The Cowboys didn't win up front on either side in the playoff loss to the 49ers

 One thing I make a point in doing every July is to rewatch the end of the previous year. I stole this idea from watching "Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul" or even when "Game of Thrones" would finally give us a new season after being away for far too long. I have to remember where we left things. Where were the main characters? What pickle did the bad guys put us in as the screen froze and we faded away into the offseason? In TV shows, we often don't have anything occur.

https://theathletic.com/3417552/2022/07/14/cowboys-49ers-wild-card-playoff-game-review/

Five days later, thoughts on Mike McCarthy and where I went wrong again: Cowboys riffing

It’s been a long week around here.

Cowboys fans are either sad, numb or just mad that they fell for it again. Some have sworn — like their current head coach who they might like gone — that they have very little interest in watching this weekend’s playoff games because it will remind them of another underachievement of a season. It was two weeks ago when we hashed out the definition of a successful season. I said that the wild-card game is the definition of a “must-win” from more than the obvious idea of keeping a season going, but rather to keep hope alive that the Cowboys are even in the right galaxy. 

https://theathletic.com/3084104/2022/01/21/five-days-later-thoughts-on-mike-mccarthy-and-where-i-went-wrong-again-cowboys-riffing/

The ground and pound of the Kyle Shanahan attack wins the day and likely ends the Cowboys’ Dan Quinn era

 As I stated Tueday, I would absolutely assign the “loss” for this gutting playoff defeat with San Francisco on the offense. The lion’s share of blame must go to that side of the football and it rightfully will in this space. There is no question where the Cowboys have prioritized their budget and expectation level. The offense was given plenty and on Sunday delivered little.

https://theathletic.com/3079694/2022/01/19/the-ground-and-pound-of-the-kyle-shanahan-attack-wins-the-day-and-likely-ends-the-cowboys-dan-quinn-era/

At the moment of truth, the Cowboys offense fails to produce against pressure: Decoding Kellen Moore

 It is the conclusion of this media voice that the lion’s share of disappointment for 2021 must fall on the shoulders of this offense. Despite delightful statistical accumulation, the Cowboys demonstrated again that they did not have the ability to score and accumulate when it counted most. We have seen this before, but in these win-or-go-home moments, it should fall to the offense to demonstrate what it has done with the assets from this organization. In a salary-capped league with a finite amount of resources, almost everything is constantly being given to the offense. Compensation along the offensive line, skill positions, and, lest we forget, quarterback, is among the highest in the sport. They have dedicated resource after resource to build an unstoppable attack.

https://theathletic.com/3076740/2022/01/18/at-the-moment-of-truth-the-cowboys-offense-fails-to-produce-against-pressure-decoding-kellen-moore/

The Cowboys come out flat and fall short again in familiar plot line: The Morning After

 He doesn’t always make sense when he’s talking in various pitches of excitement, but there was definitely a moment when Tony Romo said something that hit everything precisely right on the head of the nail.

He said, “Wow! That was actually a brilliant play (idea), but you kind of look silly now.”

Now, tell me, what do you think he was talking about?

Because in Sunday’s end to the Cowboys season, we could put that in so many places in the script.

https://theathletic.com/3074975/2022/01/17/the-cowboys-come-out-flat-and-fall-short-again-in-familiar-plot-line-the-morning-after/

Preparing for an epic battle against a familiar foe with plenty on the line: Cowboys playoff riffing

 The playoffs are one big ice-cream headache of glorious anxiety. Not knowing if you are about to enjoy the ride of a lifetime or another trip to the heartbreak hotel. It can be the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Unfortunately, for anyone involved with Dallas Cowboys football, it is the feeling that it will never be their year again. We doubt that dubious fatalism is productive, but just like Rome wasn’t built in a day, we can safely tell you neither was Cowboys cynicism.

You know the story. They have gone way too long.

https://theathletic.com/3070190/2022/01/14/preparing-for-an-epic-battle-against-a-familiar-foe-with-plenty-on-the-line-cowboys-playoff-riffing/

2015 NFL Draft #20 - Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon

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 Armstead compares with the top DEs of the draft.

Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon - 6'8, 290 - Junior

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Defensive lineman Arik Armstead #9 of the Oregon Ducks pressures quarterback Jameis Winston #5 of the Florida State Seminoles during the first quarter of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

One of the reasons to write these profiles is to offer something fun for everyone to read 4 or 5 years from now to see how much guesswork is done on college players at the age of 20 or 21 to project what they might possibly be when they turn 25 as seasoned pros.  Odds are, I will hit on many of these and miss horribly on many more.  What is interesting is that I know which ones are candidates to be ones I anticipate could come back to bite me in 2018.

That said, Arik Armstead, is the type of player that requires that we carefully consider his future perhaps even more than his present tense.  Presently, Armstead has been a massive recruit for Oregon 3 seasons ago, who has played 3 seasons with the Ducks and amassed 4 sacks, total.  He showed many impressive flashes along the way, but never made an All-Pac-12 team while there.  To study his work, we watched the Michigan State, Florida State, and Ohio State games from this past season.

What I liked:  Armstead is a very big man who impresses you by simply walking out of the huddle with the most intimidating build on the field.  He is 6'8, 290 and could be Julius Peppers or Calias Campbell in terms of body-type.  He is a true DE in a 3-4 as a 5-technique who lines up to 2-gap right on the right tackle.  He is a terrific player at the line of scrimmage in terms of stopping most runs in his vicinity, as well as affecting runs to the other side by chasing down the line.  You can see how opposing offensive lines plan tactically to deal directly with Amstead first with a double team or attention that will focus on him when playing the Ducks.  He is a handful and is quite strong.  He also shows that he will keep battling on many plays and benefits from either cleaning up coverage sacks or causing others to have opportunities.  He can bullrush with power on a 1-on-1 matchup. He is just 20, and therefore is still growing into his strength and abilities and could blossom into something pretty special in time.  This is his biggest strength, the idea that the NFL loves specimen with tools everywhere, and he just needs to put it together to perhaps be a player like Campbell in time.

What I did not like:  Unfortunately, I am not someone who feels really comfortable drafting a player based on tools.  I want to see production and chaos caused by a defensive linemen that is projected to go so high in the draft.  2.5 sacks is not going to stop traffic and while I realize a 5-technique is never going to set statistical records, I still want to see him dominate at the college level and that never happened.  He plays so high that he often gets beaten by leverage on pass rush attempts and stumbles around on moves.  He does not have exceptional quickness and if that isn't there at 20, it often just isn't there.  At times, I also look at his motor and would like to see a bit more intensity from his game.  He can go long stretches without anything notable on his ledger.

Summary:  I have been studying draft prospects for a long time and know that sometimes, this is the type of guy to come back and bite you in the rear in 4 years if you discount them at this age.  A positional coach could turn the switch for a guy like this and suddenly he is a superstar.  That said, I don't see what others do in this player.  There is no doubt he shows flashes, but that can be a very risky play to believe in a guy based on flashes.  Also, he is not a scheme fit for the 4-3 as some have suggested he could be a 3-technique DT, but I need explosion there.  He is all power and not enough quicks for me.  As a 5-tech, he is very interesting but not as exciting as a player like Baylor's Shawn Oakman who decided to return for another year.  He looks like a risky proposition for me and I would let someone else draft and develop him.  I need to see more present tense greatness to invest heavily - which is what you would have to do to get him based on the buzz he has generated.

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

2015 NFL Draft #6 - Eli Harold, DE, Virginia

For a look at all of the profiles to date, simply click here on this link. 

(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.)

Click here to see an interactive of how Harold compares with the top DE/OLBs of the draft.

Eli Harold, DE/OLB, Virginia - 6'4, 250 

Virginia defensive end Eli Harold (7) picks up a fumble then scores a touchdown during an NCAA college football game Saturday Sept. 6, 2014 at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.. Virginia defeated Richmond 45-13.

This is the year for the edge rusher and for a team like the Cowboys who need pass "rushmen", we better get familiar with the whole bunch if we can.  Eli Harold is yet another player who is highly regarded for being an athletically-inclined talent who you can clearly see flashes of everything you look for on Sundays.  When you read his background, it all seems to make sense as he is an exceptional track star in high school with the events that require explosion and speed.  To study his work, I watched the following Virginia games from 2014: UCLA, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Louisville.

What I liked:  He has top level quickness and explodes out of his stance at times and if you dare run the zone read at him (UCLA) and decide to leave him as the unblocked man to read off, you will quickly see that he is athletic enough to stay home and wait you out before pouncing.  His pass rush at its best is elite.  He also can chase down a QB or a RB who is headed to the opposite sideline in a blur that dazzles.  Very impressive ability to squeeze between gaps as well and not lose his balance or his momentum.

What I did not like: Unfortunately, there were too many times when we did not see his elite ability and this is a good lesson, perhaps, in watching enough of his tape that you aren't completely mesmerized by the 10 best plays of his season.  Like some others we have profiled, we wonder why in some games he looks like a 1st rounder and in others he looks like just another guy on the field.  In the UCLA and Pitt games, he really never troubled the Left tackle and made them uncomfortable.  He doesn't seem to have much of a plan if the quickness doesn't get him past his man.  He seems to have none of that functional power that makes edge rushers who can convert from speed to power and back so dangerous.  If you only have quick, then the offensive lineman across from you can quickly learn and react for the remainder of the day.  This doesn't mean that a young player like Harold can't get stronger and figure out a better arsenal of moves, but at the present, he isn't close.  He also gets stuck on blocks and when a tackle gets a hand on him, he is eliminated from the play way too often - relative to some of the others we have studied.  I wish there was just more production.  He had 7 sacks in 2014, with 5.5 of them in September.  That means there was 1.5 sacks in the final 7 games for a guy who is going against college left tackles.  I need more.

Summary:  To me, this is another case of a player who has incredible natural talents that a coaching staff might see and be confident that they can work him into a stud.  But, in the case of this exercise where the number #1 rule is to "trust your eyes", I must tell you that I wanted to see much more consistency in his game and power to use when needed.  He does look like you would expect a track guy to look when he plays football.  Very "toolsy", but not physical enough when the play is right at him and not enough power to be feared and schemed around.  I definitely see what people like, but there wasn't enough to say that he belongs as a 1st rounder for me.  I would say, depending on the game you grab, that he is a Top 30 guy on many occasions (Louisville), but unfortunately, just a Top 100 guy just as often.

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