sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
Posted by nickeatman at 3/11/2011 5:05 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com
Earlier this week, just to pass the time, I decided to go back and find the Cowboys’ Top 10 draft picks since 2000. While that was fun and all, it took a little time to actually round out the final 10, with some questionable picks at the top of the list in guys Orlando Scandrick or Patrick Crayton.
For some reason (and you can answer that question yourself) . . . it wasn’t so difficult in coming up with the Worst 10 picks by the Cowboys since 2000. Now the order is always debatable, but here’s my take:
10. Robert Brewster (2009, 3rd round, 75th overall) – Now the good part about this pick is that it’s not over yet and he still has a chance to turn things around. To his defense, Brewster got hurt just before training camp of his rookie season, but when he came back, he didn’t even make the team last year. He was on the practice squad and will have a chance to make it this year. Personally, I’ve said this for two years now, I think he’s more of a guard, but that position change hasn’t occurred.
9. Tony Dixon (2001, 2nd round, 56th overall) – One former Cowboys scout told me about Dixon that he thought the problem was “He just didn’t really like football.” That’s an unfortunate scenario for your second-round pick. Dixon looked the part but he never really took that next step. It certainly didn’t help matters the Cowboys drafted Roy Williams in the first round the next year, so Dixon really didn’t get the chance. I put that one more on the Cowboys than the player.
8. Quincy Carter (2001, 2nd round, 53rd overall) – I know some might be surprised he’s not higher on this list, or even at the top. But just be patient, keep reading down the list and you’ll probably see why. For all of his problems – most of which occurring after his Cowboys days – Carter still took this team to the playoffs in 2003. He was never a great quarterback and really only had a few “good” moments. But he didn’t take himself in the second round and forced into playing as a rookie when he wasn’t ready. The pick wasn’t the worst part, but playing him so early and putting that pressure on him was tough for any rookie.
7. Isaiah Stanback (2007, 4th round, 103rd overall) – Again, this is more about the pick than the player. Stanback was an exciting college quarterback that probably should’ve stayed at that position all along. The Cowboys gave it a try to move him to WR. And it was worth a shot considering the success they had with Patrick Crayton. But Stanback never materialized at either spot.
6. Skyler Green (2006, 4th round, 125th overall) – This one seemed to be on Bill Parcells. He loved the potential of Green to play different spots – but mainly return kicks. There seemed to be so many options for this guy once they drafted him. But he never really got on the field. He made the team, but spent most of his days either inactive or then to the practice squad. You’d like something out your fourth round and they never got anything from Green.
5. Bobby Carpenter (2006, 1st round, 18th overall) – Like Carter, I’m sure some of you can’t believe he’s not the No. 1. Again, it all comes down to contribution and the guy played four years. Sure, we all expected more of a first-round pick. It’s hard to miss on those. The Cowboys clearly did with Carpenter, but I don’t think it’s truly his fault. He was picked when the Cowboys were switching to the 3-4. He has no place in this defense. He’s not an outside rusher and he’s not a true inside guy. He’s a nickel linebacker and when the Cowboys gave him that role in 2009, he did it well. But as a first-round pick, you expect a longtime starter and that never happened.
4. Jason Williams (2009, 3rd round, 69th overall) – Another case when you’ve got a third-round pick, but expectations are even higher when you’re the team’s top selection. Still, Williams barely playing in his rookie season and cut midway through his second year. Despite his athleticism, he couldn’t even find ways to contribute on special teams, much less on defense, even with the team needing a replacement for Bobby Carpenter.
3. James Marten (2007, 3rd round, 67th overall) – The second pick for the Cowboys in 2007 and he never played a game, and only one in his career – with the Raiders. He just didn’t do anything. And the Cowboys needed linemen that year. But they took Doug Free, who was clearly better than Marten from the start and it might even worse for Marten, who didn’t make the team in his second year.
2. Jacob Rogers (2004, 2nd round, 52nd overall) – Same situation as Marten, but a second-round pick. The difference was that Rogers was hurt and during his second year, and even got called out by Jerry Jones. I remember Rogers telling us the biggest reason he wasn’t playing as a rookie was the tough transition from being a college left tackle to a right tackle in the NFL. While there is a transition, it shouldn’t have taken a whole year.
1. Dwayne Goodrich (2000, 2nd round, 49th overall) – This one kind of speaks for itself. Again, he was the top pick of the 2000 draft which makes the pressure even higher. But Goodrich never did play with any confidence. He was a really good college cornerback as a junior at Tennessee, and it went downhill from there. Wasn’t that great as a senior and then it snowballed to the pros. Of course, his career is now overshadowed by the unfortunate incident in 2003, when he was eventually convicted on two counts of criminally negligent homicide and sent to prison.
There you have it, and there were some that got left off the list – like Bruce Thornton, Kareem Larrimore and maybe a package deal with Anthony Fasano/Martellus Bennett. But there’s my 10 – let the debate begin.
Earlier this week, just to pass the time, I decided to go back and find the Cowboys’ Top 10 draft picks since 2000. While that was fun and all, it took a little time to actually round out the final 10, with some questionable picks at the top of the list in guys Orlando Scandrick or Patrick Crayton.
For some reason (and you can answer that question yourself) . . . it wasn’t so difficult in coming up with the Worst 10 picks by the Cowboys since 2000. Now the order is always debatable, but here’s my take:
10. Robert Brewster (2009, 3rd round, 75th overall) – Now the good part about this pick is that it’s not over yet and he still has a chance to turn things around. To his defense, Brewster got hurt just before training camp of his rookie season, but when he came back, he didn’t even make the team last year. He was on the practice squad and will have a chance to make it this year. Personally, I’ve said this for two years now, I think he’s more of a guard, but that position change hasn’t occurred.
9. Tony Dixon (2001, 2nd round, 56th overall) – One former Cowboys scout told me about Dixon that he thought the problem was “He just didn’t really like football.” That’s an unfortunate scenario for your second-round pick. Dixon looked the part but he never really took that next step. It certainly didn’t help matters the Cowboys drafted Roy Williams in the first round the next year, so Dixon really didn’t get the chance. I put that one more on the Cowboys than the player.
8. Quincy Carter (2001, 2nd round, 53rd overall) – I know some might be surprised he’s not higher on this list, or even at the top. But just be patient, keep reading down the list and you’ll probably see why. For all of his problems – most of which occurring after his Cowboys days – Carter still took this team to the playoffs in 2003. He was never a great quarterback and really only had a few “good” moments. But he didn’t take himself in the second round and forced into playing as a rookie when he wasn’t ready. The pick wasn’t the worst part, but playing him so early and putting that pressure on him was tough for any rookie.
7. Isaiah Stanback (2007, 4th round, 103rd overall) – Again, this is more about the pick than the player. Stanback was an exciting college quarterback that probably should’ve stayed at that position all along. The Cowboys gave it a try to move him to WR. And it was worth a shot considering the success they had with Patrick Crayton. But Stanback never materialized at either spot.
6. Skyler Green (2006, 4th round, 125th overall) – This one seemed to be on Bill Parcells. He loved the potential of Green to play different spots – but mainly return kicks. There seemed to be so many options for this guy once they drafted him. But he never really got on the field. He made the team, but spent most of his days either inactive or then to the practice squad. You’d like something out your fourth round and they never got anything from Green.
5. Bobby Carpenter (2006, 1st round, 18th overall) – Like Carter, I’m sure some of you can’t believe he’s not the No. 1. Again, it all comes down to contribution and the guy played four years. Sure, we all expected more of a first-round pick. It’s hard to miss on those. The Cowboys clearly did with Carpenter, but I don’t think it’s truly his fault. He was picked when the Cowboys were switching to the 3-4. He has no place in this defense. He’s not an outside rusher and he’s not a true inside guy. He’s a nickel linebacker and when the Cowboys gave him that role in 2009, he did it well. But as a first-round pick, you expect a longtime starter and that never happened.
4. Jason Williams (2009, 3rd round, 69th overall) – Another case when you’ve got a third-round pick, but expectations are even higher when you’re the team’s top selection. Still, Williams barely playing in his rookie season and cut midway through his second year. Despite his athleticism, he couldn’t even find ways to contribute on special teams, much less on defense, even with the team needing a replacement for Bobby Carpenter.
3. James Marten (2007, 3rd round, 67th overall) – The second pick for the Cowboys in 2007 and he never played a game, and only one in his career – with the Raiders. He just didn’t do anything. And the Cowboys needed linemen that year. But they took Doug Free, who was clearly better than Marten from the start and it might even worse for Marten, who didn’t make the team in his second year.
2. Jacob Rogers (2004, 2nd round, 52nd overall) – Same situation as Marten, but a second-round pick. The difference was that Rogers was hurt and during his second year, and even got called out by Jerry Jones. I remember Rogers telling us the biggest reason he wasn’t playing as a rookie was the tough transition from being a college left tackle to a right tackle in the NFL. While there is a transition, it shouldn’t have taken a whole year.
1. Dwayne Goodrich (2000, 2nd round, 49th overall) – This one kind of speaks for itself. Again, he was the top pick of the 2000 draft which makes the pressure even higher. But Goodrich never did play with any confidence. He was a really good college cornerback as a junior at Tennessee, and it went downhill from there. Wasn’t that great as a senior and then it snowballed to the pros. Of course, his career is now overshadowed by the unfortunate incident in 2003, when he was eventually convicted on two counts of criminally negligent homicide and sent to prison.
There you have it, and there were some that got left off the list – like Bruce Thornton, Kareem Larrimore and maybe a package deal with Anthony Fasano/Martellus Bennett. But there’s my 10 – let the debate begin.
