Troubled D in 2010 and Draft Talk

Ben24626 post What REALLY happened to the Cowboys defense in 2010??? worked as food for thought for this post, and to be fair I wanted to elaborate on it and thought that it wasn't just a matter of answering as a comment as I also have some other things to say, so I'll start with what I believe were the biggest problems of the Cowboys in 2010 and I'll follow that with some Draft nuggets (trades and another mock).

Troubled D in Dallas in 2010.

What happened to the Cowboys Defense in 2010? Well, first thing first, it wasn't something as simple as the DBs sucked as a whole. I know that Jerry Jones was in the middle of smoke season when he said that "we shouldn't put much stock on the performance of the CBs in 2010", but I believe that there's some truth in what he had to say and the needs in this Draft need to be assessed according to that.

So, exactly what went wrong in 2010?

• Technique poor in fundamentals. What's the importance of fundamentals? One example would be the footwork that a CB needs to turn and run. Another example would come when we talk about tackling (you can't lose sight of the ball carrier). Solid or better fundamentals are what make a good athlete a good football player, they can't get there without them.
• The fallout of a player friendly Coach. A player friendly coach is someone that doesn't demand, they get the performance that they want because they believe in their charges. When we talk about the basics of playing Football (fundamentals), the ball is on the players court, they are expected to work on them, while the coaching staff spends more time about their proper preparation in technique regarding schemes and lineup. When the players fail to deliver, the Coach needs to demand and stops being a player friendly Coach. A nice impersonation of Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips doesn't make.
• Talent, schemes and lower level of play = 2010 D. In 2009 the DLine wasn't that good at making plays, but they were good when they helped someone else to make a play. For example, freeing a LB. Look at the Cowboys lineups, the base package and the Nickel and Dime. The differences in run Defense and pass Defense were there for all to see. They were predictable like the Cowboys Offense in the early 90s was, predictable but hard to stop when executing. In 2010, with poor fundamentals, they mixed poor performance with predictable schemes.

There's really not much else to say, when the Cowboys lost that game in week 8 against the Jaguars, the Cowboys had already hit rock bottom and Wade tried his Bill Parcells impersonation, they spend the week of preparation for Green Bay working on fundamentals, and Wade failed miserably. But the work on fundamentals helped Jason Garrett, he kept working on fundamentals and start reaping the benefits of better prepared units, both on Offense and Defense.

He also tried to mix and match his personnel and become less predictable with mixed results. Really, how much better could they be after a whole year of bad habits?

I'm still a believer that Wade Phillips was a good choice for succesor to Bill Parcells. I'm also a believer that the team has a lot of players that need babysitters. That's a bad combination, a player friendly coach with players that need babysitters, and 2010 is the result.

To trade, or not to trade.

Do you like the idea of trading down if pick number 9 comes up and you see that Cameron Jordan, J.J. Watt and every Tackle are still on the board? Well, I'm not that sure that it's wise and the Cowboys should remember 2007.

In the 2007 Draft the Cowboys had the 22nd pick and when their turn came the highest players on their board were Bowe, Spencer, Meriweather and Meachem (according to insider reports, including Raf). They were getting ready when Cleveland came calling and they traded down to the 36th pick. They grew restless when they saw Bowe and Meriweather getting selected right after Cleveland's pick of Quinn and they traded up with the Eagles for the 26th pick and took Anthony Spencer.

Sure, Cleveland paid a King's ransom to select Quinn (a 1st Round pick in 2008), but the Cowboys also paid a King's ransom to trade back up (Cleveland's 36th, 3rd and 5th Round picks). And they were lucky to find a trade partner and take one of the players that they really wanted, the Eagles really wanted Kolb and were thinking about taking him with the 26th.

Trading down sounds nice and all, but there's no insurance that you're going to trade and still select what you really want or need.

Another mock bites the dust.

So, no trades involved. It's a sraight up mock and the top pick shouldn't surprise anyone:

1st Round: Cameron Jordan, DE, California.

• Analysis: Versatile, a lot of experience playing from the 8-tech (outside shoulder of the TE) to the 1-tech (inside shoulder of a Guard), with more time as a 5-tech. Knows how to use his hands. Some explosion in his game. Consistent motor. Strong. Smart. Knows how to control his body and maintain his balance.
  
• Reasoning: Jordan - Ratliff - Ryan. Rob Ryan likes to play with his schemes. He may start a series with a regular 2-gap run stopping 3-4 and in the next snap he pulls a DLineman, adds a DB and plays a one-gap attacking scheme that resembles a 4-man front with a couple of stand up DEs. The schemes require DLineman that can do it all. The Cowboys have one DLineman in Ratliff. Bowen is a maybe. Spears is good as a run stopper and can help other players to make plays against the pass. Hatcher and Olshansky are one trick ponies. I have DE real high on the Cowboys needs.
  
• 2nd option: Tyron Smith, OT, USC. The Cowboys biggest needs are RT and DLineman (I'm not saying 3-4 DE), Smith has the best potential among every OLineman in this Draft and already answered one of the questions regarding his potential, his size limitations.
  

2nd Round: Stefen Wisniewski, C/G, Penn State.

• Analysis: Tough, borders on the nasty-dirty side. A technician. Smart. Versatile, experience playing at Center and Guard. Strong enough. Quick enough. Not the best athlete, but knows how to use his tools. Natural knee bender that can maintain his balance when he's on the move.
  
• Reasoning: Strong enough to drive block. Quick, agile and coordinated enough to pull and block on the move. Smart, a technician and nasty... That combination reminds me of someone... Mark Stepnoski. At 6-3 and 313 he more than satisfies the size quota. In 2009 the Cowboys really liked Max Unger and traded down when Seattle took him before the Cowboys, Wisniewski is the better prospect.
  
• 2nd option: Kenrick Ellis, DL, Hampton. Think Haloti Ngata, I believe that Ellis can play a nice impersonation it if he keeps his head screwed on the right way, 3-4 DE, that can also play in the Nose, 3-tech, one-gap and 2-gap.
  

3rd Round: Willie Smith, RT, East Carolina.

• Analysis: 290 pound LT in College, balloned to 310 for the Combine and the added weight wasn't that gracious. Former DLineman, after his sophomore year he moved to Offense and has 2 years of experience playing LT. Explosive. Agile. Knee bender. Knows how to use leverage. Player under development, may have some potential as LT, but he's a better RT prospect because he's a better run blocker at this point.
  
• Reasoning: The Tackle mold for the Cowboys isn't as size relevant as it used to be, with Parcells the profile was changed in favour of Tackles that could drive block and block on the move in toss or pull plays. Colombo, when his knees were OK, could do that. Willie Smith is known for his run blocking, even at 290 pounds.
  
• 2nd option: Will Rackley, OG, Lehigh. Former LT looking to move inside. The problem here is that I don't think that he has much of a shot as a RT as he isn't long enough (6-3 with 33 inch arms). So, he's a Guard only.
  

4th Round: Cortez Allen, CB/FS, Citadel.

• Analysis: Tall (6-1) long prospect with nice hips (6.76 3-cone drill). Physical, wrap tackler. Good backpedal. Good speed. Decent instincts. Versatile.
  
• Reasoning: In 2010 few teams wanted to test him and his team moved him around, he also has some experience at Safety. For the most part played press and has little experience in zones. Rob Ryan likes to use both concepts. He's a project that needs work on the little things.
  
• 2nd option: Jaiquawn Jarrett, FS, Temple. Also kind of a project, FS prospect that needs a lot of work.
  

5th Round: Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford.

• Analysis: Not that strong, but technique efficient. Knows how to use his hands. Smart, reacts to the Defense and can change his assignment on the run. Kind of linear, not the best hips, but changing directions aren't a must for FBs. Solid hands and can run with the football in short yardage.
  
• Reasoning: There was a FB that played with number 48 that Jason Garrett knew in his playing days, that guy could do it all. Garrett understands the value of someone that can play the position, which is why he continued to toy with the idea of Gronkowski and Witten taking turns playing the position. Gronkowski and Witten... That's a strange combination.
  
• 2nd option: Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego St. Makes me think Crayton, not the best speed, but the guy can catch the football. A weapon in the slot.
  

6th Round: Doug Hogue, ILB, Syracuse.

• Analysis: Former RB with only 2 years of experience playing OLB in a 4-3. Plays the position like a RB, fast, physical and nice change of directions. Good instincts, but he's raw and takes some time to read and react. Project.
  
• Reasoning: With a poor draft for LBs, taking a nice athlete with potential is a good call. How much potential does he have? Good question, he was a productive defensive player, but this number is impressive: 26.5 tackles for loss in 25 games.
  
• 2nd option: Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon. Weapon in the slot.
  

7th Round: Andre Holmes, WR, Hillsdale.

• Analysis: Long prospect (6-4) with long arms (34in). A long strider with vertical speed. X or Y receiver project. Wasn't asked to run a pro level passing tree, so he has no short term potential in the slot.
  
• Reasoning: And that works for the Cowboys, Miles Austin can play in the slot. Bryant is an all purpose weapon. A deep threat would be welcome.
  
• 2nd option: Donald Buckram, RB, UTEP. An injured riddled 2010 that hurt his stock, but his 2009 season was great. If he the medical staff gives the green light, he would be a good call this late.