News: DMN: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (who?) over Kam Chancellor? The top Cowboys draft blunders since 2000

[phildadon86]

Kam Chancellor was a hybrid LB/S at VT and folks didnt know what his position would be

Sounds familiar,,,,cough *Peppers* Cough

 

[MikeT22]

At least we've been getting better the last few years. Maybe one day they'll finally figure out the 2nd round though.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

Sounds familiar,,,,cough *Peppers* Cough

Chancellor is 6-3, 230. Peppers is 6-1, 205. Not quite the same thing.

 

[negativecreep]

The Quincy Carter-Tony Dixon double kick to the crotch was the worst draft day ever.

I was actually ecxited to draft Quincy, I thought we might have hit the lotto there, needless to say I was dead wrong. So there's one kick...I didn't even know who Tony Dixon was until Mel kiper told me how stupid it was to draft him, and for once he was right. So that's two kicks...that draft did feel like I let a soccer player kick me in the nuts...no fond memories from that draft.

 

[gimmesix]

The Quincy Carter-Tony Dixon double kick to the crotch was the worst draft day ever.

This was when Jerry was at the height of calling the shots, where the input from the scouts and coaches mattered less to him than what he thought was best.

One of the things I'm most thankful about with Bill Parcells is I believe it taught Jerry to value the scouting department and coach's input/fits for the team more.

Of course, that doesn't explain what went wrong with the 2009 draft. I think we just tried to get too creative there trading picks to get more and ultimately choosing quantity over quality. Of course, not picking until 69th overall (because of trades) makes it more difficult to have a successful draft, but you think the scouts would have done a better job since that was definitely a scouts' draft for the team.

 

[Alexander]

I was actually ecxited to draft Quincy, I thought we might have hit the lotto there, needless to say I was dead wrong. So there's one kick...I didn't even know who Tony Dixon was until Mel kiper told me how stupid it was to draft him, and for once he was right. So that's two kicks...that draft did feel like I let a soccer player kick me in the nuts...no fond memories from that draft.

I had the same reaction from Dixon. He was a mediocre prospect that was a huge reach. I still remember the spin job was that hey, he was a team captain. He simply couldn't play.

Now Carter was a different story, I had heard about his issues in Athens and didn't want anything to do with him. Then the kick to the junk and right after that another one. I was so mad I couldn't even see. Just awful.

 

[Alexander]

Kam Chancellor was a hybrid LB/S at VT and folks didnt know what his position would be

He was also considered too slow. Just goes to show you that even a 4.69 tweener can be very successful in the right environment.

That is the bad thing about some of these miscues, the conditions were not even right for success in Dallas for some of them. But when you see them wash out of the league, then you know simply they were poor evaluations.

 

[DallasEast]

Relative hindsight.

3 picks later. 11 picks later. 5 picks later. 2 picks later. 4 picks later. 19 picks later. 2 picks later. 12 picks later. 115 picks later. 7 picks later. 11 picks later. 3 picks later.

There are mostly gaps between the players Dallas selected and the 'can't miss' players the author used for comparison. I wonder if there were any other better projected, successful players picked inside those gaps that the author disregarded in favor of the players who would generate the most 'regret' from readers.

The comparisons I think worthy of the article's premise are players who immediately followed Dallas' pick. Denver selected Elvis Dumervil after Dallas took Skyler Green of the board. Pittsburgh grabbed Le'Veon Bell before the Gavin Escobar pick got cold. If the article pulled me down into the intended woulda shoulda couldas, it would be Dumervil and Bell.

Side note: The writer was too lazy to even mention the gap between Mike Jenkins/Brandon Carr (115 picks) and Josh Thomas/Richard Sherman (11 picks). I guess the targeted woulda shoulda coulda anxiety would've escaped every reader's notice. Oops. Nope.

 

[phildadon86]

Chancellor is 6-3, 230. Peppers is 6-1, 205. Not quite the same thing.

I was referring to the hybrid part. And i can see Peppers putting on weight once with NFL trainers. He has the frame.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Not surprising to see JJ's obsession with the TE position blinding him to better options.

 

[DeaconMoss]

He was also considered too slow. Just goes to show you that even a 4.69 tweener can be very successful in the right environment.

That is the bad thing about some of these miscues, the conditions were not even right for success in Dallas for some of them. But when you see them wash out of the league, then you know simply they were poor evaluations.

OVERVIEW

Chancellor has been a very productive safety for the Hokies over the past three years. He has an outstanding combination of size and strength for the position. Chancellor is more of a box safety in that he is much better defending the run than in coverage. He has decent range off the hash and could be effective in combination zone schemes but may be a liability in pure man coverage schemes. He uses his hands well to ward off blockers when filling the alley and flashes to make the big hit. Chancellor is inconsistent with his angles and instincts with the ball in the air. Chancellor is a good football player and should be effective in the right system at the next level. Chancellor should contribute early as a special teams player and a goal line safety.

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Chancellor has outstanding size for the safety position. Plays with great strength and has the toughness needed to consistently help up in the box in run support. Has been a highly productive player. Durability is not a concern. Exhibits a really impressive motor, refuses to be blocked and plays hard through the whistle.
WEAKNESSES
Chancellor can play over aggressive at times, take poor angles and is susceptible to play fakes. Taller player who could improve his pad level. Needs to be lower in his back peddle. Is more comfortable in the box and doesn?t possess the coverage skills, ball skills and instincts to be consistently relied upon against the pass.


----------------------------------------------------

OVERVIEW

A New Jersey kid who wanted to play for Michigan because of Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson, Peppers' home life wasn't easy. His father spent most of Jabrill's childhood in jail, and his brother was shot and killed seven years ago. Football seems to be his calling, though, as he was named the 2013 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year while also starring on offense and in track (won 100 meters and 200 meters at state in both his junior and senior years.) Peppers' collegiate career was sidetracked due to a leg injury after three games (one start, eight tackles). He picked up the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award and first-team all-conference in 2015 (5.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass break-ups; 72 rush yards, 2 TDs; 27.9 kick return average, 11.4 punt return average). Last fall, he was the conference Linebacker of the Year and first-team honoree (72 tackles, 16 for loss, four sacks, one INT). He did not play in the Orange Bowl, however, due to a hamstring injury that flared up in practice.

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Athletic and fluid in space with desired change of direction talent. Moves with the changing flow of a play. Willing to sacrifice body to honor contain against run. Jack of all trades. Can play slot, safety or linebacker in sub-packages in any given game. Won't hesitate to race downhill once he diagnoses run. Hits with as much force as he can muster. Has big closing burst. Runs plays down from sideline to sideline. Able to knife into gaps and make tackles for losses or disrupt runs. Has man cover talent and is physical enough to handle most tight ends. Has enough quickness to match receivers. Aggressively re-routes receivers. Capable blitzer who buzzes in from all angles. Electric return man with ability to charge up crowd and his own sideline with big kick or punt return. Has experience carrying and catching the ball and as wildcat quarterback. Could offer red-zone flexibility on offense.
WEAKNESSES
Scouts question his instincts and lack of ball production. Has just one interception and 10 passes defensed at Michigan. Slow to recognize construct of play and can be found playing through a straw at times. Needs better recognition and anticipation to become an improvising play-maker. Doesn't always trust his feet in coverage and will maul at the top of the route. Just a guy when asked to play deep safety. Slow to read and range until ball is in the air. Can be overzealous against play-action and drawn below his deep ball responsibilities. Too small for take-on duties at linebacker. Leads into tackles with ducked head. Opts to hit rather than wrap-up.
SOURCES TELL US
"These comparisons to Charles Woodson are nuts. Both are really good return men, but Woody is one of the greatest playmakers of all-time. Peppers has one interception and I don't think he's ever forced a fumble. Michigan might move him around too much. He will really improve when he can lock in and learn a position." -- AFC Director of Scouting
NFL COMPARISON
Eric Weddle
BOTTOM LINE
The ultimate Swiss Army Knife on the collegiate level, and will likely play a hybrid role on the next level that allows him to blitz, cover and chase, Peppers' draft value will be helped by his return ability and that is a role he should maintain throughout the earlier stages of his career. While Peppers doesn't have the production teams expect from first-round defenders, he should benefit from a role that is more clearly defined on the next level.

 

[FaSho]

Most of these picks were missed by everyone, not just us. Hindsight is 20/20. Every team in the league is kicking themselves for missing out on Dak.

 

[Kaiser]

Relative hindsight.
.

Exactly, you can write this article about every team in the NFL. And for the player we missed out on, you can list 20 players picked ahead of them that weren't as good as they were.

If this was a Wikipedia article I would make an edit that ended the article "AND FORTHWITH AND FOREVER MORE, ALL THESE ARTICLES WILL CONTAIN DAK PRESCOTT AS THE MISSED PLAYER"

 

[dwmyers]

The Quincy Carter-Tony Dixon double kick to the crotch was the worst draft day ever.

Really? We just wasted a second round pick, #37 iirc. The Bobby Carpenter pick wasted a first rounder.

That said, not a lot of thought was given to the "replacements". The year previous we had drafted DeMarcus Ware, Chris Canty, Marcus Spears and Jay Ratliff. We had Ware at one rush linebacker and Greg Ellis at the other.

Tamba Hali wasn't going to be on our list.

Bobby's best replacement would probably have been DeMeco Ryans. He was above average until he was injured.

IMO, we should have stuck at #37 and drafted some of the talent in that range. Kris Jenkins, the DT, for example. Our biggest need that year was DT. Kendrell Bell and Shaun Rogers were talked about at 37. It was pretty much impossible to screw up that pick with any reasonable choice.

 

[Proximo]

Meh, you could literally write this same piece about every other team in the league.

Pro football is the ultimate "hindsight is 20/20" game. And that includes the draft.

 

[Paniolo22]

My grip is the Escobar pick. Didn't his body suggest weak blocking problems. Now if they would use him as a possession receiver,maybe.

My gripe is with all of the 2nd round picks spent on TE. We got Witten with a 3rd, then go for Fasano, Bennett, and Escobar in the 2nd?!? Trrrible picks and terrible value.

 

[ShiningStar]

oh man, the hype over some of those players and a few others not on that list. Good times, for all of 5 minutes.

 

[revospeed]

Sounds familiar,,,,cough *Peppers* Cough

I agree. Draft a football player and find a spot to play him. Don't draft measurables and workouts.

 

[logan]

I doubt many of these players would have developed the same way in Dallas. Chancellor for example likely wouldn't be near as good without Earl Thomas.

 

[Eddie]

Well, that helps explain why we have 2 playoff wins in the past 20 years.

Jerry Jones going for the gusto. Trying to prove that he's an NFL maverick. Rolling the dice for the big hit when solid players are on the board.