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FORT WORTH — The stat line Paul Dawson produced last season was a thing of asymmetrical beauty, swollen with crooked numbers in the categories that mattered most. The TCU linebacker made 136 tackles, stuffing the ball carrier 26 times at the line of scrimmage or behind it. He also compiled 21 quarterback pressures and four interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.

Numbers like these command attention, which is why scouts, position coaches and team officials from all over the NFL flocked to the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility to see Dawson at TCU’s Pro Day on Friday. About a month ago, many of these men also watched Dawson bomb at the league’s scouting combine in Indianapolis.

That’s where Dawson, who was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and flashed athleticism throughout TCU’s 12-1 season, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 28 inches — results so bad that even Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper eclipsed them.

Dawson’s wretched performance raised more questions about the Skyline product who failed a drug test as a sophomore and would get under TCU coach Gary Patterson’s skin by arriving late to meetings and not following instructions.

“That was every day,” TCU cornerback Kevin White said. “That was every day. He’s wearing his earrings. Forgot his helmet, something like that.”

It’s a behavioral pattern that Dawson said afflicted him during his first two seasons on campus but was eradicated when he dropped friends — including some teammates — who he felt influenced his poor judgment.

The presence of his 2-year-old daughter pushed him to tackle his problems with the same vigor he flashed while in pursuit of playmakers on the opposite side of the ball.

“I couldn’t provide for her … just making those wrong decisions,” Dawson said.

It was a sobering realization. But poor choices continued to dog Dawson, even after he made strides toward cleaning up his act. Before heading to Indianapolis last month, Dawson decided to add weight to his frame that’s a shade under six feet.

Freighted with extra pounds, he tweaked his hamstring during his first attempt at the 40-yard dash and underperformed in the other drills. The combine disaster was so resounding that Dawson was forced to pooh-pooh the importance of measurables and remind others of his actual credentials.

“My game tape speaks very well, very highly of me,” Dawson said with a smile.

But on Friday, in the cozy, familiar TCU facility where he practiced countless times, Dawson was forced to relive the Indianapolis nightmare. Five pounds lighter, he was back sprinting in a straight line and leaping as high as his legs would allow him with cameras tracking his every move.

On this occasion, he did slightly better. His 40-yard dash time was clocked between 4.78 and 4.82 seconds. His vertical leap was 30 inches. And the NFL cognoscenti on hand seemed to like how he performed in several agility tests.

“He did a nice job,” said Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus.

Eberflus was among several Cowboys representatives in attendance. Assistant director of player personnel Will McClay and national scout Walter Juliff also were there — studying a defender who thrived in a scheme that relied on only two linebackers, much like the Cowboys did in 2014 when they used nickel on 66 percent of their defensive snaps.

Eberflus is intrigued by Dawson, explaining that he makes “plays on the ball” and has traits compatible with the prerequisites needed to succeed at an outside position.

“To me, I always go by what’s on tape, what happens in the games, because that’s real,” Eberflus explained. “A lot of times, when you’re moving around in this setting or at the combine, that’s not real football. So, to me, when you look at that, you put a pretty big premium on the game tape.”

And in Dawson’s case, Patterson said, “film doesn’t lie.”

The numbers don’t, either. But which ones are going to be weighed more heavily by the NFL teams — the stats produced in games or the results posted during the physical tests? As the NFL draft nears, that remains the biggest question of all for Dawson after he spent a day trying to answer some others.
 

Bob Sacamano

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“That was every day,” TCU cornerback Kevin White said. “That was every day. He’s wearing his earrings. Forgot his helmet, something like that.”

Wouldn't mind adding both of those guys to this roster.
 

Bluenoser

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Would love to have Dawson. Anyone that follows the draft think he makes it to our 2nd pick?
 

LAZARUS_LOGAN

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It might have been mentioned on here already, but Garrett supposedly has come out and pretty much stated that Lee will be WLB.
 

Bluenoser

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Couldn't Dawson play SLB? Hitchens/Ro Mac in the middle and when Lee gets hurt Hitchens slides over?
 

cmd34

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Couldn't Dawson play SLB? Hitchens/Ro Mac in the middle and when Lee gets hurt Hitchens slides over?

It's bad when the homers are basically counting on Lee getting injured.

Other homers..cough, cough, david....act like Lee's injuries are unique occurrences.
 
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It's bad when the homers are basically counting on Lee getting injured.

Other homers..cough, cough, david....act like Lee's injuries are unique occurrences.

Paging Matt Johnson. Attention please. Would Matt Johnson please make his way to the playing field?
 
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He got injured during a non contact drill first day of camp.

Uh.... He'll find a way to get injured.
 

dbair1967

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It's bad when the homers are basically counting on Lee getting injured.

Other homers..cough, cough, david....act like Lee's injuries are unique occurrences.

its not like he has chronic concussions or chronic shoulder injuries

maybe you need to become familiar with what "unique" means
 
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