Draft Picks Will Play Major Role In 2006
By DCFanatic
DCFU Staff
First round draft pick Linebacker Bobby Carpenter is going to start in 2006. Many so called experts were calling this the safest pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Carpenter fits the bill as they say. He has already beaten out Al Singleton for the starting outside linebacker spot, opposite Demarcus Ware, and he doesn't even have a star on his helmet yet. For me the most exciting early moment of the 2006 season is definitely going to be the first time I see Ware and Carpenter meet at the poor opposing team's quarterback. Let's hope that guy is Byron Leftwich.
Second round draft pick Tight End Anthony Fasano is going to start in 2006. 'Why are we drafting a Tight End when we have Pro Bowler Jason Witten?'. That's what me, you and the next guy said as soon as we all heard the name Anthony Fasano. Luckily Jerry Jones did a great job of explaining the pick a little while later on Saturday. I must say I am liking the idea of running the two Tight End set as the base offense more and more every hour. A combo of Witten and Fasano will provide a lot more options to this offense than the Witten and Polite/Campbell combo of 2005. Just think about the first time we see Fasano or Witten running down the sideline for a 40 yard gain against the Giants after Mr. Arrington starts freelancing and blows the coverage. This decision is just simple math. Defenses will have a lot of trouble determining is the Cowboys are going to pass or run and how many receiving options will even go out into the pattern.
Fourth round draft pick Wide Receiver Skyler Green is definitely going to return punts in 2006 and may also return kickoffs. When was the last time you jumped off the couch watching a Cowboys punt return? I don't remember either. Green is going to have us doing this at least once a game this season. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself on this one, but I read where someone in another organization compared him to the Chiefs Dante Hall. Wow, can't wait to see this kid play and I am saying right now that he will have at least one return for a TD this preseason.
Fifth round draft pick Safety Pat Watkins is going to push Keith Davis and Marcus Coleman for the starting Free Safety spot in 2006. No one in their right mind would say that the Free Safety job for the Dallas Cowboys is locked up by either Davis or Coleman. Is it highly unlikely that Watkins is going to be the starting Free Safety on opening day? Yes, but this is only May 1, 2006. By September 10, 2006 this question could be answered with a definitive No. All I know is that this kid was not happy about falling to fifth round and he has said he is coming into the NFL with a chip on his shoulder. I hope that he is one of those guys that plays much better when he is mad because it can only help the Cowboys defense at the end of the day.
Sixth round draft pick Defensive Tackle Montavious Stanley is going to be the main backup to Jason Ferguson in 2006. After five rounds went by in this draft I was praying for a Defensive Tackle in the sixth round. Stanley being drafted answered my prayers in a big way, pun intended. He is coming into the NFL the same way Jason Ferguson began his career. Both of these guys came into the NFL as late round draft choices and Coach Parcells is looking to mold Stanley into a Ferguson type of player. Have you heard Stanley in any of his post draft interviews? The Kid is a talker and a great personality, but then again aren't all defensive lineman. This Cowboy's defense now has two lunch pail Defensive Tackles and that's a good thing.
Third round pick Defensive End Jason Hatcher and seventh round draft picks Offensive Linemen Pat McQuistan and E.J. Whitley will probably not have as big of an impact this season as the guys above. They will get plenty of work in the 2006 training camp though. I know I am not alone in thinking that Hatcher is a question mark right now, but if I have to go on what has been written about him by various football scouts then it looks like he will be helping solidify the defensive line sooner rather than later.
If I told you before the draft that five of the eight players drafted would play a major role this season then I have to think at least 98% of us would be very happy.
Throw in the idea that we now have a new two Tight End offense to look forward to and we should be even happier. In my opinion Lousaka Polite did not play well enough to warrant a spot on the roster every week. I think anyone who has watched Anthony Fasano and Polite play football would have to admit Fasano is the more versatile player.
Initially I had to warm up to the Fasano pick and I am still a little mad that the offensive line wasn't addressed in the third round, but overall I am pleased with this draft. The grade? Well they say you really can't give any draft a grade until about three years later, but I am going to hand one out anyway. How about a B+ for Jerry, Bill and Jeff.
DCFU Staff
First round draft pick Linebacker Bobby Carpenter is going to start in 2006. Many so called experts were calling this the safest pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Carpenter fits the bill as they say. He has already beaten out Al Singleton for the starting outside linebacker spot, opposite Demarcus Ware, and he doesn't even have a star on his helmet yet. For me the most exciting early moment of the 2006 season is definitely going to be the first time I see Ware and Carpenter meet at the poor opposing team's quarterback. Let's hope that guy is Byron Leftwich.
Second round draft pick Tight End Anthony Fasano is going to start in 2006. 'Why are we drafting a Tight End when we have Pro Bowler Jason Witten?'. That's what me, you and the next guy said as soon as we all heard the name Anthony Fasano. Luckily Jerry Jones did a great job of explaining the pick a little while later on Saturday. I must say I am liking the idea of running the two Tight End set as the base offense more and more every hour. A combo of Witten and Fasano will provide a lot more options to this offense than the Witten and Polite/Campbell combo of 2005. Just think about the first time we see Fasano or Witten running down the sideline for a 40 yard gain against the Giants after Mr. Arrington starts freelancing and blows the coverage. This decision is just simple math. Defenses will have a lot of trouble determining is the Cowboys are going to pass or run and how many receiving options will even go out into the pattern.
Fourth round draft pick Wide Receiver Skyler Green is definitely going to return punts in 2006 and may also return kickoffs. When was the last time you jumped off the couch watching a Cowboys punt return? I don't remember either. Green is going to have us doing this at least once a game this season. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself on this one, but I read where someone in another organization compared him to the Chiefs Dante Hall. Wow, can't wait to see this kid play and I am saying right now that he will have at least one return for a TD this preseason.
Fifth round draft pick Safety Pat Watkins is going to push Keith Davis and Marcus Coleman for the starting Free Safety spot in 2006. No one in their right mind would say that the Free Safety job for the Dallas Cowboys is locked up by either Davis or Coleman. Is it highly unlikely that Watkins is going to be the starting Free Safety on opening day? Yes, but this is only May 1, 2006. By September 10, 2006 this question could be answered with a definitive No. All I know is that this kid was not happy about falling to fifth round and he has said he is coming into the NFL with a chip on his shoulder. I hope that he is one of those guys that plays much better when he is mad because it can only help the Cowboys defense at the end of the day.
Sixth round draft pick Defensive Tackle Montavious Stanley is going to be the main backup to Jason Ferguson in 2006. After five rounds went by in this draft I was praying for a Defensive Tackle in the sixth round. Stanley being drafted answered my prayers in a big way, pun intended. He is coming into the NFL the same way Jason Ferguson began his career. Both of these guys came into the NFL as late round draft choices and Coach Parcells is looking to mold Stanley into a Ferguson type of player. Have you heard Stanley in any of his post draft interviews? The Kid is a talker and a great personality, but then again aren't all defensive lineman. This Cowboy's defense now has two lunch pail Defensive Tackles and that's a good thing.
Third round pick Defensive End Jason Hatcher and seventh round draft picks Offensive Linemen Pat McQuistan and E.J. Whitley will probably not have as big of an impact this season as the guys above. They will get plenty of work in the 2006 training camp though. I know I am not alone in thinking that Hatcher is a question mark right now, but if I have to go on what has been written about him by various football scouts then it looks like he will be helping solidify the defensive line sooner rather than later.
If I told you before the draft that five of the eight players drafted would play a major role this season then I have to think at least 98% of us would be very happy.
Throw in the idea that we now have a new two Tight End offense to look forward to and we should be even happier. In my opinion Lousaka Polite did not play well enough to warrant a spot on the roster every week. I think anyone who has watched Anthony Fasano and Polite play football would have to admit Fasano is the more versatile player.
Initially I had to warm up to the Fasano pick and I am still a little mad that the offensive line wasn't addressed in the third round, but overall I am pleased with this draft. The grade? Well they say you really can't give any draft a grade until about three years later, but I am going to hand one out anyway. How about a B+ for Jerry, Bill and Jeff.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:59 PM
<< Home