Taco: What should we expect?

[Verdict]

Taco was legitimately playing well at the end of the season vs Oakland and Seattle. My expectation for him is to play at a starter level this year - and to be honest, for a second year 1st round pick that kinda should be the expectation anyway.

That's right.

 

[Verdict]

A lot of R1 never make it.

That's true. However we aren't shooting for a bust. We are shooting for a reasonably good value for the round drafted. Granted not all of the players drafted will accomplish that, but we shouldn't consider the busts not to be busts simply because some perform and some don't.

 

[Verdict]

not sure what your expectations were, but his performance was not far from other first round DEs drafted in the same part of the draft....if you expected 8-10 sacks...then your expectations were wrong. very difficult for a rookie DE, who didn't go in the top 10 or top 5 to get high number of sacks...

reasonable expectations this year are about 8 sacks. I like to see pressures go up...coming close, but perhaps not converting to sacks. that would be a good indicator of his progress

He was a first round pick. He should be judged accordingly. This isn't a 4th round project.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

He was a first round pick. He should be judged accordingly. This isn't a 4th round project.

its not a project....comparing him to others, drafted in the same general area, the learning curve and production is similar...

to expect him to have 10-12 sacks in his second year is unreasonable.....that's in great player category and usually expectations of a top 10 player....

 

[OmerV]

its not a project....comparing him to others, drafted in the same general area, the learning curve and production is similar...

to expect him to have 10-12 sacks in his second year is unreasonable.....that's in great player category and usually expectations of a top 10 player....

If he could become a Greg Ellis level player - about 8 sacks a year with the size to collapse the packet even when not getting to the QB himself, and a solid edge anchor against the run - I would be happy with him. Add that kind of pass rush along with Lawrence and Irving, and the Cowboys could put a hell of a lot of pressure on a QB.

 

[Stash]

If he could become a Greg Ellis level player - about 8 sacks a year with the size to collapse the packet even when not getting to the QB himself, and a solid edge anchor against the run - I would be happy with him. Add that kind of pass rush along with Lawrence and Irving, and the Cowboys could put a hell of a lot of pressure on a QB.

Ellis appears to be a great comp for him. He was the one that came to mind for me as well. One guy is 6'6" and 271 lbs, and the other is 6'6" and 270 lbs. doesn't get closer than that from a physical standpoint. And I don't think either guy is classified as a speed rusher, but more power and technique.

Ellis was a solid, not spectacular defensive end, and he was taken 8th overall. If we get that steady production from Charlton, I'll be satisfied.

Unless TJ Watt goes off, then I'll start *****ing again!

 

[Verdict]

its not a project....comparing him to others, drafted in the same general area, the learning curve and production is similar...

to expect him to have 10-12 sacks in his second year is unreasonable.....that's in great player category and usually expectations of a top 10 player....

You are setting the bar far too low for a first round player. Either he is worthy of his draft status and seizes the starting positions NFL makes a significant impact this year or he was over drafted. If that is the case you still hope for the best. In what world is it ok for your first round player to be a four year project?

 

[Verdict]

Ellis appears to be a great comp for him. He was the one that came to mind for me as well. One guy is 6'6" and 271 lbs, and the other is 6'6" and 270 lbs. doesn't get closer than that from a physical standpoint. And I don't think either guy is classified as a speed rusher, but more power and technique.

Ellis was a solid, not spectacular defensive end, and he was taken 8th overall. If we get that steady production from Charlton, I'll be satisfied.

Unless TJ Watt goes off, then I'll start *****ing again!

If he is as good as Ellis then it was a great pick. I don't think Ellis is a good comp at all. Not the same type of player.

 

[cern]

ellis also became a good lb under the great parcells. but about that same time he became the biggest whiner on the club. always wanted a raise du jour.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Taco underperformed his draft status. It's not really about his stats. He showed ZERO last year until the very end of the year he gave a glimmer of hope.

Maybe in your eyes. He wasn't drafted to be an impact player his rookie year. We all knew that. He needed to learn the pro game and get bigger/stronger. Start showing something as the season progressed. That is exactly what he did.

2011 the Texans spend the #11 pick on JJ Watt. Fans booed the pick big time. Hated it. His rookie year he had 4.5 sacks and fans openly questioned the pick all season. But he started showing promise.

I'm not saying Taco is anywhere close to JJ's talent level. But Taco has been a Cowboy for all of 13 months. More importantly, everyone but you seems to know that expectations for him were low last year.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

You are setting the bar far too low for a first round player. Either he is worthy of his draft status and seizes the starting positions NFL makes a significant impact this year or he was over drafted. If that is the case you still hope for the best. In what world is it ok for your first round player to be a four year project?

he is worthy of his draft status.....not a top 10 pick. a lower part of first round pick.....the expectations are correct. Lawrence, who was among the best DEs in the league last year had 14 sacks. do you expect Charlton to get 14?

Barnett who went to philly, played along a great defense, which we weren't. had 5 sacks...he was the 14th pick....
Charles harris had 2 sacks...he went 22
McKinley had 6 sacks in Atlanta...he went 26
Charlton went 28......had 3 sacks.

the year before shaq Lawson went 19th, his stats 2, 4 sacks in his first wo eyars.
emmaneul ogbah had 4 and 5.5 and he went 33
shane ray in 2015, drafted 23rd, had 4, 8, then 1...
clowney...#1 over all 0, 4, 6, 9.5


as you can see the sacks are all over the place..... but usually every year, there are 20-25 players that get graded as a true first rounders....last year there was talk that there was about 20 true first round talents....the rest get ranked and picked by need....

that's why I said, about 6-8 sacks would be the realistic expectation


but there are those, who will set the bar higher, so that they can claim the player failed and should be cut, because they don't like him.

 

[OmerV]

You are setting the bar far too low for a first round player. Either he is worthy of his draft status and seizes the starting positions NFL makes a significant impact this year or he was over drafted. If that is the case you still hope for the best. In what world is it ok for your first round player to be a four year project?

I don't think he's necessarily saying Taco doesn't need to seize the starting position or make an impact this year, I think he's just saying that all 1st rounders don't carry the same expectations, and that while the expectation for a top 10 pick may be 10-12 sacks, 8 sacks might be the expectation for a bottom of the 1st round pick.

 

[cern]

taco played for Michigan and harbaugh. good resume stuff. he was looking good towards the end of the season last year. should only get better. taco sales were lower than expected most of the year. same could be said for all the secret sauces.

 

[Stash]

If he is as good as Ellis then it was a great pick. I don't think Ellis is a good comp at all. Not the same type of player.

How so?

 

[Toruk_Makto]

You don't draft a "project" in the first round.

You're showing your football ignorance. Please chart 1st rounders especially late first rounders. Come back to us and let us know what you find.

 

[Cowpolk]

You don't draft a "project" in the first round.

We did

 

[Hennessy_King]

I can see how you could be a bit impatient with Taco. We’ve had several recent draft picks that we haven’t gotten early returns on.

DeMarcus Lawrence
Jaylon Smith
Randy Gregory

It would be nice to not have to wait until year three or four to see some production from Taco.

Byron Jones on that list too. At this point if one of these guys cant beat out ty craw for the starting RE spot I'll be pissed. Especially because my guy in that draft was Carl Lawson.

 

[Hadenough]

I actually thought he was getting better at the end of the season, he might just be one of those guys that takes longer to adjust to the NFL. I dont think he is the type of player that is going to stand out but I do think he could be one of those blue chip players that works hard and contributes.

 

[Cowpolk]

I actually thought he was getting better at the end of the season, he might just be one of those guys that takes longer to adjust to the NFL. I dont think he is the type of player that is going to stand out but I do think he could be one of those blue chip players that works hard and contributes.

He was getting better He is going to be at least good may be great to soon to tell wish he would drop the taco thing though it is worse than the feed me crap

 

[Stash]

Byron Jones on that list too. At this point if one of these guys cant beat out ty craw for the starting RE spot I'll be pissed. Especially because my guy in that draft was Carl Lawson.

I thought about putting him there too, but in his defense, he has played a lot of games.