Watkins hopes to take next step
By Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
June 4, 2007 4:14 PM
Pat Watkins started nine games at free safety during his rookie year last season.
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys safety Pat Watkins likes to travel, but he hasn't made use of his newly-acquired passport just yet.
The Florida native spent his first NFL off-season inland scouting his new home state, from the bustling capital of Austin to the quiet, dusty plains of West Texas.
"I'm just trying to take time out to travel and see places that I've never been before," Watkins said. "Especially Texas because I'd never even been to Texas until I moved out here to play for the Cowboys."
Watkins will make his most meaningful road trip next month: 270 miles south to San Antonio for the start of training camp, where he'll try to win back a starting job under new head coach Wade Phillips.
It won't be easy.
Watkins became the talk of camp at free safety last summer and opened last season as the only rookie starter on defense after beating out veteran Marcus Coleman and former 15-game starter Keith Davis. Coleman got released before season's end, and this year Davis might be saved for his specialty - special teams.
Watkins' top competition is free-agent signee Ken Hamlin, a four-year starter in Seattle who had four tackles in the Seahawks' 21-20 wild-card win over the Cowboys this past January. The Cowboys signed Hamlin to a modest one-year, $2.5 million deal with the understanding that a successful season could produce a long-term commitment.
"I just try to do my part," Hamlin said. "Like I said, I think I'm just another piece to the puzzle to try to come in, give my experience and my type of play and go out there and play hard."
Phillips and Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones have talked about the need for a defensive "quarterback" who can get everyone lined up in Phillips' version of the 3-4 scheme. Phillips said back in March that Hamlin's physical play reminds him of former Broncos safety Steve Atwater.
"I think I'm an aggressive player," Hamlin said. "I can also play centerfield. I just try to get to the ball. And when I get there, hopefully some good things can happen. I think with me, Roy (Williams) and Pat and everybody else that's back there, we feed off each other and can try to make some things happen."
Hamlin worked with the first team during Cowboys' first mini-camp, so the free safety job alongside Williams might be his to lose.
But Watkins said he isn't worried about how the depth chart reads. He's just trying to become a better player after a patchy rookie season in which he lost his job to Davis for six games in the middle of the year.
Former head coach Bill Parcells benched Watkins in late October after the fifth-round pick was involved in several deep pass plays in losses to the Giants and Eagles. But Watkins started the final three games and looked more comfortable in coverage, finishing his rookie year with 36 tackles and three interceptions.
"Last year I feel like I wasn't 100 percent into the defense, just learning the scheme and all," Watkins said. "But this year that's what I've been working on. I've studied my playbook harder than ever and the coaches helped me tremendously.
"Last year I was afraid to ask questions because I didn't want them to be thinking, 'What the heck is he doing? Why is he asking me this?' This year I feel like if I don't know it then I just ask. I got to know."
Watkins and his secondary mates will have some adjustments to make in Phillips' scheme, but the second-year veteran said "the basics" are the same. Brian Stewart replaces Mike Zimmer at defensive coordinator, but Todd Bowles is back for another year as secondary coach. His hands-on approach helped Watkins develop better technique as a rookie.
One thing Bowles can't teach is Watkins' 6-foot-5 frame, a genuine oddity in the secondary. Watkins' unique size allows him to cover ground quickly, but Hamlin's 52 starts over four years might prove to be his trump card.
The Cowboys' defense allowed 152 points and 16 touchdown passes in its final five regular-season games, making improved secondary play a primary objective heading into the upcoming season. Hamlin's experience could help, but the Cowboys also have invested significant playing time in the 24-year-old Watkins.
His next road trip to San Antonio might determine whether they plan to invest more.
"You can't go with the mentality that you're going to make every play - you're going to be real disappointed," Watkins said. "I try to go in with the mentality that I'm going to play my best and I'm going to make smarter decisions.
"I go in with the idea that if I know what I'm doing on the field, that's a great start. Let your athletic ability take over. Don't think too much. Just know what you're doing . . . know what you're doing."
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
June 4, 2007 4:14 PM
Pat Watkins started nine games at free safety during his rookie year last season.
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys safety Pat Watkins likes to travel, but he hasn't made use of his newly-acquired passport just yet.
The Florida native spent his first NFL off-season inland scouting his new home state, from the bustling capital of Austin to the quiet, dusty plains of West Texas.
"I'm just trying to take time out to travel and see places that I've never been before," Watkins said. "Especially Texas because I'd never even been to Texas until I moved out here to play for the Cowboys."
Watkins will make his most meaningful road trip next month: 270 miles south to San Antonio for the start of training camp, where he'll try to win back a starting job under new head coach Wade Phillips.
It won't be easy.
Watkins became the talk of camp at free safety last summer and opened last season as the only rookie starter on defense after beating out veteran Marcus Coleman and former 15-game starter Keith Davis. Coleman got released before season's end, and this year Davis might be saved for his specialty - special teams.
Watkins' top competition is free-agent signee Ken Hamlin, a four-year starter in Seattle who had four tackles in the Seahawks' 21-20 wild-card win over the Cowboys this past January. The Cowboys signed Hamlin to a modest one-year, $2.5 million deal with the understanding that a successful season could produce a long-term commitment.
"I just try to do my part," Hamlin said. "Like I said, I think I'm just another piece to the puzzle to try to come in, give my experience and my type of play and go out there and play hard."
Phillips and Cowboys owner-general manager Jerry Jones have talked about the need for a defensive "quarterback" who can get everyone lined up in Phillips' version of the 3-4 scheme. Phillips said back in March that Hamlin's physical play reminds him of former Broncos safety Steve Atwater.
"I think I'm an aggressive player," Hamlin said. "I can also play centerfield. I just try to get to the ball. And when I get there, hopefully some good things can happen. I think with me, Roy (Williams) and Pat and everybody else that's back there, we feed off each other and can try to make some things happen."
Hamlin worked with the first team during Cowboys' first mini-camp, so the free safety job alongside Williams might be his to lose.
But Watkins said he isn't worried about how the depth chart reads. He's just trying to become a better player after a patchy rookie season in which he lost his job to Davis for six games in the middle of the year.
Former head coach Bill Parcells benched Watkins in late October after the fifth-round pick was involved in several deep pass plays in losses to the Giants and Eagles. But Watkins started the final three games and looked more comfortable in coverage, finishing his rookie year with 36 tackles and three interceptions.
"Last year I feel like I wasn't 100 percent into the defense, just learning the scheme and all," Watkins said. "But this year that's what I've been working on. I've studied my playbook harder than ever and the coaches helped me tremendously.
"Last year I was afraid to ask questions because I didn't want them to be thinking, 'What the heck is he doing? Why is he asking me this?' This year I feel like if I don't know it then I just ask. I got to know."
Watkins and his secondary mates will have some adjustments to make in Phillips' scheme, but the second-year veteran said "the basics" are the same. Brian Stewart replaces Mike Zimmer at defensive coordinator, but Todd Bowles is back for another year as secondary coach. His hands-on approach helped Watkins develop better technique as a rookie.
One thing Bowles can't teach is Watkins' 6-foot-5 frame, a genuine oddity in the secondary. Watkins' unique size allows him to cover ground quickly, but Hamlin's 52 starts over four years might prove to be his trump card.
The Cowboys' defense allowed 152 points and 16 touchdown passes in its final five regular-season games, making improved secondary play a primary objective heading into the upcoming season. Hamlin's experience could help, but the Cowboys also have invested significant playing time in the 24-year-old Watkins.
His next road trip to San Antonio might determine whether they plan to invest more.
"You can't go with the mentality that you're going to make every play - you're going to be real disappointed," Watkins said. "I try to go in with the mentality that I'm going to play my best and I'm going to make smarter decisions.
"I go in with the idea that if I know what I'm doing on the field, that's a great start. Let your athletic ability take over. Don't think too much. Just know what you're doing . . . know what you're doing."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:01 PM
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