ESPN: Ronald Leary loses weight, gets ready for camp

[Idgit]

Originally Posted by Bluestang

I don't know what team it was but juding by the draft order and the comp pick we used on Matt Johnson I don't think it was the Ravens. The hearsay is true though, we did indeed fear some other team picking him before us.

I don't recall what made me think it was the Ravens; I remember us scrambling to figure out who it might be based off the the context clue of it being within a few picks of us. But I'm pretty sure somebody afterward came out a week or so after the draft and indicated it was them. I just can't recall who it was, and I couldn't find it in a quick search just now. Either way, it was another decent team with a good reputation for quality drafting. It wasn't Cincinatti or the Raiders.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Originally Posted by Bluestang

IIRC Matt Johnson started gaining interest from other teams so we decided to pull the trigger on him early.

We also used our comp pick to get him which was the last pick in the 4th round.

NFLDS leading up the the draft had a 6-7 grade on him and rising.

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by Idgit

For someone who believes (or pretends to believe) some crazy stuff, Risen Star does a better job than most defending his positions. If you're going to try to make the point that coverage players in today's NFL are overrated, you gotta have pretty thick skin, because you know what's coming.



IIRC, draft-day scuttlebut had Baltimore interested in taking Johnson just a few picks after our, and considered him a potential gem. That's admittedly hearsay, though. Still, I think it's safe to say there's a gulf between what NFL teams knew and what was reported in commercial draft prep content.

Your comment to me was something of a dull tack in the pack...I supported him as a person, and you come back with slander. As to merit, he takes some journeys for effect alone. That is another issue, but if you can handle value, then just carry right along...as your value is attracted by popularity more than analysis to begin with.

I haven't yet, presented a vantage of what my actual values are, for starters, and my comments are upon points of application to the sport, or about voicing insult by another...first.

I was a Veteran, and I state that because my reactions are weathered through that perception first. With institutional types of responses, first...and not a smorgesborg of sensation and enjoyments selected.

TwoDeep and I are very similar in that, as is casmith07 and quite a few others on site...that doesn't mean our view is all the same.

But at least I can differentiate between core elements of issue and personality, instead.

I don't care an iota about compliance to style, and stereotyped communications. Here is why I appreciate Gimme as I do. I take the message, and not just how it's delivered. The end result is the same. You know, the concept in your own mind's eye.

I leave you your own mind's eye..but when you enter the arena for confrontation, that's another issue. Here, if one retains a detachment for another's personal insult first, then it remains in a discussion, rather than conflict.

But the message still is, Jerry is not an idiot, and someone saying such isn't a jerk or idiot as well.

And that is a pretty simple message, if one is looking for it.

[Bluestang]

Originally Posted by Idgit

I don't recall what made me think it was the Ravens; I remember us scrambling to figure out who it might be based off the the context clue of it being within a few picks of us. But I'm pretty sure somebody afterward came out a week or so after the draft and indicated it was them. I just can't recall who it was, and I couldn't find it in a quick search just now. Either way, it was another decent team with a good reputation for quality drafting. It wasn't Cincinatti or the Raiders.

Now that I recall it, I believe you are confusing Kyle Wilber and Matt Johnson. Wilber was the one that the Ravens were after which we selected in the 4th round before Johnson.

On the other hand though I could have sworn remembering that the Eagles were interested in Johnson in the 5th so we decided to get Johnson at the end of the 4th with the comp pick.

[CCBoy]

I really like the context that Leary has come onto this team. He is a dedicated football player. He has good size, works hard, and is attempting to strongly adapt to the demands and periles of the NFL.

He was given good grades on his base level of technique, aggressiveness, and abilities. He is a student of the game, and that will provide dividends with a shorter learning curve than less motivated and even more talented players.

If his knees hold on, he may prove a very workable piece in an injury marred sport. He is the type of player, at what ever level attained, one looks for.

He is a good addition to a defineable Jason Garrett type of guidelines for his team...not Jerry's.

Merit is now on the shoulders of Jason Garrett, as all the war dancing is over now.

And when players walk onto the carpet, merit is then on their shoulders, not just Jason's.

[Aven8]

I don't know why anybody here would dismiss Leary from starting this year. Last year we had 2 guys start that hadn't played a lick.

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by Aven8

I don't know why anybody here would dismiss Leary from starting this year. Last year we had 2 guys start that hadn't played a lick.

That view definitely has relevance. Opportunity often depends upon another's injury in professional sports.

[jnday]

Originally Posted by CCBoy

Risen, sorry for the beefs you endure for stating your own views.

Although I don't always agree with your perspectives, I would would die to ensure your rights to them...and ability to voice them.

Classy post. This is one reason that I have always respected you even if our views on the Cowboys differ. We agree on the important stuff, outside of foorball.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by Aven8

I don't know why anybody here would dismiss Leary from starting this year. Last year we had 2 guys start that hadn't played a lick.

and one of them stank the place up as well. So starting and being any good are not the same thing.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by Idgit

IIRC, draft-day scuttlebut had Baltimore interested in taking Johnson just a few picks after our, and considered him a potential gem. That's admittedly hearsay, though. Still, I think it's safe to say there's a gulf between what NFL teams knew and what was reported in commercial draft prep content.

The team floated that out there after the pick. Believe it at your own risk.

Obviously I'm not privy to an NFL war room and what the scouts are saying. I'm talking Kiper, Ourlads, Coyle, Lande, Scouts Inc., Nawrocki. Not a one had a draftable grade on Johnson.

I also didn't read a single mention of Matt here in the months leading up to the draft. And we have some knowledgeable draftniks here.

That tempers my enthusiasm for his pro potential. For every success story you can recite, I'll match it with 10 similar pedigreed players who failed.

But the about face on Johnson since we drafted him has been comical to me. Proof that we as a fan base will accept absolutely anything the team does with a draft pick. At least initially.

[CCBoy]

Originally Posted by jnday

Classy post. This is one reason that I have always respected you even if our views on the Cowboys differ. We agree on the important stuff, outside of foorball.

Thank you, Sir....

[jnday]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

The team floated that out there after the pick. Believe it at your own risk.

Obviously I'm not privy to an NFL war room and what the scouts are saying. I'm talking Kiper, Ourlads, Coyle, Lande, Scouts Inc., Nawrocki. Not a one had a draftable grade on Johnson.

I also didn't read a single mention of Matt here in the months leading up to the draft. And we have some knowledgeable draftniks here.

That tempers my enthusiasm for his pro potential. For every success story you can recite, I'll match it with 10 similar pedigreed players who failed. -

But the about face on Johnson since we drafted him has been comical to me. Proof that we as a fan base will accept absolutely anything the team does with a draft pick. At least initially.

Didn't the Ravens want Crawford in the third round? Seems like the Ravens want all of the players that the Cowboys draft. I agree on Johnson. He was a nobody until Dallas picked him. Never read anything on him predraft. I think the safety position has been neglected for so long that fans are just happy that anybody was drafted for the position. If some of these guys don't pan out, it is going to tick me off due to Brandon Brooks being available in the third and the Eagles drafting Brandon Washington in the fifth or sixth round.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by jnday

Didn't the Ravens want Crawford in the third round? Seems like the Ravens want all of the players that the Cowboys draft. I agree on Johnson. He was a nobody until Dallas picked him. Never read anything on him predraft. I think the safety position has been neglected for so long that fans are just happy that anybody was drafted for the position. If some of these guys don't pan out, it is going to tick me off due to Brandon Brooks being available in the third and the Eagles drafting Brandon Washington in the fifth or sixth round.

They can claim 5 teams were going to draft him right after our pick if they want. All I can go on is the rankings I see from respected sources as well as my own opinions of players I've watched that were still on the board.

I thought it was one of the worst picks in the draft from a value standpoint. Even if he pans out I believe he could have been drafted later.

We always do odd things like that. We were actually sweating it out that Johnson would last until the end of the 4th round when we made the decision to take Wilber first? It doesn't exactly instill me with confidence about the guys running the team and their feel for the draft.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Risen Star

The team floated that out there after the pick. Believe it at your own risk.

Obviously I'm not privy to an NFL war room and what the scouts are saying. I'm talking Kiper, Ourlads, Coyle, Lande, Scouts Inc., Nawrocki. Not a one had a draftable grade on Johnson.

I also didn't read a single mention of Matt here in the months leading up to the draft. And we have some knowledgeable draftniks here.

That tempers my enthusiasm for his pro potential. For every success story you can recite, I'll match it with 10 similar pedigreed players who failed.

But the about face on Johnson since we drafted him has been comical to me. Proof that we as a fan base will accept absolutely anything the team does with a draft pick. At least initially.

The thing about Matt Johnson is that he was really off of everyone's radar for two main reasons: he played at a small conference and he missed most of his senior year with a major injury that required surgery and then rehab.

Now many of the people on here will remain critical over a pick even years down the line. Heck, there are still people who will bring up Jerry drafting Quincy and Tony Dixon back in 2001.

The reason why people changed their minds on him was they saw his workout numbers which were actually very good and they saw his highlight films which showed a fully with great instincts, great physicality and the ability to make some plays on the ball. The thing you always worry about those who come from small schools is whether their productivity will translate into a higher level with better athletes but at least his numbers check out for an NFL pro safety. And while he did play lesser competition there is film of him dominating against good Div 1 schools unlike AOA.

Ultimately most 4th rounders are not quality starters in this league and we should temper our expectations for that reason but I am hopeful that Johnson will be successful - he just looks like a football player on film.

[SilverStarCowboy]

Originally Posted by TheCount

I know a lot of people are high on Leary, but I'd consider his becoming a long term backup a win. I really don't see what's so special about him that some think he can start, and play well, as a rookie.

He won't be a long term anything.