Keith Davis still looking for a team plus other random Cowboys articles
by Dave Halprin on Mar 9, 2008 11:02 AM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys News
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PrintThe Human Bullet Magnet is searching for a new team.
Cowboys free agent safety Keith Davis is talking with multiple teams right now looking for what could be a new home. The special teams captain from Italy, Texas does not have any visits set up but hopes to have some real soon. Davis would like more playing time in the secondary and a couple of possible destinations could be New Orleans or Miami.
Got a cool couple of million lying around? If so, you can buy Drew Bledsoe’s house in Dallas.
Bledsoe, 36, who led the New England Patriots to the 1997 Super Bowl, and his wife, Maura, are asking $2 million for their 5,500-square-foot house, bought new for $1.7 million in 2005. On a third of an acre, it has a guesthouse. The four-time Pro Bowler retired last year from the Dallas Cowboys after losing his starting position to Tony Romo. He now lives in Bend, Ore.
The speculation is that Julius Jones signing in Seattle might spell the end for Shaun Alexander.
Jones, who is expected to sign a 4-year deal worth nearly $12 million, may be a sign that the Seahawks are going in a different direction. Since earning the 2005 MVP award, Alexander, 30, has been injured and largely ineffective.
Jones, 27 in August, is just two years' removed from the only 1,000-yard season of his career. He was made expendable by the Cowboys with the emergence last season of Pro Bowler Marion Barber, and ran for just 588 yards and two touchdowns, the lowest numbers of his career.
DC.com talks about the defensive line. I’d still like to see Jay Ratliff starting at defensive end in place of Marcus Spears. Yes, Spears does a good job of planting his big butt on the line against the run, but he rarely actually makes the tackle. I expect a little more from our defensive ends and I have no doubt that Ratliff could provide that. But with the Jason Ferguson trade, the Cowboys are short-handed at NT, with only Tank Johnson available besides Ratliff. Now, if the Cowboys pick up a NT in one of the later rounds of the draft, that would give them the flexibility to move Ratliff. I think I’m just holding out hope that is not grounded in reality that it will happen, but you never know.
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Well, we can hold out the possibility
of Tank starting at NT, The Rat at DE and a draft pick backing up Tank.
Agreed
I'd love to see that come to pass. Tank's a good DT, he can handle full-time DT duties with a rookie backup like Texas' Frank Okam, whose primary weakness is a propensity to take off plays. If he's only involved in a small portion of the snaps, he'd be less inclined to do so.
by BudLight @ Blogging The Boys on Mar 9, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Tank's Contract.....
remember that Tank is also in the final year of his contract. I could envision him playing extremely well this season, and then hitting the free agency market. If teams feel that he's turned the corner off the field, he could command a hefty contract.
With that said, Dallas could very well take a DT on the first day of the draft.
by Fargo Cowboys on Mar 9, 2008 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Remember
This year's draft is restructured. Day 1 is the first 2 rounds. Day 2 is rounds 3 thru 7. You think Dallas will use a 2nd round pick on NT?
Possible...
I would rather we address this need on Day 2. However, there is always a premium on the guys that have the size and strength to play the middle of a 3-4.
by Fargo Cowboys on Mar 9, 2008 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Which NT would you rate highest?
If Dallas was to use the 2nd round pick, it would have to be on the #1 guy.
Tom...here's a good assessment...NT
What exactly creates a great NT ?...size, bulk, leverage, strength.....using that..you'd probably want a heavier, sturdy wide body...strong a POA....
- Pat Sims -Auburn 6'2" 310lbs...2nd rd.
- Red Bryant-Texas A&M 6'4" 318lbs...2-3 rd.
- Ahtba Rubin-Iowa St. 6'3" 315lbs...3-4 rd.
- Frank Okam-Texas 6'5" 345lbs...3-4th rd.
Take your pick...
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/ran...
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 9, 2008 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Just going by the different reports
It seems like Red Bryant would make the best NT, then Rubin from ISU where he was NT in their 3-4 defense.
Okam has the size, but he doesn't have much else. Sims sounds more like a 4-3 DT, he wants to shoot the gap and isn't as concerned with run stopping. IMO
Plus the fact Philips uses a 1 gap NT....
Ratliff was an undersized 298lb. DT playing the nose...Pat Sims is a fire hydrant, with strong lower body, great leverage, and quick to react...I'm not saying he'll be the best, but a more athletic choice, that can be transformed into a great NT......BUT
As I posted earlier:
Bryant is the best NT out there... (none / 0)
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 9, 2008 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
I wouldn't even speculate...
I think I'll leave this one to the scouts. To try and argue which DT has the size, strength, leverage, motor, etc. to play the middle of our defense is impossible. Most of these kids have never played in a 3-4 and they will all need a significant amount of coaching to make the conversion from a dominant college lineman to a "lunch pail" player.
All I know is that Dorsey and Ellis are going to be off the board in the top half of the first round. My best guess is that there will be 3 or 4 more chosen on day one.
I agree with Boyz in that you can't just look at the weight of Okam and declare him the best fit for the middle of our defensive front.
by Fargo Cowboys on Mar 9, 2008 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions
DT/NT Frank Okam 6'5 345 lbs (Texas)
or Ahtyba Rubin (Iowa St) 6'3 330 lbs are the players to keep in mind in the later rounds. Okam is the guy I would like drafted if we could get him after the 3rd round.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 9, 2008 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Okam was expected to be
a first or second round pick as a junior, he seemed to have a down year last season. He is also a very smart kid.
exactly that is
why he would be a good pick in the third.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 9, 2008 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Bryant is the best NT out there...
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 9, 2008 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions
disagree
For what we need Okam would be the better option. 6'5 345 lbs he would be a load of a NT in the middle. He should've been a first round pick this year.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 9, 2008 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions
funny how nobody liked S Rodgers....
cuz he was a fat slob that takes off plays....hmmm....sounds alot like Okam.
Bryant is 6'5" 318lbs...and much more athletic.
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 9, 2008 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not saying Bryant would'nt be a good fit, but
he is more like a Tank Johnson in size and were not asking someone like Okam to be a starter. Okam would add more size to that position. Okam with his size is a typical NT in a 3-4. If we could grab him in the 4th round why not? As long as we don't pick anymore worthless projects in the 4th round I'll be happy.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 9, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions
hey...if he's there in trhe 4th...
i'm all for it..but keep in mind...this isn't Parcells defense no more..we're not needing a big blob to fill in a gap...we're a Philips defense that actually looks for mobility and athletic push up the middle...Ratliff, Fergie, and Tank are all under 310lbs.
Tank Johnson is NOwhere near the size of Bryant...Tank is about 20lbs less and a few inches shorter...just to let you know...
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 9, 2008 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Tank is 6'3 300 lbs
Byrant, depending on what site you goto has him between 6'3-6'5, 312-324 lbs. So he is not much bigger, if at all to Johnson. 10 lbs either way isn't really a big deal when you talking about a guy over 300 lbs. Tank plays at a stronger weight anyway because of his great strength.
I would be happy with Okam or Bryant. We just need to address NT at some point in the draft.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 10, 2008 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions
BTW
Bryant only benched the 220 lbs 20 times at the combine. Not very good, so strength could be a concern with him.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 10, 2008 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Bench press
is not a very good indicator of football strength
Bryant only benched the 220 lbs 20 times at the combine. Not very good, so strength could be a concern with him.
I don't even know why it is such a big event at the combine...
they should rep out squats at 500 pounds for all the linemen...that would weed out the weaklings!
especially since the bench press is so easy
for guys with shorter arms...
I can only assume Bryant may have condor sized arms..which makes Jake Long's and Vernon Gholstons results that much more amazing...they both have huge wing spans...
by BoyzRback07 on Mar 11, 2008 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Spears...
I would rather see Spears at NT, moving Rat back to DE. Spears is bigger and slower than Rat. I've often said that Spears would be a good three technique in a 4-3 defense. I'm not sure he could make the transition to a 3-4 NT, but then again we all had our doubts about J-Rat getting the job done and he successfully made the transition.
by Fargo Cowboys on Mar 9, 2008 12:38 PM CDT reply actions
Just though of something
that know body has mentioned, and it's not that far fetched. If FS Kenny Philips is there at the 28th pick which a lot of mocks have him in that area he could be an option. I would have not problems drafting him. It would give us insurance if Hamlin can't be resigned and if Roy Williams is cut next season.
If Hamlin is resigned we could have a backfield of Hamlin and Phillips. It would also give Phillips a year to develop a little more. We could still grab a CB in the second round. The only problem is I don't think he would get past the Redskins at 21 since they need a replacement for Sean Taylor.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 9, 2008 3:52 PM CDT reply actions
I could see it.
But I remember reports of a year ago talking about how Dallas is pretty high on Watkins, I am as well.
I agree
the reason why I said Hamlin and Watkins could be the starters next year. Drafting Phillips would be a long shot, but I wouldn't be disappointed if we did.
by Cowboys81 on Mar 9, 2008 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions
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