Cowboys Mini Camp "Hashmarks" by Matt Mosley
In case you're just joining us, I've spent the entire day at the Cowboys' voluntary minicamp. And if reading a ridiculously long blog entry about the Cowboys will cause you to become upset and send hateful e-mails, this might be a good place to stop.
We will cover a number of important topics this afternoon, including head coach Wade Phillips' steadfast belief in tube socks and what role punter Mat McBriar will play in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's passing attack. It's also important to note that the club's starting quarterback provided his thoughts on Hashmarks - and what direction he thinks it should go.
Taking attendance: Since I've been somewhat critical of a couple of players who've had spotty attendance at the recent OTAs, you should know that everyone except left tackle Flozell Adams (knee) was present and accounted for at Friday's minicamp. Former seventh-round draft pick Pat McQuistan is filling in for Adams, who unless something unforeseen happens, won't return next season.
Bill Parcells told Adams during 2003 that he could become one of the best offensive tackles in the game. But a year later, Parcells was already looking to replace him with second-round draft pick Jacob Rogers. Adams has all the ability in the world, but he's never had the desire to become an elite player...
Strong day for Romo: Phillips said quarterback Tony Romo had a "great" practice Friday. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson have spent a lot of time talking to Romo about how he goes through his progressions. They felt like he had a tendency to move out of the pocket before he needed to because he had so much success making things happen when plays broke down. Garrett and Wilson also think Romo's delivery is too low at times. But in Friday morning's session, Romo didn't miss on a single pass.
Phillips said he doesn't have any problems with Romo's busy social life because he sees him at the practice facility more than anyone else. He compared Romo to one of his former quarterbacks in Buffalo, Doug Flutie.
"Everyone loved Flutie," Phillips said. "...I loved Flutie."
By the way, Romo will be playing in an upcoming celebrity golf event in Lake Tahoe.
"I don't have a chance," said Romo, who hasn't played much this offseason.
Garrett and Phillips praise Sparano: Garrett and Phillips both said the presence of last year's play-caller and assistant head coach Tony Sparano has made the transition a lot easier on them. Sparano will remain in charge of the offensive line and the running game.
Garrett said one of the things he's done to prepare for calling plays is to talk to a lot of defensive coaches such as Dom Capers and Nick Saban about what gives them the most problems.
Second-year wide receiver Miles Austin was in the middle of eating his Grandy's chicken combo (don't knock it) Friday afternoon when Garrett approached him about the proper way to run an "option" route against the blitz. Garrett and Austin both stood up and demonstrated the route in the player's cafeteria.
Several players talked again about how different the atmosphere at Valley Ranch has been under Phillips. The coach reiterated Friday that he's "not soft," but his approach is obviously different than Bill Parcells'.
One player told me that Phillips recently interrupted several position meetings to give players a five-minute break to clear their heads.
"We were out there walking around the halls looking at each other like, 'What's going on here?'" he said. "This is a whole different deal with this guy. Bill just told you how it was, but now we're having all these open discussions."
Spencer catching on: First-round draft choice Anthony Spencer has been a little quicker off the ball from his outside linebacker spot than coaches anticipated. He said he went through the "awkward phase" of learning to play on his feet, but now feels comfortable. The hardest thing for Spencer is that he's gone from playing in a Purdue defense that has two formations to one that has about seven.
You see him getting lost in coverage at times, but he's got nice recovery speed. Veteran linebacker Greg Ellis, who wants out of Dallas, continues to tutor Spencer during practice and meetings. He's trying to teach him how to key on certain ways in which offensive linemen tip off plays.
Phillips has shown his linebackers a lot of San Diego film over the past few weeks and Spencer said he's tried to watch everything that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman does. Those are probably interesting film sessions for linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who will forever be compared to Merriman.
Strange connection: Cowboys wide receiver Jerheme Urban said that Phillips' legendary father, Bum, once offered to buy his cutting horse when Urban was a freshman in high school. Urban's father is a cattle-rancher near Victoria, Texas and Bum lives in Goliad.
"Coach keeps making me tell that story to everyone," Urban said. "But maybe it helps him remember who I am."
Quick reads: Romo said he's reading Mark Kriegels's book, "Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich" and "The Scorecard Always Lies" this summer. Spencer said he's working on a biography of music executive Russell Simmons...Asked about Keyshawn Johnson's comments that he may have received too much "hype," Romo said, "It might be true a little bit."...Phillips opened Friday's news conference with a heartfelt "Hello again!"...I'm not going to reveal the play, but I saw Pro Bowl punter Mat McBriar throw a touchdown pass Friday morning. The ball fluttered a bit, but then found comfort in the waiting arms of Adam Bergen...Phillips called Ellis "one of the best guys I've ever been around." He said he'll let Jerry Jones and Ellis work out the situation...T.O. and Terry Glenn stopped by for Friday's two practices, but neither player spoke publicly...Asked about Marco Rivera retiring, Phillips said, "It didn't look like he was going to help us this year."...The head coach acknowledged Garrett's Ivy League roots, but said, "He can relate to all of us other people, too."...Brad Johnson is officially the first-team holder.
Check back throughout the weekend for updates, but I sense this may be enough Cowboys for one entry.
We will cover a number of important topics this afternoon, including head coach Wade Phillips' steadfast belief in tube socks and what role punter Mat McBriar will play in offensive coordinator Jason Garrett's passing attack. It's also important to note that the club's starting quarterback provided his thoughts on Hashmarks - and what direction he thinks it should go.
Taking attendance: Since I've been somewhat critical of a couple of players who've had spotty attendance at the recent OTAs, you should know that everyone except left tackle Flozell Adams (knee) was present and accounted for at Friday's minicamp. Former seventh-round draft pick Pat McQuistan is filling in for Adams, who unless something unforeseen happens, won't return next season.
Bill Parcells told Adams during 2003 that he could become one of the best offensive tackles in the game. But a year later, Parcells was already looking to replace him with second-round draft pick Jacob Rogers. Adams has all the ability in the world, but he's never had the desire to become an elite player...
Strong day for Romo: Phillips said quarterback Tony Romo had a "great" practice Friday. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson have spent a lot of time talking to Romo about how he goes through his progressions. They felt like he had a tendency to move out of the pocket before he needed to because he had so much success making things happen when plays broke down. Garrett and Wilson also think Romo's delivery is too low at times. But in Friday morning's session, Romo didn't miss on a single pass.
Phillips said he doesn't have any problems with Romo's busy social life because he sees him at the practice facility more than anyone else. He compared Romo to one of his former quarterbacks in Buffalo, Doug Flutie.
"Everyone loved Flutie," Phillips said. "...I loved Flutie."
By the way, Romo will be playing in an upcoming celebrity golf event in Lake Tahoe.
"I don't have a chance," said Romo, who hasn't played much this offseason.
Garrett and Phillips praise Sparano: Garrett and Phillips both said the presence of last year's play-caller and assistant head coach Tony Sparano has made the transition a lot easier on them. Sparano will remain in charge of the offensive line and the running game.
Garrett said one of the things he's done to prepare for calling plays is to talk to a lot of defensive coaches such as Dom Capers and Nick Saban about what gives them the most problems.
Second-year wide receiver Miles Austin was in the middle of eating his Grandy's chicken combo (don't knock it) Friday afternoon when Garrett approached him about the proper way to run an "option" route against the blitz. Garrett and Austin both stood up and demonstrated the route in the player's cafeteria.
Several players talked again about how different the atmosphere at Valley Ranch has been under Phillips. The coach reiterated Friday that he's "not soft," but his approach is obviously different than Bill Parcells'.
One player told me that Phillips recently interrupted several position meetings to give players a five-minute break to clear their heads.
"We were out there walking around the halls looking at each other like, 'What's going on here?'" he said. "This is a whole different deal with this guy. Bill just told you how it was, but now we're having all these open discussions."
Spencer catching on: First-round draft choice Anthony Spencer has been a little quicker off the ball from his outside linebacker spot than coaches anticipated. He said he went through the "awkward phase" of learning to play on his feet, but now feels comfortable. The hardest thing for Spencer is that he's gone from playing in a Purdue defense that has two formations to one that has about seven.
You see him getting lost in coverage at times, but he's got nice recovery speed. Veteran linebacker Greg Ellis, who wants out of Dallas, continues to tutor Spencer during practice and meetings. He's trying to teach him how to key on certain ways in which offensive linemen tip off plays.
Phillips has shown his linebackers a lot of San Diego film over the past few weeks and Spencer said he's tried to watch everything that Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman does. Those are probably interesting film sessions for linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who will forever be compared to Merriman.
Strange connection: Cowboys wide receiver Jerheme Urban said that Phillips' legendary father, Bum, once offered to buy his cutting horse when Urban was a freshman in high school. Urban's father is a cattle-rancher near Victoria, Texas and Bum lives in Goliad.
"Coach keeps making me tell that story to everyone," Urban said. "But maybe it helps him remember who I am."
Quick reads: Romo said he's reading Mark Kriegels's book, "Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich" and "The Scorecard Always Lies" this summer. Spencer said he's working on a biography of music executive Russell Simmons...Asked about Keyshawn Johnson's comments that he may have received too much "hype," Romo said, "It might be true a little bit."...Phillips opened Friday's news conference with a heartfelt "Hello again!"...I'm not going to reveal the play, but I saw Pro Bowl punter Mat McBriar throw a touchdown pass Friday morning. The ball fluttered a bit, but then found comfort in the waiting arms of Adam Bergen...Phillips called Ellis "one of the best guys I've ever been around." He said he'll let Jerry Jones and Ellis work out the situation...T.O. and Terry Glenn stopped by for Friday's two practices, but neither player spoke publicly...Asked about Marco Rivera retiring, Phillips said, "It didn't look like he was going to help us this year."...The head coach acknowledged Garrett's Ivy League roots, but said, "He can relate to all of us other people, too."...Brad Johnson is officially the first-team holder.
Check back throughout the weekend for updates, but I sense this may be enough Cowboys for one entry.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:56 PM
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