1. Kelvin Pritchett, defensive tackle, Ole Miss (1991) – Oh, this isn’t a Mike Patterson job where the Cowboys cut their first round pick. No, Kelvin Pritchett never even played a down for the Dallas Cowboys. While not being another subject to Jimmy Johnson’s “asthma field,” Pritchett was the subject for one of Johnson and Jones’ draft room wheeling and dealing. Because Detroit coveted Pritchett so bad, the Cowboys netted with five picks in between the second and fifth rounds. Some of those picks included Dixon Edwards, Godfrey Miles, Erik Williams, and Curvin Richards.

2. Ebenezer Ekuban, defensive end, North Carolina (1999) — For a former offensive coordinator, Chan Gailey sure liked his defensive ends. Not to mention, ol’ Ebenezer was ’98 first round selection Greg Ellis’ Tar Heel teammate. Ekuban started 2 games as a rookie and played in 16 games in his rookie year. He played 60 games total for the Cowboys and registered 12.5 sacks, which is what DeMarcus Ware averages a season. The Cowboys release Ekuban, and he went on to play for the Browns in 2004 and registered 8 sacks. In the 2005 off-season, Ekuban joined teammates Reuben Droughns and Michael Myers in a trade to Denver. Courtney Brown was signed later, and then the Broncos traded for Gerard Warren, making these five players the Denver “Browncos.”

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Marcus Spears (96) celebrates after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Steelers 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

3. Marcus Spears, defensive end, LSU (2005) — Bill Parcells had his sights set on Marcus Spears, such to the point we nearly blew our first first round selection him and missed DeMarcus Ware. That’s Bill Parcells for you. Ultimately, we ended up with Ware and Spears. Except for in 2010 when he was injured, Marcus Spears has played in all 16 games of his 8 seasons. He only has 10 sacks, but many of his defenders suggest this is because of the technique he played wherein his position was to open up pass rush opportunities for outside linebackers. While not a great pick, the debate looms on whether he is a bust.

4. Bobby Carpenter, linebacker, Ohio State (2006) — If people want to know why I remain unimpressed with Bill Parcells’ Dallas tenure, this is why. Bobby Carpenter’s selection was pure nepotism, the saddest example of Bill Parcells’ “pet cats” system that undercut anything he tried to build in Dallas. Rather than taking Antonio Cromartie, Tamba Hali, Johnathan Joseph, or Nick Freakin’ Mangold, Parcells blows a pick on a pony-tailed bust that couldn’t start until Greg Ellis ruptured his Achilles. Carpenter couldn’t play outside nor inside, so the Cowboys dealt him to the Rams in the 2010 off-season. There, he couldn’t even make the team, instead making the team with all of the other Parcells rejects in Miami. Even there, he got cut and found a home in Detroit in the middle of the 2010 season. Arguably the biggest play of his professional career was when he picked off Tony Romo in Week 4 of 2011 and took it back for a touchdown. Other than that, Bobby Carpenter was a failed pick and has always found ways to hurt the Cowboys.

Let’s go back to the first game of the Cowboys season for a second, where we see a loss to the New York Jets twenty first ranked pass offense and twenty second ranked rushing offense. Which mattered more: Romo’s fumble and interception, or the fact that we couldn’t stop Mark Sanchez from connecting with Plaxico Burress? Take into account we had the Jets pinned at their own 15 yard line and didn’t hold them to a 3rd down play until they were at the Dallas 26 yard line. If we had a defense worth their salt we would have won that game, changed our entire season and the seasons of many other teams (including the New York Giants). But we didn’t and sadly our Cowboys were scheduling tee times instead of practice times.

I’ll skip the Detroit Lions game for obvious reasons, but how about our week six match up against the AFC Champion Patriots? The Cowboys were winning heading into the 4th quarter, but once again the Cowboys defense failed to hold Tom Brady to much more than a 3rd and 1. Three plays after that 3rd and 1, we were watching Aaron Hernandez throw imaginary dollar bills into the air from the end zone. Again, another situation where a good defense could come in handy, don’t you think? Keep looking at our loss column and you will see the same thing over and over again.

Cardinals game: Couldn’t stop the mighty Kevin Kolb from hooking up with Stephens-Howling for a 52 yard scamper to win the game.

Both Eagles games: Our defense couldn’t stop a nose bleed.

Both Giants games: Our defense looked like they made a wrong turn heading to the Texas Rangers game.

All 8 of our losses can be credited, in many ways, to the lack of play by our defense. When Romo messes up, we should be feeling confident in our defense making a stop, not holding our breath and betting on the over/under for how long it takes them to score.

Defense is just as important now as it was fifty years ago. Heck, even the best offense in the league can have a bad day. Look at Green Bay. I thought they were Super Bowl bound the very second Aaron Rogers put up 61 points in one of my fantasy leagues. But wouldn’t you know it, the Giant’s defense held the great Aaron Rogers to only two touchdowns. Meanwhile the Packer’s Defense that was so good last year, gave Eli the opportunity to throw for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Putting defense on the back burner this draft could make for another painful season next year. Like I said in my last article, I like DeCastro, from Stanford not USC, but I would feel very disappointed if we were to draft him with our fourteenth pick. If we don’t address the needs of our twenty third ranked pass defense then the Cowboys are in trouble.

Now, if the Cowboys did draft DeCastro and then made some big free agent pick ups I would feel a little more comfortable. But the 2011 Cowboys were interested in getting younger so I don’t see them pulling a 180 and spending what little cap space we have left on a big name free agents. During the Jerry Jones era of the Dallas Cowboys we have seen two types of teams: the Troy Aikmen led winners and the interchangeable Quarterback black hole led by Ryan Leaf and Quincy Carter. I don’t want to be known through out the league as winning one playoff game in 15 years anymore. I want our doomsday defense back. I saw enough offense at Texas Tech during the Mike Leach era to know that however good your offense is you can still lose without a good defense. I know that drafting a DB could be boom or bust, and I know DeCastro could be Pro Bowl material, but we would be picking him just to pick him, or for the “safe play”. Research who our last ‘safe’ draft picks are and you’ll find Barbie…I mean Bobby Carpenter, the slow starting Anthony Spencer, the highly touted yet highly mediocre Felix Jones, and Mike Jenkins. Even if we go with Quinton Couples, like the mock draft 2.0 projects, I would be happy. And at this point, I don’t care who we draft as long as they play defense.

Defense still matters. Go Cows.

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