I was talking with a buddy the other day and he asked me what I thought was the Cowboys biggest need. After seeing how the 2017 season play out it was hard not to mention offensive line or wide receiver. The Cowboys could use some depth at both those positions but that's all any player drafted this year would be, depth! I definitely think the Cowboys need more speed at the wide receiver position, but could that all be solved with a scat back? Tyron Smith missed a few games this year due to a bad back but does anyone believe that it’s time to give up on Tyrannosaurus? I could be persuaded either way in regards to the offensive line and wide receiver positions. My only rebuttal to making these positions a priority is will that player play this season and make an impact. My answer is, No! Any wide receiver that the Cowboys draft probably wouldn’t come in this year and be the man. Dez is still better than any rookie wide receiver coming out this draft. The Cowboys can’t afford to take a wideout in the top three rounds unless they plan on playing him this season. Yes, the Cowboys have question marks at left guard and swing tackle, but those are questions that can be answered with a Veteran Free Agent. On the other side of that coin, they have three all-pro offensive linemen and La’El Collins got better as the season progressed. Would you really enter the draft looking to find a left guard or a swing tackle in the top three rounds? My answer to that question is, No! The Cowboys biggest issue is on the defensive side of the ball. I really feel like the Cowboys should continue to work on that front seven.
The Cowboys biggest need is an interior defensive lineman. Stopping the run was an issue for the Cowboys in 2017. Many would say because Sean Lee was in and out of the lineup all season. While I agree that Lee is a difference maker in the run game, I think that more needs to be done along the front four to fix the run stopping issues. Adding a player like Vita Vea could help bolster their front seven and fix the issues they had with stopping the run.
Tale of the Tape!!!!
Vita Vea measures in at 6’4, 350 lbs! The most impressive thing about Vea's combine performance was the 41 reps of 225 lbs. When you watch Vea you see a powerful player. He is rarely pushed backward and holds up well at the point of attack. So when you see him put up 41 reps of 225 lbs you understand that he is a powerful guy and not just a big guy. Vea ran a 5.1 sec 40-yard dash, but that isn’t important for a man that weights 350 lbs. I’m more concerned with his ability to penetrate the backfield, stop the run and get after the quarterback. He was able to do both at Washington and I feel comfortable that he would be able to do both in the NFL.
How Vea Fits the Cowboys
The most important thing that Vea brings to the Cowboys is flexibility! Think Albert Haynesworth. No, not the Redskins Haynesworth that laid on the field like a beached whale, but the Haynesworth that played all four spots along the defensive line with the Titans. Interior linemen aren’t judged by how many sacks they get in a season. They are judged by their ability to disrupt plays. Vea can use his quickness and strength to stop the run and get to the quarterback, something the Cowboys really need from their interior defensive linemen.
The other thing Vea could bring is the ability to move Maliek Collins back to the three-technique in the Cowboys 4-3 front. Collins had 5 sacks as a rookie playing the three-technique. While he didn’t have the same sack production in year two, he was still a very good player for the interior of the Cowboys front. I would love to see him go back to the three-technique because he has the ability to get after the quarterback. Collins and David Irving are both suited to play the three-technique. They both bring two different play styles to the position. Collins brings power and Irving bring quickness. Irving can also play outside at defensive end, where I think he should play because teams were able to run right at him with great success (check out that first Philly game, where he fell on is face the entire 2nd half without being blocked). Bringing in Vea would give the Cowboys a big body to put in the middle of the defense, allowing Collins to move back to the three-technique, and give them the flexibility of being able to move Irving all over the front line. One player, three benefits, sign me up, please!
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