Cowboys shouldn't "Huff" Michael's fumes
By Connor Byrne
04/19/2006
Recently, a great deal of talk has been surfacing around the NFL that the Dallas Cowboys are keen on drafting Michael Huff, the former safety for the Texas Longhorns. However, the problem with that rests in the fact that Huff likely will not fall out of the top nine in the draft's first-round.
In order to get Huff on their roster, the Cowboys would have to move up at least nine spots in the upcoming draft, which would put them at a major disadvantage for the future. It might take a future first-round draft choice as well as other relatively valuable picks in this year's draft for the Cowboys to find a trading partner. Obviously, 64-year-old head coach Bill Parcells wants to win a third Super Bowl before his time ends in the league soon, but this would be the wrong way to go about it for Dallas.
Assuming Huff goes where he's projected, the Cowboys should turn their attention to Jason Allen, a former standout defensive back for the University of Tennessee.
Not only does Allen have the ability to fill the Cowboys' glaring need at free safety, but he can also play cornerback, which he often did in college. At 6-0, 209 pounds, Allen has good size for a defensive back--as well as a terrific 4.39 40-yard dash time at February's scouting combine. Outside of those two qualities, Allen also has great leadership skills and the ability to defend against the opposition's running game, which would be huge in a division that sees the Cowboys face Tiki Barber, Clinton Portis and Brian Westbrook a combined six times per year.
In the event that Allen is off the draft board by the time the Cowboys select at No. 18 overall, former Ohio State defensive back Donte Whitner should also be a possibility.
Whitner's upside doesn't quite match Allen's, but he still is projected to be a success on the pro level. Standing 5-10 and weighing 204 pounds, Whitner doesn't necessarily possess great size, but his talent is unavoidable. He boasted a 4.4 40-yard dash time at the scouting combine, so he obviously has the speed to succeed as either a safety or cornerback. Much like Cowboys All-Pro strong safety Roy Williams, Whitner has the ability to utilize his explosiveness and rush the opposing quarterback. Along with Williams, he would make a lethal, yet rare pass-rushing combo at the safety positions.
The best thing about Allen and Whitner is the fact that neither has a true position right now, so the Cowboys could mold them into playing free safety. As of now it's one of the Cowboys' biggest areas of concern, since they have average veteran Keith Davis at the position. Davis just signed a two-year deal with Dallas, however, that doesn't necessarily mean he has the position etched in stone. There is some major room for improvement for Davis; drafting one of these youngsters would be an automatic upgrade over the 27-year-old Davis, who has still not recorded a sack or interception in 39 total games.
If Huff was the only solid safety in the draft's first round, it would make sense for the Cowboys to trade up. However, it's rash considering Allen and/or Whitner could easily turn into equal or superior players to Huff at the NFL level.
Of course, nothing's ever guaranteed in the draft, but the Cowboys should make sure staying at No. 18 is affirmed. Otherwise, their future competitiveness could be sold down the river.
04/19/2006
Recently, a great deal of talk has been surfacing around the NFL that the Dallas Cowboys are keen on drafting Michael Huff, the former safety for the Texas Longhorns. However, the problem with that rests in the fact that Huff likely will not fall out of the top nine in the draft's first-round.
In order to get Huff on their roster, the Cowboys would have to move up at least nine spots in the upcoming draft, which would put them at a major disadvantage for the future. It might take a future first-round draft choice as well as other relatively valuable picks in this year's draft for the Cowboys to find a trading partner. Obviously, 64-year-old head coach Bill Parcells wants to win a third Super Bowl before his time ends in the league soon, but this would be the wrong way to go about it for Dallas.
Assuming Huff goes where he's projected, the Cowboys should turn their attention to Jason Allen, a former standout defensive back for the University of Tennessee.
Not only does Allen have the ability to fill the Cowboys' glaring need at free safety, but he can also play cornerback, which he often did in college. At 6-0, 209 pounds, Allen has good size for a defensive back--as well as a terrific 4.39 40-yard dash time at February's scouting combine. Outside of those two qualities, Allen also has great leadership skills and the ability to defend against the opposition's running game, which would be huge in a division that sees the Cowboys face Tiki Barber, Clinton Portis and Brian Westbrook a combined six times per year.
In the event that Allen is off the draft board by the time the Cowboys select at No. 18 overall, former Ohio State defensive back Donte Whitner should also be a possibility.
Whitner's upside doesn't quite match Allen's, but he still is projected to be a success on the pro level. Standing 5-10 and weighing 204 pounds, Whitner doesn't necessarily possess great size, but his talent is unavoidable. He boasted a 4.4 40-yard dash time at the scouting combine, so he obviously has the speed to succeed as either a safety or cornerback. Much like Cowboys All-Pro strong safety Roy Williams, Whitner has the ability to utilize his explosiveness and rush the opposing quarterback. Along with Williams, he would make a lethal, yet rare pass-rushing combo at the safety positions.
The best thing about Allen and Whitner is the fact that neither has a true position right now, so the Cowboys could mold them into playing free safety. As of now it's one of the Cowboys' biggest areas of concern, since they have average veteran Keith Davis at the position. Davis just signed a two-year deal with Dallas, however, that doesn't necessarily mean he has the position etched in stone. There is some major room for improvement for Davis; drafting one of these youngsters would be an automatic upgrade over the 27-year-old Davis, who has still not recorded a sack or interception in 39 total games.
If Huff was the only solid safety in the draft's first round, it would make sense for the Cowboys to trade up. However, it's rash considering Allen and/or Whitner could easily turn into equal or superior players to Huff at the NFL level.
Of course, nothing's ever guaranteed in the draft, but the Cowboys should make sure staying at No. 18 is affirmed. Otherwise, their future competitiveness could be sold down the river.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:23 PM
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