CCBoy
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Jerry and his staff are knee deep in the observation and interviews of a large class of draftable players in this year's Combine.
I understand the development of a general guideline set by GM's. They tend to class according to a longer termed projection that includes the concept of positional development and specific need in a particular team's scheme and it's current roster needs.
A head coach wants someone to fill needs to be met on the current year, and tends towards finding a direct slot fill.
There is a melting of roles, presented both by the head coach, worried about job security right now...and that of the GM, who has to maintain a cap management ensuring continuity between functional parts on the field today.
This understanding gives a fan more of a tool for understanding just where Jerry the owner and Jerry the GM has taken his team over the past seven years.
Jerry had to take a concept of play that entailed a run of Super Bowl Lombardi level play, and adapt to a changing environment in play in the NFL at the time that the wheels of that Aikman, Irvin, and Smith bus started to come apart and off the bus. After discussion with Bill Parcells, a franchise approach to concepts of play was arrived upon. A departure from historical Cowboy philosophy changed. The 3-4 scheme was chosen to develop and take advantage of tendencies coming into and being used in the league this past decade.
Jerry Jones, the GM, made the decision of franchise change and brought Bill Parcells to establish the new system and to direct the change of personnel needed to accomplish the system change. Bill Parcells brought in an accepted accountability as well as respected level of discipline and respect to the organization.
Working as a team, a foundation was laid for a tough and responsive defense. The team went from one of a low level of play, to once again being competitive on a fundamental basis.
When personal demands and cost of forging such a dynamic change caused Bill to step down and move on, the momentum of direction and change had already been established. This didn't just take Jerry off the hook. Jerry the GM, then had to forge a continuing process of player and team progressions to point towards a top level of play, and not just reflect improvements at more basic levels.
Upon the departure of Parcells, there were transitionary personnel who were acquired on more of a temporary basis propelled by need and low cost availability needing to be uprooted and changed. There also was a group of players of a senior nature and no longer adding to a final type of current direction.
When it was that Jerry chose a head coach with very strong ties to long earned respectability in the league for 3-4 defenses to marry up with an offensive honed and NFL experience youthfully growing offensive mind, it wasn't for drama or appeal of ego. It wasn't in a naive rush to return to a challenge of a former beginning and the change from Tom Landry and a floundering Cowboy franchise then. It was forged in direction and an overriding view that had parameters of measurement; principals of accountability; and a very broad and experienced group of evaluators participating in talent evaluations at all levels on and off the field as well as a coaching staff forged in NFL experience and high levels of achievements.
This past season, the aging elements to a youthfully directed new team, that no longer projected beyond a game to game basis, if that....well, were given fresh opportunities on another team. This nucleus of starters developed and jelled into a group that had opportunity to strike deep into the playoffs. This wasn't by luck or a sudden change of fortune. They were forged under game conditions and came together with a unifying aspect of performance.
Three key elements were added in acquisitions of veteran players with a shelf life longer than a single year or two. They all were on the defensive side, where direct successes were directed by Wade Phillips himself. This was the first real opportunity to put a personal influence as to direction in his own style of choosing came to the front. The draft, although, was another story. It had to revert, due to the progression of the draft itself, to rebuilding the bottom of the roster and giving support type players a much stronger and developing picture of youthfullness.
Last year's draft churned the bottom 1/3rd of the Cowboys' roster and gave an upward and current view of an upward progression and development to the present roster.
This year's draft is different although. The team has learned to persevere through opportunity and real strengths in player evaluations to finally be in a position to make some franchise strengthening moves in this year's draft.
This year's draft has changed in complexion of presentment. The starting positions on both sides of the ball, are pretty well set. The maneuverings of Jerry, the GM, has established and correctly projected into this year's NFL confrontation coming into consideration as to standards of conduct there. The team has already established franchise stabelizing signings and ensured a very strong progression from any and all fallouts that loom in the immediate future on other teams.
The core of a very strong football team are in tact, and are insured of remaining close to standard into the near future. Thanks to the actions of Jerry the GM.
This draft is a different animal, unseen by Cowboy fans, since the times when Jerry and Jimmy were wheeling and dealing to bring some talent together for their very first run through the playoffs. This team can now build quality depth behind it's established starters, and push stronger direction into the team and it's ability to adapt and cope with a conflicting schedule and injury limitations on field play.
This team now can selectively pick and choose players that will add an intensity of dynamics that are already present on the team.
This is a very intense period for these evaluators in this current Combine. It appears to be loaded with quality players and presents a vast array of talent that can now be added to an already good team. An opportunity for deep roots are being cultivated right now at this Combine. It is being forged by a team atmosphere, inclusive of both the GM and his coaches, but inclusive of a broad support team of evaluators as well.
Standards of comparison were established and specifics of present team abilities clarrified with an eye now to the future. The team knows what it is looking for, and now will see who and what combination best excells it's own directions.
In the past, these Cowboys might have approached this draft with a merit slide-rule stick, that would not have allowed the consideration of a non-starter to have been taken in the first two rounds. Needs might have even in the past dictated the taking of a lesser talented player to meet a positional specific need.
This year, the Dallas Cowboys can now approach the blending of actual implied talent levels with positions being presented, without trying to force a selection into a need consideration.
This biggest clarifying issue then becomes simply identifying a best talent on the board and giving him developmental opportunities. This is need of development is even buffered this year, due to the number from last season who were removed from the active roster and relegated to physical development and getting schooled in the NFL.
It now is possible to take an offensive tackle in the first round, without expecting him to jump right out on the left side and starting. An offensive interior lineman can be allowed to interact with All Pro interior linemen and grow into a functional role with more specific skills being sought to combine with current philosophies and team tendencies.
Houck and Garrett can now bend the selection process to include a massive and aggressive offensive lineman guideline more specificly directed to specifics of play in a Dallas Cowboy team. It isn't whether he can first start at right tackle and bump over to the left, but grow and later assume a more matured slotting.
That is light years beyond the scenario that Jerry and Parcells started out upon the pathway of which, now eight years ago.
This Combine and April's draft is where progress should be heading, with drafting of youth to fill team direction and not just slots.
I understand the development of a general guideline set by GM's. They tend to class according to a longer termed projection that includes the concept of positional development and specific need in a particular team's scheme and it's current roster needs.
A head coach wants someone to fill needs to be met on the current year, and tends towards finding a direct slot fill.
There is a melting of roles, presented both by the head coach, worried about job security right now...and that of the GM, who has to maintain a cap management ensuring continuity between functional parts on the field today.
This understanding gives a fan more of a tool for understanding just where Jerry the owner and Jerry the GM has taken his team over the past seven years.
Jerry had to take a concept of play that entailed a run of Super Bowl Lombardi level play, and adapt to a changing environment in play in the NFL at the time that the wheels of that Aikman, Irvin, and Smith bus started to come apart and off the bus. After discussion with Bill Parcells, a franchise approach to concepts of play was arrived upon. A departure from historical Cowboy philosophy changed. The 3-4 scheme was chosen to develop and take advantage of tendencies coming into and being used in the league this past decade.
Jerry Jones, the GM, made the decision of franchise change and brought Bill Parcells to establish the new system and to direct the change of personnel needed to accomplish the system change. Bill Parcells brought in an accepted accountability as well as respected level of discipline and respect to the organization.
Working as a team, a foundation was laid for a tough and responsive defense. The team went from one of a low level of play, to once again being competitive on a fundamental basis.
When personal demands and cost of forging such a dynamic change caused Bill to step down and move on, the momentum of direction and change had already been established. This didn't just take Jerry off the hook. Jerry the GM, then had to forge a continuing process of player and team progressions to point towards a top level of play, and not just reflect improvements at more basic levels.
Upon the departure of Parcells, there were transitionary personnel who were acquired on more of a temporary basis propelled by need and low cost availability needing to be uprooted and changed. There also was a group of players of a senior nature and no longer adding to a final type of current direction.
When it was that Jerry chose a head coach with very strong ties to long earned respectability in the league for 3-4 defenses to marry up with an offensive honed and NFL experience youthfully growing offensive mind, it wasn't for drama or appeal of ego. It wasn't in a naive rush to return to a challenge of a former beginning and the change from Tom Landry and a floundering Cowboy franchise then. It was forged in direction and an overriding view that had parameters of measurement; principals of accountability; and a very broad and experienced group of evaluators participating in talent evaluations at all levels on and off the field as well as a coaching staff forged in NFL experience and high levels of achievements.
This past season, the aging elements to a youthfully directed new team, that no longer projected beyond a game to game basis, if that....well, were given fresh opportunities on another team. This nucleus of starters developed and jelled into a group that had opportunity to strike deep into the playoffs. This wasn't by luck or a sudden change of fortune. They were forged under game conditions and came together with a unifying aspect of performance.
Three key elements were added in acquisitions of veteran players with a shelf life longer than a single year or two. They all were on the defensive side, where direct successes were directed by Wade Phillips himself. This was the first real opportunity to put a personal influence as to direction in his own style of choosing came to the front. The draft, although, was another story. It had to revert, due to the progression of the draft itself, to rebuilding the bottom of the roster and giving support type players a much stronger and developing picture of youthfullness.
Last year's draft churned the bottom 1/3rd of the Cowboys' roster and gave an upward and current view of an upward progression and development to the present roster.
This year's draft is different although. The team has learned to persevere through opportunity and real strengths in player evaluations to finally be in a position to make some franchise strengthening moves in this year's draft.
This year's draft has changed in complexion of presentment. The starting positions on both sides of the ball, are pretty well set. The maneuverings of Jerry, the GM, has established and correctly projected into this year's NFL confrontation coming into consideration as to standards of conduct there. The team has already established franchise stabelizing signings and ensured a very strong progression from any and all fallouts that loom in the immediate future on other teams.
The core of a very strong football team are in tact, and are insured of remaining close to standard into the near future. Thanks to the actions of Jerry the GM.
This draft is a different animal, unseen by Cowboy fans, since the times when Jerry and Jimmy were wheeling and dealing to bring some talent together for their very first run through the playoffs. This team can now build quality depth behind it's established starters, and push stronger direction into the team and it's ability to adapt and cope with a conflicting schedule and injury limitations on field play.
This team now can selectively pick and choose players that will add an intensity of dynamics that are already present on the team.
This is a very intense period for these evaluators in this current Combine. It appears to be loaded with quality players and presents a vast array of talent that can now be added to an already good team. An opportunity for deep roots are being cultivated right now at this Combine. It is being forged by a team atmosphere, inclusive of both the GM and his coaches, but inclusive of a broad support team of evaluators as well.
Standards of comparison were established and specifics of present team abilities clarrified with an eye now to the future. The team knows what it is looking for, and now will see who and what combination best excells it's own directions.
In the past, these Cowboys might have approached this draft with a merit slide-rule stick, that would not have allowed the consideration of a non-starter to have been taken in the first two rounds. Needs might have even in the past dictated the taking of a lesser talented player to meet a positional specific need.
This year, the Dallas Cowboys can now approach the blending of actual implied talent levels with positions being presented, without trying to force a selection into a need consideration.
This biggest clarifying issue then becomes simply identifying a best talent on the board and giving him developmental opportunities. This is need of development is even buffered this year, due to the number from last season who were removed from the active roster and relegated to physical development and getting schooled in the NFL.
It now is possible to take an offensive tackle in the first round, without expecting him to jump right out on the left side and starting. An offensive interior lineman can be allowed to interact with All Pro interior linemen and grow into a functional role with more specific skills being sought to combine with current philosophies and team tendencies.
Houck and Garrett can now bend the selection process to include a massive and aggressive offensive lineman guideline more specificly directed to specifics of play in a Dallas Cowboy team. It isn't whether he can first start at right tackle and bump over to the left, but grow and later assume a more matured slotting.
That is light years beyond the scenario that Jerry and Parcells started out upon the pathway of which, now eight years ago.
This Combine and April's draft is where progress should be heading, with drafting of youth to fill team direction and not just slots.
