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By Clarence E. Hill Jr.
IRVING -- In 1981, Ronald Reagan became the 40th president.
The price of a gallon of gas was $1.32.
MTV made its debut with round-the-clock videos.
Sailing was the hit song of the year.
And Chariots of Fire won the Academy Award as the best movie.
The same year was also the last time the Dallas Cowboys selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Howard Richards, picked 26th overall out of Missouri, proved to be quite the ordinary bust, with no starts in six years in Dallas.
His disappointing play wasn't the major the reason the Cowboys have stayed away from the position for the past 30 years, which is the longest streak in the league.
Today, Richards might be relieved of the dubious distinction of being the last offensive lineman drafted in the first round by the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have eight picks in the three-day 2011 draft, including the ninth overall selection in the first round, which will be held tonight.
Based on discussions with scouts, league insiders and the Cowboys, the team is poised to finally take an offensive lineman in the first round.
According to sources, the team has four players in mind for the ninth pick, based on how they think the draft might unfold. The list includes tackles Tyron Smith, Anthony Castonzo, Nate Solder and defensive end J.J. Watt.
The Cowboys would like to move down a couple of spots and still get one of their top choices. Owner Jerry Jones said he has already received several trade offers and is holding out hope for a bonanza of a deal.
But whenever the Cowboys pick, look for them to lean heavily toward an offensive lineman -- most likely a tackle. Guard/center Mike Pouncey is an option if the Cowboys move late into the first round.
Vice president Stephen Jones said "We are more than willing to take one if it's the right situation."
Although the Cowboys have needs at cornerback, defensive end and safety, this year's approach points toward a tackle in the first round.
Stephen Jones said the staff is comfortable going into the season with Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins as the starting cornerbacks again, despite their struggles last season. He also said this is a weak draft for safeties and none are worthy of a first-round pick.
The draft has a few defensive ends who are worthy of being taken in the first round. And it's a huge need position, considering that the Cowboys have just one end under contract for next season.
However, barring a huge drop from the top five or six spots in the draft by an elite player such as Alabama's Nick Fairley, the ends available likely don't rate higher than the tackles.
Watt is definitely an option. But there are five tackles who are considered first-round picks, according to Cowboys scouting director Tom Ciskowski.
The Cowboys brought in five first-round offensive linemen prospects to the team's Valley Ranch headquarters for visits. The Cowboys brought in tackle Derek Sherrod in addition to Smith, Castonzo, Solder and Pouncey.
"You always look at critical factors in the position," Ciskowski said. "That doesn't change. You just never know for sure what you're getting in a player. Your contacts at the school are very important. A lot of times players come in and the stage is just too big for them. They tend to fall off a little bit. I think you're always looking for the right type of intangibles. Is he smart? Is he tough? Does he love football? If he has that, it gives you a good chance to be successful."
The need for an offensive lineman is great this year because of the struggles of the aging players at the position. The Cowboys could part ways with right tackle Marc Colombo because of his age, injury history and $2.6 million bonus due whenever the labor deal is settled. Also, promising left tackle Doug Free might be made a free agent under a new labor deal.
The Cowboys will make re-signing him a top priority, but nothing is guaranteed.
Castonzo is a player the Cowboys believe can step in and play immediately. Smith is more athletic and has the biggest upside.
They are the team's top two choices and if one of their names is called tonight, it won't be because of a change of philosophy but rather a change in needs.
Stephen Jones acknowledged he was surprised the Cowboys hadn't taken a lineman in the first round for 30 years, including the past 22 drafts since the Jones family bought the team in 1989. But he said it was more of a coincidence than a philosophy of "We wouldn't do it."
The value of the blindside tackle has grown considerably during that time.
The Cowboys have also had the luxury of perennial Pro Bowlers Mark Tuinei, Larry Allen and Flozell Adams manning the left tackle position for the bulk of those years before Free took over in 2010.
"I don't know if I've ever gone to bed worrying about protecting the passer with a left tackle," Jerry Jones said. "That's been quite a luxury. I'm not reluctant to invest a first-round pick, as far as my input is concerned, on an offensive lineman."
IRVING -- In 1981, Ronald Reagan became the 40th president.
The price of a gallon of gas was $1.32.
MTV made its debut with round-the-clock videos.
Sailing was the hit song of the year.
And Chariots of Fire won the Academy Award as the best movie.
The same year was also the last time the Dallas Cowboys selected an offensive lineman in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Howard Richards, picked 26th overall out of Missouri, proved to be quite the ordinary bust, with no starts in six years in Dallas.
His disappointing play wasn't the major the reason the Cowboys have stayed away from the position for the past 30 years, which is the longest streak in the league.
Today, Richards might be relieved of the dubious distinction of being the last offensive lineman drafted in the first round by the Cowboys.
The Cowboys have eight picks in the three-day 2011 draft, including the ninth overall selection in the first round, which will be held tonight.
Based on discussions with scouts, league insiders and the Cowboys, the team is poised to finally take an offensive lineman in the first round.
According to sources, the team has four players in mind for the ninth pick, based on how they think the draft might unfold. The list includes tackles Tyron Smith, Anthony Castonzo, Nate Solder and defensive end J.J. Watt.
The Cowboys would like to move down a couple of spots and still get one of their top choices. Owner Jerry Jones said he has already received several trade offers and is holding out hope for a bonanza of a deal.
But whenever the Cowboys pick, look for them to lean heavily toward an offensive lineman -- most likely a tackle. Guard/center Mike Pouncey is an option if the Cowboys move late into the first round.
Vice president Stephen Jones said "We are more than willing to take one if it's the right situation."
Although the Cowboys have needs at cornerback, defensive end and safety, this year's approach points toward a tackle in the first round.
Stephen Jones said the staff is comfortable going into the season with Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins as the starting cornerbacks again, despite their struggles last season. He also said this is a weak draft for safeties and none are worthy of a first-round pick.
The draft has a few defensive ends who are worthy of being taken in the first round. And it's a huge need position, considering that the Cowboys have just one end under contract for next season.
However, barring a huge drop from the top five or six spots in the draft by an elite player such as Alabama's Nick Fairley, the ends available likely don't rate higher than the tackles.
Watt is definitely an option. But there are five tackles who are considered first-round picks, according to Cowboys scouting director Tom Ciskowski.
The Cowboys brought in five first-round offensive linemen prospects to the team's Valley Ranch headquarters for visits. The Cowboys brought in tackle Derek Sherrod in addition to Smith, Castonzo, Solder and Pouncey.
"You always look at critical factors in the position," Ciskowski said. "That doesn't change. You just never know for sure what you're getting in a player. Your contacts at the school are very important. A lot of times players come in and the stage is just too big for them. They tend to fall off a little bit. I think you're always looking for the right type of intangibles. Is he smart? Is he tough? Does he love football? If he has that, it gives you a good chance to be successful."
The need for an offensive lineman is great this year because of the struggles of the aging players at the position. The Cowboys could part ways with right tackle Marc Colombo because of his age, injury history and $2.6 million bonus due whenever the labor deal is settled. Also, promising left tackle Doug Free might be made a free agent under a new labor deal.
The Cowboys will make re-signing him a top priority, but nothing is guaranteed.
Castonzo is a player the Cowboys believe can step in and play immediately. Smith is more athletic and has the biggest upside.
They are the team's top two choices and if one of their names is called tonight, it won't be because of a change of philosophy but rather a change in needs.
Stephen Jones acknowledged he was surprised the Cowboys hadn't taken a lineman in the first round for 30 years, including the past 22 drafts since the Jones family bought the team in 1989. But he said it was more of a coincidence than a philosophy of "We wouldn't do it."
The value of the blindside tackle has grown considerably during that time.
The Cowboys have also had the luxury of perennial Pro Bowlers Mark Tuinei, Larry Allen and Flozell Adams manning the left tackle position for the bulk of those years before Free took over in 2010.
"I don't know if I've ever gone to bed worrying about protecting the passer with a left tackle," Jerry Jones said. "That's been quite a luxury. I'm not reluctant to invest a first-round pick, as far as my input is concerned, on an offensive lineman."
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