Deone Walker-the next Chris Jones or David Irving?

[BleedSilverandBlue]

is david irving the biggest "what if" for the cowboys outside of Randy Moss? Jesus his talent was salivating and a crucial need. shame. him and rolondo mcclain had the biggest impacts I've seen on one of our defenses other than micah the past 15 years

David Irving was an absolute freak. His random take over games were something to behold. He was capable of being Chris Jones good when he was on. He just didn’t have the desire to be the dominant player he could have been.

I think Walker is way too risky a pick for a team like Dallas that has so many huge holes to fill and will likely be sitting out free agency yet again. He’s got the traits to be a monster, but how many times have we seen traits players flame out? I’d argue way too often to wager a 2nd rounder on it.

There will be players available in the second that are more of a sure thing.

 

[baltcowboy]

The more I watch W

The more I watch Walker the less I Like him.

Rule #1 for DTs for me is ability to anchor and gets pushed around against good competition for someone so big. UGA was not good.

I feel the same about the Missouri wide receiver. So I get it.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

. He’s got the traits to be a monster, but how many times have we seen traits players flame out?

True but he can also be a player with a little coaching ( clean up his techniques ) and patience could be an ALL-PRO. It comes down to his willingness to work hard and set high standards ( see Tyler Smith ). It's what I look for in interviews from him, his teammates and his coaches.

 

[xwalker]

Here was Chris Jones biggest concerns in his original scouting report:

• Terribly inconsistent. Lowest grade of the season came against Northwestern State
• Effort is a concern. Looked to give up on some plays even though he wasn’t playing a high volume of snaps and had more negative grades than you’d like from a top pick.
• Burst off the line is lacking. Has a tendency to get high off the snap and play patty cake
• Didn’t show the change of direction to translate pressures into sacks and bring down quarterbacks

That sure sounds like Walker in a nutshell. Just like Chris Jones he is a raw prospect, but has elite physical traits that are rare. It will be up to Walker if he has the so called "want to" be great as he very well can turn into the next Chris Jones, if he doesn't we are looking at another David Irving, wasted talent.

Chris Jones had top ten talent, but was drafted in rd 2, I see the same with Walker. Will the Cowboys take such a polarizing player if even available on day 2?

It is hard to find comparisons (physically) to Deone Walker.
- Walker: 6-6, 348 (unofficial)

Walker's potential is based on his quickness relative to his size.

The following weights are based on combine/pro-day numbers (not NFL playing weight):

He's not the dominant anchor like:
- Haloti Ngata: 6-4, 340
- Damon (Snacks) Harrison: 6-3, 339
- Vita Vea: 6-4, 347

Much much quicker than;
- Daniel McCullers: 6-7, 352

Maybe not as quick as some other 330+ DTs:
- Jordan Davis: 6-6, 336
- Dontari Poe: 6-3, 342

Much heavier than:
- Chris Jones: 6-6, 310
- David Irving: 6-7, 290
- Ndamukong Suh: 6-4, 312

 

[darthseinfeld]

It is hard to find comparisons (physically) to Deone Walker.
- Walker: 6-6, 348 (unofficial)

Walker's potential is based on his quickness relative to his size.

The following weights are based on combine/pro-day numbers (not NFL playing weight):

He's not the dominant anchor like:
- Haloti Ngata: 6-4, 340
- Damon (Snacks) Harrison: 6-3, 339
- Vita Vea: 6-4, 347

Much much quicker than;
- Daniel McCullers: 6-7, 352

Maybe not as quick as some other 330+ DTs:
- Jordan Davis: 6-6, 336
- Dontari Poe: 6-3, 342

Much heavier than:
- Chris Jones: 6-6, 310
- David Irving: 6-7, 290
- Ndamukong Suh: 6-4, 312

Poe might be his closest comp, but he doesn't anchor like Poe could. When Poe was on, he could be a legit NT or a 5T. His college tape was a mess though. At some points even being comically bad. That was coaching and scheme though

 

[gtb1943]

I love walker as a dominating force but he simply is too tall for a real NT.

 

[xwalker]

Poe might be his closest comp, but he doesn't anchor like Poe could. When Poe was on, he could be a legit NT or a 5T. His college tape was a mess though. At some points even being comically bad. That was coaching and scheme though

I remember early in the careers of Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.
- There was a game where they really struggled with Dontari Poe.
- It was either Zack's rookie year or 2nd season.

Poe came to the Cowboys during the Covid year.
- With no team directed off-season, he came in very over-weight and out of shape.
- One local media person claimed he weighed 400 at some point before the season.

 

[Proof]

I remember early in the careers of Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.
- There was a game where they really struggled with Dontari Poe.
- It was either Zack's rookie year or 2nd season.

Poe came to the Cowboys during the Covid year.
- With no team directed off-season, he came in very over-weight and out of shape.
- One local media person claimed he weighed 400 at some point before the season.

i remember being ecstatic at getting both poe and gerald mccoy. even knowing how they'd performed together the previous year. what a disaster.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I remember early in the careers of Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.
- There was a game where they really struggled with Dontari Poe.
- It was either Zack's rookie year or 2nd season.

Poe came to the Cowboys during the Covid year.
- With no team directed off-season, he came in very over-weight and out of shape.
- One local media person claimed he weighed 400 at some point before the season.

Early in his career he was a monster. I remember Frederick just not being able to handle him.

One thing I do wonder about guys with that size/athleticism combo is if their bodys just dont hold up. Leonard Davis was a another guy that was massive and athletic and he fell hard at 28. Not a ton of examples to look at, so can't really come to a conclusion

 

[xwalker]

Early in his career he was a monster. I remember Frederick just not being able to handle him.

One thing I do wonder about guys with that size/athleticism combo is if their bodys just dont hold up. Leonard Davis was a another guy that was massive and athletic and he fell hard at 28. Not a ton of examples to look at, so can't really come to a conclusion

Yes, I think the massive guys tend to have shorter careers; although Jason Peters is still in the NFL at age 42.

Note: Peters was only 328 pre-draft but played heavier in the NFL. He was a TE in college...

 

[Cowboyny]

It is hard to find comparisons (physically) to Deone Walker.
- Walker: 6-6, 348 (unofficial)

Walker's potential is based on his quickness relative to his size.

The following weights are based on combine/pro-day numbers (not NFL playing weight):

He's not the dominant anchor like:
- Haloti Ngata: 6-4, 340
- Damon (Snacks) Harrison: 6-3, 339
- Vita Vea: 6-4, 347

Much much quicker than;
- Daniel McCullers: 6-7, 352

Maybe not as quick as some other 330+ DTs:
- Jordan Davis: 6-6, 336
- Dontari Poe: 6-3, 342

Much heavier than:
- Chris Jones: 6-6, 310
- David Irving: 6-7, 290
- Ndamukong Suh: 6-4, 312

I think he has to trim down and get into better shape. I don't view him as a NT, but more of a future 3T like your last list. He has shown better rush abilities then as a run defender, but you can see he has no plan, just bullies in opponent with his size. His testing numbers will either have him rise or stay in this boarder line 1st rd range. If he is there in rd 2 for us, he is certainly worth the risk based on his physical traits, but might take some time to develop. It is truly up to him to reach that potential as well as surrounding him with good coaching.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

. It is truly up to him to reach that potential as well as surrounding him with good coaching.

Bingo!!!!!!
There are 100s 300-325+ DTs out there but their size requires a few more challenges, discipline and hard work. They can't expect to get by off size alone, the same as an offensive guy with elite raw speed.

 

[Cowboyny]

Bingo!!!!!!
There are 100s 300-325+ DTs out there but their size requires a few more challenges, discipline and hard work. They can't expect to get by off size alone, the same as an offensive guy with elite raw speed.

Teams really have to find out if this kid has that so called "to want" be great. If he does, coaches will have a chance to get his talent out of him.

 

[TNCowboy]

I remember early in the careers of Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.
- There was a game where they really struggled with Dontari Poe.
- It was either Zack's rookie year or 2nd season.

Poe came to the Cowboys during the Covid year.
- With no team directed off-season, he came in very over-weight and out of shape.
- One local media person claimed he weighed 400 at some point before the season.

I think that was before Martin arrived, Frederick's rookie season.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Teams really have to find out if this kid has that so called "to want" be great. If he does, coaches will have a chance to get his talent out of him.

So true.......coz that "to want" can be the difference between a jag and a solid starter or ALL-PRO.

 

[cnuball21]

Teams really have to find out if this kid has that so called "to want" be great. If he does, coaches will have a chance to get his talent out of him.

This times 100%…with us being a team that doesn’t use FA we can’t take any more dumb risks in the 2nd.

If the coaches, teammates etc couch for the kid and say it’s a super high snap issue I’m in for the 2nd. If there are any red flags pass and move on.

 

[Cowboyny]

This times 100%…with us being a team that doesn’t use FA we can’t take any more dumb risks in the 2nd.

If the coaches, teammates etc couch for the kid and say it’s a super high snap issue I’m in for the 2nd. If there are any red flags pass and move on.

That’s why the interviews and gathering the background is so important.

 

[gtb1943]

That’s why the interviews and gathering the background is so important.

And where we might have failed with Mazi. The first thing you have to figure out about a prospect is does he love to play. Mazi said he did not. Should have been a massive red flag right there

 

[Cowboyny]

And where we might have failed with Mazi. The first thing you have to figure out about a prospect is does he love to play. Mazi said he did not. Should have been a massive red flag right there

I think Mazi has struggles with the mental side of the game.

 

[cnuball21]

And where we might have failed with Mazi. The first thing you have to figure out about a prospect is does he love to play. Mazi said he did not. Should have been a massive red flag right there

When did Mazi ever say that?

He obviously disappointed in year 1 but he’s shown development this year for sure. If he’s breaks out next year he’s right on schedule for when most young DTs prove their draft value.