Football 101: The Talent Evaluation Process

[jnday]

Ciskowski does not have the final say. He does not have it any more than Jeff Ireland did or that Larry Lacewell did. Even Jones himself reduced Ireland's role down to "information gatherer" when he left. What does that tell you? Ciskowski is doing very much the same thing.

A simple example is the Ravens. Eric DeCosta sets up the draft and Ozzie Newsome has the final say. Steve Bisciotti has entrusted him to do just that. Bisciotti does not exercise the final say--Newsome, the GM, does that.

Basically Ciskowski is just like DeCosta. That is the whole reason DeCosta was such a hot commodity to be a GM. That is also why Ciskowski was looking to leave to become the Colts GM.

The difference between Jerry Jones and other GMs is that he is not involved in personally scouting Pro Days and workouts. That is why his decision making is dubious and he is at the mercy of whatever information is put in front of him. In other words, he is the most handicapped final decision maker in the NFL as he does not even have his own first person experience to compare off of the information he receives.

If the situation that you describe is fact , and I am not doubting you , I can see that the team is handicapped in the process that takes place . I think it simply boils down to the fact that Jerry has more on his plate than one person can handle . How much hands- on input does Stephen have ? I read an article recently that said Stephen has taken over much of the GM duties .

 

[Alexander]

If the situation that you describe is fact , and I am not doubting you , I can see that the team is handicapped in the process that takes place . I think it simply boils down to the fact that Jerry has more on his plate than one person can handle . How much hands- on input does Stephen have ? I read an article recently that said Stephen has taken over much of the GM duties .

Stephen handles the financial part of the GM process as he always has. He is the numbers person. He handles most negotiations including contracts and trades.

He is just as minimally involved in the draft as his father is in terms of attending Pro Days and personally scouting prospects.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

So, in short, based on your guess of how the draft happens, Jason Garrett is not only OC and head coach, but also GM.

And Jerry Jones is basically only there to make the phone call telling the world what Garrett has decided.

Garrett has been a subpar OC for years and an absolutely horrible head coach the past year. And now you are "pimping" him as de facto GM.

The Garrett sycophants' belief easily summed up:
1) Anything good = Garrett
2) Anything bad = Jerry Jones

I have a feeling you are going to require a lot of therapy after Garrett gets canned in a year or two.

 

[casmith07]

So, in short, based on your guess of how the draft happens, Jason Garrett is not only OC and head coach, but also GM.

And Jerry Jones is basically only there to make the phone call telling the world what Garrett has decided.

Garrett has been a subpar OC for years and an absolutely horrible head coach the past year. And now you are "pimping" him as de facto GM.

The Garrett sycophants' belief easily summed up:
1) Anything good = Garrett
2) Anything bad = Jerry Jones

I have a feeling you are going to require a lot of therapy after Garrett gets canned in a year or two.

Did you tear a rotator cuff or any ligaments reaching for that one?

 

[jnday]

Did you tear a rotator cuff or any ligaments reaching for that one?

Must have long arms . He is the anti Phil Costa .

 

[Mr Cowboy]

I wouldn't doubt that the way Hos described the process is the way it is done by all teams, or close to it. Results are what is lacking for the Cowboys! Perhaps the process needs an update, a tweek or several modifications. It wouldn't surprise me that changes and tweeks are made from year to year. Nevertheless, Jerry as the owner needs to step back and assess what his team is going through and pinpoint the problem.

Like I said, changes are made year to year, but perhaps he needs to look at the one constant that hasn't changed, and that is Jerry. He needs to be honest with himself for the betterment of the team. Every company and corporation in this country does it, and those who don't disappear. If Jerry truly wants to do things the way other teams do, he should step back and do what other teams do. Jerry can still help the team, and even grow it, by working to his strengths, marketing and promoting the team and the stadium.

Sixteen years or so should show him that what they are doing is not working, and change is needed. It isn't bashing Jerry, its common sense. Teams are not lining up to do it the Jerry way.

 

[Randy White]

I have zero faith in someone taking this information and putting it to rational use. It is already evidenced by how Parcells own words on the process are dismissed. History is constantly ignored. The fact that teams do things the same way we do is ignored..

Dude, you have to understand something: to this day there are people who believe the Earth is flat and that the moon landing was staged right in your back yard...

and just in case, start gathering some dirt, mix it with a little dry cement, mix in a few sparkles, call it " moon dust " and start selling it on e-bay..

 

[realtick]

Dude, you have to understand something: to this day there are people who believe the Earth is flat and that the moon landing was staged right in your back yard...

and just in case, start gathering some dirt, mix it with a little dry cement, mix in a few sparkles, call it " moon dust " and start selling it on e-bay..

....and there are also some that still claim the Roy Williams trade was a great thing and that $8 million per year was reasonable price for a 3rd WR.

Oooooh, so sorry, too close to home?

 

[Randy White]

Now, do not get me wrong. Jerry does attend the Senior Bowl, the Combines, etc. He does share his opinions. But much of his opinion is based upon what his football guys are seeing.

Mike Fisher

This guy has been saying the same thing since at least 1995, but nobody bother to listen because the perception was that he was in Jerrah's back pocket.

You can spend a lifetime trying to explain and your words will fall through the cracks. It's been almost 25 years of constant media bombardment and misinformation dispersing, so some people are going to believe what they want to regardless.

 

[Randy White]

....and there are also some that still claim the Roy Williams trade was a great thing and that $8 million per year was reasonable price for a 3rd WR.

Oooooh, so sorry, too close to home?

I see you have been scratched off yet another dog's butt.. must have been an improved tick collar..

 

[sonnyboy]

I wouldn't doubt that the way Hos described the process is the way it is done by all teams, or close to it. Results are what is lacking for the Cowboys! Perhaps the process needs an update, a tweek or several modifications. It wouldn't surprise me that changes and tweeks are made from year to year. Nevertheless, Jerry as the owner needs to step back and assess what his team is going through and pinpoint the problem.

Like I said, changes are made year to year, but perhaps he needs to look at the one constant that hasn't changed, and that is Jerry. He needs to be honest with himself for the betterment of the team. Every company and corporation in this country does it, and those who don't disappear. If Jerry truly wants to do things the way other teams do, he should step back and do what other teams do. Jerry can still help the team, and even grow it, by working to his strengths, marketing and promoting the team and the stadium.

Sixteen years or so should show him that what they are doing is not working, and change is needed. It isn't bashing Jerry, its common sense. Teams are not lining up to do it the Jerry way.

Just a few things most here who take issue with "Jerry's Way" are missing.

1) Most who have an issue insist on making reference to the past 16yrs since that's the time since our last SB and puts the franchises/Jerry's track record in the worst possible light............fine lets just look at the past 16 yrs.

Now IF the way the Cowboys are run is soooooooo disfunctional. If it was absolutely the worst way to run a franchise and gives us no chance to win a championship, answer these questions....

• How is it it possible that we have managed to achieve average NFL results over the past 16 yrs? That's right. Average! For all the *****ing and moaning around here over those past 16yrs, you'd think were the Lions or Bengals.
• If it's so unlikley to win a SB with our system, how is it we managed to make it to the final 8 twice in the past 5 yrs? Now we all have our own definitions of what a contender is, but if you playing on the divisional weekend, you've accomplished something. You either had a great regular season and earned a bye, or you won a wild card game. Either way, you're only two wins from the SB. Those 8 teams have a right to claim they were in the mix, in the running.

2) Jerry's way makes sense, if only for one reason. It best or perhaps better qualifies him to make the one key decision that every single NFL franchise owner has to make.
Hire the football people who make the football decisions. In most cases that's one man. Billionaire buys and NFL team and hires a GM to run the show. OK, how did he do that? What qualifies him to do that? What qualifies him to evaluate that man on a continuing basis and decide to fire him. And then what qualifies him to hire the replacement?

So many of you loath how the Cowboys are run and long for the day we have an uninvolved billionaire who'll simply let the pros run the show.
Be careful what you wish for........

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Just a few things most here who take issue with "Jerry's Way" are missing.

1) Most who have an issue insist on making reference to the past 16yrs since that's the time since our last SB and puts the franchises/Jerry's track record in the worst possible light............fine lets just look at the past 16 yrs.

Now IF the way the Cowboys are run is soooooooo disfunctional. If it was absolutely the worst way to run a franchise and gives us no chance to win a championship, answer these questions....

• How is it it possible that we have managed to achieve average NFL results over the past 16 yrs? That's right. Average! For all the *****ing and moaning around here over those past 16yrs, you'd think were the Lions or Bengals.
• If it's so unlikley to win a SB with our system, how is it we managed to make it to the final 8 twice in the past 5 yrs? Now we all have our own definitions of what a contender is, but if you playing on the divisional weekend, you've accomplished something. You either had a great regular season and earned a bye, or you won a wild card game. Either way, you're only two wins from the SB. Those 8 teams have a right to claim they were in the mix, in the running.

2) Jerry's way makes sense, if only for one reason. It best or perhaps better qualifies him to make the one key decision that every single NFL franchise owner has to make.
Hire the football people who make the football decisions. In most cases that's one man. Billionaire buys and NFL team and hires a GM to run the show. OK, how did he do that? What qualifies him to do that? What qualifies him to evaluate that man on a continuing basis and decide to fire him. And then what qualifies him to hire the replacement?

So many of you loath how the Cowboys are run and long for the day we have an uninvolved billionaire who'll simply let the pros run the show.
Be careful what you wish for........

If average and a one and done in the playoffs is what you seek, then we have the right man.

I wouldn't care if Mark Zukerberg or Bill Gates are the owners or involved in the Cowboys, as long as they can realize that results aren't what they seek, and do something about it.

 

[sonnyboy]

If average and a one and done in the playoffs is what you seek, then we have the right man.

I wouldn't care if Mark Zukerberg or Bill Gates are the owners or involved in the Cowboys, as long as they can realize that results aren't what they seek, and do something about it.

It's not the point and you know it. The point is that to listen to many of you, you'd think we are the worst run team in the NFL with no chance to win a championship.

The results of the past 16 years PROVES beyond a shadow of a doubt that that is not the case.

 

[Hostile]

What does that tell you?

That you have zero respect for the job anyone on the team does and want a patsy to blame so you feel better.

 

[jnday]

This has been a great thread with some good opinions . This is much better than the Romo/Jerry/Garrett sux threads .

 

[Alexander]

That you have zero respect for the job anyone on the team does and want a patsy to blame so you feel better.

Get indignant if you want but that's far from the case.

I happen to think we have some good pieces in place.

But unfortunately the effect is spoiled due to the fact our General Manager cannot independently judge talent on his own.

Sad thing is, that unlike you, I am not overlooking the spoiled apple.

 

[Hostile]

Get indignant if you want but that's far from the case.

I happen to think we have some good pieces in place.

But unfortunately the effect is spoiled due to the fact our General Manager cannot independently judge talent on his own.

Sad thing is, that unlike you, I am not overlooking the spoiled apple.

I may faint.

Our General Manager is a figurehead. Other people evaluate the talent and do that work. Parcells himself said it. How you can continue to deny it is really baffling.

I don't give a damn about Jerry Jones as long as we are operating as a football organization with professional people and I am sorry to tell you and the rest of the pitchfork crowd that we do have that in Jason Garrett, Judd Garrett, Tom Ciskowski, Stephen Jones, Todd Williams, Chris Hall, and our scouting department is actually top notch.

I don't have to duck and run when we make a good Draft pick like Sean Lee, and have to backtrack on my criticism of Jerry Jones. You do. How is a man that incompetent making good picks like Lee and Murray?

If you would pull your head out of the dark smelly place for a few minutes and smell the coffee you might wake up long enough to realize the answer is friggin' obvious and outlined in the OP. Talent evaluation and acquisition is NOT the one man circus you guys whine about. That IS the point.

Stop giving Jerry credit or robbing him of it, whichever one it is you can't make up your mind to do. Talent evaluation in Dallas is a team effort, and since the goal is to provide the Head Coach with the pieces he wants and needs, it is incumbent upon Jason Garrett to be the man to step up and say who he wants.

Last year, they got the top 3 guys they had targeted in the first three rounds. Someone is getting the job done. I'm NOT telling you it is Jerry Jones. I will be delighted when that sinks in, but I won't hold my breath because I know how sold on fairy tales some people are.

 

[junk]

If his advisers are giving him this advice then he needs to clean house of the advisers. I personally think it's a mixture of both. He's not surrounded by great people and he can't help himself from making dumb deals.

I think this is a pretty accurate statement.

It isn't coincidence that the two times the team has dramatically improved under Jones' watch was when he either didn't have control over personnel (Jimmy) or ceded some of that control (Parcells).

Jerry doesn't have the football background to be a successful GM. Nor does he put in the time. I do think he injects himself periodically and that is when we see the really baffling and/or crippling decisions (Galloway, Roy Williams, 2009 draft, Quincy, Buehler, etc).

You need a full time, dedicated GM in this league to be consistently successful. Your organization needs to have one person setting the direction of that franchise. A person with a football background that understands scouting and personnel. A person who puts in the time and the work to make that franchise successful.

Dallas doesn't have that and it has hurt them.

 

[junk]

If you believe that means he does all kinds of scouting, reading Kiper etc., then I don't know what to tell you.

I hope a professional general manager of an NFL team doesn't use Kiper to make decisions.

 

[Hostile]

I hope a professional general manager of an NFL team doesn't use Kiper to make decisions.

Do you even have to say this?

NFL GMs generally consider the "Draft Experts" to be jokes. They don't listen to them. They listen to their own scouts who are paid to look for certain abilities and traits.