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Posted by rphillips at 6/10/2009 1:37 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
Unless banged-up rookies Brandon Williams (shoulder) and Stephen Hodge (calf) remain sidelined with minor injuries, the Cowboys should have their entire 12-man draft class on the field for next week's mini-camp (Monday-Wednesday; closed to the public).
Fourth-round pick Victor Butler and seventh-round pick Mike Mickens haven't rejoined the team since the rookie camp in early May. They have been ineligible to practice until their respective schools hold graduation, but head coach Wade Phillips said both will return next week.
It's unfortunate because Butler and Mickens are missing valuable teaching sessions. Butler and Williams, in particular, are switching from college defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker. Williams has impressed Phillips in the OTA's with his quick first step and pass-rush ability.
With Greg Ellis gone, it's important for both rookie linebackers to catch on quickly.
"When you look at Brandon Williams and see how far he came, and then you look at Butler who hasn't been here, he missed quite a bit," Phillips said. "It's a tough situation but that's the rules that we live by. When Butler comes in for mini-camp we'll work with him extra after practice and so forth and try to catch him up. We've been in contact with him on the calls and those kinds of things, but until you go through it and have some coaching to help you it's a little bit harder."
Same goes for Mickens, who can only wait while young defensive backs like Alan Ball and Courtney Brown turn heads in practice.
-Rob Phillips
Unless banged-up rookies Brandon Williams (shoulder) and Stephen Hodge (calf) remain sidelined with minor injuries, the Cowboys should have their entire 12-man draft class on the field for next week's mini-camp (Monday-Wednesday; closed to the public).
Fourth-round pick Victor Butler and seventh-round pick Mike Mickens haven't rejoined the team since the rookie camp in early May. They have been ineligible to practice until their respective schools hold graduation, but head coach Wade Phillips said both will return next week.
It's unfortunate because Butler and Mickens are missing valuable teaching sessions. Butler and Williams, in particular, are switching from college defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker. Williams has impressed Phillips in the OTA's with his quick first step and pass-rush ability.
With Greg Ellis gone, it's important for both rookie linebackers to catch on quickly.
"When you look at Brandon Williams and see how far he came, and then you look at Butler who hasn't been here, he missed quite a bit," Phillips said. "It's a tough situation but that's the rules that we live by. When Butler comes in for mini-camp we'll work with him extra after practice and so forth and try to catch him up. We've been in contact with him on the calls and those kinds of things, but until you go through it and have some coaching to help you it's a little bit harder."
Same goes for Mickens, who can only wait while young defensive backs like Alan Ball and Courtney Brown turn heads in practice.
-Rob Phillips