posted May 1, 2008

Well I think Del Rio is building a team that can win now, and with the two new DE's, he's very close. They have an excellent backfield in Taylor and Jones-Drew, fairly,good (but not great) receiver corps and enough talent in the offensive and defensive lines. My only worry is Garrard-He had a stellar year coming out of the no so dominating shadow of Byron Leftwich and then getting the nice contract that every QB wants. I just hope he can maintain consistency. In regards to the Colts- their draft was distinctly average- no first rounder never helps, but as ever, they are the team to beat in the Afc South. I just think the Jags could well have something to say about that this year though...

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posted May 1, 2008

I really like the look of Campbell. And despite not having the hype of a Leinart, Young or Cutler, I think he will be better than all three.

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posted May 1, 2008

My assessment of the draft for the Cowboys was that:

1. They got the right running back to compliment Marion Barber in Felix Jones. Barber is a bruising type of back who will try to run through tacklers rather than evade them. He does not line up as a receiver, but does catch passes coming out of the backfield, and can block. To date he has not had to carry the load for the team and run the ball 25-30 times a game because Julius Jones was the starter and took the majority of the snaps on 1st and 2nd downs outside the red zone.

Barber was more of a third down back and goal line rusher, hence he scored more touchdowns than Julius Jones last year and had better stats generally, as he would come in to finish off drives and the game (once our huge offensive line had worn down the opposing defence).

Felix Jones is more of a speedy back, who can make guys miss (sometimes making them look quite foolish in their attempts to tackle him) but he won't thrive if he is asked to be the number 1 guy. He can line up wide and catch passes, or run reverses from a wide position. I would expect him to rush perhaps only 8-10 times a game and catch about 5 passes from a combination of wide and backfield positions. He is also used to returning kicks.

Barber will now start (and may soon be demanding starter's money in a new contract) and Jones will spell him. It will be very interesting to see whether this works for Barber, Jones, and the team.

Dallas picked up another running back on day 2 of the draft in Tashard Choice, who could also split time with Barber and Jones, but who is more likely to be a back-up for roster depth purposes, at least at first.

There was a lot of nonsense before the draft about Dallas trading both of its first round picks to get McFadden, but this would have been the wrong move. I'll explain why I think that in a moment.

2. Trading up 3 spots to get Mike Jenkins at cornerback was again absolutely the right thing to do. Before the draft, most experts had the Cowboys' needs as cornerback, running back, wide receiver and safety. With two first round picks, Dallas were poised to get a RB and a CB, it just depended on in which order.

In a strong running back draft class, it was highly anticipated that McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Rashad Mendenhall, Chris Johnson and Felix Jones would all be taken in the first round, and probably most of them would be gone by Dallas got on the clock at pick #22. I expected Dallas to do a trade in order to move up into the 15-20 range to get the guy they wanted (probably Jones) but as things unfolded I became amazed with what other teams were doing. There was a huge run on offensive and defensive line positions and at least 6 linemen from each side of the ball went in the first 21 picks.

However, while Dallas got the RB they needed at 22 without having to trade up, it seemed unlikely that the teams picking in between their two picks (#22 and #28) would let the likes of Jenkins slip past them. The Cowboys then did a trade with Seattle (who didn't need a CB) and gave up the #28 pick, one of their 5th rd picks and the 7th rd pick to move up those precious 3 places to get their man. A 5th and 7th for the first round player you really want? Thats a great deal! Dallas were looking to fill only a few holes on their squad so the need for further picks later on in the draft was not there.

Adam Pacman Jones may or may not start next year, depending on the commissioner's decision on him, and a year off may have made him rusty. As a result, picking a first round cornerback was virtually a certain thing.

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posted May 1, 2008

In the second round, a lot of people (me included) thought that the Cowboys would select a WR. Not one single WR went in the first round, but this is unfortunately a fair indicator of the quality of the receivers coming out of college this year.

Instead Dallas selected 6 ft 6 TE Martellus Bennett out of Texas A&M (Go Aggies! ). Having traded Anthony Fasano to Miami together with linebacker Akin Ayodele in return for a 4th round pick Dallas suddenly needed a back up for Pro Bowler (and general superstar and ironman) Jason Witten (go and watch the highlights of Cowboys at Eagles from last season if you have any doubts about his toughness! )

Dallas gave up its original 4th round pick to get Adam Jones from the Titans (although they may get a 4th round pick back next year from the Titans if Jones does not play this season). More on the 4th round in a minute.

Bennett could be what is called the complete tight-end, i.e. his blocking and receiving talents are equally as good and will be equally as utilised. Didn't catch as many passes as might be expected while at A&M due to the type of offense the Aggies run. Like Antonio Gates of the Chargers, he played basketball at college (at quite well) but decided to concentrate on football to get into the NFL. It will be interesting to see whether he turns into the receiving threat Fasano was not (third stringer Tony Curtis had more touchdown passes last year than Fasano).

3rd round - no pick

4th round - Tashard Choice out of Georgia Tech (see above). I said before the draft that the Cowboys needed to pick up 2 backs (one a potential game breaker and the other a work in progress or sleeper). Barber was the only back left on the roster with more than 50 career rushing yards (although full back Deon Anderson had some nice catches last year).

5th round - Orlando Scandrick out of Boise State (they of the blue field!! ) Another corner, but one whom would not be expected to start except in a huge emergency. Two corners as well as two running backs in this draft was a very good move. Could be a playmaker in the return game.

6th round - Erik Walden, DE Middle Tenn State. The Cowboys are collecting DEs with the intention of making them outside linebackers in the pros (DeMarcus Ware a few years ago, Anthony Spencer last year). I would have said that nose tackle was more of a need to fill than DE/OLB (what with Jay Ratliff and Tank Johnson both being slightly undersized to play DT in a 3-4 scheme and Jason Ferguson traded to the Dolphins). I know very very little about Walden but will be interested to see how he shapes up.

I would give the Cowboys draft a B+. My only niggle was that we picked up yet another DE/OLB hybrid project after Ware and Spencer, when NT or S may have been more pressing needs.

I can cope with no WR pick given the relatively poor quality available and the fact that we have 3 young WRs to develop already (Hurd, Austin and Stanback).

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posted May 1, 2008

I think the advantage Campbell has is his size, but i so wish that at times he would run with the ball. He has the ability too but seemed inable to last season.

Although Zorn is trying to put a WCO in place I think the man most teams will have to watch is Portis. If (I know it is a big IF) we line up with Moss, Antwan EL, Colley, either rookie. Then teams cannot load up the box. This will take pressure off the OL and give Portis great oppertunities to run the rock.

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posted May 1, 2008

As a Giants fan I´m pretty happy particularly with Mario Manningham in the 3rd round cos our receivers aren´t getting any younger.

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posted May 6, 2008

The problem with Manningham was well documented on Total Access Tim.

Basicaly he was asked at the combine, had he taken drugs be they performance enhancing or recreational. Manningham stated blunted he had never taken any drugs. Two days after the combine it was found out not only had he taken drugs but that he had been tested positive for them.

He then tried to cover up his tracks at his pro day by giving all the teams in attendance a letter appoligising for his error.

That is why he droped so far teams were simply not prepared to pay him "good money" after lying to them.

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