MVN - Most Valuable Network

The Perfect Dallas Draft

     Boy, have the Cowboys screwed things up royally with this Pacman Jones trade.  This man will never see the field in Dallas because he won’t be playing.  Even if the commissioner reinstates him, I am willing to wager American currency that he does not make it through training camp with the team.  In fact, I can’t even say I’m rooting for him.  Everything that has ever happened to him has been his fault; he’s a criminal, and I hope he gets in trouble again, so he can be off the team.

     Alas, this time I’m not here to write about him; it’s my favorite time of the NFL year: the draft.  Being such an expert on college football, this is my opportunity to provide simply outstanding analysis of the upcoming weekend.  Much as I did last year for the Miami Dolphins, I have gone through reams of paper and spent hours looking over every prospect in the draft, from Husain Abdullah to Jeremy Zuttah.

     Now, I’ve put together the perfect draft plan for the Dallas Cowboys.  Using the team’s seven current selections—and not factoring in any trades—I’ve given the team a blueprint to be the star of the weekend…enjoy.

     NB: This plan is based on Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart being gone at No. 22; if he’s there, the Cowboys should select him.  To me, there are two game-changing running backs in the draft: Stewart and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden, although I could be convinced to include Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall.  There are no other backs that provide good value in the first round (yes, that includes everyone’s darling, Felix Jones).  Frankly, I’m not sold on Jones, especially in the first round.  In the first round, a team needs to get guys who are going to be All-Pros for at least 10 years, and I don’t see Jones being more than a quality second option; I can find three or four other guys just like that on the second day.  If Stewart’s still there, the team can’t afford to pass on him, but I think he’ll be gone (perhaps by Denver or Carolina).

1.       (22^nd overall)—Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona.

     Let’s get one thing straight: Dallas cannot count on Pacman to be available to play all 16 games (if he plays at all).  Being out of the game for so long, even if he’s on his best behavior (doubtful) it will take time to be ready to contribute.  As such, the team has to focus on upgrading the spot opposite Terrence Newman.  While Anthony Henry has been adequate, he’s getting old, and a team can never have too many quality corners.

     Antoine Cason is the best cornerback in the draft.  Quite simply, he goes and gets the football.  He started every game for four years at Arizona and intercepted 15 passes while deflecting several dozen more.  He’s never been hurt, and he can return kicks for the Cowboys (since, you know, Pacman won’t be around).  He can run, cover, and tackle, and he doesn’t have any of the character issues that are surrounding other top corner prospects (Aqib Talib).  His size matches up well with nearly every receiver in the league, and he won last year’s Thorpe Award.  Even if he’s not the next Deion, just being the next Chris McAlister—also out of ‘Zona—will be just fine.

 

2.       (28)—Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State.

     This is one of my favorite players in the draft; in short, he’s just a heckuva football player.  Nelson spent his career in the tough Big XII Conference, and this season he absolutely destroyed Talib, going for 137 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches.  While he’s already big at 6’2’’ and 217 pounds, he could add another 10-20 pounds without losing his speed (4.63).  He holds 11 records at Kansas St.  He’s not going to blow past anyone on the field, but he could be an excellent slot guy, especially if a team doesn’t ask him to be the star; on the Cowboys, he could learn from Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn.  On his absolute worst days, he’ll be as good as Wes Welker.  Nelson can score anytime he touches the football, and Jordy has improved every single year.  He works hard; he is guaranteed to be a star.

     Some may think he’s not a first round value, but I just don’t think he’ll still be on the board when the Cowboys pick in the second round.  I’ve always believed that if there’s a guy you really want on the board, you go and get him, rather than hope he’s still around next pick.  Even above cornerback, wide receiver is the biggest hole for Dallas.  Owens and Glenn are old—Glenn may be forced to retire due to his knee injury—and Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, et al, are not the answer.  As great as Owens, Tony Romo, and Jason Witten are, the team needs more play makers.  With 206 career receptions at Kansas State, and his outstanding character, Nelson is a guy that will thrive with the Cowboys.  As deep as the paid experts say this draft is at receiver, the problem is that the considered “top” guys—DeSean Jackson, James Hardy, Devin Thomas—just aren’t that good at football.  Nelson will end up being the steal of the first round, if not the entire first day.

 

3.       (61)—Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan.

     As I said before, the Cowboys need receivers; actually, they need good receivers, and with both Manningham and Nelson learning under Glenn and Owens, this could become the greatest four-receiver set in the history of the world. 

     Manningham has the talent to be a Top 10 pick, but there are a few questions surrounding his character.  Because of this, he has plummeted down some draft boards; in MVN’s mock draft, I took him with Dallas’ 28^th pick.  However, I think he will still be available here.  Since Nelson probably would not, the team has the best chance getting both by taking Nelson at No. 28 and Manningham here.  The team has had some success with players with minor issues (before you start, Pacman’s are major issues, a totally different subject).  Guys like Deion, Michael Irvin, Charles Haley, and Ken Norton have all come to town with baggage and won titles.  Hopefully, Manningham would be more like them, and not like the last talented receiver that fell to the team in the second round, Antonio Bryant.

     Quite simply, Mario Manningham makes plays on the football field. Although his numbers from the combine weren’t spectacular, I have never put that much stock into the difference between a 4.35 and a 4.5 40-yard dash. Having seen him play numerous times, I know he creates plays on the field—and that’s where it counts.

     He’ll immediately step into the No.3, maybe No.4 with Jordy on board, role for Dallas, and Terrell Owens—for all his diva antics—will teach him how to prepare himself each day for success. I really like his hands; not only does he stretch the field, but he also goes and gets the football; Manningham is a touchdown machine.

     One area he needs to improve is his strength. Because he’s so light right now, corners and safeties will be able to bump him hard at the line and, potentially, throw off his routes. If he can add some muscle—without sacrificing speed—he’ll be a dangerous playmaker.

     My favorite stat: All but seven of his 27 career touchdowns came from outside the red zone. That says enough about his speed.

     If memory serves, Dallas has done well with “slow” receivers; coming out of Miami, Michael Irvin didn’t burn holes in the turf; a few Super Bowl rings later, he’s in the Hall of Fame.

     Overall, he needs to concentrate on catching the football before going for the highlight-reel run in order to reduce his drops, but this is a man who is going to make “Tyree Catches” every week.

     Manningham will be an Irvin/Braylon Edwards blend and be Dallas’ No.2 (or 1A) receiver by the end of the season.

     THIS MAN MAKES PLAYS WITH THE FOOTBALL.

 

4.       (92)—Kevin Smith, RB, Central Florida or Mike Hart, RB, Michigan.

     With this pick, it’s time the team found a partner for Pro Bowler Marion Barber.  In this round, you can get a guy who is every bit as good as (probably better than) Felix Jones or Jamaal Charles.  In fact, I consider this selection to be a flat-out tie.  I cannot choose between Smith and Hart.  Both guys are excellent football players who know how to win.

     Kevin Smith was the NCAA’s leading rusher this year with 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns.  Although Conference USA isn’t considered a powerhouse on the gridiron, Smith also dominated “real” programs like Texas (149 yards, two touchdowns) and N.C. State (217 yards, two touchdowns).  As bad as the Longhorn defense was this year, they were elite at stopping the run…and Smith attacked them like a mouse to cheese.  By himself, he made UCF a mid-major power that no one in the nation wanted to play.  His 6’1” frame gives him great vision, and he’ll have all sorts of holes running behind Leonard Davis and Flozell Adams on Sundays.  While he doesn’t have the “break-away” speed that makes scouts drool, he’s plenty fast enough to make the first two guys miss and be in the secondary before he gets hit.

     Mike Hart is another one of my favorite players.  While it’s probably derogatory to say he’s the NFL’s David Eckstein (very gritty, with intangibles out the wazzoo), the fact is that Mike Hart is a football player in every since of the word.  I don’t care about his size or speed because he comes to work everyday and makes himself and his teammates better players.  A natural leader, Hart also is Michigan’s all-time leading rusher, and he scored 43 touchdowns in Ann Arbor.  The number one job of any offensive player is to protect the football, and Mike Hart just does not fumble.  Without question, he has the best hands in the draft.  He can gain yards after the first hit, and he’ll get you positive yards on every touch.  Plus, he’s an exceptional blocker who will provide an extra ineffable layer of protection for Romo.  Despite being just 5’9” and 200 pounds, he’ll excel with Dallas because he won’t have to be a feature back. 

     Both men are phenomenal runners, and it’s remarkable to think both could still be here at the end of the third round, although Smith may be more likely to go between picks 70-85.  Both have excellent talent, work ethic, and character—there’s that word again—and either will quickly become a fan favorite.  As I said, these players are dead even, but, if they are both available, I take Hart.  He provides all that Smith will…with that grit and those intangibles.

 

5.        (163)—Kroy Biermann, DE/OLB, Montana.

     With the team’s first four selections, Dallas has covered all three of its most glaring needs; at this stage of the draft, it’s time to look for depth.  In the NFL, a team can never have too many linemen, on both sides of the ball.  Quality depth at those positions is crucial to surviving a 16-game season and the playoffs. 

     Biermann won the Buchanan Award, given to the best defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA).  Last season, he led the Big Sky conference with 15 sacks (32 career).  The Cowboys had success with another Buchanan winner, LB Dexter Coakley.  Vikings end Jared Allen is another notable winner of the award.   Like Coakley, Biermann is probably going to become a linebacker in the NFL, and he would be a perfect fit in Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme, although he is big enough (6’3”, 246) to occasionally line-up as a defensive end.  Biermann ran a 4.75 40 at Montana’s Pro Day, and he has a 35-inch vertical.  Both those stats, and his 29 reps on the bench press, ranked among the top ten at both the defensive end and linebacker positions among draft prospects.  Given the Cowboys’ strength at linebacker, he’ll have plenty of time to develop and help out on the line.

 

6.        (167)—William Robinson, OT, San Diego State.

     As I said above, you can never have too many linemen.  Robinson is a tremendous pass blocker with the speed (5.2) to meet the quick defensive ends coming around the line that he’ll face in the NFC East, especially against the Giants.  He’s big (6’5”, 297), so he can clear holes and “hide” the smaller Dallas backs (Barber and Hart).  He’s a great depth guy that can come into a game and provide quality play for a series or a half.  As with Jordy Nelson, some may feel this is too high to draft Robinson, but another 68 players will be gone before the team can pick again. 

     Like I’ve mentioned before, teams have to have quality men above all else.  Robinson is perhaps the cleanest guy in the draft.  After all, it’s hard not to be an upstanding citizen when both parents were sheriff’s deputies in Los Angeles (his dad was also a United States Marine and is currently a member of the sheriff’s department SWAT team). 

 

7.       (235)—Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon.

     Since you’re not expecting a Pro Bowler here, it’s easier to take someone with high potential; he could be this year’s Marques Colston, but if not, no big deal.  With that in mind, I like a guy who was going to win the Heisman Trophy until he McGahee-ed himself at the end of the season.  While that is a very serious injury, which will scare more than a few teams off, the seventh round is all about grabbing guys who could be something special.  If Dixon can regain his explosiveness and elusiveness, he could be a very good running back/receiver/kick returner for the Cowboys.  Regardless of position, a team can never have enough quality football players.  When healthy, Dixon is one.  The Cowboys already missed one Oregon star; now is the time to grab the other.  The only potential obstacle, other than the knee injury, is his flirtations with Major League Baseball.  Dixon has already been drafted by the Atlanta Braves.                

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 at 6:14 pm and is filed under The Cowboy Roundup. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.