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SMU's Rogers Moving Inside
Posted by jellis at 7/25/2008 8:41 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
Second-year pro Justin Rogers seems to be a quick study. After playing defensive end at SMU, he transitioned to outside linebacker with New England last summer before arriving in Dallas, a victim of the Patriots' final cuts.
Now the Cowboys are trying Rogers at inside linebacker. Friday he worked with the second team linebackers, backing up Bradie James - additionally Rogers is a valuable commodity on special teams, contributing on multiple units last season.
"We wanted to utilize his versatility," coach Wade Phillips said. "For a guy to play defensive end in college, he's really come a long way, and there's not anybody directly behind Bradie that has been on our team, we thought he would be a good fit in there."
And it's not unlike the Cowboys, or any other team, to move young players around - particularly important special teamers - to find more roles for them.
"We've got time in camp where we're trying to get our best 22 on the field," linebackers coach Reggie Herring said. "Justin's a good team player and a great effort guy and he's very valuable special teams-wise. He's done a good job at OLB but we're trying to make some moves around, somewhat of an experiment to see how he'll respond inside. It's a major transition for guys who have never played inside. If you have instincts and you're a football player, you can learn it."
Kevin Burnett ran with the second team at the other inside linebacker position, backing up Zach Thomas, while Bobby Carpenter filled that slot with the third group.
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Posted by jellis at 7/25/2008 8:41 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
Second-year pro Justin Rogers seems to be a quick study. After playing defensive end at SMU, he transitioned to outside linebacker with New England last summer before arriving in Dallas, a victim of the Patriots' final cuts.
Now the Cowboys are trying Rogers at inside linebacker. Friday he worked with the second team linebackers, backing up Bradie James - additionally Rogers is a valuable commodity on special teams, contributing on multiple units last season.
"We wanted to utilize his versatility," coach Wade Phillips said. "For a guy to play defensive end in college, he's really come a long way, and there's not anybody directly behind Bradie that has been on our team, we thought he would be a good fit in there."
And it's not unlike the Cowboys, or any other team, to move young players around - particularly important special teamers - to find more roles for them.
"We've got time in camp where we're trying to get our best 22 on the field," linebackers coach Reggie Herring said. "Justin's a good team player and a great effort guy and he's very valuable special teams-wise. He's done a good job at OLB but we're trying to make some moves around, somewhat of an experiment to see how he'll respond inside. It's a major transition for guys who have never played inside. If you have instincts and you're a football player, you can learn it."
Kevin Burnett ran with the second team at the other inside linebacker position, backing up Zach Thomas, while Bobby Carpenter filled that slot with the third group.
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