The Cowboys needed to stop an offense that can move — and they did just that: Quinn Report

 The Minnesota Vikings have proven to be a very difficult team to figure out. They have played every game in a manner that indicates they probably could win every game and probably could have lost every game.

https://theathletic.com/2931986/2021/11/03/the-cowboys-needed-to-stop-an-offense-that-can-move-and-they-did-just-that-quinn-report/

Attacking on third-and-long with a backup QB captures a Cowboys win: Decoding Kellen Moore

 The Cowboys won a meaningful game with a backup quarterback starting. If you have been following this team for very long, you should be aware that this sort of thing is rather rare. We have witnessed countless occasions where the Cowboys would hardly even make an effort to try to win a game with a backup QB, making us think that nobody but Tony Romo could possibly run their offense.

https://theathletic.com/2929085/2021/11/02/attacking-on-third-and-long-with-a-backup-qb-captures-a-cowboys-win-decoding-kellen-moore/

Cooper Rush leads the Cowboys to an unlikely road victory in made-for-TV moment: The Morning After

 Surely on a crazy day in the NFL where backup QBs were beating massive favorites in both of the other TV windows, Sunday night would want a bite of the apple, as well.

This column is going to be mostly about Cooper Rush.

https://theathletic.com/2926746/2021/11/01/cooper-rush-leads-the-cowboys-to-an-unlikely-road-victory-in-made-for-tv-moment-the-morning-after/

Huge test against Mike Zimmer’s defense awaits on Sunday Night and two big storylines: Cowboys pregame riffing

 There are two stories this morning that shape how we prepare for the showdown in Minnesota with a Vikings’ side that is also coming off a bye week and more than capable of causing all manner of issues for this Cowboys’ train on Sunday night.

https://theathletic.com/2920766/2021/10/29/huge-test-against-mike-zimmers-defense-awaits-on-sunday-night-and-two-big-storylines-cowboys-pregame-riffing/

2015 NFL Draft #48 - TJ Clemmings, T, Pitt

I have never been a scout or a NFL General Manager, but I am willing to watch a ton of football. By watching about 200 snaps of each prospect, we can really get a feel for a player and then know what we are talking about a bit better. It is no exact science, but the NFL hasn't quite figured out drafting either, so we are going to do the best we can. Find all the profiles here.

Click here to see an interactive of how Clemmings compares with the top players of the draft.

T.J. Clemmings, T, Pittsburgh - 6'5, 309 - RS Senior - 5.14 40

Pittsburgh offensive lineman T.J. Clemming talks with reporters during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

This is a very interesting prospect that was not on my radar until late in the college football season.  He is a right tackle at the college level which makes him a bit less common amongst "Top 100" prospects, and he also played 3 years of defense (including his redshirt year) before coming over to the offensive side of the ball at Pitt for 2013 and 2014.

Clemmings is one of the athletic stars of the combine, with scores in the 90-percentile for the vertical and broad jumps, the 80-percentile for the 20-yard and his arm length, and then ran the 40-yard dash for a very solid time, too.  So, athletically, he really fits the part, despite being undersized - as goofy as it is to call 6'5, 309 is under-sized - and now we have to crack open his college work and see if he has top level quality.  To examine Clemmings, I watched Duke, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.

Clemmings is playing right tackle and wears #68 in the videos below:

What I liked:  Overall, Clemmings looks like exactly the type of tackle I am seeking.  Quick feet, really long arms, aggressive, and a very athletic build.  He has it all going for him, so finding his spot at tackle has made all sorts of sense.  He is best in show in the open field where he stalks down defenders and will not let them out of his arm radius.  The clip below shows him as the only blocker on a WR screen and it is an athletic show that can't be pulled off by just anyone.  He is a very good leverage player who also seems to have a nasty streak about him where he appears to place a premium on slamming a player when given the opportunity.  Off the snap, his run blocks are done with conviction and effectiveness, and he generally looks in control in pass protection.  There is plenty here to like and without throwing too many roses at his feet, there is a fair amount of Tyron Smith similarities in this prospect.

What I did not like:  When you watch 200 snaps, you are going to find a few that need cleaning up, and the one below is the best example where he gets knocked off balance and never recovers as he is destroyed on a corner rush where he sat too far outside and paid for it.  This, actually, is something Tyron had happen to him in 2011, and I do believe that it is all based on maintaining your stance and balance more consistency to where your man cannot knock you off your stance that comes with technique development.  Again, he has played offensive tackle for about 24 months - despite being nearly 24 years old, he is going to need a bit more work.  That might cause some to move him down their board, but he is not full of flaws at all.  The other small aspect is that I did wonder about was whether that game was in his head for a bit after that sack he allowed, because he had a few poor plays grouped together, then snapped out of it and was great again.

Summary:  I realize there are some things to slow our roll about and that his Senior Bowl was not the greatest showing ever, but despite that, I think Clemmings is very impressive and a player I would have no problem tabbing for the Top 32 picks.  He has all of the tools you want in a tackle and although he still needs to learn as he goes, all of the tools are there in his toolbox.  He shows below that with those arms, sometimes he can hold off an edge rusher just by pushing 1 giant hand into the shoulder of that guy and stopping things right there.  He looks like he will be very good for a very long time with those gifts and skills that he possesses.  I would place him up there with the top tackles, perhaps slightly down based on being a exclusive right tackle.

You can view plenty of his tape here at Draftbreakdown.com.

And, if you don't mind, please check out the Bob and Dan (BaD) Radio show in Dallas-Fort Worth, from 12p-3p, Monday-Friday, on Sportsradio 1310 and 96.7fm, The Ticket.  www.theticket.com 

2015 NFL Draft #32 - Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

I have never been a scout or a NFL General Manager, but I am willing to watch a ton of football. By watching about 200 snaps of each prospect, we can really get a feel for a player and then know what we are talking about a bit better. It is no exact science, but the NFL hasn't quite figured out drafting either, so we are going to do the best we can.

Find all the profiles here.

Click here to see an interactive of how Waynes compares with the top CBs of the draft.

Trae Waynes #15 of the Michigan State Spartans and Terrence Singleton #24 of the Baylor Bears try to control an onside kick as Jermaine Edmondson #39 of the Michigan State Spartans is near during the second half of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State - 6'0, 186 - RS Junior - 4.31 40

We begin our examination of the available corners in this draft with the belle of the ball, Trae Waynes of Michigan State.  This guy has been the top corner for most of this process and combines the beautiful duo of ideal height and incredible speed.  If you can do that in today's NFL and then even offer just a little bit of feel for the game of football, you are going to be in the mix for the top few rounds.  If, instead, you play like Waynes who appears to be cut from the perfect cloth for this particular job of being on an island with someone who shares his elite athleticism, then you might have a guy who must be grabbed in the first dozen or so picks.  To look at Waynes, I grabbed four games: Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, and the Cotton Bowl against Baylor.

What I liked:  He absolutely plays corner in a way that appeals to those of us who love football.  He plays press man coverage most of the time.  He plays with physicality and aggression and borders on being too physical as a player tries to get out of his route.  Yes, that will draw the occasional penalty, but if the best way to stop a Dez Bryant-type is to never let him get comfortable and make it a battle at the top of the stem constantly, then I like how Waynes sees the game.  He also has impressive ball skills to find the QB and the ball that generally works for him as he is a bit of a ball hawk.  He will tackle and generally gets the job done, although it might be hyperbole to say that this is his specialty.  He travels to either side without any sort of a drop-off and also can work in zone concepts and more exotic coverages, but Michigan State doesn't hide what they want to do.  Press your receivers and try to collapse the pocket.  He also seems capable of the corner blitz from time to time, but competes at a very high level at all times.  He even covers kicks.  There is plenty to like.

What I did not like:   He was attacked and did concede some ground against Antwan Goodley in the Cotton Bowl before getting lit up and having to leave the game (he did return later).  He can get caught being over-aggressive from time to time (as any ball hawk has to guard against) and I am pretty sure that his technique is going to require a little cleaning up at the next level.  He also drew a fair number of penalties because he does have his arms on you on every single route and if the referees are going to prohibit any downfield contact, he is going to draw some flags.  Occasionally, he looks like he might not be the same player late in a game (Nebraska), but the sample sizes are too small to offer those accusations with much conviction.  Despite his height, he is skinny, so those tackle attempts don't often have much behind them so unless he is squared up, he will struggle with guys running through his arms.

Summary:  This is a real nice corner who satisfies all my questions about a guy to excel at the next level.  He is literally able to run the routes for the receiver, before the receiver gets to where he is going.  He can ride the hip and mirror his man with incredible ease.  Now, there is no point in drafting a press-man corner if you just want to play soft man all day, so you would hesitate to frustrate your men by not allowing them to run the coverages that they are suited for (Dallas).  That said, when someone lines up in the college game and presses the top receiver at the top schools every Saturday and wins way more than he loses, then runs a 4.31 at the combine with a 1.53 10-yard split, then you assume he doesn't make it to pick #20.  Waynes is an exceptional player and is a better prospect for me than fellow Spartan Darqueze Dennard who went #24 to the Bengals last year in the 1st round.  Pretty sure you won't find a better corner in 2015.

You can view plenty of his tape here at Draftbreakdown.com.

2015 NFL Draft #16 - Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA

I have never been a scout or a NFL General Manager, but I am willing to watch a ton of football. By watching about 200 snaps of each prospect, we can really get a feel for a player and then know what we are talking about a bit better. It is no exact science, but the NFL hasn't quite figured out drafting either, so we are going to do the best we can.

Find all the profiles here.

Click here to see an interactive of how Kendricks compares with the top LBs of the draft.

Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA - 6'0, 230 - RS Senior

UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks gets read to run a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. Stanford won 31-10.

The next in our line of linebackers who would not be classified as pass-rush threats - Paul Dawson, TCU, Shaq Thompson, Washington, and Denzel Perryman, Miami have already been profiled - is UCLA's Eric Kendricks who is the rare red shirt senior and therefore turns 23 before the draft.  He won the 2014 Butkus award for outstanding linebacker play at the college level (Perryman was a finalist as well) and also led the FBS in tackles.  He is a well-decorated college star who also has some family ties.  It is certainly notable that Eric Kendricks has a big brother who is a very good linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and his father was a RB at UCLA before playing in Canada professionally.  To profile Eric, I grabbed the Virginia, USC, and Texas games from this past season.

What I liked:  I think this player is exceptional in many very translatable skills for the next level.  He is absolutely exceptional in coverage when they ask him to take a shifty and quick running back out of the backfield on routes in a man to man situation, he can do what so many linebacker cannot - comfortably handle it.  He moves smoothly and shifts his hips and can turn on speed that is clearly above average for the position.  He also sniffs out plays enough to demonstrate that he is well studied and clear with what the opposition is trying to accomplish.  You also have to be impressed with his ability to find his gap and shoot through with elusiveness and suddenness that generally can stop a running back in his tracks with a form tackle.  I really left this study with a high regard for this player for what he was asked to do.

What I did not like:  He is 230 pounds and plays so well as a linebacker in a safety's body that we will ask the questions about standing tall against power.  He looks like he can do so, but we have to at least debate whether he needs a big 4-3 line to keep him clean.  We all like speed at every spot, but if you put 11 out there, you will get steamrolled.  The other thing with him is occasionally gets a bit too hands-on in his coverage and will contest all passes in a part of the field where they are looking for contact for flags.  He does attract the occasional penalty for over-aggressive coverage.  He is not much of a pass rusher, but does show the occasional A-Gap pressure as a changeup to the scheme.

Summary:  This is another player where it is going to have to be the right fit.  He is a good middle in a 4-3 or 3-4, but in those 4-3 schemes that want to just rush 4 and drop 7.  I think he would be absolutely ideal for the Cowboys at the right spot because there are times those linebackers are attacked in coverage.  Also, this is a clear all-situations guy (unlike Perryman) where you could leave him on the field regardless of situation because he has the skill set that can comfortably handle his responsibilities. I expect he will run a solid time at the combine and might be the top player of this grouping when draft day arrives.  Very impressive player.

You can view plenty of his tape here at Draftbreakdown.com.