Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: Todd McShay "Intrigued" By What Dallas Will Do

McShay: Cowboys' spot most intriguing - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Todd McShay admits that he's had a hard time making a pick for the Cowboys in his mock drafts, and given that he's picked Timmy Jernigan (twice), Stephon Tuitt, Hasean Clinton-Dix, and Brandin Cooks, that admission doesn't really come as a surprise.

"For many reasons I’m as intrigued as to what Dallas will do as with any team in the first round," McShay said on a conference call with NFL Nation reporters on Thursday.

"Every time I get to Dallas, I can’t find a player I feel who is a good value matching a need they have, so I always wind up reaching or going completely off the value chart," McShay said.

Garrett loves him some Tyrone Crawford | Toronto Sun
Our friends north of the border are keeping a watchful eye on their fellow countryman Tyron Crawford, and had the chance to talk to Garrett about Crawford at the NFL annual meeting a few weeks ago.

"We love Tyrone Crawford. He has made such an impression on us," Garrett told QMI Agency. "We have a lot of hopes for him."

Garrett told me Crawford "absolutely" has fully recovered from the serious injury only nine months after suffering it.

"He's just one of those guys that you love to have in your organization," Garrett said. "We feel that he has a lot of upside physically, but then he has the approach that you love to hopefully achieve all of the potential that he has. He works the right way, plays the right way. I feel like he has some position flexibility, too; he can play some different spots on the defensive line. He looks good, he looks healthy and we're excited to get him back out on the field."

As the interview concluded, Garrett began walking back to a coaches meeting when he stopped, turned back, and said for additional emphasis, "I mean it. We really love Tyrone Crawford."

Draft Breakdown: Need More Bodies At Guard & Center - Rowan Kavner, DallasCowboys.com
Kavner writes that the Cowboys have last year's starters to maintain the status quo on the interior of the offensive line, but virtually no depth after that. He runs down a list of free agents and potential draft picks that the Cowboys will surely look at to shore up their depth.

Beyond the first round: Cornerbacks - Dallas Cowboys Blog - ESPN Dallas
More silliness from Watkins. Jason Verrett as a fifth-rounder? LaMarcus Joyner available in the sixth round? Please.

Cowboys franchise desperate to make playoffs faces treacherous path late | David Moore, DMN
Moore writes that the schedule doesn't do the Cowboys any favors, especially late in the season, which "clearly places a premium on a fast start" if the Cowboys plan on making the playoffs this season.

Cowboys' schedule holds a few advantages - Carlos Mendez, Star-Telegram
A lot of the talk about the schedule so far has focused on the negatives. Carlos Mendez looks at some of the positive aspects of the schedule, like no opponents coming off byes, or a host of opponents coming off road games or even lengthy road trips.

49ers, Dallas Cowboys Renew Storied Rivalry In 1st Game Of 2014 NFL Schedule - CBS San Francisco
This story out of San Francisco reminds us that the Cowboys have a three-game winning streak against the 49ers, while the all-time series between the two teams is tied, 16-16-1.

Divisional Matchup Vs. Giants Is Least Expensive Game On Cowboys Schedule, 49ers Most Expensive - CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
CBS DFW provides a rundown of each Cowboys home game and the corresponding secondary market ticket prices as provided by TiqIQ. At the moment, the Week 7 game against the Giants looks like least expensive (I cannot in good faith use the word "cheapest" here) game with an average price of $256, while the most expensive game is the season opener against the 49ers, where tickets are averaging $437.

2014 NFL Schedule: Flex games can now start in Week 5 - NFL.com
The NFL can start flexing games in week 5 now. Previously flexing did not start until week 11. If you are interested in the details and technicalities, follow the link.

Extra-point attempts to be from 33 yards for first 2 weeks of preseason - CBSSports.com
PATs will be moved back to the 15-yard line for the first two weeks of the preseason. That's still a chip shot for NFL kickers, but it's slightly more "competitive."

NFL Draft 2014: What do you watch when evaluating defensive tackles? - SBNation.com
Danny Kelly walks us through the traits scouts look for when evaluating defensive tackles, and uses a Bill Walsh quote to illustrate why "disruption is production":

"The best defensive tackles move the offensive guard back into the quarterback. They won't have nearly as many sacks as others, but if they can move the guard back into the quarterback, then the quarterback has to avoid his own lineman as if he were a pass rusher before he throws the ball. So this is a key ability."