Learning about Edge Marshawn Kneeland
The Cowboys have secured a player that should really be a big piece of this draft.
I find great joy in learning about new players.
That is what first inspired the Sturm 60 project a decade ago. For those of you who have been on board for years, you know that nothing makes me more upset than finding that the Cowboys selected a player in Round 2 that I wasn’t prepared for.
They did it with Marshawn Kneeland and I was upset. Upset that I had 60 darts to throw and his name was on the list almost the whole time.
But, I could never get enough tape from Western Michigan games (excuse No. 1) and I didn’t really believe they were willing to take a DE with one of their big picks (excuse No. 2).
So, I took a calculated gambles and lost.
Looking back, it makes plenty of sense for a team that has taught us they aren’t afraid to take the best player available. Once we realized they were serious about taking Missouri’s Darius Robinson, who plays Kneeland’s position, and has a similar profile, we should have also known that Kneeland might be in play for the right price.
Then, Round 2 happened and I ws fixated on RB, OL, and LB. As pick No. 56 approached on Friday, the names start disappearing:
No. 45 - Edgerrin Cooper, LB
No. 46 - Jonathon Brooks, RB
No. 51 - Zach Frazier, C
If any of these three get to them at No. 56, I suspect the pick goes elsewhere.
At No. 56, I am thinking Trey Benson is my next idea. Cooper Beebe is close by, too.
But, if they were having a similar talk, they made a smart call. Why would you take a running back over a defensive end you think is the better player?
What about premium position? What about value and stopping the run and having a plan ready for DeMarcus Lawrence’s exit?
I think they made a very interesting and correct decision, which unfortunately snuck past me.
So, my first project out of the draft was to learn about him. I have four games: Iowa, Mississippi State, Syracuse, and Eastern Michigan.
I watched them all and I want to give you my full report.