What the heck is this team doing drafting in the top 10 ?
Big back? Check. Speed back? Check. Reliable tight end? Check. A bevy of wide receivers? Check. Big defensive ends to keep the outside linebackers free? Check. Combative nose tackle? Check.
So what happened ? Two things: First, guard play – the big bruisers at guard in Dallas weren’t quick enough to get out and lead for speed back Felix Jones and were not quick enough to stop quick pass rushers early in the year.
You aren’t about to take a guard with the ninth pick. But some smaller, quicker, and more combative guards must be brought in at least to give the big guys a challenge. Leonard Davis needs to remember what it is like to want to play.
The second and biggest problem was coaching. When Tony Romo was on the field, the Cowboys never seemed to try to build on the one-two punch of Barber and Jones. That one-two rush game opens up play action. It wears down defenses. It wins football games.
Pretty simple premise.
Instead the Cowboys were simply pretty. Everyone into the pattern and Tony would throw one of them the ball and then pump his fist on camera.
Against the Bears, the Cowboys' leading rusher had 31 yards. Two passes bounced off the hands of receivers and were converted into Chicago points for a seven point Dallas loss. Three interceptions played a factor against Tennessee, a team where the idea is to keep Chris Johnson off the field. Against the Vikings, the Cowboys' leading rusher has a mere 32 yards.
Run the Ball Cowboys.
And as your top 10 pick, take the best player available. Dareus would have been nice.
Prince Amukamara, a 200-pound defensive back from Nebraska adds depth and size to a smallish secondary, and he’s the best fit here.
At this point in the draft, the time is approaching for teams running the 3-4 to start looking at Purdue’s Ryan Kerrigan, who could play inside or outside and provide a pass rush, toughness, and a big-time motor.
But for now – Amukamara is a nice addition to the back line on defense.
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