Posted by jellis at 4/24/2012 9:41 AM CDT on dallascowboys.com
The Cowboys didn't give incoming defensive coordinator Rob Ryan a lot of help in the NFL Draft last year, despite having given up a franchise-worst 436 points in 2010.
The Cowboys' only defensive pick in the first two days of the draft was linebacker Bruce Carter, who missed half the season while recovering from a knee injury.
For Ryan, though, this was nothing new. An NFL defensive coordinator since 2004, his teams have only drafted defensive players in the first round three times.
Only twice in his five years running the Raiders defense did Ryan add a first-round talent on his side of the ball. The team tabbed Nebraska cornerback Fabian Washington at No. 23 overall in 2005 and came back a year later to select Texas safety Michael Huff at No. 7.
Washington never lived up to Ryan's hopes and was released after just three seasons with the Raiders. He was out of football last year.
Huff struggled early, and in fact was benched by Ryan in his third season, but has had an All-Pro season since Ryan left.
In 2010, Ryan's second season with the Browns, the team selected Joe Haden at the first round's seventh spot. Haden had six interceptions in his first year, and Ryan still speaks highly of him.
The Cowboys are expected to select a defensive player with pick No. 14 overall this year. Will Ryan again be lobbying his front office for a defensive back?
The Cowboys didn't give incoming defensive coordinator Rob Ryan a lot of help in the NFL Draft last year, despite having given up a franchise-worst 436 points in 2010.
The Cowboys' only defensive pick in the first two days of the draft was linebacker Bruce Carter, who missed half the season while recovering from a knee injury.
For Ryan, though, this was nothing new. An NFL defensive coordinator since 2004, his teams have only drafted defensive players in the first round three times.
Only twice in his five years running the Raiders defense did Ryan add a first-round talent on his side of the ball. The team tabbed Nebraska cornerback Fabian Washington at No. 23 overall in 2005 and came back a year later to select Texas safety Michael Huff at No. 7.
Washington never lived up to Ryan's hopes and was released after just three seasons with the Raiders. He was out of football last year.
Huff struggled early, and in fact was benched by Ryan in his third season, but has had an All-Pro season since Ryan left.
In 2010, Ryan's second season with the Browns, the team selected Joe Haden at the first round's seventh spot. Haden had six interceptions in his first year, and Ryan still speaks highly of him.
The Cowboys are expected to select a defensive player with pick No. 14 overall this year. Will Ryan again be lobbying his front office for a defensive back?
