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Inside Addition
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: As the April 28-30 NFL Draft approaches, DallasCowboys.com's 12-part Draft Series will analyze every position, the Cowboys' needs at each, who might be available for their eight picks and some interesting draft nuggets. Part 9 features inside linebackers.)
Position Outlook:
While offensive line, defensive line and the secondary project as immediate needs, it's obvious that the middle of the Cowboys' 3-4 defense needs help as well. It's not that starters Bradie James and Keith Brooking are done, but rather that they are entering the final year of their respective contracts, and the team may not be inclined to bring either back past 2011.
Brooking is 35, and James is 30. While both have impressive iron man streaks, they also have plenty of wear and tear on the tires, and each fought through injuries in 2010 that affected their play. Ideally, neither would have to play all three downs in the coming season. Last year's second-round pick Sean Lee should contribute more on passing downs, and projects as a replacement starter beginning in 2012 at the latest, but he's had injury problems of his own dating back to college.
Draft Prospects:
There don't appear to be any first-round inside linebacker talents in the draft, but that's no matter to the Cowboys, who won't look to address the position until Day 2 at the earliest. While some consider Illinois' Martez Wilson as the best of the class, his somewhat lanky build may make him better suited to play on the outside in either a 3-4 or a 4-3.
Two SEC inside linebackers could be early-to-middle round selections, however, and should be under consideration for the Cowboys: Kelvin Sheppard of LSU and Josh Bynes of Auburn.
Several others who have the right mold to play inside a 3-4 and could become long-term starters are Nate Irving of N.C. State, Greg Jones of Michigan State, Mike Mohamed of Cal, Casey Matthews of Oregon, and Quan Sturdivant of North Carolina, as well as Greg Lloyd and Scott Lutrus of Connecticut.
Eventual Available Vets:
The team does have some depth among reserves and late-2010 additions like Kenwin Cummings, Kelvin Smith and Isaiah Greenhouse, however, it wouldn't be wise to project any of those as future starters. But because they do have one promising backup in Lee, it doesn't make much sense to attempt a big splash in free agency.
Still, names such as Paul Posluzney of Buffalo could be available, or Kirk Morrison of Jacksonville. Former Cowboys Akin Ayodele and Kevin Burnett are also due for unrestricted free agency.
Look Back:
While Bill Parcells gets much of the credit for building the talent on the current Cowboys roster, the Tuna did have his misses as well. In Parcells' last draft with the Cowboys, he got his way in the selection of Bobby Carpenter at pick No. 18 overall.
The situation then wasn't all that dissimilar to the one the Cowboys find themselves in now, with veterans James and Ayodele owning the two starting jobs in the 3-4 at the time. The club had picked an inside linebacker in the second round the season before, Burnett, but he had injury problems his rookie year, requiring arthroscopic surgery on both knees within a matter of months.
Up Next: Cornerback
Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
(Editor's Note: As the April 28-30 NFL Draft approaches, DallasCowboys.com's 12-part Draft Series will analyze every position, the Cowboys' needs at each, who might be available for their eight picks and some interesting draft nuggets. Part 9 features inside linebackers.)
Position Outlook:
While offensive line, defensive line and the secondary project as immediate needs, it's obvious that the middle of the Cowboys' 3-4 defense needs help as well. It's not that starters Bradie James and Keith Brooking are done, but rather that they are entering the final year of their respective contracts, and the team may not be inclined to bring either back past 2011.
Brooking is 35, and James is 30. While both have impressive iron man streaks, they also have plenty of wear and tear on the tires, and each fought through injuries in 2010 that affected their play. Ideally, neither would have to play all three downs in the coming season. Last year's second-round pick Sean Lee should contribute more on passing downs, and projects as a replacement starter beginning in 2012 at the latest, but he's had injury problems of his own dating back to college.
Draft Prospects:
There don't appear to be any first-round inside linebacker talents in the draft, but that's no matter to the Cowboys, who won't look to address the position until Day 2 at the earliest. While some consider Illinois' Martez Wilson as the best of the class, his somewhat lanky build may make him better suited to play on the outside in either a 3-4 or a 4-3.
Two SEC inside linebackers could be early-to-middle round selections, however, and should be under consideration for the Cowboys: Kelvin Sheppard of LSU and Josh Bynes of Auburn.
Several others who have the right mold to play inside a 3-4 and could become long-term starters are Nate Irving of N.C. State, Greg Jones of Michigan State, Mike Mohamed of Cal, Casey Matthews of Oregon, and Quan Sturdivant of North Carolina, as well as Greg Lloyd and Scott Lutrus of Connecticut.
Eventual Available Vets:
The team does have some depth among reserves and late-2010 additions like Kenwin Cummings, Kelvin Smith and Isaiah Greenhouse, however, it wouldn't be wise to project any of those as future starters. But because they do have one promising backup in Lee, it doesn't make much sense to attempt a big splash in free agency.
Still, names such as Paul Posluzney of Buffalo could be available, or Kirk Morrison of Jacksonville. Former Cowboys Akin Ayodele and Kevin Burnett are also due for unrestricted free agency.
Look Back:
While Bill Parcells gets much of the credit for building the talent on the current Cowboys roster, the Tuna did have his misses as well. In Parcells' last draft with the Cowboys, he got his way in the selection of Bobby Carpenter at pick No. 18 overall.
The situation then wasn't all that dissimilar to the one the Cowboys find themselves in now, with veterans James and Ayodele owning the two starting jobs in the 3-4 at the time. The club had picked an inside linebacker in the second round the season before, Burnett, but he had injury problems his rookie year, requiring arthroscopic surgery on both knees within a matter of months.
Up Next: Cornerback
