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I don’t buy the ‘Laces Theory’, unless the kick is longer than 40 yards. I will buy the choke theory on a gimme.
AgamemnonHow about RG3 in a Rams uniform? Wouldn’t that put an exclamation point on that trade?
LOL, Depending on how the QB FA market goes, who signs where, will certainly affect how teams draft.
AgamemnonI thought the OL held their own against SF. The offense could have been a lot better, if the QB, pass catchers, and RB had just done a little better.
Keenum could have been more accurate, WRs and TEs could have caught the ball better, and the RBs could have picked better holes. imo
AgamemnonCowboys Coaching Senior Bowl: A Case Study In How They May Reap Benefits
By Tom Ryle
@TomRyleBTB on Jan 7, 2016, 8:00p 198
A real opportunity for the Cowboys in coaching the Senior Bowl? – Tim Heitman-USA TODAY SportsDallas has been officially confirmed as one of the coaching staffs for the Reese’s Senior Bowl, along with that of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Here is one concrete example of how they may be able to use the opportunity.
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PinIt was predicted as soon as the final standings for the regular season were done, but now it is official. Your Dallas Cowboys will be sending their coaching staff to Mobile to coach one of the teams in the Reese’s Senior bowl. The Jacksonville Jaguars will be across the field from them.
The Cowboys, led by fifth-year head coach Jason Garrett, will coach the North team, while third-year Jaguars coach Gus Bradley and his staff will guide the South.
This is thought to be a real advantage for the teams that send their staffs. They get to not only evaluate the skill sets as they spend extensive time working with the players, they also get a chance to see what kind of work ethic and attitude the players bring to the table. This should logically give them a leg up on the rest of the league in placing those players on their draft board, although the fact that the Jaguars have been here before in recent years makes it clear that it is no guarantee that this is going to make a huge difference.
But the Cowboys have a strong personnel staff to use the information the coaches will gather. And given the particular situation that Dallas has regarding its roster, there is one player in particular that may make this worthwhile all by himself.
Coaching the Senior Bowl a great opportunity for the #Cowboys for various reasons. Most important reason? NDSU QB Carson Wentz
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 7, 2016
Wentz should be one of the quarterbacks Jason Garrett and staff work with, because you don’t get much more north than North Dakota. And he is a player for whom the Senior Bowl experience will be very informative, since he comes from an FCS school and this will be the first extensive look at him against and in comparison to FBS level talent. Given that he missed the last eight games with a broken wrist and is currently fighting a cold to be available for the playoff game coming up in Frisco (where the Cowboys are sending a scout in hopes he plays), this is even more significant in evaluating his talent. He is a very intriguing player, but not one without some potential issues as Derrik Klassen relates (I am not familiar with Klassen, but Eric Galko is promoting his post, and Galko knows what he is doing when it comes to the draft.)
Wentz has talent, but a lot about him on the surface is concerning. The level of competition he faced, the broken bone in his throwing wrist and his underlying inclination to take off with the ball are all reasons to be concerned. A non-FBS quarterback has not gone in the first round since 2008 when Delaware’s Joe Flacco was taken by the Baltimore Ravens. On top of that, the last first round quarterback who did not finish their final season was Christian Ponder in 2011.
However, as Klassen goes on to explain, the positives that Wentz brings may just override those concerns.
Wentz has the most intriguing skill set of any quarterback this year. His arm is live, showing an uncommon blend of velocity and arc control. He has no issues getting the ball to receivers on the opposite boundary, nor does he have much trouble fitting the ball through windows over the middle of the field. Wentz’s velocity often gives his receiver a tick longer to corral the ball before a defender gets there, helping minimize broken up passes. At the same time, Wentz has shown he can take off some heat in order to drop a throw in smoothly- a trait most useful when placing crossers and deep outs over underneath defenders. Wentz is quite the athlete, as well.
Those are things that will almost certainly be scrutinized in depth by Garrett and everyone else from Dallas that goes to Mobile, which is basically going to be everyone of any significance. Here is a player from a small school that many teams may shy away from but who might have a truly impressive skill set. Comparisons to Tony Romo are always risky, but seem inevitable. And he compares very favorably to Kellen Moore. Wentz is 6’5″, and that velocity makes him very different (and better) in delivering the ball.
It would be one thing for a team to risk a high draft pick on a player with Wentz’s resume due to the lack of video from 2015 and the competition he faced, but clearly it is a different matter if you have spent extensive time coaching him and watching him line up against some of the top FBS talent in this year’s draft class. Of course, the results of all that may be that he is not what the Cowboys are looking for – but if he is, this could be a chance to solve the QB succession dilemma that Dallas faces with an aging Romo.
And while Wentz is possibly the most important evaluation for the Cowboys, he is far from the only one. With so many areas that the team needs to upgrade, there is no player that they coaches will not be studying to find out if they deserve a place on the Cowboys’ draft board.
But this points out that the disaster of 2015 may turn into an incredible opportunity for Dallas. Finding a viable franchise quarterback almost always requires the investment of a high draft pick, and now the Cowboys sit at fourth in this year’s draft. And they have a tremendous opportunity to make sure they get it right if they decide to take the plunge. They will also likely have a chance to see Connor Cook who is expected to attend. That is two possible solutions to finding the eventual replacement for Romo. And no one will have a better set of data to evaluate them than the Cowboys.
Maybe he is kaepernick part II, just an athletically talented guy? But, I liked kaepernick when he came out.
AgamemnonWentz sounds good to me. I doubt
he’s around at 15.w
vHe has a long way to go to be NFL ready. Probably 2 years. imo
Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Looks the part with a tall, workable frame. Good arm strength to deliver downfield with required velocity. Tight release, especially for a player with his long arms. Shifts his weight well in the pocket to work through the noise and keep his hand on the trigger, maneuvering under duress with improved footwork.Functional athleticism and coordination in the pocket and as a scrambler, avoiding rushers and extending plays. Has a pre-snap plan and moves efficiently from target-to-target, making sound decisions. Shows the ability to recognize defensive coverages and change the play at the line ? reliable field vision pre and post snap.
Very smart on and off the field with excellent retention and execution skills. Physically and mentally tough with professional poise and work habits. Great teammate and was an extra coach on the sideline while injured. Set school single season records for completions (228) and passing yards (3,111) as a junior. Consistent winner with a 19-3 career record as a starter.
WEAKNESSES: Locks onto reads and needs to develop his eye use, staring down targets and leading defenders. Needs to improve his passing anticipation and feel for timing routes. Downfield accuracy is inconsistent, often leading receivers too far.
Bad habit of pre-determining throws and forcing the ball into tight coverage. Needs to understand when the play is over and throw the ball away (10 fumbles the last two years). On the move too much, even with a clean pocket, and will attempt throws without setting his base or coming to balance.
Lacks ideal starting experience for the position with questions about level of competition ? 21 of 22 career starts came against FCS competition (one FBS opponent was at Iowa State: 18-for-28 for 204 yards, no touchdowns). Missed second half of 2015 season due to a broken right wrist, requiring surgery (Oct. 2015).
IN OUR VIEW: Although his internal clock needs maturing, Wentz performs well within structure, but can also improvise when the play breaks down, stretching out his legs to pick up chunk yardage if it?s there (949 career rushing yards). He possesses a NFL-style skill-set with his size, athleticism and arm talent, including the field vision to work through reads and make sound decisions. Wentz ideally needs a redshirt rookie season in the NFL, but will be the top senior quarterback on several NFL draft boards.
–Dane Brugler (12/21/15)
Player Overview
A two-year starter, Wentz thrived in North Dakota State?s wide-open offense, taking snaps from under center and shotgun with several pro-style reads, including left-to-right and high-to-low progressions. Although he didn?t consistently face top competition at the FCS level, Wentz performed well in high pressure situations, including the 2014 FCS National Championship Game.He was only a 5-foot-8, 125-pound freshman in high school and didn?t start at quarterback until his senior year, causing him to go under-recruited (similar path as Ben Roethlisberger).
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1907522/carson-wentz
Whoever drafts him should not plan on starting him right away. This gives him a different draft profile than typical 1st round pick. imo
But, the Cowboys (is it PC to say cow-boy?) might decide they like him. They are going to coach at the Senior Bowl
AgamemnonConnor Cook Declines Invitation to Senior Bowl
Written by Bryan Perez on January 10, 2016
Connor Cook 18According to multiple reports, Michigan State QB Connor Cook has declined his invitation to the 2016 Senior Bowl.
BP’s Take: While disappointing, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Top senior prospects turn down the draft season’s biggest all-star game every year, with guys like Kevin White (Bears) and Bud Dupree (Steelers) backing out of the week’s festivities last year. Both players went on to be first-round picks. For Cook, turning the game down will raise a ton of questions about his arm and his desire to compete, but he’ll have a chance to answer them all by throwing at the Scouting Combine. If he chooses to skip the workouts in Indy, too, then he can all but kiss his first-round hopes goodbye.
http://draftbreakdown.com/connor-cook-declines-invitation-to-senior-bowl/
Agamemnon2016 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys pass on a QB to take Laquon Treadwell
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
January 10, 2016 9:01 pm ETThe Cowboys pass on a QB to give Tony Romo another explosive weapon. (USATSI)
Tony Romo, who turns 36 years old a week prior to the 2016 NFL Draft, can still play at a high level and is the best option at quarterback for the Cowboys going into the 2016 season. But with his age and injury history, Dallas has to plan for the future, possibly as early as the first round if the right quarterback is available with the fourth pick.
However, the Cowboys have a small window remaining with Romo at the helm and need to balance planning for the future with playing to win right now. Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell would address both of those areas, giving whoever is at quarterback firepower opposite Dez Bryant for years to come.
The top-24 order for the NFL Draft is set, but the teams selecting 25-31 are still fluid based on the outcome of the playoffs. If the draft was held tomorrow, here’s how it might play out:
1. Tennessee Titans: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
Priority No. 1 for the Titans should be to protect Marcus Mariota, something they have struggled to do consistently in 2015. Tunsil is arguably the most talented player in this year’s draft class and able to contribute from Day 1, pushing Taylor Lewan over to right tackle.2. Cleveland Browns: Jared Goff, QB, California
There is a lot of unknown with the Browns organization right now, starting with the quarterback position. Many around the league are not sold on Goff as a “franchise” quarterback, but some are and if the Browns think he can lead a team to the playoffs, they can’t pass on him.3. San Diego Chargers: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
San Diego ranked near the bottom of the league in pass rush production in 2015 and needs to address the position in the draft. Although some will say he belongs in a four-man front, Bosa is scheme versatile with the skill-set and instincts to be a disruptive force from different spots on the defensive line.4. Dallas Cowboys: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
The Cowboys will consider a quarterback here and need help on defense, but the window is closing with Tony Romo at quarterback and Dallas needs to surround him with more talent. Treadwell, who is similar to Dez Bryant with the way he attacks the football, would be an ideal fit opposite Dez.5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
The Jaguars have been searching for cornerback help for a long time, but haven’t drafted the position in the first round since 1999. Ramsey has experience at safety and corner, but is better categorized as a versatile ballhawk.6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Baltimore inked Eugene Monroe to a lucrative extension, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, making it tough for the Ravens to rely on him to start 16 games in 2016. Stanley not only adds instant depth, but gives Baltimore a long-term plan at a position of need.The Ravens take out some insurance for Joe Flacco by taking Ronnie Stanley. (USATSI)
7. San Francisco 49ers: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
The 49ers are in full rebuilding mode with needs all over the roster, including quarterback. WithBlaine Gabbert under contract through the 2016 season, Lynch won’t be asked to start right away, but can sit and develop at his own pace, giving San Francisco a long-term option at the position.8. Miami Dolphins: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
The Dolphins need to continue and invest in the defensive line and Buckner gives Miami another option on the edges.9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Tampa will address the cornerback position next offseason, either in free agency or the draft, possibly both. Hargreaves is a tough-minded, instinctive cover man who is ready to start from Day 1 in the NFL.10. New York Giants: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
The Giants have an obvious hole at defensive end, which showed in the stat sheet, ranking 30th in the NFL in sacks this season. Lawson is an efficient pass rusher with the power, quickness and ball awareness that allows him to be successful.11. Chicago Bears: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
The Bears are far removed from the days of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs dominating the NFC and are missing impact defensive players on the current roster. Jack is an impressive athlete with outstanding instincts, showing the cover skills that will make him an instant contributor.12. New Orleans Saints: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
The Saints haven’t had much luck drafting cornerbacks in the early rounds, but the need is there. Alexander doesn’t get his name mentioned much, but that’s because teams stay away from his side of the field.13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Whoever is hired as head coach in Philadelphia, the pass rush on defense will need to be addressed. Allen developed into a terror for opposing offenses this season and has the scheme versatility to play in even and odd fronts.14. Oakland Raiders: Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama
A player who hits anything that moves, Ragland is a tone-setting linebacker who can play all three downs and will give the Raiders another impact player in the front seven.15. St. Louis Rams: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
The Rams have a very talented roster, except at the most important position in sports: quarterback. The Rams need to address the position this off-season and Wentz has arguably the most upside of any passer in this draft class.I think a couple things. We already have the QB we need in Mannion. There are at least 6 QBs in this draft that will be better than Foles or Keenum. I would like to have 2 good QBs.
AgamemnonDraft analyst Russ Lande, the former Rams scout, calls the 2015 QB class “the worst class I can remember. I don’t think there’s anybody that you can look at and say, ‘OK, this is your Andrew Luck. This is your Peyton Manning. Or Tom Brady even.’
“That is, a definite guy you want to stake a claim to in the first round. Everybody, whether it’s Winston or Mariota, they all have major questions. And I’m not even talking off the field. I’m just talking on the field, that make me wonder if they can really be successful quarterbacks.”
Cook isn’t going to the Senior Bowl. I always mark people down that don’t take every chance to compete. I wonder if he will throw at the combine?
Hey, Russ, what about this year? 😉
AgamemnonThis goes along with drafting the most NFL ready QB. Mannion was the best of the rest last year. imo
This makes trading up for a QB even more risky. You don’t pay the massive salary anymore, but it is harder than ever to project how they will do in the pros. imo
AgamemnonIntent, that is subjective, right? Don’t make me write a passive construction.
Well ‘intent’ is a concept full of nuances.
There’s “heat of passion” intent where you hit
the gardener in the head with a lamp. (discovering your
spouse in bed with the gardener)
And then there’s the kind of deliberate intent
where you slowly poison the gardener over
a period of months.I know Burfect ‘intended’ to hit the WR,
but i think it was one of the split-second
‘micro-intent’ things. Its tough to coach that
out of DBs. The league is trying though.
But there’s always gonna be hits like that
from time to time — that one was really
bad, but so was the the hit by McCleod,
i think it was, on the sideline last year.
He almost kilt the guy.I just dont know that I’d call the McCleod
hit much different from the Burfect hit.
McCleod didnt hit the guy in the head,
but it was still a dangerous hit on a
defenseless player. I dunno. Tricky stuff.My sister’s family lives in Cincy. They
blame everything on Marvin Lewis.w
vI think in Missouri, we have a 3 day limit on catching the gardener.
AgamemnonI dunno. I dont think it was
much different than the hit by
the Ram DB on the Viking QB.
I think its a penalty for sure
but I suspect its one of those split-second
micro ‘decisions’ thats not really a decision,
exactly. Just instinct. Competitive instinct.Still its a penalty for sure. Coulda
killed the guy.That one will be shown in meetings for
decades. What not to do.w
vIntent, that is subjective, right? Don’t make me write a passive construction.
Agamemnon2016 NFL Draft: NDSU QB Carson Wentz proves he’s first-round worthy
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
January 9, 2016 3:58 pm ETFRISCO, Texas — When evaluating quarterbacks, an important part of the scouting process is studying the passer in person. How does the ball come off his hand? How does he look physically? How does he respond to the environment?
So when I heard that North Dakota State senior quarterback Carson Wentz was healthy enough to play in the FCS National Championship Game on Saturday, I took advantage and saw the intriguing NFL prospect with my own eyes.
And he didn’t disappoint.
North Dakota State defeated Jacksonville State, 37-10, to win its fifth straight FCS National Title and Wentz was very impressive in his return to the field. He finished 16-for-29 (55.2-percent) for 197 yards, two interceptions and three total touchdowns (one passing, two rushing), adding 79 yards rushing. The Bison used the ground game and physical defense to control the time of possession, but Wentz was also efficient throwing the football.
Entering the game, I expected rust from Wentz after he missed the second half of the season due to a broken wrist and hadn’t seen game action since mid-October. But that wasn’t the case as he looked extremely sharp and showed off several NFL traits, throwing with anticipation, timing and touch.
Wentz has a strong arm with the desired velocity for the next level and he needed it on Saturday as the wind was whipping around Toyota Stadium in Frisco. He has above average size (looks a legitimate six-foot-five) with impressive athleticism for his stature, using his legs on quarterback draws and scramble plays, including an 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Carson Wentz has above-average NFL size and an NFL arm. (USATSI)
North Dakota State runs a wide-open offensive attack with several pro-style looks, requiring Wentz to take most of his snaps from under center. He displayed a full menu of throws: rolling to his left, rolling to his right, using touch and trajectory over different levels of the defense, delivering before receivers were out of their breaks, and adding zip to fire strikes before defenders could react.
Wentz had a pre-snap plan and moved efficiently in his reads to find his target and make sound decisions. It was also encouraging to see his interactions with his teammates when the cameras weren’t on him, coaching up his receivers and commanding the huddle.
It wasn’t a perfect afternoon as Wentz was inconsistent with his deep ball accuracy, which resulted in a few incompletions. His placement was slightly off on a few out throws and he pre-determined several passes, which led to a pair of interceptions. But the positives far out-weighed the negatives on this afternoon as Wentz showed why he’s included in my first round mock draft.
The next stop for Wentz is Mobile, Ala., where he will be one of the main attractions at the 2016 Senior Bowl. And with Michigan State’s Connor Cook doubtful to attend, Wentz will be the clear-cut top passing prospect at the event. He has a NFL-style skill-set with his size, athleticism and arm talent, but his intelligence and intangibles on and off the field might be his best qualities.
The Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff will likely be coaching Wentz on the North squad during the week at the Senior Bowl, giving Jason Garrett and his staff an advantage.
Wentz is a first-round prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. How high will he be drafted in round one? That’s not a question anyone can answer in January, but he passed a test on Saturday, leading the Bison to a victory in the FCS National Title Game. And with a strong performance in Mobile, Wentz will only help himself.
AgamemnonThe bust rates for QBs is too high to gamble extra picks on their future and the best PDs in pro football only hit half the time, except Polian. imo
AgamemnonNow I am seeing that people think, in this poor draft for QBs, that 3 will go in the top 7, maybe 4 by the time we pick. lol
Maybe we can still draft Treadwell? 😉
AgamemnonFirst Goff was the guy that everybody wanted to trade up for. Now it is Wentz. Last year the Rams liked Cook and Mannion, but Cook didn’t come out. I guess they were both rated 3rd last year? Maybe a new OC gets the QB of his choice?
AgamemnonThe 2016 NFL Draft features plenty of talent at the quarterback position, but it’s spread out between a dozen (or more) prospects.
You could characterize the entire draft this way. Plenty of talent, but no one franchise players at almost all positions. imo
AgamemnonOn Wentz … Wow https://t.co/3XRr5UtcmN
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 9, 2016
I'm saying he's in the conversation to be the 1st qb taken…if he checks all the intangible boxes- watch out ! https://t.co/X48iTx5HgV
— Mike Mayock (@MikeMayock) January 9, 2016
NY Jets, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans & Rams have personnel people & scouts on hand to watch Carson Wentz/QB/ND St at the FCS title game
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 9, 2016
Don't buy the narrative that Wentz is going to fly up draft boards. He's already there. Several top personnel guys have him as top QB.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 9, 2016
FWIW, I think Wentz is more "pro ready" than Goff or Lynch.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 9, 2016
For anyone that doesn’t like Mannion or Cook, here is another QB.Let’s draft Wentz and Cook. Then let them and Mannion compete and best QB wins. 😉
AgamemnonI think the old plan was, Foles was the bridge QB to Mannion and Keenum was insurance. We are now on Plan B. I think that means we draft another QB.
AgamemnonIf you look at history, then I think it will be ~155 million. The figure given in this case is always purposely a bit on the low side. I read that somewhere and it was the case last year.
Plus as I read out there, the Rams have 2 M in carry-over from 2015.
I know the article of which you speak. I am not sure that everything in it is 100 percent correct. But to be sure you would have to know how incentives have impacted the cap for 2015. I think it is at least 2 M.
AgamemnonOne other difference being, you are savvy enough to avoid pointless passive constructions.
To put that differently, in the article that was posted, passive constructions were used.
Yes, I HATE passive constructions. Now I will have to look that up to see what it means. Nevermind. 😉
AgamemnonIf you look at history, then I think it will be ~155 million. The figure given in this case is always purposely a bit on the low side. I read that somewhere and it was the case last year. 😉
AgamemnonI know Snead is an A+ as a trader, but I can’t tell how much credit he should get for the draft, etc. How much is him and how much is Fisher? Does Fisher help or hurt?
I know the guy in Arizona is a A in finding talent, ?Kleim? Fisher hired Snead instead of him.
Including the draft and the various FAs and etc., I give them a B+. Luck = a D. Coaching is incomplete, but I am leaning to no more than slightly above a straight C. Salary cap is an A. imo
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AgamemnonConnor Cook, Mich State QB
You don’t have to watch and analyze every single play from Alabama’s beat down of Michigan State to realize Connor Cook stunk it up (though we still did). Even the most cursory viewing made that pretty obvious. It’s not necessarily a surprise that Cook put up his worst graded game of the season (-3.2) against the highest graded secondary in the country, but Cook had a golden opportunity to really make a mark as a sure fire first rounder and he did the opposite. Any halfway decent performance would have likely seen him move up draft boards, but all he did was confirm the question marks about his accuracy. Cook was on target for only 23 of his 37 attempts and his interception to end the first half was as bad a decision as we saw from a quarterback this bowl season.
Agamemnon -
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