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Posted by nickeatman at 3/30/2011 5:34 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
What this organization has been able to do with undrafted free agents is no secret. We all know the stories of Tony Romo and Miles Austin here lately. But just looking back to last season, special teams was aided by the performance of a few undrafted guys, such as punter Mat McBriar, cornerback Bryan McCann and safety Barry Church.
But it’s safe to say – and we’ve got numbers to prove it – that no undrafted free agent has made such an immediate impact on special teams the way Danny McCray did as a rookie last year. McCray, an LSU safety who didn’t even start much in college, made his presence known early on last year with the Cowboys and quickly became coach Joe DeCamillis’ best player on the coverage units.
McCray led the Cowboys with 28 special teams tackles, including 25 solo stops. And thanks to some fine research by the Cowboys’ PR department here lately, it turns out the 25 solos are the most by any special teams players in franchise history. (Remember, the list only goes back to 1987 when the team started recording special teams tackles).
Obviously, those guys have a role. With a team like this that has many needs, it’s likely the Cowboys won’t fill them all in just the eight draft picks they currently own. Undrafted free agents will be needed, but if there is no new CBA between now and the draft, then the undrafted players will just sit there without a team, until a deal is reached.
That will make it even harder for guys to come in and be the Danny McCray of this class.
What this organization has been able to do with undrafted free agents is no secret. We all know the stories of Tony Romo and Miles Austin here lately. But just looking back to last season, special teams was aided by the performance of a few undrafted guys, such as punter Mat McBriar, cornerback Bryan McCann and safety Barry Church.
But it’s safe to say – and we’ve got numbers to prove it – that no undrafted free agent has made such an immediate impact on special teams the way Danny McCray did as a rookie last year. McCray, an LSU safety who didn’t even start much in college, made his presence known early on last year with the Cowboys and quickly became coach Joe DeCamillis’ best player on the coverage units.
McCray led the Cowboys with 28 special teams tackles, including 25 solo stops. And thanks to some fine research by the Cowboys’ PR department here lately, it turns out the 25 solos are the most by any special teams players in franchise history. (Remember, the list only goes back to 1987 when the team started recording special teams tackles).
Obviously, those guys have a role. With a team like this that has many needs, it’s likely the Cowboys won’t fill them all in just the eight draft picks they currently own. Undrafted free agents will be needed, but if there is no new CBA between now and the draft, then the undrafted players will just sit there without a team, until a deal is reached.
That will make it even harder for guys to come in and be the Danny McCray of this class.