DMN JJT Blog: Danny Amendola's travails as a gunner

[WoodysGirl]

11:03 AM Fri, Aug 15, 2008 | Permalink
Jean-Jacques Taylor E-mail News tips

The best way for Danny Amendola - the people's choice - to make this team is to perform at a high level on special teams.

Otherwise, even if he makes the team, he'll never be active because he won't have a role on special teams.

It would be hard for him to wrest the punt return job away from Adam Jones, but even if he could he'd also probably need to contribute as a gunner on punt coverage to get a job.

Frankly, he's too small to do it. The heart is willing, but the body isn't able.

Take what happened yesterday, during a punt coverage drill. He was double-teamed, which happens often, and didn't get more than five yards past the line of scrimamge before he was flung out of bounds like a rag doll.

"It ain't your fault 18," Denver's Roderick Rodgers said without a hint of sarcasm. "Keep trying."

I'm not sure if Amendola heard him because that's just about the time he slammed his helmet down so hard that the ear pad popped out.

The only good thing is that any team that wants to sign him would probably feel the same way about him, which should enhance the Cowboys' chances to get him back on the practice squad. Another year of work and he might improve enough to force himself on the team as a receiver.


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[Little Jr]

Frankly, he's too small to do it. The heart is willing, but the body isn't able.

That comment alone shows how little he knows about football! JMO!!

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Looking more and more like camp fodder.

 

[Chief]

Frankly, he's too small to do it. The heart is willing, but the body isn't able.

But Martellus Bennett has great size and all the talent in the world. How's that working out?

Steve Tasker: 5-9, 185

One of the best ever.

I realize Tasker may be the exception, but someday people are going to realize that the measuring tape isn't everything ... that Mike Singletary and Zach Thomas being under 6-0 is ok ... that Wes Welker doesn't have to be 6-0 ... that Tom Brady doesn't have to run the 40 under 5.0 seconds.

Amendola might not make it, but writing off guys quickly because of their height or weight or 40 speed is a mistake that has been happening for many years.

I guess it will continue.

 

[speedkilz88]

Romo and T.O. thinks he should make the team and if he doesn't he will end up on another team's roster. They're going to have around 8 inactives anyway why not him?

 

[peplaw06]

That comment alone shows how little he knows about football! JMO!!

But Martellus Bennett has great size and all the talent in the world. How's that working out?

Steve Tasker: 5-9, 185

One of the best ever.

I realize Tasker may be the exception, but someday people are going to realize that the measuring tape isn't everything ... that Mike Singletary and Zach Thomas being under 6-0 is ok ... that Wes Welker doesn't have to be 6-0 ... that Tom Brady doesn't have to run the 40 under 5.0 seconds.

Amendola might not make it, but writing off guys quickly because of their height or weight or 40 speed is a mistake that has been happening for many years.

I guess it will continue.

He's not saying he's too small to play altogether. Just too small to be a gunner. And he's right IMO. You get two guys double teaming you, it's gonna be a lot of what JJT's talking about. He'll get thrown around like a rag doll.

 

[Martice]

Performance does matter and if Danny can't hold on to the ball and he is getting flung around like a rag doll then I don't care what tape or stop watch you use, he isn't going to measure up period.

 

[WoodysGirl]

He's not saying he's too small to play altogether. Just too small to be a gunner. And he's right IMO. You get two guys double teaming you, it's gonna be a lot of what JJT's talking about. He'll get thrown around like a rag doll.

And even if he could do it, I'm thinking Amendola may not have the strength to pull it off just yet. A year in a NFL weight program may be able to help in that regard.

 

[Little Jr]

He's not saying he's too small to play altogether. Just too small to be a gunner. And he's right IMO. You get two guys double teaming you, it's gonna be a lot of what JJT's talking about. He'll get thrown around like a rag doll.

Not true. Gunners dont try to run threw the double team, the try to get around it. They use quickness to get arond the double team. Does size help? Sure, it doesnt hurt but it not a necessity.


I'm not sure if Dannys ever been a gunner so getting thrown around like a rag doll may have more to do with learning something new than his size.

 

[ZeroClub]

Tasker is an interesting counterpoint. Like Dannydon'tcallmewes, Tasker was a WR.

Yeah, a year of lifting weights couldn't hurt.

 

[Stash]

11:03 AM Fri, Aug 15, 2008 | Permalink
Jean-Jacques Taylor E-mail News tips

The best way for Danny Amendola - the people's choice - to make this team is to perform at a high level on special teams.

Otherwise, even if he makes the team, he'll never be active because he won't have a role on special teams.

So what is Stanback's excuse then? It's not like he's the clear cut kickoff returner either. Austin and Felix Jones will take care of that. So why would Stanback ever be active?

It would be hard for him to wrest the punt return job away from Adam Jones, but even if he could he'd also probably need to contribute as a gunner on punt coverage to get a job.

Again, what about Stanback? What's he contributing? If it's enough reason to deactivate one, it's enough reason to deactivate the other.

Frankly, he's too small to do it. The heart is willing, but the body isn't able.

Take what happened yesterday, during a punt coverage drill. He was double-teamed, which happens often, and didn't get more than five yards past the line of scrimamge before he was flung out of bounds like a rag doll.

"It ain't your fault 18," Denver's Roderick Rodgers said without a hint of sarcasm. "Keep trying."

I'm not sure if Amendola heard him because that's just about the time he slammed his helmet down so hard that the ear pad popped out.

The only good thing is that any team that wants to sign him would probably feel the same way about him, which should enhance the Cowboys' chances to get him back on the practice squad. Another year of work and he might improve enough to force himself on the team as a receiver.

Not picking on Stanback, but if Amendola is a more polished receiver at this point, he should make the team. Stanback is still a work-in-progress and he's not contributing anything on special teams at this point either.

If those two factors are equal, play the guy who can better help you as a receiver.

 

[ethiostar]

But Martellus Bennett has great size and all the talent in the world. How's that working out?

Steve Tasker: 5-9, 185

One of the best ever.

I realize Tasker may be the exception, but someday people are going to realize that the measuring tape isn't everything ... that Mike Singletary and Zach Thomas being under 6-0 is ok ... that Wes Welker doesn't have to be 6-0 ... that Tom Brady doesn't have to run the 40 under 5.0 seconds.

Amendola might not make it, but writing off guys quickly because of their height or weight or 40 speed is a mistake that has been happening for many years.

I guess it will continue.

Very well said Chief!

 

[CrazyCowboy]

keep up the hard work.

 

[ZeroClub]

Stash ... Don't you have to factor in that Amendola would likely make it to the practice squad but Stanback probably wouldn't?

 

[tyke1doe]

Not picking on Stanback, but if Amendola is a more polished receiver at this point, he should make the team. Stanback is still a work-in-progress and he's not contributing anything on special teams at this point either.

If those two factors are equal, play the guy who can better help you as a receiver.

I'm sure you've heard of ... "draft status" and "upside potential."

Stanback was selected as a fourth rounder, and he has more upside than Amendola does.

That's why he will hang around while Amendola may get cut and then assigned to the practice squad.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

I'm sure you've heard of ... "draft status" and "upside potential."

Stanback was selected as a fourth rounder, and he has more upside than Amendola does.

That's why he will hang around while Amendola may get cut and then assigned to the practice squad.

Kind of like Romo/Henson......one was a highly touted, sure fire first overall pick who cost the Cowboys a early round pick. The other was an afterthought, undrafted free agent.

How did that turn out?

How must Hurd and Austin be feeling right about now, knowing that they are but undrafted free agents and Stanback, although not as good, has draft status and upside against them.

BTW why does he have to be a gunner? Why not one of the guys on the line, or on the punt return team or kickof coverage. Why not teach him to be the holder on FG and PAT?

 

[peplaw06]

Not true. Gunners dont try to run threw the double team, the try to get around it. They use quickness to get arond the double team. Does size help? Sure, it doesnt hurt but it not a necessity.


I'm not sure if Dannys ever been a gunner so getting thrown around like a rag doll may have more to do with learning something new than his size.

How often is a gunner gonna get a free run down the field without taking some kind of shot? Danny's pretty much always going to be going against two bigger guys as a gunner.

It's pretty simple to see why this probably won't work. If he were getting double teamed as a WR in the slot and they could basically throw him into the sideline, there would be little to no chance of him succeeding there either.

And there's nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't put him at RT either. He's not built for that.

 

[Stash]

Stash ... Don't you have to factor in that Amendola would likely make it to the practice squad but Stanback probably wouldn't?

I'm not advocating cutting Stanback, I should have made that point clear.

I just think that if Amendola can help as a receiver, he deserves a roster spot.

And no, hypothetically, I don't think there's any way that Stanback would make it to the practice squad either.

 

[Stash]

I'm sure you've heard of ... "draft status" and "upside potential."

Stanback was selected as a fourth rounder, and he has more upside than Amendola does.

Sure, and Skyler Green was a fourth rounder too.

And Jacob Rogers a 2nd.

And Stephen Peterman a 3rd rounder.

James Marten is a 3rd rounder too.

Mistakes happen.

Doesn't mean you have to compound them by not keeping an undrafted player if he can help you more.

I'm not saying Amendola's better than Stanback overall, but he may be of more help in the receiving department at this point.

And for the record, I'm advocating possibly keeping Amendola, not cutting Stanback.

That's why he will hang around while Amendola may get cut and then assigned to the practice squad.

And Amendola could get cut and signed by someone else like Matt Moore was.

 

[L-O-Jete]

I don't think Tasker was a gunner, IIRC he was the guy between C and P (up-guy?)