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I was initially disappointed when I saw Mendenhall available with the 22nd pick only to see the Cowboys select Felix Jones. But, after watching Jones' highlight reel, I observed that homerun capability that can give a jolt to an already potent offensive attack.

Felix has the ability to make people miss, something that has been lacking from the Cowboy's running game. Sure, Julius Jones had great straight-line speed, but rarely was he able to elude defenders, and to make matters worse, he often went down at first contact. Felix's speed and elusiveness will compliment MBIII's bruising style.

Dallas then moved up three picks to Pick 25, which they used to select elite corner Mike Jenkins from South Florida.  At 6'0 200lbs, Jenkins possesses the size, speed and athleticism to cover both big and small recievers.  He excels in both zone and man-to-man coverage--great selection here!

With the 61st Pick in the 2nd Round, Dallas selected TE Martellus Bennett from Texas A&M.  Obviously, with an All Pro TE in Jason Witten and solid play from backup Tony Curtis, this was NOT a "need" pick. However, when afforded the opportunity to draft an athlete that is 6'6" 260lbs, can run a 4.6 Forty, and is not only a dominating blocker but also a very good reciever, you have to select the guy! I see Bennett presenting matchup problems for opposing defenses; he'll be too athletic for LBs and too big and strong for DBs to cover. 

Overall, I give the 'Boys an "A" grade for their first three picks.  What we have are three players that can come in and help a talented team immediately. 

***Live and die bleeding silver and blue***

Posted by Marvin McGregor at 08:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

With the 2008 NFL draft being just a couple days away, I'm having a difficult time controlling my excitement, wondering which elite college players will be welcomed into the Cowboy Family. With Dallas having 2 picks in the 1st Round, most believe we won't have too long to wait to hear the names of our "New Cowboys."
 
I personally feel that the Cowboys will trade out of the First Round with one or both picks to secure more picks in this draft, unless one of the elite CBs or OTs fall to them. With the proliferation of multiple reciever offenses, it is essential that the Cowboys make a position of weakness one of their strengths. With Flozell Adams nearing the end of his career, it isn't too soon to draft and start grooming a stud OT to protect our Franchise QB's blindside.
 
Sure, there's obvious need at RB and WR, but I feel there are players that grade in Rounds 2-4 that can provide immediate help.

Here are a few players that I feel can potentially be available for the Cowboys to draft at the RB and WR positions:

Matt Forte/Tulane - A big back, who actually ran faster (4.46  at 217lbs) than most scouts thought he would. He's also an excellent reciever out of the backfield. I saw his performance at the Senior Bowl and was very impressed. I think he'd compliment MBIII well. Has round 2-3 grade.

 

 

Ray Rice/Rutgers - Doesn't have ideal size at 5'8" 200lbs, but had a highly productive collegiate career. He's noted to have great vision and instincts--qualities you look for in a back. He also is a good reciever out of the backfield. Projected round 2-3 grade.

 

 

 

Kevin Smith/Central Florida - An extremely athletic 6'1" 217lb back that plays faster than 4.58 forty would suggest. An extremely punishing runner that gets stronger with every carry. He's also a good reciever and is solid in pass protection. Has 3rd round grade.

 

 

 

Recievers that should be availible are:

Malcolm Kelly/Oklahoma - A 6'3" 224lb wideout with sure hands and great body control. Has definate 1st round talent but his 4.6/forty has some teams shying away. That being said, don't expect this guy to be around too long!

 

 

 

Mario Manningham/Michigan - Being a Michigan fan, I've had the opportunity to see him in action the past three years. He runs excellent routes and has sure hands. Another wideout with 1st round talent, but has seen his stock drop after lying to teams at the Combine about drug tests he'd failed at Michigan due to marijuana use. His skill set reminds me of Terry Glenn.

 

 

Jordy Nelson/Kansas State - In my opinion, Jordy has "steal of the draft" written all over him. At 6'2" 217lbs, 4.51 forty. 206 career receptions and 19 TDs, one would think that Jordy would be rated higher than his 3-4 round projection.  He's viewed as a possession reciever by most scouts, what stands out to me is how he abused Kansas' Aqib Talib, considered one of the talented cover guys in the draft.

 

Obviously, there are elite players like McFadden and Mendenhall that are considered to be clearly a notch above the other backs, but I'm not so sure there's a considerable gap, from a talent stand point for the elite recievers, Devin Thomas, Limas Sweed, and James Hardy as compared to the guys I've mentioned and others that I didn't mention.
 
For the first time since the early 1990's, I feel Dallas is in a position to draft for depth, securing a talent base that will allow little drop off in talent from starter to backup. The key is to get great value with every selection!
 
My hope is that the class that the Cowboys draft can provide the productivity on the field as well as off!

***Live and die bleeding silver and blue***

Posted by Marvin McGregor at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tight End Doug Cosbie was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd Round (76th pick) of the 1979 NFL Draft after a superb collegiate career at Santa Clara University.

In his first three seasons in Dallas, Doug played sparingly catching a total of 24 balls.  Coincidently, Doug's breakout season was the strike-shortened NFL season of 1982, where he started all nine games played that season catching 30 passes for 441 yards and 4 touchdowns for a reciever-like average of 14.7 yards a catch.

Doug spent the next three seasons establishing himself as one of the best TE's in the NFL being selected to three Pro Bowls and being named All-Pro twice.  From a statistical standpoint, Doug's best season as a Cowboy was 1985, when he caught 64 passes for 793 yards and 6 TD's.

He played 10 seasons with the Cowboys ending his remarkable career with 300 receptions, 30 TD's and nearly 4000 yards recieving.

Since retirement, Doug has served as an assistant on Bill Walsh's Stanford coaching staff, Head Coach of Division III Menlo College as well as a two year stint as Offensive Coordinator and Wide Reciever coach at UC Berkeley.

Posted by Marvin McGregor at 08:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

On Monday, over 40 scouts representing all 32 teams were in attendance at Rebel Park on the UNLV campus to watch Inside Linebacker Beau Bell's Pro Day.
 
Bell, a Tustin, CA native, was measured at 6'2" and weighed 239lb.  He ran the 40 in 4.91 and 4.90, which are far from superb times, however he recorded a 4.56 short shuttle and a 7.37 three-cone, drills that measure agility and change of direction, Beau tested fairly well.  He also had a 28.5 inch vertical, a 9'1" broad jump, but stood on his 25 reps at 225lbs, which he performed at the NFL Combine--the only testing he did there as he was rehabbing a left knee that was injured at the Senior Bowl.  He also apparently showed good range in coverage drills.
 
The 2007 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, rated the number one ILB prospect by some scouting publications, plays with a tenacity that has drawn the interest of many NFL teams.  Bell, reportedly has personal workouts scheduled with seven teams including the Jets, Saints, Vikings, Browns and OUR Cowboys.  Scheduled to graduate this spring, Bell topped a stellar senior season with 126 tackles, 3 sacks,9.5 Tackles for Losses, 5 forced-fumbles and 3 passes defended.
 
With the recent signing of tackling machine Zach Thomas adding to an already crowded ILB position that includes 2007 starters Bradie James and Akin Ayodele as well as 3rd down and back up backers Bobby Carpenter and Kevin Burnett, one would think the Cowboys would have no interest at all in acquiring another linebacker.  My response to this is the Cowboys should draft the highest rated player on their draft board, irregardless of position--especially if positions of need have been addressed. 

 ***Live and Die Bleeding Silver and Blue*** 

Posted by Marvin McGregor at 07:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Insiders from ESPN and the NFL Network were reporting this past weekend that a Cowboys trade for Adam "Pacman" Jones was imminent and could be announced as early as this week. Pacman reportedly was in Dallas to discuss an expected contract renegotiation.

A few months back, I'd heard Pacman say that he wouldn't mind playing for the Cowboys when he was asked this question by the guy interviewing him, I believe on a station in Atlanta. I was completely against Pacman becoming a Cowboy at first, but I've since softened that stance considerably.  The dynamics of the situation suggests a good fit for both parties; Pacman gets one LAST shot at being an NFL player and the Cowboys get an electrifying talent at a position that they are most vulnerable, especially since losing both Jacque Reeves and Nate Jones to free agency.

Obviously, given Pacman's recent history, you wouldn't want to give up a first day pick and sign him to a deal with lots of guaranteed money, but giving up a 6th-7th round pick and perhaps a conditional late round pick in next years draft and signing him to an incentive based, zero tolerance contract that's salary cap friendly, would be fine and great value for a player that is so young and talented.

For once, I feel as though Pacman has clearly gotten the message that this is his LAST chance, and I have confidence that he will reward Jerry Jones and the Cowboys for taking a chance on him and do everything in his power to become a model citizen off the field--he has people in the Cowboys Family such as Calvin Hill, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders that he can turn to.

Obviously, we also have to realize that Pacman has yet to be reinstated by the NFL, however, I'm confident that if the Cowboys secure Pacman, they will have a strong plan in place that they'd be able to present to Commissioner Goodell that may convince him to reinstate Pacman Jones. 

I will end this entry as I will end all of my entries: "I Will Live and Die Bleeding Silver and Blue!"

Posted by Marvin McGregor at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)