DMN Blog: North Texas coach raves about Walden

[WoodysGirl]

4:16 PM Sun, Apr 27, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Wade Phillips said you couldn't help but be impressed with sixth-round pick Erik Walden's toughness when you watched him play with turf toe last season. The Cowboys also liked the way Walden ran and hit.

They won't get any arguments from North Texas coach Todd Dodge, who recalls the Mean Green's meeting with Walden all too well. Walden, a DE who will convert to OLB, was a dominant force in Middle Tennessee's 38-28 win over my alma mater last season.

Walden had three tackles for loss, a sack, a safety and an interception in the game. The pick was an eye-popping display of athleticism, with Walden skying to deflect a screen pass to himself to halt a drive that would have given the Mean Green the lead. Walden returned it to the 3-yard line.

"I'm curious what his vertical is," Dodge said, "because it sure was high on that play."

Dodge described Walden (6-2, 237) as the prototype Sun Belt defensive end -- a little undersized but with excellent burst. Walden played on the weak side in college, and Dodge didn't think the move to OLB in a 3-4 scheme would be difficult for him.

"He can flat-out run," Dodge said. "He was a handful."

 

[CATCH17]

He will help our special teams out for sure.

 

[TheCount]

Yup, special teams fodder. No one but us would have drafted this guy unless the Steelers, Browns or Chargers had particular interest.

 

[stealth]

holy crap we drafted a player from UNT?
wow, gotta throw logic out the window and root for the kid.

Holy crap, I went to UNT and now a guy from my college is on my team. Great day.

 

[Bleu Star]

holy crap we drafted a player from UNT?
wow, gotta throw logic out the window and root for the kid.

Holy crap, I went to UNT and now a guy from my college is on my team. Great day.

No..lol. We drafted a player From Middle Tennessee St. The North Texas coach was commenting on how Walden owned his team when they played each other last year.

 

[jjktkk]

4:16 PM Sun, Apr 27, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Wade Phillips said you couldn't help but be impressed with sixth-round pick Erik Walden's toughness when you watched him play with turf toe last season. The Cowboys also liked the way Walden ran and hit.

They won't get any arguments from North Texas coach Todd Dodge, who recalls the Mean Green's meeting with Walden all too well. Walden, a DE who will convert to OLB, was a dominant force in Middle Tennessee's 38-28 win over my alma mater last season.

Walden had three tackles for loss, a sack, a safety and an interception in the game. The pick was an eye-popping display of athleticism, with Walden skying to deflect a screen pass to himself to halt a drive that would have given the Mean Green the lead. Walden returned it to the 3-yard line.

"I'm curious what his vertical is," Dodge said, "because it sure was high on that play."

Dodge described Walden (6-2, 237) as the prototype Sun Belt defensive end -- a little undersized but with excellent burst. Walden played on the weak side in college, and Dodge didn't think the move to OLB in a 3-4 scheme would be difficult for him.

"He can flat-out run," Dodge said. "He was a handful."

I was trying to find out more info on Waldon, thanks for the info Woodysgirl.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Dodge described Walden (6-2, 237) as the prototype Sun Belt defensive end -- a little undersized but with excellent burst.

hmmm, wasn't Troy in the Sun-Belt conference when DeMarcus played there?

 

[stealth]

No..lol. We drafted a player From Middle Tennessee St. The North Texas coach was commenting on how Walden owned his team when they played each other last year.

DAMN IT!

I got all college chest thumping, being from UNT its the first time for me, hope people understand.

just actually read the article, egg on my face.

 

[Woods]

Yup, special teams fodder. No one but us would have drafted this guy unless the Steelers, Browns or Chargers had particular interest.

Walden mentioned on the Ticket that the Pats had interest in him and had called him earlier today.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Man, guess we did not have any bad picks

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Walden mentioned on the Ticket that the Pats had interest in him and had called him earlier today.

To be fair to Count.

Walden did say what you said but he also said it was to keep checks with him as a possible UDRFA signing for the pats.

So in that respect Count is probably right.

 

[Woods]

To be fair to Count.

Walden did say what you said but he also said it was to keep checks with him as a possible UDRFA signing for the pats.

So in that respect Count is probably right.

Don't ruin my feel good mood.

 

[igtmfo]

Glad that Scouts.com transcribed Cowboys PC today, here's Wade on Walden:

He's a player we had in with one of the 30 guys," said Cowboys' head coach Wade Phillips. "He played with a turf toe the whole year. Watching the tape on him you had to be impressed. Even limping he played fast. He's a hitter.

"We are projecting him as a linebacker and we've done that in the past with those defensive end types. He can run and he can hit and he's completely well now. He was playing on one leg against LSU and teams like that and playing well.

 

[Doctor32]

hmmm, wasn't Troy in the Sun-Belt conference when DeMarcus played there?

They played Sun Belt Teams but weren't officially in until the year after he left.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Glad that Scouts.com transcribed Cowboys PC today, here's Wade on Walden:

He's a player we had in with one of the 30 guys," said Cowboys' head coach Wade Phillips. "He played with a turf toe the whole year. Watching the tape on him you had to be impressed. Even limping he played fast. He's a hitter.

"We are projecting him as a linebacker and we've done that in the past with those defensive end types. He can run and he can hit and he's completely well now. He was playing on one leg against LSU and teams like that and playing well.

Sounds good to me... Got to like a gamer like that.

I'll trust Wade on passrushers. He's seen and coached his share of good ones.

 

[BAT]

Walden would have been a good pickup, as an UDFA.

I would have rather drafted either Andy Studebaker (Eagles) or Curtis Johnson. Both were available at the Cowboys pick and were more productive (i.e. dominated).

 

[theebs]

I wonder how much development justin rogers will show this season.

Geez how many days till camp!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I wonder how much development justin rogers will show this season.

Yeah, good point. Has Walden ever skinned a coyote? I think not.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

They played Sun Belt Teams but weren't officially in until the year after he left.

ah, thanks

 

[MONT17]

Jerry always has to draft a Kavika Pittman type player