2008 Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft Needs


June 8, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

The Cowboys had a successful season last year with a full, talented roster with very few holes in it. The team will be well-armed to improve their skills needed with two first-round draft picks in 2008. The Cowboys are one of the rare teams with few needs in free-agency heading into the season, so look for Dallas to use the NFL Draft to get their players this year. Below Larry Cook gives you a look at the 2008 Dallas Cowboys Draft Preview.

2008 Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft Needs:

1.) Cornerback

Starters Terrance Newman and Anthony Henry played well when healthy, but they rarely played together due to injuries. No. 3 CB Jacques Reeves tried hard, but often got beat when matched up in one-on-one coverage. He’s serviceable yet replaceable. The Cowboys aren’t satisfied with youngster Alan Ball as their other backup at corner. The Cowboys run many different coverages, but man to man will be asked of all their corners and to be tough enough to reroute receivers at the line. They are also asked to be able to come up in run support, too. This is the Cowboys’ primary draft need heading into the season, a corner that can do all 3 tasks asked of them.

2.) Running Back

With Julius Jones gone to the Seahawks, the Cowboys will be looking for another speedster in the 2008 NFL Draft to fill his shoes. Marion Barber was a Pro Bowler last season that has proven he can handle the load as a starter. But with the way the NFL is these days, a 1-2 punch in the backfield is a necessity. There are some Tyson Thompson fans at the Valley Ranch, but the Cowboys most certainly will add another back courtesy of the draft.

3.) Wide Receiver

The Cowboys are well equipped at wide receiver with Terrell Owens and recently signed Patrick Crayton. But Terry Glenn’s career in Dallas may be over after missing nearly the entire season last year. Sam Hurd appeared to be a nice fourth option when pressed into duty. But the age of Owens and the potential loss of Glenn will be too big for Jerry Jones and management to overlook. The team needs to add another option to mold for the future.

4.) Safety

Ken Hamlin and Keith Davis are free agents, and at least one of them is likely to be living somewhere else in 2008. Patrick Watkings and Courtney Brown are two young players the Cowboys like, but the team kept 5 safeties last season and will need to do so again to make sure they have enough guys to man the coverages they like to play. SS Roy Williams made another Pro Bowl and is a great run-stopper, but he remains a liability in coverage.

5.) Quarterback

Tony Romo is likely to man the starting job as the most popular quarterback in all of football for the forseeable future in Dallas. But backup Brad Johnson will be 40 at the start of their 2008 campaign, and though young Richard Bartel caught the eye of a few coaches, this team could use another arm or two.

2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Offensive Scheme:

Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett did a brilliant job in his first season calling plays by mixing inside and outside rushes with an intermediate and deep passing game. Players with experience in timing offenses in college would be perfect for this scheme. He mixes some West Coast offense and a multiple scheme in as well, a method derived from one of Garrett’s past influences. RB Felix Jones looks to be high on the Cowboys radar out of Arkansas. Dallas will likely spend on of their two first-round draft picks on this stud to compliment Barber’s bruising running style. ORT Gosder Cherilus of BC, WR Josh Morgan of Va Tech, WR Jordy Nelson of Kansas State, RB Jamaal Charles of Texas and QB Dennis Dixon of Oregon are some name you might be hearing the Cowboys call throughout the 2008 NFL Draft.

2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Defensive Scheme:

Wade Phillips’ version of the 3-4 defense relies more on stunts, zone blitzes and pressure packages from different angles with the idea to confuse offenses. Phillips has been a defensive mastermind for years now and he didn’t disappoint last season. The Cowboys will use four-man lines in nickel and prefer versatile rushers. They also like to have their DB’s blitz and support the run most of the game. CB-RS Mike Jenkins of South Florida, CB_PR Tracy Porter of Indiana, CB-FS Reggie Smith of Oklahoma, DLE-NT Kentwan Balmer of UNC, SS D.J. Wolfe of Oklahoma and SS-PR Tom Zbikowski of Notre Dame are the kinds of versatile players the Cowboys will be looking for in the 2008 NFL Draft.

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