DMN Blog: Mucho minicamp coverage coming!!!
by Tim MacMahon
The Cowboys' mandatory minicamp starts tomorrow and runs through Thursday. You can count on being bombarded with real, live football coverage on this here blog for over the next few days.
Follow the jump for some of the things we'll keep an eye on at Valley Ranch this week.
*Terry Glenn: He wanted to participate in "voluntary" OTAs, but the Cowboys brass didn't want him on the field unless he agreed to a $500,000 settlement if he re-injured his knee. Maybe Glenn, who has fired his agent and is representing himself, can come to an agreement with the Cowboys before the minicamp. But I can't see Jerry budging. The issue for now is whether Glenn will be on the field. If he is, then we'll get a glimpse of how he's moving around on a knee that will probably need microfracture surgery down the road.
*Young WRs: Miles Austin, the best size/speed combo of the group, impressed during OTAs. He's competing with Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback for meaningful playing time ... and perhaps a spot on the roster.
*Martellus Bennett: The learning curve has been long so far with the Aggie TE, so Tony Curtis has been working as the No. 2 TE. But the Cowboys expected Bennett to contribute immediately when they drafted him in the second round. Time for him to show that he isn't overwhelmed by an NFL playbook.
*Greg Ellis/Anthony Spencer: Ellis is concerned with how the off-season reps are split at OLB, so we should be, too, even though Wade Phillips has assured Ellis that he'll remain the starter. Spencer, last year's first-round pick, can force the coaching staff to find ways to get him on the field if he continues the progress he showed during OTAs.
Pacman's progress: He had a couple interceptions that were the most highly publicized picks ever at an OTA in his first week at Valley Ranch. He was toasted by Austin on a deep ball and muffed a punt last week. There's no question that Pacman Jones is a phenomenal talent, but he's chipping off the rust after Sheriff Goodell benched him last season.
*Roy Williams: How often will he be on the field in passing situations? We'll get an idea by watching whether he's running with the 1s in the Cowboys' substitution packages. The sudden surplus of cornerbacks allows the coaching staff to experiment with using Anthony Henry as a safety in those situations, something they've done in some dime looks this spring.
*Bobby Carpenter: It's not too late for the 2006 first-round pick to remove the bust label. Coaches have liked what they've seen from him since moving him to Mo (weakside ILB) this off-season. He won't earn meaningful playing time until the preseason, but he can help his cause by continuing to make plays while wearing shorts.
*Offensive line: The starting five is set. It'll be interesting to watch the backups, even though they won't be wearing pads. Is 2007 third-rounder James Marten solely a guard now?
Felix Jones: We know he'll be a change of pace to Marion "The Barbarian" Barber. The coaching staff would like to use them together on occasion, as the Saints did with Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush in 2006. We saw a glimpse of how that might happen last week, and it'll be interesting to see what else Jason Garrett and Co. have in mind for the duo.
Feel free to make requests on anything else you want to read about this week.
The Cowboys' mandatory minicamp starts tomorrow and runs through Thursday. You can count on being bombarded with real, live football coverage on this here blog for over the next few days.
Follow the jump for some of the things we'll keep an eye on at Valley Ranch this week.
*Terry Glenn: He wanted to participate in "voluntary" OTAs, but the Cowboys brass didn't want him on the field unless he agreed to a $500,000 settlement if he re-injured his knee. Maybe Glenn, who has fired his agent and is representing himself, can come to an agreement with the Cowboys before the minicamp. But I can't see Jerry budging. The issue for now is whether Glenn will be on the field. If he is, then we'll get a glimpse of how he's moving around on a knee that will probably need microfracture surgery down the road.
*Young WRs: Miles Austin, the best size/speed combo of the group, impressed during OTAs. He's competing with Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback for meaningful playing time ... and perhaps a spot on the roster.
*Martellus Bennett: The learning curve has been long so far with the Aggie TE, so Tony Curtis has been working as the No. 2 TE. But the Cowboys expected Bennett to contribute immediately when they drafted him in the second round. Time for him to show that he isn't overwhelmed by an NFL playbook.
*Greg Ellis/Anthony Spencer: Ellis is concerned with how the off-season reps are split at OLB, so we should be, too, even though Wade Phillips has assured Ellis that he'll remain the starter. Spencer, last year's first-round pick, can force the coaching staff to find ways to get him on the field if he continues the progress he showed during OTAs.
Pacman's progress: He had a couple interceptions that were the most highly publicized picks ever at an OTA in his first week at Valley Ranch. He was toasted by Austin on a deep ball and muffed a punt last week. There's no question that Pacman Jones is a phenomenal talent, but he's chipping off the rust after Sheriff Goodell benched him last season.
*Roy Williams: How often will he be on the field in passing situations? We'll get an idea by watching whether he's running with the 1s in the Cowboys' substitution packages. The sudden surplus of cornerbacks allows the coaching staff to experiment with using Anthony Henry as a safety in those situations, something they've done in some dime looks this spring.
*Bobby Carpenter: It's not too late for the 2006 first-round pick to remove the bust label. Coaches have liked what they've seen from him since moving him to Mo (weakside ILB) this off-season. He won't earn meaningful playing time until the preseason, but he can help his cause by continuing to make plays while wearing shorts.
*Offensive line: The starting five is set. It'll be interesting to watch the backups, even though they won't be wearing pads. Is 2007 third-rounder James Marten solely a guard now?
Felix Jones: We know he'll be a change of pace to Marion "The Barbarian" Barber. The coaching staff would like to use them together on occasion, as the Saints did with Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush in 2006. We saw a glimpse of how that might happen last week, and it'll be interesting to see what else Jason Garrett and Co. have in mind for the duo.
Feel free to make requests on anything else you want to read about this week.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:54 PM
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