Cowboys Mailbag: Listening to Parcells has paid off in a big way for Cowboys receiver
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Bill Parcells wants his players to hang on his every word.
So far, Jamaica Rector has been all ears.
“He really listened to me last year about what he needed to do,” Parcells said of the 5-foot-10, 186-pound wide receiver. “He took it to heart. He trusted me, and he parlayed that into something.”
What Rector parlayed it into was a spot on the team’s 53-man roster, an impressive accomplishment considering he joined the Cowboys as a free agent after the 2005 NFL Draft and spent his rookie season on the practice squad.
Parcells tutored Rector, a former Northwest Missouri State star, during the offseason. When injuries sidelined Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton for much of training camp, Rector made the most of his opportunity.
“One of the benefits of Crayton and Owens not practicing was it allowed (Sam) Hurd and Rector to get so many reps that they just improved by osmosis,” Parcells said. Rector led the Cowboys in receiving during the preseason, catching 20 passes for 245 yards and a 12.3 average.
“You can’t ignore that,” Parcells said. “And he made some difficult catches.”
On Monday, Parcells said the former Celeste (Texas) High School standout would probably return punts against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the opener Sunday.
“I’m giving him more stuff that he needs to do, and he needs to take that to heart just like he did before,” Parcells said. “It paid off for him before. He knows that and now he’s ready to do whatever else I need him to do.”
Parcells said Rector reminds him of Gary Clark, a former Washington Redskins receiver. Like Clark, Rector has good hands and quickness.
Whether Rector is as successful as Clark, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, remains to be seen.
“He hasn’t done anything really yet,” Parcells said of Rector, “but I think he has shown you he is capable of doing something.”
On to this week’s questions:
Why do the Cowboys insist on down-your-throat running? How about some misdirection plays? The offensive line is not strong or fast enough to open the gaps.
-- David, San Antonio
Actually, some of Julius Jones’ better runs have come on draws and misdirection plays. Granted, the Cowboys don’t use a lot of bootlegs and rollouts because of Drew Bledsoe’s limited mobility, but there are plenty of misdirection plays in the team’s playbook. And you usually see them when the offense faces a defense that is overly aggressive and pursues well, which will certainly be the case in Jacksonville on Sunday.
Unless I’m mistaken, Tyson Thompson had the best yards-per rush in the preseason. When will the team wake up to his huge upside and stop waiting for Julius Jones to stay healthy?
-- Jeb Stratton, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (currently in Baghdad)
Jeb, if you’re feeling homesick, you might want to check out fwbchamber.org for some pictures of the 2006 Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival back home. By the looks of the photos, a fun time was had by all. Regarding Thompson, it’s true the second-year player led the Cowboys in rushing during the preseason with 195 yards on 40 carries for a 4.9 average. But the majority of his yards came against second- and third-teamers. It’s also true that Julius Jones managed only 2.3 yards per carry, but he didn’t get much help from the offensive line, particularly the interior trio of center Andre Gurode and guards Kyle Kosier and Marco Rivera. I know I’m probably in the minority on this, but I think it would be mistake to give up on Jones. Let’s see how he does in the team’s new base offense of two tight ends, two receivers and one back. And if Parcells is ready to make a change, it almost certainly would call for Marion Barber – not Thompson – to become the lead back. Parcells loves backs like Barber who can run, catch and block. Thompson has tremendous speed, but he’s a liability as a blocker.
Dallas is in the market for a veteran to back up nose tackle Jason Ferguson. Have you heard any rumors about who that might be?
-- Roger L., Wilmington, N.C.
The Cowboys signed J’Vonne Parker off waivers from Cleveland on Monday. To make room, they released backup nose tackle Thomas Johnson. Parker has great size (6-4, 323 pounds) but lacks experience, having played in only four games as a rookie last season. If Parker isn’t ready for the opener, Parcells likely will use defensive end/nickel tackle Jay Ratliff as Ferguson’s backup. For the 3-4 defense to be most effective, a dominant nose tackle is needed (see Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton). Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they’re still lacking one.
Why is the NFL so bent on making everyone pay to watch the NFL games? Is it just greed?
-- Tom Williams Sr., San Antonio
If you look very closely at one of the league’s new Duke footballs, you’ll find “Greed is Good” written just underneath commissioner Roger Goodell’s name.
How is Bob Lilly’s health and why isn’t Lee Roy Jordan in the hall of fame?
-- Bill Trial, Melbourne, Australia
Bob Lilly – or Mr. Cowboy as he’s known to fans who followed the team in the 1960s and 1970s – is 67 and, last I heard, in good health. He lives in Georgetown here in the Lone Star State and stays busy as a photographer. To find out more about Lilly and his art, check out boblillypromo.com or boblilly.com.
Although Jordan had an outstanding career while playing for the Cowboys from 1963-76, he is not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Like many fine linebackers from that era, Jordan was overshadowed by the legendary Dick Butkus. But I think Jordan was just as good as San Francisco’s Dave Wilcox, who was inducted into the hall in 2000. Wilcox played in seven Pro Bowls. Jordan played in five, but he appeared in three Super Bowls. Other linebackers from the 1960s who I think deserve consideration are Washington’s Chris Hanburger (nine Pro Bowls, one Super Bowl), Pittsburgh’s Andy Russell (seven Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls), Dallas’ Chuck Howley (six Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls) and Atlanta’s Tommy Nobis (five Pro Bowls).
Jordan and Howley aren’t the only Tom Landry era Cowboys that deserve consideration. Safety Cliff Harris should already be in the hall, but for some reason voters keep ignoring a team that appeared in five Super Bowls and won two. My guess is Harris, Jordan and Howley would all be in if the Cowboys had defeated the Steelers in Super Bowls X and XIII.
Here’s a question for you, Bill: Are the Cowboys considered Australia’s team?
Who will Bill Parcells start at free safety – Keith Davis or Pat Watkins? I’m guessing Watkins because he’s 6 foot 5 and can move.
-- Ryan Becker, Boise, Idaho
You’re right about Watkins. He has better range than Davis, but his inexperience could make him a liability. Still, he looked strong in the preseason, especially against Minnesota. It’s also important that the free safety be strong in coverage because Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams is at his best when positioned in the box. Parcells said he is considering a "by-committee approach" in which Davis and Watkins would share time. I’m sure that’s how it will start out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Watkins is starting soon.
Express-News Staff Writer
Bill Parcells wants his players to hang on his every word.
So far, Jamaica Rector has been all ears.
“He really listened to me last year about what he needed to do,” Parcells said of the 5-foot-10, 186-pound wide receiver. “He took it to heart. He trusted me, and he parlayed that into something.”
What Rector parlayed it into was a spot on the team’s 53-man roster, an impressive accomplishment considering he joined the Cowboys as a free agent after the 2005 NFL Draft and spent his rookie season on the practice squad.
Parcells tutored Rector, a former Northwest Missouri State star, during the offseason. When injuries sidelined Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton for much of training camp, Rector made the most of his opportunity.
“One of the benefits of Crayton and Owens not practicing was it allowed (Sam) Hurd and Rector to get so many reps that they just improved by osmosis,” Parcells said. Rector led the Cowboys in receiving during the preseason, catching 20 passes for 245 yards and a 12.3 average.
“You can’t ignore that,” Parcells said. “And he made some difficult catches.”
On Monday, Parcells said the former Celeste (Texas) High School standout would probably return punts against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the opener Sunday.
“I’m giving him more stuff that he needs to do, and he needs to take that to heart just like he did before,” Parcells said. “It paid off for him before. He knows that and now he’s ready to do whatever else I need him to do.”
Parcells said Rector reminds him of Gary Clark, a former Washington Redskins receiver. Like Clark, Rector has good hands and quickness.
Whether Rector is as successful as Clark, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, remains to be seen.
“He hasn’t done anything really yet,” Parcells said of Rector, “but I think he has shown you he is capable of doing something.”
On to this week’s questions:
Why do the Cowboys insist on down-your-throat running? How about some misdirection plays? The offensive line is not strong or fast enough to open the gaps.
-- David, San Antonio
Actually, some of Julius Jones’ better runs have come on draws and misdirection plays. Granted, the Cowboys don’t use a lot of bootlegs and rollouts because of Drew Bledsoe’s limited mobility, but there are plenty of misdirection plays in the team’s playbook. And you usually see them when the offense faces a defense that is overly aggressive and pursues well, which will certainly be the case in Jacksonville on Sunday.
Unless I’m mistaken, Tyson Thompson had the best yards-per rush in the preseason. When will the team wake up to his huge upside and stop waiting for Julius Jones to stay healthy?
-- Jeb Stratton, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (currently in Baghdad)
Jeb, if you’re feeling homesick, you might want to check out fwbchamber.org for some pictures of the 2006 Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival back home. By the looks of the photos, a fun time was had by all. Regarding Thompson, it’s true the second-year player led the Cowboys in rushing during the preseason with 195 yards on 40 carries for a 4.9 average. But the majority of his yards came against second- and third-teamers. It’s also true that Julius Jones managed only 2.3 yards per carry, but he didn’t get much help from the offensive line, particularly the interior trio of center Andre Gurode and guards Kyle Kosier and Marco Rivera. I know I’m probably in the minority on this, but I think it would be mistake to give up on Jones. Let’s see how he does in the team’s new base offense of two tight ends, two receivers and one back. And if Parcells is ready to make a change, it almost certainly would call for Marion Barber – not Thompson – to become the lead back. Parcells loves backs like Barber who can run, catch and block. Thompson has tremendous speed, but he’s a liability as a blocker.
Dallas is in the market for a veteran to back up nose tackle Jason Ferguson. Have you heard any rumors about who that might be?
-- Roger L., Wilmington, N.C.
The Cowboys signed J’Vonne Parker off waivers from Cleveland on Monday. To make room, they released backup nose tackle Thomas Johnson. Parker has great size (6-4, 323 pounds) but lacks experience, having played in only four games as a rookie last season. If Parker isn’t ready for the opener, Parcells likely will use defensive end/nickel tackle Jay Ratliff as Ferguson’s backup. For the 3-4 defense to be most effective, a dominant nose tackle is needed (see Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton). Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they’re still lacking one.
Why is the NFL so bent on making everyone pay to watch the NFL games? Is it just greed?
-- Tom Williams Sr., San Antonio
If you look very closely at one of the league’s new Duke footballs, you’ll find “Greed is Good” written just underneath commissioner Roger Goodell’s name.
How is Bob Lilly’s health and why isn’t Lee Roy Jordan in the hall of fame?
-- Bill Trial, Melbourne, Australia
Bob Lilly – or Mr. Cowboy as he’s known to fans who followed the team in the 1960s and 1970s – is 67 and, last I heard, in good health. He lives in Georgetown here in the Lone Star State and stays busy as a photographer. To find out more about Lilly and his art, check out boblillypromo.com or boblilly.com.
Although Jordan had an outstanding career while playing for the Cowboys from 1963-76, he is not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Like many fine linebackers from that era, Jordan was overshadowed by the legendary Dick Butkus. But I think Jordan was just as good as San Francisco’s Dave Wilcox, who was inducted into the hall in 2000. Wilcox played in seven Pro Bowls. Jordan played in five, but he appeared in three Super Bowls. Other linebackers from the 1960s who I think deserve consideration are Washington’s Chris Hanburger (nine Pro Bowls, one Super Bowl), Pittsburgh’s Andy Russell (seven Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls), Dallas’ Chuck Howley (six Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls) and Atlanta’s Tommy Nobis (five Pro Bowls).
Jordan and Howley aren’t the only Tom Landry era Cowboys that deserve consideration. Safety Cliff Harris should already be in the hall, but for some reason voters keep ignoring a team that appeared in five Super Bowls and won two. My guess is Harris, Jordan and Howley would all be in if the Cowboys had defeated the Steelers in Super Bowls X and XIII.
Here’s a question for you, Bill: Are the Cowboys considered Australia’s team?
Who will Bill Parcells start at free safety – Keith Davis or Pat Watkins? I’m guessing Watkins because he’s 6 foot 5 and can move.
-- Ryan Becker, Boise, Idaho
You’re right about Watkins. He has better range than Davis, but his inexperience could make him a liability. Still, he looked strong in the preseason, especially against Minnesota. It’s also important that the free safety be strong in coverage because Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams is at his best when positioned in the box. Parcells said he is considering a "by-committee approach" in which Davis and Watkins would share time. I’m sure that’s how it will start out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Watkins is starting soon.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:27 PM
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