Broaddus: 12 Thoughts On Tuesday's Practice, Before The Fights

[WoodysGirl]

OXNARD, Calif. – Before the fights began, there was already plenty of good film of Tuesday’s Cowboys-Rams practice.

Here are my notes:



1. I like what I saw from Darren McFadden in his first extensive work during the various team periods in which he took snaps. He looked decisive and committed to what he was handed from this Rams defense in the running game. He was in position to execute the check downs when needed and when asked to step up for pass protection, he was up to the task.




2. La'el Collins was once again filling in for Ronald Leary at left guard, and he appeared to have a 50-50 type of a practice. It's no easy task to have to deal with Aaron Donald and the variety of problems that he can cause, but overall it was a great experience for the rookie. Donald puts so much pressure on your technique that if you are the slightest bit off, he is going to take advantage -- and this is where I feel like Collins wasn't at his best. His biggest struggles were with his balance and power, which were two areas where he had been very good.



3. In the practice on Monday, the Rams were able to hit a vertical play down the field to Tavon Austin that resulted in a touchdown. During that same period on Tuesday, they went back to the same call but this time the Cowboys defense was ready for it. With Joel Ross in coverage and Jeff Heath playing over the top, Austin didn't get the separation and with both in position when the ball arrived, Ross was able to knock it out of Austin's hands. Also back in the pocket, Greg Hardy had beaten guard Demetrius Rhaney on his outside shoulder and was cleanly in position to sack Nick Foles before he let go of the ball.



4. Randy Gregory continues to turn heads with his ability. No matter who he works with on these twist stunts, he is going to find a way to get home on the rush. Gregory was paired with Greg Hardy on the first go-round in one-on-on and was successful coming down inside. Then later, with Jeremy Mincey, he beat Isaiah Battle with ease.

Read the rest: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2015/08/19/broaddus-12-thoughts-tuesdays-practice-fights

 

[xwalker]

OXNARD, Calif. – Before the fights began, there was already plenty of good film of Tuesday’s Cowboys-Rams practice.

Here are my notes:



1. I like what I saw from Darren McFadden in his first extensive work during the various team periods in which he took snaps. He looked decisive and committed to what he was handed from this Rams defense in the running game. He was in position to execute the check downs when needed and when asked to step up for pass protection, he was up to the task.




2. La'el Collins was once again filling in for Ronald Leary at left guard, and he appeared to have a 50-50 type of a practice. It's no easy task to have to deal with Aaron Donald and the variety of problems that he can cause, but overall it was a great experience for the rookie. Donald puts so much pressure on your technique that if you are the slightest bit off, he is going to take advantage -- and this is where I feel like Collins wasn't at his best. His biggest struggles were with his balance and power, which were two areas where he had been very good.



3. In the practice on Monday, the Rams were able to hit a vertical play down the field to Tavon Austin that resulted in a touchdown. During that same period on Tuesday, they went back to the same call but this time the Cowboys defense was ready for it. With Joel Ross in coverage and Jeff Heath playing over the top, Austin didn't get the separation and with both in position when the ball arrived, Ross was able to knock it out of Austin's hands. Also back in the pocket, Greg Hardy had beaten guard Demetrius Rhaney on his outside shoulder and was cleanly in position to sack Nick Foles before he let go of the ball.



4. Randy Gregory continues to turn heads with his ability. No matter who he works with on these twist stunts, he is going to find a way to get home on the rush. Gregory was paired with Greg Hardy on the first go-round in one-on-on and was successful coming down inside. Then later, with Jeremy Mincey, he beat Isaiah Battle with ease.

Read the rest: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2015/08/19/broaddus-12-thoughts-tuesdays-practice-fights

8. It appears that all the offseason work for Tyler Patmon has been paying off. Patmon turned in a really nice effort during the practice on Tuesday, with the highlight of his day an interception during the red zone period. The Rams tried to exchange their receivers off the snap by crossing them to beat the man coverage, but Morris Claiborne and Patmon executed their technique perfectly to stay with their men. Patmon carried Steadman Bailey to the corner and when the ball went up, he was right there to make the interception to kill the drive.

This is significant. WR crossing paths is an area where Claiborne really struggled in the past. Depending on the situation the CBs might or might not need to switch off and in the past Claiborne always made the wrong decision and was then scolded by Scandrick over and over.

 

[RS12]

1. I like what I saw from Darren McFadden in his first extensive work during the various team periods in which he took snaps. He looked decisive and committed to what he was handed from this Rams defense in the running game. He was in position to execute the check downs when needed and when asked to step up for pass protection, he was up to the task.



2. La'el Collins was once again filling in for Ronald Leary at left guard, and he appeared to have a 50-50 type of a practice. It's no easy task to have to deal with Aaron Donald and the variety of problems that he can cause, but overall it was a great experience for the rookie. Donald puts so much pressure on your technique that if you are the slightest bit off, he is going to take advantage -- and this is where I feel like Collins wasn't at his best. His biggest struggles were with his balance and power, which were two areas where he had been very good.



3. In the practice on Monday, the Rams were able to hit a vertical play down the field to Tavon Austin that resulted in a touchdown. During that same period on Tuesday, they went back to the same call but this time the Cowboys defense was ready for it. With Joel Ross in coverage and Jeff Heath playing over the top, Austin didn't get the separation and with both in position when the ball arrived, Ross was able to knock it out of Austin's hands. Also back in the pocket,Greg Hardy had beaten guard Demetrius Rhaney on his outside shoulder and was cleanly in position to sack Nick Foles before he let go of the ball.



4. Randy Gregory continues to turn heads with his ability. No matter who he works with on these twist stunts, he is going to find a way to get home on the rush. Gregory was paired with Greg Hardy on the first go-round in one-on-on and was successful coming down inside. Then later, with Jeremy Mincey, he beat Isaiah Battle with ease.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...=10154203611187814&adbpl=fb&adbpr=99559607813

 

[RS12]

Run defense has been a concern so far.

 

[Dwight]

Run defense has been a concern so far.

A Defensive Tackle should have been addressed in the draft. The team is taking a big time gamble on Hayden and the other one technique DTs.

 

[Jstopper]

Run defense has been a concern so far.

I don't think that we ever had our starting front 7 out there together at the same time. They were running on at least 2 to 3 backups

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Run defense has been a concern so far.

Is only 2nd week in preseason. We will work out out by week 1. That's what preseason is for, to work on those weakness

 

[RS12]

Love Collins getting to work against Donald. Just like Gregory vs Tyron, only make him better.

 

[Idgit]

6. No matter the situation, Jason Witten is always going to be a difficult cover for any defensive scheme to have to deal with. The Rams tried to cover him with both linebackers and safeties during the practice, with the results being the same -- up the field receptions. Witten is so keen in where he needs to be to find space. Whether it's running a curl or working his route all the way across the field, he is going to make himself available for the ball.

Apparently, the LBs were holding Wit on consecutive plays, and he was still catching the ball. He went and jawed at their LB coach to tell him they needed to switch to zone if they couldn't cover him in man even with the holds. Gotta love that dude.

 

[HellCrowe]

9. Good to see Lance Dunbar getting the opportunity to carry the ball during these practices -- but bad that he allowed Maurice Alexander to punch the ball out of his hands while he was doing it. Dunbar did a nice job of finding space on the play, but the result was not what he or this coaching staff wanted it to be.

This. The reason we need to keep that last spot competitive. Seems like Dunbar is set in stone and that makes me uncomfortable. Different story if he's actually done something. Same story as Felix Jones. "Get him in space" blah blah. Time to show up.

 

[RS12]

This. The reason we need to keep that last spot competitive. Seems like Dunbar is set in stone and that makes me uncomfortable. Different story if he's actually done something. Same story as Felix Jones. "Get him in space" blah blah. Time to show up.

Dunbar has had some fumble issues in camp.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Run defense has been a concern so far.

I wonder if we call the Rams about a trade it is about Brockers and not Mason

 

[RS12]

Zack Martin showed that he is the real deal before sustaining what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called a "stinger"during Tuesday's practice. Martin is a major technician. The second-year pro had some serious battles against another sophomore sensation, Rams DT Aaron Donald. Donald's leverage and strength are tough to handle. Martin's feet and hand placement were impeccable in pass-rush drills, during which he controlled Donald for the most part. As for the injury, the Cowboys are going to thoroughly examine Martin to make sure it is nothing more significant than a stinger, which is a pinched nerve in the shoulder/neck/back area and is, momentarily, cripplingly painful. Regardless, Martin will be shut down for a while to let things heal.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-training-camp-randy-gregory-boosts-pass-rush

 

[Bluefin]

This is significant. WR crossing paths is an area where Claiborne really struggled in the past. Depending on the situation the CBs might or might not need to switch off and in the past Claiborne always made the wrong decision and was then scolded by Scandrick over and over.

The Giants used to run a ton of routes where the two WRs on one side would immediately cross over each other at the snap trying to bust Dallas' coverage.

And one of the only successful offensive plays Seattle had at home against the Cowboys was a blatant pick play on Orlando Scandrick to get a WR open deep (they tried it again late to no avail).

The corners have to be aware of these games and know their responsibilities, be it staying with their first man or switching off.