Tank: Put Me In, Coach
Rob Phillips - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
November 7, 2007 6:40 PM
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys nose tackle Tank Johnson isn't talking this week. Not until after Sunday's game against the New York Giants - his first chance to play since completing an eight-game NFL suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Johnson hasn't expressed it publicly, but Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said the team's new nose tackle is enthusiastic about playing his first game since Super Bowl XLI (Feb. 4) as a member of the Chicago Bears.
"He's excited," Phillips said after Wednesday's practice. "He said, 'I'm ready to go Coach!' I said, 'If you're going to be in there, you better be.'"
Phillips hasn't divulged how much Johnson will play Sunday, only that the fourth-year veteran is "part of the rotation" that includes starter Jay Ratliff. He later guessed Johnson might get about a third of the defensive snaps.
Assuming Johnson makes his season debut, Phillips likely will make backup Remi Ayodele inactive because he said he doesn't plan to carry three tackles on his 45-man game-day roster.
Phillips said Johnson has been working on his timing in the 3-4 defense, but hasn't had a problem getting accustomed to the physicality of practice.
He's expected to spell the 298-pound Ratliff, who has taken the majority of the snaps since veteran Jason Ferguson tore his biceps tendon and was placed on injured reserve in Week 1.
"A nose tackle playing 70 snaps a game, you're not going to hold up during the course of the season," defensive end Chris Canty said. "But I tell you what, they're going to get the most plays out of Jay as they can and try to keep him fresh by rotating Tank in there."
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
November 7, 2007 6:40 PM
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys nose tackle Tank Johnson isn't talking this week. Not until after Sunday's game against the New York Giants - his first chance to play since completing an eight-game NFL suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Johnson hasn't expressed it publicly, but Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said the team's new nose tackle is enthusiastic about playing his first game since Super Bowl XLI (Feb. 4) as a member of the Chicago Bears.
"He's excited," Phillips said after Wednesday's practice. "He said, 'I'm ready to go Coach!' I said, 'If you're going to be in there, you better be.'"
Phillips hasn't divulged how much Johnson will play Sunday, only that the fourth-year veteran is "part of the rotation" that includes starter Jay Ratliff. He later guessed Johnson might get about a third of the defensive snaps.
Assuming Johnson makes his season debut, Phillips likely will make backup Remi Ayodele inactive because he said he doesn't plan to carry three tackles on his 45-man game-day roster.
Phillips said Johnson has been working on his timing in the 3-4 defense, but hasn't had a problem getting accustomed to the physicality of practice.
He's expected to spell the 298-pound Ratliff, who has taken the majority of the snaps since veteran Jason Ferguson tore his biceps tendon and was placed on injured reserve in Week 1.
"A nose tackle playing 70 snaps a game, you're not going to hold up during the course of the season," defensive end Chris Canty said. "But I tell you what, they're going to get the most plays out of Jay as they can and try to keep him fresh by rotating Tank in there."
posted by The Gryphon at 9:53 PM
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