Football player vs. athlete: biggest question for our draft

[NorthwestDallas40]

It seems like our FO has been prioritizing SPARQ scores and athleticism in many of our draft and free agent decisions. Hence, draft picks like Byron Jones and free agents like Benson Mayowa. It will be interesting to see what we do at #4 if faced with a good football player who does not have elite testing scores for athleticism, Joey Bosa, vs. a guy with elite athleticism but maybe not the toughest or fundamentally sound football player, Myles Jack (I am assuming Jalen Ramsey is off the board and we are not picking a QB). It's an interesting philosophical question. I, for one, usually lean toward the athlete, but in this case I'd prefer Bosa because I think he is greater than the sum of his parts.

 

[BermyStar]

Interesting conversation. I'd go with Jack because I believe he has only scratched the surface as far as his ability as a football player. With the right coaching he could be molded into a very special player. BTW I do like Bosa as well.

 

[BAT]

Speaking of elite SPARQ players, remember the name Justin Simmons. He tested out very similarly to Jalen Ramsey but with the added benefit of creating turnovers.

 

[AzorAhai]

I don't think the team is nearly as interested in Jack as a lot of fans are. He's not even getting a visit and they brought in half the projected 1st Rd prospects. That's pretty telling if you ask me.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I don't think the team is nearly as interested in Jack as a lot of fans are. He's not even getting a visit and they brought in half the projected 1st Rd prospects. That's pretty telling if you ask me.

Maybe they are smart enough not to take a 4-3 LB #4

 

[Jake0]

I don't think the team is nearly as interested in Jack as a lot of fans are. He's not even getting a visit and they brought in half the projected 1st Rd prospects. That's pretty telling if you ask me.

I believe it was stated somewhere that he is waiting as long as he can before doing visits for medical reasons.

 

[AzorAhai]

Maybe they are smart enough not to take a 4-3 LB #4

I hope so. I really like Jack, but the knee injury, the position he plays, the fact he is a projection and the short shelf life of LBs would have me go away from LB. We've seen how many LBs retire young recently?

 

[AzorAhai]

I believe it was stated somewhere that he is waiting as long as he can before doing visits for medical reasons.

Well we've scheduled 25-26 guys already with 10+ being 1st Rd projected players. If he's not scheduled yet, I doubt he is at all.

 

[jnday]

It seems like our FO has been prioritizing SPARQ scores and athleticism in many of our draft and free agent decisions. Hence, draft picks like Byron Jones and free agents like Benson Mayowa. It will be interesting to see what we do at #4 if faced with a good football player who does not have elite testing scores for athleticism, Joey Bosa, vs. a guy with elite athleticism but maybe not the toughest or fundamentally sound football player, Myles Jack (I am assuming Jalen Ramsey is off the board and we are not picking a QB). It's an interesting philosophical question. I, for one, usually lean toward the athlete, but in this case I'd prefer Bosa because I think he is greater than the sum of his parts.

Drafting the athlete gets you players like Bruce Carter. He had every physical tool that a great player needs, but for various reasons it didn't show up on the field. It is a very common problem when you pick an athlete over a football player.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I don't think the team is nearly as interested in Jack as a lot of fans are. He's not even getting a visit and they brought in half the projected 1st Rd prospects. That's pretty telling if you ask me.

They might be waiting until he can run full speed. I think I saw that he will run a 40 on April 14 or something.

 

[RS12]

Drafting the athlete gets you players like Bruce Carter. He had every physical tool that a great player needs, but for various reasons it didn't show up on the field. It is a very common problem when you pick an athlete over a football player.

Those various reasons were above the neck.

 

[AzorAhai]

They might be waiting until he can run full speed. I think I saw that he will run a 40 on April 14 or something.

I'm almost positive they said he's not running at all. His recheck is the 14th or 15th.

 

[texbumthelife]

It seems like our FO has been prioritizing SPARQ scores and athleticism in many of our draft and free agent decisions. Hence, draft picks like Byron Jones and free agents like Benson Mayowa. It will be interesting to see what we do at #4 if faced with a good football player who does not have elite testing scores for athleticism, Joey Bosa, vs. a guy with elite athleticism but maybe not the toughest or fundamentally sound football player, Myles Jack (I am assuming Jalen Ramsey is off the board and we are not picking a QB). It's an interesting philosophical question. I, for one, usually lean toward the athlete, but in this case I'd prefer Bosa because I think he is greater than the sum of his parts.

Bosa's combine numbers, outside of his 40, we actually incredibly good for someone his size and proved his short area burst and quickness, which is what most questioned.

 

[texbumthelife]

I'm almost positive they said he's not running at all. His recheck is the 14th or 15th.

I know he is a forum favorite, but if Jack can't run before the draft, he would likely be off my board in the first round. I've thought the situation has been sketchy all along and that would just further fuel my suspicions.

 

[tyke1doe]

Go with the football player, especially that high.
The difference between a football player and an athlete is the difference between Tyler Lockett and Golden Tate, the difference between Mike Singletary and Aundray Bruce (remember him?), the difference between Russell Wilson and R.G. III, the difference between Jerry Rice and Al Toon.

The athlete can perform all the measurable, but the football player can perform on the field when it counts.

 

[AzorAhai]

I know he is a forum favorite, but if Jack can't run before the draft, he would likely be off my board in the first round. I've thought the situation has been sketchy all along and that would just further fuel my suspicions.

I don't think the Cowboys are interested. When they bring in 10-12 high 1st Rd players for visits and he's not one of them, that tells me all I need to know. I don't know if it's his injury, his position or something else, but whatever it is, I don't think he's an option unless he falls significantly.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

They might be waiting until he can run full speed. I think I saw that he will run a 40 on April 14 or something.

He will not run a 40 before the draft........

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Go with the football player, especially that high.
The difference between a football player and an athlete is the difference between Tyler Lockett and Golden Tate, the difference between Mike Singletary and Aundray Bruce (remember him?), the difference between Russell Wilson and R.G. III, the difference between Jerry Rice and Al Toon.

The athlete can perform all the measurable, but the football player can perform on the field when it counts.

I agree, Isaiah Stanback was a heck of an athlete, so was AOA, both are loading trailers at the Wal Mart warehouse because Wal Mart doesn't care about SPARQ scores.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I did find an explanation why Jack's recovery has been so long. Due to the location of the meniscus tear, they were able to stitch it back together and save the meniscus, which is good for Jack and for long term. The healing process is 4-6 months for this, so he is on the outside edge of the expected recovery time and I would imagine with an elite athlete, they are not going to push it when they still have 4-5 months before training camp and games.