Regardless of draft boards, rumors and last minute visits the Cowboys will need to address the center position of the offensive line and the team could end up doing just that as early as the second round. If choosing to do in the second round, the Cowboys will need a can’t miss center and may need to trade up in order to acquire one such as Peter Konz from Wisconsin.

Sep 17, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Peter Konz (66) blocks during the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Soldier Field. Wisconsin defeated Illinois 49-7. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Every Dallas Cowboys fan who watched the team last year is well aware of the struggles at the center position. And if your a frequent visitor here to the Landry Hat then you are also aware of our affinity for Baylor Bears center Phillip Blake. Last season’s production from the center of the offensive line was border-line comical at times and dominating at other times all the while consistent inconsistency plagued the position throughout the season.

Prime examples of the inconsistencies along the front line are last season’s games against the New York Jets and the St. Louis Rams. Granted coming into Sunday night’s game against the Jets on opening weekend of the NFL season was after a lock-out shortened off season. Nonetheless the Cowboys were limited to 64 yards rushing on 26 attempts, a meager 2.4 yards per carry, against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Coming into week seven of last season against the Rams it was evident that inconsistencies within the offensive line existed. Never rushing for more than 64 total yards in the Cowboys’ six previous games, Dallas entered into the match-up as the league’s fourth-worst rushing offense. Yet the offensive line managed to put on a blocking clinic. A performance that helped then rookie running back DeMarco Murray amass 253 yards rushing, breaking former Cowboys great Emmitt Smith’s single-game rushing record.

Dallas has two centers on the current roster and both are undrafted free agents and in each of the last three seasons the Cowboys have went from 7^th in the league in rushing during the 2009 season, to 16^th in 2010 and 18^th in overall rushing during last season’s compaign.

Phil Costa an undrafted free agent from Maryland became the third first-year starter on the Dallas offensive line last year and the only undrafted free agent to start the season on any team last year. Although this is an impressive feat at times last year Costa showed exactly why he went undrafted in the 2011 NFL draft. Phil Costa was 29th in the NFL among centers with 2.7% pass protection efficiency.

Toledo alum Kevin Kowalski was signed byDallasas an undrafted free agent in 2011 did show promise at times in spot duty at the center position but is still be a couple years away from the minimum talent needed to perform on a constant basis at the NFL level.

Having the young talented undrafted free agents obviously provide nice cap relief for the Dallas Cowboys as both centers are only slated to earn a combined total of just under $1,000,000 in 2012. Both Costa and Kowalski appear to be nothing more than viable back-ups providing depth along the offensive line at this point.

It’s a fact that eventual NFL journeymen are currently filling-in at center for the Cowboys. This alone is responsible for the current dilemma that has Dallas needing to address the center position, with a solid NFL caliber anchor, at center-stage in the 2012 upcoming NFL draft.

Hit me up on twitter @j0eo1s for any and all draft and NFL questions

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Oct 23, 2010; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Gerald Jones (4) is defended on a pass play by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick (21) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. The Crimson Tide beat the Volunteers 41-10. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE

On February 8th, I wrote an article explaining why I thought the Cowboys should not draft DeCastro. Not surprisingly, many of the amended mock drafts now have the Cowboys drafting a defensive player instead of DeCastro.  It is well known that the Cowboys need to make significant improvements to their secondary, and that they will probably be looking for DB’s in free agency and the Draft.

Our Landry Hat Reader Question of the Week queried us about DB’s not named Morris Claiborne.

If you have questions for the Landry Hat Writers, please email us at cjlandryhat@hotmail.com

Andrew Campbell, New Orleans, : If LSU’s Morris Claiborne was the only CB who had been selected before you picked at 14 and you had to pick a DB, which one would you take, and why?

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As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for the Scouting Combine, the start of the 2012 Free Agency period, and then the 2012 NFL Draft, everyone has an opinion on what Jerry Jones should do.  Our reader question this week asks specifically about that all important 14th pick.

If you have questions you would like answered by The Landry Hat staff, please forward them to cjlandryhat@hotmail.com

James Pritchard, El Paso: Which player would you take with the 14th pick if you limited your options to players who are likely to be available at 14?

Joe Owen: The Dallas Cowboys are not the only team in dire need of a top rated guard in this years NFL draft. And as Landry Hat cohort Greyson Jones wrote last week that “DeCastro would seem to be the ‘safe’ pick, the guaranteed quality starter for the next ten years.” The offensive lineman will in all likely-hood not be available by the time pick number fourteen rolls around.

Dec 26, 2011; Shreveport, LA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive end Quinton Coples (90) warms up before the game against the Missouri Tigers in the Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. Missouri won 41-24. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

With that being said and along with those likely available once Dallas is on the clock out of Mark Barron, Cody Gleen, Zach Brown, and Quinton Coples my money is on defensive end Quinton Coples.

After an MVP type performance at the Senior Bowl this guy could be the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt equivalent for the Dallas Cowboys. All this assuming the questions regarding his tendency to take plays off are hugely exaggerated.

Steven Phillips: For me it has to be David DeCastro out of Stanford at number 14. At 6’5″ and weighing in at 310 lbs he’s not a Goliath by any means, but he is fundamentally sound and is a high-motor player who never takes a play off. He has quick feet and excels at run blocking. He isn’t extremely athletic, yet he has light feet and enough speed to get to the next level. The Cowboys have major issues at the interior line positions. Derrick Dockery is a free agent after spending much of the season injured, Phil Costa was inconsistent to put it nicely and who knows what to expect from Montrae Holland? None of the above should be in the starting lineup come opening day. DeCastro is the top interior lineman in the draft at this point and, like Tyron Smith last year, he fills a need and could be plugged in to the starting lineup. Picking DeCastro is a perfect match.

Greyson Jones: If David DeCastro is there at 14 I’d take him no questions asked. However, if he is as good in workouts as I think he will be, he’ll probably be a top 10 pick. In my mind, that leaves Melvin Ingram and Dre Kirkpatrick. Who they pick depends on whether the Cowboys think Victor Butler is ready for full-time OLB. Personally, I think he is. That leaves Kirkpatrick. While recently wrote an article explaining that the chance that Dre Kirkpatrick is going to be a Pro-Bowler is slim (15%,) if the Cowboys are simply looking for a solid cornerback and some depth (which would likely be found in rounds 3-5 with players like Casey Heyward and Cliff Harris) I think Kirkpatrick would be a fine choice, so long as they don’t hype him like they did Tyron Smith.

Seth Jones: Alfonzo Dennard, the CB from Nebraska. He played with Prince Amukamara, who isn’t actually a prince. He can cover fast guys and strong guys. He’s diverse. Maybe Peter Konz, center from Wisconsin. Wouldn’t it be cool to have an awesome center? I’m not saying that Konz would be awesome, but he COULD be. Isn’t that what the draft is about? Yes, yes it is. Don’t get all smart and such.

Mark Contreras: It’s a little early in the process to be deciding. Having said that, I believe the Cowboys need to go the safe route here. They need to draft someone who will be in a Cowboys uniform for years to come. If they decide on an O-lineman, I think it needs to be DeCastro from Stanford. If they decide on an Outside linebacker, I think it needs to be Zach Brown from UNC. So on and so forth. Take the highest rated guy (on THEIR board) with the best head on his shoulders and really start (re)BUILDING a once proud franchise. The 1st through 3rd rounds should be cornerstone players that are around for many years. Rounds 4-7 is when you get to play with projects. Too often, Jerry wants to play with 1st and 2nd round picks which is why the Cowboys find themselves a constant disappointment.

Todd Toombs: Two ways to approach this – actual need or best athlete available.  The Cowboys have lots of needs so I would clearly advocate for the former approach.  In that vein, the defense appears to be the most challenged with cornerback, defensive line, outside linebacker, and possibly safety being the focal points (in that order in my opinion).  Beyond LSU’s Morris Claiborne (very unlikely to be available at #14), the other cornerbacks appear a bit risky.  If Dre Kirkpatrick is available, I’d have to take him even with the recent arrest issue.  His combination of size and speed is hard to find and would likely be worth the risk.  Outside of him however, I’m not sure I would take a cornerback at 14 as quality players will be available in later rounds.  My next choice would be a pass rushing defensive lineman – Courtney Upshaw or Quinton Coples would be fantastic but unlikely to drop all the way to #14.  South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram is likely to be available as is Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus (got to love his name if nothing else), Jerel Worthy from Michigan State, or Dontari Poe from Memphis.  At safety, Alabama’s Mark Barron is likely to be there at #14.

Of course all bets are off if Jerry decides to move up.  I could see him swapping draft spots with a top ten team and giving them our 2nd round pick to get a player he really covets.  The other option is to trade down and get additional picks in the 2nd or 3rd rounds.  Unless a Claiborne or Upshaw or someone close to that calibre is available at 14, that might be the right move (although unpopular with the fan base depending on who they get with the additional picks).

If you have questions you would like answered by The Landry Hat staff, please forward them to cjlandryhat@hotmail.com

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