Drafting To Win The NFC East

[TheStarOne]

Some GMs believe you draft to win your division first.
It's obvious, the COWBOY'S major weakness is pass defense. That's a big problem in this era of the NFL.
And it's also a problem for winning the NFC East.
In 2016....
The Eagles passed the ball 58% of the time....
Washington ....61.5% of the time........
The Giants.......60% of the time....

The COWBOYS passed the ball.....49% of the time....ran the ball 51% of the time ....pure DALLAS COWBOY football.
149.8 yards per game rushing.....4.8 yards per carry...

If they draft for need......pass rush......a defensive end sack specialist
They need to develop a D line that can apply pressure with just a four man pass rush.
They already have a dominating O line.
Drafting a safety or a CB will not do anything for a pass rush. A CB or a safety can only cover a WR or TE for only so long.........ask Aaron Rogers in the playoff game with DALLAS.(2 passes....game over)

 

[UK Cowboy]

IMO, the draft shouldn't be looked at as a fix all. A GREAT draft nets you 2-3 starters. The Cowboys had a great draft last season, but what always strikes me is how many teams get little to no contribution from their draft class. If it happens that the best player on the Cowboys board when they are OTC is a pass rusher or DB that's great, but it does no good at all to take a guy you have graded a round lower just because he plays a position. Then you are on the hook for big money to someone with a higher chance to bust, and probably passed on a guy that was a stud. I look at the Cowboys 2014 draft as just a great job. They really wanted Aaron Donald, who wound up being a fantastic DT. When he came off the board, they really wanted Ryan Shazier, who also turned out to be a defensive demon at LB. That's when they killed it. Instead of forcing the next best DT or LB, they took the best player left on their board, Zach Martin, and landed a guy that is maybe the best guard in the NFL. If it turns out that we take TE, OT or WR in round 1, if it's their BPA, I'm good with it

 

[tomodach10]

Some GMs believe you draft to win your division first.
It's obvious, the COWBOY'S major weakness is pass defense. That's a big problem in this era of the NFL.
And it's also a problem for winning the NFC East.
In 2016....
The Eagles passed the ball 58% of the time....
Washington ....61.5% of the time........
The Giants.......60% of the time....

The COWBOYS passed the ball.....49% of the time....ran the ball 51% of the time ....pure DALLAS COWBOY football.
149.8 yards per game rushing.....4.8 yards per carry...

If they draft for need......pass rush......a defensive end sack specialist
They need to develop a D line that can apply pressure with just a four man pass rush.
They already have a dominating O line.
Drafting a safety or a CB will not do anything for a pass rush. A CB or a safety can only cover a WR or TE for only so long.........ask Aaron Rogers in the playoff game with DALLAS.(2 passes....game over)

Wait!! you start your post talking that the pass defense is a major weakness, then you contradict yourself by saying a safety or CB won't help??? It is not the chicken or egg. You need a combo of both. You cant have one without the other. We need help in the secondary and DE period.

 

[jarntt]

IMO, the draft shouldn't be looked at as a fix all. A GREAT draft nets you 2-3 starters. The Cowboys had a great draft last season, but what always strikes me is how many teams get little to no contribution from their draft class. If it happens that the best player on the Cowboys board when they are OTC is a pass rusher or DB that's great, but it does no good at all to take a guy you have graded a round lower just because he plays a position. Then you are on the hook for big money to someone with a higher chance to bust, and probably passed on a guy that was a stud. I look at the Cowboys 2014 draft as just a great job. They really wanted Aaron Donald, who wound up being a fantastic DT. When he came off the board, they really wanted Ryan Shazier, who also turned out to be a defensive demon at LB. That's when they killed it. Instead of forcing the next best DT or LB, they took the best player left on their board, Zach Martin, and landed a guy that is maybe the best guard in the NFL. If it turns out that we take TE, OT or WR in round 1, if it's their BPA, I'm good with it

Not only do I agree, but from everything the Cowboys have said and more importantly done with regards to the draft over the past couple of years...they agree to. Which is all that matters. If you go into the draft thinking we MUST go for a particular position, you really are missing the boat. It's BPA with a lean towards need. If two players are close at all, then you definitely grab the one at the position of need If they aren't then you take the player and don't worry about the position. Too many fans seem to think the draft is for "this year". It's not, of course you don't want to red shirt a guy in the NFL and lose 25% of his years under contract, but it's for the long term and in the long term you don't know what your needs are or where you can replace an expensive vet with a cheaper young player. Free Agency is where you plug your holes and If we had glaring needs that we needed to fill for this year and didn't do so in Free agency because of cap problems or because we just didn't want to pay or just didn't like the players, then that was poor on our part or bad timing of talent lining up with needs or poor by letting it get to this point by not addressing it in prior years.

This draft seems loaded at the positions we need most. So I am hoping like Hell that when we are on the clock there is a pass rusher that we think is one of the best on the board because watching this team it's obvious that's what we need most and I would be very happy with a DB (or really any defensive player) too because we definitely need help there, but good Football players help you win regardless of where they line up. So other than positions where a guy just can't get on the field for years like QB or center (with no Guard flex) I can't wait to see who we pick up.

The other issue is we have been spoiled by how quickly some of our picks have contributed. There is no guarantee the players we pick will be ready to win a job this year even if they will long term. But thankfully with the way we have competition at every spot nowadays the young kids will get their chance to make the roster, compete for snaps and even win a job running out of the tunnel on Sundays. I think a big part of why last years draft class was so successful was opportunity.

 

[jarntt]

Wait!! you start your post talking that the pass defense is a major weakness, then you contradict yourself by saying a safety or CB won't help??? It is not the chicken or egg. You need a combo of both. You cant have one without the other. We need help in the secondary and DE period.

Exactly. If you have a great secondary it helps cover for a weaker pass rush and vice versa. Football is a team game. Same on Offense. If you have a great passing game you don't necessarily need a great running game. And In a cap world it's tough to have everything.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Not only do I agree, but from everything the Cowboys have said and more importantly done with regards to the draft over the past couple of years...they agree to. Which is all that matters. If you go into the draft thinking we MUST go for a particular position, you really are missing the boat. It's BPA with a lean towards need. If two players are close at all, then you definitely grab the one at the position of need If they aren't then you take the player and don't worry about the position. Too many fans seem to think the draft is for "this year". It's not, of course you don't want to red shirt a guy in the NFL and lose 25% of his years under contract, but it's for the long term and in the long term you don't know what your needs are or where you can replace an expensive vet with a cheaper young player. Free Agency is where you plug your holes and If we had glaring needs that we needed to fill for this year and didn't do so in Free agency because of cap problems or because we just didn't want to pay or just didn't like the players, then that was poor on our part or bad timing of talent lining up with needs or poor by letting it get to this point by not addressing it in prior years.

This draft seems loaded at the positions we need most. So I am hoping like Hell that when we are on the clock there is a pass rusher that we think is one of the best on the board because watching this team it's obvious that's what we need most and I would be very happy with a DB (or really any defensive player) too because we definitely need help there, but good Football players help you win regardless of where they line up. So other than positions where a guy just can't get on the field for years like QB or center (with no Guard flex) I can't wait to see who we pick up.

The other issue is we have been spoiled by how quickly some of our picks have contributed. There is no guarantee the players we pick will be ready to win a job this year even if they will long term. But thankfully with the way we have competition at every spot nowadays the young kids will get their chance to make the roster, compete for snaps and even win a job running out of the tunnel on Sundays. I think a big part of why last years draft class was so successful was opportunity.

Yeah, I'm sure slot of people might wig out if we went WR in the first round.. but after a couple of years, we see that their highest rated DB turned out to be a clone of Claiborne, and the WR the took turned out to be a clone of Antonio Brown, all will be forgiven

 

[jarntt]

Yeah, I'm sure slot of people might wig out if we went WR in the first round.. but after a couple of years, we see that their highest rated DB turned out to be a clone of Claiborne, and the WR the took turned out to be a clone of Antonio Brown, all will be forgiven

If it were my decision I would have taken Ramsey over Elliott last year...not any more...

 

[Ekspozed]

If it were my decision I would have taken Ramsey over Elliott last year...not any more...

Last year i wanted Ramsey badly. Glad it worked out for us. Zeke changed my mind on the pick.

 

[PDay8810]

Yeah, I'm sure slot of people might wig out if we went WR in the first round.. but after a couple of years, we see that their highest rated DB turned out to be a clone of Claiborne, and the WR the took turned out to be a clone of Antonio Brown, all will be forgiven

I could live with WR if the team values him as the best available.
RB,TE or lineman....not so much

 

[cowboycolors]

hey if Cory Davis is on the board I don't hesitate I pick him
John Ross with his knees that's a discussion
David Njoku could be a consideration 2

But I trust Will and the Scouting dept. to have the deep in-depth report and that the Cowboys will make the right decision for the team

Lots of twists and turns coming I cant wait

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

Some GMs believe you draft to win your division first.
It's obvious, the COWBOY'S major weakness is pass defense. That's a big problem in this era of the NFL.
And it's also a problem for winning the NFC East.
In 2016....
The Eagles passed the ball 58% of the time....
Washington ....61.5% of the time........
The Giants.......60% of the time....

The COWBOYS passed the ball.....49% of the time....ran the ball 51% of the time ....pure DALLAS COWBOY football.
149.8 yards per game rushing.....4.8 yards per carry...

If they draft for need......pass rush......a defensive end sack specialist
They need to develop a D line that can apply pressure with just a four man pass rush.
They already have a dominating O line.
Drafting a safety or a CB will not do anything for a pass rush. A CB or a safety can only cover a WR or TE for only so long.........ask Aaron Rogers in the playoff game with DALLAS.(2 passes....game over)

Makes sense,but even when the Cowboys create pressure they secondary made no plays. The strength of this draft is corner and safety. I don't really see a war daddy being there at 28. If there is a run on edge rushers then the Cowboys have to draft corners early.

 

[ArlingtonCowboys100]

If tj watt is gone then I take Adoree jackson at 28. Jackson would be able to play wr as well. IDk about 60. Tankersley or Maye from Florida.

 

[tomodach10]

If it were my decision I would have taken Ramsey over Elliott last year...not any more...

Me too. I am happy with Elliott.

 

[tomodach10]

If tj watt is gone then I take Adoree jackson at 28. Jackson would be able to play wr as well. IDk about 60. Tankersley or Maye from Florida.

Jackson at 28 would be too high imo.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Jackson at 28 would be too high imo.

I disagree, I think that kid is a ballplayer...

 

[Godstree]

Jackson at 28 would be too high imo.

Maybe, but any D coach would love to have this kid. I just watched his highlights and OMG he is fast.

 

[Godstree]

I disagree, I think that kid is a ballplayer...

When he hits that burst he leaves everyone in the dust. He seemed pretty smart but the highlights I saw were not of him getting burned. One play he hid behind the receiver and waited for the throw and then he broke on it. Nice move.

 

[jarntt]

Adoree' Jackson | Cornerback
Team: USC Trojans
Age / DOB: (21) / 9/18/1995
Ht / Wt: 5'11' / 185

LATEST NEWS
RECENT NEWS
Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline hears that the Cowboys are targeting USC CB Adoree' Jackson with their first-round pick.
Sitting at pick No. 28, the Cowboys are squarely in the projected draft sweet zone for Jackson. According to Pauline, they are also intrigued by Clemson's Cordrea Tankersly, who could be a Day 2 option for them should Jackson either have already flown off the board or they instead opt to take a first-round pass-rusher. Along with the Cowboys, the Texans, Eagles, Browns, Bucs and Titans reportedly all had visits with Jackson during the draft process. Apr 24 - 6:08 PM

 

[jarntt]

Adoree' Jackson - DB - Trojans
A former NFL defensive coordinator told NFL Media's Bucky Brooks that he worries about USC CB Adoree' Jackson's ability to hold up against larger receivers.

We have heard this refrain before regarding the 5-foot-10, 186-pounder's size. Said this particular former DC, "It's hard on the outside for small guys to deal with the 'monsters' that teams feature in the passing game." He went on to name-check Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall and Mike Evans as players who "eat little guys up on the outside." He pointed to Jackson's performance against Penn State WR Chris Godwin (6-foot-1, 209 pounds) in the Rose Bowl as one very tangible recent example of these struggles. Godwin went off for a 9-187-2 receiving line in that game. "I'm fine with him coming off the board in the first round as an athlete/returner or nickel corner, but if you're expecting him to come in and develop into a lockdown corner, I don't know if he can hold up on the outside," Brooks' contact concluded.

 

[tomodach10]

Adoree' Jackson - DB - Trojans
A former NFL defensive coordinator told NFL Media's Bucky Brooks that he worries about USC CB Adoree' Jackson's ability to hold up against larger receivers.

We have heard this refrain before regarding the 5-foot-10, 186-pounder's size. Said this particular former DC, "It's hard on the outside for small guys to deal with the 'monsters' that teams feature in the passing game." He went on to name-check Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall and Mike Evans as players who "eat little guys up on the outside." He pointed to Jackson's performance against Penn State WR Chris Godwin (6-foot-1, 209 pounds) in the Rose Bowl as one very tangible recent example of these struggles. Godwin went off for a 9-187-2 receiving line in that game. "I'm fine with him coming off the board in the first round as an athlete/returner or nickel corner, but if you're expecting him to come in and develop into a lockdown corner, I don't know if he can hold up on the outside," Brooks' contact concluded.

Second round IMO