Ryan Shazier: 5 Toughest Guys I've Ever Faced (Cowboys related)

[dallasdave]

https://theplayerstribune.com/ryan-shazier-the-5-toughest-guys-ive-ever-faced/

Nice post--Dallas OL is the best.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Clearly it worked out for the better in the long run. Hindsight is 20/20 after all. But if I had it all to do over again without the benefit of knowing what was going to happen, I'd have taken Donald if he was still there and not even think twice about it.

I would have as well, but its hard to ignore the "Butterfly Effect" of the choice of Martin over Manziel, or Pittsburg's choice of Shazier, or what Donald could have done for the Cowboys vs Martin's impact on the performance of guys like Dak, Zeke and Free.

Speaking of the Butterfly Effect, consider this: If Jimmy Johnson had gotten his way, we wouldn't be having the debate about Emmitt vs Barry.

 

[jday]

I'm all about Martin, but if you told me right now that I could trade Martin for Donald, I'd do it yesterday.

That might be a bit of a knee-jerk decision your making there. Once again, I'm going to encourage you to wait for the regular season before making any sweeping proclamations. Maliek Collins is what you might describe as a poor man's Aaron Donald. This year he could be primed for a breakout season. Don't get be wrong, if the choice was between Maliek and Donald, there's not question you choose Aaron. But if you were to offer Maliek and Zack for Donald, I think the Rams just might consider it. And I wouldn't make that offer, because when you consider the sum total of what both players bring to both sides of the ball, I'm not sure Donald would be worth that loss.

 

[jday]

I would have as well, but its hard to ignore the "butterfly effect" of the choice of Martin over Manziel, or Pittsburg's choice of Shazier, or what Donald could have done for the Cowboys vs Martin's impact on the performance of guys like Dak, Zeke and Free.

That is truly the most fascinating aspect of this entire narrative. People who have been following the Cowboys as close as us since the pick of Tyron Smith in 2011 have been treated to the second greatest story ever told.

 

[Section446]

That might be a bit of a knee-jerk decision your making there. Once again, I'm going to encourage you to wait for the regular season before making any sweeping proclamations. Maliek Collins is what you might describe as a poor man's Aaron Donald. This year he could be primed for a breakout season. Don't get be wrong, if the choice was between Maliek and Donald, there's not question you choose Aaron. But if you were to offer Maliek and Zack for Donald, I think the Rams just might consider it. And I wouldn't make that offer, because when you consider the sum total of what both players bring to both sides of the ball, I'm not sure Donald would be worth that loss.

You're crazy even mentioning Donald and Collins in the same sentence, not even remotely close.

 

[AsthmaField]

Only ones that wanted Johnny are ones that don't know the first thing about football or human nature

That guy was a dumpster fire looking for more oxygen

I lol'ed.

 

[erod]

Leary wasn't a cornerstone. He was decent no doubt but he is starting to become a legend. La'el is the better player and moving to RT is much more an upgrade. We must need our LG to be just OK playing in between Smith and Frederick. RT is were we needed to improve

Sorry, but Leary is simply a much better player than Collins. It was clearly obvious.

 

[erod]

Actually, I'm pretty sure the Cowboys wanted Aaron Donald first and Ryan Shazier second. There was another defensive player they were interested in because Zack was fourth or fifth in line if I remember correctly.

Donald was a pipe dream. He wasn't going to drop that far. He's the best DT in football right now.

 

[AsthmaField]

An elite DT is a lot harder to come by than an OG. Donald is on his way to being one of the greatest to play his position.

Disclaimer: I am wrong plenty on draft picks. We all are from time to time. I'm not saying I'm great at knowing good draft picks. I was just really, really right on Aaron Donald.

If anyone was around here for that draft, they'll remember me banging the drum for Donald, over and over again. To the point where it was a running joke to some on here (cough, @xwalker , cough). There are a lot of rookies that I like and want Dallas to draft... but very few of them make me feel 100% confident that they'll be great. Very, very few.

Donald and Ezekiel Elliott come to mind as a couple of that short list. Incidentally, Khalil Mack was another and he was in the same draft as Donald... but he was out of range for the Cowboys pick, so I didn't harp on him very much. I did tell anyone who would listen that Mack was going to be a way better player than Clowney (who went before Mack).

Anyway, with Donald, I was stone-cold convinced he was going to be a great player and was, IMO, the perfect 3-tech for Marinelli's scheme.

Right after the college season, mock drafts had Aaron as a second round pick and I knew he was going to climb from there. His college play was just too dominant... too impressive for him not to. I didn't know how high he'd climb but I desperately wanted it not to be earlier than the Cowboys pick.

Then, at the combine, all of his measurables matched his game tape (i.e. was off the charts good) and I knew he wasn't making it to the Dallas pick. At that point, I started made a few threads/posts saying we should move up to draft him (to which most said was not a good idea). I remember thinking he probably wouldn't go top 10, so the cost of moving up wouldn't be too expensive, so I banged on that drum for a trade up.

Alas, the Cowboys didn't like the idea either, much to my chagrin.

The silver lining is that it was the Rams (damn them) who took Donald and not the Giants. I was afraid it would be NY who picked Donald. In fact, in my trade up posts, I usually said it was the Giants who we needed to jump in order to secure Aaron.

So, Mack went and then Barr (who I wasn't big on but he has turned out pretty good) and then Donald. I wasn't that excited about Shazier either, so I'm glad Pitt took him where they did. I like Ryan as a player but I'm just not a big fan of taking 43 LB's in the first round, unless you're talking very late first round.

I liked Zack Martin a lot but I was pretty focused on defense in that draft. Watching Donald at the Senior Bowl and combine, I did notice that Martin was the only OL who had blocked Donald at all. And I do mean the only one. I made a mental note at that point that Martin looked like a really good player. I was hoping Donald would be a Cowboy so I remember thinking at the time that I hoped Martin didn't end up with an NFC East team.

Martin was just so technically sound and country strong. He was certainly my favorite OL in that draft.

Anyway, I'm happy with Martin (obviously) but I still wish we could have gotten Donald. He would be a huge game changer playing 3-tech for Marinelli. Huge. He would make game-altering plays on a regular basis, I believe.

Now though, I think M Collins is going to be a very good 3 for Rod and it all turned out OK. Martin is the best guard in football (IMO) and Marinelli has now found the same type of player as Donald (although not as good).

This post has gotten way too long. See what happens when I take a day off from work, lol?

OK, I'll stop rambling now.

 

[jday]

You're crazy even mentioning Donald and Collins in the same sentence, not even remotely close.

This is where projection comes into play:

Maliek Collins missed all of training camp last year as a rookie then proceeded to log more snaps on the DL than any other dlineman on the team. He recorded 5 sacks and 23 tackles. The stats aren't eye-popping, but when you consider with a little luck on the health front and the added benefit of a full offseason in a professional football weight training program, he's primed to at the very least improve on last years stats...and I'd imagine in considerably convincing fashion.

I pointed out in the post you responded to that Maliek is not Donald's equal; I get that. But were you to place Maliek and Zack Martin in a bundle package, their collective value more than exceeds that of Donald's. Just my opinion....I could certainly be wrong...but I really don't think I am. Feel free to disagree.

 

[Idgit]

Disclaimer: I am wrong plenty on draft picks. We all are from time to time. I'm not saying I'm great at knowing good draft picks. I was just really, really right on Aaron Donald.

If anyone was around here for that draft, they'll remember me banging the drum for Donald, over and over again. To the point where it was a running joke to some on here (cough, @xwalker , cough). There are a lot of rookies that I like and want Dallas to draft... but very few of them make me feel 100% confident that they'll be great. Very, very few.

Donald and Ezekiel Elliott come to mind as a couple of that short list. Incidentally, Khalil Mack was another and he was in the same draft as Donald... but he was out of range for the Cowboys pick, so I didn't harp on him very much. I did tell anyone who would listen that Mack was going to be a way better player than Clowney (who went before Mack).

Anyway, with Donald, I was stone-cold convinced he was going to be a great player and was, IMO, the perfect 3-tech for Marinelli's scheme.

Right after the college season, mock drafts had Aaron as a second round pick and I knew he was going to climb from there. His college play was just too dominant... too impressive for him not to. I didn't know how high he'd climb but I desperately wanted it not to be earlier than the Cowboys pick.

Then, at the combine, all of his measurables matched his game tape (i.e. was off the charts good) and I knew he wasn't making it to the Dallas pick. At that point, I started made a few threads/posts saying we should move up to draft him (to which most said was not a good idea). I remember thinking he probably wouldn't go top 10, so the cost of moving up wouldn't be too expensive, so I banged on that drum for a trade up.

Alas, the Cowboys didn't like the idea either, much to my chagrin.

The silver lining is that it was the Rams (damn them) who took Donald and not the Giants. I was afraid it would be NY who picked Donald. In fact, in my trade up posts, I usually said it was the Giants who we needed to jump in order to secure Aaron.

So, Mack went and then Barr (who I wasn't big on but he has turned out pretty good) and then Donald. I wasn't that excited about Shazier either, so I'm glad Pitt took him where they did. I like Ryan as a player but I'm just not a big fan of taking 43 LB's in the first round, unless you're talking very late first round.

I liked Zack Martin a lot but I was pretty focused on defense in that draft. Watching Donald at the Senior Bowl and combine, I did notice that Martin was the only OL who had blocked Donald at all. And I do mean the only one. I made a mental note at that point that Martin looked like a really good player. I was hoping Donald would be a Cowboy so I remember thinking at the time that I hoped Martin didn't end up with an NFC East team.

Martin was just so technically sound and country strong. He was certainly my favorite OL in that draft.

Anyway, I'm happy with Martin (obviously) but I still wish we could have gotten Donald. He would be a huge game changer playing 3-tech for Marinelli. Huge. He would make game-altering plays on a regular basis, I believe.

Now though, I think M Collins is going to be a very good 3 for Rod and it all turned out OK. Martin is the best guard in football (IMO) and Marinelli has now found the same type of player as Donald (although not as good).

This post has gotten way too long. See what happens when I take a day off from work, lol?

OK, I'll stop rambling now.

I wanted him, too, and remember you beating that drum. If we had him, it would have dramatically changed our defense for the better. He's a legit playmaker at one of the hardest positions to fill.

There's no complaining about Zack Martin. He's a great player. I hated taking an OG that high, but he was definitely the right call the way that board broke.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

We'll agree to disagree... we'll feel the loss of Leary.

Not with 5 first round talents

 

[Trouty]

I wanted him, too, and remember you beating that drum. If we had him, it would have dramatically changed our defense for the better. He's a legit playmaker at one of the hardest positions to fill.

There's no complaining about Zack Martin. He's a great player. I hated taking an OG that high, but he was definitely the right call the way that board broke.

One of my first memories of Asthma was how bullish he was on Donald. Boy, was he right.

 

[AsthmaField]

I wanted him, too, and remember you beating that drum. If we had him, it would have dramatically changed our defense for the better. He's a legit playmaker at one of the hardest positions to fill.

There's no complaining about Zack Martin. He's a great player. I hated taking an OG that high, but he was definitely the right call the way that board broke.

Yeah, I remember you liking Donald too.

I remember lying when I talked about him on here. When I said he reminded me of Warren Sapp or Geno Atkins... but "not saying he's going to be that good."

Truth was, I did think he was going to be that good if he got in the right defense for him. And Marinelli's was perfect for him. I just didn't want to go back and forth with a bunch of people telling me Donald hadn't played a snap in the NFL yet.

Gregg Williams was a really good defensive coordinator for Donald. Wade Phillips is obviously a really good coordinator but I do wonder how he's going to use Aaron in his 34. I'm sure he'll do well... but if ever there was a 43 DT, Donald is it.

 

[AsthmaField]

One of my first memories of Asthma was how bullish he was on Donald. Boy, was he right.

Blind squirrel... nut... all that stuff.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Like the comment on Zeke being a heavy hitter.

 

[CF74]

High praise and well deserved. Hope the new left guard gets it to..

 

[Idgit]

High praise and well deserved. Hope the new left guard gets it to..

Kinda scary if you think about it, since they only need one guy with a tell. Whoever we put at LG, he better be as sound on the pre snap stuff as he is with just being able to block.

 

[AsthmaField]

Like the comment on Zeke being a heavy hitter.

Yep. That's been one of my main points on why he's so good. He simply doesn't shy away from contact. At all. He simply doesn't mind it. It doesn't bother him to smash into other big players over and over again.

To almost everyone else on the field... it gets to them after a while.

 

[AsthmaField]

Kinda scary if you think about it, since they only need one guy with a tell. Whoever we put at LG, he better be as sound on the pre snap stuff as he is with just being able to block.

Yeah, hopefully the staff harps on that and it is the reason none of last year's guys did it.