CFZ TE Luke Schoonmaker vs Jake Ferguson

[big dog cowboy]

I have explained this before the draft.

Ferguson was an R4 who had concussion issues last year.
He was pretty much non-existent late in year.
Hendershot was an UDFA that lacks size and athleticism.


Schoon has size and athleticism galore.

But Dallas was always in market for a TE that could play (and block) year 1.

The question was never will Dallas draft a TE but would be it in R1 or not.

Fans have attributed some mythical status to the 2nd year TEs that are really just not warranted yet.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

Ok. And that means what exactly? All that matters is where he was on the Cowboys draft board.

Just like some had Mazi in the 30's but we now know he was #14 on the Cowboys.

Let me paraphrase for you:

I literally said it doesn’t mean all that much, but he was pretty much a consensus 3rd or 4th round talent. The run on TE in the second forced him up the board and led Dallas to have to select him earlier than they probably would have liked.

This is all my opinion and is not meant to be taken as fact. I hope the guy turns out to be a good player for Dallas. I just don’t love the pick in the same way that you obviously like it. That’s ok. We can have different opinions.

 

[cnuball21]

Kiper:
Schoonmaker – 79

McShay:
Schoonmaker – 71

Higher than that on Cowboys board. So not well ahead. Definately wouldn't be there at 90.

And there were others that had him higher…averaged out it was well over 20+ spots early.

 

[TheCoolFan]

You may not like Schoonmaker but I'm not really sure what Ferguson and Hendershot did last season to make people think they are starting-caliber TEs themselves. Most of their receptions came on TE2 plays, like play action fakes, bootlegs, etc. - easy plays designed to get them open while the defenses focus on stopping other players. Athletically, Schoonmaker is superior than both of them (and Schultz too) so it will be interesting to see how that translates to a Top-10 NFL offense instead of a conservative run-based college offense

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

You may not like Schoonmaker but I'm not really sure what Ferguson and Hendershot did last season to make people think they are starting-caliber TEs themselves. Most of their receptions came on TE2 plays, like play action fakes, bootlegs, etc. - easy plays designed to get them open while the defenses focus on stopping other players. Athletically, Schoonmaker is superior than both of them (and Schultz too) so it will be interesting to see how that translates to a Top-10 NFL offense instead of a conservative run-based college offense

Agreed. I don’t love having to take Schoonmaker in the 2nd, but Dallas did need a TE. Fergie and Hendershot are still somewhat unknown commodities. An addition to that position group was need.

 

[conner01]

No one liked Torrance as much as fans and draftniks.
Fans feel as if he fell and was a steal when in reality scouts didn't love him.

That became very apparent
He’s a giant man and internet scout fell in love with that but the paid scouts obviously didn’t like his upside as much

 

[conner01]

And you don't draft a DT RD#1 for their run stopping--except we did.

MM is looking to run the ball and stop the run. That was the emphasis of this draft and why they made the Shoonmaker pick. It also doesn't hurt that he was the #1 TE in getting separation--something that hampered the QB last year with the pass catchers.

I think they hope smith can be more than just a run stopper. He has the physical skills to do much more. Whether he does or not remains to be seen

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

“Fills a big need…”

When you draft a player well ahead of where’s he slotted it’s the definition of reach for need.

And how do you know where the Cowboys had him slotted?

 

[GMO415]

Despite what is said in here, perhaps MM has more knowledge of his players and the team than anyone in here. Just saying.

 

[stilltheguru]

Man don’t get me started….I love the draft every year but I’m not gonna lie the fans make it unbearable at times. People don’t even understand how flawed their thinking is. They determine how good someone is based on how other people view their picks. If s guy falls it’s for a reason. Because Bijan went at 8 that means he went too high because experts said he should be taken later lol.

Say it again. Reach is the most overused annoying word regarding football.

It's all ego. I think Nolan Smith is a bust. I wouldn't spend the next week whining about him if we took him though

 

[HungryLion]

He def

He definitely has no wiggle. The YAC he does accumulate will be from heading straight up field. The game clips I’ve watched don’t indicate a guy that can make people miss in the open field.

Biggest issue I saw with his play.

Blocking is good.

He is quick off the line, and has the quickness and agility to run nice routes and separate from defenders.

But man he gets arm tackled a lot for a guy that is 6’5 and 250 pounds.

 

[Champboy1]

Jake is a baller he is going to have a good season this year

 

[CowboyRoy]

I respectfully disagree - to a point. Hendershot might be a career #3 guy, but I don't think at this point we can say Ferguson cannot be what Schultz was. Schultz did not exactly light it up his rookie season either. In fact, Schultz had only 12 receptions for 116 yards and no TDs as a rookie. Ferguson has very similar stats for his rookie year. Schultz as a rookie could not block at all. At least Ferguson showed us some blocking potential.

The cowboys want 2 good tes that can block well and make plays in the passing game. It’s not 1 vs the other.

 

[Whiskey Cowboy]

Watch the film on Schoonmaker. I don't mean his highlight reels. I'm talking about sitting down and watching every snap for a game or two. He's not just a good run blocker. He's a road grader. This young man has the gift of destroying his target, and being able to open up seams for the rushing attack. I'm really excited to see what he brings to Dallas!

I've only watched the Indiana and TCU games so far. I'm not going to proclaim him the next coming just yet, but I did notice him running wide open up seams or on crossing routes regularly, only to have the ball checked down. Not a great route runner, but adequate, and yes....you can see his athleticism on display if you're paying attention. If the plan is to have him as an outlet receiver and chain mover, I think he will do well. I don't see how people can say they see a slow, plodding player when there are plays where he is literally running away from whoever is covering him. Nimble and deceptively quick, soft hands, high motor, consistent, athletic, coachable. I'm glad he's on the team, regardless of age. Very good looking player with a high ceiling.

 

[big dog cowboy]

And there were others that had him higher…averaged out it was well over 20+ spots early.

Means zero. It's all about where the Cowboys had him on their board.

Just like Mazi.

 

[Reid1boys]

Ferguson and Hendershot were nice surprises and showed some potential and I really like both, but I don't think either is ever going to be a top TE and apparently the team feels the same way. They obviously see something in Schoonmaker that they really like and think he can be a top TE. I guess we will see if they are correct or not. I like the pick more as time goes by. Let's see how he does in training camp

Training camp? I dont give 1 damn about training camp. Ive seen plenty of training camp videos and a players praises being sung. Sunday is what I want to see.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Many seem to think he was drafted to potentially be a travis kelcy clone but that is not the case. He was drafted to be a young witten type player. The blocking is there but his passing game isn't as evident due to how they used him. Atleast that is my understanding, but we will all see come game time.

Don’t disagree that is what they’re hoping for and not even to diminish the pick but I think they’re off on that one. Sure, Witten didn’t get a lot of looks at UT. Think he had 39 catches before he came out. But he was also either the or close to the youngest player in the league his rookie season. By the time he was Schooner’s age he had made like three pro bowls

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Say it again. Reach is the most overused annoying word regarding football.

It's all ego. I think Nolan Smith is a bust. I wouldn't spend the next week whining about him if we took him though

Me either. I see this every year. I remember people wanting Noah Spence. Wonder what he’s up to.

 

[cnuball21]

And how do you know where the Cowboys had him slotted?

I stopped caring where the Cowboys had
players on their board a long time ago seeing as every year Jerry tells us “he was our last 1st rounder” or we had Mazi “14th on our board.”

 

[cnuball21]

Means zero. It's all about where the Cowboys had him on their board.

Just like Mazi.

Exactly. And how the Cowboys construct their board is one of my biggest issues.