Roster Rundown: David Arkin

[johnnyd]

Updated: April 9, 2012, 2:20 PM
Roster Rundown
Arkin Needs To Make Strides In Second Year

Josh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

Editor's Note: Throughout the offseason, DallasCowboys.com staff writers will take a closer look at the roster, analyzing each player's impact last season and how he fits into the team's 2012 plans. Today's Roster Rundown entry features guard David Arkin.)



Name: David Arkin
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-5/307
Experience: 1 season
College: Missouri State

Key stat: Arkin was inactive for every game in 2011.

Contract Status: Signed through 2014

2011 Impact: Slim to none. When the Cowboys cut Leonard Davis, and decided to go young on the offensive line in training camp, Arkin was given the first shot to start. He ran with the first-team offense in the exhibition opener, but was replaced the next week by seventh-round guard Bill Nagy, and never challenged for playing time again. An undrafted rookie, Kevin Kowalski of Toledo, surpassed him in camp to win the role of swing lineman, the game-day backup at center and guard. The Cowboys signed three veteran guards during the year, further burying Arkin on the depth chart, and he was relegated to scout team duties throughout the regular season.

Where He Fits: Following the free agency additions of veterans Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau, Arkin would seem to have little to no shot to win a starting job in 2012, especially since the team does not view him as a center. While the rest of the interior linemen on the team are fairly unproven, Arkin seems to be on the bottom of the totem pole. If the team adds talented rookies at center or guard there could be a numbers crunch, so Arkin's spot on the roster is not guaranteed. He'll need to increase his strength this offseason and show a better grasp of the scheme. The Cowboys have given little deference to early draft picks since Jason Garrett took over as coach, so Arkin's fourth-round status is not a significant factor.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=988F0353-F486-B7D3-AE6EBD62F81E97E0

 

[TheCount]

You mean we misjudged an offensive line prospect? That never happens!

 

[baj1dallas]

You mean we misjudged an offensive line prospect? That never happens!

That's not what happened, this was just a rebuilding year so they cut older guys.

 

[Chuck 54]

Either Arkin becomes at least a backup guard this year, or yes, we misjudged him regarding the draft.

But that's why we drafted two guards and signed Kowalski. Numbers increase your odds of finding players who can contribute.

 

[Eddie]

Geez ... another 4th round blunder.

How many of these are we going to waste???

 

[Illini88228]

Arkin was a project. They took him in the fourth round which is a perfectly reasonable round to take a risk in. He may or may not develop, but everyone knew it would take time. One of his biggest issues was strength since he came out of a tiny program and that should improve over the next few years.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

Arkin bad

 

[Risen Star]

Either Arkin becomes at least a backup guard this year, or yes, we misjudged him regarding the draft.

But that's why we drafted two guards and signed Kowalski. Numbers increase your odds of finding players who can contribute.

We had a lot of numbers over the years and they all sucked.

 

[RS12]

Memo to Arkin: Get it together---- fast. You dont want be a grad assistant already.

They will draft another O Lineman within the first 3 rounds.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Wow, what a surprise that a rookie from Directional Nowhereville A&T, who everyone said was going to need a few years to develop, who was given no offseason program and no rookie mini-camps, wasn't ready to play right away as a rookie. He must be a bum, and it's time to run him out of town

If you don' t have the ability/patience/vision to develop small school projects, don't bother drafting them. You're yourself and the player a disservice. Save them for the big boy organizations who know what they're doing. Howard Mudd and Alex Gibbs wouldn't even start to evaluate Arkin until he's had two full offseasons under his belt.

 

[Risen Star]

Wow, what a surprise that a rookie from Directional Nowhereville A&T, who everyone said was going to need a few years to develop, who was given no offseason program and no rookie mini-camps, wasn't ready to play right away as a rookie. He must be a bum, and it's time to run him out of town

If you don' t have the ability/patience/vision to develop small school projects, don't bother drafting them. You're yourself and the player a disservice. Save them for the big boy organizations who know what they're doing. Howard Mudd and Alex Gibbs wouldn't even start to evaluate Arkin until he's had two full offseasons under his belt.

Yeah, you have to be patient. But considering he wasn't even considered an option last year when there was a crisis at his position and then seeing the team go out and add two Gs in free agency doesn't exactly get you excited about what the team may think of Arkin's future.

When you're talking about a player we haven't seen play, all fans can go on are signs. Those signs aren't looking good right now.

 

[ddh33]

Yeah, I think he's still on scholarship at this point, unless he totally flops.

I will put in one word though, the only thing worse than missing on draft picks is keeping them around too long just because they were draft picks.

I think Arkin's story will write itself, but it's going to take some time.

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah, I think he's still on scholarship at this point, unless he totally flops.

I will put in one word though, the only thing worse than missing on draft picks is keeping them around too long just because they were draft picks.

I think Arkin's story will write itself, but it's going to take some time.

I don't know. It's getting crowded in the interior. We add a draft pick or two this month and I'd be worried if I were Arkin.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You mean we misjudged an offensive line prospect? That never happens!

Where does it say that?

 

[Bluestang]

Yeah, you have to be patient. But considering he wasn't even considered an option last year when there was a crisis at his position and then seeing the team go out and add two Gs in free agency doesn't exactly get you excited about what the team may think of Arkin's future.

When you're talking about a player we haven't seen play, all fans can go on are signs. Those signs aren't looking good right now.

I see the Livings and Bernadeau signings as replacements for Kosier and Holland. We have also released Dockery so that makes 3 OGs gone.

We have Arkin, Nagy, Livings, Bernadeau as the only OGs on the roster - a starter and a backup. The FAs were not guaranteed a starting position when they signed the contract, at least that is what Bernadeau has stated in an interview.

Arkin was seen as a guy that needed a full year to develop into a starter. He learned the playbook extremely fast because he is a quick learner and it was one of his strengths in his scouting report.

Nagy plays with great technique although he lacked strength as well so one year of training will do him wonders.

Livings was brought in because he has size, strength, and discipline that Callahan and Garrett covet in the scheme. He may need some tweaks to his game to be more consistent but that is a gamble they are willing to take. Regardless of his contract $$ that deal is strictly a 2 yr deal if he underperforms...if he sees the end of it that means he earned it.

Bernadeau is a another guy that is a veteran that can be a solid starter and possible OC if needed. He adds flexibility in that he can play both positions if called upon and may thrive in the scheme, coaching , or both.

There is competition for both spots any way you slice it. Garrett has been real clear since day 1 he took over - draft status means **** and you will earn your spot on this team. He has signed two veterans to fill some holes but in no way has declared them the starters so the young guys still have the chance to push them. It's a pretty simple plan A/B there.

Anybody else wondering about the tackle situation? Are we really going to roll with Parnell as the swing?

 

[InmanRoshi]

I see the Livings and Bernadeau signings as replacements for Kosier and Holland. We have also released Dockery so that makes 3 OGs gone.

Yep. We need numbers because we're replacing 3 OGs who were on the roster last year. It would be more damning towards guys like Arkin and Nagy if the Cowboys had went out and blew their entire cap on Carl Nicks, rather than bringing in a couple of guys who they have no real significant cap obligations to in 2013 onward. The only thing that says is they're not counting on Arkin contributing next year, which quite frannkly, they should have known that the day they drafted him if they even did an ounce of homework. It was pretty much in all caps in 16 pt font on even www.amateurdraftdork.com writeups that THIS GUY NEEDS AT LEAST TWO OFFSEASONS. If the Cowboys can't do that they, they're to blame for drafting him. It's not on Arkin.

 

[TheCount]

Where does it say that?

In the contracts of the two guards we just signed and the two we signed last year. You'll have to pardon my lack of optimism when it comes to our drafted offensive linemen other than those that display obvious talent early.

 

[Bluestang]

In the contracts of the two guards we just signed and the two we signed last year. You'll have to pardon my lack of optimism when it comes to our drafted offensive linemen other than those that display obvious talent early.

Where in the contracts does it say we misjudged OL talent?

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Why are we drafting players who needs 2 off seasons before we have any clue if he can play? What if after those two off seasons he can't play? I wish they would just draft players who can play, or who we can find out if they can play in a short time.

 

[Bluestang]

Why are we drafting players who needs 2 off seasons before we have any clue if he can play? What if after those two off seasons he can't play? I wish they would just draft players who can play, or who we can find out if they can play in a short time.

Since when are 4th round OL draft prospects are ready to start? And who said anything about two offseasons, it was just one?