DMN Breer Blog: More Minicamp Observations

[Bob Sacamano]

1. Jenkins vs. Scandrick - Who cares which one does better, as long as one of them is eventually able to be a long-term starter. I'm sure, at a minimum, both will be fine as nickel backs. And we know they're both probably already better than Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones.

2. From all the reports I've read, it seems like there was a significant emphasis on RB pass-catching drills. Doesn't necessarily mean much, but it's interesting as there wasn't much emphasis on that last year (perhaps because Julius sucked at catching out of the backfield).

it probably means that we'll be maximizing Felix's potential to the fullest, to get him on the field any way possible and be a weapon, whether it be sharing carries w/ Barber, or lining up in the slot

regarding Jenkins, hindsight is 20/20

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Why is this brought up? Is there a rumor about a Chad Jackson trade?

Because Breer is fresh from Boston and he still sees the world through his Patriots goggles.

 

[TheCount]

2. From all the reports I've read, it seems like there was a significant emphasis on RB pass-catching drills. Doesn't necessarily mean much, but it's interesting as there wasn't much emphasis on that last year (perhaps because Julius sucked at catching out of the backfield).

How did Julius suck at catching out of the backfield? I don't remember him ever lining up anywhere but in the backfield, and I could probably count the number of screens we ran all season on my fingers.

It was never an emphasis in the season, although last year they sure talked about it before the season started.

Maybe Julius was horrible at it in practice and so they never tried during the games, but I don't remember seeing an evidence he "sucked" at it.

 

[theogt]

How did Julius suck at catching out of the backfield? I don't remember him ever lining up anywhere but in the backfield, and I could probably count the number of screens we ran all season on my fingers.

It was never an emphasis in the season, although last year they sure talked about it before the season started.

Maybe Julius was horrible at it in practice and so they never tried during the games, but I don't remember seeing an evidence he "sucked" at it.

He sucked at it his entire career. I assume it's the major reason we didn't use him that way very often. He just had terrible body control -- looked very awkward. He always got turned around and couldn't catch the ball on the run.

By the way, "catching the ball out of the backfield" means that the player originally lined up in the backfield and then ran his route "out of the backfield" after the snap.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

this will be Anthony Henry's last year in Dallas....and if Pac Man is re-instated and plays well...Terrance Newman will have to be realistic with his contract demands...as I have stated before...the ONLY guy on this team that deserves to be the highest paid at his position is DeMarcus Ware

 

[khiladi]

He just had terrible body control -- looked very awkward. He always got turned around and couldn't catch the ball on the run.

Agreed... Julius looked very awkward catching the ball, to the point I would cringe when a pass was thrown his way. He lacked fluidity in all respects when it came to catching...

 

[Chief]

i wonder how Cason is doing in san diego.

Saturday, May 03, 2008

By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Chargers first-round draft pick Antoine Cason walked away from his first practice as a professional shaking his head a bit.

“The first day was a little bit rocky,” Cason said. “I wasn’t happy with it. I went home and just thought about it. I said I was just going to have fun and play football.”

Saturday night, he’ll go home much happier.

“It was a lot better today,” Cason said following Day 2 of Chargers minicamp.

Cason stood out during the morning practice as he batted a couple of passes down and showed the playmaking ability that made him the 27th overall selection in last weekend’s NFL Draft. His first pass break up of the day came after he recognized and jumped a receiver’s route. Had he hung onto the ball, he would have likely gone for a touchdown.

“He’s a natural playmaker,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “He’s one of those guys that has a way of being around the ball. I think certain guys grow up that way. They just have a knack for reading things, sensing things. He does a good job with it.”

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Saturday, May 03, 2008

By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Chargers first-round draft pick Antoine Cason walked away from his first practice as a professional shaking his head a bit.

“The first day was a little bit rocky,” Cason said. “I wasn’t happy with it. I went home and just thought about it. I said I was just going to have fun and play football.”

Saturday night, he’ll go home much happier.

“It was a lot better today,” Cason said following Day 2 of Chargers minicamp.

Cason stood out during the morning practice as he batted a couple of passes down and showed the playmaking ability that made him the 27th overall selection in last weekend’s NFL Draft. His first pass break up of the day came after he recognized and jumped a receiver’s route. Had he hung onto the ball, he would have likely gone for a touchdown.

“He’s a natural playmaker,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “He’s one of those guys that has a way of being around the ball. I think certain guys grow up that way. They just have a knack for reading things, sensing things. He does a good job with it.”

o thanks for the info Cason was my fav CB in the draft.

 

[pgreptom]

It kind of pisses me off.. but, you just have to relax. I've read the man coverage was "off" - and other than that, was a little zone. Jenkins is a press coverage corner, who has to work on playing off + zone coverage. I'm not familiar with Scandrick(SP?), but hopefully somenoe can shed some light on how he played ball in college.

Regardless, I'm not judgin' anything until Training Camp.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

It kind of pisses me off.. but, you just have to relax. I've read the man coverage was "off" - and other than that, was a little zone. Jenkins is a press coverage corner, who has to work on playing off + zone coverage. I'm not familiar with Scandrick(SP?), but hopefully somenoe can shed some light on how he played ball in college.

Regardless, I'm not judgin' anything until Training Camp.

you got the spelling right on scandrick last name. I think they said he played a little more off in college i don't remember to much i read it at somewhere really quickly.

 

[Manster68]

It kind of pisses me off.. but, you just have to relax. I've read the man coverage was "off" - and other than that, was a little zone. Jenkins is a press coverage corner, who has to work on playing off + zone coverage. I'm not familiar with Scandrick(SP?), but hopefully somenoe can shed some light on how he played ball in college.

Regardless, I'm not judgin' anything until Training Camp.

I am going to stress the fact that Dallas hasn't even put full pads on. So we don't really know which is going to better, Jenkins or Scandrick.

If you listen to Mickey on Talking Cowboys, you have to be encouraged about both of them.

He said that:

1. They both have great speed, and

2. They don't have good feet, but they have GREAT FEET.

That is what you basically get out of a rookie mini-camp.

Please people, don't take sides.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I will reserve judgment until at least a couple of preseason games and full practices.

 

[CardinalFan]

Ya'll got a steal in Bradford.

 

[AtlCB]

If he is a zone guy then why did he do better in man drills than Jenkins?

Jenkins is a physical CB. He gets a good jam on the receiver, so I'm not suprised that he's struggling in this drill.

I believe it is a great sign that Scandrick is doing well. We may be stocked at CB.

 

[2much2soon]

From everything I have heard - Scandrick sounds scary - in a good way.

Guess what else is scary, Scandrick wasn't the fastest CB at Boise State (verifiable) and by most accounts wasn't the best one they have at this time.
That honor goes to junior Kyle Wilson.
Wilson can cover and he can hit. Tough, hard-nosed kid recruited by Rutgers. He will slip under the radar come draft time like Scandrick did as well.