Henson struggling to cement spot
By Bob Buttitta, bbuttitta@VenturaCountyStar.com
August 18, 2006
Quarterback Drew Henson hasn't taken many snaps during the last few days because coach Bill Parcells is giving recently signed Matt Baker a chance to run the third-team offense.
Now in his third season with Dallas, Henson's future seems as uncertain now as it did when the Cowboys made the trade to acquire the former professional baseball player. There have been times this training camp, such as the controlled scrimmage, when Henson looked like the quarterback who starred at Michigan. But there have been other moments when he struggles to hit open receivers.
Parcells said through nearly three weeks of training camp, Henson has been merely average. What is holding Henson back is not clear to Parcells, who said at this point Henson's job is not in jeopardy.
"It's hard to put my finger on," Parcells said of Henson's struggles. "I have had a couple of talks with Drew here this summer. I had one the other day, we spent about 30 minutes talking about things. He's pretty smart, but his mind races. He has a little trouble relaxing."
Henson's inability to relax is something Parcells has seen in many players. He compared it to a boxer being told he needs to be relaxed in the ring even though he has someone beating the tar out of him.
The same goes for football players. Parcells said former New England Patriots fullback Sam Gash struggled with it early in his career so badly that he nearly hyperventilated in the huddle.
"One of the most beneficial things you can do for a player is to teach them a mechanism whereby during the battle, they can relax," Parcells said. "They can employ some kind of tactic that allows their mind to take a 10-second vacation between plays. So I have been talking to Drew about this. I don't look at it as a big flaw. I'm just trying to help him."
Parcells said he has no timetable on when he needs to make a decision about Henson.
Watkins coming hard: It's not often that Parcells makes bold statements about rookies, but he did when talking about the potential of safety Patrick Watkins.
"Watkins will be a factor," Parcells said. "I don't know if he will be a starter, but he will be in contention, I'm impressed with him. He's a very unique player.
"I have never had one or seen one during my tenure in pro football at that position that looks like that player (6-foot-5, 211 pounds). That is one reason he was drafted where he was (fifth round), because no one else has seen one like him either."
While he's not sure how well he can play safety, Parcells said he knows Watkins will be a tremendous special teams player.
"He will be an outstanding player on special teams this season," Parcells said. "He is going to hold up their punt gunners. It looks like he can do that really well. Superior would be the word to use."
The other free safety: While Watkins has opened his eyes, Parcells said incumbent starting free safety Keith Davis has had a good camp. Davis is in a heavy battle for his starting spot with Watkins and free-agent acquisition Marcus Coleman, but Parcells admitted Davis has a place on his team and on his defense.
"He will be active in our defense. I know what I have with that player. He's not a gazelle back there, but he's another guy who you know will be with you on Sunday."
Cowboys get a receiver: The Cowboys acquired Charlie Adams from the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round pick in 2007. Adams, 6-2, 190 pounds, is in his fourth year and caught 21 passes for 203 yards last season. He has also averaged 9.7 yards on 18 punt returns, and 21.8 yards on 10 kickoff returns. Adams was an undrafted free agent out of Hofstra in 2002 and spent most of his first two years on the practice squad.
Adams update: Left tackle Flozell Adams continues to make his way back from the ACL injury he suffered last season. Parcells said Adams is practicing harder than he has in some time.
"I have been on him a little, too, but he's doing pretty good now," Parcells said. I have never had a guy that size coming off this kind of injury. ... When you think about a man who weighs twice as much as the man who is rehabbing him, that's something. There can be some problems that you don't get in a normal person. I am trying to pay attention to that and he seems to be doing pretty well."
A cutting comment: During the offseason, Parcells teased linebacker Kevin Burnett that he had more surgeries than tackles in his brief career. But Parcells is pleased with how his second-year linebacker has looked this training camp.
"He has come back in good condition," Parcells said. "He did work hard to get ready and he's making progress as a player. But he very much needed this training camp. But you are seeing things that are looking pretty good."
August 18, 2006
Quarterback Drew Henson hasn't taken many snaps during the last few days because coach Bill Parcells is giving recently signed Matt Baker a chance to run the third-team offense.
Now in his third season with Dallas, Henson's future seems as uncertain now as it did when the Cowboys made the trade to acquire the former professional baseball player. There have been times this training camp, such as the controlled scrimmage, when Henson looked like the quarterback who starred at Michigan. But there have been other moments when he struggles to hit open receivers.
Parcells said through nearly three weeks of training camp, Henson has been merely average. What is holding Henson back is not clear to Parcells, who said at this point Henson's job is not in jeopardy.
"It's hard to put my finger on," Parcells said of Henson's struggles. "I have had a couple of talks with Drew here this summer. I had one the other day, we spent about 30 minutes talking about things. He's pretty smart, but his mind races. He has a little trouble relaxing."
Henson's inability to relax is something Parcells has seen in many players. He compared it to a boxer being told he needs to be relaxed in the ring even though he has someone beating the tar out of him.
The same goes for football players. Parcells said former New England Patriots fullback Sam Gash struggled with it early in his career so badly that he nearly hyperventilated in the huddle.
"One of the most beneficial things you can do for a player is to teach them a mechanism whereby during the battle, they can relax," Parcells said. "They can employ some kind of tactic that allows their mind to take a 10-second vacation between plays. So I have been talking to Drew about this. I don't look at it as a big flaw. I'm just trying to help him."
Parcells said he has no timetable on when he needs to make a decision about Henson.
Watkins coming hard: It's not often that Parcells makes bold statements about rookies, but he did when talking about the potential of safety Patrick Watkins.
"Watkins will be a factor," Parcells said. "I don't know if he will be a starter, but he will be in contention, I'm impressed with him. He's a very unique player.
"I have never had one or seen one during my tenure in pro football at that position that looks like that player (6-foot-5, 211 pounds). That is one reason he was drafted where he was (fifth round), because no one else has seen one like him either."
While he's not sure how well he can play safety, Parcells said he knows Watkins will be a tremendous special teams player.
"He will be an outstanding player on special teams this season," Parcells said. "He is going to hold up their punt gunners. It looks like he can do that really well. Superior would be the word to use."
The other free safety: While Watkins has opened his eyes, Parcells said incumbent starting free safety Keith Davis has had a good camp. Davis is in a heavy battle for his starting spot with Watkins and free-agent acquisition Marcus Coleman, but Parcells admitted Davis has a place on his team and on his defense.
"He will be active in our defense. I know what I have with that player. He's not a gazelle back there, but he's another guy who you know will be with you on Sunday."
Cowboys get a receiver: The Cowboys acquired Charlie Adams from the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round pick in 2007. Adams, 6-2, 190 pounds, is in his fourth year and caught 21 passes for 203 yards last season. He has also averaged 9.7 yards on 18 punt returns, and 21.8 yards on 10 kickoff returns. Adams was an undrafted free agent out of Hofstra in 2002 and spent most of his first two years on the practice squad.
Adams update: Left tackle Flozell Adams continues to make his way back from the ACL injury he suffered last season. Parcells said Adams is practicing harder than he has in some time.
"I have been on him a little, too, but he's doing pretty good now," Parcells said. I have never had a guy that size coming off this kind of injury. ... When you think about a man who weighs twice as much as the man who is rehabbing him, that's something. There can be some problems that you don't get in a normal person. I am trying to pay attention to that and he seems to be doing pretty well."
A cutting comment: During the offseason, Parcells teased linebacker Kevin Burnett that he had more surgeries than tackles in his brief career. But Parcells is pleased with how his second-year linebacker has looked this training camp.
"He has come back in good condition," Parcells said. "He did work hard to get ready and he's making progress as a player. But he very much needed this training camp. But you are seeing things that are looking pretty good."
posted by The Gryphon at 12:15 PM
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