft plays out like this the Cowboys actually get more than 2 players. They can inter change both of them since they are both tweeners with great athletic ability. They can both swap each other out or play at the same time one being the OLB and the other DE. Or we can play the 3/4 ocassionally and have Both of them Play the OLB positions, Nguyen and Shanle/Thorton/James/Singleton the MLB and the line would be Glover and Carson at DE and Ferguson at DT. Tell me what you all think.
I like Alan’s scenario, but of course I value Johnson highly over Merriman and would take Johnson with the 11th if he were to fall.
If I’m willing to give up a 2nd rounder to move up and take Johnson I’m definitely willing to pass on the opportunity to trade down and pick up a 3rd rounder.
I’ll look like a real jack@$$ if Johnson ends up being a bust for whatever team that takes him.
I would definately not give up a second rounder for Johnson because that second rounder could be used on a FS which I highly doubt a WR which I don’t think we need that much or instead of taking Demarcus Ware with the #20 pick then take David Pollack if he falls this far and with the 2nd round pick take Derek Wake from Penn St. He is just like Shawne Merriman
Here’s my argument for Derrick Johnson. Last one I promise.
Demarcus Ware is nice but lacks pass coverage ability to really be interchanged at OLB. This is why he is being listed as a DE in the draft, by most teams, even though he played OLB @ Troy State.
Almost the same can be said for Merriman, but he seems to handle pass coverage a little better. Both seem suited to be more in the Jason Taylor, Jevon Kearse pass rusher mold, especially if they bulk up.
So why not take Johnson with the 11th and Ware with the 20th so the boys have a true OLB and the pass rushing threat that they so desperately need.
I can handle that. Good argument
Jon,
I do understand that Glover leaving the field may bother you. It goes back to my point though, and why we should use 2 (and possibly 3) picks early to sure up our front seven. Flexability with different formations, would give guys rest, and keep them fresh. Glover could be in the 3-4 rotation at DE, but if we get Spears, he and Ferguson would ancor the line in that formation because of their size.
jesse,
i wanna apologize for my criticism to you…i realize that your opinion counts too because we’re all entitled to that so im sorry.
gene,
i feel you brought up a good point that hadn’t seemed to have gotten surfaced before you(if it has then my mistake). you said its only a 53 man roster and we wouldnt wanna get people and then have to give up others with potential, and i agree with that….
rafael,
i see you now as one of those go to guys about information and so i would just like to see, despite all the speculation that others have put, who you honestly think we will be aqcuiring throughout this draft? no pressure im just curious since i know you are usually right about these things…and once again i want to say GREAT site and GREAT columns…they feed my cravings for more news/stories on the ‘boys…thanks
Eric,
I agree with rotating players….I am less sold on constantly changing formations………
Also has anybody ever played football………I always got better the longer the game went. Some where in there the pain goes away and adrenalyn takes OVER………..Glover, Ellis and Ferguson need as many minutes as possible. Let em breath while Julius Jones is running all over our opponent in a ball control clock eating Fire Breathing OLD SCHOOL Cowboys football………
if you had Lawrence Taylor on the Team would you say hey LT go take a breather……..or would you yell……Hey LT………Bill Walsh already shipped his equipment and peronsell to New Orleans for the Super Bowl……you better get your ass out there like a Mad Crazed Dog and take out Montana………….Some guys do not need a rest………..unless you are KILLING YOUR OPPONENT………..or you are out of the game altogether………….Jordan played as many minutes as he needed too………so did Emmit………..so did Taylor………..so will Glover, Ellis, and Ferguson……….sure you give guys a breather especially if they are out there a long time……..but if that is the case we are already losing the game…….
and you have to get to the sideline for the Gatoraide Bath of the Coach……..didn’t the Giants and Parcells start that tradition? Anyway………let your players Play……..lets your subs sub…….
Rafael,
you’re not giving your soothsaying enough credit. You only cited the picks you got EXACTLY right — player and round. What about Torrin Tucker two years ago? You had them taking him in the what? 3rd or 4th roudn, and instead they got him as an undrafted free agent. So, what? None of the beat writers for the DMN even knew who the guy was until after he was starting for the Cowboys later that year. How many more of those type predictions have there been?
Poor ol’ Jesse — you don’t have to play the game, but, considering how inexact a science it is, the Man, Rafael here, really has kicked ass on this stuff over the years. And it’s fun when you realize that now you’re ahead of 99% of the other “news” sources on what’s going to happen. gg
Jon, LB and D-line are two different commodities. LBs may go a play or two without much contact, a scenario Ellis and Glover never have the opportunity to experience. They are engaging every play with players 300+lbs, sometimes double teamed. If you remember in the early 90s the Boys were rotating their entire defensive line with some success. You remember, “How ’bout them Cowboys!!!”? I think we started that tradition.
Yes, I am aware……..until we lost Casillas, Jones and others to Free Agency.
There is also usually a rotation on 3rd down for your pass rushing DEs. However, you did not see Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Warren Sapp taking many breathers………all these guys played on the Defensive Line. Offensive lines rarely rotate guys?
If you have the talent and can rotate a guy in with success sure. My point earlier was the better players get better as the game goes along or hangs in the balance. They want to be on the field, and can reach down deep and find another gear to rise to the occassion. Certainly guys like Smith, Sapp, and White were able to do that………I want my playmakers on the field as much as possible. Dallas offense if it is clicking and moving ball with the run, and the play action pass is going to eat up 6 and 7 minute drives to the END ZONE. That is clock time, so a Defensive Lineman has plenty of time to catch his breath. Rotating guys in and out for a play or two occassionaly is fine, and the big guys suck more air than LBs, CBs and Safeties…….but I would have Ellis, Glover and Ferguson out there as much as possible……..
also with our current line up the 4-3 is a better use of our talent. Trying to run a 3-4 means we would probably have Ellis on the Sideline…….he is our best pass rusher……….even if Howard joins the team…….Although Parcells may prefer the 3-4 he is yet to have the Linebacking corp or anything resembling the 3 big men up front……..
Jon, this is my point. Parcells doesn’t have the big men up front to run the type of defense he likes, nor the LB. The addition of Ferguson, and cutting Coakley should give us a hint on where he is going. Whether its 3-4, or 4-3, Parcells likes big players in the front 7. Expect him to draft a big DE (or a big DT that can play DE in the 3-4) and a OLB/DE tweener and play him at OLB in the 3-4, and possibly DE in the 4-3 sets on passing downs. Expect it early too!!
that and a WR are where i think our first three picks will go also…….I am a little disappointed at going to a 3-4……..where will Ellis end up if he goes to a full time 3-4……..will Nguyen become expendable………and Coakley is going to be missed……..he should have played more last year…..he did not miss as many tackles as James….
i pesonally would add Rolle if he is on the board at 11. Impact player to our secondary. There looks to be a handful of DE, LB that can fit our needs even at pick 42……….Cody from OU is fallen out of projected first rounds……..he could be a tweener……or true DE…….in a 4-3 Merriman Spears Roth all the other usual suspects………..I still think our secondary needs help………Henry, Newman, Williams and Rolle……..sounds like a good start to me……….
I think Parcells likes Ellis and Nguyen. Bruschi plays in New England, so Nguyen can be successful in a 3-4 scheme. Ellis could rotate into 3-4 sets, if Dallas drafts a big body to man the other DE spot in the 3-4. I don’t think they will go to 3-4 all the time. The biggest problem last year was all they had was Nguyen and Coakley, and Ellis, Glover, and Carson up front. The 5 of them together made size an issue. But add a big D-lineman, like say Anttaj Hawthorne (320lbs), and add say Merriman (270lbs) at OLB, and your adding a good 50lbs right there, plus what Ferguson adds already.
He said…….if he could only keep two players it would be Witten and Nguyen…..and that was before training camp last year……yeah I think he likes Dat……
Ferguson definitely Helps……..I still like trading for Abraham…..give up one of first rounders to the Jets……and dangle say one of those sixth rounders this year…….we suck at drafting DE…….that is why I have pushed for Rolle………..and a WR…….
the list of DEs is not just bad for the Cowboys it sucks for just about every team out there……..Parcells probably has done as good as anybody…….maybe he can save our Drafting of DE / DT.
Look at how many draft choices JJ dedicated to D-linemen, he was hit and miss, and in some cases, like Tolbert and Lett, he had better success with later choices than earlier selections like Maryland and Pritchett. Well Parcells usually gets it right. Parcells 1st rounders pretty much have one common denominator, and that’s a Super Bowl ring. Even the team he built from scratch in New York with the Jets, they would be Super Bowl caliber if they kept that team together.
You are right my Friend…….and one of those was a guy by the name of Ty Law.
I still think Rogers and Peterman will develop from last years draft. I think he overpicked CBs last year with out much talent. The nameless anonymous bunch Jones, Thornton, Frazier(from Raves), Reeves from Purdue seemed better than the others……….Newman, Henry, Williams and Rolle……I have not seen much of Brodney Poole but if he has good speed and coverage I would be fine with that……..you underestimate the value of the CB in todays NFL.
We will have a pass rush next year. Regardless of who he drafts……because our coverage will improve. If Henry and Newman stay healthy………and we add a solid player at FS……….that means we can blitz.
Jon,
Baltimore is three strong in the secondary, and most consider them to be the best secondary in the NFL. We have three good players of our own (not as good as Baltimore’s … YET), and these other guys you mention are simply better now than they were a year ago, cause the experience they have now, and we also have Hunter. Yes we need to add a FS, but not in the 1st round. We are in pretty good shape in the defensive backfield.
I don’t know about how all Cowboys fans feel, but I’ve gotten so frusterated the past few years watching opposing QBs sit in the pocket, having all day to find an open receiver.
How about Miami…..they had a great Secondary……best Defense in the league……..and some pretty good pass rushers……..but could never outscore their opponents.
These days…….you need 4 or 5 quality guys in the secondary. Why did Vikes spend all that money on Smoot and company……..why did New England Draft CBs even though a guy name Ty Law was on their team…….why did Eagles draft CBs in high round with talent at CB already………and how about those eagles they put it on their secondary to COVER and use the BLITZ to pressure the qb…….you can look at film to recall it……….regardless of where a player is drafted if he is a player and can cover great……..there will not be another Deion Sanders out there for a while……but there are certainly guys that can cover………and tackle…….and make plays……..Rolle, Jackson, Jones……..Washington at Nebraska has good numbers but i never saw him play……..
we add a rookie LB and a rookie DE………they are not going to walk on the field and make an immediate impact………but add a guy like Rolle and he can………or Jones……..their athleticism and coverage skills will project to the NFL………Terrance Newman had a great rookie campaign……..i am not against taking the likes of Tuck, Merriman, or Roth, James, Spears……….I also recognize the need for DEs, DT, and LB……..but if you want immediate improvement in our defense the easy way is to add another CB with coverage and let him play the FS spot……..
Does anyone not think Ellis, Ferguson, Glover and anybody already on our team is not an improved front four……
If James, Thornton and the other young LBs step up our Defense should be much improved…….but we are taking young guys and saying ………learn the 4-3…….ok now you are in a 3-4……..okay back to the 4-3………is there any wonder the youngsters struggle………so will Merriman, Tuck, Roth, Cody, Spears……….any of them……..they are rookies…………for that matter Rolle and Jones will have their fair share of mistakes…………but the CB /FS does not have to improve his squat and bench by 30% to take on an offensive tackle……..that is not doable from April Signing til Sept Games………those guys are three years away from being legitimate threats at DE……..maybe quicker at LB……if they are a quick study…..
[...] nd the Packers’ higher second round pick and a third? The one you can see in detail here? The Green Bay News Chronicle reports today that the Packers are “itching” to land [...]