DMN: BLOG: Saturday morning practice observations

[Cbz40]

Saturday morning practice observations

1:05 PM Sat, May 02, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon


*The defensive backs were the stars of the session. Well, with the exception of safeties coach Brett Maxie, who filled in at cornerback so they could go 7-on-7. QB Rudy Carpenter picked on Maxie a few times. "I didn't want to hurt 'em," Maxie explained. "This is their camp, man."

*In all seriousness, CB Mike Mickens, FS DeAngelo Smith and SS Mike Hamlin all performed well. Carpenter and McGee threw a bunch of checkdowns because of good coverage. The defensive backs didn't pick off a ball, but they batted down a handful of passes. The receivers only caught one pass that would have been a first down (not counting the plays given up by Maxie) during the 7-on-7 work.

*Sixth-round ILB Stephen Hodge was impressive in pass coverage for the second consecutive practice. He batted down a pass intended for sixth-round TE John Phillips on a curl route, then slammed the ground in disgust, angry that he didn't get a pick.

*Mickens, who might be a seventh-round steal, was very good in one-on-one drills. Seventh-round WR Manuel Johnson couldn't separate from Mickens, who showed some fire. "Let's go! Let's go!" Mickens hollered after breaking up a crossing route to Johnson.

*Undrafted WR Kevin Ogletree had the most impressive catch of the day, making a leaping grab over Hamlin on a skinny post during one-on-one drills.

*Fifth-round K David Buehler, who we still haven't seen kick (he does that in the indoor facility), was working as a back on the punt team. He also participated in kickoff return blocking drills.

*New special teams coach Joe DeCamillis coaches with a ton of enthusiasm. At one point during the backpedaling drill, he was bouncing around and throwing jabs. "We want to be like a boxer, on our toes!"

*TE Rodney Hannah, a two-year practice squad veteran who practiced yesterday, was not here today.

*Former Cowboys DE/assistant coach Jim Jeffcoat, an assistant coach at the University of Houston now, watched the morning practice. Wade Phillips, who coached Jeffcoat in Buffalo, hustled over to say hello. Phillips, a Houston alum, greeted Jeffcoat with the Cougar hand sign. Jeffcoat's son, Jackson, a Plano West DE who is one of the nation's top recruits, was also here.

 

[Woods]

Though it's early, encouraging stuff so far on our Secondary draft picks + Hodge.

 

[Bluefin]

Observations From Rookie Camp Practice No. 3

Posted by jellis at 5/2/2009 1:16 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com


The Cowboys rookies and first-year veterans worked for about 90 minutes this morning, and have now passed the halfway point of the weekend's five sessions. Some quick hits from practice:

*Former Cowboys defensive end Jim Jeffcoat watched practice with his son Jackson, one of the most prized football recruits in the state. The elder is now an assistant coach at the University of Houston, Wade Phillips' alma mater. The Cowboys coach jogged off the practice field to chat with the father-son duo, telling the former Cowboys defensive end the team would have his son in a few years.

*After some confusion in Friday's morning practice, sixth-round linebacker Stephen Hodge has turned it around nicely, putting together a couple nice sessions. Phillips bragged on the former TCU safety in Friday's press conference, and Hodge did a good job in coverage again Saturday morning, breaking up a pass for a near interception.

*Fourth-rounder Stephen McGee has looked a good deal better than Rudy Carpenter, the undrafted rookie free agent quarterback from Arizona State. Balls usually come out of McGee's hands on a line with a nice spiral, but Carpenter's passes don't have as much zip.

*Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis again displayed the fire that has a lot of people around the team believing his units are poised from a big turnaround. The real test will be whether he can bring the same energy to the practice fields when the veterans are here.

-Josh Ellis

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Saturday morning practice observations

1:05 PM Sat, May 02, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
*Mickens, who might be a seventh-round steal, was very good in one-on-one drills. Seventh-round WR Manuel Johnson couldn't separate from Mickens, who showed some fire. "Let's go! Let's go!" Mickens hollered after breaking up a crossing route to Johnson.

Yaa..you can't pass against this guy!!

 

[Apollo Creed]

If only 2 of these guys work out then we will be in really good shape. 3 and 4 of them pan out, well then - thats typically the recipe for successful teams. Talented roster, full of young cheap players, that are anxious to prove themselvs. This is in turn pushes the otherwise complacent veterans, and suddenly you're a good football team.

2008's draft put us in a good position, this draft can put us over the hump.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

sounds promising.

 

[guag]

If only 2 of these guys work out then we will be in really good shape. 3 and 4 of them pan out, well then - thats typically the recipe for successful teams. Talented roster, full of young cheap players, that are anxious to prove themselvs. This is in turn pushes the otherwise complacent veterans, and suddenly you're a good football team.

2008's draft put us in a good position, this draft can put us over the hump.

You just summed up the whole value of the draft and how important it is to creating great teams in one paragraph. Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[WoodysGirl]

DC.COM Blog

Observations From Rookie Camp Practice No. 3
Posted by jellis at 5/2/2009 1:16 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

The Cowboys rookies and first-year veterans worked for about 90 minutes this morning, and have now passed the halfway point of the weekend's five sessions. Some quick hits from practice:

*Former Cowboys defensive end Jim Jeffcoat watched practice with his son Jackson, one of the most prized football recruits in the state. The elder is now an assistant coach at the University of Houston, Wade Phillips' alma mater. The Cowboys coach jogged off the practice field to chat with the father-son duo, telling the former Cowboys defensive end the team would have his son in a few years.

*After some confusion in Friday's morning practice, sixth-round linebacker Stephen Hodge has turned it around nicely, putting together a couple nice sessions. Phillips bragged on the former TCU safety in Friday's press conference, and Hodge did a good job in coverage again Saturday morning, breaking up a pass for a near interception.

*Fourth-rounder Stephen McGee has looked a good deal better than Rudy Carpenter, the undrafted rookie free agent quarterback from Arizona State. Balls usually come out of McGee's hands on a line with a nice spiral, but Carpenter's passes don't have as much zip.

*Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis again displayed the fire that has a lot of people around the team believing his units are poised from a big turnaround. The real test will be whether he can bring the same energy to the practice fields when the veterans are here.

-Josh Ellis

Comments (5) | Permanent Link

 

[cowboyjoe]

wonder what happened to rodney hannah since he wasnt there today

 

[Frozen700]

Wow Mike seems to be real good, especially in 1 on 1? those are some of the hardest drills, and the hardest to cover a WR in, man i think we got a steal.....when Newman retires, i cant way i wont miss him, but we wont be hurting

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Wow Mike seems to be real good, especially in 1 on 1? those are some of the hardest drills, and the hardest to cover a WR in, man i think we got a steal.....when Newman retires, i cant way i wont miss him, but we wont be hurting

I think we got a new Newman on the team and his name is Mike Mickens. I'd put Newman and Mickens both on islands covering their guy.

 

[masomenos]

I think we got a new Newman on the team and his name is Mike Mickens. I'd put Newman and Mickens both on islands covering their guy.

That's a bit premature considering that Mickens hasn't even made the team yet.

 

[Manster68]

I think we got a new Newman on the team and his name is Mike Mickens. I'd put Newman and Mickens both on islands covering their guy.

Well, I surely hope that Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith become mainstays here in Dallas.

However, I am not giving up on that other Mike on the team that the Cowboys drafted in the first round last year. Mike Jenkins is certainly no slouch.

You can never have enough good corners.

 

[Angus]

That's a bit premature considering that Mickens hasn't even made the team yet.

But nice to contemplate.

 

[soccerbud]

That's a bit premature considering that Mickens hasn't even made the team yet.

:werd:
considering he's out there covering 7th round picks and undrafted free agents

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Well, I surely hope that Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith become mainstays here in Dallas.

However, I am not giving up on that other Mike on the team that the Cowboys drafted in the first round last year. Mike Jenkins is certainly no slouch.

You can never have enough good corners.

it's a good problem to have. I'm not giving up on Jenkins. I think he can be a great player but if Mickens beats him out then I won't be complaining. There were reports that Killa said that some of the young guys just don't get it. Maybe Mickens will give Jenkins a kick in the butt and help each of them reach thier potential through competition. I'm sure Jenkins thinks he's got the starting job in the bag..not so fast! Mickens might have something to say about that.

 

[NorthTexan95]

Anyone else think Stephen Hodge may be the guy to replace Burnet in the nickle? Jason Williams may be too "raw" to cover guys for the time being.

 

[Va_BoysFan4 Life]

Great start for the young guys. M. Jenkins will be fine. He's just as hungry as these guys are. But it is, kije stated before, nice to have this problem of dedicated, hungry, hard working players that will create competition and push each other to be better which in turn will make the secondary better. I am really liking what I am hearing at this point. Yes it is early but still promising.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You can never have enough good corners.

I've been saying that for years.

Also, wouldn't it be nice to have a full complement of CB's so we can avoid drafting any next year?

 

[CowboyManDan]

Great start for the young guys. M. Jenkins will be fine. He's just as hungry as these guys are.

IMHO, Jenkins will be more than fine. He will be a starting CB for us for a long time. Starting this coming season. Even though Scandrick showed a little more last season, Jenkins has higher potential. It was Scandrick the staff considered moving to a safety type position.

Regardless, both Jenkins and Scandrick should be cornerstones (pun intended) of our secondary for a long time. I just hope one of the rookies is good enough to get in on the mix. Because it's Alan Ball who I don't have any faith in. You need at least 3 good corners in this league, as 3 will play alot. You need a 4th who can play too, in case of injury or for the dime packages. Right now, we have 3.