Scouting Combine open thread: DL and LB

by Dave Halprin on Feb 25, 2008 9:36 AM CST in News Comment 37 comments

Open thread for the scouting combine today.

With the addition of Zach Thomas it might seem unlikely we would pick up a LB in the draft. But we run the 3-4 and Wade Phillips loves attacking OLB's, so it might be worth a look. Besides, who doesn't like watching a 320-pound NT run the 40!

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I disagree Grizz

3-4 teams should always look to draft at least one LB in every draft. Although the addition of Thomas may seem like our depth is good, especially inside, both he and Ellis are older players and will be heading into retirement very soon.

Only Ware, Spencer, James and possibly Burnett will be LBs here in a few years so we need to start drafting for depth immediately.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 25, 2008 9:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

what is there to disagree with

Grizz never stated that we shouldn't draft a linebacker, all he said was, that it may seem unlikely,and to a casual fan, that might be the thinking by some cowboys fans after we signed Thomas over the weekend.

Trade up a few spots to get ahead of Houston and draft Jonathan Stewart, thee best all around Back in the draft.

by Deke on Feb 25, 2008 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Deke

That's exactly what I was saying.

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by Dave Halprin on Feb 25, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by Longhorn on Feb 25, 2008 10:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"drafting for depth"

Please no, that's an absolute horrible way to draft. You must have liked the Sherman Williams and Shante Carver and David LeFleur drafts.

Ouch, hopefully you were kidding...

by Longhorn on Feb 25, 2008 10:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oh

if you like "drafting for depth", you probably were ecstatic over the Dwyane Goodrich/Kareem Larimore draft...

by Longhorn on Feb 25, 2008 11:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No...don't wanna relive those flashbacks!!!

www.xanga.com/five11nation

by kcbrett5 on Feb 25, 2008 11:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i apologize

i don't ever want to draft like that again though...

by Longhorn on Feb 25, 2008 11:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i must agree

hopefully da king has learned his lesson...

www.xanga.com/five11nation

by kcbrett5 on Feb 25, 2008 11:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I said in the later rds, try reading

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 25, 2008 3:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

good points all around

I didnt think of it that way Terry, so thanks for bringing it up. Lets just hope they dont use a first round pick to get a LB this year.

by boysfaninOR on Feb 25, 2008 10:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

A LB every year..on the second Day...

Now that we have Ware and Spencer, the second day is a great time to take a chance on the tweeners that we'll see today. You can also find solid late round ILB's in every draft. There are Scott Shanle's and Ryan Fowler's (undrafted) running around today that will be much better and much cheaper than having a guy like Bobby Carpenter wasting a back-up position at a couple of million a year.

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 25, 2008 11:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

so much agree Fargo...Day 2 LB is a must.

I'm not gonna be able to watch today's combine....but my main LB target is:

Ezra Butler...3rd round or later....keep an eye on him....

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 25, 2008 11:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Sleeper....

I will be watching...love the fact that he already has some experience playing in a 3-4 system.

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 25, 2008 11:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ezra Butler is a DNP in the 40????

Must be an injury, as I wouldn't think a mid-round guy from Nevada would command much attention at a Pro Day workout?

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 25, 2008 12:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If we want tot ake a flier on a LB

There is always Erin Henderson out of Maryland in the laste rounds- he was THE defense for the terps. Great speeda dn awareness- he is a bit undersized but off season conditioing owuld fix that- he is lightening quick and has a real nose for the ball.

by swirvinIrvin on Feb 25, 2008 12:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

EJ's little bro...

Good bloodlines....EJ took a couple years to "get it", but he's turned into a heck of a football player and probably should have been at the Pro Bowl earlier this month.

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 25, 2008 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and he's considered better than EJ

from reports I read.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 25, 2008 1:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

EJ was a....

....first team all-american and an early 2nd round pick if my memory is working correctly....

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 25, 2008 1:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I know he was great in colloge...i'm just sayin'.

That I read somewhere that a scout was projecting him to be better...I'll look around for it...

and Erin Henderson will also be a 2nd rounder.This is an extremely weak class of LB's...with a good work out today..he can jump even higher..

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 25, 2008 1:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

flyin' pretty high there guy...

There is always Erin Henderson out of Maryland in the laste rounds- he was THE defense for the terps.

which is precisely why he is projected to go in rounds 2 through 4...

would be very suprised to see him there for us in the 4th.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 25, 2008 1:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When are the cornerbacks and safetys

going to be worked out?
Thats going to be really interesting to see who moves up and who dissappoints.

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Feb 25, 2008 12:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Tomorrow - Tuesday, Feb 26th

www.xanga.com/five11nation

by kcbrett5 on Feb 25, 2008 12:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

I'll be taking the day off tomorrow!
can't wait for that one!

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Feb 25, 2008 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

damn dude...takin' work off for this ?

now that's a football addict..

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 25, 2008 1:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

HaHa!

Well I do work for myself,So i'm just gonna cut me ALOT of slack tomorrow! LOL
Really this is the first year that i've really gotten into the combine,so its kinda all new to me and i'm really enjoying critiquing all the prospects.

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Feb 25, 2008 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Warning

You are about to become addicted to the NFL Draft and all the processes that accompany it. ;)

"On my signal...unleash Hell." Demarcus Maximus Decimus Ware

by APerfectStar on Feb 25, 2008 4:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I know Tom

I told my wife that my addiction to the cowboys had become a year round condition!

She was in here yesterday going...isn't football season over?
HaHa!
then I had to explain the combine,she already knows about the draft,and she's been to training camp with me before...

HaHa! Usually I'm Knee Deep in Tar heel Basketball by now(Go heels...My alma mater!)

But i'm so hyped up about this team...I know we're on the verge of busting out and being dominant!

And I have loved the combine so far!

Bring on the DB'S

You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach

by TrueBlue24 on Feb 25, 2008 5:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I went down the same path a few years ago

And I don't regret it one bit. Something about the future possibilities for the team is irresistible.
The deeper into it you get, the more enjoyment and sometimes disappointment, you get out of it.

But of course, when you try to explain it to someone who isn't into it, you probably sound like a mad man. LOL

"On my signal...unleash Hell." Demarcus Maximus Decimus Ware

by APerfectStar on Feb 25, 2008 6:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Marcus Howard's Impressive Workout

The Defensive End from Georgia. He projects as a 3-4 OLB because he's a bit undersized as a 4-3 DE. (6'2", 250) He ran a 4.40 forty, put up 27 reps on bench and had a 34.5 inch vertical.

Combine this with the fact that he put up 11 TFL and 10.5 sacks last year and I'd say he's a legit, intriguing prospect as an OLB.

Remember, Ellis isn't getting any younger. It wouldn't be a bad idea to draft a prospect now to develop for depth purposes once he's gone.

Howard's ability intrigues me. He was originally projected as a 5th round guy but may have just elevated himself into the first day.

by ZachR on Feb 25, 2008 1:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

this is the kind of guy I was talking about

when i said we need to draft for depth at LB right now. We could get a guy like this in the middle rds, he could sit for a few years then be ready in case we get an injury to Ware or Spencer.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 25, 2008 3:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

D Ware

anybody remember D Ware's combine numbers. It would be nice for perspective

by boysfaninOR on Feb 25, 2008 4:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

40 Time

4.65

by Romo9 on Feb 25, 2008 7:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

DWare

DWARE pre cowboys

by Romo9 on Feb 25, 2008 7:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

DWARE

Link

40 YARD DASH TIME
Demarcus Ware 4.65

3 CONE DRILL TIME
Demarcus Ware 6.83

20 YARD SHORT SHUFFLE TIME
Demarcus Ware 4.07

LB SWIM PASS RUSH LEFT TIME
Demarcus Ware 2.36

VERTICAL LEAP INCHES
Demarcus Ware 38.5

60 YARD LONG SHUTTLE TIME
Demarcus Ware 10.93

LB SWIM PASS RUSH RIGHT TIME
Demarcus Ware 2.62

Some of his numbers actually compare favorably to the DBs.

by Romo9 on Feb 25, 2008 7:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The LB I would really like

is Jordan Dizon. I know he is undersized but in the 5th round we can take a flyer on him. I am a big 12 guy and have seen him play quite a few times, he is a tackling machine. He had 120 solo tackles this past year(lead the nation) and has some of the best instincts of any LB in the draft. He was the Big 12 defensive player of the year.

Dizon

by Romo9 on Feb 25, 2008 7:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs