Dallas Cowboys: Will McClay, the best scout in the world

Frisco

Owner Jerry Jones, Vice President Stephen Jones and coach Jason Garrett had their say on the Dallas Cowboys NFL 2019 draw class this weekend.

Although they are the public faces of the organization, the man who is the decision-making assistant, the man who heads the personnel department, is the Chief Scout Will McClay.

It was McClay that stabilized the post-disaster screening process in 2013, when a split between scouts and coaching staff allowed the Cowboys to rank among the top five against the need of defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd.

It turned out very well when the Cowboys took center, Travis Frederick, who turned into a perennial Pro Bowler.

But this revealed problems inherent in how the Cowboys handled their affairs.

Since McClay took power, the Cowboys have been a top 40 radio station at the editorial stage as they have regularly played hits.

Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence came in 2014, Byron Jones in 2015, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Jaylon Smith in 2016, Chido Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods in 2017 and Leighton Vander Esch and Michael Gallup in 2018.

For McClay, it's about focusing on the best player in terms of needs, and then making the right choices. That's what happened in 2019.

"I'm happy with what we did, without having a first-round pick," McClay said. "There was no receiver in the repechage as good as Amari Cooper. We won there. The rest of the project was to find players to make you more competitive. Will they be all pro and beginners? We do not know. But they will be competitive.

Here is his review of drafts and signatures not written with Star-Telegram:

Round 2 (58th overall): Trysten Hill, DT, UCF

"It has unique characteristics of type three technologies," said McClay. "It's explosive speed. It's the ability to disrupt. His love and energy with which he plays the game. He can do the things we want this position to do. "

For McClay, a tech-savvy scorer is the biggest player in Defender Coordinator Rod Marinelli's plan. Even though Cowboys like the DeMarcus Lawrence Pro Bowler on the left, think about what a Hall of Famer like Warren Sapp would do in the middle. This is the reason why they appreciated this position with regard to security during the second round.

"That's the straw that's shaking the drink," McClay said. "The penetration of the three techniques sets the tone for the whole defense."

It should also be noted that the Cowboys believe that Hill has learned and matured over the last year, given his problems with the UCF coaching staff in 2018 who had only just begun to do so. One of his 12 games.

The Cowboys particularly appreciated the fact that Hill had spent his 21st birthday in a not-so-chic hotel in Orlando, talking football and chatting with the Marinelli player rather than partying at a club. This testifies to his love for the game and the link he developed with Marinelli that could potentially unleash his potential for greatness. This talent is there.

Round 3 (90th overall): Connor McGovern, G, Penn State

"He's versatile, extremely intelligent and physical," said McClay. "It's inscribed in the temperament of the hall (offensive line) that we built."

It also reflects the Cowboys' organizational philosophy of not ignoring the flashing red light of the board's top players. The Cowboys did not get into the repechage to find a goalkeeper / center. But McGovern allows them to keep "what is strong, strong" as in the offensive line.

Depth and versatility in advance allow them to handle injuries such as Frederick from last year or a possible free-kick start from right-winger La'el Collins after the season.

"We do not know what tomorrow will bring," McClay said. "Nobody could see what happened to Travis. And then there is the business side on the road. We do not know where it leaves us. As Jerry Jones said, keep your strength. We felt that we did that. "

McGovern allows the Cowboys to coach Cross Connor Williams, a 2018 second-round pick, in the guard and tackle in 2019.

Round 4 (128th overall): Tony Pollard, RB, Memphis

"He is a space player who can something in the space with the ball in his hands," McClay said. "As the NFL evolves, the more players you have in space, the more predictable you are, the more the defense needs to plan. And then, he plays on the four tries, including on special teams as a revenant. You feel that you are getting a lot of value. "

5th inning (158th overall): Michael Jackson, BC, Miami (Florida)

"Mike is a big, long and fast turn that fits the parameters of what we are looking for in this position. He can be a guy inside or a guy inside. he has a lot of potential. It has the features that we think we can develop. There is a proven formula. You go and try to find these players. "

This proven formula comes directly from secondary coach Kris Richard's guide, who helped Richard Sherman move from a fifth-round pick to a perpetual Pro Bowler during their days in Seattle. It's not lost for the Cowboys that Jackson has the size and build of Sherman.

McClay said Richard's presence since last season has helped improve what they were looking for.

"It reinforced what we were looking for," McClay said. "We were always looking for big athletic turns. But we were playing cover 2. We are now on the defensive. Turns must be long and physical to disrupt itineraries. "

5th round (165th overall): Joe Jackson, DE, Miami (Florida)

The Cowboys went with Jacksons back to back with familiar names, causing some jokes in the fighting hall and on the internet.

"All we needed was Tito," said McClay, of the oldest of the famous pop group Jackson 5. "We had some jokes. We have the Jackson two and (halfback) Darius Jackson makes three. We are getting closer. "

As for Joe Jackson, this was another sign of the best player on the board, continuing to strengthen the defensive line and future moves.

"Joe is a typical Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman. A great physical and determined athlete. Look at his size. Look at his production. It adds value and more competition. "

Joe Jackson has officially warned of the disappointing first-round pick of 2017, Taco Charlton, that he may not be part of the lineup if he does not complete the lineup in 2019.

Round 6 (213th overall): Donovan Wilson, S, Texas A & M

One of the reasons the Cowboys chose Hill for safety during the second round is because Thornhill is a free security. And the Cowboys already have that at Xavier Woods, who, in their opinion, can become a star.

They were looking for stronger physical security like Seattle with Kam Chancellor playing next to Earl Thomas. Wilson potentially corresponds to this mold.

"Donovan is a player with traits we love," said McClay. "We love his physique. It is long. He has the marks. We think we can improve his game and become a better player. "

Round 7 (218th overall: Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State

"He has the ability to run the games we run in his pattern and he has the speed," said McClay. "He has some similarities Zeke."

Weber was a player that many thought was gone before the seventh round. The Cowboys believe that an ideal player to play behind Elliott is a major asset to complete a space player like Pollard.

"We know we have the best running back in the league," McClay said. "We do not want him to come from the field. But he needs to get undressed from time to time or we can associate guys to do things with him. We need depth to handle the ebb and flow of the season and the game. "

Tower 7 (241): Jalen Jelks, DE, Oregon

"He just jumped off the band," McClay said. "The length, the capacity, the effort, the engine. You see all this on tape. He played in a multitude of positions in Oregon, so he never had the opportunity to refine. But he was competitive everywhere. He fought there, even against the guards, and was productive and disruptive. "

The unofficial list of free agents not written and signed by the following: North Texas WR Jalen Guyton, Clemson OL Mitch Hyatt, Kentucky CB Chris Westry, Indiana OL Brandon Knight, Nebraska LB Luke Gifford, Michigan LB Andre Dowell, Toledo WR Jon & # Vea Johnson, DT Tech Virginia Ricky Walker, DT Kansas Daniel Wise, LB Northwest Nate Hall, Justin Phillips, Oklahoma State, Center-Missouri OL Derrick Puni and Harvard OL Larry Allen Jr.

McClay touched on a few points:

* Westry is a half-corner 6-foot-4 inch and "moves like he's 5-11 years old".

* Hyatt started every game of his career and won two national titles at Clemson

* Wise was a very productive college player for whom the Cowboys had a note to write.

* Guyton is a child from North Texas who "has juice".

And then there's Allen Jr., son of the Pro Football Hall of Famer and a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

"It's not Larry Allen, no one is," McClay said. "But he can play. There is no sentimental choice. He is a type of guard / center. He has good bloodlines and he is smart. "