Ross | Saturday's BILL-Board - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Bluefin · 07-31-2004

Saturday's BILL-Board

Pamela Ross
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
July 31, 2004, 5:52 p.m. (PDT)

OXNARD, Calif. -- Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells addressed the media for a good 30 minutes following the opening practice of training camp here Saturday morning. Here are a few of his responses to questions posed by the media.

What is your take on the first practice?

PARCELLS: Typical first day of practice, little uncertainty here and there.

Did everyone pass the conditioning drills?

PARCELLS: No, everyone did not (pass). We have a few that need to work on their conditioning. We have a high percentage that are in shape, a lot of guys that I expected to do something did.

Who has the tougher adjustment Eddie George, learning a new system, or Julius Jones being a rookie and trying to learn a system?

PARCELLS: I will definitely say Julius Jones, because Eddie knows the drills but needs to learn terminology and Julius Jones is having to learn both.

What are your plans for Richie (Anderson)?

PARCELLS: He is working at halfback right now but he will also play the fullback position. He played that position last year and he can mentally do that and be involved on our third-down offense for sure. I like the player and he produces yardage for us and his performance last year, when he get the ball he did pretty well with it. How many times he get the ball this year? I do not know. He is a good solid player. He knows the deal, and I like having him on the team.

What must you learn about Marcellus ( Wiley)?

PARCELLS: I hope he brings a little pass rush, and the combination of both, having Greg (Ellis) on the other side is a good one, but do not count out Kenyon Coleman or (Eric) Ogbogu to be involved in the mix because Kenyon has improved a lot in the off-season and Eric came in last year and he did a good job, and I hope to get more out of him this year.

What has Coleman improved?

PARCELLS: Much stronger, better condition and a powerful guy. He is probably physically just as strong as anyone we got on the defensive line. He is called the strong dog by the players.

You have Eddie (George) and Julius (Jones), so besides using him on third down, why do you want Richie at tailback?

PARCELLS: We did not know we were going to get George, so I was looking for some veterans to take the pressure off of Julius Jones. We did not have Darian Barnes, but with him and Jamar Martin and Lousaka Polite I figure that the fullback position will sort itself out. But I can always put Richie over there if I have to, so I thought Eddie and Richie would be a good complement. I think they can help because those guys speak the same language. I do not know exactly how the positions will play out, but Richie will be in the mix. How the rest sorts out at fullback and halfback really determines what he does.

How did the Cowboys get to Oxnard?

PARCELLS: I do not know, but I am happy to be here. The players are not trying to survive during practice, so they are able to pay attention and it is a much better learning situation. I would rather have that (referring to great weather) than the blistering heat in Texas. Being able to practice in great weather is good early on in camp. I know we will have to play in the heat, but after you know the system and your assignments the ability to concentrate is great because we will have 10 practices in the hot weather.

**Sarge** · 08-01-2004

Coleman IS a strong dog. Ever check out that guys arms? I think he can be a pleasant surprise for us this year.

Smith22 · 08-01-2004

The knock on Coleman coming out of college was a bad knee or back wasn't it? Hope he does well, the more depth the better.

**MichaelWinicki** · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

Coleman IS a strong dog. Ever check out that guys arms? I think he can be a pleasant surprise for us this year.

I hope he's not just a good physical specimen like Ekubum.

Morning Sarge.

**Sarge** · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

I hope he's not just a good physical specimen like Ekubum.

Morning Sarge.

Morning Mike. I think he's better than Ekuban. I saw him play, as I'm sure you did, several times with the Raiders.

He may not be Haley, but he certainly isn't Ek either.

This is one of those guys along with Johnson and AB that I am really rooting for.

**MichaelWinicki** · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

Morning Mike. I think he's better than Ekuban. I saw him play, as I'm sure you did, several times with the Raiders.

He may not be Haley, but he certainly isn't Ek either.

This is one of those guys along with Johnson and AB that I am really rooting for.

You know I'm just getting over that bogus "Al Johnson" rumor yesterday. It about stopped my heart.

p1_ · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

Coleman IS a strong dog. Ever check out that guys arms? I think he can be a pleasant surprise for us this year.

amen. This might pan out well, recalling our trade for him last summer. Raiderfan has to be pissed about this.

**Sarge** · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

You know I'm just getting over that bogus "Al Johnson" rumor yesterday. It about stopped my heart.

That was indeed a heart stopper. That just shows you how thin we are on the OL and how many REAL question marks we have there.

I am not as optimistic as many when it comes to automatic improvement on the OL just because it's "year 2."

p1_ · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

I hope he's not just a good physical specimen like Ekubum.

I got a specimen of something else thats really appropos of Ekubum.

**MichaelWinicki** · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

That was indeed a heart stopper. That just shows you how thin we are on the OL and how many REAL question marks we have there.

I am not as optimistic as many when it comes to automatic improvement on the OL just because it's "year 2."

Nail on the head Sarge.

New and additional "bodies" doesn't mean these guys can play.

**Sarge** · 08-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

Nail on the head Sarge.

New and additional "bodies" doesn't mean these guys can play.

No doubt. Many had this same optimism last year relying heavily on the likes of Allen/Gurode etc.

It gets done (or not) on the field and until such time I see the improvement, I'll just hope (not expect) for the best - that's just my nature.

Can it happen - absolutely. We've taken steps to improve.

Having said that - we took steps to improve last year as well.