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Phillips: 5 Draft Suggestions No One's Talking About
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Seven rounds. So many needs. So many draft directions.
We can probably recite the obvious in our sleep by now: Offensive line . . . Defensive line . . . Safety . . . Cornerback . . .
All are likely being discussed internally, and it'd be surprising if the Cowboys neglected a large combination of those positions on April 28-30.
What else, though? Let's get a little more creative in our draftstorming, shall we?
There are other spots perhaps less pressing, but worth consideration at some point during the three-day process. There's no reason to pigeonhole themselves by taking say, two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, two safeties and a corner.
If that winds up being the best strategy based on need and unfolding value, fine. Coming off a 6-10 season, the Cowboys still like the overall scope of their roster. But since new head coach Jason Garrett thinks this team must improve through healthy internal competition, all positions should explore upgrades later. Not just the glaring ones.
For the sake of healthy pre-draft debate, here are five more worth kicking around here in mid-March. (Disclaimer: I'm referring largely to taking a later-round flier on these spots, not No. 9 or anything.)
Quarterback. Of this quintet, I'm probably least sold on quarterback. Do you realize the Cowboys haven't drafted multiple QBs in a three-year span or less since Scott Secules in 1988 and Troy Aikman in 1989? They tend to spread them out, largely because they've had a franchise starter most of the time. There's not a clear reason to draft one in 2011, unless you like the Ron Wolf approach (draft and develop one every year, no matter who your starter is). The pros: Now healthy, Tony Romo is the guy for the foreseeable future; No. 2 Jon Kitna played extremely well in Romo's place, with an 88.9 passer rating in 10 appearances; and No. 3 Stephen McGee, a scout-teamer during his short career, showed poise in directing two fourth-quarter touchdown drives in an eight-day span. The cons: Kitna turns 39 in September and has one year left on his contract; and McGee, a fourth-rounder in 2009, still must show more signs of development.
Running Back. We'll have a better perspective once the labor stuff gets resolved and the Cowboys start addressing their current roster. Is Marion Barber still in their plans? Folks can speculate all they want, but until he's not, this is a fairly deep position who's 147.6-yard average in the final eight games would have ranked fifth over the entire season. But if changes are made, and considering Tashard Choice has one year left on his deal, it's worth a spot on the list. And the Cowboys have been successful drafting Day 2 running backs. Barber (2005) and Choice (2008) each went in the fourth.
Wide Receiver. Frankly, this position isn't nearly as deep as everyone thought back in August. Patrick Crayton is gone, Sam Hurd very well could join him, and Dez Bryant and Kevin Ogletree are coming off surgery. Can they both take a (healthy) step forward next year? And where does Roy Williams fit? To me, there's a good possibility he's back because the Cowboys would have like $12.9 million in dead money by releasing him. Still, a wideout with special teams ability at some point in the draft might make sense.
Inside Linebacker. Folks aren't happy with Anthony Spencer's season. I get it. A lot of you want another young player, if not Victor Butler, to push him at outside linebacker. His numbers did drop, he faded in and out at times and the defense generally needs more pass rush. But overall I thought he did an adequate job last year and should benefit from Rob Ryan's system. He's not DeMarcus Ware, OK? To me, the bigger need is inside linebacker depth - for a couple of reasons. Sean Lee is likely to push Keith Brooking at the "Mo" if Brooking's back for a 14th season. But fellow starter Bradie James will be entering the final year of his contract at the other spot, and what's behind those top three guys? Leon Williams didn't receive a restricted tender offer. 2009 draft picks Jason Williams and Stephen Hodge were supposed to fortify this position, but they're gone.
Kick Returner. The last time the Cowboys spent a draft pick on a kick returner, LSU's fourth-rounder Skyler Green got cut in December of his 2006 rookie season. Dez Bryant provided juice on punt returners, but the Cowboys ranked 23rd on kickoff returns (21.2-yard average). It's an area in which special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has sought improvement since 2009. Really, way before that. The Cowboys have four kickoff returns for touchdowns since 2002, and one was Randal Williams' fluke onside recovery in 2003.
Phillips: 5 Draft Suggestions No One's Talking About
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas - Seven rounds. So many needs. So many draft directions.
We can probably recite the obvious in our sleep by now: Offensive line . . . Defensive line . . . Safety . . . Cornerback . . .
All are likely being discussed internally, and it'd be surprising if the Cowboys neglected a large combination of those positions on April 28-30.
What else, though? Let's get a little more creative in our draftstorming, shall we?
There are other spots perhaps less pressing, but worth consideration at some point during the three-day process. There's no reason to pigeonhole themselves by taking say, two offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, two safeties and a corner.
If that winds up being the best strategy based on need and unfolding value, fine. Coming off a 6-10 season, the Cowboys still like the overall scope of their roster. But since new head coach Jason Garrett thinks this team must improve through healthy internal competition, all positions should explore upgrades later. Not just the glaring ones.
For the sake of healthy pre-draft debate, here are five more worth kicking around here in mid-March. (Disclaimer: I'm referring largely to taking a later-round flier on these spots, not No. 9 or anything.)
Quarterback. Of this quintet, I'm probably least sold on quarterback. Do you realize the Cowboys haven't drafted multiple QBs in a three-year span or less since Scott Secules in 1988 and Troy Aikman in 1989? They tend to spread them out, largely because they've had a franchise starter most of the time. There's not a clear reason to draft one in 2011, unless you like the Ron Wolf approach (draft and develop one every year, no matter who your starter is). The pros: Now healthy, Tony Romo is the guy for the foreseeable future; No. 2 Jon Kitna played extremely well in Romo's place, with an 88.9 passer rating in 10 appearances; and No. 3 Stephen McGee, a scout-teamer during his short career, showed poise in directing two fourth-quarter touchdown drives in an eight-day span. The cons: Kitna turns 39 in September and has one year left on his contract; and McGee, a fourth-rounder in 2009, still must show more signs of development.
Running Back. We'll have a better perspective once the labor stuff gets resolved and the Cowboys start addressing their current roster. Is Marion Barber still in their plans? Folks can speculate all they want, but until he's not, this is a fairly deep position who's 147.6-yard average in the final eight games would have ranked fifth over the entire season. But if changes are made, and considering Tashard Choice has one year left on his deal, it's worth a spot on the list. And the Cowboys have been successful drafting Day 2 running backs. Barber (2005) and Choice (2008) each went in the fourth.
Wide Receiver. Frankly, this position isn't nearly as deep as everyone thought back in August. Patrick Crayton is gone, Sam Hurd very well could join him, and Dez Bryant and Kevin Ogletree are coming off surgery. Can they both take a (healthy) step forward next year? And where does Roy Williams fit? To me, there's a good possibility he's back because the Cowboys would have like $12.9 million in dead money by releasing him. Still, a wideout with special teams ability at some point in the draft might make sense.
Inside Linebacker. Folks aren't happy with Anthony Spencer's season. I get it. A lot of you want another young player, if not Victor Butler, to push him at outside linebacker. His numbers did drop, he faded in and out at times and the defense generally needs more pass rush. But overall I thought he did an adequate job last year and should benefit from Rob Ryan's system. He's not DeMarcus Ware, OK? To me, the bigger need is inside linebacker depth - for a couple of reasons. Sean Lee is likely to push Keith Brooking at the "Mo" if Brooking's back for a 14th season. But fellow starter Bradie James will be entering the final year of his contract at the other spot, and what's behind those top three guys? Leon Williams didn't receive a restricted tender offer. 2009 draft picks Jason Williams and Stephen Hodge were supposed to fortify this position, but they're gone.
Kick Returner. The last time the Cowboys spent a draft pick on a kick returner, LSU's fourth-rounder Skyler Green got cut in December of his 2006 rookie season. Dez Bryant provided juice on punt returners, but the Cowboys ranked 23rd on kickoff returns (21.2-yard average). It's an area in which special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has sought improvement since 2009. Really, way before that. The Cowboys have four kickoff returns for touchdowns since 2002, and one was Randal Williams' fluke onside recovery in 2003.
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