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FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Cowboys' coaches and their new players learned a lot about each other during rookie minicamp.
by Rob Phillips
Imagine yourself on a four-month job interview, toting your résumé to 32 companies across the country.
Your personal and professional history has been inspected and dissected, your skills measured by mental and physical exercises until, finally, you've found employment.
Welcome to the Dallas Cowboys.
On the first weekend in May, 27 rookies - six draft picks, 18 undrafted free agents and three tryouts - visited Valley Ranch for the team's three-day minicamp. Eight eligible first-year veterans joined them to comprise a temporary 35-man roster, though a couple of players, including fourth-round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (shoulder), could not fully participate.
The initial five practices - four at the team's outdoor complex and one final workout at Cowboys Stadium - provided a sort of orientation on the Cowboys' program: learning schemes, technique and the right way to work.
In truth, the job interview will continue into the summer and last through training camp. No full-time positions are guaranteed.
Do they want to be part of a potential Super Bowl contender?
"We want to get over to all the players, all the rookies, what it's going to take physically," head coach Wade Phillips says. "And that light comes on pretty quick when you get tired like we pushed them."
First-round pick Dez Bryant was simply breathtaking, literally, in the opening practice. Working in humid outdoor conditions, the former Oklahoma State receiver gasped for air after each dazzling catch.
"If you've seen me, you've seen that I was smiling," Bryant says. "Because I haven't been through that in a long time."
Bryant's conditioning shortage wasn't surprising. He hadn't participated in a full team practice since last September. Every prospect, not just the 24th overall pick, can't maintain a full training routine during the pre-draft process (January through April).
First-year veteran Manuel Johnson, a 2009 seventh-round selection, had the same experience last spring. One difference was manpower: last year the Cowboys had three receivers in camp (Johnson, Kevin Ogletree and Julian Hawkins). This year there were six active receivers.
"I was telling him it's not going to be like it was in college," Johnson says. "It's going to be a little different because the pace is rapid fire. You're excited to get back into football and you forget how much in shape you were. Actually, playing receiver, you run so many routes."
Phillips says the grueling first workout was by design. The coaches wanted to see how each player concentrated the next two days under fatigue.
"We threw a lot at them mentally," Phillips says. "I sent them home and I said, 'That's what we've got to have when you come back here. You've got to be physically in better shape than you were and mentally you've got to know the things that we taught you.
"But saying that, I thought it was a real good group. They're very conscientious, a smart group overall and one of the better ones we've had since I've been here as far as talent."
Several players caught Phillips' eye. The top two draft picks, Bryant and linebacker Sean Lee, practiced as advertised. Lee, a standout at Penn State, had position coach Reggie Herring's full attention as the only linebacker in camp.
Newly signed receiver Titus Ryan also showed good ability in drills. And the Cowboys have seen improvement in first-year vets like Johnson, Marcus Dixon, Jesse Holley and Travis Bright. All four spent last season on the practice squad.
Phillips said Holley and Johnson received game balls twice last year for their scout-team work during the week. Their mimicking of speedy Philadelphia wideouts DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin helped the Cowboys shut out the Eagles 24-0 in the regular-season finale.
With only six healthy receivers in camp, both players got more one-on-one attention from position coach Ray Sherman and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Each on-field workout during the summer is a chance to impress the staff.
"I feel like I gained a lot being around the team through wins and losses, going through the playoffs and through everything that happened last year," Johnson says. "I feel like I learned a lot. I'm just looking forward to this year.
"There's no guarantees who will be here and who won't be here. I'm just going to attack every OTA and every practice as if it's my last, and everything will fall into place."
That's the goal for every job candidate in camp.
The Cowboys' coaches and their new players learned a lot about each other during rookie minicamp.
by Rob Phillips
Imagine yourself on a four-month job interview, toting your résumé to 32 companies across the country.
Your personal and professional history has been inspected and dissected, your skills measured by mental and physical exercises until, finally, you've found employment.
Welcome to the Dallas Cowboys.
On the first weekend in May, 27 rookies - six draft picks, 18 undrafted free agents and three tryouts - visited Valley Ranch for the team's three-day minicamp. Eight eligible first-year veterans joined them to comprise a temporary 35-man roster, though a couple of players, including fourth-round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (shoulder), could not fully participate.
The initial five practices - four at the team's outdoor complex and one final workout at Cowboys Stadium - provided a sort of orientation on the Cowboys' program: learning schemes, technique and the right way to work.
In truth, the job interview will continue into the summer and last through training camp. No full-time positions are guaranteed.
Do they want to be part of a potential Super Bowl contender?
"We want to get over to all the players, all the rookies, what it's going to take physically," head coach Wade Phillips says. "And that light comes on pretty quick when you get tired like we pushed them."
First-round pick Dez Bryant was simply breathtaking, literally, in the opening practice. Working in humid outdoor conditions, the former Oklahoma State receiver gasped for air after each dazzling catch.
"If you've seen me, you've seen that I was smiling," Bryant says. "Because I haven't been through that in a long time."
Bryant's conditioning shortage wasn't surprising. He hadn't participated in a full team practice since last September. Every prospect, not just the 24th overall pick, can't maintain a full training routine during the pre-draft process (January through April).
First-year veteran Manuel Johnson, a 2009 seventh-round selection, had the same experience last spring. One difference was manpower: last year the Cowboys had three receivers in camp (Johnson, Kevin Ogletree and Julian Hawkins). This year there were six active receivers.
"I was telling him it's not going to be like it was in college," Johnson says. "It's going to be a little different because the pace is rapid fire. You're excited to get back into football and you forget how much in shape you were. Actually, playing receiver, you run so many routes."
Phillips says the grueling first workout was by design. The coaches wanted to see how each player concentrated the next two days under fatigue.
"We threw a lot at them mentally," Phillips says. "I sent them home and I said, 'That's what we've got to have when you come back here. You've got to be physically in better shape than you were and mentally you've got to know the things that we taught you.
"But saying that, I thought it was a real good group. They're very conscientious, a smart group overall and one of the better ones we've had since I've been here as far as talent."
Several players caught Phillips' eye. The top two draft picks, Bryant and linebacker Sean Lee, practiced as advertised. Lee, a standout at Penn State, had position coach Reggie Herring's full attention as the only linebacker in camp.
Newly signed receiver Titus Ryan also showed good ability in drills. And the Cowboys have seen improvement in first-year vets like Johnson, Marcus Dixon, Jesse Holley and Travis Bright. All four spent last season on the practice squad.
Phillips said Holley and Johnson received game balls twice last year for their scout-team work during the week. Their mimicking of speedy Philadelphia wideouts DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin helped the Cowboys shut out the Eagles 24-0 in the regular-season finale.
With only six healthy receivers in camp, both players got more one-on-one attention from position coach Ray Sherman and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Each on-field workout during the summer is a chance to impress the staff.
"I feel like I gained a lot being around the team through wins and losses, going through the playoffs and through everything that happened last year," Johnson says. "I feel like I learned a lot. I'm just looking forward to this year.
"There's no guarantees who will be here and who won't be here. I'm just going to attack every OTA and every practice as if it's my last, and everything will fall into place."
That's the goal for every job candidate in camp.
