The Valley Ranch Review: Draft Talk for the Cowboys

For some weird reason, this decade, are always picking right before us. I remember in the ’03 draft they picked Quienton Jammer, a CB that was really wanted by the Cowboys. In disbelief, he actually fell into the range of the Cowboys at about pick #22 (yearly, the Cowboys have always picked at no. 22, could going 9-7 alot of years have something to do with that?), Lo an behold, the Chargers picked our man at pick #21 (right before us) and we were then “stuck” with picking Roy Williams. So as far as the Chargers go, they always have seemed to be interested in the players we want to pick. There have been alot of other instances where the Chargers have picked right before us. It really is a weird occurance, and I have no reasonable explanation for it. Yes, I would definitely watch what the Chargers are doing, and give them false smoke signals as to what we are interested in.

Delmas is OK, but not much different than other safeties than can be had in later rounds too. I believe the Cowboys have specific needs out of the players, and surprisingly the players in the first and second round don’t always address that need.

My point is, if you know you need a safety with skills against the pass, you are foolish to go get one with average pass defense, and is good against the run. I’m not saying Delmas is average against the pass, but there are better safeties against the pass than he (in my opinion). Delmas would not be a bad pick, but my gut feeeling is that we need to Bolster our offensive line. William Beatty would be an awesome pick by us at #51 if he fell. It’s really about value AND availability of players to play the position your looking for at the spot you are picking. This is why I think we will not draft William Moore, especially in the 2nd & 3rd round. There are other fish to fry that would help us out greatly in “Narrowing the gap”.

On the SD and DAL drafts over the last few years:

2008
22nd DAL – Felix Jones (RB)
25th DAL – Mike Jenkins (CB)
27th SD – Antoine Cason (CB)

2007
26th DAL – Anthony Spencer (LB)
30th SD – Craig Davis (TE)

2006
18th DAL – Bobby Carpenter (LB)
19th SD – Antonio Cromartie (CB)

2005
11th DAL – DeMarcus Ware (LB)
12th SD – Shawne Merriman (LB)

2004
1st SD – Eli Manning (QB)
43rd DAL – Julius Jones (RB)

2003
5th DAL – Terrence Newman (CB)
30th SD – Sammy Davis (CB)

2002
5th SD – Quentin Jammer (DB)
8th DAL – Roy Williams (FS)

2001
5th SD – LaDainian Tomlinson (RB)
32nd SD – Drew Brees (QB)
53rd DAL – Quincy Carter (QB)

Only in 2002 so I really see SD JUST BEFORE DAL taking a similar player

mmmmm…….. Didnt someone talk about him awhile ago…….

Ill be working a booth at our local Home & Garden show over the draft weekend. I’d try to go in late if we had a 1st rounder, but it takes too long to get to 51.

He isn’t similar to Roy Williams. Watch Hakeem Nicks from UNC if you want to watch a Roy clone. He is compact-Roy.

The problem found when evaluating him, is that he was such a mismatch he’d often be used a homerun hitter. I cannot recall, off of the top of my head, seeing him run an short in pattern. Fair or not, I hold it against him. I also would argue that his jumping ability and athletic ability might be a bit overrated: he was so much taller than the CBs that covered him, he rarely had to snag the ball at it’s highest point.

I’m not saying he can’t be good or great. I’m just saying it’s very, very difficult to tell. The big question is, is he more Calvin Johnson or more Mike Williams. Oh! And, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

PR/WR avg 26 per punt and 23 per catch…the only reason we will have a shot in the third is because of an injury which he is projected to fully recover from

I realize the help the Boys need at Safety, but really, I am not overly impressed with the ones who seem to be dropping to 51. Delmas is the best I have seen slide so far, but God help us if it is Patrick Chung. I think there is value at the position in the 3 and 4. I would rather see the Boys take Brian Robiskie, WR OSU, if he slides. He is a big body, a polished route runner and has had solid workouts. Will be a great #2 to allow, Crayton to go back to the slot. Otherwise, I prefer Eron Riley the WR from Duke or Dillard the WR out of Rice in the middle rounds. Saw one mock draft on the fan posts wiht Stephen Magee in the 6th. Love that pick even if he is an Aggie.

http://www.heymanwhatsup.com//main/category/front-page

From other ratings I have seen, there should be two or three excellent safeties available when the Cowboys pick comes up in round two. Yes, Delmas would be nice, but my personal preference, if he is healthy, would be William Moore. However, throughout the first 4-5 rounds, except for TE and RB, I hope we go strictly with the best player on the board. There are needs, though not urgent needs, everywhere.

Let’s take receivers for instance, considering all receivers on the roster, not just the wide outs. Which list of receivers below would you prefer? As just about any Cowboys fan can tell you, the top list was last year’s roster, minus Terrell Owens, whereas, the lower list was the last Cowboys Super Bowl championship team. Yes, the ’95 team had one HOFer in Michael Irvin, but the current roster may include one as well with Jason Witten. Jay Novacek was a pro bowl player, but Roy Williams also has one pro bowl as well—so far.

The point I am trying to make is, how much better, if any, were the receivers on that super bowl champion than the players on today’s roster? And if the answer is, “Not much,” then why is WR so high on a lot of peoples lists? The current roster is certainly just as deep.

2008
Miles Austin
Martellus Bennett
Patrick Crayton
Tony Curtis
Sam Hurd
Isaiah Stanback
Roy Williams
Jason Witten

1995
Eric Bjornson
Billy Davis
Cory Fleming
Michael Irvin
Jay Novacek
Kendell Watkins
Kevin Williams