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The Case For Jackson Jeffcoat - Bill Jones, CBS DFW
Bill Jones compares Jeffcoat's college production with that of DeMarcus Ware and finds and eerily similar set of numbers: both had 27.5 sacks, Jeffcoat had 60 TFLs to Ware's 58 and also had two more tackles than Ware's 201. And the similarities don't end there, because outside of the benchpress, Jeffcoat als posted fairly similar numbers to Ware at the Combine.
In this draft, the Cowboys won’t find a Demarcus Ware, who has 117 career sacks. However, they can have the next best thing to it in Jackson Jeffcoat.
The team faced this same predicament 31 years ago when it needed to find a replacement for defensive end Harvey Martin, who had 114 career sacks.
In the 1st round of the 1983 draft, Dallas selected a 1st team All American from Arizona State named Jim Jeffcoat, who would retire from football 15 years later with 102.5 career sacks and two Super Bowl rings.
No clowning: Kony Ealy says he's the best defensive end - USA Today
Ealy chooses a good moment to remind everyone that Jadeveon Clowney isn't the only pass rusher available in the 2013 draft.
"I feel like I'm the best guy in this draft, period," Ealy told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. "And that's not a cocky thing — that's just a confidence thing. It's not just talk. It's been proven. My numbers show for it. My size and speed and agility show for it. What else can you want?"
"I've never had an injury, never had an off-the-field distraction," Ealy said. "I really don't pay attention to a lot of what outside people say. The only thing that matters is what the NFL coaches say, and then everybody else — we'll see what happens May 8."
Oregon State's Scott Crichton also has an idea of who the best pass rusher could be:
"I feel like it's not really a competition against just Jadeveon Clowney; it's a competition against ourselves," Oregon State defensive end Scott Crichton told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm trying to be the best in the whole league. That's my motivation."
Mel Kiper: Not many defensive ends for Cowboys in rounds 2-4 | Jon Machota, DMN
According to Mel Kiper, the Cowboys may have to look for a pass rusher in the first round. Here's what he said when asked who would be some remaining defensive ends the Cowboys could target in rounds 2-4:
"There’s not many," Kiper said during a Wednesday conference call.
Kiper then rattled off the following names: Larry Webster from Bloomsburg, Jackson Jeffcoat from Texas, Marcus Smith from Louisville, Chris Smith from Arkansas and Demarcus Lawrence from Boise State.
"I think Demarcus Lawrence is a starting defensive end or a starting 3-4 outside linebacker," Kiper said. "It wouldn’t shock me if he went in the late first or early second round."
Todd McShay's second-round fits for Dallas Cowboys - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
McShay has pass rushers Dee Ford and Jeremiah Attaochu as fits for the Cowboys in the second round. Archer's take:
They are also something of tweeners. Ford is 6-2, 240 pounds. Attaochu is 6-3, 252 pounds. That is light even for the right defensive end spots in Rod Marinelli’s scheme. They could be pass-rush specialists as rookies and grow into full-time roles later as they pack on more weight.
Cowboys decision to pick up option on CB Morris Claiborne won’t be nearly as easy as one on Tyron Smith | David Moore, DMN
Next year, the Cowboys will have to decide whether to pick up the option on Morris Claiborne's contract.
Claiborne isn’t as bad as some critics claim. But he has not lived up to the expectations that go with being the sixth player taken in the draft. A Cowboys team that gave up a second round pick in order to move up and select Claiborne needs more than two interceptions in two seasons to justify the move.
Claiborne is currently under contract to the Cowboys through the 2015 season. But if his play doesn’t improve significantly this season, the Cowboys are faced with a difficult decision on a young player.
Mailbag: Do You See A Change Back To 3-4 Next Year? - DallasCowboys.com
People ask the strangest questions.
Forced To "Weather" Another Tough December - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
Eatman notes that not only will the final four road games – at New York, at Chicago, at Philadelphia and at Washington – all be tough, but they'll be "pretty dang cold" as well.
Five thoughts on Cowboys’ 2014 schedule: It’ll be another tough finish for Dallas | Brandon George, DMN
Tough and cold. That about sums up the DMN's take on the schedule.
Cowboys Thanksgiving Day edge thrown out the window in 2014 | David Moore, DMN
The Cowboys are on the road on Sunday night before the Thanksgiving game, and have a Thursday night game the week after. Nobody is grumbling that the Cowboys are getting an edge from their Thanksgiving game this year.
Cowboys' 2014 schedule: Welcome to prime time - Star-Telegram
The Cowboys are scheduled for six national telecasts: Three Sunday Night games, one Monday Night game, one Thursday Night game and the Thanksgiving game.
Preseason Schedule | DallasCowboys.com
Lost amid all the schedule hoopla: The Cowboys' preseason schedule has been released.
Thursday, Aug. 7 at San Diego, 9 p.m. CDT
Saturday, Aug. 16 vs. Baltimore, 6 p.m. CDT
Saturday, Aug. 23 at Miami, 6 p.m. CDT
Thursday, Aug. 28 vs. Denver, 7 p.m. CDT
After likely taking safety first, Bears could target Arizona State DT Sutton - Chicago Sun-Times
I'm getting a little paranoid here. It feels like every time we talk about a Cowboys draft prospect, he shows up in the Chicago press a day later.
10 Biggest draft expert misses in NFL history | Awful Announcing
Draft coverage is going into overdrive as the Mayocks, McShays and Kipers of this world hyperventilate over who is and who isn't going to make it in the NFL. But who holds these guys and their lofty pronouncements accountable? Awful Announcing, that's who.
Here's a preview of the number one whoops.
Aldon Smith Not On TSA Watch List | TMZ.com
TMZ inquired as to whether Aldon Smith would be put on the "No Fly List" after making a false bomb threat. The law enforcement officer's reply is too good to pass up:
"The no-fly list is for terrorists, not idiots."