A number of 1st/2nd round picks were active on Sunday except Trysten Hill

[Verdict]

Good recall about the Zone Blocking and Tub of Lard DTs.


For Hill it's just practice reps and coaching.

Much of it is timing and body positioning as well as quick recognition of what type of play the offense is running.

Sometimes it is as simple as the DL expecting to be blocked by the OG but instead being blocked by the OC or OT.

The angle is obviously much different depending on which blocker engages the DL first.

Offenses that are good at Zone and Power (man) blocking are difficult for DLinemen.

Back in 2014 I remember the Cowboys often running Zone left over and over and then at some point they would come back with Power right and the DL would be cheating to the offensive left side and then look silly when the Cowboys blasted them with straight ahead power to the right.

Hill did improve a bit just over the span of the preseason games with regards to playing against Zone Blocking.

The big big difference between Hill and someone like Taco is that Hill is a very "high motor" player. He played the most snaps of anyone in the ps games on defense and he kept hustling from start to finish. He was known for being a high motor player in college.

Wasn’t that supposed to be one of Taco’s strengths when he was drafted? I don’t recall, but that seems right.

 

[Kaiser]

I think you're off in this case. I don't think that there is anyone who is being honest that believes that Trysten Hill was the best player available at #58.

Disagree. If you are looking at the 3 year window (with your 3T likely leaving next year in FA), a guy with elite measurables at a premium position certainly can be BPA.

And he was according to the Cowboys, who have earned the benefit of the doubt at this point. "We couldda had him two rounds later" is what some fans said about guys like LVE, Jaylon Smith and Frederick..... until they stopped saying that.

 

[Swanny]

I looked up rookie performances this morning of every 1st and 2nd round picks from the 2019 draft. Surprisingly for a supposedly "weak draft" there were a lot of rookies starting in Week 1. Trysten Hill was the first pick I got to that was inactive on Sunday. Every other 1st/2nd round pick that was healthy made their team's gameday roster in Week 1. Wow....

Packers 1st Rd pick Gary played 5 snaps. I know that because I unfortunately live in WI and heard it on the radio. Still don't know why it's a huge deal at this point. He might or might not be anything we have no idea at this point. Fans are really good at being dramatic

 

[DallasInDC]

I looked up rookie performances this morning of every 1st and 2nd round picks from the 2019 draft. Surprisingly for a supposedly "weak draft" there were a lot of rookies starting in Week 1. Trysten Hill was the first pick I got to that was inactive on Sunday. Every other 1st/2nd round pick that was healthy made their team's gameday roster in Week 1. Wow....

That's because our roster is stacked!!!!

 

[Plankton]

Disagree. If you are looking at the 3 year window (with your 3T likely leaving next year in FA), a guy with elite measurables at a premium position certainly can be BPA.

And he was according to the Cowboys, who have earned the benefit of the doubt at this point. "We couldda had him two rounds later" is what some fans said about guys like LVE, Jaylon Smith and Frederick..... until they stopped saying that.

Just because the Cowboys selected him at #58 doesn't mean that he was the BPA by their own ranking system.

How do I know this? Because when they selected Taco Charlton in the first round, they had him as having a second round grade, and they bypassed the only player left on their board that had a first round grade (this was believed to be Dalvin Cook). I also think that they had a higher grade on Kevin King, but felt that there was better cornerback depth in the draft, so they took the guy who they felt was the last of the lot as far as DEs were concerned.

Does Hill have some physical skill? Yes. However, he was not productive at the college level, had some maturity questions, and clearly is a major work in progress in terms of technique. To me, it also looks like he needs to improve his core strength. If you think he was the BPA at #58, that's your right. I just disagree with that point of view.

And I wasn't a guy who was banging the table for Juan Thornhill. I wanted Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who I felt was more of an interchangeable safety.

 

[Kaiser]

Just because the Cowboys selected him at #58 doesn't mean that he was the BPA by their own ranking system.

Of course, I don't mean absolute BPA but rather situational BPA for that spot. They aren't going to take a RB at that spot just because he is 1% better. But they clearly like Hill better than the safeties and I'm a guy that assumed the pick would be a safety. Time will tell on the pick, but the team has done very well drafting lately so I give them the benefit of the doubt until we know for sure.

And we surashell don't know after one game, which some posters he claim.

 

[Plankton]

Of course, I don't mean absolute BPA but rather situational BPA for that spot. They aren't going to take a RB at that spot just because he is 1% better. But they clearly like Hill better than the safeties and I'm a guy that assumed the pick would be a safety. Time will tell on the pick, but the team has done very well drafting lately so I give them the benefit of the doubt until we know for sure.

And we surashell don't know after one game, which some posters he claim.

Agreed on needing to give Hill some time. I was not a fan of the pick, but I'm not going to write someone off for not dressing in their first game ever.

 

[lostar2009]

are you saying first and second rounds get you guaranteed staters?

In today's draft era, yup !

 

[big dog cowboy]

I looked up rookie performances this morning of every 1st and 2nd round picks from the 2019 draft. Surprisingly for a supposedly "weak draft" there were a lot of rookies starting in Week 1. Trysten Hill was the first pick I got to that was inactive on Sunday. Every other 1st/2nd round pick that was healthy made their team's gameday roster in Week 1. Wow....

While 2017 first-round pick Taco Charlton was inactive for the season opener, might he be on the 46-man roster this Sunday? The Cowboys went for versatility with the eight defensive linemen up for the Giants game, keeping just three defensive tackles and then five defensive ends. But three of those defensive ends, Tyrone Crawford, Kerry Hyder and Joe Jackson, could also play defensive tackle in passing situations. Plus, the Cowboys didn’t want to overwork their starting two defensive ends, DeMarcus Lawrence and Crawford, rehabbing all through training camp.

Now that we know the explanation, it makes much more sense.

 

[big dog cowboy]

This draft class isn't looking too hot right now.

Not even 5 months since the draft.

Good grief.

 

[Risen Star]

Not even 5 months since the draft.

Good grief.

Which is why I said "right now" and if my opinion was glowing for the potential of this class you wouldn't be reminding me it's only been 5 months.

 

[xwalker]

Wasn’t that supposed to be one of Taco’s strengths when he was drafted? I don’t recall, but that seems right.

Inconsistent effort was the term used with Taco in draft reports.

He started off that January with some draft analysts calling him a top 10 pick but as his personality issues became more known he slid down to the late 1st in most rankings.

We saw this preseason that he can play.

Then reports come out that he started dogging it in practice. He probably expected to start after showing some effort in the preseason games.

 

[Sydla]

Again, it's more than just being inactive, which certainly isn't a good thing for a rookie 2nd round pick. It's how he looked in preseason, how overmatched he was at times, how he couldn't mount anything against backup and backups to backups type OL in preseason games.

I think the Cowboys were surprised and maybe a bit stunned at how raw and unprepared this kid turned out to be. Anyone trying to claim now that this was totally to be expected with Hill is just trying to give the front office a pass on this. I seriously doubt the plan all along here was draft a toolsy DT who would be inactive to start the season and maybe all season (barring injuries).

 

[Silly]

You guys are too hard on Hill. He is another 2nd round Jerry project pick. It is going to take him some time to develop.

 

[GenoT]

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Dallas Cowboys’ Rookie Inactive For Season’s First Game!

CowboysZone In Complete Meltdown!

“The sky is falling!”, claim some. “Garrett sucks!, say others.

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!

 

[Sydla]

You guys are too hard on Hill. He is another 2nd round Jerry project pick. It is going to take him some time to develop.

It wasn't a 2nd round Jerry pick.

It was give Rod Marinelli what he wants pick.

 

[Verdict]

Inconsistent effort was the term used with Taco in draft reports.

He started off that January with some draft analysts calling him a top 10 pick but as his personality issues became more known he slid down to the late 1st in most rankings.

We saw this preseason that he can play.

Then reports come out that he started dogging it in practice. He probably expected to start after showing some effort in the preseason games.

I will say this: Jerry doesn’t give up on first round picks very easily. I’m a little bit surprised they are willing to cut bait with him before the end of this season. Something is up for sure.

 

[xwalker]

I will say this: Jerry doesn’t give up on first round picks very easily. I’m a little bit surprised they are willing to cut bait with him before the end of this season. Something is up for sure.

It has never happen in the Jerry era. All 1st round picks have been on the team at least 3 years and most for at least 4 years.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Bill Parcells held derision towards instant evaluators. I share his sentiment.

You'd think people would've learned after Byron Jones and DLaw.

 

[xwalker]

Again, it's more than just being inactive, which certainly isn't a good thing for a rookie 2nd round pick. It's how he looked in preseason, how overmatched he was at times, how he couldn't mount anything against backup and backups to backups type OL in preseason games.

I think the Cowboys were surprised and maybe a bit stunned at how raw and unprepared this kid turned out to be. Anyone trying to claim now that this was totally to be expected with Hill is just trying to give the front office a pass on this. I seriously doubt the plan all along here was draft a toolsy DT who would be inactive to start the season and maybe all season (barring injuries).

Hill's preseason was way overblown by fans/media.

I studied all of this snaps in all he ps games.

He was not getting blown up or doing anything completely stupid.

He had some issues with zone blocking but many college DL experience that problem as rookies.

It's easy to get out of position against ZBS teams. The Rams and Niners both have expertise in zone blocking.

Hill was double teamed on most of the preseason snaps despite playing 3-tech.

The Marinelli defense is designed for the 1-tech to draw the double teams.

The young guys playing 1-tech in the ps games were not drawing the double teams.
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It's depends on specifically what you are referencing with regards to "claims" about expectations.

If people say he was not expected to contribute until next year or later, then I would say that is an exaggeration.

If people say it was not unexpected for him to not contribute early this season, then that's completely reasonable.

Hill could likely play as well right now as Daniel Ross in 2018 but they have better players than Ross this year.