The Cowboys Drafting Of Akwasi Owusu-Ansah Was A Long Time Comin'
by rabblerousr on Sep 8, 2010 11:58 AM CDT
in Dallas Cowboys General
Email
Print
When the Cowboys drafted Akwasi Owusu-Ansah in the fourth round of April's draft, they filled a "position" that they had been trying to fill for the past couple of years: a project cornerback. More specifically, they sought to fill this role with a rare size-speed athlete who had underperformed his measurables on the college gridiron.
In 2008, they had their eyes on Indiana's Tracy Porter, who had the size of a biggish corner (5'11" 195) but the athletic ability of a smaller corner. He blew up the combine that year with a 4.37 40 time as well as elite-level 20 and 60-yard shuttle times. Porter's combine showing outstripped his on-field play, leaving evaluators puzzling over a first-round talent with third or fourth-round tape. The Cowboys were likely targeting Porter in the second or third rounds, but he never made it anywhere near that target point. He was drafted in the early second (#40 overall) by the Saints and, as we all know, went on to bring a Lombardi to The Big Easy with his 74-yard pick six in last years Game to End All Games.
In that same draft, the Cowboys also showed interest in Iowa's Charles Godfrey, who echoed Porter in terms of physical stature (6 feet, 205) and combine numbers (4.38 forty; ridiculous 3-cone times). Like Porter, his tape didn't reflect these numbers. Godfrey was snatched up by the Panthers at the top of the 3rd round; if he had fallen to the bottom of the round, the Cowboys might well have selected him instead of trading down repeatedly before nabbing Tashard Choice.
In 2009, they were interested in Iowa's Bradley Fletcher who, at 6-1 and 196, had safety size to go with freakish athletic ability (4.4 forty; 38 1/2 inch vertical among others). Like Porter, Fletcher's tape wasn't elite, but his measurables were: he had NFL talent written all over him. Fletcher was picked up by the Rams at the top of the third round, three picks before the Cowboys selected Jason Williams. A nearer miss than in 2008, but a miss nevertheless.
This brings us to the most recent draft, in which the player who most nearly fit the above profile was our dear AOA. Instead of bad tape, he had to carry the "small school/ inferior competition" label, which served to temper his first-round measureables. As we know from the fine work done here at BTB, the Cowboys had him rated at the top of the fourth round and happily picked him late in the fourth.
Why do I dredge up this draft lore at the dawning of a new season? There has been a lot of pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth recently over the fact that the Cowboys have only three cornerbacks. A look at their draft (more precisely, their pre-draft) behavior over the past three years shows that they have been planning for this situation for some time now, and that Owusu-Ansah is precisely the sort of fourth corner they have been looking to acquire. Much like they do with a third quarterback, teams covet fourth corners with upside--ideally someone with raw tools that can, in a couple of years, be coached up to starter status (I would consider a third corner a "starter").
That's what New Orleans ended up finding in Porter. One of the storylines I'll be watching this year and next is the development of 'Kwaz. Hopefully, he'll pay back the Cowboys' faith and patience in Porter-like style: with a big play on the biggest of stages.
47 comments
|
5 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
AOA
is a BEAST. Love it love it love it
Semper Fi Do or Die
Projected 2010 Record: 12-4. You heard it here first
AOA
will be on the HOF, he’s better than Dick “Night Trane” Lane, he and Lissemore will enter the same year, kiddin’ but yes i think he will be great
Did Missy Lissyyy Quincyyyy put you up to this?
Original Pet-Cats: Duane Thomas, Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Charlie Waters, Bob Lilly
The talking is over and the battle begins.
AOA and Dez need to make it happen on the field.
Lock n Load
I sure hope you're right
And I do like the early preseason returns
Is playing smart too much to ask?
Rabble...
This was a fantastic post.
AFB Condensed- New name, same flavor.
Quoting yourself doesn't require your own name attached to it. I'm going to assume if there isn't anyone else's name attached it's yours.
Yes awesome post..
I knew my boss was coming down the hall, but I could not put my phone down.. had to keep reading.. my boss will get over it.. I outperform my contract around here.
by woodson28 on Sep 8, 2010 3:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed
After reading this, I feel I have a better understanding of the team. Great stuff.
by One.Cool.Customer on Sep 8, 2010 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Love this kid
He has natural ability and it will show on game-day.Roll On COWBOYS!!!
Wade Phillips first Super Bowl win is as the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys!!!
In addition to his skills
I think he has gotten really high marks on his intelligence and understanding of the defense. When you combine that with his athletic gifts, I’d say he has a really nice chance to succeed.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
Yeah. Me too
He seems like a bright kid with enormous potential. I’m most definitely pulling for him.
And I got the Cowboys D, so I get a TD in my league if he takes one back.
Go Owusu-Ansah! Go!
"They need security in the world, Craig!"
B.Maxie & Campo think a lot of this kid
Wade said he graded out the best of all the DBs they had visit Valley Ranch. they were so impressed w/ his ability to pick up the defense in such a short time that it allowed them to wait later in the draft to get a FS. its a plus having a player that can play CB or FS.
i like to see him playing some nickel packages & a returner w/ his speed.
Move Over Sweetness, Make A Place For Emmitt!
I enjoyed the post, but...
In 2008, the Cowboys drafted Mike Jenkins in the first round (moved up to get him), and Orlando Scandrick on the second day. I have never heard anyone mention that the Cowboys were targeting Porter or Godfrey in 2008. Who / where are your sources?
I also wonder about Fletcher being on the Cowboys’ draft board. The Cowboys could have taken him in the second round if they really wanted him. Dallas seemed to want Unger (center from Oregon, I think), but Seattle traded up to get him, and Dallas subsequently traded down and accepted less than traditional draft value (according to several draft charts).
I always like to peek into what the Cowboys front office is thinking, but I would like to hear where this information came from. Thanks.
Again, I enjoyed the post.
In my old draft books
I place marks next to the players who the Cowboys either a) expressed interest in during an event like the Senior Bowl or b) invited to Valley Ranch. All the above guys had marks next to them. According to my records, Godfrey and Fletcher were both invited to the Ranch; I’m not sure about when and where they expressed interest in Porter.
In 2008, they Cowboys needed a corner and couldn’t have imagined that a player like Jenkins would fall to them. Because of this, they were scouring the DB field for players like those above—including Scandrick, who also fits the size/ speed/ athleticism/ production bill. On the infamous DB rankings whiteboard that was leaked, Godfrey was the #5 CB listed—which was higher than most draft pundits had him.
The Cowboys didn’t take Fletcher in the second round in ’09 because they had him rated lower than the pick warranted. If he had been available in the third, they might well have passed on him then too. Whatever the case, they were intrigued by his size and speed.
Also: In addition to AOA this year, they had another size/ speed/ production guy on their radar, Brandon Ghee of Wake Forest. He, too was a Valley Ranch invitee.
Impressive ...
Rabble, I think I speak for many here when I say I’m really looking forward to your articles… and excellent start with this one :)
Original Pet-Cats: Duane Thomas, Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Charlie Waters, Bob Lilly
Wait, wait, wait
you do HOMEWORK??? That’s not how things are done here, rousr. Opinions are to be pulled strictly from the colo-rectal region and then defended to the death. Get with the program, my man.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
Nice read
I like his versatility but ultimately I prefer him as a FS. Unless of course Ball comes to ball this season.
The average size of the 30 cornerbacks who attended the NFL combine workouts in February was 5-feet-11 ¼ and 192.4 pounds
Kinda makes Tracy Porter seem less “biggish” and more like an incredibly average sized cornerback. Also would’ve been nice to include Kwaz’s dimensions (6’0, 207) for comparison’s sake, but otherwise great post.
I was thinking the exact same thing
Also, our top three corners (well, only three corners, right now) are all about that size or an inch shorter
I follow the draft rather closely and I would have to take issue with this statement:
More specifically, they sought to fill this role with a rare size-speed athlete who had underperformed his measurables on the college gridiron.
He underperformed? That is news to me, because everything I have read about him leading up to the draft said that he dominated the competition.
A better comparison would be Dominque Rogers Cromartie. Another small school DB who had eye-popping measureables and dominated lesser competition.
The reason why AOA went in the fourth and not the fifth is because he had a serious shoulder injury. And if that wasn’t enough that didn’t allow him to play in the Senior Bowl. That is why DRC was able to sky rocket up the draft charts. Before the Senior Bowl DRC was a 3rd/4th rounder. After his impressive showing in the Senior Bowl where scouts were able to see him go up against better competition, since he never did in college he solidified himself as a first round prospect. AOA never got that opportunity.
Sean Lissemore = The next Bruce Smith
He never said AOA underperformed
He said that the fact that he went to a small school is comparable to the other guys underperforming, since those are the circumstances that made them all fall.
Instead of bad tape, he had to carry the “small school/ inferior competition” label, which served to temper his first-round measureables
by Cowboysaficionado on Sep 8, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree with quincyyyyy, the author did say he underperformed in the first paragraph.
It does seem contradictory to what he later wrote about “small school” label, but right there in the first paragraph it really sounds like rabble is saying he underperformed
No. No you don't.
Quincyyyyy followed the draft closely. You’re just a Lissemore flunky who’s barely four days old as a persona.
by One.Cool.Customer on Sep 9, 2010 6:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Corrected: I follow the draft rather closely and I would have to take issue with this statement:
More specifically, they sought to fill this role with a rare size-speed athlete who had underperformed his measurables on the college gridiron.
He underperformed? That is news to me, because everything I have read about him leading up to the draft said that he dominated the competition.
A better comparison would be Dominque Rogers Cromartie. Another small school DB who had eye-popping measureables and dominated lesser competition.
The reason why AOA went in the fourth and not the fifth is because he had a serious shoulder injury. And if that wasn’t enough that didn’t allow him to play in the Senior Bowl. That is why DRC was able to sky rocket up the draft charts. Before the Senior Bowl DRC was a 3rd/4th rounder. After his impressive showing in the Senior Bowl where scouts were able to see him go up against better competition, since he never did in college he solidified himself as a first round prospect. AOA never got that opportunity.
Sean Lissemore = The next Bruce Smith
I keep hearing about Dez returning punts
But the guy I really want back there fielding punts is Akwasi. Albeit against lesser competition, from what I watched over the internet Akwasi looks like a much more dynamic returner.
by Cowboysaficionado on Sep 8, 2010 6:49 PM CDT reply actions
I agree that Akwasi looks like the more dynamic returner
Is there a question as to whether AOA even dresses for this game? I need a few predictions as to who on the 53 is not playing.
Original Pet-Cats: Duane Thomas, Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Charlie Waters, Bob Lilly
I was under the impression AOA was to play FS
I suppose they expect him to be sort of a tweener. It could be nice to see him at corner. I fully expect Jenkins and scandrick to be the starters once TNew is done. At that point another solid corner is a must.
Either way, it’s good to have another return man to maybe take up the mantle should he coaches decide to feature Dez more on offense.
Epic Fail since 1985
by the red scare on Sep 8, 2010 7:19 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
wanted this kid so badly before the draft
Was rated a 2nd rd pick and dropped because of the shoulder
Wanted Tracy Porter that year too
But I was in love with AK27 when I saw him on First Take and one highlight reel later I wanted him to be a Cowboy
never thought it was gonna happen i thought 3rd rd pick at the latest I know the Steelers and Patriots had interest in him along with a bunch of others
AK27 made that draft for me after Dez and Lee
AK27 are next future star wearing a star
now if Scandrick doesnt get more consistent……………STP
good stuff rabblerouser
very interesting to see his pick in the context of previous years. Wade loves the versatile tweener DB guys who can play CB (outside and slot) and S, it gives them more flexibility in the secondary and guys like Ball who followed this path and end up playing S benefit from knowing what the CB assignments and thinking are based on having first-hand experience at the position. We’ll see how well Ball is able to do this. To a lesser extent it also helps a CB to know exactly where the S is going to be from having experience at the position.
Ball is physically a different type than Akwasi so the comparison doesn’t apply in that regard, but Akwasi could benefit similarly from reps at both positions that help him improve at each position, and become more valuable all-around through his versatility.
Just watching him on the field in limited action, I just like the way he looks and moves, he has a more solid frame than a lot of CBs, and appears to have a combination of power and speed/quickness that could be developed into a fine player.
I agree that Wade likes the hybrid DB
and he may be at the forefront of change in the NFL. We’ve talked ad nauseum about the end of the Roy Williams-style SS, but not enough about where that eventually takes NFL secondaries. Wade may be a leader in moving to a base set of four DBs who are almost completely interchangeable to account for a much more wide-open passing offenses. And when you run 4 LBs in the 3-4, there are enough large, physical, fast tacklers to deal with the running game.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
wow dunk, sometimes you sound all kinds of smart :)
Original Pet-Cats: Duane Thomas, Roger Staubach, Walt Garrison, Charlie Waters, Bob Lilly
agree Wade loves versatility
and I really appreciate that
since he took over our players in the secondary (elsewhere too im just talking secondary right now) have become players that can play multiple sets and positions
I love when we drafted Mike Jenkins and not taking Talib Aqib
Alan Ball I do know is a good CB, FS im not sure yet but at least I know in Ball we got a guy who can play all over
Scandrick is versatile too but he just needs to be more consistent
Akwasi man this guy is gonna be a great player he has speed size and versatility
Iowa CB'S
so thats 2 years in a row we looked at Iowa CB’s
would assume we take a look at Iowa defensive players again this year
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 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.
