Dallas Cowboys Draft Chart Designed By Chemical Engineers
Dec. 4, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones (left) and owner Jerry Jones prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It’s important we all understand, according to Cowboy’s owner, Jerry Jones, that the NFL draft is not an exact science. It’s also important that we know that since Jerry’s first draft, he had people with chemical engineering degrees put together the first ever draft chart and have aided in putting draft charts together ever since – at least for the Dallas Cowboys.
After all that, though, just like oil drilling (I guess), no matter what the chemical engineers hypothesize, only God really knows how things are gonna turn out.
OK. Good to know.
It seems that the NFL draft not being an exact science wasn’t a secret, so it may be that Jerry may have been explaining away or justifying why it felt like the Cowboys were a little all over the place in this draft. I would have accepted the explanation that ‘Stephen Jones spilled coffee on one of the draft charts and we were winging it there for a while’.
Dec 27, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Travis Frederick at press conference for the 2013 Rose Bowl at the L.A. Hotel Downtown. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
My first thought Thursday night was that the Cowboys reached on the Center from Wisconsin, Travis Frederick. He may have been the top Center in the draft, but he was going to be available later. As the second day got under way with rounds 2 and 3, however, I sensed that, in this years draft anyway, it really didn’t matter that the Cowboys reached on Frederick. This draft – IMO – was middle heavy, so a pick that was made in the bottom of the 1st round and the bottom of the 2nd or the top of the 3rd didn’t look significantly different.
Would I have taken Frederick at 31?, No. I would have taken Safety, Matt Elam, out of Florida who the Baltimore Ravens took next with the 32nd pick. As a matter of fact, if I was the Cowboy’s owner, I would have replaced my chemical engineer with a fly on the wall in the Raven’s trade room. Going with whomever they were going to pick. Don’t misunderstand, unlike some of you, I don’t want to have QB, Joe Flacco over our QB, Tony Romo or their Tight End over ours or anything like that. I just think that the Raven’s GM, Ozzie Newsome, may be an upgrade over the Cowboy’s chemical engineers.
Nov 24, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Terrance Williams (2) warms up before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the game at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Over all, I’m not overly excited about any of the Cowboy’s picks in this year’s draft. But I’m not disappointed in any of them either. I particularly liked 2 picks – WR, Terrance Williams out of Baylor and RB, Joseph Randle out of Oklahoma State. Not overlooking the fact that, if you consider Cole Beasley and a healthy Danny Coale and Dwayne Harris, the Cowboys may have too many WRs, I see Williams as someone who might push a lazy Miles Austin (or push him out of the way entirely). I also saw Randle as insurance for an injury prone RB, DeMarco Murray. Jerry Jones has sinced confirmed that is exactly what Randle was drafted for.
As for the rest of the picks, if I get nit picky, I thought the Cowboys needed a defensive lineman more than a Tight End or a Corner.
The Cowboys say they got more ‘Romo friendly’ because of the offensive players they picked. I’m not sure that this draft was really ‘Romo friendly’, because I see ‘Romo friendly’ meaning more and better offensive linemen. Instead, I guess Jerry and Cowboys head coach, Jason Garrett, thinks bringing 30 WRs and 20 TEs, as well as 12 CBs but only, like, 3 Safetys, to training camp, made more sense.
All things considered, taking Jerry’s words to heart where this years NFL draft is concerned, what do I know? I don’t have a chemical engineering degree. But, hey, I hear that the Center we drafted, Travis Frederick, does.