Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Sam Hurd was supposed to battle for the second-receiver spot on the team until Miles Austin became a star.
Now he is fifth on the depth chart and owner Jerry Jones has even said that practice team guys like Jesse Holley, who won Michael Irvin’s contest, and Manny Johnson are learning quickly skill sets to make them effective players in the NFL.
So where does this leave Sam Hurd? Hurd has becomes what Miles Austin was. As a restricted free agent, Hurd has options, and some teams could really use a guy that many believe has not had a real opportunity to shine in the NFL. He has just seven catches in 2009. Seven. He was injured from time to time, too. He has decent heighth but does he possess any other skill set that makes him a necessary signing? He really doesn’t get much play.
Jones said in late January that “he’d sleep like a baby” if the Cowboys ignored grabbing any wide receivers in the NFL draft.
I am not saying the Cowboys need another wide receiver, but if a guy whose ranked high falls for some reason, don’t you often want to select the best player on the board in some of these rounds? Roy Williams is getting one more year to prove himself because for cripes sake the guy is supposed to be the Cowboys No. 1 go-to guy and he’s not even Tony Romo’s third option. This has to be his final year and Williams must produce.
If he does, that all bodes well for a Cowboys team already solid on defense. Add some offensive lineman depth, consider doing something with Flozell Adams, and aim for a sixth Lombardi trophy.
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I don’t think the Cowboys will add a WR of importance in the draft..They feel they are close with the present team..Plus it takes time to work a WR in..
OLine depth and ILB is where they will concentrate..IMHO..
They have to get linemen plenty of em. An inside linebacker wouldn’t be a bad pickup. Safety could always use one.
I say if a good saftey drops low enough grab him. I know we need a lineman but we also could use a hard hitting and ball hungry saftey. Didn’t they say Earl Thomas from the longhorns could be that guy. Also he could fall to the cowboys pick. I’m not sure I just think we need one good saftey and this defense would be incredible. Bevomav you keep up with the rounds good is there a saftey in the second the cowboys could trade up for. Then they could keep their first for a lineman.
I say they need to get a interior def lineman and or off line help..Donte Stallworth is going to be released after the super bowl….
TLH… You only draft best player available when you don’t have needs.
The Cowboys have needs…
KD—Does any kid we get at #27 start for us next year?
I don’t think so, but we do need an OL badly to groom. I’m fine with Flo, Columbo and Free at OT for one more year. I have bigger concerns with our interior if someone goes down. Gurode get hurt, Proctor can’t do the job. I’d LOVE to get a C that could play guard for a few years until Gurode is done. So this pick (Pouncey/FLA?) would probably start at LG in ‘11 replacing Kosier after a year of seasoning.
***(There’s only 2 OT’s I’d take at 27…Campbell/Mary. or Bulaga/Iowa..DO NOT take Willimas from Okla….he can’t play LT, so we have no use for him, especially in round 1!!)
Don’t forget about our 3rd round pick last year, Brewster, who sat out all year with an injury. He HAS to be on out roster next year, alog with the 1st OL we pick (McQuistan and Proctor go).
As good as the defense was last year, we could use better back-ups at S, ILB(LOVE Daryl Washington/TCU) and maybe a legit NT to allow Ratliff so slide over to Spears spot in the immediate future.
Graney, I was with you on the center idea. We are ok at tackle and I like Holland and Mcquistan but we are really handcuffed if Gurode goes down. Why mess with an All-pro though. We could probably use a better backup than Siavii but I don’t see any reason to move Ratliff. He is doing just fine where he is. I like where TEXAS is headed with that safety pick. I think a ball hawking safety is the one element that our defense truly lacks in.
Use our first pick on a back up center? I understand your reasoning and I agree we should use it on a linemen but not a center. What I have noticed from this team is that our line gets worse as the season progresses. Two years in a row now we have finished the season by getting blown out due to the fact Romo is running for his life. I think we need to look into replacing Flo. He is an outstanding tackle but the guy is practically deaf and is getting too old to keep up with these dominant pass rushers. I say we go right or left tackle in the draft. A ball hawking safety would be nice if the talent falls to 27 but I like Sensebaugh and Hamlin. They are not ball hawks but solid tacklers with a decent speed.
No, I didn’t mean that we spend our 1st round pick on a G/C, but that would be my first OL pick. I did say that IF 2 certain guys fell (Campbell -or- Bulaga), I’d use my first pick on a LT.
I just feel like IF Andre goes down, we’re in serious trouble. Proctor CANNOT play at the level a Super Bowl contender needs. I really think the Pouncey kid from Florida is the perfect player for us. He might not play center for 3 more years, but he can play guard when we let Kosier go in ‘11, until he takes over at C for ‘Dre.
The best “value” at #27 would probably be a DT like Price/UCLA. I LOVE Ratliff and know how great he is, but lets give him a break and have him move outside where he doesn’t get his 290lb body beat up by 320lb+ guys all game. Can’t see Jerry giving Spears a big contract. He played pretty well this year, but has generally underachieved in his time here.
Maybe we trade out of the 1st again, and get my guy in the top half of the 2nd? Don’t see him making it to our 2nd round pick.
WE need a safety, but we can get a good one in the 3rd round.
Boys fans,
I just do not get why people want to move Ratliff out from his NT position. He is a freaking all-pro people..That means he is the best in the league at his position. Am I all for finding a quality back up to give him a rest and make him fresher for the 4th quarter absoloutely..But it boggles my mind why you want to take him from being a dominate force at NT and move him to end where his first and pretty much only responsibility is to play the run and gap control. Why do you think Spears, Oshlansky and even Canty when he was here do not put up large sack numbers..its not for the lack of ability but its their role in this defensive scheme…Ratliff is able to use his unique speed and torment centers. He can play the run and also provide a great pass rush up the middle. Leave the dude in his NT role and move on to something else..They will draft an o-lineman or safety with the first pick I believe…
David: No one is questioning how great Ratliff is, but how long can be great when he continually gives up 30-40 lbs. to opposing centers and guards that double team him?
I’m not saying he can’t play NT ever again, but I’d rather see him get half his snaps at DE. Spears and Igor play the run, partly because of their roles, but also because they don’t have the athleticism to get to the QB. I think Ratliff has EVERY quality a great DL needs, and the move to end might prolong his career.
Mike,
Im sorry but that is absoloutely not true. Spears and Igor dont get to the qb a lot because of their assignments. They have to play specific gap assignments and play the run and take on the big guards to free up the linebackers..And Ratliff is 303 pounds bro. So he may be giving up 20 pounds at the most. Look it up..Being at NT he can utilize his speed to dominate centers both in the run and the pass…He would not nearly be as effective in the de position because of the scheme..
A move to end might prolong his career but it’d make him half as valuable. Bad idea all around.
MB3,
Its funny it wouldnt even prolong his career in this 3-4 scheme..The ends in this scheme take a beating taking on the o linemen to free up the backers….People do not understand the de’s role in this scheme is the problem..
I did say “might prolong his career”, not “would prolong his career.”
To get this discussion back on topic, I’ll say the following: we need a new receiver. Jerry could be playing possum here. I hope he is, because neither Jesse Holley nor Manny Johnson do anything for me. Yes, Sam Hurd is one of our better special teamers, but how special does that make him? If there’s a dangerous receiver like McCluster in the second round, we’d be worse off not taking him. I think McCluster has Percy Harvin-like potential and I don’t think we’d have to use our first-round pick on him.
I still think a wr, off. takle, safety is the best first and second pick areas of need. If we loose our new #1 wr to prolonged injury we would be in bad shape. These 3 positions can play a lot of starting minutes if the type player is available. adding the fact a wr takes a couple seasons to learn is more of a reason to pick one if a special one is available at pick time. NO trading down unless its overwelling in our favor. shop players for players or picks.
Last thing on Ratliff. I know what the team has him listed at, but there’s no way he’s 303, and there’s no way Ware is 262. Wouldn’t be the first time teams lied about weights.
Either way, he will continue to get doubled at the NT. Igor couldn’t get to the QB if he had 30 seconds. Spears isn’t much better. They did a great job of playing the run, because that’s their strength, and their #1 prioroty. They both lack athleticism. I’d love to see Jay go one-on-one with just a guard to beat every snap.
We all agree he’s great, and should always be on the field, no matter where he plays.
Ratliff is supposed to get doubled. If he gets doubled, then a tackle has to take the end or a tight end has to stay in or a running back has to chip, leaving one of our outside backers one-on-one against somebody. I want that matchup. Nobody. If Ratliff gets doubled (he still has a good chance at winning against a double team) then our defense is going to win.
One sayn “every man for them selves” If JJ is smart take a WR n the draft it has ben proven that 4th or 5th round pic WR can make an impact ther rookie season.
This team should come into OTA or TC with zero depth chart for the WR. May the best man win period…….. If that mean dumpn Hurd or Roy so b it.
Arrelious Been is way underrated. I’m loking for him to do big things in the NFL.
I think he is too small for Jerry to consider. Even our rookie free agents are big, or have the potential to add size to their frame. Correct me if I’m wrong, but he’s a small speedy guy right?
Baseball is the ultimate sport in the world. I’m excited about the new season. Should be fantastic.