INDIANAPOLIS —
There is no secret to the Dallas Cowboys’ focus for the 2015 NFL Draft.
It will be defense, defense, defense.
That unit was the team’s obvious weak link in 2014.
It’s where they need the most help. And they could use injections of talent on defense on every level — line, linebacker and safety.
So the focus at the NFL Scouting Combine this week and the next few months leading up to the draft will be finding a difference-making defender with the 27th overall pick, per executive vice president Stephen Jones.
“You never know for sure what you are going to do in the draft,” Jones said. “No matter what happens, we are heavily weighted toward defense. Does that mean we don’t take offense there? If the greatest player on offense is there, you have to take value. It goes without saying we are weighted towards defense.”
Why are the Cowboys weighted toward defense?
Because they finished 19th in yards allowed in 2014, and because they couldn’t stop teams when it mattered most, and couldn’t get consistent pressure on the quarterback. The Cowboys recorded 28 sacks in 16 games, ranking 28th in the league.
So if all things are equal, they will target a defensive player in the draft.
Of course, the case was the same last year, but they ended up taking guard Zack Martin with the 16th overall pick because he was by far the best player on the board.
“We felt just as strong last year that we needed defense and we took offense,” Jones said. “We had five guys we were slated to pick ahead of Zack and they were all defense. And then they were all gone. It’s obvious to everybody that our offense was very strong last year, and we spent a lot of money on our offense compared to our defense. We need help over there.
“But if there is a great player there that we have rated real high, and he’s way ahead of the next best defensive player, then we take him. Just because we’re leaning toward defense, that doesn’t mean that’s what we end up taking.”
The situation is potentially critical at cornerback where Orlando Scandrick is the only sure thing for 2015. Brandon Carr, who starts opposite Scandrick, will be asked to take a pay cut and will be cut if he declines. Morris Claiborne finished 2014 on injured reserve with a torn patella tendon and might not be ready for the start of the season.
Claiborne could start camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list, marking the fourth consecutive year since he was picked sixth overall in 2012 that he has missed time in camp because of injuries.
“Of course it is [a concern],” Jones said. “But you never know when a player is going to turn the rock over and obviously getting him beefed up and ready to go. We’ve got great trainers, great rehab people, great strength and conditioning people, and he needs to get in line and do the right things, and good things will happen for him.”
The Cowboys’ biggest position focus with the 27th pick will probably be finding pass-rushing end or tackle. Dallas’ inability to affect the quarterback last season proved to be a fatal flaw in the playoff ouster.
“Affecting the quarterback is important to playing good defense in this league,” coach Jason Garrett said. “You just put too much of a stress and burden on guys on the back end if you are not around that guy. So I thought our guys did a good job playing the right way, playing hard. And in certain games we did a good job making his life uncomfortable. But any time you can add talent as a pass rusher, that is going to positively impact your team.”
Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760
Read more here: Cowboys talking mostly defense at NFL Combine | The Star Telegram The Star Telegram
There is no secret to the Dallas Cowboys’ focus for the 2015 NFL Draft.
It will be defense, defense, defense.
That unit was the team’s obvious weak link in 2014.
It’s where they need the most help. And they could use injections of talent on defense on every level — line, linebacker and safety.
So the focus at the NFL Scouting Combine this week and the next few months leading up to the draft will be finding a difference-making defender with the 27th overall pick, per executive vice president Stephen Jones.
“You never know for sure what you are going to do in the draft,” Jones said. “No matter what happens, we are heavily weighted toward defense. Does that mean we don’t take offense there? If the greatest player on offense is there, you have to take value. It goes without saying we are weighted towards defense.”
Why are the Cowboys weighted toward defense?
Because they finished 19th in yards allowed in 2014, and because they couldn’t stop teams when it mattered most, and couldn’t get consistent pressure on the quarterback. The Cowboys recorded 28 sacks in 16 games, ranking 28th in the league.
So if all things are equal, they will target a defensive player in the draft.
Of course, the case was the same last year, but they ended up taking guard Zack Martin with the 16th overall pick because he was by far the best player on the board.
“We felt just as strong last year that we needed defense and we took offense,” Jones said. “We had five guys we were slated to pick ahead of Zack and they were all defense. And then they were all gone. It’s obvious to everybody that our offense was very strong last year, and we spent a lot of money on our offense compared to our defense. We need help over there.
“But if there is a great player there that we have rated real high, and he’s way ahead of the next best defensive player, then we take him. Just because we’re leaning toward defense, that doesn’t mean that’s what we end up taking.”
The situation is potentially critical at cornerback where Orlando Scandrick is the only sure thing for 2015. Brandon Carr, who starts opposite Scandrick, will be asked to take a pay cut and will be cut if he declines. Morris Claiborne finished 2014 on injured reserve with a torn patella tendon and might not be ready for the start of the season.
Claiborne could start camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list, marking the fourth consecutive year since he was picked sixth overall in 2012 that he has missed time in camp because of injuries.
“Of course it is [a concern],” Jones said. “But you never know when a player is going to turn the rock over and obviously getting him beefed up and ready to go. We’ve got great trainers, great rehab people, great strength and conditioning people, and he needs to get in line and do the right things, and good things will happen for him.”
The Cowboys’ biggest position focus with the 27th pick will probably be finding pass-rushing end or tackle. Dallas’ inability to affect the quarterback last season proved to be a fatal flaw in the playoff ouster.
“Affecting the quarterback is important to playing good defense in this league,” coach Jason Garrett said. “You just put too much of a stress and burden on guys on the back end if you are not around that guy. So I thought our guys did a good job playing the right way, playing hard. And in certain games we did a good job making his life uncomfortable. But any time you can add talent as a pass rusher, that is going to positively impact your team.”
Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760
Read more here: Cowboys talking mostly defense at NFL Combine | The Star Telegram The Star Telegram
