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Pat Watkins Is Ready To Fight For His Job
Posted by jellis at 6/18/2009 12:36 PM CDT
Fourth-year safety Pat Watkins knows what he's facing when training camp starts in late July. There will be stiff competition in the secondary.
The Cowboys drafted DeAngelo Smith and Mike Hamlin to play safety, while third-year players Alan Ball and Courtney Brown are being trained at safety and corner. Gerald Sensabaugh was signed as well. With that kind of depth built up, and the likelihood of only four or five safeties making the team, Watkins is going to have to really show up. Generally a tie in training camp goes to the younger guy.
“I try not to go in worried about it," Watkins said Wedneasday. "I’ve got to do what I do because they’re going to make the decision anyway. I can’t make that decision in the end, but what I can do is just practice and play the best I can.”
Watkins is a special teams ace, so he has an advantage there. During the summer OTAs and mini-camp, he's stood out on defense at times as well, including a leaping interception of Tony Romo on Wednesday morning. Watkins credited the jump with all the lower body work he got while resting the neck injury that caused him to be in-and-out last season. After shoulder surgery Watkins had three months to rest his neck.
It took a little while to get used to being back on the field, but Watkins says he'll be ready to go when camp starts and the competition for jobs begins in earnest.
“I started off rusty (in OTAs)," he said. "But as you run around you start getting your timing back, your footwork, so for the first couple days I was falling all over the place, but I’m in a groove now.”
-Josh Ellis
http://www.truebluefanclub.com/blogs...luefanclub.com
Posted by jellis at 6/18/2009 12:36 PM CDT
Fourth-year safety Pat Watkins knows what he's facing when training camp starts in late July. There will be stiff competition in the secondary.
The Cowboys drafted DeAngelo Smith and Mike Hamlin to play safety, while third-year players Alan Ball and Courtney Brown are being trained at safety and corner. Gerald Sensabaugh was signed as well. With that kind of depth built up, and the likelihood of only four or five safeties making the team, Watkins is going to have to really show up. Generally a tie in training camp goes to the younger guy.
“I try not to go in worried about it," Watkins said Wedneasday. "I’ve got to do what I do because they’re going to make the decision anyway. I can’t make that decision in the end, but what I can do is just practice and play the best I can.”
Watkins is a special teams ace, so he has an advantage there. During the summer OTAs and mini-camp, he's stood out on defense at times as well, including a leaping interception of Tony Romo on Wednesday morning. Watkins credited the jump with all the lower body work he got while resting the neck injury that caused him to be in-and-out last season. After shoulder surgery Watkins had three months to rest his neck.
It took a little while to get used to being back on the field, but Watkins says he'll be ready to go when camp starts and the competition for jobs begins in earnest.
“I started off rusty (in OTAs)," he said. "But as you run around you start getting your timing back, your footwork, so for the first couple days I was falling all over the place, but I’m in a groove now.”
-Josh Ellis
http://www.truebluefanclub.com/blogs...luefanclub.com
