A Look Back At Camp
A Look Back At Camp
The River Ridge Complex practice fields are quiet. Out here on the tennis courts, the sports radio stations and TV crews have started packing up their equipment. Somebody’s incessant bouncing of a basketball across the way is derailing my train of thought.
Looks like training camp is already over. It’s not, but let's just pretend for a minute.
Based on three weeks of tedious, painstaking evaluation, I’m offering up a few conclusions from the last three-plus weeks while the Cowboys are finishing up their final practice in Oxnard (ever?). Feel free to chime in with yours.
Most Pleasant Surprise: I’ll throw out three in no particular order. 1. Tony Romo looks to be making real progress as he enters his fourth season. Any ideas about Romo taking over starting duties this year (aside from injury to Drew Bledsoe) are pure flummery, but he made a statement against Seattle that the Cowboys don’t need a veteran, Testaverde-esque backup. I still want to see more of him in preseason, though. 2. Pat Watkins is a freakish free safety at 6-5 (he’s got to be closer to 6-6 because he has at least an inch on me) and evidently he’s really impressed Parcells. One question about Watkins was whether his size hindered his speed, and that doesn’t appear to be the case. He’s quicker than the Cowboys thought. If he doesn’t start this year, Parcells thinks he can be a superior special teams player. Not bad for a fifth-round pick. 3. Greg Ellis’ success at outside linebacker hasn’t surprised me too much. I figured his talent level and dedication would override any concerns he had. Still, a career 4-3 defensive end who transitions fairly seamlessly to a 3-4 outside linebacker deserves a spot on this list.
Biggest Disappointment: Can’t decide on anything today. I’ll go with two here, both from a personal standpoint. 1. Wide receiver injuries. In all likelihood, this will get sorted out. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn got back on the field this week, though Owens didn’t practice Saturday afternoon, and Patrick Crayton’s ankle injury shouldn’t keep him out for too long. But I was really looking forward to seeing this offense at full strength in practice. 2. Justin Beriault’s expected retirement at 24 years old. Just a shame. He never really got a chance to show what he could do. Careers should never end that way.
Best Bill Moment: Coach Parcells was in rare form during Thursday’s news conference, which is funny because he wasn't in the best mood. Best line of camp was his reaction to a noisy sports-talk radio host stationed only 20 yards from his podium: “Who’s this guy? What are they selling?”
Biggest Concern Left: Making sure Owens and Crayton are healthy for the season. Without Owens, this offense won’t be nearly as dynamic, and there’s a huge drop-off in experience after Crayton. Close second goes to finalizing the offensive line, particularly who starts at right tackle.
Don’t Worry About: This defense. They’re bigger, faster and more athletic than last year. And the linebackers seem to be a deeper group.
What I’ll Miss Most About Oxnard: Everybody says the weather, but I’m actually looking forward to downing six bottles of Deja Blue per day back in Dallas. Just kidding. Nothing quite like getting typical Dallas-October weather in August.
Prediction: Come on, I’m not going to lay down a regular season edict just yet. How about a prediction for Monday night? Somebody wins, Bledsoe and Romo split halves, and Marc Colombo tentatively wins the right tackle competition sometime next week.
-Rob Phillips
Published Saturday, August 19, 2006 8:20 PM by rphillips
The River Ridge Complex practice fields are quiet. Out here on the tennis courts, the sports radio stations and TV crews have started packing up their equipment. Somebody’s incessant bouncing of a basketball across the way is derailing my train of thought.
Looks like training camp is already over. It’s not, but let's just pretend for a minute.
Based on three weeks of tedious, painstaking evaluation, I’m offering up a few conclusions from the last three-plus weeks while the Cowboys are finishing up their final practice in Oxnard (ever?). Feel free to chime in with yours.
Most Pleasant Surprise: I’ll throw out three in no particular order. 1. Tony Romo looks to be making real progress as he enters his fourth season. Any ideas about Romo taking over starting duties this year (aside from injury to Drew Bledsoe) are pure flummery, but he made a statement against Seattle that the Cowboys don’t need a veteran, Testaverde-esque backup. I still want to see more of him in preseason, though. 2. Pat Watkins is a freakish free safety at 6-5 (he’s got to be closer to 6-6 because he has at least an inch on me) and evidently he’s really impressed Parcells. One question about Watkins was whether his size hindered his speed, and that doesn’t appear to be the case. He’s quicker than the Cowboys thought. If he doesn’t start this year, Parcells thinks he can be a superior special teams player. Not bad for a fifth-round pick. 3. Greg Ellis’ success at outside linebacker hasn’t surprised me too much. I figured his talent level and dedication would override any concerns he had. Still, a career 4-3 defensive end who transitions fairly seamlessly to a 3-4 outside linebacker deserves a spot on this list.
Biggest Disappointment: Can’t decide on anything today. I’ll go with two here, both from a personal standpoint. 1. Wide receiver injuries. In all likelihood, this will get sorted out. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn got back on the field this week, though Owens didn’t practice Saturday afternoon, and Patrick Crayton’s ankle injury shouldn’t keep him out for too long. But I was really looking forward to seeing this offense at full strength in practice. 2. Justin Beriault’s expected retirement at 24 years old. Just a shame. He never really got a chance to show what he could do. Careers should never end that way.
Best Bill Moment: Coach Parcells was in rare form during Thursday’s news conference, which is funny because he wasn't in the best mood. Best line of camp was his reaction to a noisy sports-talk radio host stationed only 20 yards from his podium: “Who’s this guy? What are they selling?”
Biggest Concern Left: Making sure Owens and Crayton are healthy for the season. Without Owens, this offense won’t be nearly as dynamic, and there’s a huge drop-off in experience after Crayton. Close second goes to finalizing the offensive line, particularly who starts at right tackle.
Don’t Worry About: This defense. They’re bigger, faster and more athletic than last year. And the linebackers seem to be a deeper group.
What I’ll Miss Most About Oxnard: Everybody says the weather, but I’m actually looking forward to downing six bottles of Deja Blue per day back in Dallas. Just kidding. Nothing quite like getting typical Dallas-October weather in August.
Prediction: Come on, I’m not going to lay down a regular season edict just yet. How about a prediction for Monday night? Somebody wins, Bledsoe and Romo split halves, and Marc Colombo tentatively wins the right tackle competition sometime next week.
-Rob Phillips
Published Saturday, August 19, 2006 8:20 PM by rphillips
posted by The Gryphon at 11:12 AM
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