Parcells Might Tweak Practice Schedule
Rob Phillips - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 4, 2006 7:22 PM
OXNARD, Calif. - The first week of training camp is in the books. Eight days are left until the Cowboys' first preseason game.
Bill Parcells says it's time his team got a little more "battle-hardened."
Parcells has given his players a heavy dose of team work since practice began last Thursday, but he hasn't seen enough progress in some areas.
"We've just got to keep going forward and keep pushing on it," Parcells said. "I've been on a two-one (practice) schedule; I might switch that. I might just go back to two-a-days for a while, I'm not sure. But I know I've got to make progress here.
"There are some things I'm worried about and a little frustrated with. And I think things in a couple places should be better than they are, and they're not. But it's the first week of the season so I have to keep that in perspective as well."
And it didn't take long to see a difference. For the first time during this year's camp, Parcells had the team working in full pads for both practices in the two-a-day schedule.
Parcells said he wants to maximize his practice time now because the schedule will change once his team starts playing games. The Cowboys begin preseason next Saturday, Aug. 12, at Seattle.
Parcells wants to see more production from his offense, which has struggled to move the ball at times in practice. The Cowboys are integrating new players like Anthony Fasano and Terrell Owens into the offense while also shuffling their offensive line rotation.
"We're making progress and this is the point in camp where usually your defense is ahead of your offense. It's just kind of the way it works," Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "Offensively everybody has to execute on every play with precision."
Parcells should get a better assessment of his team when the Cowboys conduct a live scrimmage Saturday here at the River Ridge Complex. Parcells said the club will run about 90 plays.
Flo Struggling
When asked how Flozell Adams has been doing in practice lately, Parcells was quick to point out his left tackle is struggling.
Apparently, he wanted to send a message to his left tackle in the afternoon practice, which featured Adams working with the second-team offense.
Rob Petitti, who started all 16 games last year on the right side, worked with the first unit at left tackle. Marc Colombo continued to start at right tackle.
Adams, who missed the final 10 games last season with a torn ACL, hasn't showed his Pro Bowl form so far in camp. The Cowboys placed him on active PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) for the first day of practice while Parcells wanted to make sure his conditioning was satisfactory before putting him back on the field.
"He's coming off a serious injury and he's a big man," Parcells said this week. "The rehabilitation wasn't easy and he's still working on it. His knee is sound, it's just a question of getting him back, acclimated to football. I think quickness is not a great asset for Flozell. He's got to be precise. That getting that discipline back is a big deal."
-- Nick Eatman
T.O. Teaching
Terrell Owens also missed Friday's afternoon session with a sore left hamstring, but he has worked with rookie receiver Sam Hurd for several minutes after practice the last two days.
"He's teaching me how to look up at the last second without opening up my chest and giving away the ball is coming," said Hurd, a San Antonio native. "He's a great teacher. He's been in the league for 11-12 years. He's one of the best players to ever play."
Parcells said he didn't know when Owens would return to practice, but he wasn't concerned about his receiver's hamstring. Owens said Thursday he and the team are simply being cautious.
Moving Parts
Parcells is giving first-round pick Bobby Carpenter a few snaps at inside linebacker on the nickel defense.
Carpenter is competing with Al Singleton at left outside linebacker, but Parcells doesn't think Carpenter has gotten confused by moving inside.
"I don't like to do that with rookies, but he seems to be able to handle it," Parcells said. "I think a player like him who played where he played and how much football and being around his dad, he's pretty much a kid that kind of expects anything. You can't rattle him. He's been through the mill."
Still Out
Parcells said he doesn't expect safety Justin Beriault (concussion) to return to practice this week, further impeding his chances of breaking into a crowded safety position.
Beriault has missed the last four days of practice. A sixth-round pick in 2005, Beriault spent all of last season on injured reserve after undergoing microfracture and osteotomy surgery to repair a torn medial and lateral meniscus in his right knee.
"I don't think it helps," Parcells said about Beriault's current injury. "Particularly in light of what happened to him last year. When you can't go out and show what you can do, it's difficult. But hopefully he'll get that opportunity."
Better Backs
On a positive note, Parcells said has been pleased with the development of running backs Tyson Thompson and Keylon Kincade so far in camp.
Thompson made the team as an undrafted free agent last season and became the Cowboys' kickoff returner. Parcells wants to give him some carries in preseason.
"He's doing much better on the mental side of it as opposed to last year," Parcells said. "Of course that should be expected. He's in the second year in the system and I think he has a little more confidence."
Parcells said Kincade is a "much-improved player" after spending two years on the Cowboys' practice squad. He's competing with Thompson for a roster spot behind Julius Jones and Marion Barber.
Time To Shine
Jamaica Rector impressed Parcells with a solid year on the practice squad. He showed some versatility by working a little at cornerback and became one of the strongest players on the team in proportion to his 186-pound frame.
But with a spot on the 53-man roster hanging in the balance, Parcells wants to see more improvement from Rector.
"I like the kid very much personally, I really do," Parcells said of the former undrafted free agent from Northwest Missouri State. "And I have some high hopes for him because he's pretty versatile. But I got to see a little more than I'm seeing right now.
"He's a pretty determined guy and I respect that too. And he's a hard-working kid. It's just every once in a while he short-circuits."
More Singing
For the second consecutive day, Parcells concluded practice with a few players singing to the rest of the team.
This time, the coach called for all players with braided hair - Keith Davis, Skyler Green, Demetris Summers, Marion Barber - and Pat McQuistan, to sing a reggae song to the team. Green and Davis were rather impressive taking the lead in a rendition of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sherriff."
At the end of Wednesday's practice, Parcells asked for his three Notre Dame players - Julius Jones, Rocky Boiman and Anthony Fasano - to sing the school's fight song in front of the team.
-- Nick Eatman
Short Shots Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones flew to Canton, Ohio for Saturday's inductions of Troy Aikman and Rayfield Wright into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . . . Second-year veteran Jay Ratliff is now working at first-team left defensive end with Marcus Spears rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee. "He's doing good," Parcells said of Ratliff . . . Parcells said he expects Stephen Peterman (sprained ankle) to return to practice soon.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 4, 2006 7:22 PM
OXNARD, Calif. - The first week of training camp is in the books. Eight days are left until the Cowboys' first preseason game.
Bill Parcells says it's time his team got a little more "battle-hardened."
Parcells has given his players a heavy dose of team work since practice began last Thursday, but he hasn't seen enough progress in some areas.
"We've just got to keep going forward and keep pushing on it," Parcells said. "I've been on a two-one (practice) schedule; I might switch that. I might just go back to two-a-days for a while, I'm not sure. But I know I've got to make progress here.
"There are some things I'm worried about and a little frustrated with. And I think things in a couple places should be better than they are, and they're not. But it's the first week of the season so I have to keep that in perspective as well."
And it didn't take long to see a difference. For the first time during this year's camp, Parcells had the team working in full pads for both practices in the two-a-day schedule.
Parcells said he wants to maximize his practice time now because the schedule will change once his team starts playing games. The Cowboys begin preseason next Saturday, Aug. 12, at Seattle.
Parcells wants to see more production from his offense, which has struggled to move the ball at times in practice. The Cowboys are integrating new players like Anthony Fasano and Terrell Owens into the offense while also shuffling their offensive line rotation.
"We're making progress and this is the point in camp where usually your defense is ahead of your offense. It's just kind of the way it works," Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "Offensively everybody has to execute on every play with precision."
Parcells should get a better assessment of his team when the Cowboys conduct a live scrimmage Saturday here at the River Ridge Complex. Parcells said the club will run about 90 plays.
Flo Struggling
When asked how Flozell Adams has been doing in practice lately, Parcells was quick to point out his left tackle is struggling.
Apparently, he wanted to send a message to his left tackle in the afternoon practice, which featured Adams working with the second-team offense.
Rob Petitti, who started all 16 games last year on the right side, worked with the first unit at left tackle. Marc Colombo continued to start at right tackle.
Adams, who missed the final 10 games last season with a torn ACL, hasn't showed his Pro Bowl form so far in camp. The Cowboys placed him on active PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) for the first day of practice while Parcells wanted to make sure his conditioning was satisfactory before putting him back on the field.
"He's coming off a serious injury and he's a big man," Parcells said this week. "The rehabilitation wasn't easy and he's still working on it. His knee is sound, it's just a question of getting him back, acclimated to football. I think quickness is not a great asset for Flozell. He's got to be precise. That getting that discipline back is a big deal."
-- Nick Eatman
T.O. Teaching
Terrell Owens also missed Friday's afternoon session with a sore left hamstring, but he has worked with rookie receiver Sam Hurd for several minutes after practice the last two days.
"He's teaching me how to look up at the last second without opening up my chest and giving away the ball is coming," said Hurd, a San Antonio native. "He's a great teacher. He's been in the league for 11-12 years. He's one of the best players to ever play."
Parcells said he didn't know when Owens would return to practice, but he wasn't concerned about his receiver's hamstring. Owens said Thursday he and the team are simply being cautious.
Moving Parts
Parcells is giving first-round pick Bobby Carpenter a few snaps at inside linebacker on the nickel defense.
Carpenter is competing with Al Singleton at left outside linebacker, but Parcells doesn't think Carpenter has gotten confused by moving inside.
"I don't like to do that with rookies, but he seems to be able to handle it," Parcells said. "I think a player like him who played where he played and how much football and being around his dad, he's pretty much a kid that kind of expects anything. You can't rattle him. He's been through the mill."
Still Out
Parcells said he doesn't expect safety Justin Beriault (concussion) to return to practice this week, further impeding his chances of breaking into a crowded safety position.
Beriault has missed the last four days of practice. A sixth-round pick in 2005, Beriault spent all of last season on injured reserve after undergoing microfracture and osteotomy surgery to repair a torn medial and lateral meniscus in his right knee.
"I don't think it helps," Parcells said about Beriault's current injury. "Particularly in light of what happened to him last year. When you can't go out and show what you can do, it's difficult. But hopefully he'll get that opportunity."
Better Backs
On a positive note, Parcells said has been pleased with the development of running backs Tyson Thompson and Keylon Kincade so far in camp.
Thompson made the team as an undrafted free agent last season and became the Cowboys' kickoff returner. Parcells wants to give him some carries in preseason.
"He's doing much better on the mental side of it as opposed to last year," Parcells said. "Of course that should be expected. He's in the second year in the system and I think he has a little more confidence."
Parcells said Kincade is a "much-improved player" after spending two years on the Cowboys' practice squad. He's competing with Thompson for a roster spot behind Julius Jones and Marion Barber.
Time To Shine
Jamaica Rector impressed Parcells with a solid year on the practice squad. He showed some versatility by working a little at cornerback and became one of the strongest players on the team in proportion to his 186-pound frame.
But with a spot on the 53-man roster hanging in the balance, Parcells wants to see more improvement from Rector.
"I like the kid very much personally, I really do," Parcells said of the former undrafted free agent from Northwest Missouri State. "And I have some high hopes for him because he's pretty versatile. But I got to see a little more than I'm seeing right now.
"He's a pretty determined guy and I respect that too. And he's a hard-working kid. It's just every once in a while he short-circuits."
More Singing
For the second consecutive day, Parcells concluded practice with a few players singing to the rest of the team.
This time, the coach called for all players with braided hair - Keith Davis, Skyler Green, Demetris Summers, Marion Barber - and Pat McQuistan, to sing a reggae song to the team. Green and Davis were rather impressive taking the lead in a rendition of Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sherriff."
At the end of Wednesday's practice, Parcells asked for his three Notre Dame players - Julius Jones, Rocky Boiman and Anthony Fasano - to sing the school's fight song in front of the team.
-- Nick Eatman
Short Shots Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones flew to Canton, Ohio for Saturday's inductions of Troy Aikman and Rayfield Wright into the Pro Football Hall of Fame . . . Second-year veteran Jay Ratliff is now working at first-team left defensive end with Marcus Spears rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee. "He's doing good," Parcells said of Ratliff . . . Parcells said he expects Stephen Peterman (sprained ankle) to return to practice soon.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:45 AM
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