Evaluating the 2012 Dallas Cowboys Draft Class

Each year, as we look ahead to the next draft class, we like to spend a morning putting the cap on the last draft class for the Cowboys.  Last week, we spent significant time discussing how this team has been built, and that demonstrated again how the NFL is a young man's league where your roster is made of quite a few 1st and 2nd year players.  This is especially true of a team that is over-leveraged with veterans who eat up the significant part of their salary cap.  Sometimes the only way to make up the difference as you try to fill out your roster is to plug the holes with kids.

Last year, when we did this exercise, we spent time on each pick of the 2011 draft and saw quite a few things that were noteworthy.  The Tyron Smith and DeMarco Murray picks already looked great and the Bruce Carter pick still was curious.  One still sticks out as the most painful move of the 2011 draft:

Round 5, Pick 143 - Josh Thomas, Cornerback, Buffalo 

Clearly the worst pick of the draft, as Thomas did not make the team out of camp at a position of great need. Instead, they went with a retread, Frank Walker, and sent Thomas away. He was claimed by Carolina the next day, and plays with the Panthers to this day, although he was only active once in 2011. This pick hurts a lot when you consider the Cowboys needed a corner in Round 5 and passed over Richard Sherman from Stanford who went off the board a few picks later at the same position and had an outstanding rookie season in Seattle. If they had Sherman, there would be a completely different feel to the 2012 offseason in Dallas. Instead, their search for young corners continues. 

Surely, that gives anyone indigestion who follows the draft and the NFL.  It is one thing to point out who is available at a certain juncture of a draft, but it is another to see that you take a corner in round 5 and another player at the same position is a special player who appears to be an elite talent.  Yes, all the other teams passed on him, too, but the Cowboys really, really need to not only nail their early picks - which they are doing much better than they used to - but also, make up some lost ground by finding those diamonds in the rough that they used to find back in the old days.  And Richard Sherman is a player at the same position they targeted who then became a 1st Team All-Pro Player in his 2nd NFL season.  Do you have any idea how that would have affected everything?  They don't sign Carr then and have the $50 million for Carl Nicks, perhaps. If they could simply find something worth bragging about in the mid to late rounds then they might not always have more holes than plugs.

Round 1, Pick 6 - Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU

Some years we have a good idea of what the Cowboys are looking to do on draft day and some years we clearly have no idea.  2012 was the latter of the two, because as draft day approached, the name Claiborne was not on the charts for many.  In fact, if they did trade up, there was a pretty strong belief it would be at the safety position to go get Mark Barron or perhaps on the defensive line to get Fletcher Cox.  But, the Cowboys moved up aggressively and sacrificed their 2nd rounder (a pick that would have landed another strong player - Peter Konz or Jerel Worthy were there - to go get the corner from LSU.  It was a strong price to pay, but early indications seem to be that he might be the type of corner who can handle the expectation level.  He played 909 snaps for the Cowboys in 2012 and seemed to show "ball hawk" attributes as one of those rare birds who can find the ball and take it from you whether it be in the form of interceptions or stripping fumbles.  He happened to be the guy standing in the proper spot to recover fumbles, too, which helps a team who doesn't take the ball away enough.  Called for 2 penalties in road games, but aggressive and physical on routes much of the year, Claiborne is a promising piece.  His tackling on run plays is not his strength and the final game might have been one of his worst, but overall, the Cowboys can feel good about the player even if most of us regret the huge price they paid to get him.

Round 3, Pick 81 - Tyrone Crawford, Defensive End, Boise State

Crawford was another name upon his selection that made plenty of people rush to google to figure out who he was.  He was sold early on as a guy who would force his way into the lineup and be able to turn some heads quickly with his burst at the snap and his potential ability to be the rare run-pass DE as opposed to the many DEs they have had who are either run or pass.  The issues were that he was raw and needed significant development to put together an arsenal of pass rush moves that might prove to be his way to impact the league.  Well, 303 snaps in his rookie season later, and we have yet to really have our jaws drop with his contributions.  He seems to have that good news/bad news review in that we have not noticed him doing anything that says he is not capable of holding his own, but we have also not seen anything that has jumped off the screen positively yet, either.  We assume the scheme change will suit him well, but given his use that was sparingly, this is likely a spot where we are still waiting into year 2 to define what exactly he can be.  He is a useable rotation piece, but to promise anything beyond that is difficult to do.

Round 4, Pick 113 - Kyle Wilber, Linebacker, Wake Forest

By the time you get 113 picks deep in any draft, you have to curb your expectation levels a bit for a player in his rookie season.  Then, in the case of Wilber, who was injured in the spring and then again in August where he needed surgery to repair his thumb, we just don't know much about him a year later.  He played on special teams, but as far as knowing his strengths and weaknesses as a linebacker and whether he might be a candidate for the SAM position in the new 4-3 is merely guesswork for us and for the Cowboys.  Even with significant injuries everywhere but outside linebacker, we only saw 16 snaps for Wilber who they flirted with as an inside linebacker when all of those players fell to injury, but it did not take long for them to move in a guy like Ernie Sims instead.  Wilber is a player who may have an upside that we are not fully aware of as we go back and review his work at Wake Forest again, but in 2012, it was a season that almost never got started for him - a theme you are about to see is one shared by many rookies.  Health did not smile on the Cowboys rookie class.  Wilber's grade must remain incomplete for now.

Round 4, Pick 135 - Matt Johnson, Safety, Eastern Washington

There was no player the Cowboys added after Claiborne last spring that I was more excited about than when they added Johnson.  In breaking down several games at Eastern Washington, it was clear he was a man amongst boys at a lower level of college football, but a guy who had instincts as a safety that very few Cowboys players at that position have had in a long time.  But, the tractor never left the barn as all season we marveled at the fragility of his hamstrings.  Those hamstrings have kept him away from public review for the entirety of training camp and the regular season.  In a sport that values durability, this is obviously a disappointing summary of 2012 and one where we are now hesitant to put any expectation level on the kid in 2013 until he shows he can report for duty.  Without any medical expertise, we shall simply acknowledge the confusion of why the Cowboys were so delayed to put him on the injured reserve, but in a position where they really seem to have very few plans, Johnson could reveal himself to be squarely in the mix moving forward.  But, his 2012 was most disconcerting.

Round 5, Pick 152 - Danny Coale, Wide Receiver, Virginia Tech

Any time you cut a pick at the end of training camp, you certainly feel a strong level of disappointment, and that is exactly what happened with Coale.  Coale was the 2nd consecutive 5th round pick of Dallas to be cut at the end of training camp and the 2nd highest pick of the 2012 draft not to make his team.  He never was completely healthy in camp and then went to the practice squad when he was unclaimed.  While playing for the practice squad in 2012, he tore his ACL in his knee and now appears to be a bit of a long-shot to ever do anything for the squad.  At this point, but a footnote of the 2012 draft class.

Round 6, Pick 186 - James Hanna, Tight End, Oklahoma

Unlike Coale, this is the most likely pick to be labeled the diamond in the rough of the draft.  Hanna appears to have tremendous upside as a receiver and will now have nothing blocking him in the lineup. The team played him more in December then he played all year and he had moments of strong play and flashes of being a guy who will be difficult to cover in the secondary.  In a league filling with mismatch tight ends who might be too fast for linebackers, yet to big for defensive backs, Hanna has a chance.  With John Phillips no longer in the picture, there is reason for optimism, but his big question will be whether he is capable of run blocking, especially as a player lined up next to the tackle against the big boys in the box.  That is his rap at this point having only played 109 snaps in 2012, mostly as a flexed tight end in the slot.

Round 7, Pick 222 - Caleb McSurdy, Linebacker, Montana

When picking 222, you just want a guy who can come in and play special teams with great effort and abandon.  Well, when Caleb McSurdy blew out his achilles heel, that didn't materialize and he is now no further down the road than he was when his name was called.  He will be in the mix at training camp, but I am not sure I would expect too much from him and then anything received as a special teams contributor and a backup middle linebacking option will be an added bonus.

The following were undrafted rookies from 2012 who still have a chance:

Cole Beasely, Wide Receiver, SMU

Seemingly able to defy odds and help out in limited duty, his 128 snaps actually rank 3rd amongst the rookie class.  He has something, although when a player this small does nothing on special teams, it is a problematic note in the battle for a roster spot.  He has a chance to develop and will continue to get every opportunity to find a bigger role since the Cowboys have very little competition after Austin, Bryant, and Harris.

Ronald Leary, Guard, Memphis

There was a lot of optimism around Leary when they signed him to a virtually guaranteed deal out of Memphis when he went undrafted due to medical questions that will likely shorten his career.  However, seeing his poor technique in training camp, it was clear he would require plenty of development to ultimately be in the picture.  Lucky for him, depth at guard on this roster is not something to get excited about.  He is in the picture heading into 2013 camp.

Lance Dunbar, Running Back, North Texas

The diminutive Dunbar was not considered to have much chance to make the Cowboys out of camp, but kept hanging around all season.  Another player, like Beasley that is not much of a factor in special teams, but because he can do many things has survived a full year on the roster and was on the field for 91 snaps.  We shall see where it goes from here, but the fact that we are still talking about him does say something.  If Felix Jones is not back, it of course enhances his chances quite a bit to stay, although the Cowboys seem to need another RB as DeMarco Murray has not stayed healthy as a pro yet.

Ben Bass, Defensive Tackle, Texas A&M

Another local product who emerged on the roster was Bass.  Just 26 snaps over 2 games was his full total and he might be a player hurt by the scheme change moving forward.  But, as we head into camp, he will continue to try to show the ability to move players around on a defensive line with very few young prospects.

Overall, here is the full snap count from the rookie class

Name - Round	2012 Snaps
Morris Claiborne - 1st	909
Tyrone Crawford - 3rd	303
Kyle Wilber - 4th	16
Matt Johnson - 4th	0
Danny Coale - 5th	0
James Hanna - 6th	109
Caleb McSurdy 7th	0
Cole Beasley	128
Ronald Leary	0
Lance Dunbar	91
Ben Bass	26
Total	1,582

Again, compared to the 2009 draft, 1500+ snaps is a strong start, but as you can see, there are many names on this list that never got out of the starting blocks.  They are all still on this roster, but we hope to see some major strides moving forward.

Not a horrible rookie class, but not nearly as strong as it might have been, so far.

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Draft Profile: Ronald Leary - G - Memphis

The following is the 7th in a series of draft profiles for the Dallas Cowboys selected players from April's draft. These profiles are put together after watching significant amounts of tape from each player, and is an attempt to examine their resumes and play to get an idea of how they might fit in best with Dallas come training camp.

Ronald Leary
Memphis
Guard
6'3, 315
40 time: 5.27, Bench Press: 30
April 29, 1989 (23)

Seldom do undrafted free agents in the NFL get talked about. If they do, it is because they were a famous college football player that has the fans excited because the player that they watched on Saturdays is now going to try to silence his doubters on Sundays. But, almost never would you get a buzz about a player that is undrafted and mostly unknown. I guess this year in Dallas, we have found the exception to the rule because of the way the Cowboys made sure they got their man, Ronald Leary of Memphis. I have received numerous requests to break down his performance in college, like we did with all of the draftees, and I can tell you this is most uncommon to have this amount of curiosity about a player not even worthy of being Mr Irrelevant.

The NFL college free agent system is quite interesting in how it all works together. On the 3rd day of the draft, teams are in constant communication with players who are on their board late, but are still undrafted. If the Cowboys have a dozen candidates for their final pick in the 7th round, they take the one that is most likely not to make it to the end of the draft, and roll the dice on the others. Then, they cheer that those players are not selected while calling their agents to let them know that if the draft doesn't work out for them, the team would like to sign them immediately as a free agent for training camp.

The money is not great. In fact, it is quite minimal. Each team has $76,585 to spend on their free agents. Total. And, if you consider that the Cowboys inked 19 players, you can see that equals out to about $4,000 per player. And that is the extent of the money they receive until training camp where they will at least receive minimal wages at training camp. Otherwise, any windfall of cash is dependent on them making the team or the practice squad.

But, "Big Ron" did not get $4,000. He got more. In fact, he received considerably more than the next highest free agent that the Cowboys signed, WR Saalim Hakim from Tarelton State, who received $10,000. Leary received the stunning total of $214,000, as the Cowboys decided to basically guarantee Leary a roster spot on the final 53, it would seem.

Because Leary would have been a mid-round prospect had he been healthy, and because the Cowboys feel he's a player who can make an immediate impact, $205,000 of Leary's $390,000 base salary for the 2012 season is fully guaranteed (skill, injury and cap). The total guarantee of $214,000 is in line with what Leary would have received as a signing bonus if he were the first or second player selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Leary is not injured. Rather, he has a degenerative knee condition that could drastically shorten his career. But, for now, and for a chance to find a player with good ability, the Cowboys are throwing a little caution to the wind and hoping for the best. There is a reasonable gamble here that could go badly. And although $200,000 would drastically impact any of our bank accounts, $200k in the NFL is not a very big risk.

And if you are going to take a risk, do it on the OL.

Leary is a very large man. So large that his listed weight of 315 seems a bit suspicious. He appears to the eye to be even bigger and not exactly the chiseled body type that Tyron Smith may offer. However, in terms of being a player who immediately could become your best interior line prospect, his game film indicates that he has a chance there.

Below, you will have to opportunity to watch Leary play Left Tackle for Memphis. A couple things about that. First, Memphis is one of the very worst programs in all of college football. He is playing for a program that has won fewer games than any program other than New Mexico over the last 3 seasons. He is also playing LT for the majority of his time in college, whereas at the NFL level, nobody pretends that he is an outside player. At Valley Ranch, it is unanimously thought that he will be playing guard.

As a collegiate, he did a pretty nice job in pass protection. In fact, as we look at the profile for Cowboys prospects, he has that signature long wingspan and arms that they search for with a 83 inch wingspan and almost 35 inch arms. He has the ability to get his hands on you and then you cannot get around him. He has a good push once he finds his man and that will be made easier at guard.

In the running game, there is question about what the Cowboys full approach is going to be. I only say this because in 2011, they left camp feeling good about being undersized and in the early part of the year they ran a large amount of zone running plays. As the season went along, you could see that they retreated back to what we have seen for year, more man-blocking and the desire to find bigger players who can hold the point better, but the damage was done in 2011.

Leary looks like a promising prospect for the straight ahead or slanting game of the zone runs, but, whether he can pull around in the G-Power schemes that the Cowboys have run for years is something I was unable to find on tape. Memphis certainly wasn't running the ball much, and when they did, I never saw them ask their LT to get out and move. If he is to play guard for the Cowboys, there is a real chance that his ability to pull around the center and find his man who is trying hard to sneak past him will only be seen once we get to camp. Of course, this is predicated on the idea that the Cowboys will still employ their same running philosophy, which may be a mistaken premise with Bill Callahan replacing Hudson Houck in managing the unit. I would assume that Jason Garrett's playbook will remain the same, but that is just an assumption.

Leary's big issues will be his ability to stay on his feet. He gets overextended and ends up on his belly quite a bit. Offensive linemen who are on the ground in the running game are often a running back's worst enemy. That means players are running free and his own blockers are plugging up holes with their considerable frames. You must keep your feet until the runner is past, and this was the ultimate undoing of Leonard Davis in 2010. Also, there is little evidence - good or bad - about his recognition ability when it comes to the complicated job of knowing who to take against confusing blitz looks. This was one of the worst parts of the Cowboys interior in 2011, when teams would show multiple blitzes or even when defense would run inside stunt games and the interior would show confusion. This is an even bigger weakness as Kyle Kosier, the man who called all of the line calls, is not back and one of the two free agent signings Mackenzy Bernadeau is already lost for 2-3 months with a hip injury. The team needs continuity and that might be tough this summer.

But, he has the tools and the frame. He was pretty strong in college at keeping his QB clean, and it appears that the Cowboys have something here to work with. His development, which could be quick, will determine whether they found a diamond in the rough or whether he is simply another OL prospect that is in and out of here in a short time.

Special bonus on Leary, as someone has posted coaches' film of Memphis. Leary is #75 and plays LT. You can watch him here in complete games for 3 different opponents. H/T to DC Fanatic for finding these.

Memphis vs Mississippi State



Memphis vs Austin Peay



Memphis vs Arkansas State



Summary: Cowboys fans should be optimistic about the future of Leary. He doesn't appear to have major flaws in his game, but rather slid because of scaring off the medical people at the Combine. He played every week for Memphis and seems able to play at a solid level right now. Might his career be shortened? Sure, but given the average length of a career is so short, we shouldn't be too concerned about his ability to last past the age of 30, anyway. As I see it, he immediately becomes the best young interior OL prospect on the roster, which certainly says something about what they were working with. He will not get bullied like so many others in this mix. His issues will be to not let players dart around him, but with those arms, he should have an inherent advantage there, too. It does seem too optimistic to think he grabs a starting spot out of camp, but let's not be surprised to see him on the field in 2012 in some guard capacity. This is a player they may need to count on quickly, especially if injuries hit the team.

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Draft Profile: Rd 7 - Caleb McSurdy - LB - Montana

The following is the 6th in a series of draft profiles for the Dallas Cowboys selected players from April's draft. These profiles are put together after watching significant amounts of tape from each player, and is an attempt to examine their resumes and play to get an idea of how they might fit in best with Dallas come training camp.

Caleb McSurdy
Montana
Linebacker
6'1, 245
40 time: 4.86, Bench Press: 26
Feb 24, 1990 (22)

There was a definite sea change in the way the Cowboys have done their drafts since Jason Garrett has taken over as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Whether he is the main reason for this adjustment is up for debate, but since he preaches the value of such virtues that the Cowboys have targeted, I am tempted to credit him with these changes. Only time will tell if this sort of adjustment has a real impact on the quality of the Dallas Cowboys overall, but let's discuss the premise.

On draft weekend, as each player goes off the board, the players that remain begin to show certain aspects of their game that caused the slide in the first place. This player doesn't respond well to coaching. That player does not have ideal height. This player did not test well at the chalk board. This player made poor football decisions. As the draft goes from Day 1 to Day 3, now every candidate on the board has warts. And sometimes, lots of warts.

So, organizations have to have an overall draft philosophy. And while this is an over-simplification, it is often a case of choosing raw tools-based projects or football players who do not have ideal measurables for the next level but still make plays. And to me, this is where the Cowboys are making a subtle change to the way they are picking players.

Not a gigantic adjustment, nor one that is one that can be proven with each pick, but Garrett and the front office seem determined to bring in the "right kind of guy". The days of taking players because they run fast or jump high and the team dreams of converting them into football players has been put on hold. Garrett spoke about passion, emotion, and enthusiasm. High Character players who love the game.

And Caleb McSurdy is an example of what Central Casting would think was the perfect player for that role. McSurdy would be the linebacker on Friday Night Lights, who lives for football and is ready to run through a wall to win that game. Of the 7 players the Cowboys drafted, 6 of them were captains on their teams in college. They took leaders this season and will hope that pays dividends down the road.

Now, before we get too carried away about his upside, we should acknowledge a few simple truths. Of the 33 linebackers at the NFL Combine, only 1 ran a slower 40-time than McSurdy's 4.86. His speed certainly put him in a spot where in today's NFL, some teams would not even consider him as a candidate for the position or a pick. His arm length, vertical jump, and wing span are also very close to the bottom of all of the candidates at his position. As far as measureables, he has strength (26 reps on the bench). And that is about the extent of it.

He was the 222nd pick in the draft, in the middle of the 7th and final round. This is interesting because the 223rd pick was Travis Lewis from Oklahoma. The 224th pick was Alfonzo Dennard, the corner from Nebraska. The 226th pick was David Molk, the center from Michigan. Any of those picks would have been graded well from the media, given our familiarity with their body of work. And yet, the Cowboys targeted and grabbed an inside linebacker from Montana that almost seemed cliche to play in Texas. What did they see?

Well, thankfully, I had access to his game film at Montana and was able to pop in some considerable tape to evaluate his skills. And, I must admit that there was a lot to like, given my cynicism when studying his combine performance. Playing in the same Big Sky Conference as Matt Johnson (the safety from Eastern Washington the Cowboys selected in the 4th Round), McSurdy was a tackling machine.

If there was one game I would draw your attention to, it would be Montana's trip into Knoxville, Tennessee, to play the Volunteers back in September of last season. Pop in that tape and #40 for Montana is all over the field. Sideline to Sideline and shooting through gaps in the line to make a tackle. And another tackle. And another tackle. He was awesome at shedding and tackling. He would find the ball. When it was all said and done and Tennessee had a comfortable victory, McSurdy had 13 tackles and even a sack and was a real impressive piece of an undermanned team.

In another game, he was playing the short zone in coverage when the corner stumbled off the line. The receiver was in a slant-and-go and McSurdy recognized that the DB was out of the play, so he picked up the receiver and chased him all the way down the middle of the field in a way that you see middle LBs do so in the Cover 2 on Sunday. Despite running nearly a 4.9, he was stride for stride with a wide receiver and was on the scene to save a touchdown.

He has obvious limitations to his game. And he does struggle with being over-aggressive, at least at Montana. But, if you would watch one Montana game, you would see that the Cowboys have targeted a football player who always is burying his RPM needle in the red. He goes full throttle in every scenario, and that is the type of player that Jason Garrett wants on this team. You must have speed and talent on your squad, but further down the roster, would you concede a sliver of ability for a dose of effort and instinct?

It is a complicated recipe, but Garrett has his beliefs.

I would love to show you cut-ups of McSurdy, but I don't believe they exist on youtube.

Caleb McSurdy Pro Day



Summary: Odds are very good that McSurdy was drafted with the complete and total plan to make him a special teams regular. In the 7th round, it is not uncommon to pick a player who is only here for the special teams and not really in the plans for regular duty on the base defense unless many injuries occur or he over performs his projections. I was told by one person I trust that he fully expects McSurdy to lead the special teams in tackles as a rookie. If that happens, the pick at #222 will be celebrated and from there he can carve his path in the NFL where many teams took a look at him in shorts and decided he wasn't talented enough to play in this league. I think McSurdy was a very useful idea in the 7th round and a guy I fully expect to make the team. I also expect that he will do every thing in his power to force his way into the mix by making plays that matter whenever he gets the chance. He has instincts and a motor, and the Cowboys are betting on those two characteristics more and more on draft day.

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Draft Profile: Rd 6 - James Hanna - TE - Oklahoma

The following is the 5th in a series of draft profiles for the Dallas Cowboys selected players from April's draft. These profiles are put together after watching significant amounts of tape from each player, and is an attempt to examine their resumes and play to get an idea of how they might fit in best with Dallas come training camp.

James Hanna
Oklahoma
Tight End
6'3, 252
40 time: 4.45, Bench Press: 24
July 14, 1989 (22)

There have been very few evolutions in the National Football League over the last generation quite like the evolution of the Tight End position. Coaches have learned that there are certain elements of the tight end skill set that can not be accounted for by a defense with the ease of a 3rd or 4th WR. And, instead of running out a small, speedy receiver, the league has combed the youth ranks for athletes who are basically basketball players between 6'4 and 6'7, and sent power forward types down the middle of a football field.

It has changed the way teams think of offense and defense. It has made the tight end spot a focal point rather than an after thought. It has made defensive coordinators stress whether this hybrid player is being sent on the field to set up a run or a pass. It is the birth of "12" personnel.

"12" personnel (1 RB, 2 TE) was a very rarely used package by most offenses until this past decade. When it was run, it usually involved tight ends who were basically tackles trying to open up running lanes on 3rd and short for that tough yardage for the ball carrier - which would actually be "22" (2 RB, 2 TE).

But, the league offenses learned that if done properly, they could flex out these power forward types, with the great speed and jumping ability, and they would be able to jump over smallish slot corners for passes, and run past linebackers or safeties to the seam routes. So, pick your poison, defensive coach. Whoever you line up against the tight end is going to determine his route. And there will be no right answer for guys like Vernon Davis, Jimmy Graham, Jermichael Finley, or Rob Gronkowski.

The Cowboys have had amazing success at the Tight End position going back to finding Jason Witten in the 3rd Round in Bill Parcells' first Cowboys draft. Since then, Witten has played in 143 of a possible 144 (missed one game as a rookie) and has played at such a proficient level of pass catching and blocking that he is often cited as the perfect "complete" tight end and a sure-fire Hall of Fame candidate when his career ends.

However, their dream of being one of the first few teams to fully make "12" personnel happen never materialized when Martellus Bennett did not come close to realizing the potential that the Cowboys thought he possessed when they took him in the 2nd Round in 2008. In fact, one can openly wonder what Jason Garrett and Tony Romo might have been able to do with Witten and Anthony Fasano as a tandem for more than a brief cup of coffee before the Cowboys deal Fasano away after 2007 to Miami to free up a space for Bennett.

Bennett was a very strong in-line blocker and the Cowboys success out of 2 tight end formations on the ground (especially in 2009) was largely because Witten and Bennett made things quite difficult on opposing linebackers in the run game. There were times in '09 when defenses were forced to push 9 players into the box to stop Marion Barber and the running attack and it still was impressive. But, the hands? Well, Bennett as a receiver was beyond disappointing. He never achieved 300 yards in a season and had almost no chemistry or dependability from Tony Romo in his entire run.

Enter James Hanna for 2012. Hanna was taken from Oklahoma as the 186th pick of the draft and the Cowboys 6th Rounder. It should go without saying that if you do find a player this deep in the draft that develops into a guy who is on your roster in 2014, you should feel pretty good about it.

He was the 8th of 11 tight ends taken, and does bring almost the exact opposite skill set as Bennett turned out to be as a Cowboy. Hanna runs as well or better than any tight end in the draft. Coby Fleener who was the first tight end taken in the draft actually ran slightly slower than Hanna, but has almost no rough edges to his scouting report, whereas Hanna might have to be considered a bit of a project. But, Hanna runs. And runs very fast. And in this age where everyone is looking for the next Graham or Finley or Davis, that is going to get him noticed.

In watching Hanna's game, there are some things that should be discussed.

First, you will see below his ability to head down the field on vertical routes is most impressive. At 4.45, he runs like a wide receiver. He is very smooth in his routes and has the type of athleticism that teams want to see. He was usually flexed out at Oklahoma and had a reasonably productive senior season which got him into this draft to begin with.

The things about his game that make you wonder how he will fit might be that his blocking is not overly impressive. Especially from a spot where he would be lined up next to a tackle on the line of scrimmage. From there, you can see that he weighs about 20 pounds less than Bennett and is just not the same player. On the other hand, Bennett running down the seams is just a rumor since Brad Johnson hit him on the "8" route against St Louis in 2008, so you can understand that the Cowboys were willing to concede one for the other. It also makes you appreciate how hard it is to find a tight end that can run and block, rather than simply taking Witten's skill versatility for granted.

He can block, but it requires a running start. This is achieved from lining up off the line or in motion and is not a real unique issue to Hanna, but it should be stated that the Cowboys are acknowledging that their ability to run out of 2 tight end sets are not going to be the same as they were from 2008-2011.

The real reason why he slid to the 6th round with that type of speed has to be the dependability in his hands. Speed takes you so far, but there is a reason track stars don't always make great football players. If ability was determined by 40 time, Witten would just be another tight end. But, he is not. He is elite. And he is elite because he knows and understands the nuance of getting open and making a tough catch in traffic. And while he likely has plenty to teach, his understudy has to be willing to learn.

In watching Hanna, one can say his consistency is lacking. He can make a beautiful catch in traffic, but then drop an easy one that hits him right in the hands. Or he would make a big catch and then while fighting for extra yards, he would have the ball stripped in traffic like what happened against Texas A&M in November.

You can see that the Cowboys still hope to find that Aaron Hernandez type. They have very similar frames and Hanna is almost 2 tenths faster in the 40. A tight end that can line up everywhere, do many things, not be counted upon to block too much, and stress the defense. Hernandez was taken in the 4th round in 2010, and is actually 6 months younger than Hanna. But, to compare him to Hernandez or even fellow Sooner, Jermaine Gresham is wishful thinking at this point. His development will determine if he is a prospect to follow or just a footnote in the media guide.

Hanna vs Oklahoma State 2010



And here is a highlight film - that is impressive, but we always must caution against believing highlight films for being a useful resource as it certainly doesn't dwell on the question marks.



Summary: This could really be an interesting pick if things pan out properly. But, in the NFL, you do not have the luxury of being brought along slowly. He must demonstrate an ability to make catches and to be dependable very early in August or he might never have a huge chance. The investment in him is minimal, so the amount of leash he gets will also be minimal. If the Cowboys do not feel good about their tight end spot by the end of camp, you can see them combing the waiver wire to get dependable veterans signed around Labor Day. However, if they can fashion his skills and know he will make a catch when needed, you can see that this will allow the Cowboys passing game to have some options and not need as much from a 3rd WR because their 2 TE sets are so interesting. I don't believe the Cowboys feel great about their 2nd or 3rd Tight Ends right now and also hold their breath that Witten can continue to play 16 games every year despite the number of collisions he is involved in. The tools are there for Hanna and so is the opportunity. If things break right, he can be a strong weapon for the team. But, he has to earn confidence from the QB. There is no question that he is worth the risk of a 6th rounder, but he has to make the most of his summer to make sure he forces his way into the mix in 2012.

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Draft Profile: Rd 5 - Danny Coale - WR - Virginia Tech

The following is the 4th in a series of draft profiles for the Dallas Cowboys selected players from April's draft. These profiles are put together after watching significant amounts of tape from each player, and is an attempt to examine their resumes and play to get an idea of how they might fit in best with Dallas come training camp.

Danny Coale
Virginia Tech
Wide Receiver
6'0, 201
40 time: 4.44, Bench Press: 12
June 27, 1988 (23)

It is very difficult to look at draft picks in a vacuum. You simply must consider the context and the investment in a pick before you spend too much time ranting and raving about a player - positively or negatively. And we can certainly debate whether the Cowboys have been smart recently after they spent such valuable resources to secure Dez Bryant, but have basically tried to not sink too much into the 3rd Wide Receiver on their roster since being bit so badly by the Roy Williams trade.

Understand that in today's National Football League, a 3rd WR plays hundreds of snaps. 20 years ago, the amount of work a 3rd WR might see would be limited severely in Dallas because of the fullback position and the desire to keep Darryl Johnston on the field in almost all spots except 3rd down-and-long packages. But, these days, you can make the strong case that your 3rd WR is nearly a starter. For instance, in New Orleans, the Saints had 3 different WRs with 800 or more snaps. That is positively absurd by old NFL standards.

"11" personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) is now the base personnel with many of the high voltage attacks in the NFL. And there is no question that those who don't believe in "11" are starting more and more to invest in "12" personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) or both. So, when you consider the Cowboys situation moving forward, you can see how much the team is counting on significant playing time from either 3rd Wide Receiver or a 2nd Tight End, or, preferably both, as well.

In 2011, the Cowboys were rewarded for a shrewd signing in training camp by finding veteran Laurent Robinson on the waiver wire. He turned out to be a huge weapon as the season went along and the Cowboys spent a big chunk of the year with Robinson filling in for injuries to the two starting WRs, Bryant and Miles Austin. He was so good that he became too expensive to keep. The projections for his extension were somewhere in the 3 years for $18 million range. So, when Jacksonville stepped up with a 5 year, $32.5 million strike, he was not going to be kept by a team that was already strapped for cash.

Can Danny Coale fill that void? Coale, the 152nd pick in the draft and the 22nd Wide Receiver taken, is a player with a very decorated resume. His senior season was his most productive, despite Virginia Tech dealing with QB issues in 2011 as they attempted to replace Tyrod Taylor. He was clocked at the combine at a 4.44 40 yard dash, and his initial burst off the line is what you are looking for for the spot.

In watching him closely over several games, it does appear that he is an ideal candidate to work the slot and the underneath portions of the defense. He lined up at many different spots for the Hokies, but the slot was his familiar position. Using his quickness and his sharp changes in direction, he would often get free underneath or option it into a deeper diagonal route that would stress any zone once the outside receivers clear the corners out of the area.

He is a willing and able blocker on the outside and Virginia Tech continuously would run quick WR screens to him at the snap. This is a huge part of the offense that has some QB issues, but it is becoming more and more of the NFL game, too, to punish teams who want to play off and soft. He appears to have very solid hands and if you consider some of his bigger moments for the Hokies were at huge spots in huge games, you can talk yourself into Coale being a great fit.

We must remain reasonable on his expectation level. He was pick #152, despite playing at a big time program with great visibility. There is obviously a question league wide whether his skill set can translate to the NFL level. But, considering where he was taken and what was invested, this seems like a very sound decision. The question is whether you should have waited this long to address the need. If the Cowboys had put a 3rd or 4th Rounder on a WR, nobody would have found that curious. But, given what they need Coale to do - this year - the time they have allotted to bring him along slowly is almost non-existent.

At this portion of the profile, I like to offer you cut-ups of the player to look with your own eyes at his performance, good or bad. Unfortunately, there is very little footage of Coale in completed reels, aside from highlight films featuring his very best plays. I hesitate to post these, because they do not properly reflect his normal play. But, be forewarned. These are his best plays.

Coale's Big catch against Nebraska in 2009:



And here is a highlight tribute film, complete with orchestral accompaniment - After watching this, you might wonder how he wasn't taken 1st overall:



And if you so desire, you can watch Danny Coale talk to kids while he was at Virginia Tech. He certainly appears to have the strong character you look for in a prospect.

Summary: The Cowboys approach to the draft this year was different than I have seen for a while. There is not a lot of raw, developing projects here. As I can see, there are guys who are nearly developed and ready to contribute. Coale should step right in and help special teams - just like Wilber and Johnson. But, Coale's real test is going to be to contribute to the offense with the dependability to be that slot receiver they have been searching for. This is not easy, because that player ends up being Romo's security blanket (along with Jason Witten) when the pocket is breaking down and the ideas upfield are not working. This requires chemistry and Romo knowing you will see the coverage like he does and be where you are supposed to be. We have seen with Romo that if he doesn't believe in your dependability, he sometimes doesn't consider you as a viable option on a big play (see: Martellus Bennett). But, there is little time to acclimate to the NFL Game for Coale. They need a healthy, obvious performance in camp to keep them from scouring the waiver wire again this year at the end of camp looking for a discarded trusty veteran. Coale has a chance, but we must curb our enthusiasm until he proves worthy.

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Draft Profile: Rd 4 - Matt Johnson - Safety - Eastern Washington

The following is the 3rd in a series of draft profiles for the Dallas Cowboys selected players from April's draft. These profiles are put together after watching significant amounts of tape from each player, and is an attempt to examine their resumes and play to get an idea of how they might fit in best with Dallas come training camp.

Matt Johnson
Eastern Washington
Strong Safety
6'1, 212
40 time: 4.53, Bench Press: 18
July 22, 1989 (22)

When you are looking at draft prospects on film, the most important thing you can possibly do is to trust your eyes and not regurgitate opinions that are being fed to you. Often times, during the spring and summer, we hear about draft prospects from two places: his former school (a coach is brought on to be interviewed) or his current employer which will say almost 100% sparkling things about a player and before long we realize that everyone that the team has drafted has a chance to be a great player.

While this is simply human instinct to always present an optimistic case to the public until proven otherwise, it is sometimes not the best idea to simply fall in line and recite the "company line" on every player that is ever signed. There is a large body of work that exists, and if you spend some time combing to find it, you can look at this evidence yourself and try to come to your own decisions.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the independent study will be any more accurate than the team-based optimism, but it at least makes you feel like you checked their math. And that is what we recently did with Matt Johnson from Eastern Washington, and the rest of the 2012 Draft Class.

And of all of the players who were taken after the top two picks (Claiborne and Crawford) on the Cowboys board, this is the player that I am most optimistic about in terms of being a guy who in 2 or 3 years they could have a real find on their hands.

In a brief summary, I think he is a fantastic safety in college, with all of the characteristics that one looks for when trying to find a playmaker at that spot. He fell down the board to #135 for any number of reasons. He tore his bicep in his senior season and missed considerable time. He went to school at Eastern Washington where he was part of the 1-AA/FCS National Championship team in 2010. But, that level of competition is not what the player will face in the NFC East. These and other characteristics have put him in a spot where he will have to prove his worth. But, I think he is up for this challenge.

If you spend some time watching him on the eye-stressing red turf at Eastern Washington, he really jumps off the screen as a playmaker. His most recognizable attribute is the way he is always rolling downhill from his deep spot in the secondary to the ball. He is a ball hawk who arrives with intentions of ending the play on the spot. He has supreme confidence in knowing where he is going and this causes a very speedy key-and-diagnose process. Surely, this is something that might be apparent only when a player becomes a senior in college and we must wait and see if he still plays with that swagger in a whole new environment where things are happening at a different speed with a different level of scrutiny if things go wrong, but his confidence and knowledge of what his defense was doing was a very impressive trait.

Then, with fluid athletic skills he seems to find the ball with great ease. Again, this must be qualified with the admission that he might have been one of the best athletes on the field in most of his games in college and that could change greatly in the big leagues, but he makes plays, blows up runs, and finds the ball. In college, his play in the secondary led to an amazing number of career interceptions (17), but I would not say that makes him a free safety. In fact, he does have some deep angle issues that might be evident at the next level where he allows the occasional route to get him turned around. But, his skills as a strong safety in the box are actually what I like most. And when today's NFL requires a safety that can play both spots so that a coordinator can interchange concepts and roles from snap to snap, Johnson seems like a real strong candidate for this with position versatility.

Safety is a very difficult position to project from the college ranks to the NFL. It does seem that many must be taken high up the board and in the 1st Round if you want a truly elite safety these days. But, there are a number of players who slip through the cracks who may not be elite, but they are very useful. Maybe one of better examples of that was in the 2005 draft when safety Jim Leonhard went undrafted after a decorated career at the University of Wisconsin. He ended up being a versatile safety that could do a number of things for Rex Ryan in both Baltimore and New York, mostly because of a great combination of recognition, aggressiveness, and speed. Now, Johnson is certainly not a punt returner nor is he a guy who can run a sub 4.4, but useful safeties fall through the cracks all of the time.

Meanwhile, Dallas has one of the easier safety ranks to break into. Since the days of wonder when the Cowboys had the combination of a young Roy Williams and a veteran Darren Woodson, the team has widely ignored the position when it comes to major investment. With the exception of giving Ken Hamlin a large extension (that he never saw the majority) they have had a series of stop gaps and developmental projects. And, in my estimation, the lack of attention here has not assisted the Cowboys quest of building an excellent secondary by any stretch. Poor safety play puts more pressure on the corners, especially, as we saw in Week 17 against Victor Cruz, that if a corner gets beat on a 5-yard out, there will be no safety assistance (not sure where Gerald Sensabaugh was going on that play) in keeping him from running 70 more yards.

Johnson does need to clean up his tackling in certain spots. This isn't to say that he is a poor tackler, but sometimes he does close with such speed and intent that he can overkill and miss. But, this aggressive play from a safety is a breath of fresh air after seeing "conservative" safety play from so many who have rolled through the spot in recent years. To make plays, a safety has to occasionally go for it and take a chance. Yes, he will get burned. I anticipate that veteran QBs will see his downhill style on film and attempt to play action over his head all day long. All of them occasionally get burned, but at least try to make something happen. It will be revealed whether Johnson can do it at the NFL level in the months to come, but for now, I think he will give them options and bring his play to the special teams. And he should be excellent there from Day 1.

Freshman and Sophomore Year Cut Ups #40:



Junior and Senior Year Cut-Ups #5:



And if you so desire, you can watch Matt Johnson's Pro Day Here.

Summary: I assume it is clear right now that I think very highly of Johnson. He was very impressive in college and may have slid down the board due to being hurt as a senior. But, he is a very smart player who was the captain of a winning team. He was also a player who intercepted more passes than just about anyone during the time he was in college. This speaks to his hands and his brain. He is the type of player that will not be rushed, but if he can become comfortable in the Rob Ryan defense, I think they can do a number of things with him, from run blitzing to deep safety. He will not make every play, but if he keeps his downhill approach, I do have high hopes for his upside that could make him a starter in the near future in this secondary. And if they find a starter at pick #135, then this draft most likely swings into the successful category.

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Draft Profile: Rd 4 - Kyle Wilber - LB - Wake Forest

The following is the 2nd in a series of draft profiles for the Dallas Cowboys selected players from April's draft. These profiles are put together after watching significant amounts of tape from each player, and is an attempt to examine their resumes and play to get an idea of how they might fit in best with Dallas come training camp.

Kyle Wilber
Wake Forest
OLB
6'3, 249
40 time: 4.78, Bench Press: 25
April 26, 1989 (23)

When you are a team in a 3-4 defense, you are constantly looking for more linebackers. When Bill Parcells converted the defense in 2005, there were daily discussions in the media press briefings about needing to find 7 and sometimes 8 linebackers that could be counted upon so that things ran seamlessly. You can never have enough linebackers.

The Cowboys took Wilber with the #113 pick of the 2012 draft. Anytime you pick a player over 100 players deep in a draft, you concede that there will be some questions to his game, but seeing things in his skill set that you think can be developed and useful over the next 4 seasons (until his rookie contract expires). These teams spend all season fully realizing that these are the rounds in the draft (3-5) where the better teams are able to consistently hit for a higher average than the field.

After taking a hard look at Wilber in several games, it is fairly easy to see what the Cowboys want when they grabbed the linebacker where they did. He has exceptional speed and absolutely jumps off the screen when he is pursuing a play from the backside. In fact, without getting too carried away, you can almost see DeMarcus Ware chasing down a running back on a stretch play in the other direction. He is that impressive at traveling across the tackle box at impressive speed.

Also, in coverage, Wilber is quite capable. And that must be where Jason Garrett was coming from when he started the idea of Wilber being in the mix at the "SAM" position. Here was the head coach's quote: Kyle Wilber is a guy we see him as a SAM linebacker, who does an outstanding job defending the run. We feel like he has a chance to be a pass rusher from the edge. He's an outstanding special teams player and again the right kind of guy. You look at the list of the seven players we drafted. We really feel good about the kind of people they are and Kyle Wilber certainly is one of those.

This might be where Garrett will have a lot of development on his hands or we will have to disagree. "SAM" linebacker in this scheme is primarily the man tending the flank on the tight end side on any run plays. This requires him to "set the edge" and turn running plays back to the inside and there are real concerns on tape at the college level about his ability to hold up at the point of attack. There are a few spots from what we broke down where he appears to be "wearing roller skates". This is a coaching saying that was last used to describe Bobby Carpenter when the front office (Parcells) thought he was a SAM candidate out of college only to find out that he was pushed way out of the play and sometimes the screen when somebody put a block on him and he could never plant his feet to push back.

Anthony Spencer is not the best in the league at standing up to this type of "direct run" situation when a running play goes right at him, but he is far and away the best the Cowboys have and also the primary reason why the Cowboys know Victor Butler is more of the weak side variety that DeMarcus Ware is. I understand this is nuance and might not seem like a big deal, but there is a reason that Clay Matthews is constantly tested with running plays right at him up in Green Bay. If you review Super Bowl 45, you will see Pittsburgh run right at him continuously because of this same question (although nowhere as bad as Carpenter, of course). Run away from Matthews and he will run the play down. Run right at him and you can wear him out is what the book on him was out of USC.

Back to Wilber, he will get pushed around on plays right at him. The only other disconcerting element of his game is that he doesn't seem to pack much "thump" in his game. Certain linebackers jump off the screen with their physical presence - especially when surrounded by other college players who don't have NFL pedigree - but Wilber does not seem like a very big hitting presence. So, if you cannot drop anchor and if you don't hit hard, you see why he was not taken in the 2nd or 3rd round.

His pass rush is promising with some explosion on the edge. Just 3.5 sacks in his senior season should tell us to offer realistic expectations, but he is a player who will turn in explosive plays with 36 explosives (sacks + tackles for loss) in his last two seasons. His pursuit puts him around the ball and he will tackle runners for loss with regularity.

Understanding the expectation level for a player in this spot of the draft is important. 4th and 5th Rounders are often the types who have extremely quiet rookie seasons where they are merely expected to pitch in on special teams and the occasional specialty package in the defense. From there, they should be slowly groomed to do more and more in years 2 and 3. The 4th round has been a mixed bag in the post-Parcells run, with Doug Free and Tashard Choice being found there on the positive side of the ledger, but with Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Isaiah Stanback in the "we can groom and develop this guy" category that never worked out. Meanwhile, at the linebacker position, we have Brandon Williams and Victor Butler as similarly-positioned picks that were to provide a promising young player who might turn into something. Williams did not see year #3 in Dallas after a strong career at Texas Tech and Butler is a fan favorite who has never impressed the coaches enough to work his way closer into the mix.

He wears #97 for the Demon Deacons:

Vs NC State



Vs Baylor, 2008 (very abbreviated highlights, but flashes of his speed)



Summary: Again, he is not without flaw, but you get the distinct idea that the Cowboys want to find SAM candidates who still possess great quickness. When doing that, you are always going to flirt with undersized players (Wilber weighs about 250) who are athletes so that you are not worried about their cover ability. He can clearly cover and he should be great on special teams. The question is whether he can grow into a role where teams do not try to run right at him because they question whether he is physical enough to be the SAM. He is one of 3 clear OLB reserves with Alex Albright and Butler, and I believe time will tell which OLB spot suits him the best. I think it is way too optimistic to assume he is Spencer's replacement in 2013, but that doesn't mean I don't believe he has promise. He may actually be Butler's replacement with Victor's rookie contract expiring next winter. Time will tell. He is a prospect who will need to answer questions, but a worthy idea in the middle of Round 4.

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Draft Profile: Rd 3 - Tyrone Crawford, DE - Boise State

The following is the 1st in a series of draft profiles for the Dallas Cowboys selected players from April's draft. These profiles are put together after watching significant amounts of tape from each player, and is an attempt to examine their resumes and play to get an idea of how they might fit in best with Dallas come training camp.

Tyrone Crawford
Boise State
DE
6'4, 275
40 time: 4.85, Bench Press: 28
November 22, 1989 (22)

The most enjoyable part of the NFL Draft process for some of us who really love the game is to recognize that no matter how hard we try as media or fans to anticipate what goes on inside the Cowboys war room (or any team's, for that matter), we quickly see that we have no idea what they are thinking and who they like on draft day. Oh sure, sometimes we can piece clues together between sources and visits and various other items, but for the most part, when a name is announced, it causes many of us to scramble to figure out who a player is and what the Cowboys saw in him.

After the Cowboys selected at #6, they had a long trip to get to #81 for their next selection. As the pick approached, we all had guys that we thought might fit with the needs and interests of the Cowboys. With about 15 minutes to go before their pick, I tweeted out this message: I would really like Ta'Amu at #81. Really hard. Would settle for C Blake, WR Adams, or LB Ronnell Lewis. Ta'Amu went at Pick #109, Blake at pick #108, Adams at pick #104, and Lewis went at pick #125. Regardless of what I thought - or any other media member thought - I don't believe any of us suggested they were about to grab Boise State's Tyrone Crawford. But, they did. And I trust their ability to collect information way more than any of us on the outside.

So, let's examine Crawford; now that we know much more about him after looking at plenty of his playing tape (some of which is below for you, but Boise State is thankfully replayed plenty on television if you keep your eyes open) and try to see what the Cowboys saw when they plugged a hole with this native Canadian.

Crawford is 6'4 and weighed 275 at the NFL Combine. He is supposed to be around 280 now, and I can tell you that the Cowboys think it would not be difficult at all to get his weight to 290-295 in time with natural growth and being inside the Cowboys' weight room. But, the great news is that despite his room to grow, he is already quite strong. His 28 reps on the bench press in Indianapolis will put him near the top of the list for players at defensive end and certainly players with his arm length. When you combine his 80" wingspan and his 28 reps, you find a great combination of length and strength. This is all positive news that can be improved, as well.

He played on an exceptional Boise State roster that featured a number of draftable players, including 2 1st round picks. When watching his defensive tape, he is sometimes overshadowed by his equally impressive teammates. But, Crawford has been more than productive at Boise, making 1st team All-Mountain West and very much on the radar of those who follow his program and conference.

Shea McClellin was picked at #19 by the Chicago Bears as a DE/OLB. In the last 2 seasons, Crawford and McClellin have been bookends of productivity. In 2010, McClellin led the team with 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. 23 explosive plays led the team as well, but right behind him was junior college transfer Crawford, in his first taste of big time college football, with 7 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Quite impressive work.

Then, in 2011, McClellin found 7 sacks, Crawford 6.5. And in tackles for loss, Crawford led the team with 13.5 and McClellin had 12.5. There is no doubt the combination fed off each other, and when you consider that Tyrone Crawford played 2 years at Boise State and accounted for 13.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss in just 25 college games, you can see what interested the Cowboys as both a productive college player in the present tense, and a player with tremendous growth opportunities in the future.

When you watch him, a few things jump out at you. First, he does look undersized compared to the other players in the trenches, but once the ball is snapped, his size packs an impressive strength. Offensive lineman do bounce back when he hits them at the snap, and he has a the ability to get a decent push and to stand up at the point of attack. He gets to the passer often enough, but it does look like he needs a fair amount of work in technique on pass rush moves. He really doesn't seem to have any moves beyond using his quickness to get around the corner and then actually gets a lot of his production from retracing his path and getting a QB or ball carrier from behind because his motor runs high and he never quits on a play. You would like to think the Cowboys can teach him technique in using his hands and developing some set-up moves. When that happens, he might be a guy who can trouble the pass protection even more.

Against the run, there is plenty of promise, but we should understand that this might be a work in progress. On 1st and 2nd Down in the NFL, the defense depends on its DEs to stand up against direct blocks and sometimes the double team blocks that are sent in your direction to bulldoze you out of the way. He can handle himself well most of the time, but does get caved in on occasion. He also sometimes gets caught by a down block from a tight end on a play to his outside, but dealing with that comes with recognition and growth.

He has good athleticism for a DE, but you can see the stiff hips that would keep him from being a candidate for OLB. But, whether you are looking for a slicing 1-gap DE or a 2-gap player who can stand his ground, I can clearly see what the Cowboys wanted here. On plays away from him, he shows exceptional pursuit, and his speed from his spot out to the sideline will really rock your world if you have been watching Marcus Spears and Kenyon Coleman recently.

They placed a premium on players who play hard and play to the whistle, and as we go down this list of draftees, I think you will see that trait is present on all of their defensive selections. They wanted football-smarts, desire, and upside, and I think Tyrone provides all of that.

Here are some youtube cut-ups for your own personal eye-ball test, but again, watch for them on television. 2 days ago, they replayed Boise State at San Diego State and Crawford put on a nice show on that occasion:

He wears #40 for Boise:

Vs Georgia



Vs Hawaii



Summary: I think he will be a candidate to immediately step in the rotation as a DE, primarily on nickel downs at first. But, overall, the Cowboys look to have a real legitimate prospect who already makes enough plays that he is worth the investment. Once they can coach him up into a player with a full array of moves, this could be the 3-down Defensive End that can stop the madness of designated DEs that this team has been forced into over the last several years. At this position, they have had either "run stoppers" or "pass rushers" at the spot. Finally, you can see how with some work and development, Crawford could do both. With just a bit of patience, I think this is a pick the Cowboys can be pretty pleased with.

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Knowing When To Believe What You Hear

The NFL Draft wrapped up over the weekend and we will be properly breaking down the Cowboys picks as we go through the next few weeks and have enough time to track down and view tape of Eastern Washington and Montana. Until then, there are enough people who can speculate about these picks on the web elsewhere.

There was one particular scenario I wanted to visit about with regards to the big trade at the very top of the draft. On Friday, I spent considerable time discussing the good and the bad of such an aggressive move, and if you desire to know more about my feelings on that front, please check out that piece by clicking here.

However, when that review was written, there was a significant piece of information missing about the discussion that has since been filled in to some extent.

That was the information of what the Cowboys would have had available if they would have stayed put at spots #14 and #45 for their picks, instead of packaging both to move up to Morris Claiborne. Now, I realize before continuing that many people will respond with "Get over it! They took Claiborne! Move on!". To those people, I would welcome them to stop reading now and move on to other stories that are available here at FoxSportsSouthwest.com.

But, I think it is vital that if you pick one scenario in a decision-making process that you are willing to at least consider what might have happened if you turned in the other direction. So, here are some of the other possibilities that were there for them:

1) - Pick #14

This one is the most interesting scenario, because by most accounts that I believe that the Cowboys had 3 of their top 4 preferred players within range at #14. Guard David DeCastro and defensive tackle Michael Brockers were available at #14. The Cowboys have publicly said that they would have taken Brockers if they had been there, and while that is interesting and anecdotal, I do not count it a binding declaration - nor should you. There are any number of reasons to say that in an interview; but when the proverbial gun is held to your head with a room full of decision makers pleading their case and a phone bank worth of trade offers, we are all left to wonder what they might have actually done if they were on the clock. If others want to believe that Brockers was their choice, that is their prerogative, but I do not join them.

One option was to move from #14 to #12 with Seattle once Fletcher Cox slid to striking range. We knew all along that Philadelphia was going to compete with the Cowboys on Cox and be a threat to move over the Cowboys to get him. Once the Cowboys moved up, then the Eagles job got easier, and they ended up sending picks #15, #114, and #172 to get to #12. We could say the price would have been less for Dallas, since the Cowboys were not traveling as far, but that could be countered with the fact that it might have been more expensive if the Eagles and Cowboys were in a last-second bidding war on the phones to Pete Carroll's war room.

Would I have dealt #14, #113, and #186 to get to Cox at #12? If you have read my thoughts on that player, I think you know I absolutely would have. Now, the Cowboys have to deal with him for a long time in Philadelphia. But, they are fine with that since they got Claiborne. The Cox move would have preserved #45, too, but let's consider that in a moment.

Another plan would have been to stay put and take Brockers or DeCastro. The wildcard in all of this would have been to wonder what sort of trade back options the Cowboys might have had to drop 4 or 5 spots, pick up an extra Top-100 pick, and still get DeCastro. But, admittedly, you can get too cute and lose your guy and end up with remorse, so we should all understand the risks involved. Brockers is now with the Rams and DeCastro will be doing his thing with the Steelers. Time will tell whether the NFL under-valued DeCastro and let him get to pick #24. I happen to think they did.

2) - Pick #45

This, of course, is pure speculation. Because, we know that the Cowboys had many targets in range as #45 approached. We know, for instance that Cordy Glenn and Amini Silatolu were on the board at pick #40 allowing a cheap trade up (hypothetically). We also know that one 1st round possibility down the list of options at #14 was Courtney Upshaw (the guy who would replace Anthony Spencer). To go get him would have cost #45 and #81, and there is no guarantee that someone at the top of Round 2 would have been interested.

If you stayed at #45, some of the top DL prospects in the draft were available. Another 3-4 team, Green Bay, snagged Michigan State's Jerel Worthy at #51 and Cincinnati took Penn State's Devon Still at #53. Still another 3-4 team, San Diego, took DE Kendall Reyes from UConn at #49. So, the idea that the Cowboys could have addressed a real position of need at #45 is very much in play.

The best center of the draft, Wisconsin's Peter Konz went at #55 to Atlanta and Ryan Broyles, high up Dallas' list for slot receiver options went at #54 to Detroit.

But, if you believe the Cowboys, they were not going to take any of them. According to their press conference, their target was yet another middle linebacker:

Asked about that scenario following the end of the third round Friday night, Jones struggled to think of the name of the player the Cowboys liked when the 45th pick was on the board. All he seemed to remember was that it was a linebacker.

About five minutes later Jones finally came up with the name: "Wagner."

That would be Utah State inside linebacker Bobby Wagner, who went 47th overall to the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-0, 240-pounder was ranked by many experts as one of the top five inside linebackers available in the draft.

And this is the point of the weekend where I almost fell out of my chair. If the Cowboys want to address a premium position by putting all of their eggs in the Morris Claiborne basket, very few people in the NFL are going to argue that they are not getting a superstar talent. However, with this public declaration of Bobby Wagner, we are left to consider two scenarios. A) The Cowboys are not being entirely truthful. Again, there is nothing wrong with this approach and in some ways, it would be good public relations to suggest to their fan base that the only thing they surrendered to jump up to the #6 pick was yet another middle linebacker who wasn't likely to play for a while. If they say Peter Konz or Jerel Worthy, then we are watching Phil Costa and Kenyon Coleman all season with a much different perspective.

Or B) The Cowboys were threatening to take a 6th middle linebacker in the last 8 drafts with a Top draft pick??? I find this simply unbelievable and almost too maddening to document. But, I shall.

First, some background. In the offseason between 2004 and 2005, the Cowboys under Bill Parcells decided to finally switch base defensive schemes to Parcells' long time preference of the 3-4. This required an added emphasis in collecting linebackers, and so the Cowboys started to do so. However, in the 3-4, the premium spot is always the edge rusher. The Cowboys targeted and grabbed DeMarcus Ware and converted Greg Ellis to the other spot in 2006. In 2007, the Cowboys drafted Anthony Spencer to fill the spot opposite Ware as Ellis was getting older and not an ideal fit. And that is pretty much the entire history of the outside linebacker position as the Cowboys enter their 8th year in the scheme. 2 1st round picks. Problem addressed.

However, the inside spots - thought to be of much lesser importance - have not gone so smoothly.

Here is the total investment since 2005 on Inside Linebackers:

Year	Pick	Inside LB
2005	Rd 2/#42	Kevin Burnett
2006	Rd 1/#18	Bobby Carpenter
2009	Rd 3/#69	Jason Williams
2010	Rd 2/#55	Sean Lee
2011	Rd 2/#40	Bruce Carter

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What is the most depressing aspect of this chart? I have 2 possibilities. Of all of this investment - 5 Top 70 picks - the Cowboys have received exactly one season where ANY of them has been declared a starter. That would be 2011 with Sean Lee. The whole list has been reserves, while Akin Ayodele, Zach Thomas, Keith Brooking, and Bradie James took the majority of the snaps. The other aspect that could bring on deep depression is that after this much investment, the Cowboys are still telling you that they were going with Bobby Wagner at #45 if they didn't do the Claiborne trade. I just about drove off the road.

What does this tell us about Bruce Carter? We already know what to think of Burnett, Carpenter, and Williams. But, now Carter? In the last month, the Cowboys signed a middle linebacker in Dan Conner (not a bad plan - need at least 3) and claimed they were taking a 4th middle linebacker in the 2nd round? If you are confused about this development, you are not alone.

In summary, the Cowboys have a great corner duo, but don't seem to have plugged many holes over the weekend. I plan a full film review of their picks in the days to come as we can work them around Mavericks' playoff recaps.

But, the question I am getting most is this: "Would I rather have Claiborne or #14 and #45?"

Well, here is my answer: If it was Brockers and Wagner, then of course, I take Claiborne. The last thing I wanted was a raw project at #14 and yet another middle linebacker. I likely would have been disappointed if that was their haul.

But, if the play was David DeCastro and Jerel Worthy to fill two very pressing issues? Give me the two big boys up front. How about Fletcher Cox and Peter Konz? Again, I would have taken the two big boys up front. I believe that teams win and lose in this league based on their ability to protect their QB and to attack the opposition's QB. When in doubt, go with a player that weighs 300 pounds and can use their strength to bully their opponent.

But, with all of the premium picks (Top 70) since 2008 around here spent on RB, CB, TE, MLB, WR, MLB, T, MLB, and now CB, we can see that the Cowboys don't seem to agree with this idea on draft day. They invest their biggest chips on players close to 200 pounds and will try to beat you that way. Let's see how it works.

Fans in Cowboys-land are sure hoping they are right.

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Cowboys Shock the Draft, Trade For Claiborne

It surely is never dull around here. It happens nearly ever spring. The Dallas Cowboys have targeted and acquired the apple of their eyes by a move that is somewhere between courageous and reckless when they grabbed the best defensive player in the draft in a trade that cost them picks #14 and #45 to ascend to #6 and pick LSU corner Morris Claiborne.

Claiborne is an exceptional talent; a dazzling combination of tools and big play performances that had every team in the NFL placing him high on their respective boards. He has the upside that projects to a true #1 cornerback who can lock down his man and a large part of his side of the field. When he gets the ball in his hands - which happens pretty often considering he is a defensive player - he is often on his way to a giant, game-changing play that results in points. And, it appears the Cowboys were able to get him from St Louis for below market value. The trade up to #6 would normally have cost a team at #14 their 2nd and 4th rounder as well, but the Rams were motivated sellers, who just wanted to get out of a position that high so that they could pick up an additional Top 50 pick.

And why would that be? Because the Rams realized they had more holes than they could plug with Claiborne and the rest of their haul. They knew they were not one player away.

Kind of makes you wonder why the franchise on the other end of the phone didn't feel the same way about their situation.

I want to be clear here when analyzing the move. The player is phenomenal, and despite having some flaws, he seems to have all of the talent to be a All-Pro caliber performer for a long time. There is no question that he should be one of the Cowboys Top 10 players on their roster already, with a chance to be much higher very soon.

I am not here to suggest I didn't see some things on his LSU tape that bother me; he doesn't tackle nearly as well as I had hoped in space, for instance. But, overall, he is easily the most complete corner in this draft and has a rare combination of size and speed that is just unfair. I would say the Cowboys have addressed their corner position as well as any team possibly could. It is not crazy to wonder, with the trade last night and the signing of Brandon Carr, if the Cowboys now have the best cornerback group in football.

BUT...

I really don't know that this was a smart play from the Cowboys. In fact, if I had to give an analogy on my feelings, it might be to compare it to that time in your life when you are just out of college. You are trying to make it in the real world with a real job, your own place to live, and maybe even starting a family. Your college buddies are now in a similar spot, also just getting rolling in the real world and still not a whole lot of money in the bank. The "paper plates and lawn chairs" lifestyle is still in play, and then one of your buddies rolls up with a brand-new black Mercedes Benz. This despite the fact that he is still living in an apartment where he cannot comfortably pay his bills.

Now, there is nothing wrong with his car. In fact, it is the nicest car that anyone has in your circle of friends. It is a phenomenal car that will turn heads and dazzle dates. But, as he takes you in a spin in this awesome new vehicle, all you can think about is that there is no way he can afford this when his student loan is due, his credit cards are stacking up, and he has no money to retrieve from his ATM machine. It is a great car, but is it a great decision for the buyer?

The Cowboys were 8-8 last season. When they entered week 17 with a chance to win their division with a win at New York, they were destroyed and blown out of the stadium by the eventual champion, New York Giants. You could easily watch the game and the utter domination of the Giants front against the Cowboys OL and say that this matchup was not close. Or, like Jerry Jones, you could spend the next month watching the Giants win playoff game after playoff game against quality opposition and tell yourself that this could have been the Dallas Cowboys. You might say that the Cowboys cratered in December again and finished the year 1-4, but he might say that if Miles Austin catches a pass where he is wide open against the Giants in Week 14, the Cowboys win the NFC East and the Giants don't even go to the playoffs.

And neither of you would be completely wrong.

After the week 17 demolition in New York, I spent 2,000 words summarizing what I perceived to be the state of affairs with this franchise. Here was a small portion of what I thought then and still think today:

This team fails in December for one primary and simple reason: The roster doesn't contain the quality personnel that is required to sustain the assaults of a 16-game campaign in the NFL.

Think about it: When does the team fail? December. In a 4-month season, which month would best reveal your depth and quality down the roster that can compensate for fatigue and injuries? December. The truth is that the Cowboys have enough talent on the top of their roster to compete with some of the best teams in the league. Romo, Ware, Witten, Austin, Ratliff are a very solid "Top 5". Bryant, Lee, Murray, Smith, and Jenkins are a reasonable 6-10 on a roster. But, then the drop-off begins on the roster. And if the season was just 8-10 games long, they would likely be able to hang in there. Any Cowboys historian will confirm that the team certainly gets to Thanksgiving in great shape nearly every season. So, what changes? Is it really that turning the calendar to the month of December is what makes a magical spell fall over Romo and the team where they can no longer compete?

Good teams in the NFL have quality from 1-10, but also from 11-53, too. When fatigue strikes Jay Ratliff, they have a player behind him who can bridge the gap. If Ware is being double-teamed, someone else can rise up. When the line is under siege, a solid veteran can do a reasonable job and protect his QB. The good teams have enough quality on their roster that they can construct a solid team effort for the regular season. Sure, they count on their stars to perform, but beyond that, there are starters and reserves that never find a magazine cover that do their job admirably.

And here is why this trade for Claiborne gives me great pause. This franchise that lacks any quality depth down its roster - so much so that I can still list for you at least 5 starters who should not be starting - just traded 2 more picks away to address a spot that might have been ok for the time being. Did they upgrade? Yes. But, in doing so, like the 24 year old who bought his $75,000 car, we might not be able to pay all of the bills that are due at the end of the month.

Now, with picks further down the draft where the Cowboys have had a real issue in finding quality players, the team must figure out how to upgrade their defensive line, offensive line, and fill real needs at safety, wide receiver, and tight end. But, because of past mistakes, they do not have enough picks left or cap room available to fix these spots. And what happens when you run out of resources? Then you start Phil Costa at center, Bill Nagy at guard, re-sign Marcus Spears, grab Kenyon Coleman, and do the best you can (which puts you at 8-8 all over again).

An emailer last night was bemoaning the trade, talking about this treadmill that the personnel department cannot get off of. They trade for Morris Claiborne in 2012 to replace a disappointing Mike Jenkins from 2008. They draft DeMarco Murray (2011) because Felix Jones (2008) was not what you hoped. They grab Dez Bryant (2010) because the Roy Williams trade (2008) was a disaster. They target Sean Lee (2010) because Bobby Carpenter (2006) was nowhere near the player they thought. And on and on. They draft a player to cover up a prior mistake. And when that happens, you never can make progress and improve. You are running just to stand still.

I happen to think getting the #6 pick for #14 and #45 is a shrewd decision. Claiborne fits a premium player at a premium position in a huge way. It is the type of move a team would pull off when they are "1 special player away". But, if you needed #14 and #45 to both start 16 games this year for you at key spots on the field, then perhaps you couldn't afford to buy that corner (or Mercedes) that you always wanted. Claiborne will be a tremendous player for years to come, but the roster is still razor thin at many spots. He will not help you block the Giants pass rush, and come the cold winds of December and the attrition that hits this team after Thanksgiving, we might see that like the Rams, Dallas should have been thinking about a "strength in numbers" philosophy to fill their many holes.

The Cowboys consistently have starters on the field that would be reserves elsewhere. They have reserves who are often cut and never find another NFL job. They consistently neglect the bottom half of their roster, partly because they throw picks around to move up and get players. Just charge this Dez trade to the company credit card. The team moved up to get Anthony Spencer, Mike Jenkins, Dez Bryant, and Sean Lee. In doing so, they paid the price with picks who could and should be depth and developmental players who are ready to start. Instead, they find themselves starting undrafted free agents who have no business being on the field at this stage of their career. It sounds like the equivalent of having a sweet Benz parked outside an 800-foot apartment.

But, asking Jerry to change his ways and his philosophy is asking a tiger to change from stripes to spots. He has always believed in the big splash and the top players on the field. The other spots will figure themselves out as we go. Or they won't. And we will repeat this process again and again.

I love the player, Morris Claiborne. I am just not sure that this move pushes the team any closer to the Super Bowl.

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The Morning Of: The 2012 NFL Draft

Congratulations on surviving the 2 or 3 most "speculation filled" months of the NFL calendar, otherwise known as the run-up to the NFL Draft. Day 1 has arrived, and by the time your head hits the pillow tonight, the Cowboys hopes and dreams will be renewed with the belief that they have acquired a franchise-altering talent to add to their squad.

Of course, so will every other team in the league, but let's just focus on this weekend from a Cowboys perspective. And right now, let's continue to zero in on pick #14.

Speculation is often what creates this dog chasing its tail feeling as we approach late April. In March, everything looked like it might break right for the Cowboys on draft day. Why? Because, the Top 10 picks seemed to be largely players that were not really on the Cowboys radar because of their position or because they did not fit the schemes in Dallas very well.

That left a bunch of players that were on the Cowboys wish list working their way down to Dallas and the immediate vicinity. This gave us the indication that like in 2011 when the Cowboys had to pick which stud they wanted as JJ Watt and Tyron Smith stood close by, the Cowboys might be able to have their pick of their two top wishes, Fletcher Cox and Mark Barron.

However, even though it could be largely speculation-based, there is a real feeling now that Cox and Barron could both be gone by the time the Cowboys take the clock sometime after 8:30 pm. If that happens, Dallas has to have considered all possibilities and scenarios so that they are not left to panic. This could all be smoke-screens. Nobody really knows until the bullets really start flying, but if Quinton Coples and Melvin Ingram are not taken in the Top 12 picks - like we thought was a sure thing a month ago - then, we face the real possibility that the Cowboys will be dropping down to their 4th or 5th favorite option when the pick happens. That might not necessarily be a horrible situation, but it could cause them to pick a guy that they are not completely sold on.

Ok. Let's get down to specifics. As a Cowboys fan, I think you should be pleased when any of the following names go off the board tonight after Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Matt Kalil, Justin Blackmon, and Morris Claiborne fill up the Top 6 picks most likely in some order: Ryan Tannehill, Riley Reiff, Luke Kuechly, Coples, Ingram, Michael Floyd, Stephon Gilmore, and maybe even someone like Dontari Poe. This would push the rest of the names down to you, and there you will find the Cowboys short list. These are names that are talented players but are either not really strong on the Cowboys wish list or not on at all.

So, based on those names going in the top 13, we are left with Cox, Barron, David DeCastro, Michael Brockers, Courtney Upshaw, and Dre Kirkpatrick.

I spent quite a bit of time breaking down each and every one of these players over the last few months, and about 2 weeks ago released my full analysis of what I would do at #14 and what the Cowboys would do at #14. You can read that by clicking on this link. By the way, if you follow that link, you will find profile breakdowns on every player on this list.

Here is what I thought the Cowboys board looked like on April 13:

1. Cox
2. Barron
3. Upshaw
4. Brockers
5. Kirkpatrick
6. Poe
7. DeCastro
8. Ingram
9. Coples

Now that we are 13 days later, I am not sure I would make any significant adjustments, except to drop Upshaw down behind Brockers and Kirkpatrick and maybe move DeCastro up.

But, overall, I think this is pretty close to right on. Fletcher Cox is their top priority. Then, Mark Barron. Personally, I would move David DeCastro behind Cox and perhaps in front of even Barron, but I have it on pretty strong authority that Jerry Jones just does not want to take a guard/center in the draft. In fact, I might argue that the whole reason they signed two guards last month (even though neither is regarded as a significant signing) was to avoid having to take an interior lineman that high in the draft. I think DeCastro is a safe and proper pick, but if we have learned anything about this regime at Valley Ranch, safe isn't something they are interested in.

Trust me, I would be delighted with DeCastro being selected at #14 if Cox is gone, but I think the Cowboys are more compelled to reach for Brockers if Cox and Barron are gone. And that frightens me.

Michael Brockers is a player I spent a lot of time on. I watched plenty of his last season at LSU and I just don't like what I saw. He was on a dominant defense with plenty of parts that scared people, and yet he merely blended in. He is not without intrigue, but I just cannot get too excited about a player who has two main traits of interest: 1) his arm length and wing span and 2) his ability to plug the run.

Yes, he does have special physical traits, but so does Cowboys project Clifton Geathers. In fact, Geathers has better wing span, arm length, and height. Yet, the Cowboys are Geathers' 4th team and he was picked in the 6th round. Brockers is being touted as a top half of the 1st round guy. And the ability to plug the run? That is something you must have, but again, I shouldn't have to spend pick #14 to get a run plugger. Marcus Spears and Kenyon Coleman both plug the run, and that is why we are looking for defensive linemen in the first place. The Cowboys wanted more than that. They wanted a full-time defensive end who can play in every situation. At this point of his career, Brockers is not anywhere close to that guy. Here is what I wrote in his full profile last month:

Dallas doesn't need a project in their defensive line. They need a plug-and-play difference maker. When comparing him to Fletcher Cox, I see Brockers as part of an ensemble cast, where the opposition might pay more attention to Sam Montgomery or Barkevious Mingo -- the two defensive end pass rushers -- and yet Brockers seldom got home. Meanwhile, I saw Cox as the main focus of every game plan in the SEC to stop him, and yet he still accounted for 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in just 12 games. That ratio tells me that Cox has upside, but his present status is just fine. Brockers, if he doesn't really come along, might join Tyson Jackson, Glenn Dorsey, and Marcus Spears as other 1st round talents at the position from LSU that never quite turned the NFL on its ear like some projected. Please don't get me wrong, Brockers is more interesting than many of the other names on the list, but when it comes to "front 7" help at pick #14, I think the Cowboys can do better than this. Let somebody else bet on his upside.

So, hopefully, that makes it clear how I feel about him at #14. If the Cowboys traded down to #25, picked up an additional 2nd rounder and then took Brockers, I might see the allure. But, to take him that high with more complete players elsewhere, I would not be too excited.

I feel so strongly about this that I actually toyed with the ideas of trading up. If your intelligence tells you that Cox and Barron are both gone before you pick - and many experts are saying that could very well be the case - then you might have to consider doing a deal with either #7 Jacksonville, #10 Buffalo, or #11 Kansas City to get your guy. That could cost you a 3rd and more, depending on how high you need to go, and keep in mind that last year's 3rd rounder might end up being your running back for the next generation, DeMarco Murray.

Here are the Cowboys picks (keep in mind they cannot deal their compensatory 4th, #135).

Round	Pick	Overall
Rd 1	#14	#14
Rd 2	#13	#45
Rd 3	#19	#81
Rd 4	#18	#113
Rd 4	#40	#135
Rd 5	#17	#152
Rd 6	#16	#186
Rd 7	#15	#222

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The price to get to #7 is going to be very steep. As in, #14 and #45 for #7 and maybe a 5th back. Don't think that price can be paid. But, to get to #10 or #11 will likely be #14 and #81. #81 can be a very good player, and if things go right, a starter. But, I think you have to function under the idea that you must get a stud from this draft, and the only place to make sure that happens is up high. Then, later perhaps you could use your extra 4th to get back up into the 3rd if you needed to do so.

There is also the idea of trading out. If Cox and Barron are gone (and if you insist on not touching DeCastro), I would be enticed to let someone else reach for Brockers and to back up a bit and collect more picks. This team has many holes - despite what was said publicly yesterday - and an additional 2nd or 3rd rounder could be quite useful.

And then, of course, there is buyer's remorse. There are two teams that will be picking players in particular that seem to fit what the Cowboys are looking at. One team is right behind them at #15. Whether Cox, Barron, Brockers, or DeCastro, there is a good chance that whoever the Cowboys pass on at #14 will play for the Eagles for the next decade. It does seem that the Cowboys list of needs is in some ways a mirror of Philly. OL, DB, and interior DL. Then, there is also, Pittsburgh at #24. Pittsburgh needs a nose tackle for their 3-4 with Casey Hampton getting old and you know that Dontari Poe is high on their list. If he becomes what they dream at the nose (another Hampton), we might have great regret in Dallas for not following that thread.

Perfect scenario? Fletcher Cox falls to you at #14. But, if the Cowboys get Barron or DeCastro at #14, I think that is a big win, too.

Kirkpatrick and Gilmore are both reasonable ideas at corner. Brockers is a reach/project as is Poe (although I personally like Poe more). Upshaw seems out of their plans now with Spencer's tender signed, and Ingram doesn't fit the scheme as a strong-side OLB. I would like to be on record as someone who admires Coples a ton, and I honestly think he will be a beast in the NFL for years to come, but I cannot blame the Cowboys for being scared of his red flags and trying to get the right type of workers in here.

And if they take someone not on this list, then I obviously have misread this entire draft and will do something else next spring for 3 months.

Enjoy it. Tomorrow, we will discuss scenarios at #45 and #81, assuming those picks are still where the Cowboys will select.

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