Archer: Mel Kiper sticks with DT for Cowboys in second mock

boozeman

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Mel Kiper sticks with DT for Cowboys in second mock

February, 12, 2015


By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com


IRVING, Texas -- ESPN Insider Mel Kiper offered up his second mock draft Insider and has the Dallas Cowboys selecting another defensive tackle.

This time he has them selecting Iowa’s Carl Davis. In his first mock, he had the Cowboys taking Oklahoma’s Jordan Phillips, and he still gave Phillips a mention in his analysis this time around.

Defensive tackle is a need of sorts for the Cowboys. It just depends on which defensive tackle spot you are talking about. At the three technique, the Cowboys believe they have a cornerstone player in Tyrone Crawford. He had just three sacks last season, but he was active and affected the quarterback with more than just sacks.

They believe his best days are ahead of him.

If it is a one technique, a true nose tackle, then there is a need. Nick Hayden has been the starter there the last two seasons and is a free agent. Josh Brent is a backup. Ken Bishop can play the spot if needed, too.

But taking a one technique in the first round doesn’t represent good value, mostly because they are just running-down players; they come off the field in passing situations. Given how much teams pass these days, you’re talking 25 snaps per game, maybe a little more.

That’s hardly worth it for a first-rounder.

The Cowboys want to use a rotation along the defensive line anyway, so the amount of snaps for any player will be lower than what the Cowboys would do with, say, DeMarcus Ware back in the day.

At 6-foot-4, 321 pounds, Davis might be a little taller than the normal one technique. But Kiper mentions Davis’ ability to pass rush from the inside, winning with strength and quickness. In 13 starts last season at Iowa, he was credited with 36 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks.

I’ll have to do more study and ask more questions about Davis -- and Phillips as well -- as the draft gets closer, but there just seems to be better value at a different position with the 27th pick.

Where this might make some sense is if there is no way to move down and acquire more selections with a trade. Just because there are 32 first-round picks doesn’t mean the Cowboys will have 32 players with first-round grades. That number generally floats between 15-18 players in their pre-draft work, so a defensive tackle could make sense as a fallback option.
 

Cowboysrock55

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But taking a one technique in the first round doesn’t represent good value, mostly because they are just running-down players; they come off the field in passing situations. Given how much teams pass these days, you’re talking 25 snaps per game, maybe a little more.
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That's interesting since the Golden Cock averaged 35 snaps per game this year. But hey, it's always good making shit up.
 

boozeman

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That's interesting since the Golden Cock averaged 35 snaps per game this year. But hey, it's always good making shit up.
Wilfork played nearly 75% of the snaps for the Patriots.

So yeah, that one technique is like, a waste of money and stuff because they like come off the field in passing situations.
 

ravidubey

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That's interesting since the Golden Cock averaged 35 snaps per game this year. But hey, it's always good making shit up.
Exactly. If you land a Casey Hampton, you get him on the field every chance you can.

A 1-technique can still apply pressure by forcing his double team backwards and denying the QB space to step up. Just saying you can't draft a 1-technique in the 1st round is seriously short-sighted.

Dallas can't seem to draft them in any round at all.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Exactly. If you land a Casey Hampton, you get him on the field every chance you can.

A 1-technique can still apply pressure by forcing his double team backwards and denying the QB space to step up. Just saying you can't draft a 1-technique in the 1st round is seriously short-sighted.

Dallas can't seem to draft them in any round at all.
Not to mention the NT in this defense is playing shaded. It's not like they are going straight up with the center and 2 gaping. Instead the 1 technique is still asked to shoot a gap.
 

Clay_Allison

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But taking a one technique in the first round doesn’t represent good value, mostly because they are just running-down players; they come off the field in passing situations. Given how much teams pass these days, you’re talking 25 snaps per game, maybe a little more.
The flaw in this reasoning is that the amount of times teams pass has no bearing on how many "passing situations" there are. You only take a NT off the field when it's 3rd and long and it's obvious they will pass.
 

Clay_Allison

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Not to mention the NT in this defense is playing shaded. It's not like they are going straight up with the center and 2 gaping. Instead the 1 technique is still asked to shoot a gap.
Yep. That's why it's called a 1 technique and not a 0.
 
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