News: Archer: 5 Wonders: Rookie class looks good

[WoodysGirl]

Jul 30
8:00
AM CT
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

• I wonder whether we’re seeing a rookie class that could be a lot more productive than last season's. The 2012 class was hurt by injuries (Kyle Wilber, Matt Johnson, Danny Coale, Caleb McSurdy) with only Morris Claiborne and Tyrone Crawford playing big roles for a full season. Two weeks into camp, Travis Frederick is a starter, Gavin Escobar and Terrance Williams have big offensive roles, and J.J. Wilcox could be a starter and a main special-teams guy. B.W. Webb and Joseph Randle could develop into role players as well. The Cowboys needed an infusion of young talent, and so far so good with the draft picks. Before you (or I) get carried away, let’s see them in games, but this is a good start.

• I wonder whether I underestimated linebacker Ernie Sims. On my final 53-man roster projection leading up to training camp, I did not have Sims on the final list. I thought he would lose out to Brandon Magee. Sims has gotten off to a really good start. He did a nice job filling in last season after Sean Lee got hurt, all the while playing a foreign 3-4 defense. He started six of his 10 games, and finished with 42 tackles and a sack. Now back to his more comfortable 4-3, Sims has been hitting everything that moves. He’s done a nice job in pass coverage and he can play special teams. More important, he will not cost a lot against the cap. Sims is moving better than he did last year, which is probably a product of having a complete offseason of training.

• I wonder why the Cowboys didn’t go to the wristband play sheet for their quarterbacks sooner.

Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4711227/5-wonders-rookie-class-looks-good

 

[CATCH17]

They didn't even mention Eric Rogers and that guys is like Spider Man right now. Anything in his area is getting caught.

 

[Future]

They didn't even mention Eric Rogers and that guys is like Spider Man right now. Anything in his area is getting caught.

Did you click the link? lol

 

[xwalker]

They didn't even mention Eric Rogers and that guys is like Spider Man right now. Anything in his area is getting caught.

You might have missed this paragraph.

Undrafted rookie wide receiver Eric Rogers has been one of the early stories of training camp. He played at Cal-Lutheran and was something of an afterthought when the Cowboys picked him up. But then he caught everything that was thrown his way in the offseason, which piqued the curiosity more. In Oxnard, Rogers has continued to catch everything. But I wonder whether he can win a spot on the 53-man roster. He does not run well. He doesn’t offer up wide receiver flexibility in terms of finding a role, either. Cole Beasley has a role as a slot receiver. Dwayne Harris has a role as a backup at both receiver spots and can return punts. Rogers will have a chance to continue to make his way, but right now I’d say he is more of a practice squad candidate than a player on the final roster.

 

[CATCH17]

Did you click the link? lol

lol whoops.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

They didn't even mention Eric Rogers and that guys is like Spider Man right now. Anything in his area is getting caught.

You mean, besides the paragraph about him?

 

[CATCH17]

Thank you guys for quoting me. Now I have 3 alerts all telling me the same thing. I'm aware now lol.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Thank you guys for quoting me. Now I have 3 alerts all telling me the same thing. I'm aware now lol.

Just wanted you to get another alert... lol

 

[TheRomoSexual]

I know it's premature, but I'm pretty excited over the possibility that our first SIX picks will be near-immediate contributors. Virtually the complete opposite of last draft and exactly what this team needed.

 

[reddyuta]

hmm-archer says rogers doesnt run well but he did run a 4:48 forty.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

hmm-archer says rogers doesnt run well but he did run a 4:48 forty.

That's a fair point.

But he (Archer) could be talking about the first 10 yards or in & out of breaks as opposed to 40 speed.

 

[xwalker]

That's a fair point.

But he (Archer) could be talking about the first 10 yards or in & out of breaks as opposed to 40 speed.

Here are the numbers that I see for Rogers. I listed Terrance Williams for comparison.

Eric Rogers
Height: 6030
Weight: 206
40 Yrd Dash: 4.50
20 Yrd Dash: 2.58
10 Yrd Dash: 1.58
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 09
Vertical Jump: 37
Broad Jump: 10'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.20
3-Cone Drill: 7.08

Terrance Williams
Height: 6020
Weight: 208
40 Yrd Dash: 4.48
20 Yrd Dash: 2.53
10 Yrd Dash: 1.57
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 11
Vertical Jump: 32 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'11"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.32
3-Cone Drill: 7.01

 

[FiveRings]

Seems like we need 60-65 final roster spots to keep all this raw talent. I hope we wait for the preseason games to start falling in love with guys that have no spot on the roster

 

[Direwolf63]

With all this promising youth at the WR spot, don't be surprised if this is Miles Austin's final season in Dallas. Much too soon for anything definitive, but if these guys continue to develop, if may be a good opportinity to dump some salary as early as next year.

 

[erod]

Imagine if Matt Johnson and Kyle Wilber join that "rookie group" as new contributors this season.

And I'm rooting for Eric Rogers to end the Cole Beasley experiment. It's one or the other, unless they keep six receivers, and if the team goes with four running backs, four tight ends and five safeties, I don't see how they can keep that many receivers.

 

[Lonestar94]

I can't say this enough but Dallas needs a speedy WR that can stretch the field. We've been missing that since Robinson. Someone pre-4.4

 

[Future]

I can't say this enough but Dallas needs a speedy WR that can stretch the field. We've been missing that since Robinson. Someone pre-4.4

I get what you're saying, but Robinson wasnt really a burner.

There are only a handful of guys in the league I think you could classify that way...D Jax, Wallace come to mind...but what Dallas has is multiple guys that can get down the field. Id prefer that to a Keyshawn/Glenn combo.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Imagine if Matt Johnson and Kyle Wilber join that "rookie group" as new contributors this season.

And I'm rooting for Eric Rogers to end the Cole Beasley experiment. It's one or the other, unless they keep six receivers, and if the team goes with four running backs, four tight ends and five safeties, I don't see how they can keep that many receivers.

I think Beasley is safe for one more season. There is no one at this point that is significantly better and he does play a role. Rogers, Armstrong, Coale, or any of the other prospects, will have to be outstanding in STs to give the Cowboys reason to let Beasley go.

 

[reddyuta]

Beasly doesnt play ST and he wont have more than 25-30 catches a year,we can defintely do better .

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Beasly doesnt play ST and he wont have more than 25-30 catches a year,we can defintely do better .

Exactly! This is why all comers have to excel at Special Teams because none of them can outperform Beasley at the receiver position at this point.