Cowboys private workouts

by Dave Halprin on Apr 3, 2006 6:32 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys News

trickblue over at the Zone posted this today. I tried to track down the original article and failed, but trickblue is always reliable.

* CAL-POLY senior defensive end/outside linebacker CHRIS GOCONG has reported to the NLS Staff that he has had private workouts with Dallas, Atlanta, New England and has also drawn considerable interest from Oakland, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Houston and Cleveland... the most interesting note on the workout with the Cowboys was that he not only worked out as a defensive lineman, but also did linebacker drills, which included him lining up at inside linebacker to show his footwork and range on pass drops.

* FLORIDASTATE senior defensive end/outside linebacker KAMERION WIMBELY has reported to the NLS Staff that he has private visits scheduled with Cleveland and Kansas City, as well as a recent private workout with Dallas.

* FRESNOSTATE senior running back WENDELL MATHIS has reported to the NLS Staff that he has had several private workouts since his Pro Day, including one with the RB coach from Dallas.

* OKLAHOMA senior offensive lineman DAVIN JOSEPH has reported to the NLS Staff that he has had private workouts or visits with Dallas, New England, Philadelphia, while also drawing a lot of interest from Tampa Bay... some of the teams that spoke to him at the NFL Combine asked him about moving inside to center.

* OKLAHOMA senior offensive lineman CHRIS CHESTER has reported to the NLS Staff that he has private visits or workouts with no-less than six teams, including Jacksonville, Dallas, St. Louis, Arizona, Kansas City and Tennessee.

* OKLAHOMA STATE senior fullback SHAWN WILLIS has reported to the NLS Staff that he had an on-campus private workout with Dallas on March 23rd... he has had similar offers presented to him over the past few weeks.

* PITTSBURGH senior offensive lineman CHARLES SPENCER has reported to the NLS Staff that he has private visits/workouts scheduled with Dallas, Jacksonville, Kansas City and Philadelphia... also seems to be drawing interest from New England among others.

* PURDUE senior linebacker BOBBY IWUCHUKWU has reported to the NLS Staff that he has had a private workout with Philadelphia and will be having a private visit with Dallas in the next two weeks.

* STANFORD senior linebacker JON ALSTON has reported to the NLS Staff that he recently had a private workout with Pittsburgh, and also has private visits scheduled with both Dallas and St. Louis in the near future... he did both linebacker and safety drills for Pittsburgh, as well as at his recent Pro Day on March 16th.

* STANFORD senior defensive back/return man T.J. RUSHING has reported to the NLS Staff that he has had private workouts with several teams, since his Pro Day, including Pittsburgh, Dallas, Chicago, New England and St. Louis.

* TEXAS senior defensive tackle RODRIQUE WRIGHT has reported to the NLS Staff that he had private workouts with Dallas, Miami and most recently Cleveland... several teams are interested in seeing him close up during a workout, as his work ethic as sometimes been called into question.

* YALE senior quarterback JEFF MROZ is expected to workout for scouts at the upcoming Duquesne Pro Day, which is scheduled for March 18th... he may still setup and hold his own Pro Day back on his home campus, but inclement weather in late February and early March prevented him from working out for area scouts... he has already had a private workout with Dallas, while 3-4 other teams have kept in contact with his agent.

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Of these

players the only two that really interest me are Wimbley and Chris Chester.

Wimbley is a monster, plain and simple. Put him on the opposite side of Ware and they both get at least 12 sacks. Quarterbacks will never know what hit them with that 1-2 combination punch.

Quarterbacks will also never figure out which one or both of them will be in their grill until the ball is snapped and it's too late. Look at Pittsburgh against Indy in the playoffs last year. 5 sacks. That's what having two stud outside linebackers can do for you in a 3-4 defense. Check their stats last year with Pittsburgh, and you'll see what I mean.

Chester is a badass sleeper pick. I've been watching him for a few years now. He plays center, both guard positions, and he even played tight end. If you look at his measurables, the guy is an amazing athlete for his size. He's fast, agile, and has great hands.

The best part about Chester is the flexibility he offers by being able to play so many positions. It appears from the Kosier signing and keeping Gurode that being able to play multiple line positions are things Parcells highly values.

I know a lot of NFL scouts are very high on Charles Spencer too. I liked what I saw of him at the Senior Bowl practices, he's going to be a stud someday with more reps at guard, although I thought Max Jean Gilles was the most dominating guard (maybe player, except for Tamba Hali) during the actual game. For some reason I have this feeling that Spencer will be taken before our pick in the second round. Scouts are very high on him, in particular the Tennessee Titans scouts. I read a lot of things at the time where their coaches and scouts were singing his praises.

Philly is the only team he did private workouts for that picks before us, but it is very possible that a team like Tennessee (for example) didn't request a private workout because their coaching staff got such a good up close look at him already while coaching him in Senior Bowl week practices and the combine and are already sold on him. If he's around in round two, I hope we take him. I have this feeling he'll be long gone though.

Career Super Bowl Rings: Irvin=3 Harper=3 Pearson=1 Keyshawn=1 T.O.=ZERO I guess it really is a team sport!!

by Playmaker88 on Apr 3, 2006 7:07 PM CDT reply actions

first round

with 25 days left, I'm going to narrow down the first round wish list to Jackson, Wimbley or Justice in that order. All three will be studs.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Apr 3, 2006 8:26 PM CDT reply actions

wasting your time,

if you think dallas is taking a wideout in the first two rounds of the draft. I'd rather Stoval in the third or fourth depending how many picks we'll have when we trade down in the first round.

by Deke on Apr 3, 2006 8:33 PM CDT reply actions

like Grizz said...

we don't have much depth behind TNT and besides Jackson and Holmes and maybe Moss, the receiver class this year is extremely weak. The linebacker and O line classes however are much deeper so why not take one of the top wr in the draftin the first round and still get quailty linemen and linebackers in the remaining rounds.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Apr 3, 2006 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Keep your

eyes on Brandon Marshall. He's going to be the steal of the draft at wide receiver. The scouts are calling him "baby T.O." because of his physique, speed, height, and hands. He should be there in the 3rd round.

Career Super Bowl Rings: Irvin=3 Harper=3 Pearson=1 Keyshawn=1 T.O.=ZERO I guess it really is a team sport!!

by Playmaker88 on Apr 3, 2006 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions

not a top wideout

Jackson averaged 10.2 yards per catch in a spread offense at Forida, thats not great at all, tells me that he cant break away from defenders. His stock jumped from a late second rounder based on his forty time, too many people get all enamored with what a guy does at the combine, thats a mistake. I would never waste a first round pick on a wideout, and Holmes is a midget, 5 feet 9 at the most and at Ohio's pro day, he weighed in at 179lb, he'll get killed.

by Deke on Apr 3, 2006 9:18 PM CDT reply actions

I guess you never heard of a guy named Steve Smith

well he's 5-9 and 175 and I think the guy is pretty good, actually you could make an argument he's the best playmaker in the league. So you're small theory doesn't really hold water.

And you're wrong about Jackson, he is the best wr in this class. The reason is only averaged 10.2 yards per catch at Florida wasn't because he couldn't break away from defenders, thats ridiculous, the reason is because of Urban Myers system, they never threw the ball downfield. The guy proved at the combine he can fly by most corners. Jackson is a stud and will be a top wr in the league in a few years.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Apr 3, 2006 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

Jackson

also looked very impressive at the skills competition too. He's got great hands and speed.

My only concern about drafting a wideout in round one is that he won't be able to start unless Glenn or Owens gets hurt. I wouldn't want to see a first round player sit unless it is a quarterback or an offensive lineman that still has to learn the NFL game. On the other hand, an outside linebacker will probably start right away and start all year if he's any good, like Wimbley looks like he is.

I look forward to reading your narrowed down first round draft material though. I like your picks thus far.

Career Super Bowl Rings: Irvin=3 Harper=3 Pearson=1 Keyshawn=1 T.O.=ZERO I guess it really is a team sport!!

by Playmaker88 on Apr 3, 2006 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions

keep in mind

that wr's take around three years to develop so by the time T.O. and Glenn retire or get cut as the case may be, a guy like Jackson will be ready to step in and we won't miss a beat

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Apr 3, 2006 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions

one?

Thats it, one wideout in the whole NFL, thats the only name you can give me, a third round draft pick at that, not 18th overall that you'd like to see drafted. how many small wideouts that are drafted in the NFL in the last ten years are highly productive players?

Saying Jackson is the best in this class is about the same as saying that Larry Allen was the best linemen on the Cowboys last year, doesn't say too much. Jackson in a spread offense is mostly one on one coverage and he still cant get away from press coverage.Really, what was the drill at the combine that showed him blow by corners, again you are getting drawn in by what a guy does at the combine, take what a player does there with a grain of salt, its more about getting interviews, Scouting during the college season and the private workouts with teams is where the coaches can put the player through the drills they want to see, not strightline forty times, which is so overated at the combine, so many of these players hire trainers only to get them ready for the combine at one particular event,remember Randel Williams.

by Deke on Apr 4, 2006 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions

well...

Terry Glenn isn't that big either and was like a buck 85 coming out of Ohio State in '96 and he's pretty good too. And the guy that killed us the 2nd game of the year, that Moss kid, not too big either...I could go on, but I won't.

Regarding Jackson, he's just not a combine guy, he's a football player who was very productive in college. Before Urban Myers brought in his spread offense, Jackson averaged 22.3 yds per catch and this past year he caught 88 balls and scored 9 Td's. So that tells me the kid can play and is a lot more than a combine guy. I also heard he blew away scouts in personal interviews.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Apr 4, 2006 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think its going to matter anyway...

I fully expect Jackson, Wimbley and Justice to be long gone by pick 18, so you're prediction of trading down will more than likely happen.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Apr 4, 2006 9:20 AM CDT reply actions

What I

don't understand is that everyone keeps saying we are trading down, but then I hear just as many, and often the same people saying we are in a one year "win now" mentality.

If we are in "Win Now" mode, then why wouldn't we trade up and mortgage the future to get a player such as Vernon Davis that could make a huge difference immediately. He can play every offensive play. He can play tight end in two tight end formations, he can play fullback/hback in the i-formation, and he can split out as a slot or even wide receiver on passing downs.

He's faster than most wide receivers and as strong as some offensive lineman.

Why not trade up for him if we want to win now? That's what Jimmy and Jerry did to get Emmitt Emith when they felt the team was close enough in other areas. Most of the big holes are filled so adding more players by trading down means either drafting more backup players or players that are going to be on the practice squad or developmental projects.

If we're trying to win it all this year I'd rather see them not mess around and go for a true stud.

Career Super Bowl Rings: Irvin=3 Harper=3 Pearson=1 Keyshawn=1 T.O.=ZERO I guess it really is a team sport!!

by Playmaker88 on Apr 4, 2006 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Just my opinion

but you don't trade up to get a TE, no matter how good he looks coming out college. That's usually reserved for QB's, RB's, maybe a stud left tackle. (Unless you're just jumping up a couple of spots).

Besides we have a pretty good TE who should be in Dallas for a while.

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by Dave Halprin on Apr 4, 2006 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

I do

understand your opinion, and 9 times out of 10 I completely agree. However, this would be that 1 out of 10.

Think about 9 years ago if the Cowboys had traded up to get Tony Gonzalez instead of taking David LaFleur. How different would the late 90's have been with Aikman having Gonzalez instead of LaFleur and Bjornsen?

The part about Witten I understand, but think about having Witten and Vernon Davis. That would be lethal, and both would be on the field 100% of the time since Davis can play fullback and slot receiver too.

On the 70's teams we always had at least two really good tight ends at the same time. Remember Dupree with Jackie Smith and then with Doug Cosbie?

Career Super Bowl Rings: Irvin=3 Harper=3 Pearson=1 Keyshawn=1 T.O.=ZERO I guess it really is a team sport!!

by Playmaker88 on Apr 4, 2006 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Playmaker

we just signed T.O. and there's only one ball to go around. Do you really think Parcells will throw every down?

Besides you don't draft a TE high in the first round when you already have a pro bowl TE.

If the Cowboys were going to trade up to get a player, it wouldn't be Davis. I would think it would be somebody like AJ Hawk who is probably going to be an all-pro for 10 plus years and make an immediate impact for whoever gets him, the guy doesn't have a weakness.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Apr 4, 2006 8:13 PM CDT reply actions

Good choice

But if I'm trading up I'm taking D'Brick!

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by Dave Halprin on Apr 4, 2006 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

with that too. D'Brick would help out a lot. He should be able to start as a rookie too.

Career Super Bowl Rings: Irvin=3 Harper=3 Pearson=1 Keyshawn=1 T.O.=ZERO I guess it really is a team sport!!

by Playmaker88 on Apr 4, 2006 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

about AJ Hawk.

Davis is an exceptional blocker, so even if Parcells isn't throwing, Davis will be contributing to the running game with his blocking abilities. He'd be a big upgrade over Polite in that area.

I see your point about not trading up to take a tight end when you have a pro bowl one, but having two good tight ends in a Parcells offense is like having two good wide receivers in a Bill Walsh style offense. Time will tell, but I think Davis and Mario Williams are going to end up being the best NFL players to come out of this draft.

I don't see it happening anyway, so it really doesn't matter. My thinking was that everyone says we're in "Win Now" mode, but yet talks about either trading down to get more picks (which is usually done when you're rebuilding) or taking a player who will be on the bench behind a starter. If we want to win now we should take a player who will contribute as much as possible right away, which Davis could do on every offensive play.

Career Super Bowl Rings: Irvin=3 Harper=3 Pearson=1 Keyshawn=1 T.O.=ZERO I guess it really is a team sport!!

by Playmaker88 on Apr 4, 2006 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions