DMN Blog: Kevin Burnett has hard feelings about departure from Dallas

[big dog cowboy]

Exactly.

I don't have sympathy for the Kevin Burnett's of this league.

It is not like he wasn't coming here as a heralded prospect. He was a second round choice who I know Coach Parcells had specific plans for. He couldn't stay healthy and above all else, he did not make himself indispensible. That is what great players do. The rest are pretty much like him.

Bobby Carpenter is in the same boat. I don't want to hear about a lack of opportunities.

Signing players like Zach Thomas and now Keith Brooking were necessitated by high draft choices like Burnett not stepping up and making themselves valuable. It was not about a lack of opportunities.

He can also look at the fact that he was not exactly a prime free agent target of a lot of clubs as an indication of his career worth thus far.

My bet is his play in SD will only prove what we already know about him.

 

[28 Joker]

Parcells may have had plans for Kevin Burnett, but he should not have drafted him, because he didn't fit his scheme. He didn't fit inside or outside in that scheme. He isn't a rush OLB, because the tackles are too big for him. Parcells should have known that fact. Inside, he has no protection in that 2 gap scheme. If you don't fit the scheme, it's hard to earn a job. Phillips' scheme was better for him, but a NT like Jamal Williams will cover him up. Phillips made his choice, so I'm hoping to draft Jason Williams.

As far as Burnett letting TEs or RBs abuse him, he sure was a quiet player in coverage during the past two years. He had very good games at NY and at Philadelphia in 2007. He may not have made many picks, but he prevented plays. He wasn't getting picked on in coverage at all during the past 2 years. If he was, the Cowboys wouldn't have tried to keep him in that role. Who checked Brian Westbrook in Phiadelphia in 2007? Burnett Who checked Chris Cooley in Washington last year? Kevin Burnett

Bobby Carpenter... He's the worst draft pick this decade. That one is on Parcells, too. At least, Burnett made a positive contribution under Wade Phillips.

Parcells took a speed player out of the SEC and tried to play him as a power player, like the Big Ten. It didn't work. Now, Jerod Mayo was the defensive rookie of the year, but he was the best linebacker Tennessee has produced, a top ten pick. Someone on here tried to tell me that he wasn't any good before the year startedl. Ooops.

Is it the player's fault, or is it Parcells' fault for spending a 2nd round pick on a player that didn't fit his scheme? I could have told Parcells that Burnett wasn't a rush OLB in a 34. Remember, they moved him inside after they figured it out, just like Carpenter. Again, at least, the Cowboys got some positive production out of Kevin Burnett.

DRC, Aquib Talib, Brandon Flowers, Leodis McKelvin..

Do you think those players' teams would have blocked them by playing Anthony Henry?

I don't. If one of those guys would have been drafted by Dallas, they would have been playing behind Henry, just like Mike Jenkins.

 

[28 Joker]

Fantastic post. You speak nothing but truth.

Thanks. I've been to Iowa, and the girls are hot.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I think Burnett has a legitimate argument...

 

[Asa55]

Burnett's an idiot. You played here for what 3 or 4 years. You had your chance everyday in practice. Romo's work ethic and desire would not let him be denied. And the coaches saw it everyday!

 

[Alexander]

Parcells may have had plans for Kevin Burnett, but he should not have drafted him, because he didn't fit his scheme.

He would have fit as a "bubble linebacker" in his scheme. That is exactly what Jerod Mayo did in New England last year. The problem was two-fold. Burnett could not grasp it and second he did not have a defensive coordinator like Belichick who could get the player trained well enough.

He didn't fit inside or outside in that scheme. He isn't a rush OLB, because the tackles are too big for him. Parcells should have known that fact. Inside, he has no protection in that 2 gap scheme. If you don't fit the scheme, it's hard to earn a job. Phillips' scheme was better for him, but a NT like Jamal Williams will cover him up. Phillips made his choice, so I'm hoping to draft Jason Williams.

You completely contradicted yourself. Parcells' 3-4 had a big body at nose (Jason Ferguson) and that would have "covered him up". Phillips variant has a player like Ratliff at the nose.

Fact is, and this is very true in the majority of cases, the players simply fail to get the job done versus the coach not knowing if the player fit or not getting "opportunities".

 

[Hostile]

He would have fit as a "bubble linebacker" in his scheme. That is exactly what Jerod Mayo did in New England last year. The problem was two-fold. Burnett could not grasp it and second he did not have a defensive coordinator like Belichick who could get the player trained well enough.



You completely contradicted yourself. Parcells' 3-4 had a big body at nose (Jason Ferguson) and that would have "covered him up". Phillips variant has a player like Ratliff at the nose.

Fact is, and this is very true in the majority of cases, the players simply fail to get the job done versus the coach not knowing if the player fit or not getting "opportunities".

Class dismissed.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

In Parcells' system the LBs had to take on guards more often... As in, all the time. So I'm with 41gy. I don't see why we drafted a blown up former safety to play that position in the first place. Especially one with a questionable attitude.

But he would have fit better in Wade's scheme, so that's no excuse. IMO he's another player who thought he was way better than he was and who likely wasn't great in the locker room. Glad we're weeding the garden this year.

 

[Fletch]

I had high hopes for the second rounder out of Tennessee. Kevin was solid, but never more than that. Just another role guy. Let's not forget he was rather fragile.

Stay classy in San Diego (which means whale's v*gina according to Ron Burgandy.)

:laugh1:

 

[speedkilz88]

In Parcells' system the LBs had to take on guards more often... As in, all the time. So I'm with 41gy. I don't see why we drafted a blown up former safety to play that position in the first place. Especially one with a questionable attitude.

But he would have fit better in Wade's scheme, so that's no excuse. IMO he's another player who thought he was way better than he was and who likely wasn't great in the locker room. Glad we're weeding the garden this year.

I remember after the draft even Parcells seemed to be hesitant of the Burnett pick. He said that he relied on the scouts on that pick and I think he was concerned about his size. Yes, he also said that he was a bubble LB but he had to figure out how to use him.