The Valley Ranch Review: Dallas’ Draft Board - Chock Full of "Tough Guys"
by Aaron Novinger on Apr 21, 2009 11:00 PM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys News
89 comments
Tom Ciskowski, Dallas' director of college and pro scouting, succeeded in his first draft last year, hitting on 5 of 6 players. With eleven picks this year, the organization has the ammunition to trade around to target guys who fit Ciskowski's vision of Cowboys; not just talented, but are football "tough" with football "smarts".
Ciskowski has devised a position-by-position set of characteristics he seeks for any player, and the consistent themes throughout every spot are willingness to work, and intelligence. It's a value system where toughness is almost as important as talent. He is pushing in the direction of the increasingly popular, if slightly boring, tough-guy, fits our-mold football player.
Ciskowski has his outline, his plan, and his vision for what he wants. According to various Valley Ranch sources, Ciskowski is allowed to set up the draft board the way he wants it; it's almost as if it's Jerry proof, and there will be no chance of taking a Quincy Carter in the second round.
Toughness and a willingness to do the grunt work is why Sam Hurd is still a Cowboy.
Rick Gosselin analyzes how the prospects in this year's draft can help Dallas' special teams units.
A Tyson Middle School student interviewed Ken Hamlin about what makes a team successful.
"It's little things that are going to make you great," Hamlin said. "We have things that are making us good right now. We have to make the next step and do some little things here and there to make us great."
More Isaiah Stanback and Wild Cat speculation.
The DMN's draft series features wide receivers, beginning with Rice's Jarrett Dillard.
NBC's DFW affiliate discusses which positions will make up Dallas' draft board.
Here is an update on LSU's Demetrius Byrd. The WR is expected to make a full recovery from Monday's car accident.
0 recs |
89 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
They need someone
with brains in there. I trust the talent evaluators a lot more than I trust Jerry pulling the trigger. I must admit I give Jerry too much grief about his past antics, but lest he forget the past and doom himself to repeat it. I will be ever vigilant to remind him. (oh heck like he listens to me)
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
+1
I was disappointed when Ireland left with Tuna, but Tom Ciskowski has eased my mind. I like his vision for the Cowboys future.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 22, 2009 12:24 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
I like the way he thinks, get football players, we still got plenty of stars and we will have more but we do need more guys to do all the little things.
by nicholas.rodriguez on Apr 22, 2009 1:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Who do you think...
was feeding Ireland? Ireland is nothing more than a GM puppet at Miami. Parcells ruled him here with Ciskowski behind the scenes giving both the needed info. Parcells rules him at Miami. He probably tells him what to say at the press conferences.
by TheCowboyFan on Apr 22, 2009 7:23 AM CDT up reply actions
I didn't know he was feeding Ireland
I assumed Ireland got the info from all his scouts and sources. Sorry I wasn’t privy to the inside scoop.
All I know is Tom C. did a great job running the draft last season and I’m looking forward to his encore performance.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 22, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Doesn't matter
I get it, OK?
Ireland was only a puppet, a figure-head, a cardboard cutout. It’s too bad Jerry was suckered into paying him a salary. Sarcasm off.
My original point was I’m glad Tom C. is running the draft. He did a good job last season, and I like his “mission statement” about the player he will be drafting. Not about how great Ireland was.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 22, 2009 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions
highly doubtful....that was Jerry throwing Tuna a bone, (giving him his boy) to make up for trumping him, and stealing the spotlight with the Ware choice a year earlier...
Giving Tuna another one of his stellar picks (Spears) to pound his chest about…..
If Ciskowski is targeting
Guys who are both hard workers and smart even if they lack a little talent, at all positions, than who does that push off their draft board?
Who would be the talented guys that lack smarts or won’t work hard?
It be stupid to take Harvin on the draft board.
Hes the most explosive player in this draft.
"If your good at something never do it for free." - The Joker
by houseofprime on Apr 22, 2009 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions
off*
"If your good at something never do it for free." - The Joker
by houseofprime on Apr 22, 2009 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, they did, so...uh...Jerry's stupid?
Even if they didn’t, he’s basically another Reggie Bush/Felix Jones type. Doubt we need yet another Felix, especially with our first pick. Pretty easy guy to scratch off the list when you 1.) don’t need him and 2.) won’t be able to draft him regardless. Also, Percy Harvin, like everybody else who plays for the Gators, is in fact Satan reincarnated in the flesh. Scientific fact. Damn Tebow.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Apr 22, 2009 3:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Is it really a fact that the Cowboys have done this?
i don’t think he would come out and say who wasn’t on their draft board.
"If your good at something never do it for free." - The Joker
by houseofprime on Apr 22, 2009 3:55 AM CDT up reply actions
It was on TV. TV never lies. EVER.
But seriously, I have no idea if it’s 100% fact or not, but ESPN, NFLN, NFL.com, etc. all reported it.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Apr 22, 2009 3:58 AM CDT up reply actions
I think we all learned by now don't believe what Jerry says......
As of right now Harvin is still a possibilty…..Despite all the crap surrounding Harvin he is still a first round draft pick.
If he is sitting there at #51 Jerry is all over him like white on Rice...
They discussed this today on DC.com…..doesn’t matter because he will be gone by the 25th pick in the first round. He is just too good of a talent to slip that far, failed drug test or not.
That is why, the NFL drug policy is and always will be a farce.
Teams keep picking talented players despite their apparant innability to keep off the smoke. Do I like it that marijuanna is illegal? No, but I respect the fact that it is and if I smoke it I lose my job. My employer does not suspend you for 3 games for getting popped on a drug screen, they just fire your ass. Until the NFL does the same thing, you will see players doing drugs. I think it is time to s**t or get off the pot. Either get rid of the drug policy or really make it not worth the players while to do it.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Yeah ... our 'boss' is pretty strict about that - no jokin' w/the tokin'.
s**t or get off the pot
now you’re just punishing us
everybody after Emmitt?
or just in the last year?
by NerdVernacular on Apr 22, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Haha just last year's team
They crushed my dreams.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Apr 22, 2009 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions
give me a half dozen "Felix Jones" types, and i'll beat you every time....
where’s that come from ? Felix Jones types are exactly what every team looks for and dreams about…
It wasn't a knock on Felix or Harvin
But the fact remains Dallas has apparently decided they don’t need a headache like Harvin on the team, especially when you have a player who’s pretty much identical and every bit as talented in Felix Jones.
I love Felix. Our offense was obviously hurting without him. I think Harvin’s going to be a monster in the NFL.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Apr 22, 2009 8:03 PM CDT up reply actions
he's not that explosive...
he doesn’t even have a specific position…
and he failed his marijuana combine test
by CowboysFan4Life on Apr 22, 2009 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions
He's pretty explosive...
I’m not saying that you take him, but Harvin was ridiculously explosive.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
And, as with explosions, something goes 'up in smoke' ...
kinda like his chances of a good draft spot.
It's his Hubris that's ending his good draft spot
not the weed; see Warren Sapp’s draft. That said, I bet Pearcy Harvin goes in the top 15, in a stunner as in Ted Ginn’s case.
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Pearcy Harvin has some strange reputations
he’s been called a guy who lives exclusively in Pearcy Harvin’s world… he’s got a lot of TO, maybe even Pacman, to him – the Pacman that doesn’t care about the Titans not necessarily the legal trouble
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
admittedly I'm trying to find corroborating evidence and I'm not
Instead I find Pearcy Harvin putting in 15 hour days trying to rehab, and him avoiding the spotlight. Supposedly he gets in to fights and has a hard time dealing with authority. I don’t have anything against fights as long as it’s not sucker punches – problems with authority who knows what that means
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Uh oh
Harvin and Tate tested positive for pot
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9483382/Sources:-WRs-Harvin,-Tate-tested-positive-for-pot
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 22, 2009 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions
NOOOOOOO
I don’t care bout Harvin but Tate….that sucks…
by nicholas.rodriguez on Apr 22, 2009 1:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah Tate was on my list of late round potentiental play makers
at least at the PR position
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Well it does state
that he has his own list of attributes for each position he likes but the the two main things guys have to have is toughness and smarts. I wonder if they account the Wonderlic tests as a guys intelligence, because if they do Delmas might not even be on our board since he scored an 12. Not to great for the guy who usually lines up the secondary, but the kid is a football player so who knows. I think it makes Rashad Johnson more likely to be picked by us in the third round though
by nicholas.rodriguez on Apr 22, 2009 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm thinking intellegence is more about
“this guy shows good decision making over a period of time” or “demonstrates an ability to learn football plays quickly” more than the wonderlic
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Good to hear about Byrd
Odds are he won’t be a Cowboy, but it’s great news to hear regardless. I’d hate to think that someone’s career could be over before it even started. My heart broke for the guy, and it’s awesome he’ll be able to continue pursuing his dream.
Epic Fail since 1985
I wouldn't have thought that Martellus Bennett fit the tough/blue collar profile
The quote on the picture shown in the article states:
“Tight end Martellus Bennett, above, probably wouldn’t have been drafted by previous Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, but he fits the criteria of director of player personnel Tom Ciskowski.”
I see how the Scandrick, Choice and the rest fit the profile, but Bennett seems a bit of a flake.
"Where's Woody? - We need another Darren Woodson
I think that was more perception than reality
Tellus always seems laid back, but certainly no flake. He’s a very willing blocker, unlike the vast majority of receiving tight ends in the NFL. I’d say the fact that he’s a tight end in today’s NFL and is still 100% willing and able to block means he’s tough, at least by today’s standards.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Apr 22, 2009 3:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Tough
ball players can be flaky.
Charles Haley … John Riggins …
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Haley isn't what I would call flaky...
Haley is what I would call out of his fng mind.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
OK
Riggins would definitely fall into the same category.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Airforce
lol you kill me man. Haley was out of his frig mind. sooo right. Just plain wacky. But not flacky.
Riggins was flaky/
+1
Haley had some severe psychological defects.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 22, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions
his brain issues are probably what made him so good
and competitive
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions
I remember he peed in Tim Harris' car when they were on the niners...lol.
Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!
by Aaron Novinger on Apr 23, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Is this a deviation
from previous drafts that Ciskowski basically is in charge of the draft board? Just curious if this is one of the “changes” JJ was talking about after the end of last season
I would think as an advisor,
that the best you can do is give information. You tell the boss what you think and the boss pulls the trigger. Now that Ciskowski is the boss, we will get an inside look at how he thinks. There is a big difference between being the boss and being the advisor. And, I would think that the Wonderlic comes in as handy info to separate two equal talents at a position, but being the determining factor for being on or off the board? I don’t think so. As far as Harvin, I don’t care if he is the reincarnation Jerry Rice. If he is going to thumb his nose at the NFL rules before he is drafted, then he is going to do so even more after he is drafted. We do not need that kind of attitude on this team, and we just got rid of a self centered me first reciever, who wanted to be above the team. Why in hell would we want another?
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
no, Ciskowski was in charge of the draft last year as well
and obviously thats the reason our draft was so good. As long as he’s running the draft, we’ll be fine.
In Romo we Trust
Then I need no more convincing.
Last year was a heck of a draft and I commend him on finding talent. And as Martellus shows, there is a difference between percieved attitude and real attitude.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Be interesting
to see if Ciskowski’s tough guy player profile extends to the existing roster as well as new picks. Makes sense to weed out current players by the same criteria used for newcomers.
Which Cowboys on the roster would not measure up?
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Ellis' attitude
has been pretty awful the last few years.
by NerdVernacular on Apr 22, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Ellis fits our profile just fine
Ellis has been whiny since his NC days, you just have to ignore him.
In Romo we Trust
Agree
Ellis complains but you can’t question his toughness.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
But
he is in the last year of his contract and the end of his career. he still has trade value and I don;t believe we re-sign him next offseason, I say if we see the opportunity to trade him and our 2 to move up in the second to get Connor Barwin. The Patriots traded Vrabel who could be described the same way to move in to the 2nd,
by cow_fanatic on Apr 22, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
Ellis is worth a mid-second round pick to me
Picks are worth more than players in the lead up to the draft. Right now, a 1st round pick is more expensive than it is in january, or September
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
The 2 qualities
Tom Cis mentioned are:
1) hard workers
2) smart
I think you have to drop P.Watkins because of his “dumb” mental errors and penalties
they've dropped a lot of players already
Pacman, Tank, TO, all had issues preventing them from working on the tasks at hand.
I suspect all the best players, most talented players, work hard and are smart in the first place anyway. The Micheal Jordans of the world have been working hard for a long time.
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, Cisk is also the Pro scout.
So, he must’ve worked with Wade to green light getting some of his old guys—Igor, Sensa, Brooking.
Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!
by Aaron Novinger on Apr 22, 2009 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Sensa comes from Campo and the new ST's coach
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions
True.
Then, that’s even cooler if Cisk trusts Campo and the new Coach Joe’s opinion.
Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!
by Aaron Novinger on Apr 22, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions
I hope this Wilcat talk goes away
if the Wildcat is the coolest thing to happen to Dallas’ offense, we’re going to lose a lot.
Given Tony Romo is our best player, we ought to keep the ball in his hands to a large degree, even if it’s just long enough to hand the ball off.
Did anyone see a wildcat amount to anything in the playoffs? I didn’t… I saw Miami lose their first game.
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:43 AM CDT reply actions
We're talking about the success of a suprise attack
if we want to surprise someone roll out the single T, or surprise them with 3 consecutive efficient ball control offensive drives that result in points to start the game.
by AustonianAggie on Apr 22, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
I just went National Debt
Yeah, that's all I need.
This Wildcat stuff is making me a bit apprehensive. It’d be great if successful, but I really don’t want to draft specifically for it.
Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!
by Aaron Novinger on Apr 22, 2009 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Heck yes
Flea flicker when the running game is rolling and just send Austin deep. Money.
I think the defenses will be better prepared for the Wildcat in 2009, so only teams that can run it to perfection will get any benefits out of it. Something makes me think Dallas won’t be one of those teams.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 22, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions
That is true with any offense.
Any offense run to perfection is unstoppable. Offenses have almost all the advantages, and the only reason not to succeed is because someone or someones don’t do thier jobs correctly.
When did I become a Cowboy fan? When my mom told me I was.
Red Ball
should not have the goal of keeping the ball in Romo’s hands, but to spread it around to all our best players.
I want to see the Red Ball running game with Felix and Choice and Barbarian, hopefully aided by some new young muscle on the OL. I want to see lots of folks handling the ball. Let’s see how well Romo can hand off.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
You aren't going to get that young this year on the O-line.
Lets just aim for a healthy O-line.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
Healthy
I will settle for healthy, but I think healthy is going to mean someone able to step up from the bench at some point.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Who in the O-line...
Is going to be supplanted? Maybe Kosier and thats it.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
by AirforceBat on Apr 23, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions
More Playmakers
I’m all for tough and smart players. But, I also think this team needs more playmakers. Felix Jones is an example of the kind of dynamic player this team needs to add. I know safety is high on the agenda and it would be nice to have a ball hawking safety not just a guy who’s going to be solid against the run and keep everything in front of him although that would be a huge upgrade.
I'm kinda diggin
this Jason Phillips kid out of TCU. Sounds exactally like the kind of guy Cisk is looking at. If he’s there in the 4th we gotta take him
Yeah, me too.
Phillips in the middle, and Reed for the outside—great depth.
Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Draft Nick Reed. Say that fast, five times!
by Aaron Novinger on Apr 22, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Both of those LB's fall under the prototype player Tom C. described
I could see either one being drafted.
April 25-26 -- NFL Draft
by APerfectStar on Apr 22, 2009 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Blogging The Boys
Related FanShots on Blogging The Boys
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
