Pet Cat Nominations

xwalker

Well-Known Member
Messages
56,982
Reaction score
64,455
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
I have selected my pet cat for this offseason. And the winner is.

Wide Receiver Devin Smith
Devin Smith is a former 2nd round pick, #37 overall by the New York Jets from the 2015 NFL Draft. He's had some really bad luck with injuries, which have so far derailed his NFL career. The former Ohio State Buckeye tore his ACL in November of his rookie season, and then spent most of his 2nd season on the PUP list while recovering from knee surgery. Before the draft in 2017, it was revealed that Smith had torn the same ACL, and the Jets waived him on May 22, 2017, and he spent the year on injured reserve. Then he was cut in early 2018. He's spent the last two seasons out of football getting his knee well.

This situation reminds of another high pick in 2002 - OT Marc Colombo, selected 29th overall in the 1st round by the Chicago Bears. Like Smith, he tore up his knee in November of his rookie year, and spent the next two seasons on injured reserve, being cut by the Bears in September 2005. The Cowboys took a flyer on him in late November of 2005. He played a little on special teams, but never got a chance to play Tackle until 2006 - 4 years after being drafted by the Bears. He then went on to play 5 years as the Cowboys starting Right Tackle.

I'd love to see Devin Smith recover like Colombo did, and give the Cowboys 5 good seasons as a slot receiver. He's certainly talented, and now that his knee has had two years to recover, I'm curious to see what he can do. I don't expect him to beat out Randall Cobb. But it wouldn't hurt my feelings for him to beat out Tavon Austin and Allen Hurns as the backup to Cobb, and then take over the starting slot receiver role in 2020.

Here is the scouting report on Smith coming out of college in 2015:

6'-0". 196 lbs, 4.44s 40 yard dash, 6.83s 3-cone,

STRENGTHS
Smooth speed merchant with instant gas off the line. Has outstanding body composure and an effortless stride. Electrifying foot quickness. Game-breaking speed with necessary feel of a downfield receiver. Tracks the throw over his shoulder and never breaks stride in the chase. Averaged 28.2 yards per catch and 54.5 percent of his catches were for 25-plus yards in 2014. Used outside and from slot. Must be matched by speed on defense or with safety over the top. Uses shoulder dip from inside release to avoid being redirected by slot corner. Speed creates uncontested targets for him underneath. Can snap off dig routes and open immediately. Good luck giving chase to Smith on a crosser or speed-out in the red zone. Might have been the best gunner in college football.

WEAKNESSES

Lacks natural, soft hands. Will double catch and corral throws into body. Tries to catch, turn and run before securing the throw. Shows a lack of patience in his routes. Game too heavily reliant upon speed. Must learn to be effective when deep ball is restricted by defense. Thin hips and frame. Play strength is below average. Can be frustrated by physical corners. Gets jostled and distracted when bodied hard down the field. Desire lacking as run blocker. Often taken off field and replaced when Buckeyes wanted to run out of "11" personnel.

DRAFT PROJECTION

Round 2

NFL COMPARISON

DeSean Jackson

BOTTOM LINE

Smith isn't just combine-fast, he's game-fast and he would have had more than 12 touchdown catches during the 2014 season if he didn't have to slow down and wait on throws so often. Smith has the feet and hips to become much more than a deep-ball specialist and should be able to step right into a gunner spot on special teams. He still needs to learn his craft and improve his hands, but he has rare speed to score from anywhere on the field.

Devin Smith is a good choice.
 

Pantone282C

Well-Known Member
Messages
9,794
Reaction score
14,729
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
I have selected my pet cat for this offseason. And the winner is.

Wide Receiver Devin Smith
Devin Smith is a former 2nd round pick, #37 overall by the New York Jets from the 2015 NFL Draft. He's had some really bad luck with injuries, which have so far derailed his NFL career. The former Ohio State Buckeye tore his ACL in November of his rookie season, and then spent most of his 2nd season on the PUP list while recovering from knee surgery. Before the draft in 2017, it was revealed that Smith had torn the same ACL, and the Jets waived him on May 22, 2017, and he spent the year on injured reserve. Then he was cut in early 2018. He's spent the last two seasons out of football getting his knee well.

This situation reminds of another high pick in 2002 - OT Marc Colombo, selected 29th overall in the 1st round by the Chicago Bears. Like Smith, he tore up his knee in November of his rookie year, and spent the next two seasons on injured reserve, being cut by the Bears in September 2005. The Cowboys took a flyer on him in late November of 2005. He played a little on special teams, but never got a chance to play Tackle until 2006 - 4 years after being drafted by the Bears. He then went on to play 5 years as the Cowboys starting Right Tackle.

I'd love to see Devin Smith recover like Colombo did, and give the Cowboys 5 good seasons as a slot receiver. He's certainly talented, and now that his knee has had two years to recover, I'm curious to see what he can do. I don't expect him to beat out Randall Cobb. But it wouldn't hurt my feelings for him to beat out Tavon Austin and Allen Hurns as the backup to Cobb, and then take over the starting slot receiver role in 2020.

Here is the scouting report on Smith coming out of college in 2015:

6'-0". 196 lbs, 4.44s 40 yard dash, 6.83s 3-cone,

STRENGTHS
Smooth speed merchant with instant gas off the line. Has outstanding body composure and an effortless stride. Electrifying foot quickness. Game-breaking speed with necessary feel of a downfield receiver. Tracks the throw over his shoulder and never breaks stride in the chase. Averaged 28.2 yards per catch and 54.5 percent of his catches were for 25-plus yards in 2014. Used outside and from slot. Must be matched by speed on defense or with safety over the top. Uses shoulder dip from inside release to avoid being redirected by slot corner. Speed creates uncontested targets for him underneath. Can snap off dig routes and open immediately. Good luck giving chase to Smith on a crosser or speed-out in the red zone. Might have been the best gunner in college football.

WEAKNESSES

Lacks natural, soft hands. Will double catch and corral throws into body. Tries to catch, turn and run before securing the throw. Shows a lack of patience in his routes. Game too heavily reliant upon speed. Must learn to be effective when deep ball is restricted by defense. Thin hips and frame. Play strength is below average. Can be frustrated by physical corners. Gets jostled and distracted when bodied hard down the field. Desire lacking as run blocker. Often taken off field and replaced when Buckeyes wanted to run out of "11" personnel.

DRAFT PROJECTION

Round 2

NFL COMPARISON

DeSean Jackson

BOTTOM LINE

Smith isn't just combine-fast, he's game-fast and he would have had more than 12 touchdown catches during the 2014 season if he didn't have to slow down and wait on throws so often. Smith has the feet and hips to become much more than a deep-ball specialist and should be able to step right into a gunner spot on special teams. He still needs to learn his craft and improve his hands, but he has rare speed to score from anywhere on the field.
Michael Gallup. What a nice one-two punch with Cooper.
 

acr731

Jerry learned to GM from Pee Wee Herman
Messages
8,653
Reaction score
24,075
My pet cat.........

giphy.gif
 

GenoT

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,985
Reaction score
8,739
Jason Witten.

All he’s gotta do is beat out Rico Gathers and he’ll make the 53.

Book it!
 

nobody

Well-Known Member
Messages
10,445
Reaction score
18,573
I have no pet cats. They ALL need to put up or shut up. I guess I'd admit to my pet cats being the players who do shut up and do their job while working hard to perfect their craft. Those players, when they speak, are humble and team-oriented.
 

gimmesix

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
Messages
38,026
Reaction score
35,057
Kerry Hyder. We really need someone to be that inside pressure player who can be consistently disruptive. I don't think Hyder will be used much in running situations at DT, but he could be a factor on passing plays if he's fully recovered.

At 6-2, 270, he's thickly built to play inside. He's got good movement skills, which his 2016 season attest to, when he had eight sacks. And he's two years removed from the torn Achilles that kept him out for all of 2017 and likely limited him last year.
 

Ring6

StarSchema
Messages
1,761
Reaction score
1,507
I'm gonna cheat and wait to see the draft picks … I am horrible at guessing who they will pick.

although I am a fan of Cornerback Jimmy Moreland, who will probably go undrafted but I expect him to make a team and eventually get playing time.
 
Top