The Dark Horse

[waving monkey]

Agreed. We are taking guys each year in rounds 4-7 that many have ranked as UDFA's, so the actual UDFA's have a level playing field to compete against.

who are those that many ranked as UDFA

 

[waving monkey]

ditto...

ditto

 

[jday]

I agree with you....but that is so backwards from the way Jerry Jones has ran this organization of the last 20 yrs...the future is bright.

Since the fall of the dyansty until Parcells took over, he thought he could do what he did in 95 and basically buy a Super Bowl. But in the salary cap era it's just not possible. Then when he built AT&T stadium while he was concerned with winning I honestly believe he was more concerned with putting butts in seats. This is where Jerry the owner and Jerry the GM were at odds and had to compromise...which is never a good thing when you are trying to build a winning team. Because of the cap he couldn't go as crazy as he would like in Free Agency to bring in guys the average fan knew so he had to sell them names they already knew, which meant handing out stupid contracts to aging veterans; paying them for what they had done and not what they were going to do. Hence the era of mediocrity.

This is where I tip my hat to Jason. He's not the in-game manager he should be, but at least he seems to have Jerry's ear about personnel and I really like the direction of this team...even if it means we have to go through growing pains while these young players develop, which I honestly think we will see alot of this year. But if Jerry stays the course and understands it may take a season or two to getting back to a competitive state, we may actually begin to see America's Team again - a team that is regullarly competing in the playoffs.

 

[Bullflop]

Terrance Mitchell

 

[Cowboy06]

Tyler Patmon out of Oklahoma State. I think he will prove to be a nice slot corner. I am not sure he makes the 53 man roster, but there is something about him that intrigues me. If he does make the team and gets on the field I expect a few interceptions early because he's a rookie and teams will want to pick on him. However, he may slow down after away. He doesn't seem to have much in way of technique, but seems to have just raw ability to be around the ball. If that makes sense to anyone else.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Since the fall of the dyansty until Parcells took over, he thought he could do what he did in 95 and basically buy a Super Bowl. Then when he built AT&T stadium while he was concerned with winning I honestly believe he was more concerned with putting butts in seats.

When was the last time we did not sellout a home game in Texas Stadium? I honestly don't know but I imagine putting butts in seats was expected and building Jerry World was about making more money and putting more butts in seats.

 

[jday]

When was the last time we did not sellout a home game in Texas Stadium? I honestly don't know but I imagine putting butts in seats was expected and building Jerry World was about making more money and putting more butts in seats.

Therein is the issue. In terms of making money, his compromise worked. In terms of building a winning team, not so much.

 

[Next Years Champ]

I've said it alot this offseason, one of my favorite things about the Cowboys - one of the few things I tip my hat to Jerry the GM for - is that they seem to do a really good job of bringing in no-name guys that none of us have ever heard of and said player goes on to make the final 53 and be a significant contributor. So here's the question - who is your Dark Horse this year?

For me, I'm still pulling for L'Damian Washington. He has good speed and length, but his overall size is the hurdle he has to overcome.

I don't know.

I think the reason why you may see this is that generally..

the only reason any of these types of guys you seem to like watching for..

..even has a snowballs chance in hell of sticking...

is becuz the over all talent level is so depleted year after year for whatever reason..

..these guys slip on to the team fringes.

If we drafted better and did our homework better..

there would not be room on the team for them.

Just my take.

 

[TheDallasDon]

Anthony Hitchens.

I see what you did there lol.........still not willing to admit the pick is going to turn out huh?

 

[Risen Star]

I see what you did there lol.........still not willing to admit the pick is going to turn out huh?

Despite the overwhelming evidence against it, I'll remain firm in my stance he was an undrafted free agent talent.

 

[jday]

I don't know.

I think the reason why you may see this is that generally..

the only reason any of these types of guys you seem to like watching for..

..even has a snowballs chance in hell of sticking...

is becuz the over all talent level is so depleted year after year for whatever reason..

..these guys slip on to the team fringes.

If we drafted better and did our homework better..

there would not be room on the team for them.

Just my take.

There is truth to that...especially here lately. But every once and awhile you find guys like Romo, Miles Austin, Ronald Leary, Orlando Scandrick that figure out a way to crack the 53 and eventually the starting rotation.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Or this as an alternative...

was not disappointed at all!

 

[WV Cowboy]

Would all of these Dark Horses make the roster of an 12-4 or 13-3 team, .. or just an 8-8 team?

 

[xwalker]

Would all of these Dark Horses make the roster of an 12-4 or 13-3 team, .. or just an 8-8 team?

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/photo/2014/05/06/0ap2000000347146.pdf

 

[jday]

Would all of these Dark Horses make the roster of an 12-4 or 13-3 team, .. or just an 8-8 team?

Being a UDFA is not a measure of how you play, but rather a measure of the looks the team you play for yielded from scouts. Teams tend to draft more from the better-known programs quite simply because they have more information on their players and can make a more informed decision when drafting. Smaller schools don't get the same looks. Granted, smaller schools rarely yield the top-tier talent, as well, but every once awhile you find hidden gems that with a little development can be pro bowl caliber players.