A Shot In the Dark
Posted: September 26, 2005 @ 1:19 pm
Okay, here’s the earliest prediction for the Cowboys’ first round pick next April. You can thank me now for getting it out of the way so early. 
LB Bobby Carpenter, 6′3″, 255 lbs., Ohio St.
He’s the son of former Oilers and Giants RB Rob Carpenter. He’s huge. He plays special teams. He gets reps once and a while as DE. He can run. He’s the ideal bookend to Demarcus Ware, and lets Kevin Burnett move inside permanently.
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Where does moving kevin burnett inside come from. i’ve seen it once or twice but didn’t know he was capable of ILB. Is there some info somewhere on this or is it a real “shot in the dark”
Burnett played inside at Tennessee. His size is not that of a prototype 3-4 OLB. In fact, he’s just a bit bigger than Al Singleton, who’s small himself in this scheme. His ideal position is probably WILB, which is where Dat plays right now.
I should add that he played inside and outside at Tennessee.
Burnett should be a starter next year.
I hope he starts next year, it would seem a bit odd to spend a high 2nd on a back up to Ware.
Rafael,
I agree but I would much rather the Cowboys pick AJ Hawk.
I think we need to discuss a future QB. Bledsoe will be around 2-3 years max. You’d like to have a young QB groom for at least a year. And, I am not sure about Henson. JJ may have to somehow saddle up and get us a Rd 1 QB. Leinhart would be nice but who know what we would have to give up to get him. Are there other possibilities such as Gradkowski or omar jacobs worth considering?
Not to discount Hawk or carpenter. Both excellent choices……
I think it is likely that we draft a Ball Hawk for the outfield - And drafting 23rd the Dallas Cowboys select from the Tigers of LSU Laron Landry!!!
This means Beriault will be a nickel FS and Special Teams Demon
Drew still has one of the highest QB ratings in the NFC. He was the last QB in the NFC to throw an INT in week 3. So far the guy is playing better than anybody we have had at QB since number 8 laced up his cleats.
And yes eventually Drew Bledsoe is going to retire, but that still leaves Henson and Romo another year to develop. Obviously Henson has the physical skills, not sure what his setbacks have been. Looking at the QBs coming up, I am not sure I see a QB other than Lienhart that fits with what I expect Bill and Jerry want at the QB. Leinhart is going to either go first…..or go first and get traded like ELI type draft picks. Personally I ain’t sure it is worth putting that out there for him. There are also a few kids playing backup in this league that have considerable promise at QB. Phillip Rivers, Matt Schuab, and Chris Simms to name three. Simms outplayed Griese in preseason but the knock is Gruden likes the right arm of Griese vs a leftie. He also keeps talking about Griese’s understanding of the complicated Gruden West Coast playbook. Even saying he is more knowledgeable than Gannon and Brad. One a league MVP the other a Super Bowl victorious QB. I could see Chris Simms getting traded and the Bucs and Cowboys have worked out trades before. Gruden would like another WR and still needs some upgrades on his aging but talented defense. We could probably get Chris Simms for a 2nd or 3rd pick. Maybe even just trade Peerless Price right now. Who knows Gruden likes WR. Simms wants to be a starter in the NFL, and Gruden has his golden boy in Griese. Think about the talent on the sidelines of their games……….Phil and Bob looking on. How many Super Bowl rings do those cats have.
What do you say Phil, will you let your boy play for Bill and the BOYS? He starrred at Texas just down the street. Have you recovered from years of abuse like Bledsoe?
I am all for another OLB and another FS and another CB, oh yeah and maybe a WR. You cannot have too many good CBs ask New England and Atlanta right now. Aaron Glenn is aging, I really don’t know enough about the Sophmore committee of CBs we have on the team, obviously I hope a couple of them pan out. Two are already departed, Lance Frazier who I thought might have been the best of the bunch.
also how about JJ out of the backfield. 4 completions for 28 yards. I think that is a nice mix 26 carries and 4 passes. What is our record when Julius Jones touches the ball 30 times? Pretty good, keep it up and keep A Thomas in street clothes. He is insurance. You don’t use insurance until a hurricane hits……..not a train.
You also get the feeling the kid is due for a big game. I hope he can get on track against the Raiders for a 150+ day rushing! Keep Kerry and Randy and Jerry on the sidelines with Norv.
I think chris Simms was taken with the final pick on day one of the draft in the third round, so I wouldn’t give them a second round pick for him, hope were not giving up on the season already, alot of talk about the draft next year. I think were in the running for a guard, free safety,linebacker,nose tackle and reciever in next years draft, but not in any particular order. I dont think Glover will be back next year, need someone groomed to spell Ferguson and take over for him in a couple of years, would love to have Ngatu in the middle. Singleton will be gone too, and maybe bradie James, not showing much at all this year.
I like schaub better but those guys will be ready much sooner than we need, especially Simms.
Derrick,
I for one am not giving up on this season. I think we are doing well and about what i expected(except the skins loss). Just feel like we beat a dead horse sometimes over the past weekend games. plus, I don’t think we are SB bound yet. We need a good draft next year. then 2006/2007 will be ours for the taking. Its also tough when you occasionally see your best rookie’s head spin around like the old exorcist movie. He is going to be good but there is definately growing pains…
We’ve went D for years now, and it’s time to build up the offensive talent. I can’t see your pick in the first round. I think we may try to trade up for Leinart, and get a few more OLinemen, and definitely a wide receiver. We can make this defensive group work for a while longer.
Draft? Why are thinking about the draft? Is this 1989? Are we the Cardinals salivating over Leinart? Give me a break! I’m not a blind fan thinking we will win out but we still have a chance to mature and gel and make it to the playoffs in an INCREDIBLY weak conference.
With two good QB’s on the roster(Bledsoe 112.00 pct and Romo 137.00 pct.) I think we are okay at QB right now….we have more pressing needs……..LB and a “real” FS(although generally you don’t take a safety with a number one)…so I think think LB…..good call Raf…but I would rather have AJ Hawk(but don’t think he will fall to us)……GO COWBOYS!
Rivera and Allen are the only old guards………everybody else Johnson, Petitti and Adams are young. Of all our other current lineman Guard is the one position we do ok at. While we will eventually need a good replacement for both of those guys……..if Petitti is the answer at RT that he seems to be………we don’t have to spend a high pick on a G.
I think it will depend a lot on Romo and Henson. I assume Bledsoe gets 75% or more of the snaps in practice. I don’t think Bill Parcells is going to stick around to groom a young QB and go through the growing pains. I see him trying to get it done with Bledsoe and the retiring in year 5 or 6 of his tenure with the Cowboys. I can see him drafting or giving up a 2nd or 3rd pick for another young QB but that would just be to replace Romo or Henson. I heard Parcells talk about Brunell as Joe’s QB and acknowledged you gotta have a guy in their you can trust.
So far I don’t think we have much to complain about with our offense or the play of Bledsoe. We need to improve on our pass coverage, our QB pressures, and our POINTS ALLOWED> Look at the eagles PA vs ours. Their defense is keeping people from scoring.
Rwilliams 1st round
STaylor 1st round
What do you mean sharkz?
Alan just what I said……watch the games bro……I’m with Raf on this one LB or safety! i said “generally”…….LB is a premium in the NFL!
Snag a “stud” LB,FS,then a WR and some offensive lineman to groom….
I agree with you Raf and Sharkz,
Linebacker is a premium, especially in the 3-4 defense and we still have some question marks there.But we also need a true free safety, Davis is clearly a differense maker on the special teams.
Yes, we do need help at LB, but that’s not our area of greatest need over the next two years.
That would be WR and QB, where we are playing aging veterans who are getting it done today, but I don’t want to bet on them lasting ’til our next SB. Crayton is a very good start at WR, but we need one more speedy young WR. Try a 5′11″ 3rd rounder–smaller WRs always fall too far.
As for QB, since they take a year or more to develop, I hope we draft one in round 1 or 2 next year so he can start in 2007. Of course, I know Bill would never do that. My mock draft by round:
1: QB
2: LB (good ‘tweeners are often available later for the 3-4)
3: WR
4: OG
QBs are notoriously hard to draft, but we need one so let’s go.
well this is Keith Davis first year starting at FS. If he beat everybody else out………geez. I am thinking he might have won it by default. Perhaps he can continue to develop. Take the best coverage guy availabe in the 2nd round whether it be a big strong CB or a FS.
One thing I don’t hear anybody clamoring for…….for the first time in a long time…….is DE, or DT……….WOW……….Canty, Spears, Ferguson, Glover, Ratliff, Coleman, Ellis and company have us all satisfied. They sure look pretty good so far. The LBs start playing well will really have something. I think Ware, Dat and Burnett then stick another legit OLB on the bookend and roll with that. Who knows maybe Shanle and Fujita are decent enough to be rollplayers and even contributors.
on offense we got a young line except for two guards………a young TE, a young WR, and a young promising RB and two more young RBs and a young………..FB……….two old WRs and a young FA Price…….who knows if he is here next year or not……….i think one of our other young WRs can be a 3rd guy…….and Crayton looks like he can be an everydown WR…….so we just need a replacement for the big lanky long KJ when he goes………maybe somebody with some speed……..to stretch a Defense………..
i say we stay off the QB unless somebody great falls to us………I say we go with Bledsoe for a few and continue to let the farm team develop. I think Bill will have an idea on Romo and Henson by next training camp and if he needs another QB in camp there are always some FAs available.
look at Bledsoe’s numbers……….if he keeps this up the guys throws 32 touchdowns……..20ints……..and 4500 yards +…………and his Yards per attempt so far are the highest of his career.
He is the 5th leader in yards in the NFL. We have not had a QB that high since Aikman……..granted Vinny threw for some yards…….but he threw a pick every other pass.
I say let this bus driver……….stay behind the wheel til the wheels fall of the bus! Twice he had led us from behind to win in the 4th quarter. Not something Bill Parcells really wants him to have to do, but when he had to he did it.
I don’t know what ya’ll think, but the Patriots and Bills will both look foolish if this guy keeps it up. Well ok Brady is hard to make look bad, but still……….he is going to be appearing on show after show and getting covers of mags……….as the surprise of the year………..and we got this guy for nothing. Well for the salary…….but no picks or nothing………just an FA pick up. Big Ben and the USC Stud Carson Palmer are the only QBs with a higher QB rating……..Drew is tops in the NFC…….yards 5th. Of all the FAs only Trent Dilfer is even close.
If anybody predicted Bledsoe would have more TDs than Manning…..and a 3rd Highest Passer rating in the entire leauge in week 3……..I am sure even as a fan most of us would have bet against that. Only Carson and McNabb have more TD passes………with Colins Bulger and Big Ben all tied with Drew at 6. I must say, I am very pleased with the result so far. Keep it up Drew……..you should be able to continue success against da raiders D……….especially if Julius gets off and running………like i think he will………does Philly even have a running back……….all they seem to do is pass………..maybe if Westbrook listed himself as a WR he could get paid. LOL…….
Westbrook is 15 in rushing and 13 in pass recieving……..he has more yards catching than passing……..and the Eagles paid TO how much a year………per catch……….i say Westbrook is underpaid by about oh 55,000 per catch.
TO makes 62,500 per catch……..or pretty close………
Westbrook makes 14000………and his per yard per catch average is 14.7 vs TO at 16……….uh………..eagles front office is going to mess around and let this guy go down to Atlanta or some other pass happy west coast team and get paid to do it……..and the giant sucking sound you will hear up there is the lack of a pass catching threat in the backfield………and McNabb and TO no longer kissing and making up………….Andy Reid can put up the tights………..cuz TO will bolt to any team that pays him………just a mercenary anyway………..sitting in the stands in Atlanta……..lol………..
yeah this is it for the Eagles………..it is downhere from here…………I think it has already begun.
Lets go Cowboys! Also the NFC East is not looking like the WALK IN PARK it was the last few years. DC is not great, but their defense and Brunell will keep them in games………..as we found out the hard way……..and Eli and the Giants should at least be tough at home for the feagles…………..and you know the BOYS are going to rough em up in Dallas.
Anthony Henry time to Cowboy up and earn your dough. We paid you for the way you shut down TO last year. Here is ding ding……….round 1 coming up in a few weeks.
right now we don’t have a FS so thats gotta be the choice…someone like jason allen from Tenn, he’s a corner and FS, the other guy who plays both from virgina tech, jimmy williams would be too good to pass up if he’s there when we pick.
remember we have K Thorton, Fugita could surprise, we have not seen Burnett so far but at least we have linebackers.
Their are alos alot of good o linemen in this draft and I bet a good one falls to us in rnd 2.
Hi Everybody!
Oiler Troll weeps at the prospect of such lineage (Carpenter) playing for the Cowboys.
OT
i think they go OL
couldn’t Keith Davis also improve. I mean the guy is basically a 2nd year guy that is in his first season as FS. I have not been impressed with his play, and thought Roy blew some coverages too.
I mean I love Roy, but if he ain’t gonna cover Moss why not knock his block off on that play! But we are still dealing with 3 new players back there……..Henry, Glenn and Davis. LBs that have never been asked to cover before……….Ware……….and then we got Roy Williams bringing the wood which is fine as long as those other guys cover.
We also got Beirault on the team, he will be healthy next year and I bet you see him out there in some nickel packages and hey Bill might even give him a shot at FS. I heard the book on him was a hard hitting maching that was good at keeping plays IN FRONT OF HIM………which is what a Safety is supposed to do.
I have always thought of the FS and Corners as defensive backs……not necessarily a particular position………..Roy is obviously suited to be a SS…….but the guy is as big as a Jimmy Johnson linebacker……….I can see us adding a guy like Jimmy Williams………VT has some good CBs also……….perhaps it is the scheme.
I mean did the 3-4 change our coverage schemes that much? Well maybe Davis develops…….maybe Bierault is for real………Gurode and others on the team can play Guard……we look good at C and T……….I say get us CB/FS and OLB a WR or 2 and maybe a DT or OT if there is some talent there at either position.
Troll where are the offspring of Earl Campbell ……or Warren Moon? or Billy White Shoes Johnson? Maybe they will appear and the Oilers will rise from the ashes of the refineries along the gulf coast. Earl Campbell was a lot of fun to watch. I can only think of two other players that teams new were getting the ball as often as Earl and still had a hard time stopping him……….Walter Payton and Emmit Smith. Earl was pure power though a thing of beauty to behold.
Matt,
AJ Hawk is a little guy by pro standards. 6′1″, 240. He’s a fine player and will go higher than Carpenter, but he’s not the best fit for the 3-4.
Michael,
Nobody’s giving up on this year. But the college guys don’t play in March and April. They’re playing now. If I see somebody who I think fits a team need, I’m going to mention them.
Rafael, if the Cowboys make it to 10-6 (the blog preseason consensus), do you think Carpenter will last until their pick? I’m not so sure–he looks like a stud, and a lot more teams are going 3-4 now, at least part time. I doubt the Cowboys have the #11 pick again. IDK, Maybe enough people like Hawk that Carpenter falls to the Cowboys.
I agree with the sentiment, BTW. I would definitely go SOLB at #1–solidify the D, shut other teams down, and make them fear Dallas on their schedule, knowing they will be in for a snot-knocking all day long.
The rest I assume Parcells will have a better idea about when the year is over. The starting guards are old, but he has two young ones who have yet to suit out, but practice every day. There is also a young WR on the practice squad who may or may not turn out to be any good. Likewise, Bill should see whether the QBs are developing just by seeing how they do leading the scout team.
My point is that we have no real idea how much potential talent this team has among its depth, except among the D line and LB corps, the first because it is utilized (most of it; we still have not seen Pepper II, and likely will not this year, barring catastrophe), the latter because we can still see James clueless and Singleton game but outmanned, and those are the starters. If the backups were better than that, they would be playing already.
The weakest links right now among the starters are the LBs (probably excluding Dat), Davis, Petitti, center, and Cortez. You would assume that Ware and Petitti will improve with seasoning and Burnett will earn a position. Johnson and Gurode may each play their way off the team through inability and mistakes,leaving another void. Most teams don’t draft kickers. FS is an immediate concern, but nobody would realistically suggest having two recent 1st round safeties–too much money at that position, especially together with what the CBs earn, one of whom is also a recent 1st rounder.
That leaves SOLB as the position of greatest need and greatest opportunity.
Cowboy Bert,
Carpenter just cracked Kiper’s top 25. If Dallas goes 9-7 or 10-6, they’ll be picking somewhere in the 16 to 25 range, unless they go deeeeep into the
playoffs. I’m being conservative in my estimates. Sure, trying to divine draft position today is like trying to pick the presidential candidates for 2012, but that’s what blogs are for, right?
maybe Bill sees Fujita developing and Burnett. If that were to happen then we have Ware, Dat, Burnett and Fujita. James gets cut and maybe he can go after the SOLB right away or get one in the 2nd or 3rd. Whileh the 250+ lb LB is coveted…….he is still easier to find than the 280+ DE. I like our chances as long as Bill is doing the grocery shopping and not Jerry.
I doubt Bill would draft a WR in the 1st……..but I think he would consider it in any other round……..but most likely later……..if Glenn and KJ are healthy all year they would still be on the squad next year………even if Crayton was a starter. We have a lot of youth at our depth. Especially on the O line…….I don’t see the line as a must have unless Allen or Rivera look done. Which so far they don’t.
You don’t draft kickers………just ask Da Raiders! You get em as walk on free agents……….or you overpay some underpaid farm club soccer player and teach him to “kick da ball!” but not for a touchdown!
rafeal or whoever,
when pile is in the game did you guys notice if he was in better positions then davis? im gonna watch the game again wednesday and thats 1 thing im gonna be looking for.
i also read burnett played behind ware and spelled him for a couple series, didnt notice that
Rafael:
I know it’s a lot of variables–draft position, which teams draft in front of which others, the various teams’ draft philosophies and needs, how everybody does in workouts, how the college teams finish their years (looking for winners), who gets hot after the combine and starts shooting up the charts, and so forth.
That is why the original question–can a stud SOLB like Carpenter last until 25 or so–still stands. Maybe, since many teams like to wait for LB help until later until later in the draft. Maybe, if enough teams like Hawk better. I guess the question gets down to this: Can the Cowboys be that lucky in how the draft breaks two years in a row? The law of averages says no, as does history.
Dang it Jon, you stole my thunder…the key is Fujita and Burnett developing. Fujita already looks better than Singleton and Burnett is just buying time until the knee fully heals. I also see Bill and Zim starting to experiment with a LB rotation similar to the DL. Either way, we should have four very good to great starters. Any #1 would need to be a starter and I really don’t see Dat going anywhere for a few years. THAT’s who would be replaced. Also, don’t any of you remember the Jimmy Johnson philosophy? LBs are cheap, replaceable parts. Just ask Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and NE.
OL is a strong argument, with one exception. The Cowboys haven’t drafted a OL #1 since the world was grey (B/W TV). And while Adams is no spring chicken, he’s got a few years left. Pettiti seems OK. C is set. Peterman looks like a keeper. Rivera signed a 5 year deal. Sorry, #1s don’t sit on the bench. And NO one drafts a guard in Round 1.
DL…just want to say…DAMN!…are we set or what?
QB…Henson gets one more year. Jerry said it, he’ll treat him like a #1…that’s a three year pass. One more to go…with Bledsoe, we’ve got another 3-4 years, barring injury.
Safeties really don’t get drafted #1 unless their really special (Taylor, Williams) and usually the SS types. I don’t believe a single starting FS in the league is a number 1. In fact, they’re really low draft picks on average.
RB…set, TE…set, CB…set, which leaves….
WR! While I really am enamored by the deepest WR corps Dallas has ever had, we really don’t have the Playmaker. Problem is, they are really boom/bust picks, much like DEs.
However, if a LB of significant quality were to drop, I could definitely see that being made. In fact, this would be the first draft since ‘95 or ‘96 that the ‘Boys could actually just wait for the best available athlete.
Just no flyers or trading down crap that ruined our drafts for 5 years.
Thank you for responding Rafael…
A few hours after my first message I replied with a somewhat lengthy breakdown of the roster and my opinion of what we should look for in the first round next year. For some reason I do not see it above. I am too lazy to retype so I’ll just skip to my conclusion…
O-line, LB, or stud WR
I finished my previous, though now invisible, comment by lamenting our spoiled nature as Cowboy fans. Far too many “fans” were far too quick to usher Aikman out the door. We have been spoiled by Meredith, Morton, Staubach, White, and Aikman. Now we are living like everyone else in the NFL. We are searching for the rarest of creatures…the franchise qb. Long live the search.
I am guessing that Dallas will be drafting from 15-25, making their record 8-8 to 11-5. Lets assume #20. Several others have illustrated Dallas’ needs in this thread. Namely, FS, WR, QB, Oline, and LB.
Outside of Roy Williams and handfull of others, safeties rarely are chosen in the first round. All of the recent first round safeties have been strong safeties. I can’t think of the last free safety that was chosen in the first round. Brodney Pool was the first one this past year. He was an early second rounder. So safety is not likely in the first round.
WR is taken throughout the draft. This past year, Matt Jones and Mark Clayton were taken at 21 and 22, respectively. Parcells has a history taking WRs in the first round. Definitely a possibility.
Guards are also typically not drafted in the first round. This past year, New England was the first to take a guard with Mankins at the end of the first round. The year prior, the Dolphins picked Carey in the first, but he was projecting to tackle. The Eagles moved up to about #18 to take Shawn Andrews. So its possible, but not probable, that a guard would go at #20.
Quarterback’s obviously go throughout the draft. Parcells took Bledsoe in the first. But I share the opinion of other here, that Bill isnt going to wait around for a QB to develop. They may take a mid to late round guy like Orton or Frye, but a first rounder doesnt seem likely.
Dallas could go LB in the first. But it sure doesnt seem like a need to me.
All things being equal, WR seems most likely to me. But you never know who drops. I know JJ and BP were estatic that Spears dropped to 20 this past year. Maybe another stud will fall to Dallas next year.
Rafael,
How did you come up with Carpenter. He’s listed as the 7th-10th best LB, with a 3-4 round rating. There just seems to be a few really good players, making it a very deep position, and one where a lot of teams will wait until rounds 2 & 3. Only way we take one in Round 1 is if A. J. Hawk or Ahmad Brooks falls…
QB prospects looks extremely slim. Really, there are three prospects, only two of which will go in Round 1. A sleeper to fall to the Cowboys may be Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green. Unless hell freezes over (or the Cowboys collapse) it is highly unlikely. BTW, this guy looks really good.
So, does anyone know of a sure-fire, all star WR? Sure does seem like slim pickings.
May not be sure fire but Dwayne Jarrett (USC) has some impressive numbers and size (6′5″ 200). 7 TD’s in 3 games this year and 15 last year as a freshman (true I believe).
Oops, I keep forgetting the other glaring need on this team: FB. Polite is passable at best. Maybe expend a 4th rounder on a good FB next year?
Fighter,15,
What ratings are you using? I just saw Carpenter crack Kiper’s top 25, which means a late 1st rating — at least right now. I watched him against Texas and some against Iowa. Very impressive. I can’t speak for the list you have, but it may be a pre-season ranking. Carpenter’s tearing it up right now.
Guys,
I know you all are looking for a fullback,but i as i recall troy hambrick isn’t in the league anymore,and from what i remember he could pick up blitzes and would punish linbackers when he ran.You dont need a draft pick.BIll parcells needs to get off his,and pick up hambrick and i no you guys would agree
I think there are more WRs in the Sophomore class……..which unless they redshirted means they got another year to play in NCAA………..but the Johnson kid at Ga Tech has some serious hands………..21 i think his number is. Va Tech has some gifted young wideouts also. USC is loaded at WR, but all the guys I was impressed with are not coming out next year. It is hard to find that WR in college. Truly some are late rounders that blossom. So far Braylon Edwards and Troy Williamson look like they are for real, but it is early and they still have to be consistent. Look around and see all the Freddie Mitchells, Koren Robinson’s, and Antonio Bryant’s that are out there. Head cases with more talent and no work ethic or hands or something is missing.
With Witten and Jones on the Squad we could stay away from the red zone threat……….although KJ has been CLUTCH………..I would like a real burner that can stretch a defense. Somebody in the 6′1″-6′3″ Fram in the 200-220 range with some hands and some speed. Well I know hard to find, even Michael Irvin did not have the speed, but he proved he was still a playmaker. Looking around the league there are still a lot of 6′ and a little under WRs that are still making catches week after week. Terry Glenn has a great set of hands, I hope Crayton can stay out of BPs dog house with his punt returns.
As far as QB goes here are some guys that I think will be NFL players
Brady Quinn 6′4″ 231 Notre Dame Junior
Marcus Vick 6′ 212 Junior Va Tech………..before you start saying 6′ qbs dont make it in the NFL listen to Troy Aikman talk about having to find lanes cuz he could not see over the 6′7″ Offensive lineman……….so it does not matter how tall you are……..you still gotta use lanes…….ask Flutie.
Obviously Matt Leinhart is the stud in college………he goes number 1 overall unless something drastic happens.
Drew Stanton Michigan State……….6′ 3″ 228 Senior
Sam Keller Arizona State ……….6′ 4″ 228 Junior…….not sure how high this kid goes or when he comes out……..but his yards and TDs to Ints are great………lets see how he does against USC on the big stage this week.
Matt Moore is sort of on the skinny side………but he could bulk up……..6′4″ 191……….Tom Brady ish in size………Senior Oregon State
You don’t take QBs from Florida. Not sure why, just a rule of mine. None of Spurriers kids did crap….FSU is defense running backs and sometimes WRs……..Charlie Ward was too short supposedly and was probably the best QB in NYC for a while playing basketball. Kosar and Testaverde and Jim Kelly were three good ones from Miami. Don’t see another one down there anytime soon. Number of Super Bowl victories by any of those three…….ZERO……although Bernie won a playoff game for the Cowboys.
There are three kids down in Texas, but none of them are great passers. All of em look decent, but I will let ya’ll texans debate who is best………
I think the NFL is done with Tedford QBs. They are looking like Spurrier QBs……….great college products of a successful system.
There are always some gunslingers at some smaller schools……..and in the MAC of course the new farm system for NFL QBs……..I think the Dallas Cowboys are eventually going to give Drew Henson an opportunity to succeed or fail on the football field. I think it might be the straw that breaks the Bill Parcells Jerry Jones friendship if he says start Henson…….and Bill is eyeing a Super Bowl run with Bledsoe. I don’t think they are done with him yet. The kid has been away from football too long, and needs some time to develop. Romo seems further along, and not surprising the guy threw for a gazillion yards in college and never played with the boys of summer for the money like Drew. I really do not see Parcells wanting to develop Henson. I mean he brought in Testaverde last year, and was eager to get Bledsoe this year. Bledsoe is going to be like Favre when he ain’t starting he is outta here. He ain’t giong to sit on the bench behind Losman or Henson or anybody…….nor would I expect him too. He has proven himself with his yards alone. I see Bill in a win now mode and he will go after whatever will take him there in next years draft. Which certainly ain’t a rookie qb. Even one named Matt Leinhart.
BP seems to draft players in groups, shot gun approach.
2003 he took a lot of db’s, 2004 2 o-line in a row, 2005 4 d-line.
This may be the first draft in along time where we have the luxury of taking BPA.
I would have said for sure nose tackle because it would have been a need and there are two good ones in watson and ngata..that was before pepper II popped up.
We are also so deep on the D line and finally have enough talent to trade players and or picks for Leinart.
Lets assume the first round pick has to play 1st year the 2nd-3rd can develope for 2 years.
Lets assume we dont trade.
Lets assume we pick bottom 3rd say # 22.
The consensus here is between ILB, OLB, OT/OG, FS and WR
I dont believe there are any impact receivers like, B edwards, roy williams in 2006 draft that could start first year. The best seems to be santonio holmes short and fast allot like Glen and Price.
I believe the only two positions that have a chance to start next year would be OLB and FS and maybe O-Line rotation.
I believe at 22 we could get the top FS/CB…Maybe Jason Allen Tenn/ or Landry LSU..I take Allen as he can also play corner.
I believe we could get one of the top guards in Joseph from OU and Max Jean Gilles georgia …I take Gilles as he can also play OT.
I believe we could get #3 olb in T Howard U.T.E.P, E simms Florida St. or B. Carpenter…I like Carpenter because he’s big enought to move inside.
I believe we could get #2 ILB. Hodge, Iowa..still like Carpenter.
So it’s between Gilles, Carpenter, or Allen. With the 22nd pick in the 2006 draft the cowboys trade up and take Leinart. We finally have a good enough o-line, backs and receivers to tell if we have a good QB….
You know what they say about assuming.
I keep seeing the trade up for Leinart sentiment. I don’t see it.
The only way that happens is if Bledsoe gets hurt next week and the Cowboys end up picking in the top 5 to 10. Because if they pick in the 16 to 22 range, which is where 9-7 or up will land them, it will take THREE #1 picks to approximate the points between say, pick 20 and pick #1. And Leinart will be #1 unless he gets hurt.
Anybody here willing to spend three #1s to get Leinart. Seriously?
Rafael
Sounds like a new thread to me.
I would not repeat the joey galloway trade much less three #1’s if thats what it would take to get Leinart.
I am thinking Bledsoe is the qb for the next two years barring injury but in the past even if we drafted a QB we did not have enough of an offense to evaluate the QB position…we do now. What players will become FA’s next year? Who do we have available to trade, considering the depth we have at so many positions, and what combo of picks/players would be required to move up to get a franchise QB.
I believe we are now drafting for two years down the road, we have experience and youth at every position, except FS. I think we have the opportunity to go for a QB, even if BP won’t be around to develope him, and Romo or Henson does emerge. Kinda like Aikman/Walsh or Brees/Rivers Qb’s are worth allot especially considering who’s out their as backups.
Just a note: Jets signed Testaverde. They contacted Titans and Redskins about trading for their #2, Ramsey and Volek. Maybe we could give Henson to them if the Boys don’t want him anymore.
- I’m also suprised the Jets went with Testaverde over Quincy Carter. I know just about every Cowboy fan hates him, but I’m one of the about 3 fans that liked the guy. Yeah he makes a ton of mistakes but so did Testaverde, and Quincy can do more. With seeing the Jets QB mess, I’m glad we have Bledsoe.
I think we won’t draft a WR early next year. BP doesn’t like drafting WR’s early unless their a sure thing, and those are usually gone by 15. He likes getting them late. Let’s just all hope we aren’t worrying about drafting in the top 20.
TM,
I think the team can’t afford to think two years down the road, now or ever. Jimmy Johnson always drafted to find starters who could play immediately, with the possible exception of ‘93, when he traded out of the first round and got Kevin Williams with his first pick.
Drafting for depth is the philosophy the team took into ‘95 and for all of Jerry’s bad drafts, that was probably the worst, made more disgusting by the fact that it was a deep year.
Besides, the defense is far from finished. The team still needs an above average SOLB and SILB, in addition to a FS. Another young CB to play nickel wouldn’t hurt. If Jacques Reeves were the guy we wouldn’t be crossing our fingers and hoping Aaron Glenn isn’t about to fall of a cliff skills wise. The offense, as many people point out, could use a younger, faster version of Keyshawn and perhaps another guard. And, of course, a *dependable* young QB.
That’s six to seven players. Some of these needs could be filled in free agency, but it’s going to take another strong draft before this team can think it’s close to being a finished product.
This appears to be a deep draft for linebackers….and that is a good thing. A healthy ahmad Brooks from VA is my first choice. If healthy, he goes higher in the first though. Although backers tend to fall on draft day. Hawk, Greenway, there is a UTeP linebacker (Thomas Howard) who fits the profile too.
Rafael,
The only person putting Carpenter that high is Kiper (who is the poster child for mediot…I actually think he defined the role). Don’t get me wrong, Carpenter is a top-10 LB, but there are usually only 1-3 difference makers at the position and Bobby isn’t even the best on his team. We could get him, or someone of equal value in the second round.
Jonathan pretty much listed the consensus top 3, Brooks, Hawk, Greeway. They seem to be the only sure fire first rounders, and it looks like Brooks is “sliding” due to delayed recovery from knee surgery.
I used Sports Xchange, Scouts (, and Ourlads (http://www.ourlads.com/). They seem to be the most consistent and complete services.
Some other ranking sources I used were:
- http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/rankings.html
- http://www.DraftDaddy.com
Also remember that most are ranking only seniors as deference to some unwritten rule that it would encourage players to leave early…like $50 million doesn’t already.
If any of your are dreaming that Leinart will be available to us in any kind of trade. The only way anybody is going to get that pick is going to cost that team another Ricky Williams like trade like Ditka made for the Saints. He is the most true number 1 overall pick since Michael Vick.
I think the cowboys should lean towards LB help. One of those mountain men from Ohio St. seem like they would fit perfectly in with our defense.
What’s the deal with awaiting moderation? Was it the links?
I don’t know about SOLB, there’s a chance we already have that above average on the roster, Fujita’s new on Dallas schemes and I spotted him in one of the best plays the Defense made on Sunday, yes, that tackle in the yard 2, he was there along Nguyen. So I’ll wait along Parcells until midseason to make projections on positions that could be upgraded.
My last on the subject for awhile.
This draft seems to be very strong for OL & LB…which happens to be our main emphasis for need in the long run and short term, if they’re superstars replacing aging vets (i.e., Allen) or just outplay ANY starter.
A couple of free safety propspects could slide to the 2nd or 3rd rounds.
WR is really weak. Seems like we may have to live with Key, Terry, Peerless, and Crayton for a couple of years…Dang! what a sacrifice
Raf, I don’t know that there are ever any finished products in the NFL. Even when you win the SB roster moves are always in order.
Rafael
I am for competition at every position… which we have now.
I believe the 2005 draft was like two good ones and we need time to see what we have got…Maybe we will know by Thanksgiving. The only position that does not have much competition now is FS. Like I said after the skins loss..Dallas selects FS/CB Jason Allen.
Two words: Drew Stanton. Mich St. QB. Throws like a Manning and runs like Steve Young.
lou,
I was a strong supporter of Quincy Carter, too, and Carter is probably a better quarterback than any of the ones the Jets looked at, including Testaverde (at this stage of Vinnie’s career), but, not even I would suggest that the Jets even consider Quincy Carter, even as bad off as they are — not after what Carter did to them during the playoffs last year.
I tend to prefer a quarterback who doesn’t disappear during playoff games. I don’t know. Maybe that’s just me.
Besides, if Carter is really facing a 4-game suspension, he would hardly do them any good now.
I wonder where DeMarcus Ware ranked one year ago today? Was he even considered to be a first-day prospect last September?
Which kind of illustrates the futility of this whole discussion. … Not that there’s anything wrong with futile discussions.
Can someone update this article? Is Carpenter still your choice?
[...] This has become a popular pick of late, but I want to remind everybody that I predicted this last September. And yes, I am available for trips to Vegas. [...]