Owens preaches patience with Cowboys 0-2 in preseason
by Tom Orsborn - Express-News
The Dallas Cowboys' sloppy 0-2 start in the preseason shouldn't be viewed as an accurate forecast of how they will perform when the games count for real, receiver Terrell Owens said Tuesday.
“We'll be fine once the season starts,” Owens told reporters in Irving. “I promise you.”
Owens said double-digit losses on the road to San Diego and Denver should be kept in the proper perspective and that there's no reason for anybody to panic.
“We're not worried, by any means,” Owens said. “You can't really gauge how the season may go just by the way the preseason goes. It's really not a real, true feel because some guys are not into it — not speaking of our guys — but it's a different feel.
“Obviously, you're excited about hitting another guy and going against another team, but when you're not really getting into a flow — you play a few plays here, a few plays there, and maybe a quarter — it's not a real game feel.”
But Owens said all that will change after the Cowboys complete the exhibition campaign Aug. 28 at home against Minnesota.
“Once preseason is over, it's almost like that switch is turned off and another is turned on,” Owens said.
With 13 Pro Bowl players, including Owens, returning from a team that finished 13-3, expectations are high. That's why many fans are in a nervous state after watching Dallas struggle with timing and penalties.
But Owens says the miscues are understandable considering how difficult it is for the starters to get into a rhythm.
“Once the game starts, everybody gets that lather going, and you're ready to go out there and play,” Owens said. “You get into a little bit of a groove, and then the coaches say, ‘You're out.'
“You can't really get in a flow.”
But coach Wade Phillips says he plans to play his starters well into the third quarter Friday against Houston.
“To get timing offensively, especially in the passing game, you need some game time,” Phillips said Monday.
Despite having caught only three passes for 20 yards in the preseason, Owens said he's comfortable with the offense and his chemistry with quarterback Tony Romo.
But he says that may not be evident during the exhibition season because the offense is sometimes experimenting with new plays and looks.
“We're working on things, trying to work on new plays, different things, different formations and what not,” Owens said.
In addition to playing the starters longer against the Texans, the Cowboys could benefit from finally playing at home.
“We had probably our best practice of the year so far,” Phillips said Tuesday. “Part of it was being home.”
Return man wanted: If not Felix Jones, then who?
With Phillips having all but ruled out making the rookie running back the primary kickoff returner, and with veteran returner Miles Austin out with a knee injury, that question will be a front-burner issue the remainder of the preseason.
As of Tuesday, receiver Isaiah Stanback appears to be the leading candidate.
“A kick returner's job isn't that hard,” Stanback told reporters in Irving. “It's pretty instinctive.”
Phillips says he expects Jones to be an “integral” part of the offense and doesn't want to risk him getting injured returning kicks.
“If he is not playing many plays and is not going to touch the ball a whole lot on offense, yes, that's what you want to do,” Phillips said. “If he is going to have more touches on offense, well then, no, you don't want to risk that.”
Safety has ailing knee: Tendinitis in one of his knees prevented strong safety Roy Williams from participating in team drills Tuesday.
The Dallas Cowboys' sloppy 0-2 start in the preseason shouldn't be viewed as an accurate forecast of how they will perform when the games count for real, receiver Terrell Owens said Tuesday.
“We'll be fine once the season starts,” Owens told reporters in Irving. “I promise you.”
Owens said double-digit losses on the road to San Diego and Denver should be kept in the proper perspective and that there's no reason for anybody to panic.
“We're not worried, by any means,” Owens said. “You can't really gauge how the season may go just by the way the preseason goes. It's really not a real, true feel because some guys are not into it — not speaking of our guys — but it's a different feel.
“Obviously, you're excited about hitting another guy and going against another team, but when you're not really getting into a flow — you play a few plays here, a few plays there, and maybe a quarter — it's not a real game feel.”
But Owens said all that will change after the Cowboys complete the exhibition campaign Aug. 28 at home against Minnesota.
“Once preseason is over, it's almost like that switch is turned off and another is turned on,” Owens said.
With 13 Pro Bowl players, including Owens, returning from a team that finished 13-3, expectations are high. That's why many fans are in a nervous state after watching Dallas struggle with timing and penalties.
But Owens says the miscues are understandable considering how difficult it is for the starters to get into a rhythm.
“Once the game starts, everybody gets that lather going, and you're ready to go out there and play,” Owens said. “You get into a little bit of a groove, and then the coaches say, ‘You're out.'
“You can't really get in a flow.”
But coach Wade Phillips says he plans to play his starters well into the third quarter Friday against Houston.
“To get timing offensively, especially in the passing game, you need some game time,” Phillips said Monday.
Despite having caught only three passes for 20 yards in the preseason, Owens said he's comfortable with the offense and his chemistry with quarterback Tony Romo.
But he says that may not be evident during the exhibition season because the offense is sometimes experimenting with new plays and looks.
“We're working on things, trying to work on new plays, different things, different formations and what not,” Owens said.
In addition to playing the starters longer against the Texans, the Cowboys could benefit from finally playing at home.
“We had probably our best practice of the year so far,” Phillips said Tuesday. “Part of it was being home.”
Return man wanted: If not Felix Jones, then who?
With Phillips having all but ruled out making the rookie running back the primary kickoff returner, and with veteran returner Miles Austin out with a knee injury, that question will be a front-burner issue the remainder of the preseason.
As of Tuesday, receiver Isaiah Stanback appears to be the leading candidate.
“A kick returner's job isn't that hard,” Stanback told reporters in Irving. “It's pretty instinctive.”
Phillips says he expects Jones to be an “integral” part of the offense and doesn't want to risk him getting injured returning kicks.
“If he is not playing many plays and is not going to touch the ball a whole lot on offense, yes, that's what you want to do,” Phillips said. “If he is going to have more touches on offense, well then, no, you don't want to risk that.”
Safety has ailing knee: Tendinitis in one of his knees prevented strong safety Roy Williams from participating in team drills Tuesday.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:23 AM
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