Tag: Cooper Beebe

Cowboys Top-5 2024 draft picks all mentioned in Dane Brugler’s All-Rookie teams after 4 weeks

The Cowboys had more than their fair share of rookies make The Athletic All-Rookie teams through a quarter of the season. | From @KDDrummondNFL

There were 259 players selected in this past April’s NFL draft. Another 350 undrafted free agents signed with teams immediately following the weekend, adding over 600 new faces to NFL rosters. So for the Dallas Cowboys’ haul to have five different rookies be mentioned among the best rookie performers through the first four games of the season is impressive on it’s own.

For them to go five-for-five with their first five picks from the draft in being mentioned among the 90 best rookies identified by The Athletic’s draft guru Dane Brugler is a testament to Will McClay’s scouting department getting back on track in the immediate return department.

Brugler went position by position, identifying who he would name to the All-Rookie team, who would be the runner up and then added a varying number of honorable mentions. And while none of the Cowboys’ picks were named to the quote-unquote first team, they did have a runner up and four players in the honorable mention.

The math is easy; 32 teams, 90 players identified means the average team should have 2 to 3 players mentioned. Dallas had five. Part of that is the big ask being placed on this year’s rookie class to play early. Caelen Carson isn’t mentioned if Daron Bland doesn’t hurt his foot and go on IR. Two rookie OL don’t start if the team didn’t let Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz walk. But the fact remains the Cowboys’ rookie class is acquitting themselves extremely well so far in 2024.

Here’s who ranked where, according to Brugler.

LT Tyler Guyton – Honorable Mention for tackles
C Cooper Beebe – Runner-Up for interior OL
DE Marshawn Kneeland – Runner-Up for edge rushers
LB Marist Liafau – Runner-Up for linebackers
CB Caelen Carson – Runner-Up for cornerbacks

Ravens vs. Cowboys: Top photos from 28-25 win at AT&T Stadium

We’re looking at the top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 28-25 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium

For one week, we thought John Harbaugh’s team would be entering the 2024 regular season.

All-world running back Derrick Henry ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson logged a passing and rushing score, and the Baltimore Ravens held on for a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday after blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead.

Baltimore (1-2) scored touchdowns on their first two drives, while the Cowboys (1-2) have allowed 120 points in their past three home games.

With the final results, here are the top photos from Sunday’s massive win.

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Week 2 vs Saints gives Cowboys rookies another opportunity to shine

After strong Week 1 performances, a seemingly deep group of rookies look to establish consistency against the Saints. | From @cdpiglet

Dallas put a lot of pressure on their rookie class this year by asking six different players to make significant contributions right from the start of the season. They excelled against the Cleveland Browns, what will they have in store for the New Orleans Saints?

In Week 1, Tyler Guyton had to start and play opposite the reigning defensive player of the year, Myles Garrett. Cooper Beebe started his first game as an NFL center and had to deal with the mammoth Dalvin Tomlinson. Caelen Carson had the tough task of covering former Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper, Marshawn Kneeland, and Brevyn Spann-Ford played plenty of snaps in rotation.

The rookies passed all the first tests with excellent grades. Beebe led all rookie offensive linemen in pass-blocking snaps without a pressure allowed, Carson held Cooper to only two receptions for 16 yards with two pass breakups, and Kneeland had six pressures, the third most on the team. Expectations will rise now, and the players might need to elevate their play depending on their matchup and expectations.

Guyton survived against Garrett and is now asked to handle veteran Cameron Jordan, one of the better defensive ends in the league. Carson has to try to lock up tough matchups in Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.  Kneeland faces off with fellow rookie Taliese Fuaga, who didn’t allow a single pressure in his first game. For rookies, it’s important to flash their upside, but imperative to establish consistency from week to week. Can this group loaded with potential have similar performances in Week 2?

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast

NFL names Cowboys’ Cooper Beebe among 10 most overlooked rookies

Cooper Beebe has been identified as a budding all star for the Cowboys in 2024, finds @ReidDHanson

NFL.com scout and occasional Cowboys contributor, Bucky Brooks, knows a thing or two about college players transitioning to the NFL. The former player turned writer and scout, makes a living breaking down film while explaining and projecting player performance. He’s a draft expert and someone many people turn to for informed and insightful takes.

While looking through a list of NFL rookies hoping to make splash in their first season in the league, Brooks named a Cowboys rookie as one of 10 overlooked rookies who have “showed serious flashes” this preseason. The player he mentioned was aspiring starter, Cooper Beebe.

The Cowboys took a gamble when they selected Beebe in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. It’s not that the Kansas State guard was a poor prospect because he was actually very well regarded in the draft community. Dane Bruglar at The Athletic even slotted him in as the No. 3 guard in the class rating as his 38th ranked prospect in the draft. What made Beebe a gamble was role the Cowboys were going to ask him to play.

Drafted as a center, Dallas wanted Beebe to play a position he wasn’t acquainted with in the past. In his 48 collegiate starts, Beebe played at left tackle, right tackle and left guard, but never center. The Cowboys strategy was a rebuttal for what scouts perceived to be Beebe’s biggest weakness, arm length.

For as much as Brugler liked Beebe as an NFL prospect he did admit his 31.5-inch arms could be a dealbreaker for some team scouts. Interestingly enough, the Cowboys are one of those teams who value arm length to an extremely high degree. They just found a way to work around the issue.

At center arm length isn’t as much of a factor as it is at other spots along the line. Center is often seen as an extra blocker who either takes part in a double-team, picks up blitzes, or slices the defense in half getting up to the second level. They aren’t susceptible to long-armed defensive lineman like the other linemen are.

The reason all dominant short-armed guards don’t make the transition to center is because the center position is challenging in its own way. NFL centers are required to be one of the smartest players on the field.

Based on previous Wonderlic scores, center ranks as the second highest scored position in the NFL. The Wonderlic test, designed to measure a number of items up to and including intelligence, has been widely used in the NFL for years. Center falls just one point behind offensive tackle and one point ahead of quarterback in average scores. Tasked with recognizing defenses and calling blocking assignments, center plays a vital role in both phases of the offense. It’s why many (this writer included) thought Beebe might struggle as a rookie and Brock Hoffman could possibly start.

Low and behold, when the pads came on and the contact was real, the cream rose to the top and Beebe, not Hoffman, stood out as the man to beat.

“Obviously, once you get in a game it’s easier,” Beebe said. “The playbook shortens down and it gets easier, but I think I’ve been doing well. There are some weird looks here and there that I’ve got to continue working on but, overall, I think I’m doing pretty well.”

Brooks at NFL.com sure thinks so.

He saw Beebe flash signs of dominance saying, “the rookie has shown impressive skills controlling the point of attack from the pivot.” Brooks even doubled down saying that playing between Zack Martin and Tyler Smith, Beebe could play like an all-star as a rookie. For as bold at that is to say about a third-round rookie, it’s hard to find a Cowboys fan or media member who disagrees.

It’s hard to tell where the 2024 season will take the Cowboys, but most believe the success of the team hinges on the Cowboys’ ability to replace two-fifths of their offensive line with a pair of rookies who came into the summer with major question marks. By all accounts Tyler Guyton at LT and Beebe at center have answered those questions by exceeding all immediate expectations.

The Cowboys organization was hoping for it, Cowboys fans were seeing it and now the national media is predicting it. Beebe is going to make some waves in Dallas.

New Orleans Saints game previews: Week 2 at Dallas Cowboys

Our New Orleans Saints game previews continue with Week 2, which brings a huge test against the Dallas Cowboys. Can the Saints upset a Super Bowl contender?

Our New Orleans Saints game previews continue with Week 2 of the 2024 regular season, which brings a huge test against the Dallas Cowboys. Can the Saints upset a Super Bowl contender? Or are the Cowboys really just pretenders? Mike McCarthy’s team has yet to get over the hump in January, but Dennis Allen’s squad hasn’t even gotten that far.

Either way, they’re a challenging opponent. Dallas has a better record at home (.778) than anyone else in the NFL since 2021, including the playoffs. They’ve made the playoffs in each of the last three years. It would mean a lot for the Saints to stroll into Jerry Jones’ palace and leave with a win.

And it’s been a while since the Saints won in Dallas. The Cowboys haven’t lost to the black and gold in front of their home crowd since 2012, when the Saints won by a field goal in overtime. They’ve traded wins and losses since then but Dallas still leads the all-time series by a margin of 18-13. The Cowboys were also victorious in their last meeting; they beat the Saints 27-17 in New Orleans back in 2021. Taysom Hill started that game at quarterback but completed just 19 of his 41 pass attempts while being intercepted four times. It was a rough watch.

Since then the Cowboys have been quiet in free agency, though they have added playmakers like wide receiver Brandin Cooks (the former Saints wideout) in trades. They lost a lot on the open market this spring including left tackle Tyron Smith, center Tyler Biadasz, and running back Tony Pollard plus defensive ends Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. Their biggest addition might be a reunion with running back Ezekiel Elliott after his awkward year with the New England Patriots.

In the draft, Dallas started out by trading down with the Detroit Lions to draft Oklahoma right tackle Tyler Guyton, who is converting to the left side (just like his Saints counterpart Taliese Fuaga). The Cowboys also drafted Western  Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and used a pick they got back from the Lions on Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe, who is competing to start at center. So it’ll be a young Cowboys offensive line working to protect Dak Prescott.

Is that a matchup the Saints defensive line can take advantage of? Maybe. This could be a real statement win if New Orleans is up to the task. Be sure to circle the date on your calendar:

  • Game information: New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
  • Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • Date: Sept. 15
  • Time: Noon CT / 1p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: FOX

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Cowboys NFL Draft grade: Cooper Beebe, IOL, Kansas State

Dallas Cowboys NFL Draft grade for selecting Kansas State OL Cooper Beebe in the third round

The Dallas Cowboys continue to refuel a historically dominant offensive line draft after draft, and going into the 2024 class, they found a steal in Kansas State interior offensive lineman Cooper Beebe in the third round.

Beebe is a four-year starter with plenty of production and projects to potentially start for Dallas from year one as their center. With guards Tyler Smith and Zack Martin locked in at both guard spots, Beebe fits like a glove into the middle of a talented Dallas offensive line.

Versatile, experienced, refined, and powerful, Beebe played both guard and tackle in college and excelled in both areas. With reliability being the golden rule for this ‘all in’ approach to the Dallas Cowboys season, Beebe provides tremendous value in the third round and should walk away with the starting center job.

Grade: A

Cowboys finally have OL depth, just as starting lineup becomes shaky

The Cowboys offensive line is strong in depth but unproven and suspect in the starting ranks, says @ReidDHanson.

For the first time in a long time the Cowboys have depth throughout the offensive line ranks. T.J. Bass at guard, Brock Hoffman at center and offensive tackles Matt Waletzko and Asim Richards give Dallas solid depth options at every position across the line.

It’s a luxury the Cowboys haven’t enjoyed in recent seasons. Over the past few years, the Cowboys have been struggling to put a starting unit together. In 2024 they have the starters and backups seemingly in place.

Obviously positions still need to be earned before names on the depth chart are written in ink, but the intensions are clear: Tyler Guyton was drafted in the first round and fully expected to open the season at the starting left tackle. Cooper Beebe was drafted in the third round and considered by many to be the front-runner at OC. Tyler Smith, Zack Martin and Terence Steele are virtual locks at their respective starting spots as well. The stage is set.

But for as good as the depth appears and for as clear as the Cowboys’ intensions are, the starting ranks are fairly suspect this season. That’s because the expected starters are largely unproven and or coming off down seasons.

The rookie Guyton is moving from the right to the left. He has plenty of time to make the transition, but the move can’t be completely disregarded. There’s also the fact he enters the NFL as a bit of a raw prospect. Guyton is more potential than plug-and-play so growing pains are expected. He’s not as polished as his draft status indicates so he comes with a considerable amount of risk.

Similarly, the rookie Beebe is switching positions as well. Moving from OG to OC is no small transition and while Beebe’s work ethic and intelligence indicate he’s up to the task, he’s still unproven.

Steele is coming off an extremely down season. He never regained form after his 2022 knee injury and is essentially playing for his job in 2024. He rated as one of the league’s worst pass protectors in 2023 and his run blocking was doing little to compensate for it. He’s a safe bet to start but there’s no telling how well he’ll play.

Even Zack Martin is coming off his own down season. He still ranked as a top-10 OG in 2023, but it was a noticeable drop from his previous standard. Maybe it was all due to nagging injuries. Maybe it was a sign of things to come for a player turning 34 this season who held out for financial guarantees last offseason.

The depth on the roster indicates the Cowboys are well positioned to cover any injury to the starting ranks. An injury wouldn’t be ideal but it’s not the kiss of death it has been in the past. Unfortunately, the starters aren’t quite the same standard of stability either. 2024 is a transition year for the Cowboys offensive line and a case can be made Dallas is taking a step back to develop in 2024 so they can take a step forward in the long run.

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Cowboys 3rd-round rookies’ fate depends on important shared trait

Both Cooper Beebe and Marist Liufau boast elite IQs which will be key to their success with the Cowboys, says @ReidDHanson.

The Cowboys had two third-round picks to play with in the 2024 NFL draft. Pick No. 73 was acquired from Detroit when the Lions moved up five spots in the first to snag the falling cornerback, Terrion Arnold. Pick No. 87 was Dallas’ own.

After selecting offensive tackle Tyler Guyton in the first round and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland in the second, the pressure was on the third round to deliver two more key contributors. At No. 73 the Cowboys selected Cooper Beebe, a guard from Kansas State. At No. 87 they picked Marist Liufau, a linebacker from Notre Dame.

Odds of success fall drastically as the draft moves out of the top 150 and since the Cowboys traded away their fourth-round pick to acquire Trey Lance last season, Dallas would have to wait 87 picks between their final third rounder and their first and only fifth rounder. To put it plainly, they couldn’t afford to miss with either pick.

The Cowboys could have gone a number of different directions in the third round. They had needs at defensive tackle and running back that each demanded consideration. But it was center and linebacker that ultimately won out, with two of their favorite prospects falling right into their laps.

At face value, the two selections couldn’t be any more different. One player was a stout 322-pound offensive lineman from the Midwest. The other was a trim 234-pound tackling machine out of Kalihi, Hawaii. One was considered a steal. The other was thought to be a reach.

But a common trait shared by both was what resides between their respective ears. Even though one came from cornfields and the other from the Pacific waters, one played offense and the other played defense, one made tackles and the other warded off tacklers, both were cognitively elite prospects.

Liufau, an academic standout from the University of Notre Dame is both a hard worker and mentally gifted. Beebe, a finalist for the William V. Campbell award (Academic Heisman) and working on his graduate degree, is no slouch by any definition.

OC is a notoriously demanding position. It requires players to make pre-snap reads, call out blocking assignments for teammates and execute personal assignments in the process. There’s a reason why the average Wonderlic score of NFL OCs rate second overall.

LB might not be as mentally demanding as OC, but intelligence is equally as important. IQ is typically what separates the busts from the success stories. LBs often relay play calls to the defense, make adjustments at the line and execute without the slightest hesitation. The most talented LB in the world is almost worthless if he doesn’t have the IQ to support it.

Without reading too much into news out of the Cowboys 2024 rookie minicamp, it seems both of the Cowboys’ third-round picks stood out for their intelligence. For as different as they are as individuals, they are similar in the smarts factor. Combined with strong work ethics, these two rookies are seemingly starting out on the right foot in Dallas.

The quicker Beebe and Liufau grasp the mental side of things, the quicker they can put their skills to the test and carve out roles on the team. Expectations are Beebe will win the starting OC spot and Liufau will get in the LB rotation this season. They’re lofty goals for rookies but not unattainable given the intelligence both possess.

If there’s one trait that’s going to push these two third-round picks into the winner’s circle, it’s their intelligence. Physical ability and work ethic go without saying but it’s intelligence that stands to make the difference.

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Cowboys quietly took major steps to improve troubled running game

The Cowboys didn’t upgrade their RBs in the offseason but they took major action in upgrading the run blockers, says @ReidDHanson.

At face value, the Cowboys running game regressed over the offseason. Tony Pollard, their top rusher from 2023, left in free agency and only free agents Ezekiel Elliott and Royce Freeman were added to replace him.

Dallas turned their noses up at running back options in the draft as well, opting to address other positions rather than reach for need at RB. The Cowboys somewhat flippant attitude towards the RB position has raised concerns across the fanbase.

Did Dallas’ disregard for the RB position signal they didn’t care about the running game, or did it speak to their confidence in the committee they assembled?

Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, Elliott and Freeman aren’t names likely to instill fear in the hearts of opponents. Now, it’s possible the Cowboys feel differently about this collection of ball carriers but it’s more likely they feel better about their group of blockers paving the way.

Dallas devoted major resources to the offensive line this draft cycle, adding Tyler Guyton in the first round and Cooper Beebe in the third round to upgrade their starting unit. Guyton, the expected starting left tackle on Day 1, and Beebe, the expected starting center on Day 1, are both seen as eventual upgrades to the men they replace.

For as great as Tyron Smith was at LT in 2023, his run blocking was slipping. His PFF run blocking grade came in at just 29th last season. Guyton probably won’t be a marked improvement over that right away, but his athletic profile is such he could exceed Smith as a run blocker in the near future. The most important outcome of Guyton’s addition is it lets Tyler Smith stay at left guard where he’s an absolutely dominant blocker and ascending by the day.

In the case of Beebe, he could be an immediate upgrade over Tyler Biadasz at OC. Beebe was a top-rated interior lineman in his draft class and projects as a high-end OC in the NFL.

The right side of the line is also expected to be better in 2024. Zack Martin had a down year where he was nagged by injuries, but conventional wisdom would call that an outlier season and better health and performance can be expected in 2024. Similarly, Terence Steele struggled returning from his catastrophic knee injury from a season prior. Another season of distance from that injury will probably do him well as he looks to recapture his previous form. His contract situation only adds to that motivation to improve.

Possibly the most understated improvement the Cowboys made to their run blocking is at the tight end position. While most of that improvement will come organically from within, the Cowboys signed Brevyn Spann-Ford, a blocking specialist, to an enormous $225,000 contract following the draft. He’s their most expensive undrafted free agent signing, and someone most predict will make the active roster.

Blocking from the TE position was, at times, abysmal for Dallas in 2023. Jake Ferguson was below average, Luke Schoonmaker inexplicably struggled in most blocking opportunities and Peyton Hendershot offered next to nothing in ways of blocking. The edges were ugly for Dallas last year and the numbers showed it. Better TE play will mean better outside running and that favors everyone in that RB committee.

The Cowboys didn’t address the running game in a traditional sense by adding a top ball carrier, but they addressed it with blocking upgrades. It’s also important to point out, many other options exist for Dallas and there’s a good chance the RB position will see changes between now and training camp.

Even with less talent at the RB position, a case can be made the running game was improved.

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Here’s where Cowboys’ Day 2 selections will fit in depth chart

Where the Day 2 picks for the Dallas Cowboys could fit in the depth chart for the 2024 season. | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys began the draft with three top 100 picks, but a trade back from pick No. 24 to pick No. 29 added an early third-round selection to their haul. Most saw Dallas’s top needs heading into Day 2 as running back, linebacker, and defensive tackle, but instead the Cowboys took a powerful edge prospect from Western Michigan, Marshawn Kneeland.

Kneeland has a clear spot on the depth chart vacated by Dorance Armstrong’s signing with the Washington Commanders. Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence are the team’s top-edge rushers; Sam Williams is a rotational piece that the team needs to step up. Kneeland lands right there in a battle with Williams for snaps.

He projets to be similar to Lawrence as a plus run stopper and then uses power and a relentless motor to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He might also slide inside on pass-rush downs to add an extra pass-rush element to the defensive line. Kneeland can also play a role opposite Lawrence if Parsons plays more snaps at off-ball linebacker. If Parsons starts as a linebacker, Kneeland’s ability to set an edge could make him the starter over Sam Williams.

Dallas got their best value at pick No. 73 with Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe. Beebe was very flexible in college, playing offensive tackle and offensive guard, but his shorter arms and lack of athleticism in the NFL will keep him as an interior-only option for Dallas. They already are set with two All-Pro offensive guards, making Beebe battle inside at center.

He was a second-round player on plenty of boards and is likely to outperform both T.J. Bass or Brock Hoffman for the center position. If something doesn’t go as planned and Smith has to move outside, Beebe could start at LG without an issue. If this year he plays as a back then his role could end up being Zack Martin’s replacement.

Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau was the Cowboy’s final draft pick of Day 2 at No. 87, and his position on the depth chart could fluctuate depending on the performance of other linebackers and safety options.

The easiest spot would be at linebacker if one of the starters were performing poorly, whether it is a falloff by Eric Kendricks, DeMarvion Overshown not being able to play well coming back from injury, or Damone Clark continuing to struggle to start his career. If any of those things occur, Liufau could move in to play any of their roles. He also can play the Jayron Kearse role if Mike Zimmer wants to keep that role in his defense, as Liufau has the athleticism to play in coverage with tight ends and has zero issues getting into a gap to bring down a ball carrier.

He has an excellent mix of instincts, ability to blitz, and cover, and he will hit the opposing team hard as much as possible, so he has all the flexibility a team could ask for. To begin with, he will definitely have a role on the special teams unit.