Marvez: Cowboys Used Senior Bowl As Intelligence Experiment

[DuDa]

So we get us some more Caleb McSurdy types?

Good ole' dirty McSurdy.

 

[conner01]

If this were an opposing coach the zone loved everyone would be on the other side of the fence.

But since it's Garrett and co everyone played their role.

I agree
I think some are letting their opinion of Garrett drive their opinion of everything he does
Had the other teams coach did the same thing many of those bashing the idea would have been calling it innovative

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

It's actually a good way to teach the fundamentals of an offensive system.

We shall see, good chap!

 

[conner01]

Wrong....that's not critical thinking at all. It's note-taking and memorization only, the lowest level of thinking. I'm not saying this to argue, but I've been teacher for 26 years, an instructional coach for 6, and now the instructional specialist for a district with 23 middle and high schools. That doesn't make me an expert on football, but I am knowledgeable about learning, thinking, and assessment. What Garrett and his staff did may serve a great purpose for them on some unexplained level, but it has zero to do with critical thinking and problem solving. Most kids learned to take notes and study in elementary school.

Isn't handing them a playbook also memorization ? I mean the only difference is the players took notes or drew up plays themselves as opposed to it being printed out for them

 

[skinsscalper]

I don't know what you are talking about. Never said anything about Cowboys not having a play book. Football is a simple game. IF you think different, then that is your opinion. Everyone does the same stuff all over the league. Route Tree, blocking schemes, blitzes, ect....ect... Its all about execution and strategy during the game. Pushing the buttons.

Their job was not to evaluate the players. It was to put their players in the best position to win and showcase their talent for the scouts and NFL people. Not some micro lab experiment for their own personal gain.

Wrong. If the Cowboys DIDN'T use that opportunity to get a leg up in evaluations they would have been absolute idiots. They had ZERO, literally zero obligation to showcase those kids' talents. Their college careers have done all the talking about their play that needs to be said at that point. The Cowboys coaching staff knew all they needed to know about these kids' physical talent through scouting and coaching them throughout the week. They got insight that NO OTHER TEAM in the league got that week: how smart is this guy and does his talent align with his football smarts?

 

[VACowboy]

We shall see, good chap!

See what? Garrett's offense is still Garrett's crappy offense, no matter how it's presented to the players.

I don't think anybody has insinuated that the Cowboys do or should use the notebook method of teaching. Certainly not I. But some people are acting like this is something new and radical to football, and it's not.

 

[Dodger12]

These don't test the ability to read, understand, and act on concepts, plays and formations. The coaches want to know if these kids can think well and reason. Football at the NFL level is much more than x's & o's.

And a blank playbook will? Nonsense......

 

[Dodger12]

I see your point, but I had a completely different take on the tactic. For one, every player there was a Senior, so most, if not all had played college ball for four years. No scout/GM worth a sack of beans is going to put much stock into the actual results of one "all-star" game...that's what four years of collegiate football was for...that's where all the real value is. About the only thing of value in these types of games, and even the combine, is getting a first hand look at their work ethic, their athleticism, measurables, and so on. I think it was shrewd of JG to try to evaluate some things that wouldn't otherwise get evaluated. I sure would not change my opinion of a player one way or the other based on how he played in one all star game. It would be the other things I would be looking for, and I think that's what Garrett did. That's just my amateur opinion.

It happens all the time. Guys shoot up draft boards after they're "unstoppable" or "unblockable" during the Senior Bowl practice week and the game. The same with the combine. Happens all the time.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

See what? Garrett's offense is still Garrett's crappy offense, no matter how it's presented to the players.

I don't think anybody has insinuated that the Cowboys do or should use the notebook method of teaching. Certainly not I. But some people are acting like this is something new and radical to football, and it's not.

Perhaps something new and radical for the Cowboys, old fellow?

 

[Sydla]

Wow.........So it looks like the exact guy you were trying to defend just flushed your theory about the game down the toilet.

So either Garrett is a moron or people do watch the film from the games for scouting purposes? Which is it?

I am not defending Garrett at all. Frankly, I wish he had been fired. But I don't see anything wrong with his approach to how he handled practices and dealing with the team that week. I am not programmed like some of you to just ****** ***** about every single thing Garret does.

But the fact is, you went on and on about how important the game results are, about winning, etc............... and the guy you want to hate is apparently the only freaking coach in the entire league who apparently thinks there is real value in the game performances.

This isn't rocket science. You made a big deal about the game performance, want to rip Garrett and yet Garrett agrees with you and puts emphasis in the Senior Bowl game performance.

Here's the reality. Most teams and scouts put more emphasis on the practices and interviews than the actual game. Garrett for some reason puts a lot of emphasis on the game results. The whole issue with how he got the players to digest the playbook for the week is inconsequential at this point.

 

[LandryFan]

It happens all the time. Guys shoot up draft boards after they're "unstoppable" or "unblockable" during the Senior Bowl practice week and the game. The same with the combine. Happens all the time.

Honestly, I don't think that professional scouts drastically alter their opinions of a player based on how he played in an all star game. Not only is it a single game, but most players play very limited snaps in that game (maybe one quarter?) and it's with strange players/coaches/environment to boot. Now the media and fans, that's a whole 'nother story. Teams certainly do look at a number of things during the week of practice and during the combine, as well, that may fill in some gaps in their evaluation process, but the game itself means very little. JMO.

 

[Nightman]

This is why we miss on so many late round picks.

We try to get too cute and look for that RKG crap.

Just take players that have already shown the ability to play in the NFL. Not guys that can be created.

 

[VACowboy]

Perhaps something new and radical for the Cowboys, old fellow?

I seriously doubt the Cowboys, or any other NFL team, is gonna hand out blank notepads instead of playbooks.

 

[Silver Surfer]

FAILURE IS THE BEST TEACHER

Unless your last name is Jones.

 

[DandyDon52]

LOL. For those claiming the Senior Bowl game, itself, is really important. Note from this article from the AP that most teams leave after the practices are over, but there is one team that puts a ton of value in the actual game results..........



Hahahaha. So after ripping Garrett and saying the game is the best gauge of the talent here, it seems the one team who actually puts more value in the game than practices is......... the Cowboys.

now your contradicting yourself, you say the game doesnt matter, but now it does.
Just my opinion practice is not a good way to evaluate players, actual game conditions is better.

 

[Sydla]

now your contradicting yourself, you say the game doesnt matter, but now it does.
Just my opinion practice is not a good way to evaluate players, actual game conditions is better.

No, you just can't read. Nowhere did I say that the I believe the game results matter. I said Garrett thinks the game matters. And that's funny considering on one hand you say the game results matter but then want to rip Garrett even though you and he think the same way with regards to the Senior Bowl.

 

[visionary]

Marvez does not realize that the Cowboys actually gave out their entire playbook

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

we won our last Superbowl with Barry Switzer

 

[Miller]

Winning or losing means nothing in the Senior Bowl. If the coaching staff used this opportunity to win a football game, they have a lot more issues than we realize. The purpose of the event should solely be to evaluate players. It is more comparable to a NFL preseason game.

Right, but the opportunity should be to put players in a position to succeed on the field where you can see what they can do trying to win. Experiments that put a player trying to make a difference at a disadvantage are idiotic. The idea is for them to show what they have and JG put them in a position to look unprepared and lost...which they did..compared to polished for scouts.

 

[Kevinicus]

Sounds like they took advantage of an opportunity they wouldn't ordinarily have to test their prospective candidates for smarts. Let's hope it pays off on draft day.

I don't think note taking is really the best test of smarts.