DMN Blog: Miles Austin Update/'Boys practicing Felix/Marion on-field package

[Coakleys Dad]

Thats encouraging to hear about Austin.

 

[BlueStar II]

I agree, but I think the ghost of Randall Williams is in the back of everyone's mind.

I was thinking the same thing about the "ghost" of Randall Williams. I would like to think/hope that he'll contribute for us this year, but...who knows.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

TO
Witten
Crayton
Austin/Hurd
Amendola

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

TO
Witten
Crayton
Austin/Hurd
Amendola

Unless we keep 6 I don't see Danny making this squad other than the PS. Even at 6 I am not sure.

 

[Vintage]

TO
Witten
Crayton
Austin/Hurd
Amendola

Stanback will make the roster.

 

[jterrell]

WR's have a notorious learning curve in the NFL, and even the ones drafted in the first round that went to big time college football programs typically don't "get it" until Year 3. I don't know why everyone is so down on Miles Austin because he wasn't tearing up the league by year 2 coming from playing Grinnell and Beloit on a dirt field. It's like some people actually begrudge him for having great speed and athletic talent, and are even more impatient with him because of it.

The issue isn't competition it is skill level.

Austin is a superb athlete but at WR he still has issues running actual routes beyond the fly pattern and his hands are very iffy. He may well make that next step at some point but many other have tried and failed.

T.O. and Jerry Rice played small school ball and yet starred early on. If you can play you can play. The problem is so many guys can't play the position.

How many WRs have the Cowboys drafted in their history who caught 0 passes in their first two years on the active roster then went on to success with the Cowboys????

I am not sure why average fans still believe if you run fast you can play WR in the NFL.

 

[thewireman]

I have high hopes for Austin and Stanback, but I still like Sam Hurd.

I keep having flashbacks to the Bears game when he put Adam Archuleta on his backside.

Oh the hit...here it is

 

[1fisher]

Jimmy was a second round pick that was injured every year with the Cowboys. Who do they have on the roster like that?

It's what he did after he left, I think. No?

 

[jterrell]

Just stating its extremely stupid to give up on a WR with awesome physical talent by feakin year 2, be it because of injuries or lack of polish coming out of college.

Especially one that's steadily showing improvement and can contribute on special teams. Austin was getting more and more playing time as the season went along because he was impressing the coaches. Not only did he return a kickoff for a TD in his rookie year in a playoff game, he was in the Top 10 in the NFL in kick return average for people with more than 20 returns last year (and we didn't have great special teams units last year to help him him look good ... by any stretch of the imagination). Kickoffs is not really an area we need to upgrade.

How many catches did this improved Austin have?

And what does his return game ability have to do with him at WR beyond saying he gets a roster spot at the end of the WR depth chart?

 

[JBond]

Stanback and his 4.58 40 have speed.

That did not take long.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

The issue isn't competition it is skill level.

Austin is a superb athlete but at WR he still has issues running actual routes beyond the fly pattern and his hands are very iffy. He may well make that next step at some point but many other have tried and failed.

T.O. and Jerry Rice played small school ball and yet starred early on. If you can play you can play. The problem is so many guys can't play the position.

How many WRs have the Cowboys drafted in their history who caught 0 passes in their first two years on the active roster then went on to success with the Cowboys????

I am not sure why average fans still believe if you run fast you can play WR in the NFL.

Sorry I have seen slants and posts. What i still need to see are curls and outs. And i am sorry bu saying that he cannot match up to two hall of famers early production as if that proves anything is sad.

its not as if Austin didn't show up last season.

 

[jterrell]

Sorry I have seen slants and posts. What i still need to see are curls and outs. And i am sorry bu saying that he cannot match up to two hall of famers early production as if that proves anything is sad.

its not as if Austin didn't show up last season.

He "showed up" with what 0 catches on the year?

Please.

Austin looked horrid running routes when he got into games. When balls were thrown to him he looked ill-prepared to catch them. Now to his credit he was able to get open.

Austin has done absolutely zero at the position of WR to indicate he can play on a regular basis. He saw the field last year only because we suffered injury to both starters and when that happened we could not pass the ball hardly at all.

Make an argument based around Austin's production at WR ever and maybe I'll buy it. Until then you really have no point at all.

The challenge remains above. 49 years of Cowboys history go find a WR who caught 0 passes his first two seasons that went on to be a solid WR for this team.

The funny thing is the Jimmy Smith nonsense. Smith was drafted in 1992, and out of football altogether in 93 and 94. In 1995 once healthy finally he tried out and was signed by Jax as a kick returner. He did make it big but he did so not from developing a skillset but by finally being healthy.

 

[joseephuss]

He "showed up" with what 0 catches on the year?

Please.

Austin looked horrid running routes when he got into games. When balls were thrown to him he looked ill-prepared to catch them. Now to his credit he was able to get open.

Austin has done absolutely zero at the position of WR to indicate he can play on a regular basis. He saw the field last year only because we suffered injury to both starters and when that happened we could not pass the ball hardly at all.

Make an argument based around Austin's production at WR ever and maybe I'll buy it. Until then you really have no point at all.

The challenge remains above. 49 years of Cowboys history go find a WR who caught 0 passes his first two seasons that went on to be a solid WR for this team.

The funny thing is the Jimmy Smith nonsense. Smith was drafted in 1992, and out of football altogether in 93 and 94. In 1995 once healthy finally he tried out and was signed by Jax as a kick returner. He did make it big but he did so not from developing a skillset but by finally being healthy.

Austin had 5 receptions in 2007. How many receptions should the 4th/5th wide receiver on the roster have in a season?

 

[InmanRoshi]

The funny thing is the Jimmy Smith nonsense. Smith was drafted in 1992, and out of football altogether in 93 and 94. In 1995 once healthy finally he tried out and was signed by Jax as a kick returner. He did make it big but he did so not from developing a skillset but by finally being healthy.

He was also healthy for the Eagles and they cut him too. So it's not like he just have overpowering and obvious All Pro football talent when he stepped on the football field, only held back by injuries. If he did, Jerry wouldn't have cut him after just two years anyway (I would certainly hope)

Considering his background, I regard Austin's first year basically a redshirt year. (just like Tony Romo's first year was basically a redshirt just to get him accustomed to a high level of competition and exposure to good coaching) Last year was really his "rookie year" (and he had 5 receptions). Lots of guys have contributed as WR's for the Cowboys who did absolutely nothing in their rookie years. Tony Hill had 2 receptions. Kelvin Martin had 0.

I still stand by my assertion that people hold it against Austin because he's talented and they don't want "another Randal Williams" ... which is just unbelievably stupid and illogical.

 

[AsthmaField]

TO
Crayton
Hurd
Stanback
Austin
Amendola

That's if we keep 6. With 5, I'm still not sure Austin makes it ahead of Amendola.

Running routes and having good hands is just such a huge, huge part of being an NFL WR... and Amendola has both aspects in spades. The pure athleticism of Austin is all nice and fine, but if he isn't showing enough progress and Amendola is showing well, then I think Miles is gone.

IMO, if we try to sneak Amendola onto the practice squad, there's no way he'll make it. So, if Dallas wants to keep him, he'll have to make the 53 man roster. Unless of course he just flat out isn't any good... and I don't think that's going to happen.

All JMO of course.

 

[Stash]

Austin had 5 receptions in 2007. How many receptions should the 4th/5th wide receiver on the roster have in a season?

He should have 24 rec for 317 yds with a 13.2 avg with 4 TD's.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Austin is a fast cat.....for sure

 

[big dog cowboy]

If there were ever a year for us going 6 deep at WR it might be this year.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

TO
Witten
Crayton
Austin/Hurd
Amendola

Unless we keep 6 I don't see Danny making this squad other than the PS. Even at 6 I am not sure.

I think it may be 6. Hurd or Austin getting whacked would not suprise me though.

Stanback will make the roster.

Oops.... I did forget Stanback.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I Oops.... I did forget Stanback.

:doh: