What about Keith Davis?

by Dave Halprin (Grizz) on Feb 27, 2008 11:37 AM CST in News Comment 13 comments

The agent for Keith Davis said the veteran Safety will enter free agency on Friday. "We anticipate him making it to free agency," agent Curtis Stephens said. "Davis hasn't ruled out returning for a sixth season with the Dallas Cowboys; he would be interested in playing in Dallas, but we're going to keep all of our options open. While he has excelled in his role as a top-notch special teams player in the NFL, Davis wants to find a team where he can get more snaps defensively in addition to being a stalwart on special teams."

Should we even try to keep Davis?

I guess we need to keep our eye on the Miami papers. The Tuna could continue to go after some of our players.

There is speculation of Dolphins interest in Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams, 32, who will have numerous suitors.

Hey, check it out, MB3 is being used as an example of drafting a running back in the later rounds instead of using your first round pick on one.

Bucky Brooks, a former Seattle and Carolina Panthers scout, is an NFL analyst for sportsillustrated.com.
"McFadden has to be a top-five pick," says Bucky Brooks, a former Seattle and Carolina Panthers scout and an analyst for SI.com. "But the thing that works against him is people feel it's a very, very deep running back class.
"It's a copycat league. People see the success of (former Dallas Cowboys fourth-rounder) Marion Barber. They say, 'I can get a guy in the fourth round like that.' But McFadden is a special player."

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Keith Davis / Later Round RB's....

Give him a chance to start with another team. Davis is never going to crack the starting line-up in Dallas. You have to move on and hope that Watkins and Courtney Brown can get it done on special teams.

Yes, it's a copycat league and Adrian Peterson's instant success last year will also work to McFadden's benefit. I think teams cooled off on taking RB's early after neither Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, or Cedric Benson proved to be "special" in '05...and that's partially (along with the injury concerns) why Peterson wasn't taken earlier in the draft. But things change quickly, and with AD's game changing ability, teams will look for a back like McFadden that might be able to give them similar production.

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 27, 2008 11:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

This draft is filled with

quite a few special players IMO and thats why trading up for just one is just silly. In addition to DMac, there are both Longs, Dorsey, Ellis, Golston, DRC, McKelvin, Mendenhall and Stewart just to name a few. In my 23 years of following the draft, I've seen one deeper at so many positions.

With 2 picks in the first, Jerry should let the draft come to him instead of making silly trades. We are guaranteed to get 2 really good prospects at #22 and #28 if we sit back and be patient on draft day. I know its not in his nature, but thats what he should do if he wants to really build a truly great team over the next several years.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 27, 2008 12:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree......+1....

Given our salary cap situation, the contracts of players selected at #22 and #28 will be very "cap friendly".

Jerry's nature (in recent years) has actually been to sit back and let the draft come to him, and then move down if it's feasible and makes sense. As deep as this draft is, I would have no problem trading back 5-10 picks into the early second round and picking up an additional 3rd round selection.

It's way too early to make predictions, but a QB prospect like Joe Flacco could entice QB needy teams to trade back up into the end of the 1st round. It happened with Losman and also after Quinn fell. Because teams know that Jerry will "listen" they make the call, we move down 5 spots, still get Felix and pick up an extra early 3rd round pick (in a perfect world of course).

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 27, 2008 12:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree, its way too early

to make rpedictions regarding the draft because free agency will affect many team's needs. Once some of the "elite" FA players are signed early in the next week or so, then I might put up a diary with my thoughts. Until then, it doesn't make sense to attempt to speculate.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 27, 2008 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i agree...set Davis free....

I say he gets interest from other teams, and should get a shot to start elsewhere.

....plus we have his replacement right here:

Josh Barrett:
(repost)

I do feel we NEED a Strong Safety in this draft....cuz...ummm....As of now, we don't even have a back up SS...Keith Davis shouldn't be resigned, Roy Williams should be gone at the end of this season, Ken Hamlin should move to SS in '09, and drafting a stud SS this year will have a year of coaching under his belt to back up Hamlin at SS, and be a top notch special teams player....Or start next year at SS, and leave Hamlin at FS.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 27, 2008 12:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Barrett ????

I can't say that I'm sold on Barrett. Great 40-time, but a bit of an enigma. Looks a little tight to me, and doesn't have natural cover instincts. Might be better suited to play OLB, like a Thomas Davis (Carolina).

Kind of reminds me of another Pac-10 safety that moved up draft boards after the combine last year.....Sabby Piscitelli. Piscitelli, at 6'3" and 225#, jumped into the 2nd round last year after running a 4.44 at the combine.

Barrett is a better athlete(IMO) than Sabby was/is, but that term "Workout Warrior" comes to mind. I also think that someone will take a chance on Barrett in the 2nd round, and well before our 2nd round selection.

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 27, 2008 1:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well...he certainly isn't a one hit wonder....

Your right...he'd make a phenominal weakside LB in a 4-3 , and i agree with the Thomas Davis comparison.....but i'd have to say he is most definately better than Piscitelli...I agree....Sabby was more due to his combine workouts, than his abilities..According to USA Today/ The Sports Xchange, which is their scouting service; Barrett wasn't listed among the top 100 prospects on their board....If that's true, and hopefully scouts don't drastically increase his value...we could have a shot in round 4..realistically, he's jumped into the top 3 rounds, and may be getting feelers in round 2...There are a few true SS rated higher(Jamar Adams-Michigan) and they have him rated 91 overall, which would be a late 3rd, I don't see other teams making a safety a high first day priority..teams like Denver maybe to replace Lynch..so he can be there late in round 2 for us...or we select a WR in round two and wait and see if he's there in the late 3rd.

We either take a WR ? at #61....or..a surefire beast at SS ? imo..we haven't selected a true SS since Roy, before that it was Woodson...It's time..I think..There is more of a selection of WR, and better value in the 3rd and 4th for WR that we're looking for. We should be looking to shore up needs first, luxury picks later...

http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/...

Barrett has shown he can certainly cover in the passing game..(17) pass break ups (6) int's...and I sure thought he looked as fluid as the CB's in the drills, and is very athletic, and lively for his size, I see him alot more like D Woodson than T Davis though....... He is a leader, on and off the field, Intelligent guy, that was team captain, and MVP, and would be ideal here behind Roy and Ham for a year, under the guidance of Maxie, Campo, Stewart, and Wade...pre combine mocks had him late 3rd-4th...and he will now gain strong interest in the second...If we take care of CB & RB in round one, I'd be even tempted with our 2nd rounder..nobody seems to realize we don't have a backup SS on our roster, just like CB & RB...this is a serious NEED position...he's the guy i'd want...

In a 3-4 D, you want a big ,strong SS, who more or less acts as a 5th LB, yet takes on a pass defender role...This is the guy I want....He is penciled in as our 2nd rounder on my day 1 mock as of right now....:

1a)DRCromartie-CB need
1b)Felix Jones-RB need DAY 1
2)Josh Barrett-SS need
----------------------------------------------------
3)WR- desired
4)CB- need quality depth. DAY 2
5)OLB-DE-FB desired
6)OG-QB desired
7)bap or traded on earlier rd.

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 27, 2008 2:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Running backs can be products of a system....

Just look at the way the Denver Broncos could put my grandmother back there, and have her run for 100 yards a game... No need to burn an early round pick on an RB... You should be able to pick any big strong RB and have them excel in a system that works.

With that said, our system needs work. It's been tough to make holes open up, and get guys through them. Barber is only successful in Dallas because he leads the NFL in broken tackles -- and that means the OL is not doing their job in blocking for him. If he didn't break tackles in the backfield half the time, he'd never have half the stats he's got.

Hakrjak

by hakrjak on Feb 27, 2008 12:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree about our line

it probably is top 3, maybe the best pass blocking line in the league, but run blocking needs work and if Flo leaves, that will make matters even worse.

This is even more reason not to draft someday like DMac who can't break tackles very well. Mendehall or Stewart would run better behind our line because those guys can run over people as well as around them.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Feb 27, 2008 1:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Coach Houck will fix the run blocking

I hope.

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

by APerfectStar on Feb 27, 2008 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OL / MB3 / Mendenhall / Byner / Mack / Garrett

Given the fact that we are considering by most to be more of a "passing" team, our running game should come easier and be more effective than it has been.

Maybe teams didn't respect our running game when Juice was in the backfield. Maybe his departure alone will change our thoughts.

MB3 and Mendenhall....it would be like Cleveland's Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack Attack in the 80's!!

Would Jason Garrett even know how to utilize a rushing attack? =)

by Fargo Cowboys on Feb 27, 2008 1:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nice Fargo....i agree..

that's a good analogy..as I can see those two being very similar to Clevelands backfield of old....

Of course Garrett will still call 70% pass plays ..

True Cowboys diehard since 1975.

by BoyzRback07 on Feb 27, 2008 1:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FLO to Miami??

someone correct me if I'm wrong here but if I remember accurately Parcells has a loyalty rule about going after players from a team or coach who he worked w/or for who he still has a good relationship with. Look at how many times he avoided signing free agent players from the Pats just cause of Bellicheat. I highly doubt he will attempt to sign Flo unless King actually tells him its ok, like I could see happening w/Keith Davis. I clearly remember how he had to have a loyalty talk w/Sean Payton after he tried to sign K.D. and drove up the price, he would never do that to Jerra w/Flo

"GIVE THEM NOTHING BUT TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING"

by jls2223 on Feb 27, 2008 1:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs