What's going on with Caleb Downs?

[TxCowboy23]

Weird to me because he was a playmaker and eraser in college, was thinking about how none of our DB's are ever in position to make a play on the ball.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

Who should they have drafted?

With high first round picks.... a lot of the smart GM's say you should only use them on QB, OT, CB, Pass Rushing D Linemen, and maybe WR if they're special. And I agree with that philosophy.

I'd rather they stick with that mantra and miss, than pick an off ball LB/guard/fullback/safety which won't even move the needle much even if you pick a good player.

Considering who was on the board at that time.... i woulda gotten one of the oTackles, or possibly the Miami pass rusher Bain Jr (even though in hindsight he hasn't done much, at that time he would have fit into a group of players at high impact positions I would have taken).

Or....I would have tried to trade back (maybe they did...IDK)

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

With high first round picks.... a lot of the smart GM's say you should only use them on QB, OT, CB, Pass Rushing D Linemen, and maybe WR if they're special. And I agree with that philosophy.

I'd rather they stick with that mantra and miss, than pick an off ball LB/guard/fullback/safety which won't even move the needle much even if you pick a good player.

Considering who was on the board at that time.... i woulda gotten one of the oTackles, or possibly the Miami pass rusher Bain Jr (even though in hindsight he hasn't done much, at that time he would have fit into a group of players at high impact positions I would have taken).

Or....I would have tried to trade back (maybe they did...IDK)

So you would’ve drafted yet another offensive lineman over one of the best prospects in the draft because of the position he plays? That’s number no no in the NFL. Never trade away from talent. Reuben Bain over Downs is wild.

 

[starfrombirth]

Like I said...a big fan. I watched him at tOSU.

It just took him a lot longer to "close in" than I am used is all.

Can I say it again? Still a big fan and he's gonna be a solid player.

I'm a fan also, which is a little bit of a surprise because I wasn't necessarily all in on him b4 the draft. During the season, so far, I thought he has been 1 of the 2 best players on our defense (along with Barham). Isn't it sad that our 2 best players are rookies?

 

[leicafan]

No wonder people thought Cowboys fans are just a bunch of dumb axx. A rookie only played his 5th game, and he sometimes played Safty, sometimes Nickle. And some of you started to think he is a bust?

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

So you would’ve drafted yet another offensive lineman over one of the best prospects in the draft because of the position he plays? That’s number no no in the NFL. Never trade away from talent. Reuben Bain over Downs is wild.

Ur saying that in the context of hindsight. I'm talking about what we knew at the time.

And as far as deprioritizing someone due to the position he plays.... this isn't some philosophy I thought up. Real NFL GMs say that. Real NFL GMs do that (not Jerry, not all the GMs). So argue against the people who actually work in the NFL and have won Superbowls if you want. Not my problem

P.s. 30 years. Just lost to the 0-4 bucs. But....keep picking guards, RBs, and safeties with top 12 picks. It's working out great. What do those SuperBowl winning GMs know?

 

[Westcoasthabsfan]

He should be playing as the Nickel CB instead of deep safety

 

[krs1bro]

Garbage coaches..... he checked out

 

[stiletto]

He should be playing as the Nickel CB instead of deep safety

Probably. I think his skill is overall wasted doing it. He should be a free range play wrecker but this defense doesn't allow that luxury. He needs to cover the Nickel until someone competent is found. I am kind of surprised Steward is so bad. He did OK last year. Let Downs do it for this year at least because everyone else is SO BAD.

 

[Shane612]

He’s small

The ultimate insult.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Ur saying that in the context of hindsight. I'm talking about what we knew at the time.

And as far as deprioritizing someone due to the position he plays.... this isn't some philosophy I thought up. Real NFL GMs say that. Real NFL GMs do that (not Jerry, not all the GMs). So argue against the people who actually work in the NFL and have won Superbowls if you want. Not my problem

P.s. 30 years. Just lost to the 0-4 bucs. But....keep picking guards, RBs, and safeties with top 12 picks. It's working out great. What do those SuperBowl winning GMs know?

It’s not hindsight I’m saying at the time everyone knew Downs fell. Bain fell but the fall was expected they spent months talking about his short arms. That’s not a hindsight view nobody was taking Bain over Downs.

What GMs are you talking about that trade away from talent based on position? Ravens drafted Hamilton because of that exact reason.

PS the Cowboys have completed avoided drafting safeties high all 30 years what are you talking about?

 

[CarolinaFathead]

Not worried about Downs.

Don't know if he's going to be in the tier of Lott/Reed/Polamalu or have the insane range of Earl Thomas that made the Legion of Boom the greatest secondsry ever, but he looks to me like he has good upside.

The problem for Dallas is that when you take a safety that high, you want him to be in that aforementioned tier or close to it. The safety position is important, but you can get competent, pro-bowl caliber safeties outside the first round. We can't know if Downs will be generetionally elite at this point. This defense is a hot mess right now and he's a rookie. He's not getting any structure to ground his first year. Instead he got the Jones’s idea of structure, which is a flimsy circus tent.

 

[xwalker]

The way the war room was celebrating and the comments on this board when he was drafted would have had most thinking he’s the next Ed Reed. So far he looks small, a tick late, timid. I get he’s a rookie but what’s his best position? I think he was at least noticeable when he was in slot. The last two games he’s been invincible. I think the giants knew something we didn’t (they passed on him twice) ?

Nothing is wrong with Downs.

He looks like he understands football than anyone on the Cownoys defense including the coaches.

The NFL offers the All-22 for a reasonable price...Try reviewing games to see what really happens...

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

It’s not hindsight I’m saying at the time everyone knew Downs fell. Bain fell but the fall was expected they spent months talking about his short arms. That’s not a hindsight view nobody was taking Bain over Downs.

What GMs are you talking about that trade away from talent based on position? Ravens drafted Hamilton because of that exact reason.

PS the Cowboys have completed avoided drafting safeties high all 30 years what are you talking about?

GUARDS, RBs, ...and safeties. I wasn't JUST talking about safeties. But the Cowboys have now taken all 3 "lower positions" with top 12 picks.

What GMs have said that?

Look it up! Find out what other teams do. Don't just limit urself based on what you see Jerry do.

But I'll give you one. Andy Reid. Built 2 different teams that went to the SuperBowls. He spoke about team building....and what positions were important to building a team.

Over 2 decades leading teams, often times wearing the GM hat. Sure. .if he had a pick in the late 20s or 30s, he OCCASIONALLY might take a RB or something. But top 10 or 15? QB. WR. dLineman. OTackle. CB. WrR.

If we had Reid running the show instead of Jerruh....we wouldn't have Downs, we wouldn't have Booker...we wouldn't have had Zeke, etc. And we wouldn't be sitting here 30 years without so much h as an NFCCG. THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.

You asked ME who'd I'd take...and I stood up and told uou...didn't wuss out. So now I'll ask you: are you in favor of the team building strategy Jerry has used over the last 30 years? (Not the specific players...THE STRATEGY). If you are....then, wow, but no further questions. Enjoy. If not....then what would YOU change strategically (not pick better players, or some other lame cop out answer like that).

 

[Redsfan_83]

Look at the talent he played with on D at OSU, then watch a Dallas Cowboys football game. Not to hard to see what's going on with him....they may ruin this kid as well

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

GUARDS, RBs, ...and safeties. I wasn't JUST talking about safeties. But the Cowboys have now taken all 3 "lower positions" with top 12 picks.

What GMs have said that?

Look it up! Find out what other teams do. Don't just limit urself based on what you see Jerry do.

But I'll give you one. Andy Reid. Built 2 different teams that went to the SuperBowls. He spoke about team building....and what positions were important to building a team.

Over 2 decades leading teams, often times wearing the GM hat. Sure. .if he had a pick in the late 20s or 30s, he OCCASIONALLY might take a RB or something. But top 10 or 15? QB. WR. dLineman. OTackle. CB. WrR.

If we had Reid running the show instead of Jerruh....we wouldn't have Downs, we wouldn't have Booker...we wouldn't have had Zeke, etc. And we wouldn't be sitting here 30 years without so much h as an NFCCG. THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.

You asked ME who'd I'd take...and I stood up and told uou...didn't wuss out. So now I'll ask you: are you in favor of the team building strategy Jerry has used over the last 30 years? (Not the specific players...THE STRATEGY). If you are....then, wow, but no further questions. Enjoy. If not....then what would YOU change strategically (not pick better players, or some other lame cop out answer like that).

They’ve taken one safety, one guard and one running back. Zeke was 10 years ago lol. I guess man you clearly are stuck on this stance so I’ll let you have it. I can’t reason with someone who wanted Bain over Downs. I’ll just agree to disagree.


“You asked ME who'd I'd take...and I stood up and told uou...didn't wuss out. So now I'll ask you: are you in favor of the team building strategy Jerry has used over the last 30 years?”


You’ll probably call this wussing out but I honestly don’t see a strategy. I’ve seen them do BPA, I’ve seen them have a special teams draft, I’ve seen them draft a RB early, I’ve seen them do RKG…I don’t see a strategy. So that’s a tough question to ask.

Do I agree with taking linemen early? No. RB? No. But every draft is different. I would’ve taken Ramsey in 2016 and Henry in the second. Was I upset with Zeke? No. It got us to 13 wins. With Booker…no I didn’t want a guard early. But it was a weak draft and I didn’t want a tight end who early.

I don’t have an issue with the teams talent aside from the years of avoiding safety and DT. I have a issue with the coaching hires and Jerry.

 

[Kingofholland]

He's always around the ball and has made some very nice tackles. Personally I think he has played well, but hasn't shown up with a flashy highlight reel which is probably why this thread has popped up.

 

[kskboys]

The way the war room was celebrating and the comments on this board when he was drafted would have had most thinking he’s the next Ed Reed. So far he looks small, a tick late, timid. I get he’s a rookie but what’s his best position? I think he was at least noticeable when he was in slot. The last two games he’s been invincible. I think the giants knew something we didn’t (they passed on him twice) ?

Christian Parker is going on w/ Downs.

Think about it, who on this D has looked consistently good? And we have some good proven players.

 

[kskboys]

I hope this putrid defense doesn’t destroy his confidence

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[kskboys]

GUARDS, RBs, ...and safeties. I wasn't JUST talking about safeties. But the Cowboys have now taken all 3 "lower positions" with top 12 picks.

What GMs have said that?

Look it up! Find out what other teams do. Don't just limit urself based on what you see Jerry do.

But I'll give you one. Andy Reid. Built 2 different teams that went to the SuperBowls. He spoke about team building....and what positions were important to building a team.

Over 2 decades leading teams, often times wearing the GM hat. Sure. .if he had a pick in the late 20s or 30s, he OCCASIONALLY might take a RB or something. But top 10 or 15? QB. WR. dLineman. OTackle. CB. WrR.

If we had Reid running the show instead of Jerruh....we wouldn't have Downs, we wouldn't have Booker...we wouldn't have had Zeke, etc. And we wouldn't be sitting here 30 years without so much h as an NFCCG. THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.

You asked ME who'd I'd take...and I stood up and told uou...didn't wuss out. So now I'll ask you: are you in favor of the team building strategy Jerry has used over the last 30 years? (Not the specific players...THE STRATEGY). If you are....then, wow, but no further questions. Enjoy. If not....then what would YOU change strategically (not pick better players, or some other lame cop out answer like that).

SEA: Spent a 1st on RB and OG, 2nd on S.

I disagree w/ your premise, BTW. Bad drafting/ignoring weaknesses has been our problem.