FanPost

How Our Offensive Unit Evolved

I decided to do some research and analyses on how our starters on offense – along with key backups – were acquired, and here’s what I learned (some of the info I already knew prior to posting this entry):”

 

WRs

TO (Tenn-Chatt) was what a 3rd round draft pick selected by San Francisco in 1996 (acquired by Dallas via Free Agency).

Witten/J-Dub (Tenn) was a 3rd round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2003.

Crayton (NW Ok St) was a 7th round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2004.

 

Backup WRs/TEs

Hurd (N. Ill) was an undrafted free agent signed by our Cowboys in 2006.

Austin (Monmouth) was an undrafted free agent signed by our Cowboys in 2006.

Stanback (UW) was a 4th round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2007.

Tellus (Tex A&M) was a 2nd round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2008.

Curtis (Portland St) was an undrafted free agent signed by our Cowboys in 2005.

 

RBs

MB3 (Minn) was a 4th round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2005.

El Gato (Ark) was a 1st round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2008

T-Choice (GT) was a 4th round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2008.

Cricket (UConn) was a 6th round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2007.

Of course, most every Cowboys Fan by now knows that...

 

QBs

Romo (E. Ill) was an undrafted free agent signed by our Cowboys in 2003.

 

Backup QBs

BJ was a 9th round draft pick selected by Minnesota in 1992 (Dallas acquired Johnson via Free Agency in 2007).

Bollinger (Wisconsin) was a 6th round draft pick selected by NY Jets in 2003 (Dallas acquired Bollinger via Free Agency in 2008) [Interesting Notes on BB – started all four years at the University of Wisconsin, has ties with B. Johnson as his backup in Minn, backed up ex-Cowboys QB Vinny Testaverde with Jets before Vinny was a Cowboy, his first NFL game had him replacing ex-Cowboys QB Quincy Carter with the Jets].

 

Now check out the starting O-line:

The Hotel (Mich St) was a 2nd round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 1998

Bigg (Texas) was a 1st round draft pick selected by Arizona in 2001 (acquired by Dallas via free agency).

Gurode (Colorado) was 2nd round draft pick selected by our Cowboys in 2002.

Kosier (Ariz. St) was a 7th round draft pick selected by San Francisco in 2002 (acquired by Dallas via free agency).

Colombo (Boston College) was a 1st round draft pick selected by Chicago in 2002 (acquired by Dallas via free agency while in process of rehabbing torn knee ligaments after Bears released him).

 

Top O-line  reserves:

Procter (Montana) was an undrafted free agent originally signed by Detroit in 2005.

Holland (Fla St)  was a 4th round draft pick originally drafted by Denver in 2003 (Dallas acquired via trade with Broncos in 2008).

After analyzing the info above, it dawned on me that our scouts, front office, and coaches have done a darn good job drafting, signing and developing players on the offensive side of the ball.

Notice that all starting O-linemen were drafted with 4 of the 5 being 1st and 2nd rounders.

 

As far as skill positions go...

Our star QB was not even drafted

Our star WR and elite TE were 3rd rounders

Our top RB was a 4th rounder

Our other starting WR was a 7th rounder

 

To me, this shows that if you have an outstanding scouting dept -- and front office people who listen to them -- you don't need first day draft selections for your skill position starters.

However, the assembling of our "O-line" starting personnel does reveal that acquiring high draft picks from big schools increase the probability to developing successful O-line starters.

I found that researching and analyzing this data manifested some things about our team.  Of course, you can't just take a broad brush and say that every team should do it the Dallas Cowboys current edition way to be successful.  However, it is interesting how the pieces were assembled and developed.

Of course, one cannot underestimate coaching, as well.  And I think this year's staff is one of the best we've had in a long, long time.

The most underrated, yet obviously valuable signing was that of OL coach Hudson Houck.  It's already paid early dividends in our pass protection AND especially in our running game going into Week #4.

And we all know how crucial having a brilliant OC like Jason "Red Ball" Garrett is to our potent offense.

Also, I like Ray Sherman as WR coach, Skip Peete as RB coach, and John Garrett as TE coach.

 

What do you all think?

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