DC: Mailbag: Impressions Of Team After Minicamp? Tapper’s Starting Potential?

[jobberone]

Mailbag: Impressions Of Team After Minicamp? Tapper’s Starting Potential?
Monday, June 20, 2016 10:14 AM CDT


ERIC BAILON
PHARR, TX

I've been able to see a little tape of Charles Tapper at Oklahoma. He's a big DE that plays with power. I feel like he will play even better in this 4-3 scheme. Do you think he has potential to earn a starting role in the future?

Bryan: When the coaching staff moved him to the right side in these OTAs and mini-camps I thought he was a much better player. Looked more comfortable. There is no doubt that the scheme at Oklahoma hurt him and now he can just rush up the field instead of just being a two-gap player. He is going to need to develop his technique more if he is going to be an every down starter but the traits are there for him to have a chance.

Rob: I think at the very least, he has potential to be a significant part of the defensive end rotation rushing from either side. It’s really tough to evaluate linemen without pads on, so his development will be measured best in training camp and beyond. But you can see he has a quick first step and he’s a terrific athlete who ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine.

GARY HOLBROOK
UNDERHILL, VT

Could you all give us your thoughts on how this team looks now that minicamps are completed compared to 2014 team at this point?

Bryan: I had my doubts about the 2014 team – I didn’t see them winning 12 games and getting into the playoffs. If you want to base this season on how healthy Tony Romo looked then this team will just as good as it was in two seasons ago. That’s the development that should give Cowboys fans the most hope.

Rob: I wasn’t here in 2014 but I can tell you there’s a similar assessment of this year’s roster from outside observers. The offense looks as complete as it’s been in many years, but defensively they again don’t have a pass rusher who’s produced a double-digit sack season. Stephen Jones believes this defense looks better than the group two years ago in part because Sean Lee didn’t play in 2014 due to injury, Byron Jones wasn’t on the team and Tyrone Crawford has two years’ more experience at this point.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...am-after-minicamp-tapper’s-starting-potential

 

[Thefeelofcotton]

I feel like Tapper and Collins (once he's healthy) if they can stay healthy will surprise a lot of people. They may not be the 2nd coming of Reggie White or Warren Sapp, but if they can do their job they will be very good picks in my eyes. Good players do their job, great players do their job and make plays.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

If you look in our past, we have had some success with these later round DL, and I look for that to continue with Collins and Tapper.

There is a list with the likes of TRat, Bowen, Hatch, Crawford, and such that we have found in later rounds. I have a good feeling about these two, and hope we can get a couple more in next years draft.

 

[Doomsday101]

It is mentioned in the article that Tapper was a good player in a system that did not fit him and I have heard that for others. Hopefully he will fit in to what the Cowboys want from the DE. We will find out shortly

 

[visionary]

I feel like Tapper and Collins (once he's healthy) if they can stay healthy will surprise a lot of people. They may not be the 2nd coming of Reggie White or Warren Sapp, but if they can do their job they will be very good picks in my eyes. Good players do their job, great players do their job and make plays.

I agree but the problem is that 'will surprise a lot of people' does not equate to consistent pressure from the DL and collapsing the pocket, which is what this team needs if it wants to contend

 

[big dog cowboy]

I feel like Tapper and Collins (once he's healthy) if they can stay healthy will surprise a lot of people.

Loved both picks. Said it draft weekend. They will be Cowboys for a long time.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I feel like Tapper and Collins (once he's healthy) if they can stay healthy will surprise a lot of people. They may not be the 2nd coming of Reggie White or Warren Sapp, but if they can do their job they will be very good picks in my eyes. Good players do their job, great players do their job and make plays.

We dont need regular guys. We need difference makers and pro bowl types on the defense.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Loved both picks. Said it draft weekend. They will be Cowboys for a long time.

did you even know who they were before we drafted them? Would you have said that about anyone we drafted? Not being sarcastic, its a legitimate question.

 

[Jarv]

Tapper will be a little confused for a while, Collins too, once they realize they only need to cover one gap. Like kids in the candy store.

 

[dfense]

I agree but the problem is that 'will surprise a lot of people' does not equate to consistent pressure from the DL and collapsing the pocket, which is what this team needs if it wants to contend

It might equate. Who really knows until Sept?

If they are above average guys who hustle they are better than a "Clowney" high pick $$$ who's always hurt.

 

[casmith07]

Rob hanging up on the "double digit sack season" stuff...more fantasy football/Madden stat talk for the low-brow fans.

 

[Alexander]

It is mentioned in the article that Tapper was a good player in a system that did not fit him and I have heard that for others. Hopefully he will fit in to what the Cowboys want from the DE. We will find out shortly

Thing that bothers me about this kind of thinking is that is it pure projection.

Well, he has traits we like, but never produced facing competition on the field.

It is a tough sell.

 

[big dog cowboy]

did you even know who they were before we drafted them? Would you have said that about anyone we drafted? Not being sarcastic, its a legitimate question.

I did Tapper because I follow OU as I live close. I had only heard about Collins predraft. And no I wouldn't automatically say that about any draft. We've had many I was disgusted with over the years.

 

[ksadler1]

If you look in our past, we have had some success with these later round DL, and I look for that to continue with Collins and Tapper.

There is a list with the likes of TRat, Bowen, Hatch, Crawford, and such that we have found in later rounds. I have a good feeling about these two, and hope we can get a couple more in next years draft.

I've always said, give me a team full of blue collar football players over a team with a few stars sprinkled in any day. I want guys that are hungry to win. Not guys just playing for a paycheck.....

 

[fortdick]

Irving will be big this year. I think he will be the star by seasons end

 

[waving monkey]

We dont need regular guys. We need difference makers and pro bowl types on the defense.

getting good players with your 3rd & 4th round picks is called good drafting ,

 

[CowboyRoy]

getting good players with your 3rd & 4th round picks is called good drafting ,

Oh yah, and we are sooo good at getting good football players with our 3rd and 4th picks.

 

[zrinkill]

Oh yah, and we are sooo good at getting good football players with our 3rd and 4th picks.

It is funny how pissed you get at any positive post about this team .....

Funny and explains a lot.

 

[LittleD]

Oh yah, and we are sooo good at getting good football players with our 3rd and 4th picks.

I think you better pray that some of these young guys work out before the end of the year cause Stephen is not going to bring in any of these
old vets sitting on the couch. They have made the decision to give the young guns a chance and are going to mine that hole until it comes up
dry.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I think you better pray that some of these young guys work out before the end of the year cause Stephen is not going to bring in any of these
old vets sitting on the couch. They have made the decision to give the young guns a chance and are going to mine that hole until it comes up
dry.

I am all for letting the young guys play. I just dont have great confidence that Jones is good at drafting. At some point, one of these wild gambles on players in the 2nd round is going to pan out great. But it seems to far and few between.