Draft History: 2005

IRVING – Owner Jerry Jones and coach Bill Parcells walked into the Cowboys' draft room Saturday morning with a wish list that included Troy's Demarcus Ware and LSU's Marcus Spears.

A few hours later, the Cowboys had secured both. But it didn't happen without considerable consternation.

The Cowboys selected Ware with the 11th pick of the first round, then waited anxiously for about two hours in hopes that Spears would still be available with the 20th pick, obtained from Buffalo last year in a draft-day trade.

Jones said the Cowboys spoke with three or four teams about moving up to secure Spears but couldn't consummate a deal.

In the end, it didn't matter, because Spears was available.

"There were a lot of edgy feelings and thoughts," said Jones, "because we knew the consequences if we didn't get him."

Parcells said the Cowboys were fortunate because he didn't think Spears would last until 20. When the Cowboys picked him, it marked the first time since 1993 that a team had drafted a pair of defensive linemen in the first round.

"We had some very good fortune today," Parcells said. "Everybody is going to tell you they're happy with their players, but realistically, I don't think we could've expected to get two players like this at the top. I certainly wasn't expecting it."

The Cowboys added Tennessee linebacker Kevin Burnett in the second round.

Jones said he expects all three players to have important roles on a club that struggled defensively much of last season. Dallas allowed 25.3 points per game and yielded more than 30 points five times and more than 40 twice.

"They need to play and play immediately. All of these guys need to come in and play," Jones said. "I hope we can get off the field on third down now."

Although the Cowboys drafted Ware first, they viewed Spears as the key to their draft because he gave them the flexibility to use the 4-3 or 3-4 defense.

At 6-4, 307 pounds, Spears is big enough to play defensive end in either scheme. Ware (6-4, 251) will start off being used in passing situations as a defensive end or linebacker.

Burnett should challenge Bradie James for the starting position at weakside linebacker, where Dexter Coakley, released in March, had been the starter since 1997. Burnett would be an outside linebacker in the 3-4 as would Ware.

Neither Jones nor Parcells would commit to using the 4-3 or 3-4, the scheme that Parcells used in 13 of his first 15 seasons as a head coach. Each, however, did say the players acquired Saturday make the decision-making process easier.

Besides, Parcells said defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has spent the off-season familiarizing himself with the 3-4 scheme in case the Cowboys opt to use it.

That said, expect the Cowboys to use some combination of both schemes this season.

The Cowboys entered this week with Ware, Spears and Maryland's Shawne Merriman rated about the same on their draft board.

But they viewed Ware as the best pass rusher available, so they snagged him first because they didn't think he would last nine picks. With Wisconsin's Erasmus James and Georgia's David Pollack available, the Cowboys figured Spears might drop.

The Cowboys selected Ware over Merriman because of his pass-rushing skills.

After all, the Cowboys ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks (33) and takeaways (22) last season. Dallas hasn't had a player with double-digit sacks since Tony Tolbert had 12 in 1996.

"I walked into Bill's office quite a few times last season, and he would be wringing his hands saying we had to get pressure on the quarterback," Jones said. "These guys should allow us to do that. The combination of Ware and Spears gives us total flexibility: Spears gives us size, and Ware gives us flexibility."

Ware had a career-high 10 ½ sacks, 19 tackles for loss and 29 quarterback pressures as a senior. Parcells compared him to Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

"He's a little bit like – I won't say his name, but he lives in Florida – the '56' guy I had and a little bit like Willie McGinest," Parcells said of Ware. "We'll see. I hope all of them turn out to be good players."

Bill Parcells wanted two defensive front-seven players in the first round and the Cowboys wound up with his dream scenario - the best pass rusher on the board and a 300-pound end.

With two draft picks in the Top 20, the Cowboys got both bigger and faster - necessities if the Cowboys are going to dabble with the 3-4 defense this season. Spears also was the only end on the draft board who could line up in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 scheme, giving Parcells the flexibility he covets up front. Some NFL teams projected Spears as a tackle, so he can slide down inside in a 4-3 and give the Cowboys push from the tackle position.

The front seven of the Cowboys is starting to resemble the front he employed at New York when he won two Super Bowls - big, fast and mobile. Good things happen when you stay in the first round and draft the best player on your board.