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Staying With Defense Cowboys Add To Front 7; Draft Tennessee LB Burnett Nick Eatman
IRVING, Texas - After becoming the first time since 1993 (San Francisco) to draft two defensive linemen in the first round, the Cowboys stayed with the front-seven with their second-round pick, drafting Tennessee outside linebacker Kevin Burnett. The 6-3, 236-pounder is one of the faster linebackers in the draft, running in the 4.6 range. Burnett is another player who can likely play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 scheme, using his ability to run and shed blocks. In 2004, Burnett had 120 tackles for Tennessee, with one sack and an interception. The two-time captain of the Vols defense went to school as a safety, but turned into a two-time SEC selection at linebacker. In the first round, the Cowboys knew they needed to upgrade their defensive end position and adding just one player might not be enough. So after drafting Demarcus Ware with the No. 11 pick, the Cowboys took yet another end, adding LSU's Marcus Spears with the 20th overall pick in the first round. The additions of these two players certainly would suggest the Cowboys are leaning towards switching to a 3-4 defense, with Ware having the ability to play an outside linebacker off the rush end, with the 305-pound Spears playing the bigger defensive end position. Spears, who also has the versatility to move inside and play defensive tackle, finished the 2004 season with 49 tackles, nine sacks and 21 quarterback hurries, though he is better known for his technique and strength along the defensive front than he is for his pure pass-rushing skills. The first 10 picks could've shaped out any better for the Cowboys, who had their pick of front-seven players to choose from the No. 11 pick. While more proven and experienced players were available, the Cowboys opted for a pure pass rusher, taking Ware. The 6-4, 245-pounder had 28 career sacks in his four years for the Trojans, including 11 last year as a senior. Ware is considered one of the most athletic defensive players in this draft and uses his superior speed and quickness to get to the quarterback. Ware, the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season, was moved to an outside linebacker at the Senior Bowl, playing some in the 3-4 scheme. He had three tackles and two quarterback pressures playing limited playing time in annual All-Star game in Mobile, Ala. The Cowboys were also looking at Maryland defensive end/outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson and LSU defensive end Marcus Spears. Ware and Spears are now the latest attempts the Cowboys have made to find a pure pass rusher since they lost Charles Haley back in 1996. Since 1994, the Cowboys have now picked a defensive end with their top pick in five different drafts, starting with Shante Carver, followed by Kavika Pittman, Greg Ellis, Ebenezer Ekuban and now Ware, to go along with Spears with the 20th overall pick.
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