Are we too hard on Taco?

CowboyRoy

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I mean are his struggles more attitude or lack of talent. Is it not a bit premature label him a bust?





He has sucked in EVERY way since he has been here. And ironically, he has had EVERY chance to win the RDE position. Its not like we have studs over there in the last 2 years.
 
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Alexander

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Coach Landry liked to give players 3 years to develop. Hope that's the case with Taco.
He better experience a hell of a growth spurt in year three.

Up until now, he has been a complete waste of time.
 

Kingofholland

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Expectations for him were unrealistic from this fan base. I will say his 2nd year was a dissapointment with only 1 sack, but he did get some pressure and seemed to make some strides against the run. Many here were ready to right off Lawrence after producing 9 sacks his first three seasons, so I'm not ready to right off Taco quite yet either. However, he's going to have to show a lot in a limited role this season. Assuming Lawrence and Quinn start this season, Crawford, Hyder, Armstrong, and Charlton will all be competing for playing time.
 

Bizwah

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We're hard on all our rookies if they don't instantly produce. I can remember fans whining with Troy Aikman his rookie year. Some fans preferred Steve Walsh. I can remember fans lamenting how we should've taken Shawn Merriman instead of Demarcus Ware. More recently Cowboy fans complained about Byron Jones being a bust, Demarcus Lawrence being a bust, and now Taco Charlton and Connor Williams are busts.

Fans on these boards for some reason can't be patient. Has Taco disappointed? Yes. But any reasonable fan should understand he was a prospect that needed time to develop. If he craps out this season....then, I'll agree with the "bust" label.

But sheesh....fans should learn some patience. As we saw with Jones, Lawrence, Ware, and Aikman, sometimes it takes a few seasons.
 

Cowfan75

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Nothing personal, Taco. You just aren't a very good player, not good enough to have been selected where you were. That's the FOs fault, not yours.
 

dsturgeon

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This is wrong.

Taco was given the chance to win the DE spot opposite Lawrence in camp. He couldn't do it. He wasn't "blocked" by Gregory at the start of the year.

I know he was given a chance. What I meant is that only 2 out of the 3 first round talents can start. So, if taco had beat one of them out, it doesn't have to mean dlaw or Gregory is a bust

He has only played 2 out of a possible 5 years on his rookie contract. He has time to improve.

At the least, he is a rotational player who can improve. We need rotational guys.
 

Parcells4Life

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DLaw I didn’t even think would make the team prior to 2017. He didn’t run his mouth until he could back it up but he was definitely considered a bust before 2017.

Maybe Taco comes out of nowhere like DLaw did or is at least as serviceable as Crawford. Doubt he contributes enough to get his 5th year picked up in 2 years but he may be a solid guy until the
 

Oh_Canada

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He's not TJ Watt or Reuben Foster.
Thats the main reason I'm hard on Taco.

That's probably why most people are so hard on him--Watt.
I still think he has the traits to be a very good end in this system, as long as he can stay healthy and his attitude improves he should be ok.
 

Beaker42

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He's a first round pick that was actually so inconsequential he got deactivated for games in his 2nd season. I don't think the problems are the high expectations of fans as to why he gets criticized. It's the fact that he's done pretty much zero in two seasons as Dallas.

It's not too much to expect more than that out of your first round pick, is it?
Didn’t Lawrence pretty much do zip over his first two seasons?
 

Beaker42

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I definitely think most fans are too hard on him.

Fans have ridiculous expectations for most prospects. And regarding Taco, fans seem to have this bitter sense of dislike towards him for no apparent reason. I don’t get it.
We should’ve taken Watt - that’s the issue.
 

darthseinfeld

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Less talk, more proving, Taco.

If he can develop into what they envisioned from him when they took him, that would be fantastic.

But unfortunately, some of the concerns, if I recall, when he came out was tied to work ethic and maturity and thus far in two seasons, he hasn't shown a whole lot reasons to think he's gotten better there.
I just think of the rumor about Ansah being a contingency on Lawrence. Heading into year 3, that should be Charlton. In fact as a 1st rounder, we should be perfectly fine letting Lawrence walk after trading for Quinn because of Taco.

He doesnt seem to give the FO much confidence.
 

Sydla

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I know he was given a chance. What I meant is that only 2 out of the 3 first round talents can start. So, if taco had beat one of them out, it doesn't have to mean dlaw or Gregory is a bust

He has only played 2 out of a possible 5 years on his rookie contract. He has time to improve.

At the least, he is a rotational player who can improve. We need rotational guys.

The problem is we saw Taco play and it wasn't all that great. So to try to make this sound like it's a situation where he just lost out to two better players while playing well himself would be a fabrication.

He has been pretty poor his first two years.
 

G2

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I'm not saying he's lived up to anything. But, he's been battling injury.
That being said, he needs to step it up.
 

Doomsday101

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Yes.

No one was proclaiming the greatness of Lawrence or Gregory after their second season, but they got better. There's time for Taco to do the same. Whether or not he will remains to be seen.

I agree. Frankly with Gregory just being able to get him on the field as been a pain. Not letting Taco off the hook but I will gladly take a player who can get on the field vs a guy who is constantly suspended.
 
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