Yahoo: Who was driving force that brought Dak Prescott to Cowboys and why did it take so long?

[Wood]

I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more. The NFL will always draft the tangibles, regardless of color because green is the only color that matters. You're also forgetting that guys like Jameis Winston, Bridgewater, EJ Manuel, Gino Smith, RGIII, Cam Newton, Kapernick, Josh Freeman, Pat White, JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young, Tavaris Jackson, Jason Campbell, Byron Leftwich, Michael Vick, Shaun King, Charlie Batch, QC, Steve Mcnair, Tony Banks, Kordell Stewart and Andre Ware were drafted in either the 1st or 2nd round going back to the 90's. A few of those guys were drafted #1 or #2 overall. And how many black QB's were drafted after the second round in that time frame? Russell Wilson anyone? In addition, McNabb, Culpepper and Akili Smith were all taken in round 1 of the 1999 draft.

It's just a convenient excuse for a lot of folks and it has no merrit. Prescott doesn't have the arm and the tangibles of a lot of the guys drafted before him. But he's a winner. He has the intangibles that folks just can't seem to measure and evaluate. Russell Wilson was drafted in the 3rd because he was short, not because he was black. The QB position is the hardest one to evaluate and it's not based on color.

I never heard arm strength as issue for Dak coming out of college. It was always his dui and not taking snaps under center. Cook & Hackenberg were projected as backups in NFL (if things broke well for them). Most of players you listed above were mobile black QBs who didnt win a super bowl. To say race wasn't factor is naive in my opinion.

Dak Prescott:
color: black
drafted: round 4
2014 - 27 tds (11 ints)
2015 - 29 tds (5 ints) as pure pocket passer

Christian Hackenberg:
color: white
drafted: round 2
2014 - 12 tds (15 ints)
2015 - 16 tds (6 ints)

 

[gmoney112]

"Some scouts didn’t realize there was far less NFL talent surrounding Prescott than they initially believed."

This just shows that a lot of people really overrate the scouting process. How do you have a professional scouting program and not know the talent at an SEC team?

This is probably the main difference in teams that actually draft well, and those that don't. Some teams just don't really care.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more. The NFL will always draft the tangibles, regardless of color because green is the only color that matters. You're also forgetting that guys like Jameis Winston, Bridgewater, EJ Manuel, Gino Smith, RGIII, Cam Newton, Kapernick, Josh Freeman, Pat White, JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young, Tavaris Jackson, Jason Campbell, Byron Leftwich, Michael Vick, Shaun King, Charlie Batch, QC, Steve Mcnair, Tony Banks, Kordell Stewart and Andre Ware were drafted in either the 1st or 2nd round going back to the 90's. A few of those guys were drafted #1 or #2 overall. And how many black QB's were drafted after the second round in that time frame? Russell Wilson anyone? In addition, McNabb, Culpepper and Akili Smith were all taken in round 1 of the 1999 draft.

It's just a convenient excuse for a lot of folks and it has no merrit. Prescott doesn't have the arm and the tangibles of a lot of the guys drafted before him. But he's a winner. He has the intangibles that folks just can't seem to measure and evaluate. Russell Wilson was drafted in the 3rd because he was short, not because he was black. The QB position is the hardest one to evaluate and it's not based on color.

Do I think every team would disqualify Dak because of race?

No.

Do I think some scouts/GMs/teams would hesitate to draft him because of race?

What people say in public is quite often much different from what they say behind closed doors.

 

[fishspill]

I usually don't try to get too high or too low about any pick made because we just don't know how they will turn out. Obviously, there's a lot of preparation that goes into trying to make the right choice, but the high-failure rate should tell us that it's mostly luck of the draw.

I go back to Emmitt Smith and the scout (Walt Yaworsky) standing on the table to select him. Fantastic selection. That scout really did his work. Well, if Cincinnati had not taken Baylor linebacker James Francis with the 12th pick, Jimmy Johnson was set to trade up to 13 for him.

Then, I think of Travis Frederick a few years ago and how fans were jumping off bridges for Dallas selecting a third-round value in the first round.

Picks like that (and Dak) make me realize the combination of luck and preparation needed to succeed in drafting, and that most of us couch scouts don't know what we think we know.

I'm not sure what this tangent has to do exactly with what we were discussing, but it's just my philosophy on draft picks. Success depends a lot on how the draft falls and whether the players meet or exceed expectations. We pan the pick of a Stephen McGee because he failed and laud Dak because he's succeeding. Both players went around where they were projected (in the fourth round), so it isn't like the Cowboys reached for either player. They just got lucky that one is more than he was envisioned to be and unlucky that the other was less.

I love following the draft, but for most fans the information we have access to is the tip of the iceberg on these guys. Even well-compensated people of high intelligence and much more info miss on these kids. Because they're kids. They can develop on the straight path you see or veer into a ditch.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I never heard arm strength as issue for Dak coming out of college. It was always his dui and not taking snaps under center. Cook & Hackenberg were projected as backups in NFL (if things broke well for them). Most of players you listed above were mobile black QBs who didnt win a super bowl. To say race wasn't factor is naive in my opinion.

Dak Prescott:
color: black
drafted: round 4
2014 - 27 tds (11 ints)
2015 - 29 tds (5 ints) as pure pocket passer

Christian Hackenberg:
color: white
drafted: round 2
2014 - 12 tds (15 ints)
2015 - 16 tds (6 ints)

Hackenberg was bad to horrible.

I can't believe any NFL team would rate him over Dak quite frankly.

 

[KJJ]

I remember reading that Dallas was taking Dak even if they got Lynch. They knew Romo didn't have long do they were looking for 2 QBs. I agree jerry deserves more credit then he gets

You had to of read wrong or whoever wrote the article was screwed up because I can't imagine us using a fourth round pick on Dak after giving up three other picks on Lynch. We had far too many needs to be doing that. That would've been insane to use 4 picks on two QBs with all the defensive needs we had.

 

[Dodger12]

I never heard arm strength as issue for Dak coming out of college. It was always his dui and not taking snaps under center. Cook & Hackenberg were projected as backups in NFL (if things broke well for them). Most of players you listed above were mobile black QBs who didnt win a super bowl. To say race wasn't factor is naive in my opinion.

Dak Prescott:
color: black
drafted: round 4
2014 - 27 tds (11 ints)
2015 - 29 tds (5 ints) as pure pocket passer

Christian Hackenberg:
color: white
drafted: round 2
2014 - 12 tds (15 ints)
2015 - 16 tds (6 ints)

So is the argument now that the black QB's I mentioned didn't win a SB? Where did that come from? I gave you a list of black QB's who were drafted high. Not all were scrambling QB's. But I digress. You made the point that Dak was drafted lower because he was black and this is on the heals of the 2015 where Winston was drafted #1 overall. And because Hackenberg was drafted earlier than Dak it shows some kind of bias? Please.......

It's more naive to say someone wasn't drafted higher because he was black when the #1 overall the year before was black, as well as numerous black QB's who were drafted high that I mentioned.

 

[Clove]

I have thought about this issue and my explanation for why Dak slipped to 4th round will not be popular. First lets back up to before the Draft. We heard Dak name associated with Cowboys (probably due to him at senior bowl with cowboys coaches). At that time NOBODY really gave a good reason why Dak was projecting to be drafted anywhere from 3rd-6th round. All we heard was that he was leader who somehow took Mississippi state to #1 college ranking & was first QB in their history to guide them to consecutive 9-win seasons. Conversely we heard more about Cook going to Dallas in 2nd round. I have no idea why because Dak college career was just as good at Cook. So what gives? was it the dui? Maybe that drops him a little but it wasn't the more serious drug offense. Then we heard how he didn't take snaps over center and it would take years and years to develop him. But why? the guy showed nothing but a fast ability to learn. He adjusted his game from 2014 where he mostly scrabbled MSST to #1 college rank to 2015 where he was primarily a pocket passer.

Now to my own opinion to what I think was happening. Teams saw Dak as another black QB who scrabbled too much and didn't have football intelligence to be long term starter in NFL. Yes he was stereotyped on draft day. 5 White QBs were drafted ahead of Dak and 2 of them were gawd awful (Cook & Hackenberg).

You might have something here brother, same could be said the opposite for Beasley being undrafted where clearly he has the talent.

And I'll add that I think that people automatically thought that this was a bad QB year for high drafting, and people put all of their emphases on the top 3 QBs and just threw the others in just to be adding them. And of course, once you were past the big 3, your natural assessment was to go with the proven white QB over the perceived running black QB. It's as if, they didn't really do any real scouting of Dak. They simply looked at him running around, didn't factor in that he had no one to throw it to, they looked at his DUI, his fight on youtube, and that was their scouting.

I think that Dak will now force teams to look and truly do their home work. When you have guys like Romo, Brady, Dak, Wilson going later than the first round, yet they're dominating, something's wrong with the scouting in America.

 

[Dodger12]

Do I think every team would disqualify Dak because of race?

No.

Do I think some scouts/GMs/teams would hesitate to draft him because of race?

What people say in public is quite often much different from what they say behind closed doors.

Respectfully, there's nothing tangible to even add an ounce of credibility to your comment. It's just a broad brush statement that is not based on any fact. And if I were to believe that, then I'd have to assume that Dallas was guilty of the same thing because Dak was going to be 3rd on the depth chart behind Romo and an ugly, short, white QB with a noodle arm.

I do agree with @Wood when he mentioned that Dak didn't play under center. Most folks thought he would be a work in progress. I mean, why mention hackenberg and not Jacoby Brissett who was drafted in the 3rd and is black? Even the Pats misevaluated Prescott like a lot of NFL teams but they didn't do it because of Dak's skin color, as they took another black QB relatively high.

 

[Clove]

Respectfully, there's nothing tangible to even add an ounce of credibility to your comment. It's just a broad brush statement that is not based on any fact. And if I were to believe that, then I'd have to assume that Dallas was guilty of the same thing because Dak was going to be 3rd on the depth chart behind Romo and an ugly, short, white QB with a noodle arm.

I do agree with @Wood when he mentioned that Dak didn't play under center. Most folks thought he would be a work in progress. I mean, why mention hackenberg and not Jacoby Brissett who was drafted in the 3rd and is black? Even the Pats misevaluated Prescott like a lot of NFL teams but they didn't do it because of Dak's skin color, as they took another black QB relatively high.

I just thought that scouts were lazy. I understand that they have a lot of guys to look at, but when it comes to QB, I want my scouts living, breathing guys. I would almost say that I'd like a scout for each position in the NFL. Yeah, I want 30 scouts on my team. I can afford it.

 

[Wood]

You might have something here brother, same could be said the opposite for Beasley being undrafted where clearly he has the talent.

And I'll add that I think that people automatically thought that this was a bad QB year for high drafting, and people put all of their emphases on the top 3 QBs and just threw the others in just to be adding them. And of course, once you were past the big 3, your natural assessment was to go with the proven white QB over the perceived running black QB. It's as if, they didn't really do any real scouting of Dak. They simply looked at him running around, didn't factor in that he had no one to throw it to, they looked at his DUI, his fight on youtube, and that was their scouting.

I think that Dak will now force teams to look and truly do their home work. When you have guys like Romo, Brady, Dak, Wilson going later than the first round, yet they're dominating, something's wrong with the scouting in America.

I agree. They almost completely discredited his 2015 season where he excelled in pocket. You almost get sense they had a narrative they wanted to fit him into. I am still little pissed Dallas scouts might have had Brissett & Kessler ahead of Dak. That needs to be investigated fully.

 

[Wood]

So is the argument now that the black QB's I mentioned didn't win a SB? Where did that come from? I gave you a list of black QB's who were drafted high. Not all were scrambling QB's. But I digress. You made the point that Dak was drafted lower because he was black and this is on the heals of the 2015 where Winston was drafted #1 overall. And because Hackenberg was drafted earlier than Dak it shows some kind of bias? Please.......

It's more naive to say someone wasn't drafted higher because he was black when the #1 overall the year before was black, as well as numerous black QB's who were drafted high that I mentioned.

I showed you the comparison between Dak & Hackeberg. Its your choice to judge it as you see fit.

 

[drawandstrike]

I think by the end of the 2017 season every single NFL fan is gonna know this by heart.

 

[jnday]

I just thought that scouts were lazy. I understand that they have a lot of guys to look at, but when it comes to QB, I want my scouts living, breathing guys. I would almost say that I'd like a scout for each position in the NFL. Yeah, I want 30 scouts on my team. I can afford it.

In all honesty, Dak did not show the talent at the college level to impress the scouts. I live in Mississippi and I watched just about every game he played in and he did not show the ability to throw accurately down field. I have always defended Dak as a person, but I had serious doubts about him ever playing at the pro level. I think the offensive scheme that he played in prevented him from fully showcasing his abilities. Dak did not have great WRs to throw to in college and I think that is another reason that his talent didn't show up.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Respectfully, there's nothing tangible to even add an ounce of credibility to your comment. It's just a broad brush statement that is not based on any fact. And if I were to believe that, then I'd have to assume that Dallas was guilty of the same thing because Dak was going to be 3rd on the depth chart behind Romo and an ugly, short, white QB with a noodle arm.

I do agree with @Wood when he mentioned that Dak didn't play under center. Most folks thought he would be a work in progress. I mean, why mention hackenberg and not Jacoby Brissett who was drafted in the 3rd and is black? Even the Pats misevaluated Prescott like a lot of NFL teams but they didn't do it because of Dak's skin color, as they took another black QB relatively high.

You're right it's broad brush statement and I hold to it.

We're not as advanced emotionally as a people as we think we are.

I don't think it applies to everyone in the entire league, but I do believe it exists in dark recesses.

 

[Clove]

In all honesty, Dak did not show the talent at the college level to impress the scouts. I live in Mississippi and I watched just about every game he played in and he did not show the ability to throw accurately down field. I have always defended Dak as a person, but I had serious doubts about him ever playing at the pro level. I think the offensive scheme that he played in prevented him from fully showcasing his abilities. Dak did not have great WRs to throw to in college and I think that is another reason that his talent didn't show up.

Then you have to scout that. Scouting report: Dak sucked throwing to sorry receivers. Who would not suck throwing to sorry receivers. These things need to go in the scouting report.

It would read something like this: Dak Prescott, 6'2 230 lbs QB - NFL caliber arm, has all the intangibles. Reason's he didn't succeed was because he had no one to throw it it. Give the guy a few good receivers, then let's see what he does. Why? Because how does one guy take a team to #1 in the country, thrown as few interceptions as he has, yet can't throw the ball?

He's obviously a leader.

 

[Clove]

I agree. They almost completely discredited his 2015 season where he excelled in pocket. You almost get sense they had a narrative they wanted to fit him into. I am still little pissed Dallas scouts might have had Brissett & Kessler ahead of Dak. That needs to be investigated fully.

It's more than ridiculous. And any scout on my team that had those ahead of Dak is FIRED. Let me be a scout, I'd love to scout players, I'd sure be a hell of a lot better at than whomever had those guys over Dak.

 

[reddyuta]

I never heard arm strength as issue for Dak coming out of college. It was always his dui and not taking snaps under center. Cook & Hackenberg were projected as backups in NFL (if things broke well for them). Most of players you listed above were mobile black QBs who didnt win a super bowl. To say race wasn't factor is naive in my opinion.

Dak Prescott:
color: black
drafted: round 4
2014 - 27 tds (11 ints)
2015 - 29 tds (5 ints) as pure pocket passer

Christian Hackenberg:
color: white
drafted: round 2
2014 - 12 tds (15 ints)
2015 - 16 tds (6 ints)

The jets should be ashamed of drafting Hackenburg in the 2nd rd ,that was such a colossal mistake.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The jets should be ashamed of drafting Hackenburg in the 2nd rd ,that was such a colossal mistake.

It's picks like that tell me you have folks judging talent in the NFL that either lack knowledge or have a predisposed bias against picking certain players.

 

[DandyDon52]

What do you think of our other draft picks after watching them this season?

well
Brown has played and pretty good
EE has been good
Rd 3, Pick 4 (67)

Collins, Maliek DT
Rd 4, Pick 3 (101) Tapper, Charles DE ....... I think both these have played but dont really know how well they played.
Frazier at SS not sure if he played this last game or not.
So the others havent played so I dont know.
Also not a big fan of the jaylon pick. may work out, but we really needed a def guy who could play this whole season.