How many snaps will Bennett get in this offense? Dallas was missing speed on the edge, Jerry said it was critical to get someone opposite T.O. that could win the single coverage battle and Bennett doesn’t solve that problem this year or next. Besides, isn’t Deon Anderson coming back from injury with the intention to lead block for Marion/Felix (gotta come up with a cool name for that duo)? Are we going to a one-Wr base offense??

As for resumes, I’m not sure that Manningham isn’t much more accomplished than Hurd, Austin and Stanback. Isn’t every pick a boom or bust proposition?

Also, just wait until next year when some REAL talent at WR comes out

Tom Osborne on Bennett:

Owner Jerry Jones sees all kind of possibilities for Bennett in the red zone. The same goes for coach Wade Phillips, who suggested Bennett could follow in the footsteps of Antonio Gates because he’s a former basketball player, just like San Diego’s Pro Bowl tight end.

"(Bennett) just has a feel for where other people are," Phillips said. "He’s got that body control to rebound, where you have to go up and get the ball. I’ve already noticed him kind of put his hip in there and catch the ball on the side, like basketball players do."

Phillips also raved about the way Bennett, who will wear No. 80, runs routes and gets open.

"I like the way he moves," Phillips said. "He separates from the defensive backs or linebackers. He naturally does that well, which is a real positive."

Another Bennett asset is his ability to block, something he did often for the Aggies. Because of that, the Cowboys can play Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten more in the slot, a move that could result in a mismatch if the defense covers him with a defensive back.

"(Bennett) gives us versatility," Phillips said. "That’s what we were looking for. If (he) can play ‘Y’ (the in-line tight end), you can play two tight ends where you don’t know which one is going to be the receiver."

The Cowboys are counting on Bennett, who had 49 receptions as a junior last season, to make an immediate impact.

It is worth noting that all three of Tony Curtis’ touchdown receptions last year were in 3-TE sets in the red zone.

As a 6’-6” TE with jumping ability and basketball body skills, and he’ll be a real red zone threat.

And next year we go for a WR when the draft class is deeper, or a veteran in FA with all those draft picks Jerry stored up.

so picture it like this… we draft a WR this year with that pick where we took Bennett… are we REALLY any better off???.. probably not, the WR talent was not projected to be that good this year, so why not solidify what you can, RB, CB, and get tat second athletic TE. ALL of whom can contribute this year. It is very possible that MBIII full time, and contributiions of Bennett and Felix, our high powered offense will be even better than last year. Couple that with a corner who will also contribute right away and we are REALLY playing for a Super Bowl NOW.

I can’t belive we will be able to re-sign MBIII, Ware, Newman, T.O. AND bring in a new veteren WR (chad johnson, roy williams, antoin boldin) unless someone some where takes a cut.. and we all know THAT won’t happen in the NFL.

I would think Jerry is hedging his bet on either resigning MBIII to a deal that is semi cap friendly for a year (until there possibly is no more cap in 2010) OR gambling on Felix and Choice becoming a possible tandem in the backfield; letting a high priced MBIII go.
Then picking up someone like Williams, Boldin, or Johnson next year and either letting T.O. go, OR allowing him to stay around, again, at a semi cap friendly price until 2010 using incentives like being on a possible perenial SB contender as his career begins on the downslope.

For the forseeable future we are set with 3rd WRs, could be anyone we have now. Realistically in our O T.O. is a #1 WR for three more years (includes this year coming) if we keep him (in two years he is a #2 reciever on a mediocre team), We can get that #2 young guy who can be the #1, in next years draft or one of the three i mention above. We were NOT going to find that guy in this years draft….

Not to mention we could get Terry Glenn back as well.

Instantly improves our rush blocking, pass protection, and check down options, and red zone targets…..There was not one WR in the entire draft that would have contributed to the overall production of our offense, as much as Bennett can and will…...This guy will be a force, fluid athletic ability, large, soft hands, enjoys blocking with power, and can out jump any LB or DB in the league….no complaints here…..Unlike most, I wanted no part of drafting a WR till the 4th (Will Franklin), if at all…We are not in an immediate NEED of a WR…...Unless we were to obtain an elite #1 type via trade, (which obviously wasn’t going to happen, regardless of what we offered) AND we wouldn’t have either Jones or Jenkins right now…..much much bigger NEEDS

I ‘d be content with what we have, and what we could look forward to AFTER this season…Roy Williams, and TJ Who’syourmamma will be available in free agency….and a very impressive draft class, for which we have many extra selections to make a serious move to the top end of the first round.. Let’s go with it….This offense as it stands now is far superior to last years record breaking offensive squad…...btw…...Stanback WILL be starting by mid season. at #2, at least our 3rd when we go 3 wide….....you watch…he is “the answer”

The breakdown for the offense was the inability to run the ball, both early and late in games. We couldn’t establish the run, so by the end of the year, no one respected it. If any back besides the Barbarian was back there, we would have had around 80 yard/game rushing. It would be nice if he could run like that against defensive backs, instead of linemen and linebackers. A 2nd big TE could help out with that, since we suffered even more when our FB went out. Now they can hopefully run a legitimate 2 TE power set. That should also help Romo since he won’t be in 3rd and long all the time.

we can be sure Felix Jones will be getting quite a few power sweeps out of that formation….maybe with MBIII as a lead back on a CB, Witten in motion knocking out a LB, and Bennett cracking down on the DE.

..woooo hoooo….I am so looking forward to this.

Just when you think you have the personnel in to stop it, bammmm, we hit you with play action and hit with a play down the field..

We are becoming extremely versatile.

The strategy will be (again) to blitz Romo (like the Giants did in the playoff game) and double T.O. wit a good shove at the line of scrimmage.

I’m not sure Bennett solves that problem. Does he?

With the tackles we have in place he may not even need to chip..

I think this staff had that playoff game in mind when they drafted a HUGE TE. Not only can he help by chipping off the outside rush, he can then spin off and punish teams that want to blitz us by being a quick release target for Romo.

The offense was dominant at times last year. I agree that without Glenn, we don’t have a natural #2. But I also think TO / Crayton / Witten is about as good a combination as there is outside New England. If Stanback or Glenn or Crayton step up this year… or hell, even Hurd or Austin or Ademola (sp?), this offense has the potential to beat their ‘07 numbers. And that’s not even counting the additional production of Felix or Bennet.

That is amazing to consider.

He was considered an overall (blocking & receiving) the best TE prospect as opposed to the other more heralded receiving TE’s available.