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- 2017-2018
Offseason: Post-Selection Follow Up And Other Revelations
- April 30, 2018 At 7:41 PM CST
By Eric M. Scharf
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- Writing a post-draft summary is normally a no-brainer with all
but the dumbest or unluckiest of teams welcoming aboard a positive
talent gainer.
“The Tortured Cowboys Fan” is only human, and it occasionally
becomes tiring . . . watching an abundance of fan overreaction as a
product of so much myopic mental wiring.
Fans – all but the most discerning – can become perpetually pinned
on a short-term focus . . . that often proves to let them down with
results (almost always) so bogus.
“What about NFL parody and Cinderella stories? What about the sudden
transformations that put almost 25 years of failure at ease?” you
ask. That is all fine and dandy as long as the team in question is
realistically up to the task.
For the Dallas Cowboys, “everyone” thought this would be the year
when they finally front-loaded on new defensive draft day toys. The
Cowboys instead – to significant fan dread – found themselves facing
the kind of sudden draft day challenge that only annoys.
The Cowboys chose to release Dez Bryant on April 13th, 2018, and
Jason Witten (after much offseason reflection) decided – on draft
day – to conclude (?) one of the NFL’s greatest tight end careers.
“Cowboys Nation” – many but not all – thought it would be tough
enough to replace a (formerly) dynamic number one receiver, but Witten’s
departure stoked their worries into a full-blown fever. The Twitterverse – which had previously been doused with Dez Bryant and
Jerry Jones smears – suddenly exploded with “WHO is going to catch
the ball?!” fears.
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- Before diving into whom the Cowboys pursued for a solution for
quality aerial execution, The Tortured Cowboys Fan would like to
take a moment to sift through some of the memories that made it easy
for fans to be smitten with Witten.
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- Sure, the Cowboys signed the just-jettisoned Jaguars’ castoff Allen
Hurns and the two-time Chicago fill-in Deonte Thompson on
consecutive days in late March. Cowboys Nation can only hope these
receivers are far more than just practice body stiffs quickly
reaching their career cliffs . . . and the best way to start is for
them to back off the performance starch. “(Inconsistent) Players
with potential” – for a shell-shocked fan base – is far from
pleasant . . . but time will tell if Hurns and Thompson do, indeed,
have the route-running, speed, and YAC (Yards After Catch) skills to
help the current Cowboys let go of the past and focus on the
present.
While the draft day debate raged over who might become – or which
committee might comprise – Dallas’ new lead receiving dog . . .
discerning fans collectively kept their other eye on the
long-rumored possibility of Jerry Jones gifting “Marinelli’s Men”
with a great defensive secondary cog.
“Everyone” – heading into the 2018 NFL draft – thought there was
more than a reasonable shot “America’s Team” would pony up the
preferred pick(s) to compel the pro football people of the Pacific
Northwest . . . to allow Earl “Come Get Me” Thomas to reconnect with
newly-added defensive backs coach Kris Richard towards further
transformation of Marinelli’s Men into (one of) the best.
Right up until “DFW’s Most Wanted,” err, Commissioner Roger Goodell
strolled up to the podium (to announce the first pick of the day) in
the extremely-well-appointed Star (the preeminent Cowboys HQ) . . .
fans were excitedly bracing to hear “there has been a trade,” with
the “Two For Thomas” swap proving true.
The game of chicken over a coveted player that oftentimes ensues
between mutually-interested teams . . . can catapult or crush
improvement dreams. The Seattle Seahawks – in league circles – had
made it abundantly clear that a first-round pick would be the
minimum to make a “Duke Of Earl” deal stick.
Dallas had spun their own message within those same NFL shapes. A
second-round pick would be their maximum offering . . . with the
not-so-private hope that Seattle was (more urgently) encouraged to
silence Thomas’ sour grapes.
As the Cowboys’ first pick drew nearer . . . fans were waiting with
baited breath to find out – between the precious pick or the potent
veteran player – which would be dearer.
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- Dallas’ first pick arrived – number 19 overall – and 6’4”,
256-lb Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch was their
initial haul. With nearly every good measurable, Esch “merely” has
to prove his limited playing time in college and recent injury
history would not make Marinelli’s Men miserable. The Cowboys
continue to find damaged linebackers attractive with fans feeling
captive. Still, the hope with Esch is for less Mike Mamula and more
Brian Urlacher . . . from the Cowboys’ newest defensive attacker.
While No Earl Thomas trade . . . perhaps the potential fulfillment
of a long-overdue selection most believed had to be made.
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- Dallas’ second pick arrived – number 50 overall – and 6’5”,
311-lb Texas offensive lineman Connor Williams was proof the
Cowboys also planned to prevent their offensive line depth from –
once again – coming up small. Can quality, reliable depth be
developed with this guard? Compared to what Dallas previously had,
heading in that direction may (laughably) not be that hard.
No Earl Thomas with the first of Dallas’ two second-rounder's . . .
but it was clearly tough for them to pass on improving their o-line
pounders.
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- Dallas’ third pick arrived – number 81 overall – and 6’,
205-lb Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup was the
selected stallion but not the (fans’) expected receiving horse. He
is a seemingly imperfect replacement for the ONE from which the
Cowboys recently chose to divorce. “He has potential” – like so many
others on draft day – but unlike the highly-coveted,
blatantly-bypassed D.J. Moore or Calvin Ridley, his rookie
performance may be (far) less substantial . . . and – perhaps –
downright didley. Until Gallup hits his regular season stride, some
fans and other prognosticators may be stubborn about coming along
for the ride.
No Earl Thomas with either second-round selection . . . and perhaps
the Seahawks were standing firm on their ANYTHING less-than-a-first
rejection.
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- Dallas’ fourth pick – their second third-rounder and number
116 overall – 6’4”, 258-lb Kansas defensive end Dorance Armstrong
Jr. may have seemed like a stretch or a little peculiar . .
. but this poor man’s DeMarcus Ware – mixed with the right amount of
Marinelli magic – might just become another high-motor musher and
long-armed rusher.
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- Dallas’ fifth pick – in the fourth round and number 137
overall – 6’6”, 260-lb Stanford tight end Dalton Schultz . .
. tasked with no less than replacing a future Hall of Fame candidate
in every game play capacity (individually or as part of the Geoff
Swaim, Blake Jarwin, and Rico Gathers committee). When fans were
able to pry themselves away from fretting over Dez Bryant’s
replacement or the heavily-hoped, unicorn-like arrival of Earl
Thomas . . . they anxiously awaited the resurrection of Jason
Witten’s career-long reliability and promise. Excitement over the
possibility of landing Penn State’s Mike Gesicki and South Dakota
State’s Dallas Goedert faded with growing proof the Cowboys would
stay put with few picks being traded. Dallas narrowly missed out on
both, and Schultz was the next man up in attempting to properly
fulfill the “Witten Blocking AND Catching Oath.”
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- Dallas’ sixth pick – in the fifth round and number 171 overall
– 6’5”, 225-lb Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White . . .
who should give Cooper Rush – he of the short passing hurdle but
interstellar vertical – some competition and a reasonable training
camp fight.
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- Dallas’ seventh pick – in the six round and number 193 overall
– 6’2”, 245-lb Indiana linebacker Chris Covington . . .
could prove an intriguing, multifaceted work-in-progress before
training camp is done. He is a mental tweener, having converted from
a freshman year offensive signal caller to a senior season defensive
mauler.
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- Dallas’ eighth pick – in the seventh round and number 208
overall – 6’3”, 188-lb Boise State wide receiver Cedrick Wilson
. . . has a high football IQ, catches with his hands away from his
body, and could help stretch the field for a team struggling to push
their vertical game yield. Resident body catcher and foot breaker –
Terrance Williams – may spend training camp looking over his
shoulder at a cheaper, younger, taller, and perhaps better baller.
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- Dallas’ ninth pick – in the seventh round and number 236
overall – 6’1”, 236-lb Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough .
. . a two-time college football champ who could have a tough
training camp road to hoe. While Darren “Run DMC” McFadden retired
and Alfred “A-Train” Morris departed . . . an old school,
bolt-upright, injury-prone runner making the team would still be
somewhat of a stunner (especially as he is has been historically
lame in the receiving game). Scarbrough will have to expand his
repertoire if – beyond Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith – he hopes to
be the third or fourth running back on the depth chart to wear the
star.
Draft Day Dealing
Before Cowboys Nation had a chance to commence with some
understandable squealing, Dallas managed to engage in some draft day
dealing.
The Cowboys acquired hybrid receiver (and former eighth overall pick
of the 2013 NFL draft) Tavon Austin from the Los Angeles Rams for a
2018 sixth-round pick . . . hoping – on a number of fronts – he can
turn a consistent production trick with a change of scenery in which
he might successfully stick. While Austin has dealt with injuries
and never reached his potential with the Rams, he could have
opportunities – from the slot to kick and punt returner to the
occasional flee flicker – in which he might magically click.
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- Similarly-featured second-year wide receiver Ryan Switzer was too
busy celebrating Austin’s arrival . . . to notice his new teammate’s
presence terminally impacted his own offseason survival. Switzer –
excitedly tweeting to Tavon, “Welcome Aboard!” – was traded to the
Oakland Raiders for 6’5” 290-lb defensive tackle Jihad Ward. The
Cowboys’ new defender is a former Will McClay fave and – like Austin
– might also benefit from a change of scenery wave.
Fans had hoped Switzer was the long-overdue player for Dallas’
return game prayer. While the mighty mite would return a punt for a
touchdown, it may have been a poorly-timed fumble – against the Rams
(of all teams) last year – that prevented him from continuing his
Cowboys’ career.
Time will tell if the Cowboys should have given the
still-shrink-wrapped Switzer another chance to break out of his
inexperienced shell. Perhaps they see the equally-diminutive Cole
Beasley’s lowered 2017 production . . . as more a result of Dak
Prescott’s own performance reduction from his offensive line’s
(temporary?) destruction.
Will They Or Won’t They?
Beyond draft day dealing, there is an aggressive meat market menu of
“inconceivably” undrafted players that – for some feeling a bit numb
– may be instantly more exciting.
Regardless of whom Dallas also signs from the street, it is now time
for (hopefully) hungry rookies and battle-tested veterans to
compete. The next round of real work begins towards a significant
increase in wins.
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- Will the Earl Thomas chatter die down . . . or will a Cowboys
Nation frown eventually be turned upside down?
Will America’s Team be able to outlast offseason obstacles, persist
through preseason with a wealth of health, and see their latest
additions help them reload . . . or will 2018 bring a tougher road?
We shall see. We always do.
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