sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
Wide Net
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
MOBILE, Ala. - Our current Senior Bowl trip has provided a little more intrigue than the last.
In 2009, the Cowboys' de facto first-round pick was already on the roster: Roy Williams, via a midseason trade with the Lions. They weren't casting for big fish like those boats drifting in Mobile Bay off Interstate 10.
Now we're back in 2011 and there's motive for monitoring some first-round prospects: the Von Millers, the Nate Solders, the Cameron Jordans. At least they should be on the radar, unlike our previous visit in '09 when the Cowboys wound up trading out of the second round and picking linebacker Jason Williams in the third.
Whether it's a franchise offensive tackle, a stud defensive lineman or a rangy linebacker or defensive back, the Cowboys have to get an impact guy at No. 9. Their recent first-round history suggests they can and will:
Terence Newman (2003) has been an anchor in the secondary. DeMarcus Ware (2005) is an elite linebacker. Marcus Spears (2005) has been a solid piece in the 3-4 defense. Felix Jones (2008) is rounding into a versatile back. Dez Bryant (2010), if he can stay healthy, is a dynamic receiver. Two other recent first-rounders, Anthony Spencer (2007) and Mike Jenkins (2008), are capable of playing better than they did this year. Bobby Carpenter (2006) was a bust.
For a team coming off a 6-10 season, it's imperative that the Cowboys' top pick becomes an immediate building block. Those types of guys - the Millers, the Solders, the Jordans - are fairly easy to spot this week at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
But scouts make their money finding guys in the middle to late rounds. This year's Senior Bowl - devoid of talented underclassmen - seems to have its share of solid, if less spectacular, players that can help teams.
How good is San Diego State receiver Vincent Brown, who showed flashes of burst and hands in practice? Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter (5-8, 200) might have a little Darren Sproles in him, but can he really be the same type of durable, effective situational back and returner? How would corners like Clemson's Marcus Gilchrist and Colorado's Jalil Brown fit into the Cowboys' coverages? Is Oklahoma's Quinton Carter an upgrade at safety?
So while No. 9 needs to be a playmaker, the Cowboys need hits throughout the seven-round draft. It became clear this season that some depth replenishment was needed. The 2008 class accomplished that; in addition to Jones and Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Martellus Bennett and Tashard Choice became competent rotation players right away, and it's looking like they might have given up on sixth-round pick Erik Walden too early.
The 2009 class has provided lesser returns. Williams, the top pick, is gone. Fellow third-rounder Robert Brewster landed on the practice squad after battling injury and subsequent weight issues. Fourth-rounder Brandon Williams missed an entire season with a knee injury, too. Four more mid-to-late-round picks (DeAngelo Smith, Mike Hamlin, Stephen Hodge and Mike Mickens) are also gone. The jury is still out on 2010 selections like Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Sam Young and Sean Lissemore.
These types of picks are the guys Joe DeCamillis relies on for his special teams units each year, guys that hopefully develop into starters or valuable rotation players on offense and defense at cap-friendly numbers. That way, the franchise doesn't have to keep dishing out huge signing bonuses to address positions, like the way they plugged the offensive line in recent years.
The NFC Champion Packers had more starters (13) miss games due to injury than any other team this year, and had 16 total players on injured reserve. Obviously their depth was pretty good, and Walden helped.
The Cowboys had a few guys step up, too, particularly on Garrett's watch. We found out Sean Lee was a player, that Stephen McGee earned more developmental work, that Danny McCray and Barry Church were special teams standouts.
They need more, though, beyond the No. 9 pick. The good ones don't always jump into your boat, either. Sometimes you've got to scout far beyond shore.
The Senior Bowl is a good place to start.
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
MOBILE, Ala. - Our current Senior Bowl trip has provided a little more intrigue than the last.
In 2009, the Cowboys' de facto first-round pick was already on the roster: Roy Williams, via a midseason trade with the Lions. They weren't casting for big fish like those boats drifting in Mobile Bay off Interstate 10.
Now we're back in 2011 and there's motive for monitoring some first-round prospects: the Von Millers, the Nate Solders, the Cameron Jordans. At least they should be on the radar, unlike our previous visit in '09 when the Cowboys wound up trading out of the second round and picking linebacker Jason Williams in the third.
Whether it's a franchise offensive tackle, a stud defensive lineman or a rangy linebacker or defensive back, the Cowboys have to get an impact guy at No. 9. Their recent first-round history suggests they can and will:
Terence Newman (2003) has been an anchor in the secondary. DeMarcus Ware (2005) is an elite linebacker. Marcus Spears (2005) has been a solid piece in the 3-4 defense. Felix Jones (2008) is rounding into a versatile back. Dez Bryant (2010), if he can stay healthy, is a dynamic receiver. Two other recent first-rounders, Anthony Spencer (2007) and Mike Jenkins (2008), are capable of playing better than they did this year. Bobby Carpenter (2006) was a bust.
For a team coming off a 6-10 season, it's imperative that the Cowboys' top pick becomes an immediate building block. Those types of guys - the Millers, the Solders, the Jordans - are fairly easy to spot this week at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
But scouts make their money finding guys in the middle to late rounds. This year's Senior Bowl - devoid of talented underclassmen - seems to have its share of solid, if less spectacular, players that can help teams.
How good is San Diego State receiver Vincent Brown, who showed flashes of burst and hands in practice? Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter (5-8, 200) might have a little Darren Sproles in him, but can he really be the same type of durable, effective situational back and returner? How would corners like Clemson's Marcus Gilchrist and Colorado's Jalil Brown fit into the Cowboys' coverages? Is Oklahoma's Quinton Carter an upgrade at safety?
So while No. 9 needs to be a playmaker, the Cowboys need hits throughout the seven-round draft. It became clear this season that some depth replenishment was needed. The 2008 class accomplished that; in addition to Jones and Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Martellus Bennett and Tashard Choice became competent rotation players right away, and it's looking like they might have given up on sixth-round pick Erik Walden too early.
The 2009 class has provided lesser returns. Williams, the top pick, is gone. Fellow third-rounder Robert Brewster landed on the practice squad after battling injury and subsequent weight issues. Fourth-rounder Brandon Williams missed an entire season with a knee injury, too. Four more mid-to-late-round picks (DeAngelo Smith, Mike Hamlin, Stephen Hodge and Mike Mickens) are also gone. The jury is still out on 2010 selections like Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Sam Young and Sean Lissemore.
These types of picks are the guys Joe DeCamillis relies on for his special teams units each year, guys that hopefully develop into starters or valuable rotation players on offense and defense at cap-friendly numbers. That way, the franchise doesn't have to keep dishing out huge signing bonuses to address positions, like the way they plugged the offensive line in recent years.
The NFC Champion Packers had more starters (13) miss games due to injury than any other team this year, and had 16 total players on injured reserve. Obviously their depth was pretty good, and Walden helped.
The Cowboys had a few guys step up, too, particularly on Garrett's watch. We found out Sean Lee was a player, that Stephen McGee earned more developmental work, that Danny McCray and Barry Church were special teams standouts.
They need more, though, beyond the No. 9 pick. The good ones don't always jump into your boat, either. Sometimes you've got to scout far beyond shore.
The Senior Bowl is a good place to start.
