2012 NFL Draft: How Quinton Coples Might Fit The Dallas Cowboys

With the 14th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft next month, the Dallas Cowboys claim they have positioned themselves to simply go with the best player available.

They sure about that?

While there is probably some truth to this position, I don't completely buy into it. How can anybody buy that when it is quite clear that Dallas has a huge need in terms of rushing the passer. This sounds shockingly odd seeing as how outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is still on the team playing at the level he is and can be expected to do the same for several more seasons.

But who comes after Ware?

As of right now there is really nobody, but recent history suggests that North Carolina pass-rusher Quinton Coples could be a future solution. Coples, a classic 4-3 defensive end in the mold of former Tar Heel Julius Peppers of Chicago, will be high on many draft boards. But does he really fit in Dallas?

Maybe.

It would be one thing if the Cowboys had interest in Coples as an outside linebacker, a move made rather late in the career of Greg Ellis, another UNC alumni, as recently as 2006. Ellis was drafted as a defensive end in 1998 and also at a time when Dallas was still trying to re-invent the 4-3 success of the 1990s championship units that no longer enjoyed the services of Charles Haley.

But to bring in Coples to play defensive end in the current 3-4 alignment employed by America's Team would be nearly foolish. As compared to other 3-4 defensive ends both in Dallas now or around the NFL, it is seldom that you play a defensive lineman who weighs less than 295 pounds. This is fine
in a 4-3 scheme but not nearly as much in a 3-4.

I vividly recall having considerable skepticism regarding Ellis' ability to switch to outside linebacker in '06. Then-head coach Bill Parcells was interested in creating a book-end rusher to complement a younger Ware at that time, despite the fact that Ellis had never played the position before, was well north of 30 years old and was noticeably bigger than Ware.

In 2007, Ellis posted by far his best season as a pass-rusher. His career high of 12.5 sacks came during a season in which the Cowboys would not only win the NFC East but also clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a record of 13-3.

Yes, it's good to have at least two pressure players up front that can surpass double digits in sacks.

If there was ever a tweener it is certainly Coples. This athletic freak falls somewhere between the prototypical size of a 3-4 defensive end and the traditional build of a 4-3 defensive tackle. Yet in college he had the speed and power, at least when he applied it, to play defensive end at a program known for producing premium NFL pass-rushers.

The truth is that Coples could play a few different positions in today's day and age of evolving defenses trying to combat the over-protected passing games now flourishing in the league. But I would caution the Cowboys in simply plugging in Coples next to an already undersized nose guard in Jay Ratliff.

For starters, Coples would be young and this means a bit of a learning curve for all players coming into the league out of college. Yes, rookies with an abundance of surrounding talent can make an immediate impact, but this is rare.

Second, getting smaller on the defensive line means a much greater likelihood that Dallas' opponents will continue getting too many quality yards rushing the ball, which keeps games close and minimizes pass-rushing opportunities.

The only way I could see Coples being a good fit at defensive end in the current scheme is if Dallas already had a massive, run stuffing nose guard that forces rushing plays to the outside most of the time, a scenario that favors the Dallas linebackers all over. But since this is not the case, I do not see this as a very smart move.

In other words, Dallas can ill-afford to get smaller on the defensive line, period.

If Coples were to trim down five-to-10 pounds in conjunction with a switch to outside linebacker, then the results could be staggering, especially while this highly regarded prospect is young. His measurements and potential make Coples a near certain upgrade over recently franchised Anthony
Spencer, and this could be the solution for the lack of pass-rush currently plaguing the Cowboys on defense.

WalterFootball.com currently mocks Coples to Dallas with the 14th selection in next month's draft while also stating that he's a "natural fit" at 3-4 defensive end. I don't know about going that far seeing as how it is usually 4-3 defensive tackles, as opposed to ends, that are a good fit for 3-4 defensive end. 

While I would prefer a larger nose guard to replace the perennially out-of-position Jay Ratliff in the first round, adding Coples makes a lot of sense. This is especially true if Ratliff goes back to end, Coples shifts to linebacker and Dallas acquired a big guy to plug the A gap finally.

If Coples is actually drafted by the Cowboys, problems like nose guard for 2012 and Anthony Spencer rush to the forefront.

Then again, some problems can actually be a good thing.