Kickoffs targeted by Dallas Cowboys' Folk
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Nick Folk is just about ready for the regular season.
The second-year kicker has made all six field goal attempts in the preseason but said Monday he needs work on his kickoffs.
Folk said he is working on a different technique in his approach in an effort to disguise which direction he will kick the ball. However, it has led to some mi****s.
In three preseason games, the Cowboys have allowed 29 yards per kick return, including returns of 68 and 52 yards against Houston.
"The kicks have been good," said Folk, who had four touchbacks last year, "but the direction hasn't been there."
Folk has made all three field goal attempts from 40 yards or longer in the preseason, including a 48-yarder against the Texans.
He said regaining a rhythm with long snapper L.P. Ladouceur and holder Brad Johnson has been important.
"I feel good about where I was in camp, and I feel good about where I am now," Folk said.
Newman's return: Pro Bowl cornerback Terence Newman practiced for the first time in a month, but he will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against Minnesota.
Newman suffered a groin injury on July 28 in Oxnard, Calif., and has been rehabbing since. He did not take part in one-on-one drills, but he worked through the team periods.
"We're still trying to be careful and make sure he's ready for the regular season," coach Wade Phillips said.
A big name on kick returns? Injuries to Isaiah Stanback and Miles Austin have put Adam Jones and Felix Jones back in consideration to return kickoffs.
There had been hesitance about either doing the job earlier in camp.
"It's a different set of circumstances," Phillips said. "I think we need to consider it now."
Rookie first-round pick Mike Jenkins will also get a chance. He averaged 26.7 yards in nine returns for his career at South Florida, including a 100-yarder for a touchdown against Cincinnati.
"I like running with the ball," Jenkins said. "I was a running back in high school and moved over to cornerback because I didn't like getting hit. I can take some of them now."
Briefly: Cornerback Quincy Butler, a TCU-ex, punter Jay Ottovegio, wide receiver Daniel Polk and quarterback Jeff Terrell were cut in order to reach the 75-man roster limit. The Cowboys reached an injury settlement with fullback Ronnie Cruz, who hurt his shoulder Aug. 16 at Denver. ... The Cowboys will have to reach the 53-man roster limit by 3 p.m. Saturday. ... Defensive end Marcus Dixon returned to practice after missing more than three weeks with a back injury.
tarcher@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Nick Folk is just about ready for the regular season.
The second-year kicker has made all six field goal attempts in the preseason but said Monday he needs work on his kickoffs.
Folk said he is working on a different technique in his approach in an effort to disguise which direction he will kick the ball. However, it has led to some mi****s.
In three preseason games, the Cowboys have allowed 29 yards per kick return, including returns of 68 and 52 yards against Houston.
"The kicks have been good," said Folk, who had four touchbacks last year, "but the direction hasn't been there."
Folk has made all three field goal attempts from 40 yards or longer in the preseason, including a 48-yarder against the Texans.
He said regaining a rhythm with long snapper L.P. Ladouceur and holder Brad Johnson has been important.
"I feel good about where I was in camp, and I feel good about where I am now," Folk said.
Newman's return: Pro Bowl cornerback Terence Newman practiced for the first time in a month, but he will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against Minnesota.
Newman suffered a groin injury on July 28 in Oxnard, Calif., and has been rehabbing since. He did not take part in one-on-one drills, but he worked through the team periods.
"We're still trying to be careful and make sure he's ready for the regular season," coach Wade Phillips said.
A big name on kick returns? Injuries to Isaiah Stanback and Miles Austin have put Adam Jones and Felix Jones back in consideration to return kickoffs.
There had been hesitance about either doing the job earlier in camp.
"It's a different set of circumstances," Phillips said. "I think we need to consider it now."
Rookie first-round pick Mike Jenkins will also get a chance. He averaged 26.7 yards in nine returns for his career at South Florida, including a 100-yarder for a touchdown against Cincinnati.
"I like running with the ball," Jenkins said. "I was a running back in high school and moved over to cornerback because I didn't like getting hit. I can take some of them now."
Briefly: Cornerback Quincy Butler, a TCU-ex, punter Jay Ottovegio, wide receiver Daniel Polk and quarterback Jeff Terrell were cut in order to reach the 75-man roster limit. The Cowboys reached an injury settlement with fullback Ronnie Cruz, who hurt his shoulder Aug. 16 at Denver. ... The Cowboys will have to reach the 53-man roster limit by 3 p.m. Saturday. ... Defensive end Marcus Dixon returned to practice after missing more than three weeks with a back injury.
posted by The Gryphon at 5:41 PM
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