DMN: Bob Sturm’s 2015 Cowboys draft pick breakdown: What hurts Chaz Green in battles with defenders

jobberone

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Bob Sturm’s 2015 Cowboys draft pick breakdown: What hurts Chaz Green in battles with defenders
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Bob Sturm Follow @sportssturm Email sturm1310@me.com
Published: May 5, 2015 8:51 am


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Florida offensive lineman Chaz Green runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Chaz Green, T, Florida - 6’5, 314 – RS Senior - 5.16 40

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and when we examine the case of the Dallas Cowboys 3rd round pick, Chaz Green is a great example of that. There were many draft analysts that figured he would either be drafted late on Day 3 of the proceedings, or not at all. But the Cowboys thought he was the 91st best player in this draft and a perfect fit for them to replace the 3rd tackle “swing tackle” of the last 5 seasons – Jermey Parnell, who was signed away for large money in Jacksonville. Now, if either Doug Free or Tyron Smith fall to injury in 2015, odds are pretty good that Green will run onto the field.

Green was once a highly regarded high school recruit, but five years later, Green is fighting to overcome a host of injuries that have kept his Florida career from ever taking off. He redshirted in 2010, injuries cost him a month of the 2011 season (ankle), all of the 2013 season (knee), and part of the 2014 season (ankle). To study his work, we looked at the LSU, Florida State, and Missouri games from this season in particular.

Green wears #75 and plays Right Tackle for the Gators:



What I liked: Green is a big man who has that wide base you want from an edge protector who uses his large kick steps to get back in his stance and squared up to his man on the edge. Green looks quite comfortable in doing this and in the action we looked at seldom lost his edge to a rusher and generally seemed to have his assignment. He has massive hands that allow him to again control his man and to stay on balance and smooth in his protection. In the run game, he can move well and get in space and seek his target before getting him out of the way. He is not real fast, but he moves well enough for a man of his considerable size. He certainly looks the part.



What I did not like: It was certainly difficult to find his snaps. Not only was he basically a 1-year starter at Florida, but even then, he was part of a right tackle rotation that kept him on the sideline. Beyond that, he has a real reputation as being an injury prone player which is the biggest enemy of a football team. He has to prove durable to be useful. Then, in his run blocking when he gets engaged he has very disconcerting issues with being top-heavy and not really ever moving his feet. This leads to an off balance man who then finds his way to the ground too much. When you are in a battle of upper body strength, often the man with the worst footwork loses, and he would lose quite a bit in this scenario. I am sure it can be fixed, but for now it zaps all of your strength if you stop moving your feet as a lineman. His disposition does not seem particularly noteworthy as nasty or physical.



Summary: This is one where you find out about the front office. First round offensive linemen have been targeted and drafted quite well, where the degree of difficulty is much lower. But this team has a reputation of coming up empty in the premium 2nd round-4th round spots in the draft when they go for offensive line help. David Arkin was pick #110 in 2011, Robert Brewster #75 in 2009, James Marten was #67 in 2007, Jacob Rogers was pick #52 in 2004 and all of them were unmitigated disasters. Doug Free was a hit at #122 in 2007, but that is a 20% hit rate on OL over a decade. We also must credit them for Ron Leary as an un-drafted free agent, but that does not balance the percentages too much if you consider all of the later round (5th-7th) picks on the OL over the years. Here is pick #91 on a player that the Cowboys are taking a step out of the consensus to bet on a player that they really like.

You can see his skill set and his tools. You can also see his pedigree. But, for now, we wonder about his durability and his fit as a very important spot on the team from day 1. We also wonder if he might have been available later in the draft, but that, of course, is an unanswerable question. We knew replacing Parnell was going to be an important objective in 2015, and Green appears to be their guy. Now, we see how his summer goes and his performances in Oxnard will be on full display. He has a chance, but a bit of skepticism is fair until proven otherwise.

And, if you don’t mind, please check out the Bob and Dan (BaD) Radio show in Dallas-Fort Worth, from 12p-3p, Monday-Friday, on Sportsradio 1310 and 96.7fm, The Ticket. www.theticket.com

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jobberone

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I suppose he could develop into a LT but looks like a RT now. Not sure why many see him as a swing tackle now. That's Weems job for now. He could kick inside with some work on the running game.
 

reddyuta

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He has to stay healthy,if he is our swing tackle tackle then the chances are he gets plenty of playing time.
 

big dog cowboy

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Hopefully he won't be called on to play much this year so he can heal up and toughen up for training camp in 2016. His technique issues can be straightened out but the injury prone label concerns me.
 

FuzzyLumpkins

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That torn labrum is very concerning. Byron Jones apparently has a repaired shoulder as well.
 

IrishAnto

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The one advantage he has over the likes of Brewster and Arkin is that he went to a big school and faced better competition.

Here’s hoping we’ve improved our evaluation of later round OL picks.
 

Alexander

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The one advantage he has over the likes of Brewster and Arkin is that he went to a big school and faced better competition..

You should be shot for even mentioning those two players. That was uncalled for.
 

Longboysfan

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I think the last few years speak for themself in regards to drafting.
The Cowboy talent evalustors are getting better.
 

YosemiteSam

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The one advantage he has over the likes of Brewster and Arkin is that he went to a big school and faced better competition.

True, but also not completely relevant since he didn't actually play that many snaps due to injuries and tackle rotation. This pick is a bit puzzling, but then I really haven't looked at Chaz's film. Taking other people's opinions helps, but I've also found many times their opinions aren't even that relevant. (though Sturm is usually decent person to listen too since his is usually far more objective than most)
 

sureletsrace

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True, but also not completely relevant since he didn't actually play that many snaps due to injuries and tackle rotation. This pick is a bit puzzling, but then I really haven't looked at Chaz's film. Taking other people's opinions helps, but I've also found many times their opinions aren't even that relevant. (though Sturm is usually decent person to listen too since his is usually far more objective than most)

I've watched as much film as I can find on the guy and I pretty much agree with what Sturm said. There are a lot of parts to his game to like, and he has all of the tools. He's got a great kick slide and, from what I've seen, really gets after it in the run game.

He truly just needs to stay healthy and get some NFL coaching.
 

theogt

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I've watched as much film as I can find on the guy and I pretty much agree with what Sturm said. There are a lot of parts to his game to like, and he has all of the tools. He's got a great kick slide and, from what I've seen, really gets after it in the run game.

He truly just needs to stay healthy and get some NFL coaching.
I think it's a pretty spot on analysis. Something Sturm didn't mention though is that I think he's very good in space. He can find his target and doesn't look clumsy in the process. Good combination of balance and athleticism. In pretty much all phases he "looks the part". I would hope our medical staff can determine whether the injury history was worth the risk in the 3rd round, but from a player standpoint, when healthy, he certainly looks worth of a third round pick.
 

IrishAnto

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True, but also not completely relevant since he didn't actually play that many snaps due to injuries and tackle rotation. This pick is a bit puzzling, but then I really haven't looked at Chaz's film. Taking other people's opinions helps, but I've also found many times their opinions aren't even that relevant. (though Sturm is usually decent person to listen too since his is usually far more objective than most)

True his limited snaps reduce the advantage, but at least we’ve seen him play against good competition which is more than could be said of the other two.
 

Zimmy Lives

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I think it's a pretty spot on analysis. Something Sturm didn't mention though is that I think he's very good in space. He can find his target and doesn't look clumsy in the process. Good combination of balance and athleticism. In pretty much all phases he "looks the part". I would hope our medical staff can determine whether the injury history was worth the risk in the 3rd round, but from a player standpoint, when healthy, he certainly looks worth of a third round pick.

This in bold.

He may lack the mean demeanor one would like in a RT but he appears to have all the tools to be a quality player who can start one day. Not to mention (IrishAnto) he did play against quality opposition and, as you say, looks good in space. He just needs to stay healthy.
 

jterrell

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Chaz Green is an athlete in a big body. Dallas drafted him primarily for that. He has work to do but he is the kind of guy you can build into a plus blocker versus both run and pass.

As to the playing time stuff that is overblown IMHO. He was injured and the staffs changed. Florida was very down and they wanted to start grooming young guys.

Not sure how listing/comparing guys drafted back under Parcells has anything to do with this front office. 10 is a nice round number of years but that's pretty lazy stuff form a writer who knows in great detail whose been in charge of the Cowboys' drafting over that period.
 
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