FanHouse DavidBuehler

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

Jerry Jones might be a little eccentric, but the guy can spot talent. When it isn't top picks like Troy Aikman or Emmitt Smith coming to the Cowboys, it is undrafted guys like Tony Romo or late third-round guys like Jason Witten. Even Patrick Crayton in the seventh round was a success for Dallas.

This year, the Cowboys traded down, but didn't really snag anyone that is going to blow your hair back. Jason Williams of Western Illinois is a player that might see some time for Dallas this season. In college, Williams was a fumble-forcing machine, knocking loose six his senior seasons.

Andre Smith was supposed to use the weeks between the combine and his pro day to prove to NFL teams that he's a top-flight left tackle, and not a flake who can't be bothered to show up in shape for the biggest job interview of his life.

NFL Network even sent Steve Wyche to Atlanta to keep tabs on his progress. And while Smith, last season's Outland Trophy winner, didn't bomb his pro day, he also didn't look like the top-5 pick most scouts and NFL personnel types pegged him for just a month ago.

The NFL Network's first day of combine coverage just ended, and here's a quick recap: Alabama's Andre Smith -- all 800 pounds of him* -- went missing Saturday morning, while South Carolina's Jared Cook made himself some money by running 4.5 40-yard dash, the second fastest time by a tight end this decade.

But perhaps the story of the combine -- at least until Rich Eisen runs the 40 again -- is USC kicker David Buehler. Specialists -- kickers, punters, long snappers -- also get invited to the combine but never get any airtime because, well, the only thing worse than watching offensive linemen lift weights and run the cone drill is watching kickers, punters and long snappers do it.

California wide receiver DeSean Jackson took this kick back for a touchdown--but got much more than six points. The Bears' Heisman Trophy Candidate also racked in the Pac Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors as a result of gaining 142 all-purpose yards on but six touches.

Although Jackson takes the ball to the end zone one out of every five times he returns a punt, he will not be guaranteed Special Teams POTW honors week in and week out.

Although Trojan fans are bemoaning the uninspired play of John David Booty and porous nature of the Men of Troy's defense, one player made an impact in his first start. David Buehler played double-duty at place kicker, filling in for the academically ineligible Troy VanBlarcom and the late Mario Danelo handling kickoffs, field goals and PATs.

Although Buehler's reputation was "long but not so accurate" he managed to make 5 PATs and a field goal, while booming the ball into the Idaho end zone three of six times and limiting the Vandals to but 16 yards per return--signaling that, perhaps, the Trojans have found a solution to the kickoff woes which have troubled them in the Pete Carroll era? Perhaps.