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Seattle's best? Picks tell tale over Dallas
February, 3, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- Is it too soon or too late to remind Dallas Cowboys fans that Akwasi Owusu-Ansah was drafted 13 spots before the Seattle Seahawks chose Kam Chancellor in the fifth round of the 2010 draft?
Or is too soon or to late remind them that Josh Thomas was picked 11 spots before the Seahawks took Richard Sherman in the fifth round of the 2011 draft?
Today, Chancellor and Sherman are celebrating a Super Bowl victory. Thomas at least made it to the playoffs with the Carolina Panthers as a reserve. Owusu-Ansah was on the Detroit Lions' practice squad last year. Maybe we can ask new playcaller Scott Linehan how he looked.
What we all do when a team wins a Super Bowl is look for the differences as to why Team X played in the Super Bowl and Team Y didn’t and say, 'Copy those guys. That’s the way to get it done.'
It doesn't work that way. Well, it shouldn't work that way. A team has to have its own philosophy and make it work. Stick with it and hope it pays off. That’s what Jason Garrett has referred to as building a program. It’s maddening to hear, especially after three 8-8 seasons, but there is truth in what Garrett is saying.
The biggest difference in the Seahawks and Cowboys is the draft. Well, that and the Seattle defense. But for this post we’ll stick with the draft.
Since 2010, the Seahawks have 12 players picked from the third round and later -- or not drafted at all -- who have crucial roles in their success. The Cowboys have DeMarco Murray, a third-rounder in 2011, and three undrafted free agents. I could have counted Dwayne Harris, but the Cowboys actually cut him and needed him to pass through waivers before putting him on the practice squad in 2011.
If the Cowboys did not trade Sean Lissemore before the 2013 season, I would have counted their seventh-round pick in 2010 on the list.
As for undrafted picks, I’ll go with Barry Church (2010), Dan Bailey (2011) and Ronald Leary(undrafted, 2012). I wasn’t ready to say Kyle Wilber (fourth round, 2012) and/or James Hanna (sixth round, 2012) are crucial to the Cowboys’ success.
In order to win a draft, teams have to be successful in the middle rounds. The Cowboys have not been successful in the middle rounds in years. As a result, they lack depth. When they lose starters, they have to scour the street for help. When the Seahawks lose a player, they plug in a mid- to late-round pick as if nothing ever happened.
If we want to eliminate the third round, which is where Seattle drafted quarterback Russell Wilson in 2012, the Cowboys have to go back to the 2008 draft to find a real hit for the Cowboys in Rounds 4-7 in cornerback Orlando Scandrick (fifth). Doug Free (2007) turned into a good fourth-round pick only after the Cowboys were forced to play him in 2009. The golden year was 2005 when the Cowboys got Marion Barber (fourth), Chris Canty (fourth) and Jeremiah Ratliff (seventh) in what was then the second day of the draft.
The Seahawks can point to guys like Sherman, Chancellor, Walter Thurmond (fourth, 2011),Byron Maxwell (sixth, 2011), Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith (seventh, 2011), K.J. Wright(fourth, 2011), Robert Turbin (fourth, 2012), J.R. Sweezy (seventh, 2012), Doug Baldwin(undrafted, 2011) and Jermaine Kearse (undrafted, 2012).
They aren’t merely contributors. They are difference makers.
If the Cowboys want to alter their "secret sauce" recipe, they can look at the Seahawks' cook book.
February, 3, 2014
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- Is it too soon or too late to remind Dallas Cowboys fans that Akwasi Owusu-Ansah was drafted 13 spots before the Seattle Seahawks chose Kam Chancellor in the fifth round of the 2010 draft?
Or is too soon or to late remind them that Josh Thomas was picked 11 spots before the Seahawks took Richard Sherman in the fifth round of the 2011 draft?
Today, Chancellor and Sherman are celebrating a Super Bowl victory. Thomas at least made it to the playoffs with the Carolina Panthers as a reserve. Owusu-Ansah was on the Detroit Lions' practice squad last year. Maybe we can ask new playcaller Scott Linehan how he looked.
What we all do when a team wins a Super Bowl is look for the differences as to why Team X played in the Super Bowl and Team Y didn’t and say, 'Copy those guys. That’s the way to get it done.'
It doesn't work that way. Well, it shouldn't work that way. A team has to have its own philosophy and make it work. Stick with it and hope it pays off. That’s what Jason Garrett has referred to as building a program. It’s maddening to hear, especially after three 8-8 seasons, but there is truth in what Garrett is saying.
The biggest difference in the Seahawks and Cowboys is the draft. Well, that and the Seattle defense. But for this post we’ll stick with the draft.
Since 2010, the Seahawks have 12 players picked from the third round and later -- or not drafted at all -- who have crucial roles in their success. The Cowboys have DeMarco Murray, a third-rounder in 2011, and three undrafted free agents. I could have counted Dwayne Harris, but the Cowboys actually cut him and needed him to pass through waivers before putting him on the practice squad in 2011.
If the Cowboys did not trade Sean Lissemore before the 2013 season, I would have counted their seventh-round pick in 2010 on the list.
As for undrafted picks, I’ll go with Barry Church (2010), Dan Bailey (2011) and Ronald Leary(undrafted, 2012). I wasn’t ready to say Kyle Wilber (fourth round, 2012) and/or James Hanna (sixth round, 2012) are crucial to the Cowboys’ success.
In order to win a draft, teams have to be successful in the middle rounds. The Cowboys have not been successful in the middle rounds in years. As a result, they lack depth. When they lose starters, they have to scour the street for help. When the Seahawks lose a player, they plug in a mid- to late-round pick as if nothing ever happened.
If we want to eliminate the third round, which is where Seattle drafted quarterback Russell Wilson in 2012, the Cowboys have to go back to the 2008 draft to find a real hit for the Cowboys in Rounds 4-7 in cornerback Orlando Scandrick (fifth). Doug Free (2007) turned into a good fourth-round pick only after the Cowboys were forced to play him in 2009. The golden year was 2005 when the Cowboys got Marion Barber (fourth), Chris Canty (fourth) and Jeremiah Ratliff (seventh) in what was then the second day of the draft.
The Seahawks can point to guys like Sherman, Chancellor, Walter Thurmond (fourth, 2011),Byron Maxwell (sixth, 2011), Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith (seventh, 2011), K.J. Wright(fourth, 2011), Robert Turbin (fourth, 2012), J.R. Sweezy (seventh, 2012), Doug Baldwin(undrafted, 2011) and Jermaine Kearse (undrafted, 2012).
They aren’t merely contributors. They are difference makers.
If the Cowboys want to alter their "secret sauce" recipe, they can look at the Seahawks' cook book.
