Minicamp offers encouraging signs
12:40 PM CDT on Friday, June 9, 2006
Todd Archer
IRVING – The Cowboys finish their on-field teaching activities Thursday and will not be together as a full team until they report to training camp in Oxnard, Calif., July 27.
Last week's minicamp offered a glimpse of what the players have been doing in the off-season, but that hardly means what was seen at Valley Ranch for five pad-less practices in June will translate into regular-season success for any player.
But there were several encouraging signs.
Here are 10:
Terrell Owens is pretty good
Nothing new there, but the receiver looks bigger (in a good way) than his listed weight and faster than people think. One thing Drew Bledsoe mentioned is how quickly and strongly Owens turns up the field after the catch. Keyshawn Johnson did a lot of good things in his two years, but picking up yards after the catch was not one of them.
Don't give up on Henson yet
Bill Parcells said he expected more from Henson in NFL Europe but could not describe what he was talking about. Since the 2004 Thanksgiving Day game, Parcells has been down on Henson. It makes you wonder whether Parcells wanted the guy in the first place.
When the Cowboys sent Chad Hutchinson to NFL Europe two years ago, he proved he could not play. He took sacks. He still fumbled. Henson made solid decisions and showed poise in the pocket under some pretty good pressure.
He is looking forward to the break before training camp to rest up. He spent practices with his right shoulder wrapped in ice.
Maybe Jamaica Rector can make it
Parcells called him, pound for pound, the strongest player on the team. It's a dramatic change from a year ago when Rector was a spindly rookie. Now this isn't to say Rector will be among the five receivers on the 53-man roster, but after one catch during camp Parcells barked, "That's it Jamaica. You keep wearing their (beep) out."
According to several players last year, Rector made a ton of plays in practice, but he must become a threat in the return game for Parcells to keep him. It's a tough task, but he might earn his way on another roster if he keeps it up.
DeMarcus Ware is bigger, but not that much bigger
After the season, he was told to bulk up to 260 pounds, but he has since been told to come in at 257. He's 256 right now. He said the difference between this minicamp and last year's, when he was a rookie learning a new position, is night and day. He looked much smoother dropping back into coverage and was around the ball more.
What impressed most, however, was seeing Ware tutor rookie linebacker John Saldi after a practice, going through how to use your hands in pass rushing drills.
The other linebacker spot
With Al Singleton missing minicamp because of his wedding, free-agent signee Rocky Boiman, not first-round pick Bobby Carpenter, started at strong-side outside linebacker. Of course, Kalen Thornton worked with the 'ones' during last year's minicamp over Ware.
Waiting for a deal
Jason Witten is scheduled to be a free agent after this season, but I would be surprised if the Pro Bowl tight end sees the market. The Cowboys and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, have had brief talks regarding a new deal, and they hope to get it done before training camp. Witten looks like he added upper-body weight to his frame.
As for the other tight ends on the roster: Ryan Hannam has a bit of a knee issue but it didn't keep him off the field; Brett Pierce, who tore his ACL last November, was not in a knee brace. Sean Ryan did a nice job catching passes. Anthony Fasano, the rookie, didn't catch an eye, but that's not to be unexpected.
Getting in the flow
Flozell Adams was favoring his surgically repaired knee during practices, but that is not a surprise. Parcells said the left tackle was a little overweight, but Bledsoe said Adams' size made it look like he "inhaled." Having Adams participate in minicamp and in the OTAs was a smart deal. Having him wait to test the knee in Oxnard could have been dangerous. Now that he has gone through a few practices, he knows his knee will respond and he will not be as conscious of it in California.
Lay off Henry
Much was made how Owens beat up Anthony Henry during minicamp, especially on the opening day. Big deal. Much of the conversation during last year's minicamp was how Henry looked rusty. Before suffering a groin injury last season, Henry could have been considered the Cowboys' defensive MVP. He is a physical corner, and it's tough to be physical in a minicamp.
Options, options, options
The Cowboys aren't sure whether they will be better on the offensive line in 2006, but they feel like they have more options at the position. Just look at right tackle, where Rob Petitti, Jason Fabini and Marc Colombo are in the mix. Petitti played every snap last year. Fabini is a tested veteran. Colombo is a former first-round pick who has the coaches excited.
A year ago at this time the Cowboys were looking at Jacob Rogers, Torrin Tucker, Kurt Vollers and Petitti at the spot.
He has a chance, but …
J.R. Tolver. The Cowboys had him on the practice squad over the second half of last season, and he never really got it together. He has size but not a lot of speed, however he had the catch of minicamp, one-handing a Henson pass on the sideline over Henry, who was in terrific position. The catch was so good that the players oohed and aahed. When that happens, you know it was a big deal. The numbers at the position are tough, but Tolver could make things interesting.
Todd Archer
IRVING – The Cowboys finish their on-field teaching activities Thursday and will not be together as a full team until they report to training camp in Oxnard, Calif., July 27.
Last week's minicamp offered a glimpse of what the players have been doing in the off-season, but that hardly means what was seen at Valley Ranch for five pad-less practices in June will translate into regular-season success for any player.
But there were several encouraging signs.
Here are 10:
Terrell Owens is pretty good
Nothing new there, but the receiver looks bigger (in a good way) than his listed weight and faster than people think. One thing Drew Bledsoe mentioned is how quickly and strongly Owens turns up the field after the catch. Keyshawn Johnson did a lot of good things in his two years, but picking up yards after the catch was not one of them.
Don't give up on Henson yet
Bill Parcells said he expected more from Henson in NFL Europe but could not describe what he was talking about. Since the 2004 Thanksgiving Day game, Parcells has been down on Henson. It makes you wonder whether Parcells wanted the guy in the first place.
When the Cowboys sent Chad Hutchinson to NFL Europe two years ago, he proved he could not play. He took sacks. He still fumbled. Henson made solid decisions and showed poise in the pocket under some pretty good pressure.
He is looking forward to the break before training camp to rest up. He spent practices with his right shoulder wrapped in ice.
Maybe Jamaica Rector can make it
Parcells called him, pound for pound, the strongest player on the team. It's a dramatic change from a year ago when Rector was a spindly rookie. Now this isn't to say Rector will be among the five receivers on the 53-man roster, but after one catch during camp Parcells barked, "That's it Jamaica. You keep wearing their (beep) out."
According to several players last year, Rector made a ton of plays in practice, but he must become a threat in the return game for Parcells to keep him. It's a tough task, but he might earn his way on another roster if he keeps it up.
DeMarcus Ware is bigger, but not that much bigger
After the season, he was told to bulk up to 260 pounds, but he has since been told to come in at 257. He's 256 right now. He said the difference between this minicamp and last year's, when he was a rookie learning a new position, is night and day. He looked much smoother dropping back into coverage and was around the ball more.
What impressed most, however, was seeing Ware tutor rookie linebacker John Saldi after a practice, going through how to use your hands in pass rushing drills.
The other linebacker spot
With Al Singleton missing minicamp because of his wedding, free-agent signee Rocky Boiman, not first-round pick Bobby Carpenter, started at strong-side outside linebacker. Of course, Kalen Thornton worked with the 'ones' during last year's minicamp over Ware.
Waiting for a deal
Jason Witten is scheduled to be a free agent after this season, but I would be surprised if the Pro Bowl tight end sees the market. The Cowboys and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, have had brief talks regarding a new deal, and they hope to get it done before training camp. Witten looks like he added upper-body weight to his frame.
As for the other tight ends on the roster: Ryan Hannam has a bit of a knee issue but it didn't keep him off the field; Brett Pierce, who tore his ACL last November, was not in a knee brace. Sean Ryan did a nice job catching passes. Anthony Fasano, the rookie, didn't catch an eye, but that's not to be unexpected.
Getting in the flow
Flozell Adams was favoring his surgically repaired knee during practices, but that is not a surprise. Parcells said the left tackle was a little overweight, but Bledsoe said Adams' size made it look like he "inhaled." Having Adams participate in minicamp and in the OTAs was a smart deal. Having him wait to test the knee in Oxnard could have been dangerous. Now that he has gone through a few practices, he knows his knee will respond and he will not be as conscious of it in California.
Lay off Henry
Much was made how Owens beat up Anthony Henry during minicamp, especially on the opening day. Big deal. Much of the conversation during last year's minicamp was how Henry looked rusty. Before suffering a groin injury last season, Henry could have been considered the Cowboys' defensive MVP. He is a physical corner, and it's tough to be physical in a minicamp.
Options, options, options
The Cowboys aren't sure whether they will be better on the offensive line in 2006, but they feel like they have more options at the position. Just look at right tackle, where Rob Petitti, Jason Fabini and Marc Colombo are in the mix. Petitti played every snap last year. Fabini is a tested veteran. Colombo is a former first-round pick who has the coaches excited.
A year ago at this time the Cowboys were looking at Jacob Rogers, Torrin Tucker, Kurt Vollers and Petitti at the spot.
He has a chance, but …
J.R. Tolver. The Cowboys had him on the practice squad over the second half of last season, and he never really got it together. He has size but not a lot of speed, however he had the catch of minicamp, one-handing a Henson pass on the sideline over Henry, who was in terrific position. The catch was so good that the players oohed and aahed. When that happens, you know it was a big deal. The numbers at the position are tough, but Tolver could make things interesting.
posted by The Gryphon at 2:53 PM
<< Home