Receiver spots tough to get a finger on
07:14 PM CDT on Sunday, August 27, 2006
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – When you spend a season on a practice squad or sign as an undrafted free agent, the opportunity to win a spot on the 53-man roster comes around only so often.
If the Cowboys' medical team felt better about the condition of Charlie Adams' knees, maybe Jamaica Rector does not find himself in position to make the team. Or if Terrell Owens' hamstring did not keep him out of all but 12 practices, maybe Sam Hurd does not get as many reps in practice.
Rector, who spent last season on the Cowboys' practice squad, and Hurd, undrafted out of Northern Illinois, have worked their way into the receiver equation with one more preseason game to play.
In Saturday's 17-7 win against San Francisco at Texas Stadium, Rector caught seven passes for 80 yards, and Hurd had two catches for 20 yards. Through three preseason games, Rector has a team-high 12 catches for 152 yards, and Hurd has nine catches for 90 yards.
Coach Bill Parcells has expressed a desire to bring in a more experienced receiver, which prompted the trade with Denver for Adams, largely because of the health concerns surrounding Owens and Patrick Crayton, who has a sprained right ankle.
Parcells has generally kept five receivers on the 53-man roster. With Terry Glenn, Owens and Patrick Crayton set for the top three spots, he has to choose among Rector, Hurd, fourth-round pick Skyler Green, Miles Austin, J.R. Tolver, LaShaun Ward and Damarius Bilbo for the final two.
With roster issues elsewhere, including at kicker with Mike Vanderjagt unable to kick off because of a groin injury, it would be difficult for the Cowboys to go with six receivers.
Of the backup group, Rector and Hurd have the best chance, but Green's return ability might help him.
"It's getting close," Rector said. "We'll just have to see."
According to Parcells, pound for pound, the 186-pound Rector is the strongest player on the team. A year ago, he was a raw prospect out of Northwest Missouri State, but he opened eyes in practice while running with the scout team. On Saturday, he was used in a three-receiver set on the opening drive and caught and 8-yard pass. Later, he ripped away a back-shoulder pass from the defender for a 25-yard pickup. He also returned one punt 10 yards.
"He is definitely in the mix," Parcells said. "He is the only player that we have besides Terry [Glenn] that has real good quickness, and I have to take that into consideration."
Hurd was one of the biggest stories in Oxnard, Calif., largely because Owens took him under his wing, having him catch passes and run routes after practices. He impressed the coaches with his ability to learn multiple receiver spots, which most rookies do not do. But Parcells wanted to see him grow as a special teams player, joking that he made a good tackle on teammate Nate Jones last week against New Orleans.
On Saturday, Hurd came up with a tackle on a kick return.
"I don't have a problem with special teams," Hurd said. "If that's how I have to make the team, that's what I'm going to do."
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com
JAMAICA RECTOR
Height, weight: 5-10, 186
vs. 49ers: 7 catches, 80 yards
Preseason: 12 catches (team high), 152 yards
College: Northwest Missouri State
Notable: Ranks second in NCAA Division II history with 4,497 receiving yards; ranks third with 289 catches.
SAM HURD
Height, weight: 6-2, 195
vs. 49ers: 2 catches, 20 yards
Preseason: 9 catches, 90 yards
College: Northern Illinois
Notable: Broke school record with 266 receiving yards against Central Michigan.
Minnesota Vikings at Cowboys, 7 p.m. Thursday (Ch. 11;KTCK-AM 1310, KTDK-FM 104.1, KDBN-FM 93.3; in Spanish: KFLC-AM 1270, KFZO-FM 99.1)
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – When you spend a season on a practice squad or sign as an undrafted free agent, the opportunity to win a spot on the 53-man roster comes around only so often.
If the Cowboys' medical team felt better about the condition of Charlie Adams' knees, maybe Jamaica Rector does not find himself in position to make the team. Or if Terrell Owens' hamstring did not keep him out of all but 12 practices, maybe Sam Hurd does not get as many reps in practice.
Rector, who spent last season on the Cowboys' practice squad, and Hurd, undrafted out of Northern Illinois, have worked their way into the receiver equation with one more preseason game to play.
In Saturday's 17-7 win against San Francisco at Texas Stadium, Rector caught seven passes for 80 yards, and Hurd had two catches for 20 yards. Through three preseason games, Rector has a team-high 12 catches for 152 yards, and Hurd has nine catches for 90 yards.
Coach Bill Parcells has expressed a desire to bring in a more experienced receiver, which prompted the trade with Denver for Adams, largely because of the health concerns surrounding Owens and Patrick Crayton, who has a sprained right ankle.
Parcells has generally kept five receivers on the 53-man roster. With Terry Glenn, Owens and Patrick Crayton set for the top three spots, he has to choose among Rector, Hurd, fourth-round pick Skyler Green, Miles Austin, J.R. Tolver, LaShaun Ward and Damarius Bilbo for the final two.
With roster issues elsewhere, including at kicker with Mike Vanderjagt unable to kick off because of a groin injury, it would be difficult for the Cowboys to go with six receivers.
Of the backup group, Rector and Hurd have the best chance, but Green's return ability might help him.
"It's getting close," Rector said. "We'll just have to see."
According to Parcells, pound for pound, the 186-pound Rector is the strongest player on the team. A year ago, he was a raw prospect out of Northwest Missouri State, but he opened eyes in practice while running with the scout team. On Saturday, he was used in a three-receiver set on the opening drive and caught and 8-yard pass. Later, he ripped away a back-shoulder pass from the defender for a 25-yard pickup. He also returned one punt 10 yards.
"He is definitely in the mix," Parcells said. "He is the only player that we have besides Terry [Glenn] that has real good quickness, and I have to take that into consideration."
Hurd was one of the biggest stories in Oxnard, Calif., largely because Owens took him under his wing, having him catch passes and run routes after practices. He impressed the coaches with his ability to learn multiple receiver spots, which most rookies do not do. But Parcells wanted to see him grow as a special teams player, joking that he made a good tackle on teammate Nate Jones last week against New Orleans.
On Saturday, Hurd came up with a tackle on a kick return.
"I don't have a problem with special teams," Hurd said. "If that's how I have to make the team, that's what I'm going to do."
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com
JAMAICA RECTOR
Height, weight: 5-10, 186
vs. 49ers: 7 catches, 80 yards
Preseason: 12 catches (team high), 152 yards
College: Northwest Missouri State
Notable: Ranks second in NCAA Division II history with 4,497 receiving yards; ranks third with 289 catches.
SAM HURD
Height, weight: 6-2, 195
vs. 49ers: 2 catches, 20 yards
Preseason: 9 catches, 90 yards
College: Northern Illinois
Notable: Broke school record with 266 receiving yards against Central Michigan.
Minnesota Vikings at Cowboys, 7 p.m. Thursday (Ch. 11;KTCK-AM 1310, KTDK-FM 104.1, KDBN-FM 93.3; in Spanish: KFLC-AM 1270, KFZO-FM 99.1)
posted by The Gryphon at 8:22 PM
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