DMN Blog: OTA Observation deck

speedkilz88

Well-Known Member
Messages
36,953
Reaction score
23,101
OTA observation deck

2:59 PM Tue, May 19, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips


This will be passing-game intensive, because you can't tell a whole lot about the running game when the players aren't wearing pads.


*Wade Phillips mentioned that it's normal for the timing between receivers and quarterbacks to be off at this time of year, even though they've had informal throwing sessions twice per week. We saw that and some sloppiness on the receivers' end. There were several drops.


*WR Sam Hurd, who is somewhat of a forgotten man coming off of ankle surgery, did not contribute to the drop total. He caught everything he got his hands on, including a diving grab by the sideline on a low rope thrown by Jon Kitna. Hurd isn't a guy who gets great separation -- and he might not be 100 percent yet -- but his hands might be the best on the team.


*Yes, the 36-year-old Kitna can still throw ropes. Unlike the last couple of years, the experienced backup's arm strength won't be a concern for the Cowboys.


*Also didn't see a drop by coachable WR Roy Williams, who might argue about Hurd having the best hands on the team. Williams, who wore No. 4 (his Texas number), made an especially nice play on an out route in front of Terence Newman. Williams snared the pass with his hands, away from his body, and chopped his feet to make sure he got both in bounds. He celebrated by getting behind a camera located on the track and pretending to film practice.


*WR Miles Austin did have a couple of passes clank off his hands, but he also displayed his ability to be a deep threat. He twice got great separation on double-move deep routes and made plays on underthrown balls both times. On the first one, he rebounded an underthrown Romo pass after it bounced off safety S Tra Battle's helmet. On the second one, Austin made a nice adjustment to sky over CB Orlando Scandrick to snare Stephen McGee's pass.



*Several players had problems with the footing at Standridge Stadium, which has the new-age, grass-like artificial turf. Terence Newman stumbled to the ground twice while trying to break on a ball. Scandrick and SS Gerald Sensabaugh got picks when receivers slipped coming out of their breaks.


*CB Mike Hawkins had great coverage on a stop-and-go route by WR Patrick Crayton during 1-on-1 drills, but Crayton torched Hawkins on a similar route during 7-on-7. Kitna's deep ball hit Crayton in stride on the second route.


*CB/S Alan Ball made a leaping deflection of a Kitna pass on a crossing route intended for WR Travis Wilson. Ball got praise from secondary coach Dave Campo throughout the workout.


*Seventh-round WR Manuel Johnson beat FS Ken Hamlin for what would have been a long touchdown. Hamlin was stride for stride with Johnson but never made a play for the ball.


*Mike Jenkins got all the reps at the cornerback opposite Terence Newman during team drills.


*Sensabaugh got all the first-team reps at strong safety. He had good coverage of Jason Witten on an intermediate out early in team drills.


*Montrae Holland worked with the first-team at left guard, as Kyle Kosier worked on the side with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown. Cory Procter worked as the second-team center. Pat McQuistan, who was the swing tackle the last two seasons, worked at left guard with the second unit. The tackles were Doug Free (left) and third-round pick Robert Brewster (right).


*WR Isaiah Stanback was among the players who stayed after practice to catch punts.






Skipping OTAs wasn't an option for DeMarcus Ware

3:37 PM Tue, May 19, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips


It's a fairly common practice for NFL player in the midst of contract negotiations to skip "voluntary" workouts.
Pro Bowl OLB DeMarcus Ware said he never considered it for a second.



Ware, unlike his Twitter impostor, has been pretty tight-lipped about the negotiations that could end with him getting the most guaranteed money in NFL history. He said after today's workout that he'll let his agent and Cowboys management worry about that, while he focuses on football.
Focusing on football means full participation in the Cowboys' off-season program. His presence at OTAs is indicative of his commitment, not necessarily that he's pleased with the progress on his contract negotiations.


"I'm a guy that's always been about hard work," Ware said. "That's what got me where I am right now. Why would you take some days off to jeopardize the team? If you want to be a team player, that's how you've got to do it. Sometimes you've got to sacrifice, and that's what I'm doing now."
 

QT

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,571
Reaction score
855
I don't know how many times I've heard the "best hands on the team" statement. So the torch is now passed from Crayton to Hurd?
 

Bob Sacamano

Benched
Messages
57,084
Reaction score
3
idk, but we have a sure-handed group of WRs, Crayton is one of the best 3rd down converters in the league, Roy Williams has great hands, and apparently Sam Hurd does as well
 

Duane

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,063
Reaction score
413
I thought they were going to move Brewster inside. Are they keeping him at RT to get acclimated to the game and get stronger this year?
 

Bob Sacamano

Benched
Messages
57,084
Reaction score
3
Duane;2779922 said:
I thought they were going to move Brewster inside. Are they keeping him at RT to get acclimated to the game and get stronger this year?

we just probably have too many OG candidates and not enough OT candidates
 

ddh33

Active Member
Messages
4,934
Reaction score
2
I'm intrigued at Brewster remaining at tackle. I suppose it's still just to keep him comfortable, but I would think his best chance to play would be at guard.
 

Doomsday101

Well-Known Member
Messages
107,762
Reaction score
39,034
Chocolate Lab;2779935 said:
Well, it sounds like McQ is a guard now... That adds a G and subtracts a T.

I would not make much out of these moves in OTA. We will know alot more about the lineman when the pads come on.
 

5Stars

Here comes the Sun...
Messages
37,847
Reaction score
16,869
CowboysZone LOYAL Fan
speedkilz88;2779870 said:
OTA observation deck

2:59 PM Tue, May 19, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips


*Seventh-round WR Manuel Johnson beat FS Ken Hamlin for what would have been a long touchdown. Hamlin was stride for stride with Johnson but never made a play for the ball.


This is one thing that really sticks out to me! How many freaking times have we seen our corners never look back for the ball to try and at least SEE where it is?

I watch other teams and see that at least the corner TRYS to locate the ball, but the corners on the Cowboys seem to always have their backs turned trying to play the receiver only! I know they don't want to lose the receiver, but damn, at least try to catch a glimpse of where the ball is and make a play on it!

Am I missing something here?
 

Hoofbite

Well-Known Member
Messages
40,871
Reaction score
11,570
Im getting sick of the "coachable WR Roy Williams" schtick.
 

Bluefin

Well-Known Member
Messages
8,209
Reaction score
9,677
Duane;2779922 said:
I thought they were going to move Brewster inside. Are they keeping him at RT to get acclimated to the game and get stronger this year?
IIRC, Hudson Houck said the team would keep Robert Brewster at his college position of right tackle, see how he handled it and move on from there.

I believe Brew will stay at RT if he shows he can play it at this level.
 

Bluefin

Well-Known Member
Messages
8,209
Reaction score
9,677
Chocolate Lab;2779935 said:
Well, it sounds like McQ is a guard now... That adds a G and subtracts a T.
It's about three years too late, if that is the case.

I've always thought McQ was a better guard prospect than tackle.
 

Jon88

Benched
Messages
7,665
Reaction score
0
Bluefin;2779961 said:
IIRC, Hudson Houck said the team would keep Robert Brewster at his college position of right tackle, see how he handled it and move on from there.

I believe Brew will stay at RT if he shows he can play it at this level.

The odds are against him with this team. We can only sign other people's players at this point.
 

Bluefin

Well-Known Member
Messages
8,209
Reaction score
9,677
Jon88;2779974 said:
The odds are against him with this team. We can only sign other people's players at this point.
We are all painfully aware of our recent OL history in the draft, but the coaches really seem to like Robert Brewster.

He won't be needed this season barring a lot of injuries or a Larry Allen impersonation in training camp.

I don't care if he's a tackle, guard or center. I just hope he turns out to be a contributor on the team in the near future.
 

speedkilz88

Well-Known Member
Messages
36,953
Reaction score
23,101
5Stars;2779941 said:
This is one thing that really sticks out to me! How many freaking times have we seen our corners never look back for the ball to try and at least SEE where it is?

I watch other teams and see that at least the corner TRYS to locate the ball, but the corners on the Cowboys seem to always have their backs turned trying to play the receiver only! I know they don't want to lose the receiver, but damn, at least try to catch a glimpse of where the ball is and make a play on it!

Am I missing something here?
The fact Ken Hamlin is a safety.:D
 

Jon88

Benched
Messages
7,665
Reaction score
0
Bluefin;2779984 said:
We are all painfully aware of our recent OL history in the draft, but the coaches really seem to like Robert Brewster.

He won't be needed this season barring a lot of injuries or a Larry Allen impersonation in training camp.

I don't care if he's a tackle, guard or center. I just hope he turns out to be a contributor on the team in the near future.

The OL history in the draft has been ridiculous. We've only drafted 2 out of the 5 starters and both were second round picks. Flozell fell from the first. I hope he's a contributor too. We've made enough mistakes to learn from them.
 

FLcowboy

When Jerry, when?
Messages
4,061
Reaction score
260
QuanTran;2779909 said:
I don't know how many times I've heard the "best hands on the team" statement. So the torch is now passed from Crayton to Hurd?

Yeah, I wondered the same thing. Crayton has got some competition, although it would appear that Stanback isn't part of it.
 

RS12

Well-Known Member
Messages
32,529
Reaction score
29,875
I'm starting to like the Kitna trade more and more. Too old to push Romo, but can at least throw down field if called upon. Johnson could not break a pane of glass at 20 yards. Kitna nice bridge between Romo and McGee.
 

NextGenBoys

Well-Known Member
Messages
9,252
Reaction score
1,964
speedkilz88;2779870 said:
OTA observation deck

2:59 PM Tue, May 19, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips



Skipping OTAs wasn't an option for DeMarcus Ware

3:37 PM Tue, May 19, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips


It's a fairly common practice for NFL player in the midst of contract negotiations to skip "voluntary" workouts.
Pro Bowl OLB DeMarcus Ware said he never considered it for a second.



Ware, unlike his Twitter impostor, has been pretty tight-lipped about the negotiations that could end with him getting the most guaranteed money in NFL history. He said after today's workout that he'll let his agent and Cowboys management worry about that, while he focuses on football.
Focusing on football means full participation in the Cowboys' off-season program. His presence at OTAs is indicative of his commitment, not necessarily that he's pleased with the progress on his contract negotiations.


"I'm a guy that's always been about hard work," Ware said. "That's what got me where I am right now. Why would you take some days off to jeopardize the team? If you want to be a team player, that's how you've got to do it. Sometimes you've got to sacrifice, and that's what I'm doing now."

We are incredibly lucky to have a player like DeMarcus Ware on our team.

This guy is just the complete package in every facet both on and off the field.
 

BIGDen

Dr. Freakasaurus
Messages
4,767
Reaction score
902
"I'm a guy that's always been about hard work," Ware said. "That's what got me where I am right now. Why would you take some days off to jeopardize the team? If you want to be a team player, that's how you've got to do it. Sometimes you've got to sacrifice, and that's what I'm doing now."

How can anyone not love this guy?
Just give me a team full of Ware and Witten-types and we'll never lose a game.
 
Top