Caleb Downs 'is a football savant'; Cowboys exec gushes about new star

Yahoo Sports3h ago13 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Dallas Cowboys executive Will McClay praised rookie Caleb Downs as a 'football savant,' highlighting his exceptional understanding of the game and defensive skills. Downs, a standout from Ohio State, is expected to make a significant impact on the team's performance.

Key points

Caleb Downs is a rookie for the Dallas Cowboys.
He was highly rated on draft boards.
Will McClay called him a 'football savant.'
Downs has a strong understanding of football strategy.
He played college football at Ohio State.

Mentioned in this story

Ohio State

Dallas CowboysCaleb Downs

Caleb Downs 'is a football savant'; Cowboys exec gushes about new star

The Dallas Cowboys certainly seem to have hit a home run when it comes to their selection of Caleb Downs. The Ohio State product who ranked near or atop every evaluator's draft board comes with a reputation of being a coach on the field, and we're not talking about the "deer-in-headlights, can't-adjust-the-gameplan" type of coaching the Cowboys have employed over the last couple of seasons.

No, Downs is a brainiac who is lauded for not just for his ability to dissect what's happening to him and around him, and not just for his ability to physically respond to what his brain is telling him. Downs is also credited for absorbing just about everything there is to learn about the game of football and playing defense to the highest degree. So much so, Cowboys VP of Player Personnel Will McClay called him a football savant.

Speaking to the DLLS podcast, McClay responded to a question from Clarence Hill about

It hits you right away. Typically, when you are looking at quarterbacks, you're going to explain a play to them and have them call it back and trying to figure out if a quarterback has the ability to call the play, direct everybody, do all those things.

Then you flip it over on the defensive side, and you see a guy that can do it. And then when you talk to [Nick] Saban, and you talk to [Matt] Patricia and the coaches, and they talk about how smart he is, and how quickly he picks things up.

Then he came in here for a 30 visit.

Not only did he talk about Alabama's defense, that he learned 3 years ago. He broke that defense down, he broke down Ohio State's defense, and he talked about our defense

So that lets you know that that brain works.

He understands concepts and when you say what type of scheme you're gonna run he understands how the different pieces work and fit together, and it's… it's almost… he's a football savant, because things just work that way in his head.

McClay also spoke about how Downs will be a force multiplier for the Dallas defense in that he raises the level of everyone around him by being able to know the ins and outs of what all positions should be doing on a play. Check out the full podcast below.

Q&A

What did Cowboys exec Will McClay say about Caleb Downs?

Will McClay described Caleb Downs as a 'football savant,' emphasizing his deep understanding of the game and ability to play defense at a high level.

Why is Caleb Downs considered a standout player for the Cowboys?

Caleb Downs is regarded as a standout due to his exceptional ability to analyze the game and his physical skills, making him a valuable addition to the Cowboys' defense.

What college did Caleb Downs play for before joining the Cowboys?

Caleb Downs played college football at Ohio State before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.

How does Caleb Downs' playing style differ from previous Cowboys players?

Unlike previous Cowboys players who struggled to adjust on the field, Downs is noted for his intelligence and adaptability, allowing him to effectively respond to game situations.