ESPN Mosley Blog: Cowboys to avoid contact in Camp/Witten likes the lack of drama

[bbgun]

I guess the Dallas NBC affiliate maintains its own blog:

http://www.nbcdfw.com/blogs/blue-star/?author=Drew+Magary

 

[Ren]

Last year they didn't tackle in practice and quite a few players looked absolutely dreadful trying to tackle in games, coincidence?

It also didn't save us from getting hit by the injury bug last year

Basically we tried it this way and it didn't work

 

[windward]

Plenty of guys get hurt in non-contact practices. Should they not practice until the season starts??? Come on man its football. They are going to get exposed in pre-season. The tackling was bad last year and they need to start hitting in practices.

Not saying that at all. I just think the risk is not worth it in training camp in this depth-deprived league. Tackling is just as much a cerebral task as it is physical. Who's to say that our tackling woes were not the result of a lack of focus last year and not the lack of tackling in TC?

I think we're focused this year. We'll get a taste of who's right in a couple weeks.

 

[windward]

Last year they didn't tackle in practice and quite a few players looked absolutely dreadful trying to tackle in games, coincidence?

It also didn't save us from getting hit by the injury bug last year

Basically we tried it this way and it didn't work

Does A necessarily cause B?

Perhaps, but we'll find out one way or the other starting with Oakland in two weeks.

 

[Real1st]

Not saying that at all. I just think the risk is not worth it in training camp in this depth-deprived league. Tackling is just as much a cerebral task as it is physical. Who's to say that our tackling woes were not the result of a lack of focus last year and not the lack of tackling in TC?

I think we're focused this year. We'll get a taste of who's right in a couple weeks.

Focused on tackling??? Tackling is pretty much why football is football. If they have to focus on making a tackle then we aren't going anywhere. The problem was bad fundamentals. Too many arm tackle and shoulder block attempts.

 

[windward]

Focused on tackling??? Tackling is pretty much why football is football. If they have to focus on making a tackle then we aren't going anywhere. The problem was bad fundamentals. Too many arm tackle and shoulder block attempts.

Focused in the sense of knowing your assignments and being prepared , putting you in position to execute better. That's all.

 

[Real1st]

Focused in the sense of knowing your assignments and being prepared , putting you in position to execute better. That's all.

Understand.

They still have to make the tackle. You can be in good position but you can still whiff on a tackle.

 

[rynochop]

Sheesh, so some of you want our D blowing up Witten, RW, MBII, Felix, etc, etc everyday for the next month?? Lets just let Ware blind side Romo while we're at it.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Surely there is a middleground. I say allow hitting in practice for the vast majority of players. Then make Romo, Witten and a few of the few irreplacable players on offense wear purple Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain jerseys so the defense won't tackle them.

We didn't tackle last year, preferring to "focus on assignments", and we led the NFL in penalties and were plagued by sloppy play the entire season. Maybe there is a link between physical toughness and mental toughness? Just throwing it out there.

 

[RoadRunner]

well said, joe

I want to them to tackle all through camp and into the season

Me too. The tackling last year was absolutely terrible. How Wade can think its a good idea to repeat the same lack of work on tackling is a bit baffling.

 

[RoadRunner]

Yep, learn how to get into position to make the tackle and you are there. No need to beat each other up before the season starts.

This team needs practice at tackling. Last year proves that. especially the Baltimore game. You can't get better at tackling if you don't practice it. Seems cut and dry logic to me.

 

[RoadRunner]

It's incredibly dumb to expose your players to a greater risk of injury in non-game situations.

That sure prevented injuires last year... oh wait!

 

[zrinkill]

This team needs practice at tackling. Last year proves that. especially the Baltimore game. You can't get better at tackling if you don't practice it. Seems cut and dry logic to me.

I agree

 

[bayeslife]

This team needs practice at tackling. Last year proves that. especially the Baltimore game. You can't get better at tackling if you don't practice it. Seems cut and dry logic to me.

Tackling isn't hard. Everything leading up to the tackle, pursuit, containment, and technique, are.

 

[Doomsday101]

This team needs practice at tackling. Last year proves that. especially the Baltimore game. You can't get better at tackling if you don't practice it. Seems cut and dry logic to me.

Phillips said the Cowboys will do their tackling during the preseason games. He'd change his mind about his no-tackling policy during camp if he didn't think his team was tough enough.

So depending on how the guys do will determine if Phillips increases contact.

Yes injuries in practice are a concern

 

[Alexander]

How many superbowls did Levy win, none.

So the fact he had light camps is why Levy lost four Super Bowls?

Who beat Levy's team twice in the superbowl with tough hardnosed players, that worked and hit in training camp. Dallas Cowboys in 92 and 93.

We were simply better than the Bills both times.

Conditioning and having a battle-hardened team is what I would prefer also. I think it allows you to pace your team better. By the time December hits and everyone is beat up and tired, a better team that has already gone through the rigors will be more prepared for the stretch run.

I don't think Levy ran a camp cupcake. I cannot say much for Bum Phillips. I don't care for the non-tackling issue, no question. Teaching fundamentals is fine, but a poorly conditioned

I just think we peak too soon and while being fresh helps in September it seems to catch up with us late every year.

It is a tough situation to diagnose and I doubt there is a clear answer what way is best.

Its true you save the players from getting hurt possibly, but if they were going to get hurt, was going to happen anyway.

Just like wade did say, you have to be physically and mentally tough. Thats the problem these players arent physically and mentally tough come December.

However, I do think wade is learning alittle. He has fixed the defense by being the head coach and the defensive coordinator. If something happens on defense, its his baby as it should be. Wade has hired a good special teams coach, and drafted players primarly for special teams. So, 2 out of 3 isnt bad. Wade also said, that he isnt going to let players gripe and complain, because of our special teams coach. Maybe he is going to make them run, and do extra work, etc, to stay in shape.

Camp Cupcake isn't about the conditioning as much as it is about discipline. At least to me.

People might need to look at what the strength coach is doing as most of the time the head coach partners with him.

 

[CIWhitefish]

Tackling isn't free throws people. You don't become better necessarily by live tackling in practice. What does make you better is everything up to the hit itself. Positioning, being patient with your assignment, trusting the play. You practice all of that without the actual big hit. Seems pretty simple.

Our late year fades have been going on for a long time and Wade's TC approach have nothing to do with it. That's quite apparent given our great starts to the year. It's really a matter of focus and continuing to work hard. Our problem is we seem to assume that early season success will continue and it doesn't. It becomes harder and harder to replicate each week, especially in Dec/Jan.

 

[windward]

That sure prevented injuires last year... oh wait!

Do you understand the idea of risk vs.reward?

 

[superpunk]

Much ado about nothing.

Very few NFL teams are doing much hitting in camp. Phillips takes it to the next step by apparently doing none, but it's not like the other 31 teams are out there smacking pads in camp. Noone does that, except for Hollywood dramatizations of football.