News: CN: Cowboys Training Camp Observations

[WoodysGirl]

Jim Scott | July 28, 2014
It’s here. Football is back and it’s time to make some early cowboys training camp observations.
There have been only three practices at the time of this writing and only one with pads. It’s too early to make any kind of calls or predictions, but there is good work going on and it’s worth noting a few encouraging, if early, signs from players the Cowboys need to have show up if they are to have a successful season. Camp is competitive and there’s always an aspect of “is this guy good or is the other guy bad?” to the 1 versus 1 evaluations, but there are some things you want to see and, perhaps more importantly, things you don’t want to see. Special thanks to our own Brenton Butler for providing some live video from the spot itself. You can donate to our training camp participants here.

Safe at Safety?
Of great concern for many years has been the safety play. There have been some draft picks spent on the position but for a variety of reasons, they have not yet paid off and, at one particularly crucial juncture last year, Dallas had a pair of undrafted free agent rookies covering the backside of their prevent defense, which Matt Stafford was able to exploit to the tune of 7 points and a major comeback victory. There are many questions and many eyes focused on that position this summer.

And there are encouraging signs. Yes, it’s only a drill but this video shows Jakar Hamilton showing why people have been speaking highly of him, with fluid running and nice elevation to go get the ball. Matt Johnson also looks fast and comfortable here. Johnson did get beat by Jason Witten in a 1 on 1 drill on Saturday, but that has happened to better men than he in less exposed situations. In addition, there’s a second video taken of this drill with the starters. Notice the speed Wilcox displays going to get the ball. Wilcox has shown those kind of jets before and his hips flip smoothly from backpedalling to turning and running for the pass. Others have said that Wilcox is an in-the-box kind of guy only and lacks range. I honestly don’t see this limitation. Church has shown to be a solid player when allowed to play his game. Everyone else, even Heath (with good size and a sub-4.5 forty time), is young and talented. These drills show them working on the skills they’ll need in the NFL. It will be interesting to see who can best translate this work on to the field on Sundays.

Read the rest: http://cowboyszone.com/2014/07/cowboys-training-camp-observations.html

 

[Crown Royal]

That ability to get low going around the dummy translates to speed getting to the quarterback and is a key component of a top edge rusher.

I really hate to make the comparison, but in his prime this was Ware's best traight. He would get darn near horizontal with the ground and then suddenly just extend upward into the QB.

I'm going to get flak for the comparison, but just saying.

 

[Rockport]

Too soon to be making observations after 1 practice in pads.

 

[jazzcat22]

Too soon to be making observations after 1 practice in pads.

Not really, it's never too soon.
First everyone says OTA's, mini camps, whatever is too soon to form any opinions. True 1 TC practice doesn't hold any water either to some. But it does mean a lot. To the players and coaches it means a lot. Every practice, every obsevation means something. Even if it's a minor issue a coach sees, or a player recognizes. so they can correct it, and see how it makes a difference in practice #2.

We fans may not see it, and some care and some don't. Reporters may or may not see it, so really only report on what they think they know. But it does mean something, and if someone observes it and gives an opinion, I'm ready to read it. Then up to me what I take from it. Then come on here and see what other think, rather same, different, or in the middle. It's good to get otheres thoughts, from a perspective another may not see or think about.

 

[Doomsday101]

Too soon to be making observations after 1 practice in pads.

People were writing the defense off before the 1st OTA was that too soon? I agree camp is not going to be the tell all that only happens when they are actually playing vs opposing teams but to point out the positives they are seeing in some guys in camp is much welcomed news.

 

[Rockport]

People were writing the defense off before the 1st OTA was that too soon? I agree camp is not going to be the tell all that only happens when they are actually playing vs opposing teams but to point out the positives they are seeing in some guys in camp is much welcomed news.

Suit yourself. I'll wait to see them on the field during games. As a fan, you can't tell much at all standing on the sidelines watching practice from 50 yards or more away.

 

[Doomsday101]

Suit yourself. I'll wait to see them on the field during games. As a fan, you can't tell much at all standing on the sidelines watching practice from 50 yards or more away.

I agree as I said camp is not the tell all it takes games, my point is no one was saying lets wait early on, No they threw them under the bus proclaiming the defense has no chance of doing anything. People love putting on the breaks on good news but very fast to slam players on any bad news.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

I really hate to make the comparison, but in his prime this was Ware's best traight. He would get darn near horizontal with the ground and then suddenly just extend upward into the QB.

I'm going to get flak for the comparison, but just saying.

I heard he knows a lot about shrimp too,,,, which can't be bad,,,


http://cowboyszone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2014/06/Demarcus-Lawrence.jpg

 

[speedkilz88]

Too soon to be making observations after 1 practice in pads.

Suit yourself. I'll wait to see them on the field during games. As a fan, you can't tell much at all standing on the sidelines watching practice from 50 yards or more away.

So why bother even reading this stuff?

 

[Rockport]

So why bother even reading this stuff?

I didn't.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Suit yourself. I'll wait to see them on the field during games. As a fan, you can't tell much at all standing on the sidelines watching practice from 50 yards or more away.

I think you should take your own advice. i think it is pretty clear from the practice reports that some people can tell quite a bit from watching practice from 50 yards away.

From my own experience, I can tell who is winning one on one matchups and who is struggling at the very least. I don't have a shred of the expertise of a guy like Vela who can watch a practice and tell you what the coaching staff is trying to accomplish and knows the drills intimately.

 

[Iago33]

I didn't.

I guess the follow-up question would be, "Then why post about it?"

 

[Rockport]

I guess the follow-up question would be, "Then why post about it?"

To educate those such as yourself.

 

[Iago33]

To educate those such as yourself.

I think I can look at a report and glean the information that might be useful without having someone who hasn't read the report educate me, but thanks for your concern.

 

[CCBoy]

To educate those such as yourself.

As soon as you teach me about Joe Don Looney...without googling him up.

 

[S4 DGMS]

I heard he knows a lot about shrimp too,,,, which can't be bad,,,


http://cowboyszone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2014/06/Demarcus-Lawrence.jpg

LOL!

 

[burmafrd]

I think you should take your own advice. i think it is pretty clear from the practice reports that some people can tell quite a bit from watching practice from 50 yards away.

From my own experience, I can tell who is winning one on one matchups and who is struggling at the very least. I don't have a shred of the expertise of a guy like Vela who can watch a practice and tell you what the coaching staff is trying to accomplish and knows the drills intimately.

one on ones can be very misleading. Each player can concentrate soley on one guy and there are no distractions or any interference. I have seen a fair number of players who look real good at one on one and not so good in real games.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Too soon to be making observations after 1 practice in pads.

I suppose we can disagree, but I would think reporting on what was observed after three practices while repeating in the article that they were only three practices in with no conclusions drawn is exactly what the writer should have done.

 

[guag]

First, it was "these are only OTAs with no pads, let's see what they do when the pads come on in training camp"

Then, "training camp doesn't tell us anything, let's see what they do in the preseason when they're actually playing against another team"

Then, "preseason doesn't tell us anything, let's see what these guys so in the regular season when the wins count"

What next?

"We can't tell anything from these regular season games, the competition isn't that good. The playoffs are the only place to truly evaluate talent"

 

[xwalker]

one on ones can be very misleading. Each player can concentrate soley on one guy and there are no distractions or any interference. I have seen a fair number of players who look real good at one on one and not so good in real games.

Yes, for the untrained eye, but if you know what your looking at then it has value.

Some of the reports by average Joe reporter guy can be misleading because they don't always know much about football. As someone said above, if it's a guy like Vela that knows what he's seeing, then it does have value.