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Free-agent scouting report
Cowboys DE Chris Canty
By Eric Edholm
Feb. 14, 2009
This is the fourth in a series of scouting reports on high-profile free agents, in which we summarize each player's status, analyze his strengths and weaknesses, assess whether or not his team is likely to re-sign him, and determine the risk factor for the team that signs him. These scouting reports will be posted daily through Feb. 27, the start of the free-agent signing period.
News: Although the Cowboys would like to retain Canty, they just might not be able to. After giving big-money contract extensions to a hoard of players last season — Marion Barber, Terence Newman, Terrell Owens, Roy E. Williams, Ken Hamlin and others — the Cowboys might be capped out for a player of Canty’s talent. His agent, Brad Blank, says a recent quote about his client deserving “Tommy Kelly money” (Kelly signed a seven-year, $50.5 million deal, a little over $18 million of it guaranteed, a year ago) was taken slightly out of context.
“I don’t mean to be so obnoxious to suggest that I know what Chris Canty is going to make or what he’s worth,” Blank told PFW. “In this process I am just the auctioneer in which teams set the market. But then, based on my instincts and predictions, I don’t see why [Canty] would be in a worse position than that. That was my point. I wasn’t saying, ‘Tommy Kelly money, or else.’ The market forms and a player’s worth what teams will pay.”
It appears more likely with each day that Canty won’t return to Dallas, and the two sides have not talked about an extension since last August, although he wouldn’t be opposed to coming back. And Canty certainly didn’t quiet speculation that the Dolphins might be the most likely landing spot after he said on a Sirius Radio appearance, “I’ve always said there’s a part of me that’s always going to be a [Bill] Parcells guy.”
Blank said the fact that his client is probably strictly a 3-4 end doesn’t hurt Canty’s value because the 3-4 is increasing in popularity, leaguewide, with traditional 4-3 teams such as the Broncos and Packers converting to odd fronts this fall.
The Cowboys’ clear priority right now is that they want to re-sign DeMarcus Ware, whose contract runs out after next season, and that’s going to eat up a lot of guaranteed money. They also have talked to NT Jay Ratliff about playing more end, which has fueled the talk that Canty is going elsewhere.
Notes: Like most 3-4 ends, Canty’s statistics are not overly impressive. In the Cowboys’ system, his job is not to rush the passer all out like Ware. Rather, Canty most often is asked to hold the point and sometimes take on guard-tackle double-teams. He has played right end in this system since college under Al Groh at Virginia and has the perfect build for the spot at 6-7 and 300 pounds. He has had 6½ sacks the past two seasons combined, which is right about what you’d expect, given the system and his responsibilities. Canty often helped pave the way for Ware, who had one of the best seasons of any pass rusher in the past five seasons, notching 20 sacks lining up right behind Canty.
Strengths: Canty has long arms and can close down passing lanes. He gets good leverage and can drive and move big offensive tackles. Canty adequately takes on double-teams and will surprise once in a while with his pass-rush technique. As right ends go, he’s a strong run defender — and those are hard to find. His experience in the system and coachability are both big positives for 3-4 teams.
Weaknesses: Scouts have said for two years that Canty lacks a mean streak and needs to play with a lot more ferocity, which would make him a terror given his rare physical skills. No one has expected him to put up big sack totals, but Canty’s lack of forced fumbles and other big plays have been surprising for a three-down player. He has been a slow starter the past few seasons, although he has finished strong. That said, there are some who question Canty’s motor just a bit and believe that top-notch tackles can neutralize him.
Risk factor: Low. Canty had two serious injuries his senior season at UVA that caused him to fall from the first round to a fourth-round pick, but he has played every game — starting the past 48 — since entering the league in 2005. He is what he is, a good base 3-4 end who can kick inside to tackle in four-man-front pass defenses, and the market is almost certainly not going to reach Kelly heights. Canty won’t make a ton of plays for you, and his ceiling might not be much higher, so you know pretty much what you are getting.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Free+Agency/2009/canty021409.htm
Cowboys DE Chris Canty
By Eric Edholm
Feb. 14, 2009
This is the fourth in a series of scouting reports on high-profile free agents, in which we summarize each player's status, analyze his strengths and weaknesses, assess whether or not his team is likely to re-sign him, and determine the risk factor for the team that signs him. These scouting reports will be posted daily through Feb. 27, the start of the free-agent signing period.
News: Although the Cowboys would like to retain Canty, they just might not be able to. After giving big-money contract extensions to a hoard of players last season — Marion Barber, Terence Newman, Terrell Owens, Roy E. Williams, Ken Hamlin and others — the Cowboys might be capped out for a player of Canty’s talent. His agent, Brad Blank, says a recent quote about his client deserving “Tommy Kelly money” (Kelly signed a seven-year, $50.5 million deal, a little over $18 million of it guaranteed, a year ago) was taken slightly out of context.
“I don’t mean to be so obnoxious to suggest that I know what Chris Canty is going to make or what he’s worth,” Blank told PFW. “In this process I am just the auctioneer in which teams set the market. But then, based on my instincts and predictions, I don’t see why [Canty] would be in a worse position than that. That was my point. I wasn’t saying, ‘Tommy Kelly money, or else.’ The market forms and a player’s worth what teams will pay.”
It appears more likely with each day that Canty won’t return to Dallas, and the two sides have not talked about an extension since last August, although he wouldn’t be opposed to coming back. And Canty certainly didn’t quiet speculation that the Dolphins might be the most likely landing spot after he said on a Sirius Radio appearance, “I’ve always said there’s a part of me that’s always going to be a [Bill] Parcells guy.”
Blank said the fact that his client is probably strictly a 3-4 end doesn’t hurt Canty’s value because the 3-4 is increasing in popularity, leaguewide, with traditional 4-3 teams such as the Broncos and Packers converting to odd fronts this fall.
The Cowboys’ clear priority right now is that they want to re-sign DeMarcus Ware, whose contract runs out after next season, and that’s going to eat up a lot of guaranteed money. They also have talked to NT Jay Ratliff about playing more end, which has fueled the talk that Canty is going elsewhere.
Notes: Like most 3-4 ends, Canty’s statistics are not overly impressive. In the Cowboys’ system, his job is not to rush the passer all out like Ware. Rather, Canty most often is asked to hold the point and sometimes take on guard-tackle double-teams. He has played right end in this system since college under Al Groh at Virginia and has the perfect build for the spot at 6-7 and 300 pounds. He has had 6½ sacks the past two seasons combined, which is right about what you’d expect, given the system and his responsibilities. Canty often helped pave the way for Ware, who had one of the best seasons of any pass rusher in the past five seasons, notching 20 sacks lining up right behind Canty.
Strengths: Canty has long arms and can close down passing lanes. He gets good leverage and can drive and move big offensive tackles. Canty adequately takes on double-teams and will surprise once in a while with his pass-rush technique. As right ends go, he’s a strong run defender — and those are hard to find. His experience in the system and coachability are both big positives for 3-4 teams.
Weaknesses: Scouts have said for two years that Canty lacks a mean streak and needs to play with a lot more ferocity, which would make him a terror given his rare physical skills. No one has expected him to put up big sack totals, but Canty’s lack of forced fumbles and other big plays have been surprising for a three-down player. He has been a slow starter the past few seasons, although he has finished strong. That said, there are some who question Canty’s motor just a bit and believe that top-notch tackles can neutralize him.
Risk factor: Low. Canty had two serious injuries his senior season at UVA that caused him to fall from the first round to a fourth-round pick, but he has played every game — starting the past 48 — since entering the league in 2005. He is what he is, a good base 3-4 end who can kick inside to tackle in four-man-front pass defenses, and the market is almost certainly not going to reach Kelly heights. Canty won’t make a ton of plays for you, and his ceiling might not be much higher, so you know pretty much what you are getting.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Free+Agency/2009/canty021409.htm
