2026 Random Cowboys Stuff Thread...



Fascinating, they were clearly angling to get in front of the Giants who were picking at 10, with KC at 9.

I'd guess that they figured that by the 9th pick only one of the top defensive guys would be available and that they'd have to move up in front of the Giants and Dolphins to ensure getting them. That could've been any one of Downs, Styles or even Delane potentially, with Bailey and Reese obviously assumed to be long gone.

I think that's the exact sort of move up some of us were advocating for, not necessarily going all the way up to 3-5 like had been rumored here and there, but looking to make a small move up to about 8 or 9 to ensure getting one of the top 5 defensive prospects.

I assume the deal was probably 9 for 12, our 3rd and maybe a 6th or 7th.
 
Fascinating, they were clearly angling to get in front of the Giants who were picking at 10, with KC at 9.

I'd guess that they figured that by the 9th pick only one of the top defensive guys would be available and that they'd have to move up in front of the Giants and Dolphins to ensure getting them. That could've been any one of Downs, Styles or even Delane potentially, with Bailey and Reese obviously assumed to be long gone.

I think that's the exact sort of move up some of us were advocating for, not necessarily going all the way up to 3-5 like had been rumored here and there, but looking to make a small move up to about 8 or 9 to ensure getting one of the top 5 defensive prospects.

I assume the deal was probably 9 for 12, our 3rd and maybe a 6th or 7th.

Well I'm glad that never happened. I feel like we hear these every year where I'm like, well we really dodged a bullet. But reality is those trades only come to fruition of the board falls a very certain way and no other moves are made.
 
You know it is the last dog days of no football when an old blurb from Lamb gets the honor of a repost.

Ten Sundays.
That had already been posted? Damn.
 
While we're talking about Downs maybe being a "generational" safety (Schottenheimer's words), the play in the Purdue game below at 14:33 of the 1st quarter is exactly why he's considered to have that potential.

This isn't a play that shows up in a box score as a TFL, sack or INT, statistically its just a run of the mill tackle. It's not something you'll see in a highlight reel because it's not flashy and didn't come at some sort of critical juncture in a game.

But if you take the time to watch actual full games of prospects this is one of the ones that will stick with you, because the intelligence and instincts he shows is truly next level.

You have 3 WR's lined up to the right of the QB, with a RB who motions out into the flat in that direction behind the WR's, everything about it is meant to look like a quick screen to the RB towards the perimeter with the WR's blocking, with the intention of getting the defense to flow quickly towards the sideline. What it really ends up being is basically misdirection with a middle screen back towards the middle of the field, to the inside/slot WR towards that side who fakes like he's going to block towards the outside then cuts back in.

Downs is the only defender that really reads it and when he takes the first step towards the inside/slot WR Sonny Styles and Caden Curry are still moving towards the sideline towards the fake motion. When Downs actually makes the tackle Styles and Curry are just starting to take their first steps back towards the middle of the field.

If you pause it at 12:15 of the video (14:29 on the game clock) you can see how well it's set up with multiple OL releasing downfield and no OSU defenders near the ball carrier except for Downs who navigates between the OL, stopping the WR for a short gain. If not for Downs reading it so quickly it's probably a 8-12 yard gain, instead it's only 1 yard.

That play more than anything shows the next level intelligence/instincts everybody praised him for, he basically sees things happening before most players.

 
While we're talking about Downs maybe being a "generational" safety (Schottenheimer's words), the play in the Purdue game below at 14:33 of the 1st quarter is exactly why he's considered to have that potential.

This isn't a play that shows up in a box score as a TFL, sack or INT, statistically its just a run of the mill tackle. It's not something you'll see in a highlight reel because it's not flashy and didn't come at some sort of critical juncture in a game.

But if you take the time to watch actual full games of prospects this is one of the ones that will stick with you, because the intelligence and instincts he shows is truly next level.

You have 3 WR's lined up to the right of the QB, with a RB who motions out into the flat in that direction behind the WR's, everything about it is meant to look like a quick screen to the RB towards the perimeter with the WR's blocking, with the intention of getting the defense to flow quickly towards the sideline. What it really ends up being is basically misdirection with a middle screen back towards the middle of the field, to the inside/slot WR towards that side who fakes like he's going to block towards the outside then cuts back in.

Downs is the only defender that really reads it and when he takes the first step towards the inside/slot WR Sonny Styles and Caden Curry are still moving towards the sideline towards the fake motion. When Downs actually makes the tackle Styles and Curry are just starting to take their first steps back towards the middle of the field.

If you pause it at 12:15 of the video (14:29 on the game clock) you can see how well it's set up with multiple OL releasing downfield and no OSU defenders near the ball carrier except for Downs who navigates between the OL, stopping the WR for a short gain. If not for Downs reading it so quickly it's probably a 8-12 yard gain, instead it's only 1 yard.

That play more than anything shows the next level intelligence/instincts everybody praised him for, he basically sees things happening before most players.



Really good analysis. Not only is he the first defender to read it, but it's so fast that the OL wasn't even prepared to block him or anyone yet. Completely blew up the play.
 
WTF, Athletic? At least put them in alphabetical order. Fuckers.

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Along with likely half the linemen in the NFL.

Are the CTE Foundation trying to link CTE to suicidal states of mind?

More specifically, are they trying to encourage the Kneeland family to sue the NFL for creating a damaging work environment that contributed to Kneeland's suicidal state of mind??
 
Along with likely half the linemen in the NFL.

Are the CTE Foundation trying to link CTE to suicidal states of mind?

More specifically, are they trying to encourage the Kneeland family to sue the NFL for creating a damaging work environment that contributed to Kneeland's suicidal state of mind??

I mean I thought CTE was already linked to depression?
 
More specifically, are they trying to encourage the Kneeland family to sue the NFL for creating a damaging work environment that contributed to Kneeland's suicidal state of mind??
Probably. Anything for a buck. Hurting football is a nice side benefit for them.
 

It's difficult when you can only test for CTE after death. So yeah, it's going to show a higher rate of things like suicide or other causes of death. But that's because they can't diagnose people with CTE who are living normal and healthy lives. What happens with some former NFL players is really sad, and I certainly want to prevent it. But I also don't think you can just chalk up every death where someone has CTE to a result of CTE. It's like calling every death during COVID the result of COVID.
 
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