DMN Blog: Rookie OLB progress report

[WoodysGirl]

12:50 PM Sat, Aug 01, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Several folks have asked about fourth-round DE/OLB conversion projects Victor Butler and Brandon Williams, so I went straight to the source who would know best.

LB coach Reggie Herring is very happy with the rookies after five practices.

"Victor Butler and Brandon Williams are what we consider doing things right now that give us hope that they have a chance to help us this year," Herring said. "They're showing some pass-rush skills -- things that are instinctive. They're explosive off the ball, quick get-off. Every day they're understanding the tempo and the speed of the game, learning how to use their fundamentals and their hands. They're showing some improvement every practice that gives you a feeling or hope that they will help us this year -- somehow, some way, at least special teams and definitely pass rush."

I mentioned that Brandon Williams, to my untrained eye, had been better against the run than expected. That was one of the question marks about him after he led the Big 12 in sacks last season.

"I don't know where that M.O. got out on him, but he's a very physical, stout run player," Herring said. "He has tremendous play strength, great lock-out with his arms. It's just that when you play in the Big 12 conference, play all that 7-on-7 and spread offense, how do you really know if a guy can be physical or not? You're rushing the passer every down. We've been very, very pleased with his run play and play strength."


Comments (1) Leave comment | E-mail entry

 

[DCBoysfan]

I like hearing that

 

[big dog cowboy]

They're showing some improvement every practice that gives you a feeling or hope that they will help us this year -- somehow, some way, at least special teams and definitely pass rush."

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Outstanding news about the rookies!

 

[NorthTexan95]

Did Ware and Spencer complain about the Cowboys drafting their eventual replacements?

:laugh2:

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

For all the complaints and head scratching about this draft and how it was full of special teamers and whatnot, it sure seems like we scored some real talent.

 

[Jay]

Did Ware and Spencer complain about the Cowboys drafting their eventual replacements?

:laugh2:

 

[DBOY3141]

For all the complaints and head scratching about this draft and how it was full of special teamers and whatnot, it sure seems like we scored some real talent.

I really liked this draft, but it's way to early to tell if we got anyone with talent to play in the NFL.

 

[Manster68]

We Cowboy fans have been so blessed to have seen so many fabulous EDGE pass rushers over the last half century wearing the star.

It goes all the way back to the days of George Andrie in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Larry Cole, the merry ol' soul, came on the scene in 1968. Even though he played some tackle in his later years, he was a great end and the ultimate "Commander Killer!"

Harvey Martin was a 3rd round pick in 1973, and Ed "Too Tall" Jones arrived as the 1st overall pick in 1974. We all know what they did! (I would have thought they would have at least been on the Ring of Honor by now)

Jim Jeffcoat put together a solid career in Dallas after he arrived in 1983. The problem is, he arrived in 1983. Dallas picked him over Dan Marino, and many fans will place that stigma on him. Regardless, he was a standout pass rusher never-the-less. Jeffcoat was not the last Cowboy pass rusher with that stigma (see Ellis below).

Dallas would select Tony Tolbert in the 1989 draft behind Aikman, Moose, and Stepnoski, thus making the 1989 draft one of the top ten drafts in Cowboy history.

Then came Charles Haley. He could possibly be the best EDGE pass rusher in Cowboys history. However, I think Ware and the late Harvey Martin might have a difference of opinion (well, fans of Harvey Martin that is).

August 29th is an important date for two reasons. First it is the Hurricane Katrina anniversary (and I live in Gulfport, MS). Secondly, it was the day in 1992 when I was listening to the Jim Rome show from his Southern California radio station at that time. I was listening in Long Beach, CA at that time and I knew right then and there the 1992 Cowboys were going to be special.

After failing on Shante Carver, Kavika Pittman, and later Ebaneezer Ekubhan, the Cowboys did hit on Greg Ellis. Despite his later whining, he did give the Cowboys a decade on solid play as an EDGE pass rusher.

Like Jeffcoat though, Ellis will be more remembered for who Dallas did not select with that pick. Regardless, Greg Ellis was an outstanding EDGE pass rusher.

Then came DeMarcus Ware in 2005. He is on his way to eclipsing them all as to whom is really the best EDGE rusher in Cowboy history. The man is just unbelievable.

I still believe, if Dallas did not trade down with Buffalo in the 2004 draft (and took Julius Jones instead of Steven Jackson), that Dallas would have used their only first round pick for Marcus Spears still (and passed on Ware). So passing up on Steven Jackson in 2004 will never bother me!

Anthony Spencer has had a slow start, but now has ample time to prove that he belongs in this elite group!

And so now Victor Butler and Brandon Williams have the same opportunity as Spencer now!

Spencer, Butler and B. Williams will need to make BIG PLAYS in BIG GAMES!

 

[TheCount]

If we actually give these guys significant reps, I wil be very, very surprised. It'll be a complete 180 from our handling of rookies in the recent past. I hope that's the case, I'd love to see some rookies excel and earn their way into the rotation without anyone having to get injured.

 

[Biggems]

We Cowboy fans have been so blessed to have seen so many fabulous EDGE pass rushers over the last half century wearing the star.

It goes all the way back to the days of George Andrie in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Larry Cole, the merry ol' soul, came on the scene in 1968. Even though he played some tackle in his later years, he was a great end and the ultimate "Commander Killer!"

Harvey Martin was a 3rd round pick in 1973, and Ed "Too Tall" Jones arrived as the 1st overall pick in 1974. We all know what they did! (I would have thought they would have at least been on the Ring of Honor by now)

Jim Jeffcoat put together a solid career in Dallas after he arrived in 1983. The problem is, he arrived in 1983. Dallas picked him over Dan Marino, and many fans will place that stigma on him. Regardless, he was a standout pass rusher never-the-less. Jeffcoat was not the last Cowboy pass rusher with that stigma (see Ellis below).

Dallas would select Tony Tolbert in the 1989 draft behind Aikman, Moose, and Stepnoski, thus making the 1989 draft one of the top ten drafts in Cowboy history.

Then came Charles Haley. He could possibly be the best EDGE pass rusher in Cowboys history. However, I think Ware and the late Harvey Martin might have a difference of opinion (well, fans of Harvey Martin that is).

August 29th is an important date for two reasons. First it is the Hurricane Katrina anniversary (and I live in Gulfport, MS). Secondly, it was the day in 1992 when I was listening to the Jim Rome show from his Southern California radio station at that time. I was listening in Long Beach, CA at that time and I knew right then and there the 1992 Cowboys were going to be special.

After failing on Shante Carver, Kavika Pittman, and later Ebaneezer Ekubhan, the Cowboys did hit on Greg Ellis. Despite his later whining, he did give the Cowboys a decade on solid play as an EDGE pass rusher.

Like Jeffcoat though, Ellis will be more remembered for who Dallas did not select with that pick. Regardless, Greg Ellis was an outstanding EDGE pass rusher.

Then came DeMarcus Ware in 2005. He is on his way to eclipsing them all as to whom is really the best EDGE rusher in Cowboy history. The man is just unbelievable.

I still believe, if Dallas did not trade down with Buffalo in the 2004 draft (and took Julius Jones instead of Steven Jackson), that Dallas would have used their only first round pick for Marcus Spears still (and passed on Ware). So passing up on Steven Jackson in 2004 will never bother me!

Anthony Spencer has had a slow start, but now has ample time to prove that he belongs in this elite group!

And so now Victor Butler and Brandon Williams have the same opportunity as Spencer now!

Spencer, Butler and B. Williams will need to make BIG PLAYS in BIG GAMES!

So in 83, we could have had Marino....then in like 86 or so, we could have had Rice if the Niners hadn't leapfrogged us......very interesting.

oh well, it all worked out. Jeffcoat got him some SB rings, Marino never did.

 

[Manster68]

From 1979 through 1987, a lot went wrong for the Cowboys when it came to the draft.

Robert Shaw was going to be the center of the 80s for Dallas, but he got hurt and never recovered.

Randy Hughes was supposed to be the replacement for either Harris or Waters. Instead, his career gets shortened due to a bad shoulder.

Billy Cannon, Jr. got a neck injury and never saw the field.

Mike Sherrard also got bit by the injury bug.

Rod Hill, Jeff Roher, Kevin Brooks, Danny Noonan were among a pletora of high round draft picks who were either mediocre at best of total busts!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

If we actually give these guys significant reps, I wil be very, very surprised. It'll be a complete 180 from our handling of rookies in the recent past. I hope that's the case, I'd love to see some rookies excel and earn their way into the rotation without anyone having to get injured.

Hopefully we won't have to give them significant reps, because the starters will be playing well and we won't have any injuries. But six or seven reps a game should be doable. People forget that Spencer started and played almost every down the first five or so games in 2007 when he was a rookie when Greg was having his achilles/insurance/self-esteem issues. And we won all those games.