A few bright spots from young players

Bobhaze

Staff member
Messages
18,569
Reaction score
73,266
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
In the midst of this stupidly frustrating season so far, there have been a few bright spots from some of our younger players. Most of these guys still have a lot of upside as well, which is the only light coming from the star at the moment.

Here are the younger players in their first or second year so far that give us some hope for the future:
  • LB DeMarvion Overshown - the 2nd year LB essentially playing his first year because of last year’s knee injury has proven to be a defensive bright spot. Though a little small, Overshown has 31 solo tackles so far this season, 2 sacks, 2 TFLs and 1 forced fumble. His speed and tackling ability are top shelf. Still has a lot to learn. But he has huge upside.
  • C Cooper Bebee - The 3rd round rookie has played well overall at Center, a position he has never played before the NFL. He ranks 4th on PFF on pass play blocking. His future may ultimately be at G, but his OL versatility makes this guy have a bright future.
  • K Brandon Aubrey - IMO the 2nd year K is unquestionably the team’s MVP so far this season. An All Pro as a rookie, he’s mostly picked up where left off last year. Get this - this guy has already made 8 FGs of 50 or more yards this season, and we aren’t even halfway through the season yet.
Wish I could list more, but I can’t honestly say any of the others have been better than average or below. Mazi Smith is basically on the bust watch list, Tyler Guyton has been inconsistent at best…I’m still holding out he can be good. He has all the tools. TE Luke Schoonmaker is looking very similar in performance to former second round TE (the late) Gavin Escobar. Drafted high but not showing much. Marist Liafau has been ok at times. He still has some upside for sure though.

Some guys that may flash some good things in the near future. Time will tell. Lord knows we need it.
Any other first or second year players showing their value and future upside?
 

Bobhaze

Staff member
Messages
18,569
Reaction score
73,266
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
We went into this season with 4-5 rookie starters thinking they were all “plug and play”. Some of our rooks have played well - Beebe is probably the best so far. Expecting every rookie to just step in be completely competent is foolish.

Guys like Guyton, Kneeland and Liafau do have plenty of upside and potential. We should not write them all off.
 

maryquality

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,163
Reaction score
19,326
CowboysZone DIEHARD Fan
We went into this season with 4-5 rookie starters thinking they were all “plug and play”. Some of our rooks have played well - Beebe is probably the best so far. Expecting every rookie to just step in be completely competent is foolish.

Guys like Guyton, Kneeland and Liafau do have plenty of upside and potential. We should not write them all off.
I thought Kneeland was playing well before his injury. I think he has a lot of upside. Time will tell....
 

krs1bro

Active Member
Messages
311
Reaction score
238
We went into this season with 4-5 rookie starters thinking they were all “plug and play”. Some of our rooks have played well - Beebe is probably the best so far. Expecting every rookie to just step in be completely competent is foolish.

Guys like Guyton, Kneeland and Liafau do have plenty of upside and potential. We should not write them all off.
Agreed Bobhaze (one of my all time favorite Cowboys) I would also send a message to these young players by immediately cutting Mazi, Donovan Wilson and T. Steele. I'm just channeling my inner Jimmy Johnson. Wake up call. You know he would kick this garbage to the curb.
 

Whirlwin

Cowboy , It’s a way of life.
Messages
26,253
Reaction score
17,747
In the midst of this stupidly frustrating season so far, there have been a few bright spots from some of our younger players. Most of these guys still have a lot of upside as well, which is the only light coming from the star at the moment.

Here are the younger players in their first or second year so far that give us some hope for the future:
  • LB DeMarvion Overshown - the 2nd year LB essentially playing his first year because of last year’s knee injury has proven to be a defensive bright spot. Though a little small, Overshown has 31 solo tackles so far this season, 2 sacks, 2 TFLs and 1 forced fumble. His speed and tackling ability are top shelf. Still has a lot to learn. But he has huge upside.
  • C Cooper Bebee - The 3rd round rookie has played well overall at Center, a position he has never played before the NFL. He ranks 4th on PFF on pass play blocking. His future may ultimately be at G, but his OL versatility makes this guy have a bright future.
  • K Brandon Aubrey - IMO the 2nd year K is unquestionably the team’s MVP so far this season. An All Pro as a rookie, he’s mostly picked up where left off last year. Get this - this guy has already made 8 FGs of 50 or more yards this season, and we aren’t even halfway through the season yet.
Wish I could list more, but I can’t honestly say any of the others have been better than average or below. Mazi Smith is basically on the bust watch list, Tyler Guyton has been inconsistent at best…I’m still holding out he can be good. He has all the tools. TE Luke Schoonmaker is looking very similar in performance to former second round TE (the late) Gavin Escobar. Drafted high but not showing much. Marist Liafau has been ok at times. He still has some upside for sure though.

Some guys that may flash some good things in the near future. Time will tell. Lord knows we need it.
Any other first or second year players showing their value and future upside?
Three out of 22 not bad . No seriously you’re absolutely right. I really like the linebacker. Kendrick can stop the run, but he’s so slow. He can’t cover tight ends.
 

Hawkeye0202

Well-Known Member
Messages
26,116
Reaction score
47,396
Some guys that may flash some good things in the near future. Time will tell. Lord knows we need it.
Any other first or second year players showing their value and future upside?
I'm going to keep saying Belichick......his scheme/system can turn Jags into solid players

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/01/29/bill-belichick-new-england-patriots-dynasty-defense

What Belichick’s defense did have was an abundance of smart, savvy veterans: Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Roman Phifer, Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Tyrone Poole, Mike Vrabel, Bobby Hamilton, Ted Washington, Ted Johnson, Keith Traylor and, for that first Super Bowl, Otis Smith, Anthony Pleasant, Lawyer Milloy and Bryan Cox.

Few of these men were great athletes, but schematically, they could do whatever Belichick concocted. And, with so many “coaches” on the field, Belichick concocted a lot. His Patriots were known for being a certain defense one week and a totally different defense the next. They could run any coverage, play out of any structure—be it 4-3, 3-4 or a blend—and disguise pressures and post-snap rotations like none other.

The success from this diverse approach not only set, but cemented Belichick’s reputation, even though it was counter to the coach’s nature. As Jenny Vrentas explained in her terrific story on the friendship of Belichick and Nick Saban, Belichick in his formative coaching years preferred to run a two-gap 3-4 front with Cover 2 behind it. That’s the most basic and conservative defense known to football. The complex, multifaceted scheming of the early 2000s was a changeup for Belichick, implemented for that veteran Patriots D
 

Bullflop

Cowboys Diehard
Messages
25,687
Reaction score
30,890
CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
I'm going to keep saying Belichick......his scheme/system can turn Jags into solid players

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/01/29/bill-belichick-new-england-patriots-dynasty-defense

What Belichick’s defense did have was an abundance of smart, savvy veterans: Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Roman Phifer, Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Tyrone Poole, Mike Vrabel, Bobby Hamilton, Ted Washington, Ted Johnson, Keith Traylor and, for that first Super Bowl, Otis Smith, Anthony Pleasant, Lawyer Milloy and Bryan Cox.

Few of these men were great athletes, but schematically, they could do whatever Belichick concocted. And, with so many “coaches” on the field, Belichick concocted a lot. His Patriots were known for being a certain defense one week and a totally different defense the next. They could run any coverage, play out of any structure—be it 4-3, 3-4 or a blend—and disguise pressures and post-snap rotations like none other.

The success from this diverse approach not only set, but cemented Belichick’s reputation, even though it was counter to the coach’s nature. As Jenny Vrentas explained in her terrific story on the friendship of Belichick and Nick Saban, Belichick in his formative coaching years preferred to run a two-gap 3-4 front with Cover 2 behind it. That’s the most basic and conservative defense known to football. The complex, multifaceted scheming of the early 2000s was a changeup for Belichick, implemented for that veteran Patriots D
Perhaps Bill Belichick could be helpful to Jerry and Stephen w/his knowledge of GM requirements. Also, a good HC influence on the players.
 
Last edited:

blueblood70

Well-Known Member
Messages
42,544
Reaction score
28,914
I thought Kneeland was playing well before his injury. I think he has a lot of upside. Time will tell....
I agree my evaluation of the young guys are much better than Bob's,

I think Guyton might have been inconsistent but he's been solid enough and there's enough flashes more so than not hes holding his own, to see he's going to at least be a good left tackle or could be moved and replace of steele at a great right tackle , both liafu and kneeland we're playing well and it's not fair chunking them into the starting rotations because you lost all your players and now they're thrust in the starting roles they have no one to learn from they're learning on the fly..

I think this draft is going to end up turning out a lot better than people think and I think it might be one of our better drafts 3 years from now we'll be able to judge it but I think it's going to be better than what people are discussing because it's not fair when the whole team is collapsing around them that they're being looked at as saviors and that's just not fair...
 

fivetwos

Well-Known Member
Messages
20,900
Reaction score
28,900
We went into this season with 4-5 rookie starters thinking they were all “plug and play”. Some of our rooks have played well - Beebe is probably the best so far. Expecting every rookie to just step in be completely competent is foolish.

Guys like Guyton, Kneeland and Liafau do have plenty of upside and potential. We should not write them all off.
I truly believe that’s the Stephen Jones influence….’why sign overpriced free agents when we have the draft?’

Not everyone is ready to play, and not all are ready to make an impact…even first rounders when you’re picking late.

No other team operates that way, and very few have had the playoff futility that they have, but hey…why change? No one is better than Jerry.
 

rambo2

Well-Known Member
Messages
22,405
Reaction score
16,167
Agreed Bobhaze (one of my all time favorite Cowboys) I would also send a message to these young players by immediately cutting Mazi, Donovan Wilson and T. Steele. I'm just channeling my inner Jimmy Johnson. Wake up call. You know he would kick this garbage to the curb.
You don't cut players when you have nobody to replace them.
 

Mr_437

Well-Known Member
Messages
18,579
Reaction score
20,397
Rookies I like so far:
Beebe
Kneeland
I look for Guyton to improve now to make the list. Liufau doesn't impress me.

Young guys doing well:
Overshown
Luepke
Tolbert - even though he's disappeared
Turp/Aubrey - UFL guys
 

gtb1943

Well-Known Member
Messages
6,804
Reaction score
6,993
Liafu is a guy with huge potential but has to learn discipline. I think he is coachable.
Overshown has it but can he hold up?
Cason needs experience
I think Kneeland will be good for us
Beebe is doing pretty good for playing a position he never has before
Guyton... We shall see
 

gtb1943

Well-Known Member
Messages
6,804
Reaction score
6,993
Rookies I like so far:
Beebe
Kneeland
I look for Guyton to improve now to make the list. Liufau doesn't impress me.

Young guys doing well:
Overshown
Luepke
Tolbert - even though he's disappeared
Turp/Aubrey - UFL guys
Aubrey is the best kicker in the NFL and that was a total fluke
 

cowboyec

Well-Known Member
Messages
34,591
Reaction score
41,371
wr jalen tolbert...clutch game winner v pitt.
te spann ford...looks like the guy i saw at minnesota...just a good ball player.
 

big dog cowboy

THE BIG DOG
Staff member
Messages
101,595
Reaction score
111,896
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
carson he had a terrible first outing. I’m not sure if he’s improved.
The subject of this thread is Here are the younger players in their first or second year so far that give us some hope for the future and clearly Carson fits into that category.

It has nothing to do with his first outing. It has everything to do with him being a 5th rounder and looking forward.
 

Cowboysheelsreds053

Well-Known Member
Messages
17,113
Reaction score
11,949
In the midst of this stupidly frustrating season so far, there have been a few bright spots from some of our younger players. Most of these guys still have a lot of upside as well, which is the only light coming from the star at the moment.

Here are the younger players in their first or second year so far that give us some hope for the future:
  • LB DeMarvion Overshown - the 2nd year LB essentially playing his first year because of last year’s knee injury has proven to be a defensive bright spot. Though a little small, Overshown has 31 solo tackles so far this season, 2 sacks, 2 TFLs and 1 forced fumble. His speed and tackling ability are top shelf. Still has a lot to learn. But he has huge upside.
  • C Cooper Bebee - The 3rd round rookie has played well overall at Center, a position he has never played before the NFL. He ranks 4th on PFF on pass play blocking. His future may ultimately be at G, but his OL versatility makes this guy have a bright future.
  • K Brandon Aubrey - IMO the 2nd year K is unquestionably the team’s MVP so far this season. An All Pro as a rookie, he’s mostly picked up where left off last year. Get this - this guy has already made 8 FGs of 50 or more yards this season, and we aren’t even halfway through the season yet.
Wish I could list more, but I can’t honestly say any of the others have been better than average or below. Mazi Smith is basically on the bust watch list, Tyler Guyton has been inconsistent at best…I’m still holding out he can be good. He has all the tools. TE Luke Schoonmaker is looking very similar in performance to former second round TE (the late) Gavin Escobar. Drafted high but not showing much. Marist Liafau has been ok at times. He still has some upside for sure though.

Some guys that may flash some good things in the near future. Time will tell. Lord knows we need it.
Any other first or second year players showing their value and future upside?

If that is it, nothing else needs to be said.
 
Top