The Dallas Cowboys should have no problem gaining an insider's scouting report on the top defensive prospects from college football's reigning national champion.
Alabama's Nick Saban is one of Jason Garrett's coaching mentors.
In winning their second national title in three seasons, the Crimson Tide sported an outstanding defense, thanks in large part to the play of cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, safety Mark Barron and outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. All three players could be available for the Cowboys to pick at No. 14 next month.
“He teaches you discipline, how to respect other guys and how to be a team player, and that's one of the things I have to take to the next level,” Kirkpatrick said of Saban last month at the NFL Scouting Combine.
All of the traits Kirkpatrick mentioned also are cherished by Garrett, who began his coaching career as an assistant on Saban's Miami Dolphins staff from 2005-06.
“I have notebooks upon notebooks on Nick Saban staff meetings,” Garrett said last year. “He's a guy who clearly understands how to run a program. He's done it very successfully throughout his career.
“I'd go in there, the other coaches would go in there, and we'd listen about how he'd do things. How you set up practices. How we conduct the draft. Really, everything you can think of. He's been a big influence.”
Dallas would like to bolster its sagging defense with the addition of another pass rusher and some playmakers in the secondary.
After a disappointing combine, Kirkpatrick is behind LSU's Morris Claiborne and North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins on the draft boards of many analysts. Kirkpatrick reportedly turned in a sharp performance at Alabama's pro day last week, an event Barron and Upshaw skipped.
In a weak year for safeties, Barron is considered the top prospect at the position.
Entering the combine, Upshaw was touted as the top pass rusher by many analysts. But a lackluster performance in Indianapolis may have hurt his stock and vaulted South Carolina's Melvin Ingram into the No. 1 slot at defensive end/outside linebacker.
“I just didn't see the explosion you want to see from a pass rusher off the edge,” NFL.com's Charley Casserly wrote of Upshaw.
No matter how they performed at the combine, the three Alabama prospects will arrive at their new NFL homes well prepared by Saban for the pro game.
“Coach Saban tried to teach us to be great and prepare us to be great in the league,” Upshaw said. “He got everybody ready, man. He's a phenomenal coach.”
Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's playbook is challenging, but Kirkpatrick, Barron and Upshaw probably would ace it after playing for Saban.
“That's something I knew when I first decided to go to 'Bama,” Barron said. “We had a complex defense, an NFL-type scheme. I knew it would prepare me for the next level.”
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...ave-extra-Bama-info-3398714.php#ixzz1ouIewTCe
Alabama's Nick Saban is one of Jason Garrett's coaching mentors.
In winning their second national title in three seasons, the Crimson Tide sported an outstanding defense, thanks in large part to the play of cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, safety Mark Barron and outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. All three players could be available for the Cowboys to pick at No. 14 next month.
“He teaches you discipline, how to respect other guys and how to be a team player, and that's one of the things I have to take to the next level,” Kirkpatrick said of Saban last month at the NFL Scouting Combine.
All of the traits Kirkpatrick mentioned also are cherished by Garrett, who began his coaching career as an assistant on Saban's Miami Dolphins staff from 2005-06.
“I have notebooks upon notebooks on Nick Saban staff meetings,” Garrett said last year. “He's a guy who clearly understands how to run a program. He's done it very successfully throughout his career.
“I'd go in there, the other coaches would go in there, and we'd listen about how he'd do things. How you set up practices. How we conduct the draft. Really, everything you can think of. He's been a big influence.”
Dallas would like to bolster its sagging defense with the addition of another pass rusher and some playmakers in the secondary.
After a disappointing combine, Kirkpatrick is behind LSU's Morris Claiborne and North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins on the draft boards of many analysts. Kirkpatrick reportedly turned in a sharp performance at Alabama's pro day last week, an event Barron and Upshaw skipped.
In a weak year for safeties, Barron is considered the top prospect at the position.
Entering the combine, Upshaw was touted as the top pass rusher by many analysts. But a lackluster performance in Indianapolis may have hurt his stock and vaulted South Carolina's Melvin Ingram into the No. 1 slot at defensive end/outside linebacker.
“I just didn't see the explosion you want to see from a pass rusher off the edge,” NFL.com's Charley Casserly wrote of Upshaw.
No matter how they performed at the combine, the three Alabama prospects will arrive at their new NFL homes well prepared by Saban for the pro game.
“Coach Saban tried to teach us to be great and prepare us to be great in the league,” Upshaw said. “He got everybody ready, man. He's a phenomenal coach.”
Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's playbook is challenging, but Kirkpatrick, Barron and Upshaw probably would ace it after playing for Saban.
“That's something I knew when I first decided to go to 'Bama,” Barron said. “We had a complex defense, an NFL-type scheme. I knew it would prepare me for the next level.”
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...ave-extra-Bama-info-3398714.php#ixzz1ouIewTCe