Damone Clark is a game changer for Defense

[cnuball21]

Compare the immediate success of this year's rookie 2022 draft class ...vs last year's 2021 draft class.

2022:
Round 1: No. 24 – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Round 2: No. 56 – Sam Williams, LB, Ole Miss
Round 3: No. 88 – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
Round 4: No. 129 – Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
Round 5: No. 155 – Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
Round 5: No. 167 – DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State
Round 5: No. 176 – Damone Clark, LB, LSU
Round 5: No. 178 – John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas
Round 6: No. 193 - Devin Harper, LB, Oklahoma State

2021

• Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State (12th Overall)
• Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky (44th Overall)
• Osa Odighizuwa, DL, UCLA (75th Overall)
• Chauncey Golston, EDGE, Iowa (84th Overall)
• Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State (99th Overall)
• Jabril Cox, LB, LSU (115th Overall)
• Josh Ball, OT, Marshall (138th Overall)
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford (179th Overall)
• Quinton Bohanna, DL, Kentucky (192nd Overall)
• Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina (227th Overall)
• Matt Farniok, OL, Nebraska (238th Overall)

This draft is looking like it might be special. Within a year or 2 we could have 6 starters from this class.

Pretty amazing.

 

[john van brocklin]

Tyler Smith has been a really good addition to the team, and Sam Williams has a ton of potential. But Damone Clark may prove to be the best player the Cowboys drafted in 2022. A borderline 1st/2nd round talent if not for his injury, Clark has tremendous instincts, and is a big reason the Cowboys’ run defense has improved. He has also allowed LVE to play more freely, meaning both LB positions have gotten better because of the presence of Clark. I am really interested to see how much of a jump he takes in his 2nd season next year. I have high expectations.

The Cowboys may have gotten 5 starters in this last draft: Smith, Williams, Ferguson, Clark and Bland. And the jury is still out on Waletzko. Great drafting by the Cowboys, even if Tolbert has been disappointing.

Our excellent drafts have kept the Cowboys relevant.
Kudos to Jerry for doing whatever it takes to keep Will McClay !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cowboyny]

Yea, that’s the best part.

Heck LVE has even looked a little better this year. If we can keep him on another cheap 1 year deal I’m not opposed.

LVE's deal for 3 million was a great deal. I wouldn't be surprised if they extended him for a modest contract. Barr most likely won't be back, but they still need a veteran or Parsons would have to move back to off the ball.

 

[blueblood70]

Compare the immediate success of this year's rookie 2022 draft class ...vs last year's 2021 draft class.

2022:
Round 1: No. 24 – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Round 2: No. 56 – Sam Williams, LB, Ole Miss
Round 3: No. 88 – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
Round 4: No. 129 – Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
Round 5: No. 155 – Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
Round 5: No. 167 – DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State
Round 5: No. 176 – Damone Clark, LB, LSU
Round 5: No. 178 – John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas
Round 6: No. 193 - Devin Harper, LB, Oklahoma State

2021

• Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State (12th Overall)
• Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky (44th Overall)
• Osa Odighizuwa, DL, UCLA (75th Overall)
• Chauncey Golston, EDGE, Iowa (84th Overall)
• Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State (99th Overall)
• Jabril Cox, LB, LSU (115th Overall)
• Josh Ball, OT, Marshall (138th Overall)
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford (179th Overall)
• Quinton Bohanna, DL, Kentucky (192nd Overall)
• Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina (227th Overall)
• Matt Farniok, OL, Nebraska (238th Overall)

IMHO Both are great drafts..

 

[Coogiguy03]

Tyler Smith has been a really good addition to the team, and Sam Williams has a ton of potential. But Damone Clark may prove to be the best player the Cowboys drafted in 2022. A borderline 1st/2nd round talent if not for his injury, Clark has tremendous instincts, and is a big reason the Cowboys’ run defense has improved. He has also allowed LVE to play more freely, meaning both LB positions have gotten better because of the presence of Clark. I am really interested to see how much of a jump he takes in his 2nd season next year. I have high expectations.

The Cowboys may have gotten 5 starters in this last draft: Smith, Williams, Ferguson, Clark and Bland. And the jury is still out on Waletzko. Great drafting by the Cowboys, even if Tolbert has been disappointing.

Been ok that's all

 

[Mr_437]

Compare the immediate success of this year's rookie 2022 draft class ...vs last year's 2021 draft class.

2022:
Round 1: No. 24 – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Round 2: No. 56 – Sam Williams, LB, Ole Miss
Round 3: No. 88 – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
Round 4: No. 129 – Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
Round 5: No. 155 – Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
Round 5: No. 167 – DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State
Round 5: No. 176 – Damone Clark, LB, LSU
Round 5: No. 178 – John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas
Round 6: No. 193 - Devin Harper, LB, Oklahoma State

2021

• Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State (12th Overall)
• Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky (44th Overall)
• Osa Odighizuwa, DL, UCLA (75th Overall)
• Chauncey Golston, EDGE, Iowa (84th Overall)
• Nahshon Wright, CB, Oregon State (99th Overall)
• Jabril Cox, LB, LSU (115th Overall)
• Josh Ball, OT, Marshall (138th Overall)
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Stanford (179th Overall)
• Quinton Bohanna, DL, Kentucky (192nd Overall)
• Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina (227th Overall)
• Matt Farniok, OL, Nebraska (238th Overall)

McClay n Quinn have put together 2 awesome defensive drafts that has made Dallas a more defensive team. All the players are they draft the last 2 drafts are still on the team besides John Ridgeway which is aggravating.

On thread topic: I have been high on Clark before he became a Cowboy, so I'm pro Clark yet I'm also slow to say he's a game changer. Damone has stabilized the LB rotation for sure. Imo DQ needs to let #33 be the MLB then maybe he would be able to turn into a game changer. I look towards next year for Clark's impact...thus season is great for his development tho.

 

[fansince68]

They need to use him to spy Hurts in 2 weeks. I would get him started with Lawrence this week.

Let's trick Philly, and blitz Clark and drop Micha...

 

[DallasEast]

Kudos to Jerry for doing whatever it takes to keep Will McClay !!!!!!!!!!

Of course, McClay's opinion is most important to consider as far as where he wants to be but I am curious what steps Jones has taken to retain his services. League owners either know how to spot or are told who are excellent talent evaluators.

I am certain McClay's resume is known widely despite how the Dallas front office is structured. It begs the question which franchise or franchise have tried to snatch him away from Jones over the years? And what countermeasures has Jones used to beat back any sniffers?

 

[john van brocklin]

Of course, McClay's opinion is most important to consider as far as where he wants to be but I am curious what steps Jones has taken to retain his services. League owners either know how to spot or are told who are excellent talent evaluators.

I am certain McClay's resume is known widely despite how the Dallas front office is structured. It begs the question which franchise or franchise have tried to snatch him away from Jones over the years? And what countermeasures has Jones used to beat back any sniffers?

Cash Baby !
and
LOTS of it.

 

[DallasEast]

Cash Baby !
and
LOTS of it.

lol. Perhaps but huge sums of money have not always been enough to keep talent. That said, I would hope Jones has done the right thing and broke open TWO vaults for McClay doing the responsibility of a general manager without the title.

 

[john van brocklin]

lol. Perhaps but huge sums of money have not always been enough to keep talent. That said, I would hope Jones has done the right thing and broke open TWO vaults for McClay doing the responsibility of a general manager without the title.

Yep, some people have ambition.
Don't know how long we can keep paying off McClay if his goal is to be a GM.

 

[DallasEast]

Yep, some people have ambition.
Don't know how long we can keep paying off McClay if his goal is to be a GM.

That is something I have been wondering about for the past three or four years.

 

[john van brocklin]

That is something I have been wondering about for the past three or four years.

Yep, I think its crossed a few minds here on the Zone.
Might be worthy of it's own thread.

 

[xwalker]

Tyler Smith has been a really good addition to the team, and Sam Williams has a ton of potential. But Damone Clark may prove to be the best player the Cowboys drafted in 2022. A borderline 1st/2nd round talent if not for his injury, Clark has tremendous instincts, and is a big reason the Cowboys’ run defense has improved. He has also allowed LVE to play more freely, meaning both LB positions have gotten better because of the presence of Clark. I am really interested to see how much of a jump he takes in his 2nd season next year. I have high expectations.

The Cowboys may have gotten 5 starters in this last draft: Smith, Williams, Ferguson, Clark and Bland. And the jury is still out on Waletzko. Great drafting by the Cowboys, even if Tolbert has been disappointing.

It is just a matter of time before people realize that Tyler Smith is a HoF type talent.

Clark was my favorite LB in the draft before the back/neck issue was announced but the probability if him being a better NFL player than Tyler is low.

 

[FVSTONE]

Tyler Smith has been a really good addition to the team, and Sam Williams has a ton of potential. But Damone Clark may prove to be the best player the Cowboys drafted in 2022. A borderline 1st/2nd round talent if not for his injury, Clark has tremendous instincts, and is a big reason the Cowboys’ run defense has improved. He has also allowed LVE to play more freely, meaning both LB positions have gotten better because of the presence of Clark. I am really interested to see how much of a jump he takes in his 2nd season next year. I have high expectations.

The Cowboys may have gotten 5 starters in this last draft: Smith, Williams, Ferguson, Clark and Bland. And the jury is still out on Waletzko. Great drafting by the Cowboys, even if Tolbert has been disappointing.

I'd like to see what Clark has on the D-Line. He may have enough to spell Parsons................

 

[reddyuta]

IMO he would be the starter right now if he had played from game 1 and had TC practice,he is getting better every game and that is what you want to see.

 

[cnuball21]

LVE's deal for 3 million was a great deal. I wouldn't be surprised if they extended him for a modest contract. Barr most likely won't be back, but they still need a veteran or Parsons would have to move back to off the ball.

IMO…best case scenario is Clark is your MLB next year and Parsons is your base WILL. It’s scary duo that combines a good blend of physicality and elite speed.

Then in nickel / dime you play Kearse / Clark or Kearse / Dono. Whatever combo you like.

 

[Cowboyny]

IMO…best case scenario is Clark is your MLB next year and Parsons is your base WILL. It’s scary duo that combines a good blend of physicality and elite speed.

Then in nickel / dime you play Kearse / Clark or Kearse / Dono. Whatever combo you like.

He has pretty much played DE all season long, even on the run downs. If that is their plan moving forward, another starter is needed no matter if it is Lve or someone else

 

[Whyjerry]

This guy wasn’t even supposed to play this season. His play has been remarkable. I think we are looking at the steal of the draft.