Go big, or go home. Will McClay's philosophy shines

[erod]

It's music to the ears.

Mississippi State
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
Baylor
SMU
Tennessee
USC
Florida
Wisconsin
Notre Dame
LSU

When the starting offense appears in faces at the bottom right of the screen on Sunday Night, those are the schools you hear on our offense. Big, honkin', punch-you-in-the-mouth football programs.

The defense is starting to look the same, but needs to continue that path.

Oklahoma
Nebraska
Penn State
Notre Dame
Michigan
Colorado

If you make this team on from a small school - like Cole Beasley or Jeff Heath - for the most part, you're going to have to do it from the undrafted pool these days. It can be done, but not likely from the high perch of an early-draft pick.

The Cowboys now seem to turn a cold shoulder to the small schools for the most part. They're starting to shy away from the Boise State fascination. Byron Jones is slowly acclimating from his humble roots at UConn, but it's taking too much time and patience.

Will McClay wants dudes who've at least smelled the battlefield they're about to enter into. No more over-dabbling in the bin with the JJ Wilcox and Kareem Larrimore types. Stepfret Williams, Kavika Pittman...you know the names. The Larry Allens are so vastly few and far between.

This year's draft was more of the same:

Michigan
Colorado
Michigan
North Carolina
Florida State
Florida
Ohio State

I love it.

 

[Direwolf63]

Those who have played against top notch competition in college generally have a easier learning curve to the NFL.

The big stage in the NFL is not a big deal to them because they have been in the big stage already. 100,000+ fans for games in Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, etc. Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, conference championship games, National Championship games. They have seen it all before. The NFL isn't too big for them.

Playing in the SEC made Dak a better QB. Playing in the made Maliek Collins better.

Playing in big time college programs is where the top talent is. That's where you build your team from.

McClay figured it out and brought it to Dallas. Thank you Will.

 

[Longboysfan]

So Wentz will still be behind the curve.

 

[jday]

So Wentz will still be behind the curve.

I think Wentz will be a good quarterback for a long time, but Dak was clearly more prepared for the transition to the NFL and, in my opinion, it showed.

 

[funkytown]

I love drafting the big school guys. Like its been mentioned, playing in front of the big crowds, bright lights, and national spotlight for 3 or 4 years gives those guys a distinct advantage.

Not only that , the big school guys are practicing and competing against 4 or 5 start recruits on a daily basis. Its not easy. Iron sharpens iron

 

[GusTheo]

I think Wentz will be a good quarterback for a long time, but Dak was clearly more prepared for the transition to the NFL and, in my opinion, it showed.

While I tend to agree, let's not pretend like the situations each of those guys walked into were remotely similar.

 

[erod]

While I tend to agree, let's not pretend like the situations each of those guys walked into were remotely similar.

True, but here's the deal.

Dak played in the SEC, but on one of the least-talented teams in the SEC. He has played at Alabama with an inferior team, and actually played well. He played against NFL talent on a weekly basis.

NFL scouts have to be kicking themselves for ignoring that, even if he was a shotgun-only guy who checked down a lot.

Dak FINALLY has a chance to play in a league that doesn't have him at a talent disadvantage. It stands to reason he'd be better with an even playing field.

 

[Aven8]

Long gone are the days of converted safeties from Alabama St!!

 

[xwalker]

It's music to the ears.

Mississippi State
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
Baylor
SMU
Tennessee
USC
Florida
Wisconsin
Notre Dame
LSU

When the starting offense appears in faces at the bottom right of the screen on Sunday Night, those are the schools you hear on our offense. Big, honkin', punch-you-in-the-mouth football programs.

The defense is starting to look the same, but needs to continue that path.

Oklahoma
Nebraska
Penn State
Notre Dame
Michigan
Colorado

If you make this team on from a small school - like Cole Beasley or Jeff Heath - for the most part, you're going to have to do it from the undrafted pool these days. It can be done, but not likely from the high perch of an early-draft pick.

The Cowboys now seem to turn a cold shoulder to the small schools for the most part. They're starting to shy away from the Boise State fascination. Byron Jones is slowly acclimating from his humble roots at UConn, but it's taking too much time and patience.

Will McClay wants dudes who've at least smelled the battlefield they're about to enter into. No more over-dabbling in the bin with the JJ Wilcox and Kareem Larrimore types. Stepfret Williams, Kavika Pittman...you know the names. The Larry Allens are so vastly few and far between.

This year's draft was more of the same:

Michigan
Colorado
Michigan
North Carolina
Florida State
Florida
Ohio State

I love it.

Claiborne...

 

[CATCH17]

It's music to the ears.

Mississippi State
Ohio State
Oklahoma State
Baylor
SMU
Tennessee
USC
Florida
Wisconsin
Notre Dame
LSU

When the starting offense appears in faces at the bottom right of the screen on Sunday Night, those are the schools you hear on our offense. Big, honkin', punch-you-in-the-mouth football programs.

The defense is starting to look the same, but needs to continue that path.

Oklahoma
Nebraska
Penn State
Notre Dame
Michigan
Colorado

If you make this team on from a small school - like Cole Beasley or Jeff Heath - for the most part, you're going to have to do it from the undrafted pool these days. It can be done, but not likely from the high perch of an early-draft pick.

The Cowboys now seem to turn a cold shoulder to the small schools for the most part. They're starting to shy away from the Boise State fascination. Byron Jones is slowly acclimating from his humble roots at UConn, but it's taking too much time and patience.

Will McClay wants dudes who've at least smelled the battlefield they're about to enter into. No more over-dabbling in the bin with the JJ Wilcox and Kareem Larrimore types. Stepfret Williams, Kavika Pittman...you know the names. The Larry Allens are so vastly few and far between.

This year's draft was more of the same:

Michigan
Colorado
Michigan
North Carolina
Florida State
Florida
Ohio State

I love it.

Kind of snuck SMU in there didn't they?

 

[John813]

(Nitpicking)
Boise State hasn't been too bad for us, has it?

Got a long time starter/nickel guy in Scandrick.
Lawrence and Crawford have talent, but have been hampered by injuries. And Crawford got super high expectations put on him after that contract extension.

Glad to see the team shift to the "premier" NCAA teams. Better training staff, good competition and coaching.
I'm all for day 3 being a mix of FBS and FCS schools if someone blows them away SPARQ wise or something. But no more risks like that in the 3rd round for example.

 

[casmith07]

So Wentz will still be behind the curve.

Way behind. He's hot garbage.

 

[casmith07]

(Nitpicking)
Boise State hasn't been too bad for us, has it?

Got a long time starter/nickel guy in Scandrick.
Lawrence and Crawford have talent, but have been hampered by injuries. And Crawford got super high expectations put on him after that contract extension.

Glad to see the team shift to the "premier" NCAA teams. Better training staff, good competition and coaching.
I'm all for day 3 being a mix of FBS and FCS schools if someone blows them away SPARQ wise or something. But no more risks like that in the 3rd round for example.

Scandrick has punched above his weight his entire career. He is the exception, not the rule.

And you're right - we now draft heavily from premier schools, and only dip into second tier schools if their SPARQ scores are off the charts.

It's paying off. We're 1 offseason away from a nasty defense.

 

[viman96]

While I tend to agree, let's not pretend like the situations each of those guys walked into were remotely similar.

When comes to both Dak and Zeke, many either do not realize or forget that both played in a very similar offense at their respective schools as what the Cowboys run now. The learning curve for both was easier because of that. Obviously you still need the talent in the NFL to produce at the level they do.

 

[casmith07]

Claiborne...

It doesn't mean it's flawless, sheesh. Come on, dude.

 

[gimmesix]

I think the overall philosophy is sound, but obviously each player needs to be considered on his merits. The problems with mining the small schools is that while there are a few gems, there's also a whole lot of coal.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

The salary cap requires players to contribute earlier in their careers than in the past. On balance, players from stronger college programs are more likely to make a rapid transition. Obviously there are exceptions, but in most cases, this is true. And teams can't afford more than one or two roster "projects." The guys have to see the live bullets straight out of basic.

 

[EPL0c0]

Playing in big time college programs is where the top talent is. That's where you build your team from.

McClay figured it out and brought it to Dallas. Thank you Will.

A while back there was discussion on here (may have been last year) about whether McClay could ever be named GM in Dallas.

Question was if Jerry would be willing to step down and hire McClay.

I think it's just a matter of time before another organization tries to lure McClay out of Dallas. I just hope we don't end up with another Jerry/Jimmy type situation where Jerry thinks he can do fine w/o a guy like McClay and the organization suffers for it.

Not saying he's the end-all be-all for GM candidates, but IMO McClay's done a job thus far.

 

[erod]

Way behind. He's hot garbage.

Disagree. Wentz is going to be good. He and Dak are going to battle for a decade.

 

[Longboysfan]

Disagree. Wentz is going to be good. He and Dak are going to battle for a decade.

Doubtful. Eagle fans will run him out of town if they do not win.