Chris Whaley was a much better college player than I realized

[dwreck27]

Hes just a JAG until further notice.

good luck to the kid with the guys we have currently if he shows up he can find himself in the 2 deep quick

 

[waving monkey]

When is reviewing and essaying our stash not worth our time?

 

[Typhus]

Thanks Xwalker for posting this. I for one appreciate all the info i can find on all the players and considerations.

 

[Galian Beast]

Excited? If you want to ignore developmental prospects because you cannot keep an even keel then fine but just because you need that ethic does not mean everyone does.

This team over the past decade has been very good at finding players like this and turning them into quality starters. That is not to say that this particular prospect will achieve that but our player development has been outstanding.

Barry Church, Ronald Leary, and Tony Romo are all examples of this.

I'm not saying Waley can't contribute. I'm saying every offseason we get a ton of posts about defensive linemen who haven't done anything and yet they get a ton of press.

The latest was Ben Bass...

 

[waving monkey]

but it's worth our time [off season] to discuss
it's not a waste

 

[unionjack8]

didnt realise he got up to 297, thought he was about 270

 

[big dog cowboy]

Thanks Xwalker for posting this. I for one appreciate all the info i can find on all the players and considerations.

 

[Doomsday101]

Wow, he was a much better college player than I realized.

If he was healthy and was in the 2015 draft I think he would be 3rd round pick and maybe higher.

He is very light on his feet and was often able to get good penetration in the backfield. There were a significant number of snaps were he was double teamed and Malcom Brown was single blocked.

Whaley was 215 pounds as a freshman but was reported to get up as high as 297 at some point.

Physically, he definitely appears to have NFL ability. The things he needed work on were all things that can be coached or improved with time. He showed good lower body anchor but appeared to need more upper body strength. His hand usage and awareness were inconsistent.

I agree I was excited to get him even knowing this past season would be a lost season for him.

 

[Plankton]

It would be great if a low cost player can emerge as a real contributor for the front, which needs all of the players that they can get.

The Cowboys just would be ill advised to go through the offseason counting on Chris Whaley to be a contributor to the line. Add the best scheme fitting talent that you can, and let the rest sort itself out.

 

[CATCH17]

Chris Whaley is a talented guy.

 

[chagus]

Wow, he was a much better college player than I realized.

If he was healthy and was in the 2015 draft I think he would be 3rd round pick and maybe higher.

He is very light on his feet and was often able to get good penetration in the backfield. There were a significant number of snaps were he was double teamed and Malcom Brown was single blocked.

Whaley was 215 pounds as a freshman but was reported to get up as high as 297 at some point.

Physically, he definitely appears to have NFL ability. The things he needed work on were all things that can be coached or improved with time. He showed good lower body anchor but appeared to need more upper body strength. His hand usage and awareness were inconsistent.

Has RKG written all over him. Hope he heals well and develops.

 

[Doc50]

This guy is no journeyman - that would be someone who possesses marginal talent and/or has been a backup with several teams.

He's a great athlete and RKG who was just finding his niche before the injury.

Let's hope he can be what we wanted in Melton. Considering that, if he's progressing well and Melton will want a much bigger paycheck, then he would be a better value. Melton may be back to full speed next year, and is likely to get some good offers. FO will have a tough decision.

 

[justbob]

Thanks X . Very legit topic for discussion, but not for trolling. Tomatoes and carrots do not belong in the fanzone.

 

[Future]

I'm not saying Waley can't contribute. I'm saying every offseason we get a ton of posts about defensive linemen who haven't done anything and yet they get a ton of press.

The latest was Ben Bass...

What else is there to talk about?

Maybe we need 1,000 more threads about whether or not we should resign DeMarco. Or talk for the millionth time about whether or not we miss DeMarcus Ware. Or maybe we could post something stupid that Screamin A and Skip Bayless say. Or make the 13094208 thread about how the power rankings are evidence of anti-Cowboys bias.

Posts like this are refreshing.

 

[Galian Beast]

What else is there to talk about?

Maybe we need 1,000 more threads about whether or not we should resign DeMarco. Or talk for the millionth time about whether or not we miss DeMarcus Ware. Or maybe we could post something stupid that Screamin A and Skip Bayless say. Or make the 13094208 thread about how the power rankings are evidence of anti-Cowboys bias.

Posts like this are refreshing.

I'm not saying don't talk about Whaley, but my suggestion was to temper the excitement.

Guy went undrafted for a reason.

 

[Future]

I'm not saying don't talk about Whaley, but my suggestion was to temper the excitement.

Guy went undrafted for a reason.

"haven't done anything but they get a ton of press" is basically the same as "don't talk about him."

X's OP said he had strengths as well as things to work on, it wasn't all sunshine pumping.

 

[Galian Beast]

"haven't done anything but they get a ton of press" is basically the same as "don't talk about him."

X's OP said he had strengths as well as things to work on, it wasn't all sunshine pumping.

That's just you working your way to your own conclusion.

 

[Primetime42]

It's time to stop getting super excited about these journeymen linemen who may or may not even make the team.

That includes Gardener. I would be great, but let's stop banking on it.

 

[jterrell]

Thats the kind of thing that makes me wonder how he managed that.

Whaley was always kinda fat to be honest. He played RB for Madisonville HS but was VERY soft looking at 225 or so. Carried a ton of water weight.
Spent a ton of time actually conditioning to compete at UT but didn't gain the speed and shiftiness he or they hoped.
So as a 1 cut big back he ballooned up then moved to HBack before defense.
Pretty sure he wasn't an Orakpo type size freak who you'd suspect of juicing as he was always nearly sloppy fat.
But that type of body tends to hold water and gain strength easily.
He really is probably very similar to Melton athletically in body type and build.

I don't like him as much as many seem to. Not sure he loves the working out part of the game and like Melton if you can develop him his body may also break down rapidly from carrying an extra 40 pounds.

 

[CCBoy]

You know he was recruited as a RB, right?

From NFLDS:
A four-star running back recruit out of high school, Christopher ?Chris? Whaley committed to Texas as a bruising ballcarrier, but never actually recorded a carry for the Longhorns, redshirting in 2009 and riding the bench in 2010. He was 215-pounds when he arrived in Austin, but gradually ballooned north of 250-pounds and practiced at tight end and fullback before moving to the defensive side of the ball prior to the 2011 season. Whaley was a part-time starter at defensive tackle as a junior in 2012 and emerged as an impact senior captain in 2013, recording 5.0 tackles for loss and three turnovers, two returned for scores. His college career ended after a serious knee injury in Nov. 2013 and kept him from working out at the NFL Combine. He will undoubtedly be compared to Henry Melton, both being former Texas running backs who made the not-so-common transition from the backfield to interior defensive line, and the comparison isn?t too far off ? both have athletic feet to be upfield gap penetrators. Whaley showed flashes the past few seasons, but needs time to develop at the position and is worth a day three investment with his best football likely ahead of him as long as his knee recovers as expected.

Nice share, X. Thanks