Tag: 2021 player profile

Josh Ball’s troubled past places talent on back burner for Cowboys draft pick

Josh Ball was the first offensive player in a sea of defenders drafted by the Cowboys. A look at why he fell to the fourth round and what type of player can emerge if he has course corrected. | From @NoHuddle

The Dallas Cowboys offensive line play in 2020 was nothing short of a disaster. The injuries piled up so quickly players who never should have taken meaningful snaps played for huge swaths of the season. If it weren’t for the gaping holes on the defensive side of the ball the front office might have selected a lineman earlier, instead gambling on Josh Ball.

Ball will follow in the ignominious footsteps of talented NFL players with an ugly and checkered past that can’t be ignored. It also puts his job security on uneven footing, as one misstep could signal the end of his career.

A healthy Tyron Smith’s milkshake may bring Cowboys to Super Bowl yard

After years of just getting by health wise, it all tumbled down on Smith in 2020. Did offseason surgery do the trick, and is he capable of being the dominating player of years past? Our player profile countdown continues. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Is the the end of the line, or the beginning of the second act? After four straight seasons of playing in 13 games, the injuries finally became too much for Dallas Cowboys star left tackle Tyron Smith. The ninth-overall selection in the 2011 draft out of USC had been a stalwart on the blind side for first Tony Romo and for the previous four years Dak Prescott. However it all became too much in 2020 when he was able to play in just two of the first four games of the season and none after that.

When he’s a healthy left tackle, damn right he’s better than yours. But for years Smith had operated under the even-when-injured-he’s-one-of-the-games-best mantra. The elbow, knee, and especially the neck and back injuries were just too much in 2020; enough to make both Kelis and Khia blush.

Now, after offseason surgery, Smith has returned and the hope is he’s ready to continue on his Hall of Fame trajectory he established with seven consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, two First-Team All-Pros and two Second-Team All-Pros. Still just 30 years old, Smith has plenty of time to cement his legacy if he so chooses to. The league still respects him, the game still respects him as witnessed by Madden 2022 rating him as the third-best Cowboy player heading into 2021.

Our player profile countdown to the regular season continues with No. 77 Tyron Smith.

Brennan Eagles’ big-bodied frame could lead to niche role in Cowboys offense

The Dallas Cowboys brought in 4 UDFA receivers this draft to compete for the backend of the roster. Here’s what Eagles brings to the table in his quest to make the 53-man roster.

Is there any room at the inn for another receiver in Dallas? That’s got to be the thought process for a handful of young pass catchers currently on the Cowboys’ 90-man offseason roster. Dallas has perhaps the most loaded WR corps in the league in one of the most potent offenses in the league. So much so, the club almost completely ignored the offense during the three-day draft. They did select Stanford WR Simi Fehoko in the fourth round, however.

That selection makes the climb even more difficult for the collection of UDFA wideouts the team added that Saturday night in late April. Among the four signed was Texas Longhorns wideout Brennan Eagles. Eagles projects as a practice squad candidate who’s best skillset seems to be how he’d utilize his big-body size as a red-zone threat or a possession receiver who could move the chains.

Our profile countdown continues with No. 83, WR Brennan Eagles.

Sean McKeon finds himself in a crowded Cowboys room with little oxygen

The Cowboys have two TEs with a claim to the No. 1 role, meaning that the several men behind them on the depth chart will be fighting for scraps. A look at McKeon’s story.

For almost the entire millennium, the Dallas Cowboys never really had to worry about their depth at the tight end position. After Jason Witten ascended to the throne, he gave the Cowboys consistent, dependable production that gave a series of quarterbacks reliable targets down the seams and will get him enshrined into the Hall of Fame once he’s eligible. The team has certainly tried to find him a buddy or two along the way, but for the most part that’s been a fruitless expedition over the years.

From Sean Ryan to Anthony Fasano to Martellus Bennett to James Hanna to Gavin Escobar, time and again the team spent resources on players who couldn’t get a real opportunity because Witten didn’t like to share his toys and they weren’t good enough to force the issue. Now that Witten’s out of the picture, the Cowboys are working to find consistency at the position. While Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz will occupy the top two slots on the depth chart, there is room behind them for others to work and prepare for the inevitable opportunity that will be afforded when an injury occurs. Right now, free agent Jeremy Sprinkle sits atop the throne, but outside of more veteran experience, he has no real claim to the title. Sean McKeon, a second-year UDFA out of Michigan, stands as good a chance as anyone else of being that guy.

Our 2021 player profile countdown continues with No. 84.

Schultz accepted challenge, passed test, now may demand Cowboys keep him close

He may have been an afterthought entering 2020, but his performance earned him a role in 2021 and that might earn him long term security starting in 2022. | From @CDPiglet

Everyone has their prototypes. When the Jason Garrett regime drafted Dalton Schultz, it felt like a Jason Witten emerged from Garrett’s algorithm. Witten was 6-foot-6, 263 pounds while Schultz checks in at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds. The future Hall of Famer was an intermediate pass catcher who relied on smart play in gaming zone defenses and excellent route running. He wasn’t the dynamic athletic receiving threat and Schultz gets his wins in the passing game the exact same way. Both were seen as having better than average blocking chops even out of college.

Even though the offensive line suffered multiple injuries and four different QBs started behind the tattered group, Schultz was able to produce better-than-solid numbers as a starting TE.

Continuing our 2021 Player Profile series, here is a look at one of the better non-starter TEs in the NFL.

Cowboys defense belongs to DeMarcus Lawrence in every way now

Amidst retirements and a scheme remake, DeMarcus Lawrence stands in the middle of the Cowboys defense’s locker room as the unquestioned leader. | From @BenGrimaldi

DeMarcus Lawrence is one of the best two-way defensive ends in the NFL. In a league where pass rushers get most of the praise, but are rarely good against the run, the Dallas Cowboys’ defender has made a name for himself doing both during his seven years in the league.

The sack totals of the past few years might not match the top tier DE’s, but Lawrence’s work as both a high-level pressure create and run stopper makes him one of the elite defensive lineman in the league. For the Cowboys, Lawrence has easily been their best defensive player and a leader for the last handful of seasons.

Our 2021 Player Profile Countdown continues with the new elder statesman of the defense, No. 90 DeMarcus Lawrence.

Cowboys may have snagged edge Tarell Basham just in time for his best days

The Cowboys didn’t spend much in free agency, but the Basham signing might have brought in a player ready to realize his full potential. | From @CDPiglet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StG1_N1ETMw

After a strong showing at Senior Bowl practices, Tarell Basham saw his draft stock bumped up. The Indianapolis Colts drafted him in the third round of the 2017 draft, but he did next to nothing for them. Across 26 games he had only one start, tallying just two sacks, and 15 total tackles. This had some worried, because while Basham had excellent production in college, including ranking in the top five in pressures his final season, his game didn’t appear to transition to the NFL.

Basham relied on strength and motor at Ohio, with his bull rush being a primary component to his pressure arsenal and that is difficult to rely on at the NFL level without development of the other tools necessary.  He did have a positive spin move, but his lack of bend and flexibility were seen as the biggest hurdles he’d need to overcome.

It should’ve been no surprise that he went to a team that asked him to stand up as a 3-4 edge as opposed to come out of his stance. That may identify the plans Dan Quinn has for the new No. 93 in the Dallas defense, as they continue to look for pieces for their hybrid defensive front.

Our 2021 Player Profile Countdown continues.

Rookie Rundown: WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State

Tylan Wallace offers a mature, speedy package for the NFL.

Tylan Wallace and his twin Bracin Wallace went to Oklahoma Stats in 2017, but his brother retired from football after several ACL tears in his first two seasons. Tylan saw minimal action as a freshman but became a starter in 2018 after James Washington and Marcell Ateman left for the NFL.

Wallace blew up in his sophomore year, netting 86 receptions for 1,491 yards and 13 touchdowns. That ranked No. 6 in the FBS for catches that year. He was a first-team All-Big 12 and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.

He suffered an ACL injury in 2019 that limited him to only nine games. He was on the path to another fine season and still was voted as the Cowboy’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player. His senior season saw him with lower stats during the COVID-19 impacted season but was again named as a first-team All-Big 12.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 190 pounds
40 time: 4.48 seconds

There was a chance in quarterback after 2018 that impacted Wallace. But he was consistently their best option at receiver and showed consistency throughout his three seasons as a starter. He played his best when in the biggest games and should end up as a slot receiver in the NFL.

WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State stats

Year Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Runs Yards. TD Total Yards Total TDs
2017 5 7 118 16.9 0 0 0 0 118 0
2018 13 86 1491 17.3 12 1 6 1 1497 13
2019 9 53 903 17.0 8 1 0 0 903 8
2020 10 59 922 15.6 6 1 7 0 929 6

Pros

  • Dynamic receiver in all facets of the position
  • Dangerous after the catch
  • Strong hands can catch contested passes
  • Nice usage of body to shield defenders
  • Can win most 50/50 balls
  • Crisp route runner
  • Adept at adjusting to deep balls
  • Works to add positive yardage
  • Hand/eye coordination helps to snag over the shoulder targets
  • Gains solid separation
  • Good run blocking

Cons

  • Faced lesser quality of coverage in Big 12
  • Only average speed
  • Lacks a deep burst
  • Under-sized for NFL
  • Concerns about knee

Fantasy outlook

Wallace was a tremendous weapon for the Cowboy’s offense and many scouts believe he will have a significant role in the NFL as a well-rounded, consistent player that plays bigger than he is. But if he falls in the draft, it will likely be regarding his knee. His twin brother tore his ACL three times in two years and retired from football. Wallace tore his during a practice session in 2019 but bounced back nicely in 2020.

Fair or not, it draws concern with his long-term durability.

Wallace may not have the  perfect measurables, but he’s always delivered. And aside from the one knee issue, he’s been very durable for a receiver who can deliver a physical presence and works well in traffic. He projects as slot receiver that can work the middle with the occasional deep route. He’s speculated to go as early as Day 2, but likely will be Day 3 in a receiver-rich draft class.

Wallace doesn’t have the elite characteristics that will make his quarterback a better passer. But if he lands with one of the better passers in the NFL, he could surprise. His possession skills will get him onto the field, and his run blocking will help him stay on the field. He’s sensitive to where he lands, but his potential will likely exceed where he is drafted.

Rookie Rundown: RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State

Hubbard hopes to rekindle his monster 2019 season in the NFL as a rookie.

Chuba Hubbard grew up in Canada and came to the states after running for 6,880 yards on 458 rushes for 82 touchdowns in high school. He committed to Oklahoma State University, where he red-shirted his first year in 2017. He shared the backfield in 2018 with Justice Hill before taking over as the workhorse in 2019.

Hubbard exploded on the national scene that year, rushing for 2,094 yards on 328 carries and adding 23 receptions with a total of 21 touchdowns. Had he left college then, the expectation was that the red-shirt sophomore might have been the first running back drafted. No other running back rushed more than 40 times for the Cowboys that season.

His final season was a disappointment. He was limited to only seven of the eleven games the Cowboys played in 2020 while dealing with a nagging ankle injury. He also discovered just how intensely a defense would load up against a guy coming off a 2,000-yard rushing season.

Height: 6-0
Weight: 210 pounds
40 time: 4.36 seconds

Hubbard was a beast in 2019 when he failed to rush for 100 yards in just one of his 13 games. He topped 200 rushing yards in four separate games. In the bowl game that year, he gained 158 yards on 19 carries (8.3 YPC) versus Texas A&M. He rarely had more than two receptions per game, but was fed the ball between 25 and 35 times nearly every week.

RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State stats

Year Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD Total Yards Total TDs
2018 13 124 740 6.0 7 22 229 2 969 9
2019 13 328 2094 6.4 21 23 198 0 2292 21
2020 7 133 625 4.7 5 8 52 1 677 6

Hubbard is expected to be selected in the third round or later by most scouts. That’s appropriate considering his down 2020 season. And that’s a steal if he bounces back to anything close to the form he showed in 2019.

Pros

  • Capable of being a workhorse back
  •  Patient runner
  • Equally adept at inside and outside running
  • Above average acceleration
  • Lead NCAA in rushing in 2019
  • Durable other than the ankle in 2020
  • Impressed with a scorching 4.36 40-time at Pro Day
  • Great fit for zone blocking schemes
  • Vision and athleticism to work in traffic
  • One-cut runner with burst
  • Attacks tacklers and falls forward

Cons

  • Needs work on pass protection
  • Nine fumbles and lost two at OSU
  • Balance issues need work
  • Minimal experience as a receiver
  • Under-sized for an inside rusher

Fantasy football outlook

Working in an offense that spread out the defense, Hubbard was a devastating rusher that could find the right hole and take off. His smaller frame is a concern that he’ll fare as well in congesting in the NFL as he did in college.  His lack of receiving experience – and the sense he got worse as a pass-catcher in 2020 – coupled with suspect pass protection, have scouts tabbing him as a rotational back.

Hubbard has burst and top-end speed that will serve him well. Particularly since he’s expected to be a Day 3 player, his expectations are hard to set until knowing what situation he falls into in the NFL. Last year was an odd one in the NCAA COVID-19 impacts that rippled out across all teams to some extent.

The ex-Cowboy is one to watch in the summer because he’s already proven his ability to run. Unless he improves his pass protection and receiving, he’ll be limited to a more situational role. And that works in many NFL backfields but it limits his fantasy points from a lack of touches.

Rookie Rundown: RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State

How does Sermon translate to the NFL and fantasy football?

Trey Sermon latched onto the Oklahoma Sooners in 2017 and played in 13 games as a freshman, starting three. As a sophomore, he time-shared the backfield with Kennedy Brooks and ended with 1,128 total yards and 13 touchdowns. That big year was followed up with falling to No. 3 in the 2019  backfield behind Brooks and Rhamondre Stevenson. He was lost for the season with a knee injury after ten games.

Sermon  transferred to Ohio State as a graduate student in 2020 with one remaining year of eligibility. He became their starter, leading the backfield with 116 rushes for 870 yards and four scores over the eight games they played in the COVID-19 shortened season.

In the Big Ten championship versus Northwestern, he set a school record with 331 rushing yards in a single game as the MVP. The Buckeyes advanced to the National Championship, but he suffered a shoulder injury on the first play.

Height: 6-1
Weight: 215 pounds
40 time: 4.57 seconds

Though he was a four-year player between the two schools, he never had a truly heavy load and still has plenty of tread left on the tires with never more than 164 carries in a season. Sermon’s best games were well-timed. He responded well when the Buckeyes turned to him as a workhorse in their biggest games of the year.

[lawrence-related id=458222]

After a college career of around a dozen touches per game, he followed his monster 29-carry effort over Northwestern with 31 runs for 193 yards in the playoff win over Clemson. That included four catches for 61 yards.

RB Trey Sermon, Oklahoma* and Ohio State stats

Year Games Runs Yards Avg. TD Catch Yards TD Total Yards Total TDs
2017* 13 121 744 6.1 5 16 139 2 883 7
2018* 14 164 947 5.8 13 12 181 0 1128 13
2019* 10 54 385 7.1 4 8 71 1 456 5
2020 8 116 870 7.5 4 12 95 0 965 4

The positive coming into the NFL draft is that he’s relatively fresh out of college and has only started to explore what he can do as a heavy-use, primary back.

Pros

  • Prototypical size
  • Great burst with inside runs
  • Quick cuts and agility keeps defense off-balance
  • Vision improved throughout college
  • Strong pass blocker
  • Excellent ball security
  • Powerful inside runner
  • Good run after catch on limited receptions
  • Played better when teams needed him most
  • Good acceleration after cuts

Cons

  • Top speed is only average at best
  • Can catch, but marginal experience as a receiver
  • Less versatility suggests committee role
  • Not a breakaway player
  • Runs upright
  • Knee and shoulder injuries in college

Fantasy football outlook

Given the devaluation of the running back position for NFL teams, Sermon is likely a Day 3 selection and will head to a team looking for either another back to add to the rotation or just beefing up the depth chart. Since he’ll fall deeper into the draft, he’ll be available to all teams, and his value will rely strongly on where he lands.

His lack of top-end speed and minimal use as a workhorse in college points at just an average back in the NFL. He’ll likely need injuries to other players  to shake up a depth chart and give him opportunity. Then again, Sermon played best in the biggest games and while he’s dinged for a lack of receiving experience, he’s done well when given a bigger role.

Unless he falls to a team with a shaky backfield that promises opportunity, his first year only calls for drafting later in a fantasy league as depth, hoping that the situation falls such that he gets a chance to shine. He’s one to track in the summer and could surprise.