FWST Blog: McCray a hit

[WoodysGirl]

Danny McCray isn't ready to buy a house in DFW yet, but he should at least unpack his bags and get ready to stay for a while. McCray has been a special teams standout and will make the team's 53-player roster, even if he doesn't feel quite that comfortable yet.

"Not quite buying a house yet," McCray said. "Getting ready for this trip to Houston, though. It'll be good to play in front of the home crowd, so that'll be nice."

Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis "found" McCray when he was watching film of another LSU player before the draft. He was impressed with McCray's hustle on special teams. The Cowboys signed McCray as an undrafted free agent despite the fact that McCray made only 13 career starts at safety while backing up Chad Jones, who was drafted by the New York Giants.

-- Charean Williams


Posted at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Read more: http://startelegramsports.typepad.com/cowboys/#ixzz0xXrg4z2K

 

[CATCH17]

I thought he made the team against San Diego myself.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I thought he made the team against San Diego myself.

I think he probably has. He made that one bad mistake in pass coverage, but Wade kind of blew that off like everything else he did made up for it.

This blog post is interesting if only because it shows that our coaches themselves are scouting these players. You expect them to look at the early-round guys, but apparently they're looking at the late round and undrafted types, too. So it's not just the scouts.

 

[Stash]

I think he probably has. He made that one bad mistake in pass coverage, but Wade kind of blew that off like everything else he did made up for it.

This blog post is interesting if only because it shows that our coaches themselves are scouting these players. You expect them to look at the early-round guys, but apparently they're looking at the late round and undrafted types, too. So it's not just the scouts.

It amazes me that this team may have not one but several undrafted free agents making the opening-day roster.

Add that to essentially a bonus draft class from 2009 (Brandon Williams, Robert Brewster, Mike Hamlin, etc.) and this team has a nice influx of young talent added to an already talented core.

 

[Reality]

It amazes me that this team may have not one but several undrafted free agents making the opening-day roster.

What's great about that is that it helps them in future years as well because several of the best undrafted rookie free agents will know they have a legitimate shot at making the team with the Cowboys if they impress in training camp.

-Reality

 

[Stash]

What's great about that is that it helps them in future years as well because several of the best undrafted rookie free agents will know they have a legitimate shot at making the team with the Cowboys if they impress in training camp.

-Reality

Excellent point!

Hadn't even thought of that one.

I would say that Romo and Austin are two of the best examples in the entire league of what undrafted players can do, and the Cowboys being a great place for undrafted players to looks for opportunity.

 

[Reality]

Excellent point!

Hadn't even thought of that one.

I would say that Romo and Austin are two of the best examples in the entire league of what undrafted players can do, and the Cowboys being a great place for undrafted players to looks for opportunity.

So many times teams feel obligated to keep players drafted in the same year so I am glad to see the Cowboys put practice and preseason results over where a player was drafted when deciding who to keep and cut.

-Reality

 

[7footer]

Love McCray on Special Teams...that's a given. But has anyone noticed anything about him as a safety? I haven't really heard anything about his play at the safety position, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. A special teams ace is important to have, but I'm not sure I want another Keith Davis who is only a one dimensional player with very little to contribute at their primary position.

I know Church has done fairly well as a backup safety, but how does McCray compare?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think he probably has. He made that one bad mistake in pass coverage, but Wade kind of blew that off like everything else he did made up for it.

This blog post is interesting if only because it shows that our coaches themselves are scouting these players. You expect them to look at the early-round guys, but apparently they're looking at the late round and undrafted types, too. So it's not just the scouts.

Actually Coach D was scouting Chad Jones but McCray kept popping up.

 

[YosemiteSam]

What's great about that is that it helps them in future years as well because several of the best undrafted rookie free agents will know they have a legitimate shot at making the team with the Cowboys if they impress in training camp.

-Reality

I believe this was Garrett's selling point to Scott Sicko. (Romo and Austin specifically)

 

[Stash]

I believe this was Garrett's selling point to Scott Sicko. (Romo and Austin specifically)

I don't know that it's going to work out quite as well for him.

I don't see him making the roster.

Practice squad maybe?

 

[CATCH17]

We've had nice depth around here for awhile now but this year is far and away the deepest team we've had imo.

It's tough to build a team this deep in the salary cap era and we did it.

We will help out a few teams with our cuts.

 

[LeonDixson]

Love McCray on Special Teams...that's a given. But has anyone noticed anything about him as a safety? I haven't really heard anything about his play at the safety position, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. A special teams ace is important to have, but I'm not sure I want another Keith Davis who is only a one dimensional player with very little to contribute at their primary position.

I know Church has done fairly well as a backup safety, but how does McCray compare?

I think he had an INT in the 1st pre-season game.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Archer said he thinks 5 undrafted free agents make the roster ... Church, McCray, Gronkowski, McCann and Costa.

 

[7footer]

Archer said he thinks 5 undrafted free agents make the roster ... Church, McCray, Gronkowski, McCann and Costa.

If we keep both Church and McCray...that equals 6 safeties on the final 53 (Ball, Sensabaugh, Hamlin, AOA, Church, McCray). That seems a little excessive. I was thinking there was a possibility Hamlin would be cut, but he is starting this week with the first team, so that theory is out the window. I just don't see both Church and McCray making it.

 

[Stash]

If we keep both Church and McCray...that equals 6 safeties on the final 53 (Ball, Sensabaugh, Hamlin, AOA, Church, McCray). That seems a little excessive. I was thinking there was a possibility Hamlin would be cut, but he is starting this week with the first team, so that theory is out the window. I just don't see both Church and McCray making it.

That's what I was thinking too. I don't know if they can possibly keep both of them.

 

[CooterBrown]

I think that Ball's ability lets them go light at corner and they will keep six safeties. At least on opening day. When Sensabaugh is ready to play they may make a roster change. That extra kicker spot is being projected all over the roster.

 

[Jarv]

Anyone thing the Coach D gets 1 pick to choose from on the roster for special teams ?

 

[tomson75]

That's what I was thinking too. I don't know if they can possibly keep both of them.

Two of them have some extensive experience at CB. You might be able to justify keeping that many if AOA and Ball could play both positions, and find a role on STs too. Maybe.