Cowboys 1st pick

[gtb1943]

Mason Graham is Aidan Huthinson only as a DT. Would gladly take him.

He's also 320, relenetless, and a former wrestler. He improves the run defense and the pass rush from the moment he steps foot in Texas.

But you are right that he probably goes before the Cowboys pick.

I did not know he was a wrestler; that to me is always a great advantage in a lineman
especially A D lineman who can use his hands so much more

 

[KingintheNorth]

I did not know he was a wrestler; that to me is always a great advantage in a lineman
especially A D lineman who can use his hands so much more

https://www.michigandaily.com/sport...ckground-set-the-stage-for-michigan-breakout/

How Mason Graham’s wrestling background set the stage for Michigan breakout​

Mason Graham's high school wrestling experience has played a key role in his early success at Michigan. Sarah Boeke/Daily. Buy this photo.
In Alan Clinton’s eyes, Mason Graham is a natural. But Clinton’s claim isn’t based on football. As the head wrestling coach at Servite High School in Los Angeles, Clinton coached Graham throughout his four years on Servite’s varsity wrestling team.Graham, a freshman defensive tackle on the Michigan football team, arrived in Ann Arbor as a four-star recruit and quickly established himself as a key cog in the Wolverines’ defense. While Graham may be a natural on the gridiron, he’s equally talented on the wrestling mat, too.

“If he hadn’t left and gone to Michigan (as an early enrollee), he probably would have got just as many wrestling offers as he did football offers,” Clinton told The Daily. “That’s how good he was.”

Clinton isn’t being hyperbolic; as a heavyweight, Graham won two Trinity League championships. Clinton says that a number of schools — ranging from Stanford to California Bakersfield — called expressing interest in Graham. Throughout the process, Clinton and Graham both remained upfront about Graham’s desire to play college football. Only Division II Colorado Mesa floated the idea of Graham competing in both sports.

Graham persisted with wrestling even amidst burgeoning football dreams; he trained for both sports year-round. In an age of athletics increasingly defined by specialization, Graham was a refreshing outlier. But there is a blueprint here for Graham’s duality, particularly in the Big Ten. A few years ago, a viral video circulated of Tyler Linderbaum and Tristan Wirfs — two former All-American offensive linemen at Iowa and eventual first-round picks in the NFL — wrestling each other in a high school state championship match. The clip became the perfect microcosm of the Hawkeyes’ program: A brand of football defined by brute force and physicality. It also highlighted the intersection between the two sports. Wrestling and football aren’t perfect matches. But, Clinton argues, they are mutually beneficial for athletes. “If you’re gonna put up on your board who you’re gonna recruit, and you got a guy that’s a football player and a state wrestler versus a guy who’s just a football player, most of the time you’re gonna go with the wrestler,” Clinton said. “They’re gonna get more out of him. He’s gonna be more prepared, especially down in the trenches.”


Much like Linderbaum and Wirfs before him, Graham fits the mold. It’s clear that his wrestling background is helping him be an immediate contributor at Michigan. At Servite, there is ample overlap between wrestling and football. Clinton is an ex-football coach himself, and Troy Tomas, Servite’s varsity football coach is an avid wrestling fan. “He’ll tell his football players, ‘If you’re number two, number three in our ladder, you better go see coach Clinton because it’s going to makeyou move up to number one’, ” Clinton said.

There’s a reason for that, and it stems from developing a mental fortitude, one requisite in football but often difficult to craft, especially amongst younger players. In wrestling — amid isolated combat — mental toughness is a binary matter of winning or losing.

“There’s nobody to rely on,” Clinton said. “You don’t have any offensive or defensive lineman there that you can share the blame with. It’s you against the world. Your mental toughness is exceptionally strong, which then makes it easy going into the football situation.”

Football is predicated on communication. The most successful units — perhaps the defensive line or even the entire defense — are the ones that play together as one. And yet, at its core, football consists of countless one-on-one bouts.
“That kind of stuff doesn’t bother him,” Clinton said. “If you watch him play football, especially here as a freshman at Michigan, all the surrounding things that go on a lot of the times that people struggle with — well, it’s easy for him to either block those out or maintain his focus.” Teammates have noticed a difference in play style, too, repeatedly praising Graham for his maturity.

“He’s a dog,” senior edge rusher Mike Morris said. “Him and (freshman defensive lineman) Derrick Moore are just freaks. They look like they’ve been here for years, they act like they’ve been here for years and they play like they’ve been here for years. It feels like they weren’t in high school — like they were at a JUCO somewhere or they transferred in from somewhere. They’re just grown men.”

That’s rarified air for a freshman tasked with battling 22 and 23-year-olds in the trenches. Four years of college also means four years in a Division I weight room under the careful watch of an elite strength and conditioning staff, forming added muscle and strength. Those are advantages that 19-year-olds don’t have at their disposal. Wrestling has, in part, allowed Graham to compensate for that difference.
Both linemen and wrestlers emphasize two core tenets: angles and leverage. Expertise in one often lends itself to exploits in the other.
“What’s the difference between a Double-A takedown and a tackle? Not much,” Clinton mused. “A takedown makes you a better tackler in the long run, working on angles and adjusting your weight.”

With experience in both of those areas, Graham’s tackling is quite sound. “Technique wise, he’s right there,” defensive line coach Mike Elston said. “That helps him in block destruction. … He’s just a tough, physical young man that learns well and plays with a really good technique.” Graham’s ascension reached its apex two weeks ago against Iowa. He earned his first start against a stout Hawkeyes’ front, which includes Connor Colby, Iowa’s top lineman and a former wrestler himself. It was, in a way, like Graham was back on the mat. In the contest, he notched four tackles and a sack, both career-best marks. Afterwards, he notched defensive freshman of the game honors, an important honor just five games into his college career. Had it not been for Graham’s wrestling experience, it’s hard to say whether that success would have materialized so quickly.

“He could be the poster child for football, he could be the poster child for wrestling,” Clinton said. Perhaps he can be the newest poster child for flourishing, even after pursuing both.

 

[rambo2]

I'd add Mykel Williams edge Georgia to the list.

 

[baltcowboy]

We need to change are offseason philosophy when it comes to free agency and drafting. Our drafts the last two seasons have been need picks because we don’t use free agency. So we reach and draft players like Mazi, Schoonmaker, Guyton, Kneeland, ect. If we used free agency we could have drafted the best players on our board instead of reaching for need. I believe when you draft in the 20s you take the best players on the board. Usually a great prospect falls in the 20s because teams reach for quarterbacks, pass rushers, and offensive linemen. The last two drafts we could have taken a top corner (Porter and Arnold) instead we reach for linemen. We suck at drafting lately and that is because we are dependent on it.

 

[stinkface]

We have no decent running back and no downhill threat at wide out. We truly lack playmaker on both sides of the ball. Even if we have a top 10 pick we got way too many holes unless we open up the checkbook which Jerry says he won't do. I don't see us being above average. Both the D line and O line need better talent.

 

[baltcowboy]

We have no decent running back and no downhill threat at wide out. We truly lack playmaker on both sides of the ball. Even if we have a top 10 pick we got way too many holes unless we open up the checkbook which Jerry says he won't do. I don't see us being above average. Both the D line and O line need better talent.

Overpay for defensive tackles like every good football team does would help. If you want the best out of Parsons you have to give him some bullies. We need talent everywhere.

 

[cristglo]

Mason Graham is Aidan Huthinson only as a DT. Would gladly take him.

He's also 320, relenetless, and a former wrestler. He improves the run defense and the pass rush from the moment he steps foot in Texas.

But you are right that he probably goes before the Cowboys pick.

Im hoping for a top ten pick

 

[KingintheNorth]

Im hoping for a top ten pick

I know people get mad at any Cowboy fan who "roots for losing" but for me it's about recognizing what you are, as well as understanding that a certain amount of failure has to happen for Jerry to get out of his comfort zone and make some necessary changes.

If San Francisco and Atlanta beat us, you may see a total collapse and get your wish.

Cowboys will likely draft Ashton Jeanty 4th overall.

I know, I know. They would never take a RB 4th overall in this era of analytics.

 

[gtb1943]

I know people get mad at any Cowboy fan who "roots for losing" but for me it's about recognizing what you are, as well as understanding that a certain amount of failure has to happen for Jerry to get out of his comfort zone and make some necessary changes.

If San Francisco and Atlanta beat us, you may see a total collapse and get your wish.

Cowboys will likely draft Ashton Jeanty 4th overall.

I know, I know. They would never take a RB 4th overall in this era of analytics.

Unless you are really sure you are getting a generational RB, never use a first on one

 

[rambo2]

We have no decent running back and no downhill threat at wide out. We truly lack playmaker on both sides of the ball. Even if we have a top 10 pick we got way too many holes unless we open up the checkbook which Jerry says he won't do. I don't see us being above average. Both the D line and O line need better talent.

2 dtackles and 2 running backs. They players are available. Trade and get more picks.

 

[rambo2]

Unless you are really sure you are getting a generational RB, never use a first on one

There is 1.

 

[KingintheNorth]

2 dtackles and 2 running backs. They players are available. Trade and get more picks.

1st round Deone Walker DT Kentucky

3rd round Jaydn Ott RB California

4th round Joey Slackman DT Florida

5th round RJ Harvey RB UCF


You are welcome.

 

[rambo2]

1st round Deone Walker DT Kentucky

3rd round Jaydn Ott RB California

4th round Joey Slackman DT Florida

5th round RJ Harvey RB UCF


You are welcome.

Get more picks 2 of Jeanty, TreVeyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, and Nick Singleton. 2 of Deone Walker, Kenneth Grant, and Derrick Harmon.

 

[gtb1943]

There is 1.

not convinced he is a generational RB.

 

[gtb1943]

When a generational RB is defined, I am saying someone like Sanders and Emmitt and that company.
I think Henry falls into that; but he did not look that great in college and in his first year or so in the NFL

I simply do not see any coming up I would put that tag on

 

[KingintheNorth]

Get more picks 2 of Jeanty, TreVeyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, and Nick Singleton. 2 of Deone Walker, Kenneth Grant, and Derrick Harmon.

Jeanty top 15 pick, Walker top 20 pick, Grant top 30 pick, Harmon, Henderson, Johnson, and Singleton are all likely 2nd rounders.

In what world does our inept GM acquire the picks to make all that happen?

 

[rambo2]

Jeanty top 15 pick, Walker top 20 pick, Grant top 30 pick, Harmon, Henderson, Johnson, and Singleton are all likely 2nd rounders.

In what world does our inept GM acquire the picks to make all that happen?

Trade Parsons, Diggs, Martin, and Hooker. Probably would never happen, but worth a shot.

 

[Whyjerry]

☆ashton jeanty,rb-boise st
☆deone walker,dt-ky
☆walter nolan,dt-ole' miss
☆nic scourton,de-a&m
☆emeka egbuka,wr-ohio st

just gimmie 1 of'm.

Scourton but given how crappy this team is Carter and Walker might be better DE picks.

 

[cristglo]

I know people get mad at any Cowboy fan who "roots for losing" but for me it's about recognizing what you are, as well as understanding that a certain amount of failure has to happen for Jerry to get out of his comfort zone and make some necessary changes.

If San Francisco and Atlanta beat us, you may see a total collapse and get your wish.

Cowboys will likely draft Ashton Jeanty 4th overall.

I know, I know. They would never take a RB 4th overall in this era of analytics.

I know Im sure I will get flack but Im not rooting for them to lose I just don't see this as a good team

 

[Proof]

I'd add Mykel Williams edge Georgia to the list.

definitely impressed me vs Texas.