Signed by Cowboys FB Olawale traded to Cowboys **merged**

[TheMarathonContinues]

Interesting reading Raiders fans opinion on the move. Most like the deal. Most liked Olawale but felt he was underutilized.

 

[jrumann59]

Interesting reading Raiders fans opinion on the move. Most like the deal. Most liked Olawale but felt he was underutilized.

You sure you just did not click on the CZ tab instead of the raiders tab?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You sure you just did not click on the CZ tab instead of the raiders tab?

LOL naw....it was the Raiders site. They had 4 pages dedicated to the move....this one of course has 25 telling us how bad a move it is lol.

 

[Corso]

Did we get better or wors

Yes.

 

[risco]

My goodness!!! 22 pages and counting on getting a FB!!! Tough offseason!! LOL

Couldn't agree more. I'm now thinking this signee is big-time!

 

[GORICO]

I was actually impressed by Gathers' blocking in the preseason. He did a good job of shooting his hands into the defender and getting leverage, which is difficult for a player as tall as he is. He showed good power in stalemating linebackers and defensive linemen. He has some work to do, but looked pretty good as a blocker and receiver for a guy who hasn't played much football.

mr gimmie--let me ask you this..have you studied at all Dak's development in throwing motion and footwork since he has come into the league?...did you notice his throwing motion adjustment ( overhand windmill ) from first year to second?...and all the overthrows?...i understand he wanted to get more velocity on ball but if his release point if not perfect its either too high or too low?...this has really bugged me....for his downfield passing from pocket appeared to deteriorate from 1st to 2nd season...and i am hoping it was Dooley's correction to his throwing that did it...cause he is gone...i am really hoping Dak becomes more proficient downfield from pocket...

 

[GORICO]

I was actually impressed by Gathers' blocking in the preseason. He did a good job of shooting his hands into the defender and getting leverage, which is difficult for a player as tall as he is. He showed good power in stalemating linebackers and defensive linemen. He has some work to do, but looked pretty good as a blocker and receiver for a guy who hasn't played much football.

my bad--not Dooley i mean Wade Wilson on Daks throwing motion adjustment

 

[JohnsKey19]

Versatile player. Curious as to why the Raiders preferred Smith and at a higher cap #.

Plays like a bigger Rod Smith.

 

[BlindFaith]

mr gimmie--let me ask you this..have you studied at all Dak's development in throwing motion and footwork since he has come into the league?...did you notice his throwing motion adjustment ( overhand windmill ) from first year to second?...and all the overthrows?...i understand he wanted to get more velocity on ball but if his release point if not perfect its either too high or too low?...this has really bugged me....for his downfield passing from pocket appeared to deteriorate from 1st to 2nd season...and i am hoping it was Dooley's correction to his throwing that did it...cause he is gone...i am really hoping Dak becomes more proficient downfield from pocket...

Mmm. Accuracy is actually more with the feet. Kinda like arm bone connected to the foot bone.

Same really with velocity.

BUT, he DID try to get better. And will continue to do so.

 

[OmerV]

sir--- i promise if Olawale turns out to be obviously better i will be the first to apologize...i dont have a problem being corrected..in fact that is how we learn the best...and yes i do have a bias toward Keith Smith because i have watched with me own eyes his transition from one position to another and play like he has done it his whole life...plus he is 3 years younger...28 verses 25 and obviously his work ethic he is only going to get better...but again if i am wrong i will apologize

First, quit calling me sir.

Now, moving along, I'm not saying Olawale is better, much less obviously better. On the other hand, you have indicated that it only takes doing homework to clearly see that Smith is head and shoulders better, and I'm curious as to what that homework would be. I assume you are saying there is readily available information that clearly proves your point, and honestly I'm at a loss for what that might be.

As for the bias, I don't mind some of that - we all have players we like and dislike, and frankly I liked Keith Smith myself. But we also have to be fair minded if we are going to have a reasonable discussion and not let the bias cause us claim things as proven fact when no such proof exists.

Nevertheless, a point you seem to keep forgetting in all of this is that Smith was already gone when the Olawale deal was done, so he had no part in this trade. The fact Smith ended up with the Raiders doesn't change that. Ultimately, maybe Smith wanted to go back to his home state of California, or maybe the Cowboys didn't like Smith's asking price, or maybe they didn't want to commit to a multi-year deal for a FB, or maybe their feelings about Smith aren't as strong as yours are - who knows the reasons? But in the end, he was already gone, and at the time the Cowboys made the deal with Olawale Smith wasn't in the picture.

 

[Kaiser]

Rico is still a big unknown as far as I see it.

He is, for sure. But last preseason he definitely showed he could be a weapon as a receiver, that part of the HB role is something he could dominate at. The question is his blocking, I think he will improve over last year with more experience, plus the HB position should be easier blocking than the TE2 position.

 

[skinsscalper]

This is the guy who got replaced by Smith at the Raiders.

The Raiders signed Smith to replace this dude, so who do you think is better?

Pretty obvious who Gruden thinks is better.

Are we talking about the same Gruden who got fired from his last job when they realized he didn't know **** about building a roster or a different Gruden? Asking for a friend.

 

[BlindFaith]

He is, for sure. But last preseason he definitely showed he could be a weapon as a receiver, that part of the HB role is something he could dominate at. The question is his blocking, I think he will improve over last year with more experience, plus the HB position should be easier blocking than the TE2 position.

It's actually harder to block as a fullback. You're on the move, you have to read the play like the runner.

And these hybrid guys have more of a problem with pad level.

That's why you don't really see a lot of it.

 

[Redball Express]

This is crazy, the first move we make is for a freaking FB.

You know..

It's a process.

Nothing changes.

We have no money to sign guys.

The Frederick contract maybe because we have the draft coming.

Do we not have to have enough in our cap surplus to do the draft?

 

[Kaiser]

It's actually harder to block as a fullback. You're on the move, you have to read the play like the runner.

But Gathers is six inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than most fullbacks and tight ends. I see him as more of a wall off blocker from the HB spot, but it would clearly be the weakest part of his game. Even compared to James Hanna, an excellent blocker at TE2, he has a major size advantage.

 

[fansince68]

Yeah it's kind of depressing when you look at it that way. We'll sign your guy because we think he's better and we'll make you trade for the guy we don't want.

Didn't we do the same thing with O line coaches? Did we swap with the Bengals?

 

[Beast_from_East]

Are we talking about the same Gruden who got fired from his last job when they realized he didn't know **** about building a roster or a different Gruden? Asking for a friend.

I am talking about the Gruden that just got a $100 million dollar contract................that Gruden...........somebody seems to think he knows something.

 

[Pants]

so NOW the floodgates are open to all of the moves by our front office? got it

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I like the deal. For the cost of dropping from 173 to 192 in the draft the Cowboys get an affordable, experienced lead blocker that, like Keith Smith did, can help out on special teams. And unlike Keith Smith, Olawale can do a little something as a runner and receiver.

This isn't the type of deal that get fans excited, but it is one that improved the team, if only a little.

 

[Risen Star]

Didn't we do the same thing with O line coaches? Did we swap with the Bengals?

Yes they did.

Excited?