The Daily Score: 'The Shaq Attack' Cowboys Mock Draft 3.0

By Bill Jones | @CBS11BillJones

DALLAS (CBS 11) -- We're just over a week away from the start of the NFL Draft on April 30 and we continue our Cowboys 7-round mock draft series this week with "The Shaq Attack" draft strategy.

The Cowboys have obvious needs at running back and cornerback. They can always use an edge rusher and lost defensive ends Anthony Spencer and George Selvie in free agency. They need a swing tackle to replace Jermey Parnell. They lost a key special teams player and backup wide receiver in Dwayne Harris. They have little to no depth at the safety position. They lost their underperforming key free agent signing from last year in DT Henry Melton, and they're trying to shore up their pass rush with a one year rental in Greg Hardy, who could be suspended the first part of the season.

They added veteran depth at linebacker (Andrew Gachkar, Jasper Brinkley, Keith Rivers) after losing Justin Durant and Bruce Carter in free agency. They do have Sean Lee and Rolando McClain…but how much can you depend on them staying on the field for a full 16 game season?

So, how do you attack all these issues? Well, it's time to employ the Shaq Attack! We use the CBS Sports Big Board on the Mock Draft Simulator at Fanspeak.com to come up with Cowboys Mock Draft 3.0:

• 1st Round - #27 – SHAQ THOMPSON, LB, WASHINGTON

Let's see, the Cowboys need a running back, linebacker, safety, nickel back, special teams demon, and all around defensive playmaker in this draft? Well, ladies and gentlemen, we found all of those in one player…

Shaq Thompson won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football last year…a 6-foot, 228 pounder outside linebacker, Shaq scored 6 touchdowns last year – 3 fumble returns, an interception return, and 2 TD runs…the National Defensive Player of the Year stepped in at running back late in the year and averaged 7.5 yards on 61 carries…a Parade All-American in high school, he played quarterback and was the #1 safety recruit in the nation, but he also was drafted by the Boston Red Sox and spent the summer of 2012 playing in the Gulf Coast League….a 3 year defensive starter, he says he's most comfortable as a WLB in a 4-3….that's Sean Lee's position in this Dallas defense, so where would Shaq play? I believe you have a plan for him his rookie season that's very similar to the way Arizona used its 1st round pick Deone Bucannan last year…the Cardinals played the 6-1, 211 pound Bucannon as a linebacker in their nickel defense and he made the all-rookie team with 9 starts and 81 tackles…

Shaq Thompson alongside Sean Lee as the two nickel linebackers would give the Cowboys two terrific playmakers in the middle of their pass defense…as he develops, Shaq would be used as a Kam Chancellor-like safety in the base defense, but for now, keep it simple Shaq…the ball, the ball, the ball…there is no player in this draft who finds the ball with instincts, closing speed, and innate playmaking ability like Shaq Thompson does…and he simply has that "It Factor" you look for in any player…whatever it is, Shaq has it.

• 2nd Round - #60 – TEVIN COLEMAN, RB, INDIANA

Probably too good to be true for this player to still be available at the 60th pick, but he and Jay Ajayi were still there on this mock simulator, so we jump on Tevin Coleman here…

Similar in many ways to DeMarco Murray…they even played for the same college coach…Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson was Murray's offensive coordinator at Oklahoma…Coleman measured 5-11, 206 pounds at the combine (Murray a little bigger at 6-0, 213)…Coleman ran a 4.40 forty with a 1.52 split at his Pro Day (Murray ran a 4.41 with a 1.52 split at the Combine in 2011)…Coleman did 22 bench reps at the Combine (Murray did 21)…to his credit, Coleman battled through injuries to post an incredible 2036 yard season in 2014, averaging 7.5 yards a carry…he did much of that while playing with a broken bone in his right foot, for which he had surgery in January…he also played through an ankle injury in 2013 and shoulder and hand injuries in 2012…of course, Murray has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and played through them last year…so, the toughness is comparable as well.

I do have some concerns about Coleman (and other backs in this draft not named Todd Gurley), which I will detail in an upcoming post.

• 3rd Round - #91 – JOSH SHAW, CB, USC

While we like to give you different names each week in these mock draft exercises, we give you Josh Shaw for the 2nd straight week, which tells you that there's a projected drop off in quality at the cornerback position at this point in the draft…so, you better you get your cornerback in one of the first 3 rounds…

Shaw is a confident, intelligent, muscular former Parade All American from Palmdale, California who started his collegiate career as a Florida Gator before transferring back home to USC….had 4 interceptions his junior year splitting time between CB and FS…6-0, 201 pounder who plays a physical game and competes….red flag from his senior year when he fabricated a story about how he sprained his ankles in an off-field incident, claiming he was injured making a heroic pool rescue…but after admitting he lied, he's handled the aftermath of the incident and 10-game suspension admirably…he was even chosen to speak at the USC graduation ceremony…earned a sociology degree…sources say he interviewed very well with teams…intelligent player who played in five different defensive schemes at his two college stops.

• 4th Round - #127 – KENNY BELL, WR, NEBRASKA

LOVE this player…highly competitive, athletic, energetic, enthusiastic, charismatic team leader who might have the best sports afro since Oscar Gamble…highly doubt he will still be available in the 4th round but you never know since, once again this year, the wide receiver pool is very deep…

6-1, 197 pounder who set Nebraska's career receptions record (181) despite suspect QB play…great blocker as evidenced by this de-cleater vs Wisconsin…

Also was a gunner on special teams and clearly loves that aspect of the game…team captain, academic honor roll, college grad, son of a former NFL player, he checks off all the boxes…and check out his numbers: 4.38 forty (incredible 1.47 split), 41 ½ vertical, 10-9 broad jump, 6.66 cone drill…my Big Green NFL Draft Scouting Notebook entry on Kenny Bell: explosive run after catch, light on feet, tough, great attitude, leader, committed, reliable, team guy, very well spoken, high character…only problem with this player is finding a helmet large enough for the hair…

As a receiver, Bell reminds me of another #80: former Cowboys 3-time Pro Bowler Tony Hill, who had similar size, smarts, and explosive big play ability…somehow Tony Hill lasted until the 3rd round in 1977, and the more I think about it, that's probably when Bell will be drafted too...but the Fanspeak.com mock simulator has him still available in round 4, so, the Cowboys gladly take him!

• 5th Round - #163 – JUSTIN COLEMAN, CB, TENNESSEE

Three year starter who played for current Cowboys assistant Derek Dooley at Tennessee…5-11, 185 pounder with great quickness (3.98 shuttle/6.61 cone drill)…Coleman can play outside but may make his living in the NFL in the slot (Orlando Scandrick's heir apparent?)….4 interceptions his senior season, Coleman plays with confidence and good instincts….coaches rave about how smart he is…will be an immediate contributor on special teams…remember, Scandrick was a 5th round selection in 2008.

• 7th Round - #236 – JAMES ROUSE, DE, MARSHALL

Country strong, versatile, athletic 6-5, 277 pounder who lived in opponents' backfields the past two years after battling injuries early in his career…probably would be a 3rd round pick if not for the Achilles injury in 2012 and herniated disc in 2011…has shown the past two seasons he is healthy, posting 24 ½ tackles for loss…38 bench reps with a 1.69 ten yard split and 9-7 broad jump, Rouse is an explosive player who shows signs of Cowboys assistant Leon Lett with his quickness off the snap…projects as a defensive end in the base defense and an inside rusher in the nickel.

• 7th Round - #243 – IAN SILBERMAN, OT, BOSTON COLLEGE

6-5, 305 pounder started 12 games at right tackle for BC last year after transferring from Florida, where he was originally a 4 star recruit, who picked the Gators over Auburn, LSU and USC…saw limited playing time at UF, undergoing two shoulder surgeries…graduated in Dec. 2013, and decided to play his final year at BC since Florida was loaded with tackles (D.J. Humphries, Chaz Green, Trenton Brown)…played for Steve Addazio at BC, who recruited him as a Florida assistant…Addazio was a longtime assistant for former Cowboys assistant Paul Pasqualoni at Syracuse and Western Connecticut State.

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