Dallas Cowboys 2015 - The Road to Super Bowl 50

[Underdog]

Yeah, Super Bowl "50" -- they decided to go with with Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals this year... Whatever, the draft is only a few hours away!

Quick recap on the RB situation: Adrian Peterson: Playing for Cowboys 'would be nice' // No felony charges against Joseph Randle // Jerry Jones: Running back not urgent for Cowboys in draft

Cowboys picks:
Round 1 (27)
Round 2 (60)
Round 3 (91)
Round 4 (127)
Round 5 (163)
Round 7 (236, 243)

Players confirmed to have visited the Cowboys:
Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
Eli Harold, DE, Virginia
Frank Clark, DE, Michigan
Bud Dupree, DE, Kentucky
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama
Byron Jones, CB, UConn
Jalen Collins CB, LSU
Josh Shaw, CB, USC
Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Mario Edwards, DE, FSU
Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
George Farmer, WR, Southern Cal
Gabe Martin, LB, Bowling Green
Buck Allen, RB, Southern Cal
Ian Silberman, OL, Boston College
Chaz Green, OL, Florida
Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming
P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

[dirt_dobber]

nice homework you ahared. Thanks! Will be helpful to check this the next couple of days.

[Bryan_Wilson]

I have this awful feeling that I've waited months for this day, built up excitement for a de,rb,cb to get in the first.... and Jerry is gonna trade out of the first. And ill cry myself to sleep chanting "at least we didn't draft a tight end".

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

and Jerry is gonna trade out of the first.

[bunkmoreland]

Anybody think a draft pick or two gonna get shipped to Minnesota for Peterson?

[Underdog]

Damn, Rams took Gurley at #10... That means pretty much zero chance of Gordon falling to us.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Damn, Rams took Gurley at #10... That means pretty much zero chance of Gordon falling to us.

And San Diego moves up to #15 to draft Gordon before Houston can... The RB run begins, we're probably not drafting one today.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Underdog

And San Diego moves up to #15 to draft Gordon before Houston can... The RB run begins, we're probably not drafting one today.

Yeah. I hope coleman slides in the 2nd. I liked Langford as a 3rd or 4th but he didn't visit with the boys I guess so my hopes aren't high they look at him.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Yeah. I hope coleman slides in the 2nd. I liked Langford as a 3rd or 4th but he didn't visit with the boys I guess so my hopes aren't high they look at him.

Yeah, I'm not sure if anyone past Coleman is necessarily any better than Randle though...

[Underdog]

Cowboys pick UConn CB Byron Jones at #27... Best player available at a position of need -- I like it.

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Cowboys pick UConn CB Byron Jones at #27... Best player available at a position of need -- I like it.

Dat broad jump doe.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Dat broad jump doe.

Not an NFL record, but a WORLD RECORD... That vert ain't bad either.

[DirkFTW]

So, a Day 2 trade for AP...?

[Underdog]

Available players confirmed to have visited the Cowboys:
Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
Eli Harold, DE, Virginia
Frank Clark, DE, Michigan
Mario Edwards, DE, FSU
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama
Buck Allen, RB, Southern Cal
Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA
Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Gabe Martin, LB, Bowling Green
Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming
Ian Silberman, OL, Boston College
Chaz Green, OL, Florida
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
George Farmer, WR, Southern Cal
Jalen Collins CB, LSU
Josh Shaw, CB, USC
P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

[Underdog]

We just landed a consensus #1 pick (120 days ago) with the #60 pick... Who cares if Gregory smoked pot, he's gonna beast!

Cowboys picks:
Round 1 (27) - CB Byron Jones (UConn)
Round 2 (60) - OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)

Available players confirmed to have visited the Cowboys:
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
Buck Allen, RB, Southern Cal
Carl Davis, DT, Iowa
Gabe Martin, LB, Bowling Green
Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming
Ian Silberman, OL, Boston College
Chaz Green, OL, Florida
Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU
Owamagbe Odighizuwa, DE, UCLA
Eli Harold, DE, Virginia
Devin Smith, WR, Ohio State
George Farmer, WR, Southern Cal
Josh Shaw, CB, USC
P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Who cares if Gregory smoked pot, he's gonna beast!

As long as he can control what the sacks do...

[Bryan_Wilson]

I don't fault the Gregory pick at all. I just wish we would have moved up the third pick to get coleman. He slid a loooong ways.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

I don't fault the Gregory pick at all. I just wish we would have moved up the third pick to get coleman. He slid a loooong ways.

Don't need Coleman, we're trading next year's picks for AP.

[Underdog]

Duke Johnson taken by the Browns... If Jay Ajayi makes it past the Saints, Cards and Ravens then I'd take him. Otherwise, I don't see any RB's in this draft who are any better than what we already have.

[Underdog]

Chaz Green is an interesting pick -- he can play multiple positions on the offensive line. Not sexy, but he provides all-around depth to our already ridiculous o-line... Probably could've gotten him in the next round, but I guess we'll have to trust the scouts on this one (pretty sure Carl Davis was our man, but the Ravens snagged him right before we could).

Cowboys picks:
Round 1 (27) - CB Byron Jones (UConn)
Round 2 (60) - OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
Round 3 (91) - OL Chaz Green (Florida)

Available players confirmed to have visited the Cowboys:
Buck Allen, RB, Southern Cal
Gabe Martin, LB, Bowling Green
Mark Nzeocha, LB, Wyoming
Ian Silberman, OL, Boston College
George Farmer, WR, Southern Cal
Josh Shaw, CB, USC

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Chaz Green is an interesting pick -- he can play multiple positions on the offensive line. Not sexy, but he provides all-around depth to our already ridiculous o-line... Probably could've gotten him in the next round, but I guess we'll have to trust the scouts on this one (pretty sure Carl Davis was our man, but the Ravens snagged him right before we could).

Pretty much what I thought. We lost Parnell so it isn't a bad pick. I don't think many will like it though. People thought Frederick was a 2nd-3rd pick and we took him in the first. I'll trust our scouts on OL if nowhere else.

[Five-ofan]

On the " you could have got him in the next round" arguments i completely disagree. If you think a player is the best pick for you, take him. All it takes is one other team that views the player the same way you do and he isn't there the next time you pick. For example several teams were apparently really high on Frederick but assumed he'd be there in the second so they waited on him. How'd that work out?

As for our picks I love them. Jones is probably the best pure athlete to ever wear the star and apparently a stand up guy and leader too. I think we play him at fs this year. Also our pass rush could easily have gone from anemic to devastating. This is a very high variance defense but if you look at the upside it could actually end up being very good. Brent was a very good 1 technique before his issues if he comes back you can role with law/Brent/hardy/Gregory on pass rushing downs. That is a scary pass rush. Also even on normal downs our front seven should be solid if we stay healthy.

[Underdog]

So we passed on RB again, even with Ajayi sitting there... Interesting. The bone-on-bone rumors have that guy's value plummeting like a stone.

Cowboys take ILB Damien Wilson with pick #127. I don't know much about him -- anyone care to fill me in?

Cowboys picks:
Round 1 (27) - CB Byron Jones (UConn)
Round 2 (60) - OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
Round 3 (91) - OL Chaz Green (Florida)
Round 4 (127) - ILB Damien Wilson (Minnesota)

[bunkmoreland]

Minnesota LB Damien Wilson selected 127th overall (4th round) by Cowboys.

[Five-ofan]

Originally Posted by Underdog

So we passed on RB again, even with Ajayi sitting there... Interesting. The bone-on-bone rumors have that guy's value plummeting like a stone.

Cowboys take ILB Damien Wilson with pick #127.

Cowboys picks:
Round 1 (27) - CB Byron Jones (UConn)
Round 2 (60) - OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
Round 3 (91) - OL Chaz Green (Florida)
Round 4 (127) - ILB Damien Wilson (Minnesota)

Bone on bone in the knee.

[Underdog]

Dolphins stop Ajayi's slide with the #149 pick... Wow, I thought he'd at least go in the top 100.

[Underdog]

Cowboys take DE Ryan Russell with pick #163... Odd that we haven't traded to move up or down in this draft -- I guess we're sticking to the big board.

It's definitely been a Rod Marinelli draft this year.

Cowboys picks:
Round 1 (27) - CB Byron Jones (UConn)
Round 2 (60) - OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
Round 3 (91) - OL Chaz Green (Florida)
Round 4 (127) - ILB Damien Wilson (Minnesota)
Round 5 (163) - DE Ryan Russell (Purdue)

[Bryan_Wilson]

I am satisfied with the draft. I wish we would have grabbed a dt or a return specialist. Sick of the scrub bench player converting to return man. I'd rather have a true return man that scares teams. I hope we don't regret not getting some kind of rb. Hard to trust this rb committee but I love DMC and if Randle can stop being a knucklehead off the field, I liked him on the field.

Edit-- I was devastated when GB got Hundley. He was falling and I was hoping to get him as a nice one to groom.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

I am satisfied with the draft. I wish we would have grabbed a dt or a return specialist. Sick of the scrub bench player converting to return man. I'd rather have a true return man that scares teams. I hope we don't regret not getting some kind of rb. Hard to trust this rb committee but I love DMC and if Randle can stop being a knucklehead off the field, I liked him on the field.

Edit-- I was devastated when GB got Hundley. He was falling and I was hoping to get him as a nice one to groom.

Well, you're not even coming close to replacing Murray with anyone other than Gurley or Gordon, and I think Coleman was the only other RB in the draft that you could've penciled in as a starter... I'm not sure if Abdullah, Yeldon or any of those next-tier guys could have beat out Randle or McFadden for the starting spot -- at least not this year.

Instead, we shored up our biggest weaknesses on defense and added depth to an offensive line that many would argue was the reason why Murray was so successful last season... I mean, Randle averaged 6.7 YPC last season, so the argument that any NFL-caliber RB could find success behind that line isn't so far-fetched. I know McFadden certainly hasn't had a line like this in his career. Plus, the Cowboys might think they have something in the #38 pick from 2011, Ryan Williams.

Not to mention that it's still not too late to trade some of next year's picks for AP.

[Underdog]

Cowboys picks:
Round 1 (27) - CB Byron Jones (UConn)
Round 2 (60) - OLB Randy Gregory (Nebraska)
Round 3 (91) - OL Chaz Green (Florida)
Round 4 (127) - ILB Damien Wilson (Minnesota)
Round 5 (163) - DE Ryan Russell (Purdue)
Round 7 (236) - OLB Mark Nzeocha (Wyoming)
Round 7 (243) - OT Laurence Gibson (Virginia Tech)
Round 7 (246) - TE Geoff Swaim (Texas)

Interesting tidbit: this was the first draft in franchise history where the Cowboys didn't choose an offensive skill player (QB, WR, RB).

[Bryan_Wilson]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Well, you're not even coming close to replacing Murray with anyone other than Gurley or Gordon, and I think Coleman was the only other RB in the draft that you could've penciled in as a starter... I'm not sure if Abdullah, Yeldon or any of those next-tier guys could have beat out Randle or McFadden for the starting spot -- at least not this year.

Instead, we shored up our biggest weaknesses on defense and added depth to an offensive line that many would argue was the reason why Murray was so successful last season... I mean, Randle averaged 6.7 YPC last season, so the argument that any NFL-caliber RB could find success behind that line isn't so far-fetched. I know McFadden certainly hasn't had a line like this in his career. Plus, the Cowboys might think they have something in the #38 pick from 2011, Ryan Williams.

Not to mention that it's still not too late to trade some of next year's picks for AP.

Yeah we wouldn't replace murray with what was there when we were likely ready to take rb. I'm just as worried relying on Randle off the field and DMC staying healthy. I thought there were a few serviceable backups to be had. I'm fine with the wait and see approach. There always seems to be a rb available for trade every year.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Yeah we wouldn't replace murray with what was there when we were likely ready to take rb. I'm just as worried relying on Randle off the field and DMC staying healthy. I thought there were a few serviceable backups to be had. I'm fine with the wait and see approach. There always seems to be a rb available for trade every year.

I think this team is already chock-full of serviceable backups in Randle/McFadden/Dunbar -- no use in adding another one at the expense of any of the guys we took. Hell, our first two picks are better overall players than all but 2 RBs in the draft, and both of them were taken way too early to even be a factor. Other than trading up to get Coleman, I don't feel like there were any difference-making RBs that we even had a chance to get.

And I agree that DMC's health is an issue, but Murray's was too every season of his career until he played behind this line... Also, it should be noted that McFadden played all 16 games last season.

[Murphy3]

I've heard a couple of scouts say nothing but great things about McFadden.. Just couldn't get anything done in Oakland. We will see what he has left...

[Bryan_Wilson]

I'm borderline shocked Collins chose us over the Dolphins but holy cow this O line's depth and youth is just so... dirty.

[dirt_dobber]

Really fealing good about our chances this year - loved the addition of a 1st round OL.
But then again - I've liked our chances since my first game I attended as a 5 year old in the Cotton Bowl - in 1964.

[Stylistic]

Can you make me feel better about the RB position. I'm not one of those that are arrogant enough to say anybody can run behind this line. What about pass protection as well? Other than that. I do think this has been a good offseason.

[Murphy3]

Honestly, any NFL running back could run behind this line. That doesn't mean that they'd be as successful as Murray. Just think of it in basketball terms. Life is easier when you're surrounded by talented players. How many players go from putting up good numbers when they're playing alongside someone such as Dirk but then struggle when they leave and become "the man".. or someone that's expected to carry more of a load. It's the same thing with running back. Life is so much easier when you're actually making it through the line of scrimmage before you're touched. A SG's job becomes a lot easier with dribble penetration. A RB's job becomes easier when a great offensive line is already in place.

I'm not one of those that thinks that the running game will be exactly the same as last year. But, I don't think it would have been even with Murray back. Most players that have that type of load one year end up with drastically inferior numbers the next year. Joseph Randall is more than capable of stepping in and putting up good numbers. McFadden will definitely be of value as well.

[Kidd Karma]

DMac is a power back and had his best success when the Raiders were running a power running scheme, down hill running. The guy doesn't like to dance, he'll hit the first hole he sees. Turned his first healthy season as a pro, but that was a lack of touches.....averaged less than 10 a game. I think to maximize his effectiveness, keep him to around 12-15 touches a game, run a true 1-2 combo with Randle with both getting 12-15 touches.

[DirkFTW]

ARBITRATOR OVERTURNS NFL SUSPENSION OF ROMAN NUMERALS; LEAGUE TO APPEAL

NEW YORK, NY—The NFL announced today that a neutral arbitrator has overturned the NFL's indefinite suspension of roman numerals, and the NFL will immediately appeal the decision. The announcement comes in the midst of a number of ongoing investigations into the role roman numerals played in a pattern of coded insults and discrimination over the last few decades. Dating back to at least Superbowls XXX and XL, critics have insisted that roman numerals were triggering recovering sex addicts and obese people, but to no avail. Protesters in years past warned that the situation would only get worse unless the league intervened.

This year, the NFL suddenly reversed course at the start of the Superbowl's semicentennial season. Citing findings from recent studies that fans using their hands to signify this year's big game could be mistaken for gang members, muggers, or Texas Tech alum, the NFL concluded that roman numerals were detrimental to the league and could no longer be tolerated. Some sports analysts have speculated that the tide turned towards suspension when Commissioner Roger Goodell was greeted during post-Superbowl celebrations by a large throng of Patriots fans holding up the hand sign to him, presumably to signify a repeat. Unconfirmed reports indicate fans and former players from across the league similarly expressed their championship hopes to Goodell throughout the entirety of the 2015 draft. It is said that the commissioner's first-hand experience opened his eyes to the immediacy of the problem.

However, in overturning the suspension, the arbitrator (who asked to remain unnamed) concluded that the basis for the suspension "could not be substantiated," and those "losers too weak-minded to watch the game should switch the channel to ice skating." The NFL stated it would appeal the first part of the arbitrator's findings, but declined further comment.

[Underdog]

@mortreport: Dez Bryant and the Cowboys have agreed to a 5-year, $70 million contract with $45 million guaranteed. Not signed but will be shortly.