Jones pleased with Cowboys' haul
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys' failure to select an offensive lineman early in the NFL draft wasn't enough to sour owner Jerry Jones on a haul he says could yield two starters and a special-teams ace.
"We didn't have the picks to get all we got plus offensive linemen," Jones said Sunday. "It just didn't happen. It also wasn't smart to trade (first- or second-round choices) and get more picks because of what you had to sacrifice to get out of those quality picks."
The Cowboys, who eventually made a series of trades to collect with eight choices, took Weber State offensive tackle Pat McQuistan and Texas Tech center/guard E.J. Whitley in the final round.
Many NFL observers consider offensive line an area of weakness for the Cowboys, who released Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen last month and lack quality depth at several positions up front.
The Cowboys used their first pick, No.18 overall, on Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter. In the second round, at No.53, they chose Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano. Jones says both are expected to start next season.
Between those selections, three offensive tackles were plucked: Southern California's Winston Justice, Boise State's Daryn Colledge and Auburn's Marcus McNeill.
Two offensive tackles were selected after the Cowboys picked Fasano in the second round: LSU's Andrew Whitworth and Boston College's Jeremy Trueblood.
In the third round, the Cowboys took Grambling State defensive end Jason Hatcher rather than Georgia guard Max Jean-Giles and Bloomsburg offensive tackle Jahri Evans.
"At all those junctures," Jones said, "the players that were there (Carpenter, Fasano and Hatcher) just gave us a preference over offensive linemen."
In the case of the 6-foot-6, 284-pound Hatcher, Jones and Jeff Ireland, the Cowboys' scouting director, said they might have gotten a steal. Jones even suggested Hatcher could become another Leon Lett, a defensive tackle from Emporia (Kan.) State who became a productive starter after the Cowboys selected him in the seventh round in 1991.
"He shows tremendous burst, can rush the passer and has played on both sides (of the line)," Ireland said of Hatcher. "I just look at him as a guy that can really bolster your pass rusher."
Jones also defended the Cowboys drafting defensive players with four of their first six picks. In addition to Carpenter and Hatcher, Dallas chose Florida State safety Pat Watkins in the fifth round and Louisville defensive tackle Montavious Stanley in the sixth.
"The opportunity was there for us to really bolster up the direction we are trying to go in with the 3-4 (scheme)," Jones said.
Said Ireland: "The draft was kind of a defensive heavy draft. That's where the best players fell. It's not that we were going after defense. We were going after the best players available, guys that can contribute and be a part of the team the first year."
Still, Jones said he "feels better" about the offensive line because of upgrades made at other positions.
"What we have done at tight end (with Fasano) and what we have done at receiver with (Terrell Owens)," Jones said, "will allow us to balance this attack and make it easier for that offensive line to pass block and protect the quarterback and make it easier for that offensive line when called upon in the running game.
"That's why I feel better about it. I also feel better about it because the health of (left tackle) Flozell Adams and the health of (right guard) Mario Rivera will be better."
The Cowboys' second-day picks also included a player who could become a special-teams stalwart, receiver/returner Skyler Green, a fourth-round selection from LSU.
Green (5-9, 192) is one of the few LSU players to score a touchdown by running, receiving and returning punts.
He also covers 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.
"That's my big plus," Green said. "I'm an outstanding punt returner, an outstanding kickoff returner and very exciting in the open field."
Green is versatile. He played quarterback in high school and started his college career as a running back.
"I don't know if he was just joking, but (Jones) said he would put me at running back, receiver and quarterback," Green said. "They are going to try all kind of things. That put a real big smile on my face."
Ireland compared Green to Kansas City special-teams ace and Texas A&M-ex Dante Hall.
"He's got that kind of ability," Ireland said.
"Kansas City has used Dante as a running back and a receiver. I think this kid is pretty versatile."
Said Jones. "(With the addition of Rogers and kicker Mike Vanderjagt) I personally think we've really added a lot of juice to what we can do on special teams."
Notes: Cowboys coach Bill Parcells chose not to speak to the media during the draft ... Jones said he and other team officials would be in San Antonio on Thursday for a news conference to discuss the team's five-year contract to hold training camp at the Alamodome starting in 2007.
Express-News Staff Writer
IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys' failure to select an offensive lineman early in the NFL draft wasn't enough to sour owner Jerry Jones on a haul he says could yield two starters and a special-teams ace.
"We didn't have the picks to get all we got plus offensive linemen," Jones said Sunday. "It just didn't happen. It also wasn't smart to trade (first- or second-round choices) and get more picks because of what you had to sacrifice to get out of those quality picks."
The Cowboys, who eventually made a series of trades to collect with eight choices, took Weber State offensive tackle Pat McQuistan and Texas Tech center/guard E.J. Whitley in the final round.
Many NFL observers consider offensive line an area of weakness for the Cowboys, who released Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen last month and lack quality depth at several positions up front.
The Cowboys used their first pick, No.18 overall, on Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter. In the second round, at No.53, they chose Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano. Jones says both are expected to start next season.
Between those selections, three offensive tackles were plucked: Southern California's Winston Justice, Boise State's Daryn Colledge and Auburn's Marcus McNeill.
Two offensive tackles were selected after the Cowboys picked Fasano in the second round: LSU's Andrew Whitworth and Boston College's Jeremy Trueblood.
In the third round, the Cowboys took Grambling State defensive end Jason Hatcher rather than Georgia guard Max Jean-Giles and Bloomsburg offensive tackle Jahri Evans.
"At all those junctures," Jones said, "the players that were there (Carpenter, Fasano and Hatcher) just gave us a preference over offensive linemen."
In the case of the 6-foot-6, 284-pound Hatcher, Jones and Jeff Ireland, the Cowboys' scouting director, said they might have gotten a steal. Jones even suggested Hatcher could become another Leon Lett, a defensive tackle from Emporia (Kan.) State who became a productive starter after the Cowboys selected him in the seventh round in 1991.
"He shows tremendous burst, can rush the passer and has played on both sides (of the line)," Ireland said of Hatcher. "I just look at him as a guy that can really bolster your pass rusher."
Jones also defended the Cowboys drafting defensive players with four of their first six picks. In addition to Carpenter and Hatcher, Dallas chose Florida State safety Pat Watkins in the fifth round and Louisville defensive tackle Montavious Stanley in the sixth.
"The opportunity was there for us to really bolster up the direction we are trying to go in with the 3-4 (scheme)," Jones said.
Said Ireland: "The draft was kind of a defensive heavy draft. That's where the best players fell. It's not that we were going after defense. We were going after the best players available, guys that can contribute and be a part of the team the first year."
Still, Jones said he "feels better" about the offensive line because of upgrades made at other positions.
"What we have done at tight end (with Fasano) and what we have done at receiver with (Terrell Owens)," Jones said, "will allow us to balance this attack and make it easier for that offensive line to pass block and protect the quarterback and make it easier for that offensive line when called upon in the running game.
"That's why I feel better about it. I also feel better about it because the health of (left tackle) Flozell Adams and the health of (right guard) Mario Rivera will be better."
The Cowboys' second-day picks also included a player who could become a special-teams stalwart, receiver/returner Skyler Green, a fourth-round selection from LSU.
Green (5-9, 192) is one of the few LSU players to score a touchdown by running, receiving and returning punts.
He also covers 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.
"That's my big plus," Green said. "I'm an outstanding punt returner, an outstanding kickoff returner and very exciting in the open field."
Green is versatile. He played quarterback in high school and started his college career as a running back.
"I don't know if he was just joking, but (Jones) said he would put me at running back, receiver and quarterback," Green said. "They are going to try all kind of things. That put a real big smile on my face."
Ireland compared Green to Kansas City special-teams ace and Texas A&M-ex Dante Hall.
"He's got that kind of ability," Ireland said.
"Kansas City has used Dante as a running back and a receiver. I think this kid is pretty versatile."
Said Jones. "(With the addition of Rogers and kicker Mike Vanderjagt) I personally think we've really added a lot of juice to what we can do on special teams."
Notes: Cowboys coach Bill Parcells chose not to speak to the media during the draft ... Jones said he and other team officials would be in San Antonio on Thursday for a news conference to discuss the team's five-year contract to hold training camp at the Alamodome starting in 2007.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:50 PM
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