NFL Draft 2012: Cowboys Can't Pass on DB for the Second Straight Year

If the Dallas Cowboys did what many believed they were supposed to do last year in the NFL draft, then maybe the talks of drafting a cornerback this year wouldn't be so played out.

Sitting with the No. 9 pick last year, the Cowboys passed up on a chance to take Prince Amukamara from Nebraska to repair the ungodly secondary that is just now being addressed. Instead, Jason Garrett and company wanted, and took, Tyron Smith from USC.

To the surprise of many Dallas fans, Smith has become the best offensive lineman on that team and is expected to make a bigger splash next year moving to left tackle to protect the blind spot of Tony Romo.

But the biggest reason the Cowboys lost so many games they should've won last year wasn't because of Romo, like so many haters and so-called fans are led to believe. The pitiful, atrocious secondary was the reason the Cowboys fell one game behind the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the NFC East standings at the end of the year.

No one will ever know how Amukamara would've actually done in a Dallas Cowboy uniform, and it would appear that, looking back on it, the Cowboys made the right choice since the high-ranked cornerback played only seven games last season, whereas Smith started the entire year.

But Jerry Jones and company can't afford to miss on someone to either play opposite of Mike Jenkins or a safety to play with either Brodney Pool or Gerald Sensabaugh.

The Cowboys garner the No. 14 pick this year, and many mock drafts, including my own, have America's Team looking for some help in the secondary with their first pick.

Popular consensus, not surprisingly, has Dallas picking either of the top-notch Alabama prospects: Mark Barron or Dre Kirkpatrick. You can't go wrong if you're good ol' Jerry with taking either of these ball-hawking defensive specialists who would come in and be a huge contributor from the very beginning.

Kirkpatrick's ability to play either corner or safety would give him the edge as to how Rob Ryan would utilize him in his defense. One good component to get out of Kirkpatrick—or any corner in the draft for that matter—is, he won't be playing 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage such as Terence Newman did multiple times throughout his tenure in Dallas.

Barron would be a starter immediately just based on the simple fact that the safeties the Cowboys have are quality players, but they can't play a lick in defending the big play. Barron has great size at 6'1" and close to 214 pounds, and he has great awareness to make a play on the ball. He's also not afraid to come down to the line of scrimmage and take out a running back, either. To all Dallas fans who like him, hopefully, he doesn't resemble Roy Williams. Just sayin'.

It's understandable if a good majority feel that the Cowboys should take someone to either play opposite of DeMarcus Ware or someone to play with Jay Ratliff on the defensive line, like Dontari Poe from Memphis or Quinton Coples from North Carolina. Believe me, D-Ware can do it all at most points, but he's only one man.

But the middle of the 3-4 defense that Dallas has is brewing something good with Penn State alumni Dan Connor and Sean Lee anchoring the middle. Both have a good ability to make a play on the ball for either the run or pass, and if the front four or five can't get it going, then those two young guns will be ready to make the play.

Sadly, though, they can't play in the secondary.

With an improved defensive backfield, the Cowboys are looking at a possible double-digit win season if Romo can stay healthy and deliver wins on the offensive side.

But, in regards to anything, everybody needs help from time to time.

Hopefully, the Cowboys get it. If they draft the right way this time.