DMN Blog: How the draft picks fit on defense
by Albert Breer
Half of the Cowboys' six picks in last weekend's draft were used on defense, bolstering a unit that now has nine first-rounders in its ranks.
What does this tell you in advance of this weekend's rookie camp? Competition for roster spots will be fierce. But when you really look at it, it seems the camp battles that the draft picks will create are not at the top of the depth chart, but chiefly on the back end.
The Cowboys used selections at two defensive positions, cornerback (Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick) and outside linebacker (Erik Walden). Only Jenkins is a lock to make the team and, as such, the first-rounder also seems to be the lone defensive draft pick with a chance to start, and even that chance isn't all that strong.
Consider that - barring the latest developments in the Pacman Jones case blowing the lid off of his reinstatement campaign - Dallas will enter summer with three corners with extensive starting experience. Add Jenkins to that list, and you have four corners. Most teams carry five or six on their 53-man roster and dress four or five on gameday.
In essence, Jones and Jenkins take the roster spots of Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones, which represents a big-time upgrade. And in the end, it will likely be Scandrick, Alan Ball and Evan Oglesby battling for one or two roster spots. Scandrick has a leg-up on being able to make the 45-man gameday roster, because of his special teams ability, and that deep on the depth chart, it should make a difference in his ability to make the team.
As for Walden, it seems to be a fair bet that he'll be facing off with Justin Rogers for a roster spot. DeMarcus Ware, Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer are atop the depth chart at outside linebackers, and it's pretty unlikely that'll change. What that means for Walden is that he, like Scandrick, will likely have to show special teams value, which Rogers has, to stick.
Half of the Cowboys' six picks in last weekend's draft were used on defense, bolstering a unit that now has nine first-rounders in its ranks.
What does this tell you in advance of this weekend's rookie camp? Competition for roster spots will be fierce. But when you really look at it, it seems the camp battles that the draft picks will create are not at the top of the depth chart, but chiefly on the back end.
The Cowboys used selections at two defensive positions, cornerback (Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick) and outside linebacker (Erik Walden). Only Jenkins is a lock to make the team and, as such, the first-rounder also seems to be the lone defensive draft pick with a chance to start, and even that chance isn't all that strong.
Consider that - barring the latest developments in the Pacman Jones case blowing the lid off of his reinstatement campaign - Dallas will enter summer with three corners with extensive starting experience. Add Jenkins to that list, and you have four corners. Most teams carry five or six on their 53-man roster and dress four or five on gameday.
In essence, Jones and Jenkins take the roster spots of Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones, which represents a big-time upgrade. And in the end, it will likely be Scandrick, Alan Ball and Evan Oglesby battling for one or two roster spots. Scandrick has a leg-up on being able to make the 45-man gameday roster, because of his special teams ability, and that deep on the depth chart, it should make a difference in his ability to make the team.
As for Walden, it seems to be a fair bet that he'll be facing off with Justin Rogers for a roster spot. DeMarcus Ware, Greg Ellis and Anthony Spencer are atop the depth chart at outside linebackers, and it's pretty unlikely that'll change. What that means for Walden is that he, like Scandrick, will likely have to show special teams value, which Rogers has, to stick.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:08 PM
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