Most front office NFL executives such as GM Joe Schoen come from humble beginnings as they work their way up the ranks in an NFL front office. The universally acclaimed Gil Brandt, architect of the Dallas Cowboy personnel for so many years, serves as a role model for many General Managers today.
Brandt started as a part-time scout for the Los Angeles Rams, and in 1958 managed to secure a full-time position with the San Francisco 49ers. Brandt shifted to a new franchise, the Dallas Cowboys, in 1960. General Tex Schramm knew Brandt when they both worked in Los Angeles. Along with Tom Landry, the three would work together for the next 29 years. Brandt pioneered many innovations that revolutionized scouting and personnel evaluation. Utilizing the concepts of computer analysis Brandt set about to define traits, measurable qualities and skills that could be translated to potential excellence on the football field. We see many of these metrics currently being used at the annual NFL Scouting Combine. The Combine serves as a centralization of the scouting evaluation process. Brandt was instrumental in initiating the Combine as well. Brandt also contributed to the concept of Pro Days in schools. Showcasing their elite players, schools started this concept in the late 1970s.
GM Joe Schoe and the Use of Metrics
During Brandt’s tenure, the Cowboys selected 18 future Hall of Famers. Some of Brandt’s picks included Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly, Randy White, Tony Dorsett, and Michael Irvin. Brandt was also skilled in finding quality players in the undrafted free agent and small college talent pool. Future Cowboys Everson Walls, Cliff Harris and Drew Pearson were all selected by Brandt.
Joe Schoen, the current New York Giants General Manager has been in the NFL personnel ranks for over 25 years. The current NY Giants General Manager started with the Carolina Panthers in 1995. His job there for five years was to evaluate players in the Southeast region. From there he moved to the Miami Dolphins, serving as Director of College Scouting. Some of the players Schoen helped identify included:
- Center Mike Pouncey – 4x Pro Bowler (1st round, 2011)
- Running Back Lamar Miller – Pro Bowler (4th round, 2012)
- Defensive end Olivier Vernon – Pro Bowler (3rd round 2012)
Assistant General Manager in Buffalo
Schoen has been in Buffalo for the last five years as an Assistant GM for the Bills. Some of the picks Schoen has been involved in include:
- Cornerback Tre’Davious White – 2x Pro Bowler, (1st Round, 2017)
- Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds – 2x Pro Bowler (1st Round, 2018)
- Defensive tackle Ed Olivier
- Wide Receiver Gabe Davis
Schoen has now had two drafts in New York as the General Manager of the Giants. He has received rave reviews for this year’s past picks of Deonte Bank, (1st round), John Michael Schmitz Jr. (2nd round), Jalin Hyatt (3rd round) and 6th round pick Tree Hawkins III.
Joe Schoen Giants
While one cannot truly evaluate the success of a year’s draft choices for several years, Schoen is beginning to hear rumblings about last year’s crop. Schoen had two selections in the Top 10 last year. One cannot miss with such high picks. The New York Giants selected Kayvon Thibodeaux, OLB, 4th overall, and chose right tackle Evan Neal 7th overall. Kayvon had 4.5 sacks all of last year, and none this year. In this past Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, he had no tackles.
To have no tackles for an entire game is difficult to fathom. Evan Neal has his own difficulties. Seemingly perpetually off balance and slow of foot, Neal has been the weak link of an offensive line that has too many holes. Questions are being asked if Neal should be moved inside to guard.
Until Thibodeaux and Neal start performing as drafted, the NY Giants General Manager and his reputation takes a significant hit that many General Managers would lose their job over.
Barry Schustermann
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