Will McClay on the draft

[Alexander]

Tidbits from Will McClay from Calvin Watkin's interview with him for an article in The Athletic:
https://***BLOCKED***/953825/2019/0...alks-cowboys-draft-picks-philosophy-and-more/

There were red flags with Hill because of some issues with the UCF staff. How did you guys address those things?

We see the red flag and we’re going to dig on the red flag and make our interpretation based on what we know. Part of this whole scouting business is people talking to people and getting an opinion. That’s where your information comes from and you can take it with a grain of salt and we’re going to dig and talk to every person and find a way to collectively say: ‘This is who this kid is.’ It also stems from us spending time with the kid and knowing the negatives that were said and the positives that were said. We want to find the whole truth and not listen to somebody’s opinion.

The truth will be determined by what we find out and what we believe. There’s something to (Nebraska coach) Scott Frost playing for Rod and knowing who Rod is and the value Rod put into that word, because he knows that person and that person knows him. That gave us a little bit and then we brought him in and spent time with him and found out what he’s all about. That kid is all football, and shoot – I say this every year when people bring up questions about this guy or that guy or they formulate opinions about a guy who is 21 years old on a college campus. We’ve seen things in the news and politics and everything else going back to when people did when they were in college. Let’s not make a judgment on a kid based on who that kid is, being 20 years old, and the decisions that we make.

There you have it. Marinelli's relationship with Frost drove the train for this pick.

Connor McGovern was a surprise pick. He’s got position flex. What do you guys like about him?

Just an extremely solid football player and is pro-ready, and you never know what’s going to happen. Our offensive line is our strongest unit and Jerry (Jones) says you want to keep strength strong and if that value was there for him, a late second-round player in that round (third), it took a great deal of discipline from us not to do the sexy thing and say, ‘Okay, let’s go get a lesser player that we had valued down in that range.’ If you got a second-rounder up there and you’re in the third round and it’s a good fit, why not do it. And especially with all the things coming up. You’ve got to do business in the NFL as well as go win games.

Why not draft a tight end?

We like what we have. If the opportunity would have presented itself at the right price to add a tight end, you consider it. But this is ongoing, evolving. There’s going to be guys, teams have added players and teams that drop players and players you can look at if we feel like we need to add to that position. You don’t add it all in the draft. A lot of people don’t play with tight ends anymore the way we’re looking for tight ends. That makes a difference too.

I guess this really is something everyone parrots, taking their lead from the Joneses. There is probably a big sign on the wall in the personnel area.

I guess the perception was safeties would go off the board high in the second round and at some point tight ends would go. But the first safety didn’t get picked until late in the first round and then two more safeties were selected after you guys picked Trysten Hill. The tight end spot was interesting, we all knew the Iowa tight ends would go and maybe Irv Smith (Alabama) slipped a little bit. It was hard to predict.

It’s all on what you’re looking for. College football produces more pass-catching, match-up tight ends, and then those teams that have Y tight ends, they are either good blockers or good receivers. When you’re trying to find a complete guy it’s difficult. You shouldn’t force it. With our new direction offensively and what we’re talking about doing, it’s about having players that have roles and now it’s the objective to put players in position that we have to succeed.

Looks like they are waiting for a transformational safety to drop into their laps before they consider it important enough. Well, good luck with that unless you want to trade up very high to get that kind of player in most drafts.
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Overall though, that article was pretty good at getting down to the thought processes.

It probably is one of the view articles you will see with some depth and insight as to what they were thinking.

 

[Denim Chicken]

With our new direction offensively and what we’re talking about doing

That is encouraging. Maybe they're really letting Moore change up the Garrett offense.

 

[Sydla]

That is encouraging. Maybe they're really letting Moore change up the Garrett offense.

The fact McClay is saying this gives me a bit more hope. If Jerry or Stephen were saying it, you'd have to swallow a crap ton of salt with that.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Thanks for posting

 

[Future]

That is encouraging. Maybe they're really letting Moore change up the Garrett offense.

But it's still the Garrett offense. That's the problem. Linehan shook it up a bit too when he arrived.

If Moore is the architect of some completely new offense, then I'll ask again, what exactly is JG's purpose? Doesn't build the offense, doesn't build the defense, and doesn't call any plays.

 

[Alexander]

The fact McClay is saying this gives me a bit more hope. If Jerry or Stephen were saying it, you'd have to swallow a crap ton of salt with that.

I am not counting on it. Stephen Jones talked up Pollard and talked about getting him 20 plays a game, but added "I can't speak for Jason".

I doubt Garrett is going to give him free reign when he is on the final year of his contract.

 

[Bowdown27]

It seems they’re high on Michael Jackson. He said he can play anywhere. Maybe they’re thinking of using him at safety

 

[atlantacowboy]

Is there a team in the NFL that doesn't like "their guys"?

So glad i'm not a media member having to wade this the sea of football cliche's spit out of Jerryland every day.

 

[Rockport]

But it's still the Garrett offense. That's the problem. Linehan shook it up a bit too when he arrived.

If Moore is the architect of some completely new offense, then I'll ask again, what exactly is JG's purpose? Doesn't build the offense, doesn't build the defense, and doesn't call any plays.

Uh, he’s the head coach.

 

[gimmesix]

I think the deal with the tight ends is that they saw some good things last year from both Jarwin and Schultz so with Witten returning, why jump the gun on the position before fully exploring whether either can be a long-term starter. The question with Witten is returning is whether they will actually limit his snaps enough to find out the answer.

 

[atlantacowboy]

It seems they’re high on Michael Jackson. He said he can play anywhere. Maybe they’re thinking of using him at safety

Ah, the sweet smell of hopium in the morning.

 

[Alexander]

Is there a team in the NFL that doesn't like "their guys"?

It is pretty rare that you hear these other teams say "we like what we have" over and over and over in response to challenging questions regarding personnel.

 

[Alexander]

The question with Witten is returning is whether they will actually limit his snaps enough to find out the answer.

Good luck.

 

[atlantacowboy]

It is pretty rare that you hear these other teams say "we like what we have" over and over and over in response to challenging questions regarding personnel.

Right, b/c its understood and should be obvious.

 

[Doomsday101]

Uh, he’s the head coach.

True, he has say on what he wants from the offense and the defense even though he does not call plays. Hell Jimmy never called offense or defense he was HC, his job was to get his overall team ready to play. He would meet with the OC and DC about the game plan that was being installed. Funny it was Jimmy who suggested that because of all the responsibility of HC that Garrett would be better off not handling the play calling and as it turned out Jimmy was right.

 

[northerncowboynation]

Tidbits from Will McClay from Calvin Watkin's interview with him for an article in The Athletic:
https://***BLOCKED***/953825/2019/0...alks-cowboys-draft-picks-philosophy-and-more/



There you have it. Marinelli's relationship with Frost drove the train for this pick.





I guess this really is something everyone parrots, taking their lead from the Joneses. There is probably a big sign on the wall in the personnel area.



Looks like they are waiting for a transformational safety to drop into their laps before they consider it important enough. Well, good luck with that unless you want to trade up very high to get that kind of player in most drafts.
---

Overall though, that article was pretty good at getting down to the thought processes.

It probably is one of the view articles you will see with some depth and insight as to what they were thinking.

Jaizus Alexander, whine much!

 

[aikemirv]

It is pretty rare that you hear these other teams say "we like what we have" over and over and over in response to challenging questions regarding personnel.

Is it? Serious question and not trying to be argumentative but how much detail like this do you listen to from other teams and the questions their hometown reporters ask?

I mean if you do, then you have a basis on this point. I don't at all, so I have no frame of reference.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

But it's still the Garrett offense. That's the problem. Linehan shook it up a bit too when he arrived.

If Moore is the architect of some completely new offense, then I'll ask again, what exactly is JG's purpose? Doesn't build the offense, doesn't build the defense, and doesn't call any plays.

You lost me ......With the exception of a few calling their own plays, couldn't this be said about most NFL head coaches?

 

[gimmesix]

Good luck.

Since Jerry has already chuckled about the limit, it's probable that they will have trouble holding Witten anywhere near 25 snaps, even if they try to. I'm hoping the coaches actually give the other TEs the opportunity to prove themselves, but I don't know if that will be the case.

 

[Alexander]

Is it? Serious question and not trying to be argumentative but how much detail like this do you listen to from other teams and the questions their hometown reporters ask?

I mean if you do, then you have a basis on this point. I don't at all, so I have no frame of reference.

I try to be well rounded and read quite a bit. Trust me, we do it a lot more than most. Especially for a team that has executives that really don't have to defend themselves like that.

Usually you hear it from a sensitive decision maker who wants to squash challenging questions from the media.