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Johnson capitalizing on extra WR reps
by Rowan Kavner
DC.com
LINK to full article
SAN ANTONIO - Wide receiver Manuel Johnson is taking advantage of his time in the spotlight.
At Saturday's afternoon session, Johnson caught a post in the end zone against Mike Jenkins. He followed it up by catching a one-handed post for a touchdown on the Cowboys' other Pro Bowl cornerback, Terence Newman.
Wide receivers Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree all return from last season. Getting into the mix is even more difficult after the Cowboys signed first-round draft pick Dez Bryant.
But with Bryant sidelined four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain, the 23-year-old Johnson and the other young wideouts are getting more practice reps.
"It's just about opportunities," Johnson said. "One person went down. Dez went down. It's a competition for all the receivers, so it's up to somebody to step it up. I feel like I did that."
Johnson, a seventh-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2009, said stressing about how many receivers make the team won't help his cause. He just has to perform.
"You can't worry about that," Johnson said. "When your opportunity is called, you've got to make the best of it and not be worried about if you're going to make the team or not. It's not going to help you be focused on the practice and plays. If you work hard on that then everything else will fall in place."
Bryant's ankle injury put a damper on training camp. But it also allows Johnson and the nine other remaining receivers a few more opportunities to showcase their skills.
"(Dez) is a great receiver, so you want to get a good look at him," Johnson said. "He was doing great up until he unfortunately got hurt. But him going down increases my reps, so when I get a chance to make a play, I've got to do it."
Johnson's touchdown total and yardage went up every succeeding year at Oklahoma, finishing his senior season in 2008 with nine touchdowns and 714 yards. His progress continues after a season with the Cowboys' practice squad, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said he's already gotten more explosive as he understands the nuances of the NFL.
"He's made a number of plays," Garrett said. "He really has, and really it's what he did in college when he got a chance to play. Again, a very productive guy. Maybe not always the flashiest guy, but finds himself getting open and then making competitive catches."
Garrett said a year on the practice squad has turned Johnson into a more productive receiver as he understands how to block and get away from cornerbacks.
"He's been a guy who's always been reliable," Garrett said. "He's always been steady. He's always been a guy who's able to finish the play. If you're a quarterback, you like throwing the ball to a guy like that, because he does finish it."
Garrett said Johnson slimmed down and got quicker after his days at Oklahoma. Johnson said this offseason he worked out vigorously with strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek. Consequently, he's been more decisive in his route-running and receiving.
Johnson said he's taking notes daily from wide receivers coach Ray Sherman and the veteran receivers.
"They helped me out a lot," Johnson said. "I've just got to show the coaches I've made a step in my game."
It's one thing to do well in one-on-one drills, where the cornerbacks are at a significant disadvantage out in space. But shining in team drills is where players get noticed most.
"You've got everybody watching," Johnson said. "Everybody goes back and watches film from the offensive line, defensive line, everybody watches. So when a coach sees you make a play in team, then every coach sees it when they watch film. That helps out a lot."
It's evident the coaches were watching as Johnson snagged in the two grabs against the starters.
"Manny made some nice plays," Sherman said. "I was very impressed with what he did."
Playing at a nationally-renowned program such as Oklahoma provides an atmosphere that prepares many athletes for the crowds at NFL games.
But outside of the fans, Johnson said once a player is a professional, the alma mater isn't significant. Many of the Cowboys starters came from smaller schools. Starting quarterback Tony Romo attended Eastern Illinois, DeMarcus Ware went to Troy and Austin went to Monmouth.
"I don't think it's helped as much at adjusting," Johnson said. "You can see plenty of guys from smaller schools who have came here and done things; Miles and Romo, for example."
Rather than the university a player attended, it's what they do when they get a chance to succeed. Johnson is beginning to make his presence felt in the receiving corps. The more reps he gets, the more opportunities he has to get noticed by coaches and quarterbacks.
"It's not a lot of flash to it," Garrett said. "But boy he caught it again, he caught it again. He continually makes those kinds of plays. It's fun to see how he's done. We're excited to see him play in the preseason."
by Rowan Kavner
DC.com
LINK to full article
SAN ANTONIO - Wide receiver Manuel Johnson is taking advantage of his time in the spotlight.
At Saturday's afternoon session, Johnson caught a post in the end zone against Mike Jenkins. He followed it up by catching a one-handed post for a touchdown on the Cowboys' other Pro Bowl cornerback, Terence Newman.
Wide receivers Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree all return from last season. Getting into the mix is even more difficult after the Cowboys signed first-round draft pick Dez Bryant.
But with Bryant sidelined four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain, the 23-year-old Johnson and the other young wideouts are getting more practice reps.
"It's just about opportunities," Johnson said. "One person went down. Dez went down. It's a competition for all the receivers, so it's up to somebody to step it up. I feel like I did that."
Johnson, a seventh-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2009, said stressing about how many receivers make the team won't help his cause. He just has to perform.
"You can't worry about that," Johnson said. "When your opportunity is called, you've got to make the best of it and not be worried about if you're going to make the team or not. It's not going to help you be focused on the practice and plays. If you work hard on that then everything else will fall in place."
Bryant's ankle injury put a damper on training camp. But it also allows Johnson and the nine other remaining receivers a few more opportunities to showcase their skills.
"(Dez) is a great receiver, so you want to get a good look at him," Johnson said. "He was doing great up until he unfortunately got hurt. But him going down increases my reps, so when I get a chance to make a play, I've got to do it."
Johnson's touchdown total and yardage went up every succeeding year at Oklahoma, finishing his senior season in 2008 with nine touchdowns and 714 yards. His progress continues after a season with the Cowboys' practice squad, and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said he's already gotten more explosive as he understands the nuances of the NFL.
"He's made a number of plays," Garrett said. "He really has, and really it's what he did in college when he got a chance to play. Again, a very productive guy. Maybe not always the flashiest guy, but finds himself getting open and then making competitive catches."
Garrett said a year on the practice squad has turned Johnson into a more productive receiver as he understands how to block and get away from cornerbacks.
"He's been a guy who's always been reliable," Garrett said. "He's always been steady. He's always been a guy who's able to finish the play. If you're a quarterback, you like throwing the ball to a guy like that, because he does finish it."
Garrett said Johnson slimmed down and got quicker after his days at Oklahoma. Johnson said this offseason he worked out vigorously with strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek. Consequently, he's been more decisive in his route-running and receiving.
Johnson said he's taking notes daily from wide receivers coach Ray Sherman and the veteran receivers.
"They helped me out a lot," Johnson said. "I've just got to show the coaches I've made a step in my game."
It's one thing to do well in one-on-one drills, where the cornerbacks are at a significant disadvantage out in space. But shining in team drills is where players get noticed most.
"You've got everybody watching," Johnson said. "Everybody goes back and watches film from the offensive line, defensive line, everybody watches. So when a coach sees you make a play in team, then every coach sees it when they watch film. That helps out a lot."
It's evident the coaches were watching as Johnson snagged in the two grabs against the starters.
"Manny made some nice plays," Sherman said. "I was very impressed with what he did."
Playing at a nationally-renowned program such as Oklahoma provides an atmosphere that prepares many athletes for the crowds at NFL games.
But outside of the fans, Johnson said once a player is a professional, the alma mater isn't significant. Many of the Cowboys starters came from smaller schools. Starting quarterback Tony Romo attended Eastern Illinois, DeMarcus Ware went to Troy and Austin went to Monmouth.
"I don't think it's helped as much at adjusting," Johnson said. "You can see plenty of guys from smaller schools who have came here and done things; Miles and Romo, for example."
Rather than the university a player attended, it's what they do when they get a chance to succeed. Johnson is beginning to make his presence felt in the receiving corps. The more reps he gets, the more opportunities he has to get noticed by coaches and quarterbacks.
"It's not a lot of flash to it," Garrett said. "But boy he caught it again, he caught it again. He continually makes those kinds of plays. It's fun to see how he's done. We're excited to see him play in the preseason."
