Ciskowski interview on the Ticket this morning

[igtmfo]

Below is a rough transcript of Ciskowski on The Ticket this morning. The parenthetical stuff is my addition - either I'm filling in Ciskowski's gaps or in just a few cases stuff I missed entirely - either way my best guess. I was typing it up fast, didn't tape it, so results may vary slightly. The important stuff I tried to put down verbatim but other stuff may be paraphrased. I got the entire interview - no questions were missed. Please correct if you heard anything different than me.

I hope the Ticket replays this on their Ticket Top 10 tonight, or as podcast.
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Did you take need above talent? ... You always look for need, but more importantly you want players that can come in and start (have starting ability).

Take Frederick too early? ... In the 21 years i've been doing this - people get too wrapped up in which round players go. When you find players that are tough, smart, and love to play the game, they will play a long time because of those three attributes.

Escobar? ... He will be involved in our packages. Play a significant role in our offense. He has athletic ability, played WR in high school. We like those kind of athletes. We can cause match up probs with our TEs.

DL no picks? ... We like our group. Spenc Ware Rat Hatcher. Young players with upside: Lissemore & Crawford. After that we have unknowns but hopefully one of the unknowns will step forward.

OL no other picks than Frederick, even UDFAs? ... When there's been a coaching change, and we had Hud Houck a long time, each coach teaches differently. There's a big difference in the footwork between what Houck wanted and Callahan wants. Because the players are becoming better with the footwork that Callahan requires, we think the OL as a whole should improve the second season with him.

Doug Free improvement? ... We hope so. He's a prideful guy, always in weight room. We hope to work something out with him and that he'll have a bounceback year.

Kiffin's scheme affect scouting? ... Yes somewhat. For instance last fall we scouted guys to fit a 3-4. John Jenkins NT Georgia (third round pick by the Saints last weekend) would have been NT in our system then, but not a DT in our system now. But you don't want to go away from a good football player if he fits your scheme (in any way shape or form I think he is saying - if a player is good you want to find a fit for him ...).

Happy to get some Big 12 players (scouted them particularly?)? ... We were happy to find guys available each round so high on our board. You are always looking for value. As far as need goes, you should draft need but don't reach for need. Last year, there was no way to predict injuries (from those draft picks). You hate to skip a A level player to get a B level player (just because of need or possibly injuries, not sure exactly what he meant but probably need).

Discussion down to the wire each round? ... Not really. We target 2-3 players (per pick). Let's say pick 80 is coming up, so 5 picks before then we start discussing the 3 highest players at that point on our board. Then one of the three goes off the board before you can pick. Then if grades are close between say the two that are still left - we take need. If grades are not close - then we take the best player.

Garrett "right kind of guy" big part of evaluations? ... Makeup (has always been) part of our scouting sheets for each player. If you find players with makeup they can evolve because they have pride in what they do first. But second, when they get around other good players they take the challenge and want to excel.

Disagreements in war room? ... No. Jerry gets info from us so (he's always making decisions based on what we scouts had already approved).

What about bad drafts in 2009 etc.? Can you understand how fans are frustrated? ... We try to fulfill needs but things may not work out. Scouting 101 is bringing in right kind of guy to help team (Not sure that I understood his point here whether he was talking about Garrett's RKG or just the "right guys" in general). I'm excited about things like: the skill level of Escobar. The blocking ability of Terrence Williams. Excited about Frederick and JJ Wilcox, Webb, Randle and Hollomon - all tough guys. It is a tough man's game. I'm excited those guys will elevate team by bringing toughness.

Position or player we missed in draft, regrets? ... Obviously I would draft whatever player is best on the board, you want those players. But we did two mock drafts before the draft and we wound up with 2 OLs (My interpretation - in each mock they picked 2 OLs high) and we were OK with that. However, if there had been a guard in the draft (that was good value at our spots) it would have been nice, wouldn't have hurt. But we still like the value we got for each player.

 

[Duane]

Thanks for the recap.

 

[NorthTexan95]

Thanks! I could have gone for two high OL picks.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Merely a company yes man, shame cause he's actually pretty good at what he does if they'd actually listen to him.

 

[johnnyd]

Thanks! I could have gone for two high OL picks.

yeah me 2 hate to keep beating a dead horse but if we have somehow gotten Brian Winters i would love our draft.

 

[Wood]

what a politically correct interview. Gave no real insight and just deflected pertinent questions. There has to be reason why only 1 OL/DL was taken with 20 players selected/signed by Dallas. Its beyond perplexing.

 

[noshame]

Disagreements in war room? ... No. Jerry gets info from us so (he's always making decisions based on what we scouts had already approved).

Jerry? Wait, what? I thought JG was running the draft.

 

[GoCowboysGo]

Thank you, OP! Great job!

Regarding Free, bounce back to what? He was never worth that extension, he needed help from TEs all along, then he gets a massive contract and he's been sucking more ever since, seemingly always getting pushed back into Romo's lap, yet Ciskowski says that "he's prideful and always in the weight room"! What's he doing there? Watching?

Then he basically says our D Line is fine, yet they got no push up the middle and those players are aging or often injured.

For all the problems in the Cowboys trenches, we drafted or signed 1 rookie forcing the Cowboys to pay more in free agency rather than build "cheaply" via the draft or signing UDFAs.

 

[birdwells1]

Disagreements in war room? ... No. Jerry gets info from us so (he's always making decisions based on what we scouts had already approved).

But I thought that Jason was running the .......... never mind.:laugh2:

 

[Phoenix]

Adding my thanks for the recap and transcription!

 

[erod]

Thank you, OP! Great job!

Regarding Free, bounce back to what? He was never worth that extension, he needed help from TEs all along, then he gets a massive contract and he's been sucking more ever since, seemingly always getting pushed back into Romo's lap, yet Ciskowski says that "he's prideful and always in the weight room"! What's he doing there? Watching?

Then he basically says our D Line is fine, yet they got no push up the middle and those players are aging or often injured.

For all the problems in the Cowboys trenches, we drafted or signed 1 rookie forcing the Cowboys to pay more in free agency rather than build "cheaply" via the draft or signing UDFAs.

This is simply not true. Free was in HIGH demand after the promise he showed replacing Columbo the year prior. Teams were making big offers, and NONE OF US wanted lose him. Jerry did the right thing there, as much as I choke to admit that.

Free is simply a disappointment. We all thought he as a bookend tackle for years to come.

 

[Idgit]

Merely a company yes man, shame cause he's actually pretty good at what he does if they'd actually listen to him.

what a politically correct interview. Gave no real insight and just deflected pertinent questions. There has to be reason why only 1 OL/DL was taken with 20 players selected/signed by Dallas. Its beyond perplexing.

First of all, thanks, OP, for the transcript. Really appreciate it.

And, really does anybody really expect this guy to come out in the press and contradict his boss? Why would you even want him to? You hope to get some tidbits about the process, and then you hope that he's smart enough to not get himself in any hot water by directly contradicting anything the team did with the information he provided. It's not his job to give you guys the inside skinny on what was going on in the war room. You get a sanitized version, and you'll like it.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

This is simply not true. Free was in HIGH demand after the promise he showed replacing Columbo the year prior. Teams were making big offers, and NONE OF US wanted lose him. Jerry did the right thing there, as much as I choke to admit that.

Free is simply a disappointment. We all thought he as a bookend tackle for years to come.

Yep, Philly offered more than we did to try and steal him, but nobody seems to remember that....Tampa also tried getting into the bidding late.

 

[speedkilz88]

First of all, thanks, OP, for the transcript. Really appreciate it.

And, really does anybody really expect this guy to come out in the press and contradict his boss? Why would you even want him to? You hope to get some tidbits about the process, and then you hope that he's smart enough to not get himself in any hot water by directly contradicting anything the team did with the information he provided. It's not his job to give you guys the inside skinny on what was going on in the war room. You get a sanitized version, and you'll like it.

Agreed, but I think if you read between the lines he sort of did answer the questions. I think he was possibly referring to Floyd with the other DT.

Take Frederick too early? ... In the 21 years i've been doing this - people get too wrapped up in which round players go. When you find players that are tough, smart, and love to play the game, they will play a long time because of those three attributes.

Kiffin's scheme affect scouting? ... Yes somewhat. For instance last fall we scouted guys to fit a 3-4. John Jenkins NT Georgia (third round pick by the Saints last weekend) would have been NT in our system then, but not a DT in our system now. But you don't want to go away from a good football player if he fits your scheme

 

[visionary]

Disagreements in war room? ... No. Jerry gets info from us so (he's always making decisions based on what we scouts had already approved).

.

this is so confusing

so now.... jerry runs the draft and not garrett?

can someone clarify?

 

[igtmfo]

this is so confusing

so now.... jerry runs the draft and not garrett?

can someone clarify?

I'll have to relisten to this if it pops up but Jerry and Jason sound different from each other and I'm pretty sure it was Jerry. And I don't think he gave two names. I think it was just Jerry. I'll post once I double check, if there is any way to double check.

 

[ShiningStar]

I think it was a good interview. IM sorry if he didnt say things like "yeah the Dallas brain trust sucks noodles", or "I was sitting there thinking, if i was with another team im sure they would take all the picks i recommend"


Great reasons for each pick. I agree with the first round pick, so he just made it even better. Process was what i thought it was, 5 choices per pick, top three are there, take them 1, 2, 3, no hassles, no arguing.

Get th eguys that best fit your wants and schemes, check. I like it. Get the guys who love the game, check, love that too, and get the guys who want to be here, check. I think all the players dont have head case problems and seem to want to be here and make something with their oppurtunity.

 

[Alexander]

Good recap.

Most of what he says makes sense except for this:

DL no picks? ... We like our group. Spenc Ware Rat Hatcher. Young players with upside: Lissemore & Crawford. After that we have unknowns but hopefully one of the unknowns will step forward.

OL no other picks than Frederick, even UDFAs? ... When there's been a coaching change, and we had Hud Houck a long time, each coach teaches differently. There's a big difference in the footwork between what Houck wanted and Callahan wants. Because the players are becoming better with the footwork that Callahan requires, we think the OL as a whole should improve the second season with him.

This reflects some of the same finger-crossing we have gone through with the offensive line for that past two seasons. We are banking on Callahan's coaching ability once again and it is frustrating to see repeat itself.

It just shows that again, we felt we were a "player away" on the offensive line. This organization, plain and simple, just does not understand or appreciate how crucial it is.

To put it in perspective, the Ravens won a Super Bowl, based largely on their offensive line jelling after moving McKinnie to LT and sliding Oher to right tackle and having Osemele play good football at LG. This offseason they lost Birk, will lose McKinnie. Instead of hoping that some people improve, they actually went out and added to the competition taking Wagner and Ryan Jensen. There was no resting on laurels or just hoping that things work out.

Meanwhile, we made very certain we took another cornerback or made a third stab at getting the vaunted NE 2-TE set to work.

As for the DL, how on earth can they be so sure that everyone returning intact would simply not skip a beat? Was there any contingency plan for if Ratliff indeed has hit the end of the road? Kyle Wilber backing up Ware was our solution for a player who was very beat up last season?

You cannot call this draft/UDFA period a success by not adding much other than replacing Costa with Frederick, and thinking the roster is set on both lines otherwise. It makes no sense and is rolling the dice hoping you are right. Each and every time we do this, the inevitable injury or misevaluation comes back to bite the team in a major way.

That is what makes the haves better than the mediocre, year in, year out. It is minimizing the chances for mistakes to come back around. Nobody is perfect, but making half hearted attempts and smugly believing that everything is fine is no way to treat to the trenches. It was not how we did it the last time we were fielding teams that threatened for a title each season.

Doug Free improvement? ... We hope so. He's a prideful guy, always in weight room. We hope to work something out with him and that he'll have a bounceback year.

More hope.

What about bad drafts in 2009 etc.? Can you understand how fans are frustrated? ... We try to fulfill needs but things may not work out.

Wait, the 2009 disaster was due to need? If so, we figured the roster was "set" and our "need" was special teams and it was a full flown failure. See a trend here?

 

[GoCowboysGo]

Good recap.

Most of what he says makes sense except for this:



This reflects some of the same finger-crossing we have gone through with the offensive line for that past two seasons. We are banking on Callahan's coaching ability once again and it is frustrating to see repeat itself.

It just shows that again, we felt we were a "player away" on the offensive line. This organization, plain and simple, just does not understand or appreciate how crucial it is.

To put it in perspective, the Ravens won a Super Bowl, based largely on their offensive line jelling after moving McKinnie to LT and sliding Oher to right tackle and having Osemele play good football at LG. This offseason they lost Birk, will lose McKinnie. Instead of hoping that some people improve, they actually went out and added to the competition taking Wagner and Ryan Jensen. There was no resting on laurels or just hoping that things work out.

Meanwhile, we made very certain we took another cornerback or made a third stab at getting the vaunted NE 2-TE set to work.

As for the DL, how on earth can they be so sure that everyone returning intact would simply not skip a beat? Was there any contingency plan for if Ratliff indeed has hit the end of the road? Kyle Wilber backing up Ware was our solution for a player who was very beat up last season?

You cannot call this draft/UDFA period a success by not adding much other than replacing Costa with Frederick, and thinking the roster is set on both lines otherwise. It makes no sense and is rolling the dice hoping you are right. Each and every time we do this, the inevitable injury or misevaluation comes back to bite the team in a major way.

That is what makes the haves better than the mediocre, year in, year out. It is minimizing the chances for mistakes to come back around. Nobody is perfect, but making half hearted attempts and smugly believing that everything is fine is no way to treat to the trenches. It was not how we did it the last time we were fielding teams that threatened for a title each season.



More hope.



Wait, the 2009 disaster was due to need? If so, we figured the roster was "set" and our "need" was special teams and it was a full flown failure. See a trend here?

I am right there with you, 150%. Building from the outside in is never how this team found success, not with Landry, not with Johnson.

Very frustrating to find this trend continuing.

 

[Ken]

Sounds like the wanted to get one of the 2 great guards in the first and take Frederick in the 2nd. Man, that would have been great.