Draft class of a year ago still has much to prove
By MAC ENGEL
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The great Marion Barber III
OXNARD, Calif. -- Collectively, they were a top rookie class.
"Were we?" Cowboys second-year defensive end Chris Canty asked. "We were average. We were in a situation where we were forced to play. Coach expected excellence of us, and we fell well short of that."
In terms of wins, he's right. Nine wins wasn't enough to make the playoffs.
In terms of what the Cowboys' draft class of 2005 represents, it is much more in terms of potential.
Of the eight players selected, seven contributed, and five were major players. They represent what might be the team's best draft in more than a decade. Considering the Cowboys' drafts of recent years, this class figures to compose part of the organization's core for the next several seasons.
"I think there are some of them that are pretty talented," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "That's one thing nowadays that's exciting. You get new guys and you know you're going to have to play them. You don't have a choice."
A breakdown of the class of 2005, what the players did, and what they are expected to do:
DeMarcus Ware, LB
1st round, 11th overall
Last season: Started 16 games; 65 tackles, 8 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 19 quarterback pressures, 3 forced fumbles
What's expected: Pressure the passer and create havoc. He looks to be developing into a major force.
Quotable: "Last year you had those rookies things you have to deal with," Ware said. "Now, it's just playing and I feel real comfortable with what I'm doing."
Marcus Spears, DE
1st round, 20th overall
Last season: Played 16 games, started 10; 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 quarterback pressures, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery
What's expected: Push the pocket. The Cowboys love his potential and think he's ready to provide a major push on the defensive line.
Kevin Burnett, LB
2nd round, 42nd overall
Last season: Played in 13 games; 6 tackles, 1 sack, 11 tackles on special teams. Had surgery at the start of 2005 training camp to clean out cartilage in his left knee, and surgery on his right anterior cruciate ligament after tearing it in the last week of the season.
What's expected: Stay healthy. Burnett might have played his way out of the injury doghouse, but the only way he can stay out is to get on the field at a position that's crowded.
Quotable: "I expect to not be just at an average level or a so-so level," he said. "I expect to contribute at a high level. I can't just be out there. I need to help."
Marion Barber, RB
4th round, 109th overall
Last season: 13 games, started 2; 138 carries, 538 yards, 5 touchdowns, 18 catches for 115 yards
What's expected: The Cowboys believe he could be a good player for many years. He might not have special speed, but he picks up the blitz well, is a solid receiver, and just knows what to do.
Quotable: "I've got to be better," Barber said. "The mental aspect is easier. Now, it's just about playing."
Chris Canty, DE
4th round, 132nd overall
Last season: Played 16 games, started 2; 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
What's expected: To be a consistent starter, and collapse the pocket or help on run defense. He showed a lot as a rookie, but more is needed in his second year.
Quotable: "Maybe I'm a little overzealous, but I hadn't had [as few as] 43 tackles since my redshirt freshman year in college," Canty said. "I was totally unimpressed. Especially as much as I played."
Justin Beriault, S
6th round, 208nd overall
Last season: Missed the season with an injured right knee, in which the right medial and lateral meniscus were torn.
What's expected: Catch up. After missing all of last season with a knee injury and the past few days with a concussion, he's falling behind.
Rob Petitti, OT
6th round, 209nd overall
Last season: Started 16 games at right tackle.
What's expected: He is much bigger than last season, and playing every snap last year provided invaluable experience. He should be better, but he's still the same player who led the NFC in sacks allowed with 12.5.
Quotable: "He did a lot of things wrong last year that he's not doing this year," Cowboys guard Marco Rivera said. "He's improving a lot."
Jay Ratliff, DE
7th round, 224nd overall
Last season: Played four games, started one; 5 tackles, 1 sack. Placed on injured reserve Nov. 1 with a badly sprained ankle.
What's expected: The Cowboys rave about Ratliff because of his intelligence and athleticism. Expect him to become a consistent member of the D-line rotation, which would make him a steal.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The great Marion Barber III
OXNARD, Calif. -- Collectively, they were a top rookie class.
"Were we?" Cowboys second-year defensive end Chris Canty asked. "We were average. We were in a situation where we were forced to play. Coach expected excellence of us, and we fell well short of that."
In terms of wins, he's right. Nine wins wasn't enough to make the playoffs.
In terms of what the Cowboys' draft class of 2005 represents, it is much more in terms of potential.
Of the eight players selected, seven contributed, and five were major players. They represent what might be the team's best draft in more than a decade. Considering the Cowboys' drafts of recent years, this class figures to compose part of the organization's core for the next several seasons.
"I think there are some of them that are pretty talented," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "That's one thing nowadays that's exciting. You get new guys and you know you're going to have to play them. You don't have a choice."
A breakdown of the class of 2005, what the players did, and what they are expected to do:
DeMarcus Ware, LB
1st round, 11th overall
Last season: Started 16 games; 65 tackles, 8 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 19 quarterback pressures, 3 forced fumbles
What's expected: Pressure the passer and create havoc. He looks to be developing into a major force.
Quotable: "Last year you had those rookies things you have to deal with," Ware said. "Now, it's just playing and I feel real comfortable with what I'm doing."
Marcus Spears, DE
1st round, 20th overall
Last season: Played 16 games, started 10; 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 quarterback pressures, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery
What's expected: Push the pocket. The Cowboys love his potential and think he's ready to provide a major push on the defensive line.
Kevin Burnett, LB
2nd round, 42nd overall
Last season: Played in 13 games; 6 tackles, 1 sack, 11 tackles on special teams. Had surgery at the start of 2005 training camp to clean out cartilage in his left knee, and surgery on his right anterior cruciate ligament after tearing it in the last week of the season.
What's expected: Stay healthy. Burnett might have played his way out of the injury doghouse, but the only way he can stay out is to get on the field at a position that's crowded.
Quotable: "I expect to not be just at an average level or a so-so level," he said. "I expect to contribute at a high level. I can't just be out there. I need to help."
Marion Barber, RB
4th round, 109th overall
Last season: 13 games, started 2; 138 carries, 538 yards, 5 touchdowns, 18 catches for 115 yards
What's expected: The Cowboys believe he could be a good player for many years. He might not have special speed, but he picks up the blitz well, is a solid receiver, and just knows what to do.
Quotable: "I've got to be better," Barber said. "The mental aspect is easier. Now, it's just about playing."
Chris Canty, DE
4th round, 132nd overall
Last season: Played 16 games, started 2; 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
What's expected: To be a consistent starter, and collapse the pocket or help on run defense. He showed a lot as a rookie, but more is needed in his second year.
Quotable: "Maybe I'm a little overzealous, but I hadn't had [as few as] 43 tackles since my redshirt freshman year in college," Canty said. "I was totally unimpressed. Especially as much as I played."
Justin Beriault, S
6th round, 208nd overall
Last season: Missed the season with an injured right knee, in which the right medial and lateral meniscus were torn.
What's expected: Catch up. After missing all of last season with a knee injury and the past few days with a concussion, he's falling behind.
Rob Petitti, OT
6th round, 209nd overall
Last season: Started 16 games at right tackle.
What's expected: He is much bigger than last season, and playing every snap last year provided invaluable experience. He should be better, but he's still the same player who led the NFC in sacks allowed with 12.5.
Quotable: "He did a lot of things wrong last year that he's not doing this year," Cowboys guard Marco Rivera said. "He's improving a lot."
Jay Ratliff, DE
7th round, 224nd overall
Last season: Played four games, started one; 5 tackles, 1 sack. Placed on injured reserve Nov. 1 with a badly sprained ankle.
What's expected: The Cowboys rave about Ratliff because of his intelligence and athleticism. Expect him to become a consistent member of the D-line rotation, which would make him a steal.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:51 AM
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