Tom Ciskowski

[junk]

Tom Ciskowski was named the Director of College and Pro Scouting in 2008. In his first draft as the top scout, he helped the organization address two positions of concern in landing a pair running backs and cornerbacks with Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins both coming in the first round. The club also gained two additional picks in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Ciskowski, who originally joined the Cowboys scouting department in 1992, finished his seventh season as the club’s Assistant Director of College Scouting in 2007. Ciskowski observed first-hand the top college prospects in the land and also helped organize the club’s entire college scouting operation. In his first season with the Cowboys, he served as a scout administered by the BLESTO Scouting Combine. Ciskowski became an area scout in 1993, working in the west for five years before moving to the southeast from 1998-2000.

Before becoming a scout, Ciskowski spent 15 years in the coaching ranks, the first two (1977-78) as an assistant at Pawhuska, Okla., High School. In 1979, he moved into the college coaching ranks, becoming the defensive backfield coach at East Central University in Ada, Okla. While at ECU, he earned his masters degree in athletic administration. The following year, he moved to Arizona State University, working with the defensive line as a graduate assistant for the 1980-81 seasons.

In 1982, Ciskowski moved to Oklahoma State, joining the staff as an assistant to former Dallas offensive line coach Tony Wise, before becoming the offensive line and tight-end coach at Wichita State in 1984. After that season, Ciskowski joined the University of Miami as a volunteer assistant, working with former Dallas defensive coordinator Butch Davis and the defensive line.

From 1986-89, Ciskowski worked with the offensive and defensive lines, first at New Mexico State for two seasons, and then at UNLV for two more. Before coming to Dallas, he coached the defensive line at College of the Sequoias in Visilia, Calif., from 1990-91. Thirteen of the team’s players went on from the junior college to play Division I football in 1992.

A native of Medford, Okla., Ciskowski attended Medford High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Cameron University, where he also played football. He and wife Jan live in Coppell, Texas, with sons, Jeremy and Joshua, and daughter Julianna.

Players drafted from the Southeast when he was a scout in that region (1998-2000)
Greg Ellis, Michael Myers, Darren Hambrick, Izell Reese, Antonio Fleming, Ebenezer Ekuban, Peppi Zellner, Dwayne Goodrich and Orantes Grant

Players drafted from the West when he was a scout in that region (1993-1998)
Brock Marion, Shante Carver, Larry Allen, Eric Bjornsen, Ed Hervey, Ryan Wood, Steve Scifres, Kenny Wheaton, Lee Vaughn, Omar Stoutmire

Assistant Director of College Scouting (2000-2007)
2005 was pretty good. Some really bad drafts in there ('01, '04, '06)

Director of College and Pro Scouting (2008 to present)
2008 - entirely possible that the only person left after this season is Scandrick
2009 - disaster
2010 - Good up top + Lissemore
2011 - Looks promising
2012 - Looks promising

Notable quotes

Larry Lacewell is the best football man I’ve ever been around. I was Larry’s first hire (as scouting director) because of Jimmy’s recommendation. Larry sees things the average guy misses. ‘Did you see him drop his shoulder,’ or ‘Did you see the way that (running) back hugged it and made the linebacker over run the play,’ little stuff that if you’re not a football guy you wouldn’t see.

Bill Parcells taught me a lot about the structure of a team, not just from a coaching standpoint but an administrative standpoint. He has things he believes in and sticks with his philosophy. He always has a good football story. I learned a lot of football from Bill Parcells.

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Thoughts? Stories/info/background on him?

The guy has been in Dallas forever.

He worked his way up the ranks. Was a big proponent for drafting Larry Allen.

However, he's been around for some of the pretty bad drafting years in Dallas.

 

[Theebs]

Something that has always stuck with me that I haven't liked.

When parcells shook the organization up going Into 04 ciskowski was the guy in line by all beliefs to the job he has today because he was a lace well, Jimmy guy.

But after being around for a year parcells determined he was not the guy......

As soon as everyone split for Miami Jerry Stephen just promoted him.

And parcells did the interview with laufenberg where he said you will never know I was there, I took this to have some meaning regarding ciskowski, I mean it's about Jerry but I get the feeling ciskowski is a company man and can be talked into agreeing with things if Jerry wants it that way.

Hence the 08 season. Ciskowski promoted, campo rehired, pacman signed with Irvin and Deion selling him to the fans here in the media. These are guys that were not allowed to do that until that year again. We end up with a bad season, Owens and pacman go haywire.

I don't know at this point honestly. I thought initially he was a good fit, but it just seems like they have missed entirely too much and sat by while this organization has done some really stupid things recently.

It would seem he should have had a bigger role and the ability to stop some of that.

I findit interesting that every now and then I read tidbits about will mcclay being one of the better front office people here, he had the director of personnel job in jax yrs ago. I have seen him credited for recent free agent pickups. So I wonder sometimes if the right guy is at the supposed to position.

Not that it matters because Jerry and Stephen change philosophies once a month anyway.

 

[Sheik]

Interesting couple of posts.

As far as TC's drafts, he's had some good ones and some bad ones.

We'll never really know how good or bad he is until he (if) gets a GM position somewhere where he can make the decisions.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

And parcells did the interview with laufenberg where he said you will never know I was there, I took this to have some meaning regarding ciskowski, I mean it's about Jerry but I get the feeling ciskowski is a company man and can be talked into agreeing with things if Jerry wants it that way.

---
I Actually took this to be more self-deprecating and complimentary to the aura of the Dallas cowboys.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

Shouldn't it be his job to properly evaluate the roster, assess the assets, find weak points and address them? B/c I think we do a poor job of that.

You can blame re-signing overrated talent on Jerry IMO b/c he builds these guys up as stars and doesn't want to let any walk.

 

[Theebs]

And parcells did the interview with laufenberg where he said you will never know I was there, I took this to have some meaning regarding ciskowski, I mean it's about Jerry but I get the feeling ciskowski is a company man and can be talked into agreeing with things if Jerry wants it that way.

---
I Actually took this to be more self-deprecating and complimentary to the aura of the Dallas cowboys.

That wasn't the tone of it at all. It was pretty much hey I tried, but the jones family will do It there way.

Parcells had to eat shit going into 06 because the team missed the playoffs for two years in a row and we ended up with Owens and a circus, which is exactly the opposite environment parcells created in 03 and was trying to really settle into leading into the 05 season.

Jerry was just to impatient to stay the course. The cowboys and giants were on the same path being built with the same structure and philosophy. Then Owens happened and all power went back to Jerry and the next thing you know we have wade and jerry at a press conference doing there best to insult what parcells did and act high and mighty.

They had a good time with it too, until 08 happened, then Jerry and wade were the joke and it wasnt so funny anymore.

Anyway parcells was pretty direct on that topic, you will never know I was there was about jerry being uncomfortable and now he was back in charge. He had an excellent team put in his lap and he was going to make it the big top, lots of attention, full access to former players, lots of media, hard knocks, risky players......lots and lots and lots of talk.

It was like the spoiled kid getting a new car and forgetting to check the oil and blowing the engine.

That is why I find the entitlement stuff hillarious from stephen jones, if him and his dad were not jackasses they would never have to even be in this situation. Oh well.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

I think that hovering uncle jerry presence has eroded any determination and grit. Shoot up a strip club ? I'll hound goodell to get you reinstated. Willingly take excessive celebration penalties to get on sportscenter*? I'll double down on that. Quit on the field? Here's $9M. Ruin our season once again O-line? You're all coming back.

*T.O.

I have a feeling Garrett is actually weeding a few guys out. Weve replaced 4 linemen, we dumped RW, we didn't make an offer to Bennett. For as skilled as Jenkins you can't deny he has quit on the field.

We've had a few decent drafts in a row and I'd like to think that's partly due to Garrett's influence. Seeing as he was a Tyron groupie from the start.

His in game coaching sucked but maybe it'll get better. 1 or 2 good offseasons with some blue-chippers on the Los and I think they can make some noise

Basically I think it's like any facet of life where the dominant personality can get his say In a crowded room.

 

[dbair1967]

Interesting couple of posts.

As far as TC's drafts, he's had some good ones and some bad ones.

We'll never really know how good or bad he is until he (if) gets a GM position somewhere where he can make the decisions.

bad "one's"??? plural? Other than 2009, which drafts has he run/built that have been bad?

 

[Midswat]

Players drafted from the Southeast when he was a scout in that region (1998-2000)
Greg Ellis, Michael Myers, Darren Hambrick, Izell Reese, Antonio Fleming, Ebenezer Ekuban, Peppi Zellner, Dwayne Goodrich and Orantes Grant

Players drafted from the West when he was a scout in that region (1993-1998)
Brock Marion, Shante Carver, Larry Allen, Eric Bjornsen, Ed Hervey, Ryan Wood, Steve Scifres, Kenny Wheaton, Lee Vaughn, Omar Stoutmire

One thing I will say in Ciscowski's defense, when you're looking at who he was responsible for drafting is that the scouts identify the players who have talent, but it's really up to the coaches and the organization as a whole to DEVELOP those players and put them in a position to succeed.

I always harken back to the Bengals pre-Marvin Lewis (not that they've been great with him, but you know). Every year they had a top five draft pick. They brought in a lot of talented football players. But the coaching was terrible up there, and really the entire organization structure wasn't condusive to winning.

I think the same could be said for Dallas for really, the majority of the last 16 years. The coaching has been either attrocious (Campo), lazy (Switzer), and/or soft (Wade). Meanwhile, you have an owner who yeah, provides all the resources for his players to succeed in the way of facilities, but really places more of an emphasis on marketing and sales of the players than the actual development of their skills.

Hard Knocks twice? Check.
Making training camp a traveling road show? Check.
Interrupting practices to have celebrities or high level sponsors shake players hands? Check.
Open door policy allowing disgruntled players to voice coach complaints directly to Jerry? Check.
Annointing players as great before they've taken a snap by playing numbers game (AB = 88, Pearson, Irvin), (Ware = 94, Haley) etc.

With Jerry it's all about marketing marketing marketing.

So you have these 22 year old kids coming to Dallas, throwing that star on the side of their heads, seeing all the history of the franchise, having camera's in their faces 24/7, radio shows, marketing opportunities....

Well, it's hard for a talented kid who needs to dedicate himself to his craft to reach his potential to do just that. Instead, they more times than not end up underachieving or washing out altogether.

Lets be honest.... it is very very rare that Dallas has a bona-fide overachiever on this team.

 

[Theebs]

oh and also....he is responsible for the jump to conclusions mat, so theres that...k

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

I feel like Ciskowski is pretty good as a personnel guy. Meaning maybe not a top-5 guy in the league, but solid to good. In other words, not someone who is holding us back. Our drafts have really been pretty solid the last several years when Jerry isn't giving the whole year away like in 2009. Let's face it, there's not a lack of talent on this team. Now is he there in part because he's been there forever and Jerry is "comfortable" with him? No doubt.

But he was still just a scout back then. You can't forget that Lacewull was still in charge of making the board, and I've heard that Jerry commonly ignored the board when it came time to make the pick.

Have to say that I've always thought what Mid said, that development means as much to young players as picking the right players themselves. Look at a Willie Blade who was a talent but pretty much a total bust under Campo. Parcells comes in and makes him a decent-to-good nosetackle type. Parcells called his dad and pushed the right buttons to get something out of a gifted player who didn't always play hard. Campo couldn't do that. (And Jerry didn't help any either.)

btw, on Ciskowski being skipped by Parcells for Ireland... I never, ever have "sources" or inside info but I do in this one case. Someone inside the organization at the time told me in detail about how Ireland ignored the organizational chart and skipped his boss to suck up directly to Parcells back in 2003... Kinda like how players used to skip the head coach and go bitch/ask for sympathy directly from Jerry. I'm sure that's one reason Ireland got promoted by Parcells and why he got the job in Miami.

And looking at the absolute disaster that Miami is, I'd never regret losing Ireland. I'd take Tom C over him every time.

 

[Theebs]

I feel like Ciskowski is pretty good as a personnel guy. Meaning maybe not a top-5 guy in the league, but solid to good. In other words, not someone who is holding us back. Our drafts have really been pretty solid the last several years when Jerry isn't giving the whole year away like in 2009. Let's face it, there's not a lack of talent on this team. Now is he there in part because he's been there forever and Jerry is "comfortable" with him? No doubt.

But he was still just a scout back then. You can't forget that Lacewull was still in charge of making the board, and I've heard that Jerry commonly ignored the board when it came time to make the pick.

Have to say that I've always thought what Mid said, that development means as much to young players as picking the right players themselves. Look at a Willie Blade who was a talent but pretty much a total bust under Campo. Parcells comes in and makes him a decent-to-good nosetackle type. Parcells called his dad and pushed the right buttons to get something out of a gifted player who didn't always play hard. Campo couldn't do that. (And Jerry didn't help any either.)

btw, on Ciskowski being skipped by Parcells for Ireland... I never, ever have "sources" or inside info but I do in this one case. Someone inside the organization at the time told me in detail about how Ireland ignored the organizational chart and skipped his boss to suck up directly to Parcells back in 2003... Kinda like how players used to skip the head coach and go bitch/ask for sympathy directly from Jerry. I'm sure that's one reason Ireland got promoted by Parcells and why he got the job in Miami.

And looking at the absolute disaster that Miami is, I'd never regret losing Ireland. I'd take Tom C over him every time.

its weird because if I remember correctly, ciskowski played a part in ireland getting hired.

that sucks if that is what ireland did and it sounds odd that parcells would like a suckup like that.

and no doubt, none of the staff matters if jerry on the day of the draft is going to call his college coaching buddies and pick who he wants anyway because he is an oilman gambler. I mean no one is stopping him or stephen from doing what they want and cheersing there iced teas after they do it in the war room...

of course, unless we need another stadium built.

 

[superpunk]

Yeah after watching how Ireland acts in Miami I'm glad we're rid of him.

 

[Sheik]

bad "one's"??? plural? Other than 2009, which drafts has he run/built that have been bad?

Hed been with the organization for a long while now, Dbair.

And he doesn't run anything. He's a yes-man.

 

[Theebs]

Yeah after watching how Ireland acts in Miami I'm glad we're rid of him.

Jimmy Johnson emphatically stands by ciskowski, could be they are old friends or whatever, but Jimmy really likes him.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

http://media.nbcmiami.com/images/654*368/031912+jeff+ireland+wikipedia.jpg

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Yeah, Ciskowski goes way back with Jimmy, all the way to Oklahoma State, I think.

 

[junk]

Yeah, Ciskowski goes way back with Jimmy, all the way to Oklahoma State, I think.

He made some comment about how jimmy hired him three times. I should have included it. Will find it later.

 

[ZeroClub]

I gotta say ... I find it impossible to judge Ciskowski.

In truth, we don't really know what he does nor what he advocates. Although we can see and assess draft day picks and free agent signings, we really don't know Ciskowski's personal opinions and input on each of these decisions (as well as on other players who the Cowboys ultimately didn't pick or sign.)

He could be an Einstein who Jerry too often ignores or he could be mediocre.

Who knows?

 

[Theebs]

I gotta say ... I find it impossible to judge Ciskowski.

In truth, we don't really know what he does nor what he advocates. Although we can see and assess draft day picks and free agent signings, we really don't know Ciskowski's personal opinions and input on each of these decisions (as well as on other players who the Cowboys ultimately didn't pick or sign.)

He could be an Einstein who Jerry too often ignores or he could be mediocre.

Who knows?

yep. No doubt about it.

I always read good things about him. I read good things about will mcclay also.

How would any of us know if jerry, stephen and garrett are higher up the ladder or whatever.

and how does chris hall the college scouting director who has had that job for like 15 years play into it?