Bledsoe, Owens hamstrung by T.O.'s injury
by Todd Archer:
OXNARD, Calif. – For the third straight day, Terrell Owens missed practice because of a strained left hamstring, and the receiver underwent an MRI exam Saturday to determine the severity of the injury.
The results of the MRI came back negative.
But the more practice time Owens misses, the worse it is for the Cowboys and quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
The two worked together at the June minicamp and during the four days of onfield teaching that month to get acquainted on the field. But since arriving in Oxnard, they have had just seven practices together.
In those practices, Bledsoe has thrown to Owens in seven-on-seven and team drills 21 times, unofficially. Only seven passes have led to receptions.
Part of it is learning each other. Part of it is Owens learning a new scheme. Part of it is Bledsoe missing some throws, and part of it is how well cornerbacks Terence Newman and Anthony Henry are playing.
"We're getting there," Owens said Wednesday after his first absence. "We're not there yet, but as I said from day one, this is what training camp and practice is all about. We're not going to get it done in one day, a week. The season is yet to get here. Once the season starts, I feel we'll be ready."
Last season, Bledsoe had to learn about Keyshawn Johnson. He admitted it was difficult reading Johnson's body language at the top of his routes.
It was the first time Bledsoe had such a big target at receiver (Johnson is 6-4), and he had to throw to spots even if Johnson was covered.
By the end of the season, Johnson led the Cowboys with 71 catches for 839 yards and six TDs.
Although Bledsoe has had some talented receivers (Terry Glenn in New England and Dallas, Eric Moulds and Peerless Price in Buffalo and Johnson), Owens is in a different category because of his size and speed.
"With T.O., the one thing that I've got figure out when he's running downfield is he's got another gear," Bledsoe said. "I've got to throw it out a little farther on the deep balls than I have with some other guys. That's something when he gets healthy and gets out there, we'll take a few extra reps."
Owens' strength is what he does after the catch. He fit the short-passing West Coast offenses in San Francisco and Philadelphia because the ball got into his hands quickly.
The Cowboys' offense is built on the intermediate passing game, but coach Bill Parcells said the offense will incorporate some of the things Owens has done in the past.
That requires Bledsoe to be accurate, but he's completed at least 60 percent of his passes only four times in his 13 years, including last season.
Part of the reason Troy Aikman is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is because of his accuracy, especially on the shorter throws to Michael Irvin.
"In terms of reading his body and knowing when he's coming out of his cuts, no, I don't see that being a big issue between us," Bledsoe said. "The thing I'm going to continue to focus on is on the shorter and intermediate routes. The more accurate I am, the sooner he can get up the field and score."
But Owens and Bledsoe can't do any of that until Owens returns to the practice field.
OXNARD, Calif. – For the third straight day, Terrell Owens missed practice because of a strained left hamstring, and the receiver underwent an MRI exam Saturday to determine the severity of the injury.
The results of the MRI came back negative.
But the more practice time Owens misses, the worse it is for the Cowboys and quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
The two worked together at the June minicamp and during the four days of onfield teaching that month to get acquainted on the field. But since arriving in Oxnard, they have had just seven practices together.
In those practices, Bledsoe has thrown to Owens in seven-on-seven and team drills 21 times, unofficially. Only seven passes have led to receptions.
Part of it is learning each other. Part of it is Owens learning a new scheme. Part of it is Bledsoe missing some throws, and part of it is how well cornerbacks Terence Newman and Anthony Henry are playing.
"We're getting there," Owens said Wednesday after his first absence. "We're not there yet, but as I said from day one, this is what training camp and practice is all about. We're not going to get it done in one day, a week. The season is yet to get here. Once the season starts, I feel we'll be ready."
Last season, Bledsoe had to learn about Keyshawn Johnson. He admitted it was difficult reading Johnson's body language at the top of his routes.
It was the first time Bledsoe had such a big target at receiver (Johnson is 6-4), and he had to throw to spots even if Johnson was covered.
By the end of the season, Johnson led the Cowboys with 71 catches for 839 yards and six TDs.
Although Bledsoe has had some talented receivers (Terry Glenn in New England and Dallas, Eric Moulds and Peerless Price in Buffalo and Johnson), Owens is in a different category because of his size and speed.
"With T.O., the one thing that I've got figure out when he's running downfield is he's got another gear," Bledsoe said. "I've got to throw it out a little farther on the deep balls than I have with some other guys. That's something when he gets healthy and gets out there, we'll take a few extra reps."
Owens' strength is what he does after the catch. He fit the short-passing West Coast offenses in San Francisco and Philadelphia because the ball got into his hands quickly.
The Cowboys' offense is built on the intermediate passing game, but coach Bill Parcells said the offense will incorporate some of the things Owens has done in the past.
That requires Bledsoe to be accurate, but he's completed at least 60 percent of his passes only four times in his 13 years, including last season.
Part of the reason Troy Aikman is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is because of his accuracy, especially on the shorter throws to Michael Irvin.
"In terms of reading his body and knowing when he's coming out of his cuts, no, I don't see that being a big issue between us," Bledsoe said. "The thing I'm going to continue to focus on is on the shorter and intermediate routes. The more accurate I am, the sooner he can get up the field and score."
But Owens and Bledsoe can't do any of that until Owens returns to the practice field.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:52 AM
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