A Gil Brandt reminder about developing young players

CCBoy

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Rayman70 said:
Gil is and was a legend ahead of his time. But the old guard template is just that now. Guys must come into the league and be ready at full go day 1. 3 years if they don't play good, they don't get a 2nd contract. Its not like the NFL was back in the 80's even, where teams could afford to hand out a second contract and wait on a guy to get better. Dallas might be the only team that still tried to do that and it hasn't worked.
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So, one really thinks today's college players are ready to knock Parsons off the line of scrimmage day one? Only in attitude, I'll assure you.
 
Rayman70

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CCBoy said:
So, one really thinks today's college players are ready to knock Parsons off the line of scrimmage day one? Only in attitude, I'll assure you.
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I agree with what you said. In the correct context, your right. I don't agree and like it either, but the league has changed in that regard. Its foolish, but its changed.
 
blueblood70

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Bobhaze said:
The late-great Gil Brandt, the Cowboys HOF former director of player personnel used to remind us that many young players that are drafted at a very young age have not fully developed or stopped growing! Guys younger than 23 are often still coming into their full adult bodies. We need to remember that when looking at how many young players we lose patience with even though they are still young and developing. How many of us were fully physically developed at 22?

Guys like former Cowboys great LT Tyron Smith, who was 20 when drafted in 2011, Zeke Elliott was 20 when he was drafted in 2016, 2022 first round pick Tyler Smith was 21 when drafted, and 2023 first rounder Mazi Smith was also 21 when selected. Young guys can be plug and play but very few 20 or 21 year olds are as ready as Tyron Smith and Zeke Elliott were.

With that in mind, there are several examples of current Cowboys who may need a little longer in the developmental oven and we may have reason to hope for improvement:
  • Mazi Smith will be entering his second year as an NFL player is currently 22, and still struggling to figure out his playing weight and his role. I’m not excusing Mazi’s poor start last year, but I would like to think at 22 he still has upside. Under new DC Mike Zimmer, I’m hopeful Mazi will show some major improvement.
  • Damone Clark is currently 23 but was drafted at 21 and about to start his 3rd NFL season. He has developed into a starter but IMO he’s still developing. Will be interesting to see how he does in year 3. He’s added some weight and more help possibly from FA LB Eric Kendricks, it’s not crazy to think he improves.
  • Deuce Vaughn was drafted at 21 last year and now as a 22 year old has supposedly added some weight room bulk this off-season. I’m not sure he’s capable of a ton more next year, but we will see. Hope so.
  • Tyler Guyton - our first round pick this year is 22. He will turn 23 later this summer but he’s only played LT a short time in college, even starting his college career as an H-back at TCU. Guyton is huge and extremely athletic, but I think he will need some time to develop. But again, he’s 22.
  • Micah Parsons. Yeah he’s already great but he was drafted at 21 and at 24 is about to enter his 4th season. I believe Micah Parsons can still improve and has not reached his peak yet. If he stays healthy, there is still upside to reap.
There are several other guys on the roster who are young and probably have lots of developmental upside. I can hear the wise sage voice of Gil Brandt reminding us these “kids” aren’t done growing up yet.
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Sam Williams get his head right he can be a beast! This literally is his make or break at year we let Fowler and Armstrong go it's time literally the light is shining on Sam Williams I wanna see this dude succeed he literally has the same type of motor speed first step that Micah Parsons has you just don't get it off the field as the coaches have put him in a doghouse I believe he would have got many more snaps had his little off field infractions had not happened and I think because of that he tries too hard and goes that extra step where he gets that penalty but the man's skill set is off the charts...IMHO
 
shabazz

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Bobhaze said:
many young players that are drafted at a very young age have not fully developed or stopped growing!
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They're reporting that Schoonmaker is expecting to hit puberty any time now.
 
xwalker

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Bobhaze said:
The late-great Gil Brandt, the Cowboys HOF former director of player personnel used to remind us that many young players that are drafted at a very young age have not fully developed or stopped growing! Guys younger than 23 are often still coming into their full adult bodies. We need to remember that when looking at how many young players we lose patience with even though they are still young and developing. How many of us were fully physically developed at 22?

Guys like former Cowboys great LT Tyron Smith, who was 20 when drafted in 2011, Zeke Elliott was 20 when he was drafted in 2016, 2022 first round pick Tyler Smith was 21 when drafted, and 2023 first rounder Mazi Smith was also 21 when selected. Young guys can be plug and play but very few 20 or 21 year olds are as ready as Tyron Smith and Zeke Elliott were.

With that in mind, there are several examples of current Cowboys who may need a little longer in the developmental oven and we may have reason to hope for improvement:
  • Mazi Smith will be entering his second year as an NFL player is currently 22, and still struggling to figure out his playing weight and his role. I’m not excusing Mazi’s poor start last year, but I would like to think at 22 he still has upside. Under new DC Mike Zimmer, I’m hopeful Mazi will show some major improvement.
  • Damone Clark is currently 23 but was drafted at 21 and about to start his 3rd NFL season. He has developed into a starter but IMO he’s still developing. Will be interesting to see how he does in year 3. He’s added some weight and more help possibly from FA LB Eric Kendricks, it’s not crazy to think he improves.
  • Deuce Vaughn was drafted at 21 last year and now as a 22 year old has supposedly added some weight room bulk this off-season. I’m not sure he’s capable of a ton more next year, but we will see. Hope so.
  • Tyler Guyton - our first round pick this year is 22. He will turn 23 later this summer but he’s only played LT a short time in college, even starting his college career as an H-back at TCU. Guyton is huge and extremely athletic, but I think he will need some time to develop. But again, he’s 22.
  • Micah Parsons. Yeah he’s already great but he was drafted at 21 and at 24 is about to enter his 4th season. I believe Micah Parsons can still improve and has not reached his peak yet. If he stays healthy, there is still upside to reap.
There are several other guys on the roster who are young and probably have lots of developmental upside. I can hear the wise sage voice of Gil Brandt reminding us these “kids” aren’t done growing up yet.
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What would Jimmy do? He is the Gold Standard.
 
eromeopolk

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Bobhaze said:
The late-great Gil Brandt, the Cowboys HOF former director of player personnel used to remind us that many young players that are drafted at a very young age have not fully developed or stopped growing! Guys younger than 23 are often still coming into their full adult bodies. We need to remember that when looking at how many young players we lose patience with even though they are still young and developing. How many of us were fully physically developed at 22?

Guys like former Cowboys great LT Tyron Smith, who was 20 when drafted in 2011, Zeke Elliott was 20 when he was drafted in 2016, 2022 first round pick Tyler Smith was 21 when drafted, and 2023 first rounder Mazi Smith was also 21 when selected. Young guys can be plug and play but very few 20 or 21 year olds are as ready as Tyron Smith and Zeke Elliott were.

With that in mind, there are several examples of current Cowboys who may need a little longer in the developmental oven and we may have reason to hope for improvement:
  • Mazi Smith will be entering his second year as an NFL player is currently 22, and still struggling to figure out his playing weight and his role. I’m not excusing Mazi’s poor start last year, but I would like to think at 22 he still has upside. Under new DC Mike Zimmer, I’m hopeful Mazi will show some major improvement.
  • Damone Clark is currently 23 but was drafted at 21 and about to start his 3rd NFL season. He has developed into a starter but IMO he’s still developing. Will be interesting to see how he does in year 3. He’s added some weight and more help possibly from FA LB Eric Kendricks, it’s not crazy to think he improves.
  • Deuce Vaughn was drafted at 21 last year and now as a 22 year old has supposedly added some weight room bulk this off-season. I’m not sure he’s capable of a ton more next year, but we will see. Hope so.
  • Tyler Guyton - our first round pick this year is 22. He will turn 23 later this summer but he’s only played LT a short time in college, even starting his college career as an H-back at TCU. Guyton is huge and extremely athletic, but I think he will need some time to develop. But again, he’s 22.
  • Micah Parsons. Yeah he’s already great but he was drafted at 21 and at 24 is about to enter his 4th season. I believe Micah Parsons can still improve and has not reached his peak yet. If he stays healthy, there is still upside to reap.
There are several other guys on the roster who are young and probably have lots of developmental upside. I can hear the wise sage voice of Gil Brandt reminding us these “kids” aren’t done growing up yet.
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Gil Brandt and the Tom Landry 3 year rule.

I could see your point for every player excluding Deuce Vaughn. He is not going to grow a millimeter past 5-5". If he gains more weight, he will be slower than the 4.56 40yd time he had out of college. He is not built like or fast like Darrin Sproles. Sproles was bigger (1 inch and 10 pounds), faster, stronger, more explosive, and more productive out of K State. All the Jonesboys need to get Harder, better, stronger, faster!
 
JoeKing

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I expect a lot more from Mazi. I'll be looking for it.

The other player I will have my eye on is Tyler Guyton. I think he is a potential all-time great at his position, so yes expectations are sky high and he will be tested early, facing Myles Garrett in week 1.
 
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