Cowboys Draft Profile - Rd 4, Pick #127 - Damien Wilson, LB, Minnesota

Now that the draft is over, let's study the selections the Cowboys made who we have not previously studied by giving them the same 200-snap treatment and try to see more on why Dallas found them worthy of selection when they did.

Find all the profiles here.

Damien Wilson, LB,  Minnesota - 6'0, 245 - Senior - 4.77 40 

There was a time in the not-too-distant past where the Cowboys had to play a game with multiple "street free agents" in the lineup at linebacker due to a real lack of depth.  Now, no disrespect intended to Ernie Sims and Brady Poppinga, but the 2012 season dissolved partially because when someone was injured and moved to the IR - Sean Lee and Bruce Carter that year - there were no suitable options on the roster, so the search for street free agents begins in earnest.  That season, Sims played more snaps (374) than all the linebackers besides DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer, and Bruce Carter despite not being employed before Week 7.  That year, he was signed off his couch on October 24th, and then played 60 snaps in several different games as the team withered on the vine, partially to lack of NFL players on their roster.  Couch signings are very bad for teams that are serious about contending.

So, for the last few years, we have seen the Cowboys take linebackers in the 4th round in consecutive seasons to build NFL-ready depth.  The idea and philosophy is simple.  Linebacker is the Running back of the defense - but you need 3 starters instead of 1.  What does that mean?  It means that they should be understood to be somewhat fungible (to use a Jerry Jones term) or interchangeable assets.  It is a very physical position and if you look at positions on the field where most injuries occur and games are missed, look no further than linebacker.

You must have several capable LBs on your roster to avoid couch signings.  In a 4-3, you will have 3 starters, but you better assume the 3 reserves behind those starters will also play significantly.  Last year, 5 linebackers played over 200 snaps and a 6th, Lee, was on IR all season.   Almost no linebackers will be available for 16 games, so let's have 6 who we are fine with playing lots of downs.

This brings us to Damien Wilson, a player who was drafted to be one of those - like Hitchens last year, who may not be a NFL starter in year 1, but if developed properly he should be a starter down the road.  That is what you are looking for in Round 4, pick #127.  A player with developmental skills who is capable of being "coached up" and taught the NFL way so that when a player gets hurt, Wilson can run onto the field and fill the void.

He is a player who was not valued out of high school, went to Alcorn State for a year and than a community college for another before landing in Minnesota for 2013 and 2014.  There, he converted from DE to middle LB after dropping weight and became a "run and hit" LB.  That is best defined as a player who you can have cover targets (RB/TE) with effectiveness and  "keep clean" and allow him to diagnose and attack the play downhill with limited or no OL obstacles between him and the ball.  Easier said than done, of course, but that is the idea.

Wilson wears #5 and plays Middle Linebacker for the Golden Gophers and I looked hard at his games against Purdue, Nebraska, and Ohio State:
The play above was disallowed due to the offsides play, but focus on #5 jumping the route, making the play, and then hitting the turbo to head for the end zone. 

What I liked:   Wilson is a player who is always on the move and while he doesn't have a 40-time that separates him from his group, he does have an explosiveness on tape that does emerge when there is a play to be made.  He was amongst the leaders in the Big 10 (3rd) for total tackles with 119 and also produced 10.5 tackles for loss and even 4 sacks in 2014.  He plays every down for the Gophers which doesn't always translate to the NFL and the higher caliber athletes to deal with, but he is plenty athletic enough to be a 3rd down factor.  In fact, I would not be surprised if he is almost the opposite of most LBs, in that 3rd down might be his forte and what they had in mind when selecting him.  They are not populated with too many LBs who can run with TEs/RBs, so Wilson fills a spot that has been needed.  He has long arms and although he doesn't know what he is doing with them when it comes to shedding techniques, the Cowboys coaches are optimistic that they can clean up his technique to make him more effective in traffic.  However, he is tenacious and full of the type of characteristics you seek and should help the special teams immediately.


What I did not like:  There is generally a catch when you see many promising things and still get the player at #127.  For Wilson, I observed a few things that the Cowboys will need to get worked through as his career develops.  First, as I hinted at above, almost every time an offensive linemen got their hands on him, it was over.  He was unable to shed and disengage hardly ever.  This is clearly not ideal, but again, with his tools, you would hope this is fixable.  The other thing might require even more work - his instincts seem to betray him quite a bit.  Below, you can see one of many plays that were spotted where he seemed to bite hard on fakes, whether it was the zone-read game that Ohio State had (the play here resulted in JT Barrett running 86 yards for a touchdown) or play-action or just a simple run fake.  Play fast, but you also have to carry out your assignment.  Eat the cheese too much, and you get caught in the trap and if you are playing middle LB, then the middle of the field is exposed to a big play that can cost you the game.  He needs more eye discipline, but I think this comes with more understanding of offenses and film study.  Sometimes, one false step is all the opponent needs.

Summary:  They want athletes and bodies with upside to add all over the roster.  They clearly needed a LB and here is one who might actually project to the coveted "Will" LB spot rather than "Mike" as he played in college.  The Will is kept clean and able just to seek and destroy his man as a "run and hit" LB.  Wilson has some significant issues to work through, but the Cowboys are confident, given the success of the Anthony Hitchens 2014, that the coaches can get Wilson ready to roll in no time and perhaps reap the proceeds of his high upside.  This league requires LBs who can run and he has that ability and also other athletic attributes (long arms, impressive explosion) that lead you to believe he has a a chance to be a real value late in the 4th round.  In the meantime, they will count on him to be a key player on the punt and kick teams.

It will be interesting to see how he develops.

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 

Cowboys Draft Profile - 3rd Round, Pick 91 - Chaz Green, T, Florida -

Now that the draft is over, let's study the selections the Cowboys made who we have not previously studied by giving them the same 200-snap treatment and try to see more on why Dallas found them worthy of selection when they did.

Find all the profiles here.

Florida offensive lineman Chaz Green runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Chaz Green, T,  Florida - 6'5, 314 - RS Senior - 5.16 40 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and when we examine the case of the Dallas Cowboys 3rd round pick, Chaz Green is a great example of that.  There were many draft analysts that figured he would either be drafted late on Day 3 of the proceedings, or not at all.  But the Cowboys thought he was the 91st best player in this draft and a perfect fit for them to replace the 3rd tackle "swing tackle" of the last 5 seasons - Jermey Parnell, who was signed away for large money in Jacksonville.  Now, if either Doug Free or Tyron Smith fall to injury in 2015, odds are pretty good that Green will run onto the field.

Green was once a highly regarded high school recruit, but five years later, Green is fighting to overcome a host of injuries that have kept his Florida career from ever taking off.  He redshirted in 2010, injuries cost him a month of the 2011 season (ankle), all of the 2013 season (knee), and part of the 2014 season (ankle).  To study his work, we looked at the LSU, Florida State, and Missouri games from this season in particular.

Green wears #75 and plays Right Tackle for the Gators:

What I liked:   Green is a big man who has that wide base you want from an edge protector who uses his large kick steps to get back in his stance and squared up to his man on the edge.  Green looks quite comfortable in doing this and in the action we looked at seldom lost his edge to a rusher and generally seemed to have his assignment.  He has massive hands that allow him to again control his man and to stay on balance and smooth in his protection.  In the run game, he can move well and get in space and seek his target before getting him out of the way.  He is not real fast, but he moves well enough for a man of his considerable size.  He certainly looks the part.

What I did not like:  It was certainly difficult to find his snaps.  Not only was he basically a 1-year starter at Florida, but even then, he was part of a right tackle rotation that kept him on the sideline.  Beyond that, he has a real reputation as being an injury prone player which is the biggest enemy of a football team.  He has to prove durable to be useful.  Then, in his run blocking when he gets engaged he has very disconcerting issues with being top-heavy and not really ever moving his feet.  This leads to an off balance man who then finds his way to the ground too much.  When you are in a battle of upper body strength, often the man with the worst footwork loses, and he would lose quite a bit in this scenario.  I am sure it can be fixed, but for now it zaps all of your strength if you stop moving your feet as a lineman.  His disposition does not seem particularly noteworthy as nasty or physical.

Summary:  This is one where you find out about the front office.  First round offensive linemen have been targeted and drafted quite well, where the degree of difficulty is much lower. But this team has a reputation of coming up empty in the premium 2nd round-4th round spots in the draft when they go for offensive line help.  David Arkin was pick #110 in 2011, Robert Brewster #75 in 2009, James Marten was #67 in 2007, Jacob Rogers was pick #52 in 2004 and all of them were unmitigated disasters.  Doug Free was a hit at #122 in 2007, but that is a 20% hit rate on OL over a decade.  We also must credit them for Ron Leary as an un-drafted free agent, but that does not balance the percentages too much if you consider all of the later round (5th-7th) picks on the OL over the years.  Here is pick #91 on a player that the Cowboys are taking a step out of the consensus to bet on a player that they really like.

You can see his skill set and his tools.  You can also see his pedigree.  But, for now, we wonder about his durability and his fit as a very important spot on the team from day 1.  We also wonder if he might have been available later in the draft, but that, of course, is an unanswerable question.  We knew replacing Parnell was going to be an important objective in 2015, and Green appears to be their guy.  Now, we see how his summer goes and his performances in Oxnard will be on full display.  He has a chance, but a bit of skepticism is fair until proven otherwise.

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 

MORE ON CHAZ GREEN

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Never heard of new Cowboys lineman Chaz Green? You're not the only one

Green: 'I'm intelligent, tough; exceptional athlete'

Bob Sturm’s draft review: Did Cowboys replace the 4,500 snaps they lost?

2015 NFL Draft #45 - La'el Collins, T/G, LSU

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 Collins compares with the top lineman of the draft.

La'el Collins, T/G, LSU - 6'4, 305 - Senior - 5.12 40

LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins (60) looks on during NCAA college football practice for the Senior Bowl, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Some schools, including Louisiana State University, are being examined every year for draft prospects.  It seems that no matter how often you do this, you end up going back to the same 20 schools over and over again.  So, with that in mind, you can imagine how shocked many are to hear that La'el Collins has a chance to be the first LSU offensive linemen to be picked in the 1st round since Alan Faneca was chosen with the 26th pick by  Pittsburgh back in 1998.  That is almost 2 decades in between 1st round picks from the OL?  I don't understand.

Regardless, Collins looks like a very impressive athlete that has 38 starts at left tackle for LSU, but like Scherff, the question then becomes whether or not he is able to handle that NFL left tackle spot, switch spots to the right side where (hypothetically) there is more help available and less elite pass rushers - (this is a trend that is disappearing every year) - or, move inside and play a dominant guard position like Zach Martin did last season after being a 4-year left tackle at Notre Dame.  To examine Collins work, we popped in Florida, Auburn, and Ole Miss.  Look for #70 in the clips at LT for LSU.

What I liked:  He is a very competitive, physical bull-dozer with a mean streak.  He wants to stay after you through the whistle and gets the label as "a finisher" which is a guy who is not interested in blocking you for 3 seconds when he can mess with you for 6.  He has very strong zone blocking skills in the running game (as you might assume any member of that LSU attack would have).  He is comfortable in pass protection and gets centered with the edge rushers very well with a kick-step that beats his man to the angle which is exactly what you want.  He can square up and get the first punch in with large hands and generally control the situation in pass protection, but I will readily admit that LSU was running a lot more than passing so in 200 snaps, it is difficult to say he can run right into a NFL situation where the QB might be in shotgun and passing 45 times a game right off the bat at left tackle.  He also seems to get better as a game goes along.  Good disposition and good competitiveness.

What I did not like:  He looks like he occasionally over-runs his man or misses his angle slightly, but enough to get into a spot where he has to hold.  He looks like he either holds or comes close to holding far more often than his contemporaries.  He also will go to the ground a bit too much, which any zone running team will tell you is not a great trait, because, of course, a giant man laying in the path of your RB is an undesirable obstacle and the reason so many offensive line coaches are yelling "stay on your feet" during practices.  While I didn't see him lose very much in pass-pro, he will get beaten on occasion with quickness and in space which makes people wonder if his best spot is at guard, but like Scherff, I would be far more likely to try them both at tackle before I concede and move them inside.

Summary:  Overall, I think Collins is a very nice prospect and i would have to think about where I would rank him relative to the Stanford prospect Andrus Peat.  Given his size, I am sure more would err on the side of the 6'7 Peat, but I think I like Collins as a versatile player a bit more.  The question remains whether it is prudent to put a 1st round pick on an offensive guard.  I realize Martin was excellent last season, but given the job Larry Warford, Trae Turner, Gabe Jackson, and Brandon Linder all have done (all 3rd round picks), I still am of the mind that unless you think a prospect is a tackle, you don't need to over-invest in interior linemen at the top.  There are just too many "solid" guards down near pick #100.  So, when it comes to these 1st round linemen, if people really believe they are only guards at the next level, then you don't take them this high, in my opinion.  Personally, I think Collins can play tackle, and therefore, I would be fine with him going pretty high in this draft.

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 #40 - Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut

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 Jones compares with the top CBs of the draft.

Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut - 6'1, 199 - RS Senior - No 40 (Yet)

Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones (16) is seen during warmups before an NCAA college football game at Rentschler Field, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Byron Jones is a player that I had not spent too much time on this spring until he set the world on fire with his performance at the NFL Draft Combine.  This is a very odd development since he was not supposed to do anything at the combine besides the interviews, because of his recovery from shoulder surgery.  But his recovery was going so well that he did quite a few things, including setting a world record in the broad jump.  That's right, a world record.  Then, he vertical jumped at 44.5", which also made people marvel at his skills, since he is also a rare 6'1 corner who has these gifts.  So, without even having a 40-time on the record until his pro day, March 31, you can see how everyone is now scrambling to know the player.  I did not have my normal supply of tape, however, so I had to use a couple games from 2013 (Michigan and UMass) as well as the East Carolina game in 2014.  I would like to gather more and perhaps look at him again before draft day with more 2014 information, but for now, here is what I have:

What I liked:  With Jones, he checks the boxes for just about everything you like for a NFL corner in this present generation.  He gets up on you in press coverage and tries to suffocate, knowing he can stay with you down the field.  He is best like this where his long arms and huge hands are used to direct you on a re-route.  He is right in the hip pocket not the fades and although he sees some action, he generally is able to handle what comes his way.  He is also surprisingly physical for a gifted athlete (usually it is one or the other) and is willing to get dirty to make a tackle on your bubble screens or runs around the corner.  His overall game is solid and he looks like he has the tools to develop into a #1 CB who is up for your best receiver and willing to travel side to side to stay with him.  Absolutely best in press coverage versus the zones Connecticut would run.  Nice ball skills over the top as well.

What I did not like:  Two things jumped out at me, with the first one being that in zone or even "off" man, he doesn't have great technique to pounce forward without being susceptible to the double move and you can get things done underneath him.  It is clear that he wants to keep his man within arms length to feel like he has the proximity to deal with action.  Then, he tends to border on "too physical" which is a real thing in this league where they are emphasizing illegal contact penalties on defensive backs.  He will draw some flags because he is not going to let you run free.  I would also like to see that 40-time to see about the long speed which might be just what you would call average as he was beaten on a post route and resorted to tackling his man against East Carolina.

Summary:  It certainly doesn't hurt that the NFL is becoming populated with quite a few UConn Huskies on the defensive side of the ball recently to demonstrate the caliber of defensive backs that school is producing.  But, that said, he is his own man and it would be absurd to accuse him of being a "combine creation" as his tape stands up impressively as a combination of both large build and impressive athletic traits.  On top of that he has very nice tape to back him up where he can really lock down on his man with aggressive man-cover traits you will want on Sunday.  There are many solid corners in this draft, but you don't have to go very far down that list to find this guy.  He only played 7 games in 2014, but 43 college games overall tell you that he has plenty of experience at the position and looks the part of a 1st-2nd round pick.

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

2015 NFL Draft #1 - Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

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.)

Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska - 6'6, 240 - Age 22

One of the first rules of draft evaluations is to avoid mock drafts and rankings as to not just go through an exercise of confirmation bias.  We want to assume nothing about these guys and just let our eyes be our guide.  That said, anyone who watches college football knows that Gregory has been at the top of the lists all year long.  He is a very impressive specimen.  I watched the USC, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Miami games.

What I liked:  He is clearly a sight to behold with very long arms and a slender build that makes you think Aldon Smith as a possibility on the edge just ruining plays.  He can be a very active pass rush guy and when he sees something in front of him, he has this explosive gear that is uncommon.  They also try to move him around and he can either stand or put his hand down and has some Clay Matthews explosion and versatility from all sorts of spots.  Some games he looks like he can get off the ball quick, but others he is the last guy out of his stance.  On his game, he attacks in a blur. He is clearly far more a tools prospect than a finished product and unfortunately, his 2013 was more productive than his 2014 in almost every category.  Against the run, he can get to the sideline with a runner and keep contain.  That speaks to his future as a LB or a very athletic pass rush DE.  His best attribute might be his swim moves.  Very solid.  He is active on pass rush and he plays faster if he can smell the ball.  He is great using his hands on a tackle to gain an edge.

What I did not like:  I really look for a high motor in my front 7 defensive players as I know Rod Marinelli wants that badly.  We will trade motor for ability to a certain point, but for the most part, I need a guy that is always chasing.  I did not see that consistently from Gregory.  Some weeks, every play looked important.  Other weeks, it did not.  I am not sure what his true position is because as a 4-3 defensive end, he is not strong enough for me.  His weight is a red flag (too light), but I have seen guys make that weight work because they are quite strong.  He is slender and is not winning much on leverage or power, so I think he has to be an outside LB on a 3-4, most likely.  His pass rush moves seem awfully under-developed and raw.

Summary: There is no doubt he has off-the-charts upside and rare physical traits that the NFL loves to value.  I don't think he is a scheme fit in Dallas and while he might be a guy who develops into a monster, I am looking for a bit more polish for my projected Top 5 picks, usually.  I like him, but I sure expected more.  The Miami game was fantastic, but his final game - the Bowl game against USC was not very impressive as a whole.

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