DMN Blog: More Minicamp Observations
by Albert Breer
Tim, Lucky and Archer all offered up their final minicamp observations. Here's mine ...
1) Scandrick shines - I know I said it before, but I was very, very impressed by Orlando Scandrick's work this weekend. Now, the only really competitive setting we saw the defensive backs in was one-on-one work against the receivers, so we really only saw their man-to-man skills - nothing in zone or combination coverages - and that was without really being able to rough up the receivers. It was there that Scandrick really distinguished himself.
The coaches put all the corners in situations where they were playing up tight on the receivers, and back off of them, and I thought the Boise State product looked good in all of them. Did he get beat? Yes. But never badly. Even when guys caught the ball on him, he was right on top of them. For now, I think I can safely say that he's got outstanding speed, which everyone knew, and explosion with good instincts and timing on the ball.
He was the best DB in camp, for whatever that's worth.
2) Catch this - I think everyone who watched Danny Amendola was impressed. He positively owned Mike Jenkins in one-on-ones, ran sharp routes, was able to separate on a consistent basis, and catches everything. Now, here's the thing; He's small and he isn't as quick as the man he's most often compared to - Wes Welker. What that means is he will have to show that ability to get separation, real separation against experienced NFL defensive backs, which is a must for a shorter receiver. He's off to a good start.
But you knew that, since everyone at the camp had their eyes trained on him from the jump. Here's another name to file away: Mark Bradford. I thought he had about as good a camp as his fellow rookie free agent Amendola, and should be in the mix at the bottom of the depth chart at receiver in the fight for roster spots. He's bigger than Amendola, and showed quickness in and out of his breaks, and a nose for the ball in traffic. You might remember him from a certain epic upset of USC.
3) Learning curve - South Oak Cliff's Daniel Polk didn't light the world on fire. But I was impressed by the improvement the ex-Midwestern State QB showed over the two days of work. During the morning session of the first day, he looked pretty lost out there at receiver, understandable when you consider the position switch. By the time we got our last glimpse at these guys, three practices later, Polk looked natural at the position.
Again, this is a rookie minicamp. But he appeared agile running route, and seemed to have an understanding on how to set a corner up, then break on and beat him. That said, he doesn't look terribly fast, and might have issues getting away from defenders at the NFL level.
4) Choice words - I won't put much stock in a running back's work at this kind of camp. I'm more interested to see his vision in closed quarters, how decisively he runs in that phone booth with defenders in near, and how he reacts to contact and takes a hit. But I will say that both the Cowboys' drafted tailbacks, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice looked very, very solid catching the ball.
Particularly Choice, who's more refined in the passing game because of the pro-style offense he played in as a collegian. Choice got off to a rough start in passing drills, but came on thereafter. He's smooth catching the ball, not breaking stride to go get it and adjusting to the throw as it comes to him without a hitch. Of course, with either of these guys, opportunities in the passing will be tied to their ability to pick up the blitz. Choice has the edge there, for now, though Jones could surprise as he did a little bit with his ability to catch the ball.
5) A tough out: Martellus Bennett wasn't the only basketball-playing tight end to shine at camp. Rodney Hannah, the Houston product who spent last season on the practice squad, looked great catching the ball. He's a shade bigger than Bennett, and I was impressed with how fluid he looked hauling it in away from his body, and turning upfield. As good as Bennett looks as an athlete, Hannah was probably a little better as a player this weekend.
He also made the catch of the camp, laying out on a seam route to catch a slightly overthrown offering from Richard Bartel.
***
Earlier in the weekend, Archer invoked Quinton Spotwood's name. He was a Syracuse product who, according to Todd's reference to his time in Miami, looked great in rookie minicamp with the Dolphins a few years back. And Spotwood hasn't been heard from much since.
I'd bring up Chad Jackson here. I still think Jackson's got a chance to be something else, but when I first saw him in person -- at a 2006 minicamp in New England -- it looked like he was going to be the second coming of Randy Moss. To this day, I've never seen a player look more impressive in practice than he did that weekend. Two years later, he's got 13 catches in 14 career games and has been through ACL surgery.
The lesson: We may have found out some things this weekend. But chances are, they aren't all that significant. Thanks for reading, though!!!
Tim, Lucky and Archer all offered up their final minicamp observations. Here's mine ...
1) Scandrick shines - I know I said it before, but I was very, very impressed by Orlando Scandrick's work this weekend. Now, the only really competitive setting we saw the defensive backs in was one-on-one work against the receivers, so we really only saw their man-to-man skills - nothing in zone or combination coverages - and that was without really being able to rough up the receivers. It was there that Scandrick really distinguished himself.
The coaches put all the corners in situations where they were playing up tight on the receivers, and back off of them, and I thought the Boise State product looked good in all of them. Did he get beat? Yes. But never badly. Even when guys caught the ball on him, he was right on top of them. For now, I think I can safely say that he's got outstanding speed, which everyone knew, and explosion with good instincts and timing on the ball.
He was the best DB in camp, for whatever that's worth.
2) Catch this - I think everyone who watched Danny Amendola was impressed. He positively owned Mike Jenkins in one-on-ones, ran sharp routes, was able to separate on a consistent basis, and catches everything. Now, here's the thing; He's small and he isn't as quick as the man he's most often compared to - Wes Welker. What that means is he will have to show that ability to get separation, real separation against experienced NFL defensive backs, which is a must for a shorter receiver. He's off to a good start.
But you knew that, since everyone at the camp had their eyes trained on him from the jump. Here's another name to file away: Mark Bradford. I thought he had about as good a camp as his fellow rookie free agent Amendola, and should be in the mix at the bottom of the depth chart at receiver in the fight for roster spots. He's bigger than Amendola, and showed quickness in and out of his breaks, and a nose for the ball in traffic. You might remember him from a certain epic upset of USC.
3) Learning curve - South Oak Cliff's Daniel Polk didn't light the world on fire. But I was impressed by the improvement the ex-Midwestern State QB showed over the two days of work. During the morning session of the first day, he looked pretty lost out there at receiver, understandable when you consider the position switch. By the time we got our last glimpse at these guys, three practices later, Polk looked natural at the position.
Again, this is a rookie minicamp. But he appeared agile running route, and seemed to have an understanding on how to set a corner up, then break on and beat him. That said, he doesn't look terribly fast, and might have issues getting away from defenders at the NFL level.
4) Choice words - I won't put much stock in a running back's work at this kind of camp. I'm more interested to see his vision in closed quarters, how decisively he runs in that phone booth with defenders in near, and how he reacts to contact and takes a hit. But I will say that both the Cowboys' drafted tailbacks, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice looked very, very solid catching the ball.
Particularly Choice, who's more refined in the passing game because of the pro-style offense he played in as a collegian. Choice got off to a rough start in passing drills, but came on thereafter. He's smooth catching the ball, not breaking stride to go get it and adjusting to the throw as it comes to him without a hitch. Of course, with either of these guys, opportunities in the passing will be tied to their ability to pick up the blitz. Choice has the edge there, for now, though Jones could surprise as he did a little bit with his ability to catch the ball.
5) A tough out: Martellus Bennett wasn't the only basketball-playing tight end to shine at camp. Rodney Hannah, the Houston product who spent last season on the practice squad, looked great catching the ball. He's a shade bigger than Bennett, and I was impressed with how fluid he looked hauling it in away from his body, and turning upfield. As good as Bennett looks as an athlete, Hannah was probably a little better as a player this weekend.
He also made the catch of the camp, laying out on a seam route to catch a slightly overthrown offering from Richard Bartel.
***
Earlier in the weekend, Archer invoked Quinton Spotwood's name. He was a Syracuse product who, according to Todd's reference to his time in Miami, looked great in rookie minicamp with the Dolphins a few years back. And Spotwood hasn't been heard from much since.
I'd bring up Chad Jackson here. I still think Jackson's got a chance to be something else, but when I first saw him in person -- at a 2006 minicamp in New England -- it looked like he was going to be the second coming of Randy Moss. To this day, I've never seen a player look more impressive in practice than he did that weekend. Two years later, he's got 13 catches in 14 career games and has been through ACL surgery.
The lesson: We may have found out some things this weekend. But chances are, they aren't all that significant. Thanks for reading, though!!!
posted by The Gryphon at 7:30 AM
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