Broaddus on Arkin

[Chocolate Lab]

I thought "compressed" was self explanatory and a pretty good image... He folds like an accordion when someone bullrushes him.

Or pretty much the opposite of Frederick's college tape where guys push him and he doesn't budge.

 

[burmafrd]

If I was the boys I would take a good hard look at the scout that must have gushed so much for us to draft Arkin in the 4th. Because this is looking like a really big failure. To use a 4th on a small school project means that we expected him to really be good sometime.

 

[Stash]

If I was the boys I would take a good hard look at the scout that must have gushed so much for us to draft Arkin in the 4th. Because this is looking like a really big failure. To use a 4th on a small school project means that we expected him to really be good sometime.

I think anyone in the scouting department who has had anything to do with drafting offensive linemen for the past decade needs to go, or at the very least be re-evaluated.

 

[Eskimo]

If I was the boys I would take a good hard look at the scout that must have gushed so much for us to draft Arkin in the 4th. Because this is looking like a really big failure. To use a 4th on a small school project means that we expected him to really be good sometime.

When you draft from small schools you have to be careful because they haven't been vetted against top competition for the most part. They need to be dominant and ideally should have first rate athleticism and strength to make the conversion and play against players who have had much better training, teaching, practice opportunities and in-game competition.

All 4th round picks are a crap shoot and I'd guess about 1 in 5 become quality starters in the league.

Now if the scout had put a second round grade on him then I'd have to question their diligence. There must have been some Sr. Bowl footage of him getting pushed around a bit.

 

[xwalker]

I thought I painted a picture for you...I said he got compressed....he doesnt handle one-on-one blocks well...he doesnt get in front of his man...does that show a lack of strength???

I have no idea what compressed means in terms of a football player. The best I can guess is that the defender is getting up into his body. I can't imagine that just being driven into the backfield is called "compressed".

 

[big dog cowboy]

This is a large thread for a small school project.

Welcome to the off season.

 

[burmafrd]

we have a small school player. Low level of competition.

Therefore to be drafted at all he must have superior measureables and show other things that make us think he will be a very good player in the NFL.

3-4 rd is where the boys traditionally pick guards. Now of course we have sucked at it but that is where we usually spend the picks.

So this pick was the same as one we used for larger school prospects that faced much tougher competition.

I have not heard of anyone that had Arkin picked before at least the 6th round.

So to ME the scout that brought him to the teams attention needs a very hard look at his body of work.

 

[proscout]

I have no idea what compressed means in terms of a football player. The best I can guess is that the defender is getting up into his body. I can't imagine that just being driven into the backfield is called "compressed".

No...thats exactly what it is...the idea of an offensive linemen is to extend and get push...when you get compressed...there is no extension and you are push flat or into the backfield...there are too many times where Arkin is not extending and getting pushed backwards...result is no room for backs to run.

 

[xwalker]

No...thats exactly what it is...the idea of an offensive linemen is to extend and get push...when you get compressed...there is no extension and you are push flat or into the backfield...there are too many times where Arkin is not extending and getting pushed backwards...result is no room for backs to run.

Thanks.

It's really cool that you are answering questions here.

 

[xwalker]

proscout,

It's a little off-topic, but I have a couple of more questions for you if you have time to answer,

1. Do you know why the player OG Alvin Bailey didn't get drafted? He played at big school, is big and powerful and had a great combine. I know that it's different years, but I find it bizarre that Bailey was a UDFA and Arkin was a 4th round pick. I appears based on the "leaked" draft board that the Cowboys had him rated as a 7th rounder.

2. Why is it bad for the draft board to be leaked after the draft. Is there really any competitive advantage that other teams can gain from this info? I think it would be great for the hardcore fans if the NFL required all teams to disclose this info after the draft.

 

[Stash]

Most 4th rounders don't pan out no matter the position group. I mean there isn't much more to say than that. And we have notoriously struggled since the line all fell apart at once some 5 years or so ago. It takes time to rebuild that line.

I like the investments we've made over the last 3 years into fixing the problem and I like the competition we have going with some guys who still have tread on their tires.

I have no idea however why so much talk would be had on a small school 4th round project a few years in and before we see the guy in pads.

Let's take a look at your post, 4th rounders don't pan out?

It woul be impossible to field a complete team if picks after round 3 didn't pan out.

And you state that the line 'fell part' 5 years ago, but like what they've done the last 3 years. Notice a problem there?

And I'm curious as to what investments - other than Tyron Smith - you like?

And who is it that we 'haven't seen in pads'?

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Let's take a look at your post, 4th rounders don't pan out?

I said "most 4th rounders don't pan out." Do you know what the word "most" means? In this sentence it was a qualifier that modifies what came next.

It woul be impossible to field a complete team if picks after round 3 didn't pan out.

What are you even talking about? Oh yeah you couldn't read my actual post very well.

And you state that the line 'fell part' 5 years ago, but like what they've done the last 3 years. Notice a problem there?

Nobody is giving them any medals for rebuilding the line in record time. But complaining about what they have done over the last 3 years is incredibly stupid. And that's all people are doing.

And I'm curious as to what investments - other than Tyron Smith - you like?

I liked that they paid top dollar for the best LT on the market. I like that that didn't stop them from then investing 2 1st rounders into the line when that didn't pan out. I like that they have opened up the entire line to competition and with younger players. And I like that they went out and got a guy who is recognized as the best o-line coach in the business.

But then again i'm a realist. And not some deluded fan who thinks fixing the line is simply done by following Mel Kiper's big board of line players i've seen youtube highlights for and assuming that just drafting them all in a single offseason is a cure all.

And who is it that we 'haven't seen in pads'?

You haven't seen anyone in pads this offseason.

 

[Eskimo]

proscout,

It's a little off-topic, but I have a couple of more questions for you if you have time to answer,

1. Do you know why the player OG Alvin Bailey didn't get drafted? He played at big school, is big and powerful and had a great combine. I know that it's different years, but I find it bizarre that Bailey was a UDFA and Arkin was a 4th round pick. I appears based on the "leaked" draft board that the Cowboys had him rated as a 7th rounder.

2. Why is it bad for the draft board to be leaked after the draft. Is there really any competitive advantage that other teams can gain from this info? I think it would be great for the hardcore fans if the NFL required all teams to disclose this info after the draft.

Xwalker, as for point #1 it appears as though Bailey had major mental health issues and was not liked at all by his teammates. I suspect his coaches really bad-mouthed him as a lockerroom cancer and we red-flagged him for character. I think you might be able to accept that from a Charles Haley who had All-Pro ability as a pass rusher but not from a mid-round OG prospect who hasn't proven anything.

As for #2, the only thing I wonder about is if it let's other teams see how we value players and this could give them an inkling of how we may rate other similar players in the future. I think the process is so nebulous that it would still be hard to figure out how we value players in future drafts but that's just my perspective on it. I suspect beyond a concensus top of the board the rest of it is like a huge non-linear problem that cannot be easily deduced.

I also think it'd be neat if we could see after the fact how team's valued players but I don't think teams would be happy about it as it might affect considerations in trades or even vet FA several years later. For example, several years down the road team's may know that we really coveted Tavon Austin and that could increase what they ask for in a trade should he say fall out of favor with a new management team brought in who like bigger WRs.

 

[burmafrd]

I said "most 4th rounders don't pan out." Do you know what the word "most" means? In this sentence it was a qualifier that modifies what came next.



What are you even talking about? Oh yeah you couldn't read my actual post very well.



Nobody is giving them any medals for rebuilding the line in record time. But complaining about what they have done over the last 3 years is incredibly stupid. And that's all people are doing.




I liked that they paid top dollar for the best LT on the market. I like that that didn't stop them from then investing 2 1st rounders into the line when that didn't pan out. I like that they have opened up the entire line to competition and with younger players. And I like that they went out and got a guy who is recognized as the best o-line coach in the business.

But then again i'm a realist. And not some deluded fan who thinks fixing the line is simply done by following Mel Kiper's big board of line players i've seen youtube highlights for and assuming that just drafting them all in a single offseason is a cure all.



You haven't seen anyone in pads this offseason.

yawn. More excuses. Three years and NO progress on the O line. At least as regards pass blocking and run blocking.

You know; what is IMPORTANT.

BUT its OK because things LOOK better and we invested some top picks and so on.

Other teams rebuild virtually from the ground up in 3-4 years. In three years we have not improved our O line at all. At least not on the FIELD.

But you are fine with the process that has shown no progress.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

yawn. More excuses. Three years and NO progress on the O line. At least as regards pass blocking and run blocking.

A) No progress? You'd take the O-line pre Smith/Fred/Leary/Bern/Livings/Jermey/Costa etc over what we have now?

Holy hyperbole.

BUT its OK because things LOOK better and we invested some top picks and so on.

Yes. I feel better that the team is investing in the line. Why would that be shocking?

Other teams rebuild virtually from the ground up in 3-4 years. In three years we have not improved our O line at all. At least not on the FIELD.

Is that so? I'd be happy to hear more.

But you are fine with the process that has shown no progress.

Again, not sure how you can say that without having an agenda. You sound very simple right now.

 

[Stash]

I said "most 4th rounders don't pan out." Do you know what the word "most" means? In this sentence it was a qualifier that modifies what came next.

Fine we can take issue with most if you prefer. If 'most' draft picks after round 3 'don't pan out', nobody would be able to field a complete team. You woul have to resign and replace the twelve good players you did draft every 4 years when their rookie contracts expired.

What are you even talking about? Oh yeah you couldn't read my actual post very well.

Read it just fine. Your attempted point didn't make sense.

Nobody is giving them any medals for rebuilding the line in record time. But complaining about what they have done over the last 3 years is incredibly stupid. And that's all people are doing.

Why exactly is it 'stupid' to criticize poor results?

And why is it OK for the homers to use terms like this when any critical use would get a moderator violation?

I liked that they paid top dollar for the best LT on the market. I like that that didn't stop them from then investing 2 1st rounders into the line when that didn't pan out. I like that they have opened up the entire line to competition and with younger players. And I like that they went out and got a guy who is recognized as the best o-line coach in the business.

But then again i'm a realist. And not some deluded fan who thinks fixing the line is simply done by following Mel Kiper's big board of line players i've seen youtube highlights for and assuming that just drafting them all in a single offseason is a cure all.

Yeah, you're a 'realist' alright...

You haven't seen anyone in pads this offseason.

They've had two years to see all they needed to from David Arkin. Pads in year 3 aren't going to be any revelation.

Listen to what the former paid scout and paid analyst is saying, no matter how much the truth hurts.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

A) No progress? You'd take the O-line pre Smith/Fred/Leary/Bern/Livings/Jermey/Costa etc over what we have now?

Holy hyperbole.



Yes. I feel better that the team is investing in the line. Why would that be shocking?




Is that so? I'd be happy to hear more.




Again, not sure how you can say that without having an agenda. You sound very simple right now.

I understand the frustration with the slow speed of the O-line rebuild. I get that.

The problem goes back to the poor drafts from '06 through '09. The failure of those drafts caused a ripple affect throughout the entire team. The offensive line got old. The secondary got old in spots and other spots that were ineffective remained so. The middle linebacking corp got old and immobile.

Those poor drafts set up a cluster-***** situation.

The result was a whole array of positions on the team needed to be turned over.

But there have been two first round picks spent on the oline over the past 3 seasons... that says something.

 

[Stash]

I understand the frustration with the slow speed of the O-line rebuild. I get that.

The problem goes back to the poor drafts from '06 through '09. The failure of those drafts caused a ripple affect throughout the entire team. The offensive line got old. The secondary got old in spots and other spots that were ineffective remained so. The middle linebacking corp got old and immobile.

Those poor drafts set up a cluster-***** situation.

The result was a whole array of positions on the team needed to be turned over.

But there have been two first round picks spent on the oline over the past 3 seasons... that says something.

Thus far it says we got one good one.

While I am hopeful that Frederick will prove worthy of that pick, success is by no means a given.

And while I appreciate that the team used another 1st rounder, that did not prevent them from adding any additional resources to the line.

They had multiple opportunities to make numerous improvements and chose to make just one.

The offensive line issues are not a new one. Plenty of us fans have seen the struggles and failing there for years.

This is not a new criticism.

 

[Hoofbite]

The time Broaddus spends replying to Twitter posts -- and now responding to stuff here -- is truly amazing. Agree with him or not, he really works at getting information to fans

I agree.

As I said before it's one of the reasons he has grown on me. He puts the time in for the fans.

 

[Risen Star]

I understand the frustration with the slow speed of the O-line rebuild. I get that.

The problem goes back to the poor drafts from '06 through '09. The failure of those drafts caused a ripple affect throughout the entire team. The offensive line got old. The secondary got old in spots and other spots that were ineffective remained so. The middle linebacking corp got old and immobile.

Those poor drafts set up a cluster-***** situation.

The result was a whole array of positions on the team needed to be turned over.

But there have been two first round picks spent on the oline over the past 3 seasons... that says something.

If they ever made the effort along the OL that they do CB, the issue would be fixed. Romo's clock is ticking. We are wasting his career with this slop up front.

You prioritize it, Mikey.