DC: Broaddus: Three Under The Radar Players Who Caught My Eye At OTAs

[jobberone]

Broaddus: Three Under The Radar Players Who Caught My Eye At OTAs
Thursday, June 11, 2015 4:27 PM CDT

By Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout @BryanBroaddus

IRVING, Texas – In reviewing my notes from the OTA sessions, I wanted to take a deeper look and get away from the starters and rookies we’re always talking about.

These guys are usually afterthoughts because of the high-profile players that line up at the same position, but they’ve done enough to show they’re worth remembering as we head into minicamp – not to mention training camp.

OT Darrion Weems

I feel like I have gone down this road with Darrion Weems before. It was just a year ago when I believed that he had an opportunity to be the primary backup tackle to Tyron Smith and Doug Free, but a shoulder injury during the early days of training camp put him on the shelf for the year.

So instead of a battle for the spot, Jermey Parnell finished out the season when Free was injured. Free’s injury still has him sitting out and Parnell has since moved on to Jacksonville, so this leaves Weems as the most likely candidate to secure that job. I see La'el Collins concentrating solely at guard, which means that Weems’ other competition will come from rookies Chaz Green and Laurence Gibson. What I like so far from watching Weems play in these practices is that he appears to be more physical and is doing a much better job of finishing blocks.

His confidence and technique has improved to the point where he is not a liability and the coaches are starting to see that since he has been working with the first line.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...ee-under-radar-players-who-caught-my-eye-otas

 

[sureletsrace]

I think Corey White is going to be solid DB depth. Not a star, but someone you can get by with when you need him on the field.

 

[conner01]

I think Corey White is going to be solid DB depth. Not a star, but someone you can get by with when you need him on the field.

Having "solid" players on your roster to go with your stars is so important
Everyone is not going to be a star but those guys in between stars and bums are really what makes your team

 

[jobberone]

They've liked Weems for the last three years. I hope he can be the swing tackle.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Having "solid" players on your roster to go with your stars is so important
Everyone is not going to be a star but those guys in between stars and bums are really what makes your team

Of course. That's how NE keeps getting those double-digit win seasons and SB appearances. The manage to have a small handful of elite players and a whole bunch of solid ones that keep things going.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Of the 3, White excites me the most. I'm happy withour OL and LB's but we need playmakers (or at least solid cover guys) in our secondary.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Weems can start at RT Day 1 if needed, White is a bit of a pleasant surprise. Brinkley as solid an off season signing as they get at a bargain price.

 

[AsthmaField]

I find it interesting that it looks like L Collins is sure enough going to compete at LG this year. It makes the most sense. The team really likes Free at RT and they like the winner of a Weems/Green battle to be the swing tackle.

Collins putting Leary on the bench is much prefferable to him putting Free on the bench. Not to mention that Collins is probably a better LG than RT at this point.

 

[ShiningStar]

I find it interesting that it looks like L Collins is sure enough going to compete at LG this year. It makes the most sense. The team really likes Free at RT and they like the winner of a Weems/Green battle to be the swing tackle.

Collins putting Leary on the bench is much prefferable to him putting Free on the bench. Not to mention that Collins is probably a better LG than RT at this point.

good problem to have

 

[Kaiser]

It would be great if Weems steps up and takes the swing tackle spot, so there is no rush in developing Chaz Green.

I think Corey White will do really well as the 4th CB and backup FS. The more I think about it I think we are going to have the kind of depth where the coaches and pick their spots and get the best matchups with different players.

 

[Longboysfan]

Lots of players coming back from injuries and free agent signings.
If just half of them step up and make the roster we should be in good shape on both sides of the ball this year.

 

[xwalker]

I find it interesting that it looks like L Collins is sure enough going to compete at LG this year. It makes the most sense. The team really likes Free at RT and they like the winner of a Weems/Green battle to be the swing tackle.

Collins putting Leary on the bench is much prefferable to him putting Free on the bench. Not to mention that Collins is probably a better LG than RT at this point.

If one of them could win the RT job over Free, it would give them a better chance to have the top two OTs healthy. Free would be one of the top 2, but would be much more likely to stay healthy as the backup.

I think they made a mistake last season by having Free return from injury too soon and then being out for the year including the playoffs. It did not bite them because Parnell stayed healthy, but if he didn't Hills would have been the starting RT in the playoffs. If they had made Free the backup when he returned from injury the first time, then the team would have gone into the playoffs with Parnell and Free active instead of Parnell and Hills.

 

[AsthmaField]

If one of them could win the RT job over Free, it would give them a better chance to have the top two OTs healthy. Free would be one of the top 2, but would be much more likely to stay healthy as the backup.

I think they made a mistake last season by having Free return from injury too soon and then being out for the year including the playoffs. It did not bite them because Parnell stayed healthy, but if he didn't Hills would have been the starting RT in the playoffs. If they had made Free the backup when he returned from injury the first time, then the team would have gone into the playoffs with Parnell and Free active instead of Parnell and Hills.

I don't see any way the team would have started Parnell over Free... although, if he weren't playing, you are correct that Free wouldn't have gotten hurt.

It would be just too weird for any team to sit the better player and start the backup because they're worried the starter would get hurt. Nobody does that.

It appears, at this point, that it will be Leary and Collins fighting it out for the LG spot with Weems and Green battling to be the swing tackle behind Free and Smith. I agree with that too. It just makes the most sense for this year.

 

[conner01]

Of course. That's how NE keeps getting those double-digit win seasons and SB appearances. The manage to have a small handful of elite players and a whole bunch of solid ones that keep things going.

Exactly
Thats also a huge part of managing the cap
NE are masters of those cheap solid role players on their roster

 

[xwalker]

I don't see any way the team would have started Parnell over Free... although, if he weren't playing, you are correct that Free wouldn't have gotten hurt.

It would be just too weird for any team to sit the better player and start the backup because they're worried the starter would get hurt. Nobody does that.

It appears, at this point, that it will be Leary and Collins fighting it out for the LG spot with Weems and Green battling to be the swing tackle behind Free and Smith. I agree with that too. It just makes the most sense for this year.

When the starter is not 100% after an injury they have returned as the backup on many occasions in the NFL. If Free was 100% when he returned it would be different, but he wasn't. My memory is sketchy on this because I've never focused on it, but I recall the Cowboys doing it with some LBs. I think they've done it with Carter and years ago I recall them doing it with Brookings or James.

I think the Giants did it last year with an OL starter. I think the Cowboys did it back it with Gurode or Bigg or Columbo. I recall Mike Jenkins coming back from injury and only playing in the Nickel instead of his normal starting spot.

 

[Bluefin]

They've liked Weems for the last three years. I hope he can be the swing tackle.

It would be great if Weems steps up and takes the swing tackle spot, so there is no rush in developing Chaz Green.

It will be great if the light has come on for Darrion Weems and he's ready to take advantage of the opportunity he's receiving.

Step one is earning the swing tackle job.

Beyond that, the team is also looking to find a long term answer at RT, where veteran Doug Free currently resides.

Weems can make a push to be that guy.

 

[Bullflop]

One thing seems likely regarding our situation at OT this year -- the competition should be pretty intense.