Better With Age
James Continues To Improve In Third Season
Rob Phillips -
Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
October 11, 2005 5:32 PM
The only linebacker to start all five games, Bradie James is second on the team with 27 tackles.
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells has a self-imposed deadline for evaluating his young players. In most cases, he believes two years is enough time for them to adjust to the NFL level.
By their third season, they either can play or they can't.
Linebacker Bradie James is a perfect model for Parcells' three-year Rule, a philosophy he adopted from former Cowboys head coach Tom Landry.
A fourth-round pick by Parcells in 2003, James has gone from being mostly a special teams contributor his first two years to a starter and the Cowboys' second-leading tackler (27) through five games this season.
James, who has settled into the mike inside linebacker spot alongside Dat Nguyen in the Cowboys' 3-4 scheme, recorded a career-high nine tackles in Week 4 against Oakland and led the defense with five tackles in last Sunday's 33-10 victory over Philadelphia. He also broke up a potential touchdown pass in the end zone on third-and-goal, forcing the Eagles to kick a field goal in the second quarter.
But the most encouraging sign of James' progress was his success juggling Nguyen's game-day responsibilities. With Nguyen sidelined by a neck injury, James called the signals in the huddle and was in charge of the defense's adjustments to any shifting or motion by the Eagles.
"He's done an outstanding job as far as that goes," said linebacker Scott Shanle, who had three tackles starting in Nguyen's place on the weak side. "He really stepped up (Sunday). He controlled all the calls and he proved to his coaches and his teammates that it's something he can do. I think he really impressed everybody."
James said he was just happy his teammates listened.
"It was a huge challenge for me because our captain was out," he said. "I'm not saying all the calls just fell on my shoulders, but I had to assume that position and make sure the defense doesn't lose it deep. So I was able to make some plays and some calls."
James might have to continue directing the defense if Nguyen misses more time. Parcells said tests on Nguyen, whose streak of 43 consecutive starts ended last Sunday, haven't revealed any structural damage but he isn't sure when the seventh-year veteran will return.
James isn't accustomed to this much responsibility, but it's something he's been waiting patiently for over the last three years. As a rookie in 2003, James carved a niche with 16 special teams tackles while playing behind Pro Bowl linebacker Dexter Coakley. He challenged Coakley for the starting job at weak-side linebacker last year in training camp but couldn't edge the crafty veteran.
Once again, he found other ways to contribute by leading the Cowboys with 24 special teams tackles. He also started two games on defense, recording 38 tackles, two quarterback pressures and a pass deflection.
But James still hadn't reached his goal of becoming a starter. He took another step closer when Coakley signed a five-year, $14.5 million deal with St. Louis, but that didn't guarantee him a prominent role on defense.
James said he often was "thinking on the run" those first two years instead of anticipating. But another year of training and film study helped him grow more comfortable.
That's exactly what Parcells expects from his young players.
"When I first got here everybody was talking about the speed of the game," said James, who appeared tailor-made for the 3-4 scheme in training camp and won the job alongside Nguyen after a solid preseason. "But when you know what's going on, the speed of the game doesn't affect you. You've just got to know and you make plays. So that's what I've been able to do.
"Last year, I don't know if I was dissatisfied to be challenging a guy, a Pro Bowler, for his position. But this year I knew what I had to do. I just had to go out and just do best, and actually do better."
Parcells thinks James has adopted more of a professional attitude over the past three years, which have helped his preparation and ultimately his production on the field.
"I've always been rooting for Bradie because I like his attitude and he is a football player," Parcells said. "While he was trying to learn this game he was a very good special teams player. I think he's a pretty good run defender. I think they are some areas on pass defense that he still needs to improve on.
"He's not a natural pass defender yet. He's more of a mechanical guy. I just think he needs to get the benefit of some good film study and a little more experience of playing to get to somewhere like Dat would be."
The Cowboys defense didn't miss a beat without Nguyen against the Eagles. With the Cowboys entrenched in their nickel defense, James and Shanle played most of the game and did a good job of preventing quarterback Donovan McNabb from exploiting the middle of the field.
James' contribution to the Cowboys' dominating defensive performance lends proof that he's more ready for an expanded role than at any time in his three-year career.
"I get it now," James said. "And the way I approach the game is a little bit different. And I'm having fun. When you make plays you start having fun, so now I'm making plays and enjoying myself out there."
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=E1D233E8-9F50-98FF-4707EB82F692E18A
