The 2011 Cowboys Draft Thread - Page 16

thule · 12-22-2010, 01:22 AM

I love me some Love.

Quote:

OL DeMarcus Love: Arkansas
Showcases impressive range and athletic ability when asked to reach the corner, but needs to continue to tighten up his footwork in space. Has some really impressive tape playing as a guard in 2008 and in my view I think he’s better suited to play inside at the next level.

Trogdor · 12-22-2010, 07:53 AM

Figured it might generate a healthy discussion :) Here's the results of the forum mock for the 'Boys and my analysis:

Quote:

Originally Posted by therock6000

Cowboys draft is done...I think Jerry digs it...

7- Marcell Dareus DE/ Alabama
39- DeMarcus Love RT/ Arkansas
71- Robert Sands S/ West Virginia
103- Alex Henery K/ Nebraska
135- Ahmad Black S/ Florida

Dareus (7): Not a fan of 3-4 lineman anywhere near the top of the draft but that's more of a personal choice. Granted between the start of this and now the Cowboys are looking to be drafting later in the draft I'd hope to see in this situation a trade down if Prince / PP are gone.

Love (39): Huge fan of Love so that's golden in my eyes. Experience at both sides and an instant upgrade over Columbo.

Sands (71): Not a huge fan of hard hitting safeties especially ones that don't have elite range but Sands is intriguing. Personally I think he could use another year at WVU.

Henerey (103): Ugh... was on-board till this pick. Buehler is in his first year as a full-time kicker and has hit 76% of his kicks. Not great. Not bad. Keep in mind his touchbacks have returned and the ball he kicks is a lot less sporadically. Give him another year with Boniol before even thinking about taking a kicker. What hurts even more is that we could use this pick to sure up the CB spot (Davon House) or add someone who could be a factor on the Dline (Sione Fua).

Black (135): Ahmad Black in the 5th is a steal he has tremendous upside for a 5th round pick.

thule · 12-22-2010, 09:51 AM

I actually like Love more as a guard than a tackle for our scheme. With the amount of pulling we do with our guards Love's athletic abillity would be amazing. All of the knocks on him have to do with space...I think he could play RT but I think he'd be a better player for us inside.

xxxxxxxx · 12-22-2010, 09:52 AM

Thule, you like Dareus?

thule · 12-22-2010, 10:06 AM

Tyron Smith and DeMarcus Love in the first two rounds would sure be a nice upgrade over Columbo and Koiser. Bring in a FA RG and we suddenly have a adequate line.

These last 3 games have a huge impact on how we approach the draft. A top 10 pick I tend to lean DL because there will be a premium player available. After that I think we will see the top tier of players gone and a 2nd tier will emerge...so if we end the season 2-1 here I think we'll see us go OL here. I wouldn't be surprised to see us go OL in 2 of the first 3 rounds with Garrett as the HC...his whole offense has been hampered by it this year...if he is around he will have to address it early...Jerry's history or not we underperformed because of the OL for much of the year.

Defense we have a ton of problems..be interesting to see how we address it. I still don't think there is a Safety in FA that is an upgrade over the trash we have. This safety class doesn't look worth squat either...something to keep in mind...Roy has a big contract number but he has no garunteed money. He is a legitamate trading peice now...not sure interest will net anything...but maybe this is how we go about the safety position.

DL in FA looks hit or miss to me.
Cullen Jenkins
Shaun Ellis
Shaun Rogers
Terdell Sands
Marcus Stroud

Safety wise i don't even know...one name catches my eye
Eric Weddle
and that is it...I'd almost say we have to make him a priority...but to tell you the truth I haven't put him under the microscope and don't know how much of an upgrade he'd even be.

xxxxxxxx · 12-22-2010, 10:10 AM

Id say he's definitely an upgrade over Ball, and he is smart.

Thule, what do you think about starting Brent at NT, drafting another later in the draft or picking up a solid veteran to rotate with him, and putting ratliff to end?

I seriously think it improves everything, and I don't see why our coaches are blind to it.

thule · 12-22-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDCB14

Thule, you like Dareus?

I do, however I don't know if he's the blue chipper that everyone thought he was before the season started. He does look like a man playing with boys on the field...but I just don't see him making enough plays. He's not the top guy on my board...I think Fairley has earned that. I'm also not sure if he grades out higher than Jordan who was more dominant on the field this year.

thule · 12-22-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDCB14

Id say he's definitely an upgrade over Ball, and he is smart.

Thule, what do you think about starting Brent at NT, drafting another later in the draft or picking up a solid veteran to rotate with him, and putting ratliff to end?

I seriously think it improves everything, and I don't see why our coaches are blind to it.

I think it depends on what we decide to do with Spears/Bowen/Hatcher.

I hope we only keep Bowen as a swing DE...
Brent at NT i'm ok with...Ratliff must move outside....he is no longer a pro bowl NT...and that has been the excuse for not moving him the past 2 seasons.

That said if Ratliff can solidify a DE that makes it easier to find another replacement.

Morton · 12-22-2010, 10:25 AM

Question: how is the CB free agent class looking this year? Anything decent out there?

thule · 12-22-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morton

Question: how is the CB free agent class looking this year? Anything decent out there?

Feel free to check them out and report back on your thoughts.

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/

I don't think we'll see and change to our corner situation...that said there are some names that could help us...but I just don't think it'll happen.

Morton · 12-22-2010, 10:40 AM

Hmm. Two names intrigue me: Champ Bailey and Jonathan Joseph.

You think either one of these would be a decent free agency signing?

thule · 12-22-2010, 02:03 PM

I don't think you sign either of those guys unless you cut Newman. Joseph is a top tier corner in the league in my mind...so it really comes down to if you are willing to pay top dollar for his services. IDK I think we could invest money elsewhere.

TheFinisher · 12-25-2010, 12:31 PM

It's been a little dead in here so I'm gonna try to get some discussion going again, what's everyone's thoughts on Maryland Safety Kenny Tate?

I caught a little bit of the FSU game and boy can this kid fly around. He was making plays near the LOS while lined up as a FS 12 yards off the ball, he has elite range despite his freakish size. He is a converted blue chip WR recruit so you know the kid has ball skills. He is extremely sharp out of his breaks and is very fluid, he doesn't run like he's 6'4. He was tremendously productive this season, 94 Tackles, 8 TFLs, 3.5 Sacks, and 3 INTs.

The kid just declared and from what I've read he will go somewhere in the 2nd half of round 1, maybe higher if he puts up freakish combine numbers like his Maryland Alumni have in the past. The value would be there if we move down a few slots, heck if we win out it might make sense around 13 or so. Very interesting prospect.

TheFinisher · 12-25-2010, 12:43 PM

Fast forward to 2:31, it's destiny.

xxxxxxxx · 12-31-2010, 10:40 PM

Ok, so who is in the Prince/Peterson camp, and who is in the Nick Fairley camp?

Let's say we move Ratliff to DE, make brent out starting at NT, and find someone to rotate with him.

Then we add Fairley to be the other DE. Combine that with Ware, and let's say just for fun that Spencer returns to his 2nd half of last year form..

Imagine that front 5. That would be insane.

I'm all for fairley. While PP and Prince would be great addition's for the secondary, I don't see how you would move the ball on that front. Combine that with a blossoming sean lee, and Bradie James probably just played one of his best years yet... That front 7 would be suffocating..

Thoughts?

LonghornsLegend · 01-01-2011, 12:18 PM

I don't like to say "well if we move Ratliff to DE" because as much sense as it's always made to me and a bunch of us it won't happen regardless. If we lose I'm pretty certain I want Prince or PP for me. Ratliff is gonna be our NT, Stephen Bowen should be retained and is very underrated, and I would still like to look at another DE somewhere between rounds 4-7.

I love the idea of Fairley and Rat at DE with big Brent at NT, if that was an option I'd probably have Fairley higher but it won't happen. Just give me 1 of those elite CB's, put Jenkins on the #2 guy consistently and maybe if he's not the "hot ****" CB he plays with a chip on his shoulder.

De or CB though, we need 2 safeties and I still don't know how we'll be able to make that happen.

D-Unit · 01-01-2011, 12:36 PM

For me it's Peterson or trade down. I don't want Prince that badly and I think we can get a DE in other rounds.

We're in a prime position to potentially land a Top 5 pick, if we lose tomorrow, which I hope happens. I know you guys want to win, but I'm so over that already. But yeah, there are A LOT of teams wanting a QB, so I think that we could trade down to the highest bidder. ARZ, SF, TEN, MIN, WAS, SEA, OAK, JAX.... could all be potential trade partners.

So that's my thoughts at this point. Taking a 3-4 DE in the Top 8 is ridiculous to me.

TheFinisher · 01-01-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Unit

For me it's Peterson or trade down. I don't want Prince that badly and I think we can get a DE in other rounds.

We're in a prime position to potentially land a Top 5 pick, if we lose tomorrow, which I hope happens. I know you guys want to win, but I'm so over that already. But yeah, there are A LOT of teams wanting a QB, so I think that we could trade down to the highest bidder. ARZ, SF, TEN, MIN, WAS, SEA, OAK, JAX.... could all be potential trade partners.

So that's my thoughts at this point. Taking a 3-4 DE in the Top 8 is ridiculous to me.

Peterson is the first choice but I wouldn't say it's PP or bust. I think if Robert Quinn is there we need to take a long hard look at that. I understand we have a lot of holes right now in the secondary and OLine, but Jerry is going to grab some FA's to fill those best he can heading into the draft. We won't have the same roster on Draft day, I guarantee that. Quinn is a blue chip player and would greatly upgrade our defense, would you really pass that up for a trade down?

xxxxxxxx · 01-01-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Unit

For me it's Peterson or trade down. I don't want Prince that badly and I think we can get a DE in other rounds.

We're in a prime position to potentially land a Top 5 pick, if we lose tomorrow, which I hope happens. I know you guys want to win, but I'm so over that already. But yeah, there are A LOT of teams wanting a QB, so I think that we could trade down to the highest bidder. ARZ, SF, TEN, MIN, WAS, SEA, OAK, JAX.... could all be potential trade partners.

So that's my thoughts at this point. Taking a 3-4 DE in the Top 8 is ridiculous to me.

Your saying that because we have always had below average DE play.

Nick Fairley in the top 8 is not rediculous at all. The guy is a monster.

I'm sorry D but that was a foolish statement. Sure it isn't the most marquee position, but look at what people like igor bring us... a decent run stuffer who is a statue on passing downs?

Fairley would drastically help our base defense. It's another rusher they have to account for on any down, as well as a dominate run player.

bigbluedefense · 01-01-2011, 04:09 PM

Think about this, if you switch to a 4-3 defense and draft Fairley, your dline is

Spencer
Fairley
Ratliff
Ware

How the hell do you block that?

I like Prince too. Haven't seen Peterson yet, so I don't know about him yet, but everyone swears he's the truth.

xxxxxxxx · 01-01-2011, 04:39 PM

BBD, weren't you the one praying we don't get Peterson and hope we win more games?...

Anyway, I want no part in T.J. Johnson at safety from TCU after the first quarter of this game. He sucks.

And Jerry said we're sticking with the 3-4, so that won't happen BBD.

thule · 01-01-2011, 04:54 PM

Jerry has a long long history of saying something and doing something else. Take everything he says with a grain of salt.

xxxxxxxx · 01-01-2011, 05:34 PM

Carimi is dominating in the Rose Bowl. I'd trade down to around 20 for him. If he fell to us in the 2nd it would be a god-send.

Him and Free as our tackles for the next decade would be amazing.

TheFinisher · 01-01-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDCB14

Your saying that because we have always had below average DE play.

Nick Fairley in the top 8 is not rediculous at all. The guy is a monster.

I'm sorry D but that was a foolish statement. Sure it isn't the most marquee position, but look at what people like igor bring us... a decent run stuffer who is a statue on passing downs?

Fairley would drastically help our base defense. It's another rusher they have to account for on any down, as well as a dominate run player.

I'm still skeptical Fairley can play in a 3-4, so much of his game is his penetrating ability.

I think I'd rather have Dareus to play 5-tech.

dsc1600 · 01-01-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFinisher

I'm still skeptical Fairley can play in a 3-4, so much of his game is his penetrating ability.

I think I'd rather have Dareus to play 5-tech.

Dareus was a monster in the bowl game. Granted it was an overmatched Michigan St team, but still had a big game.