Twitter: Tolbert: I lost all my confidence in rookie year

[Zordon]

Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert: “My rookie year, I think I lost almost every bit of my confidence. Coming off a hamstring injury in OTAs and then trying to catch up, and then just moving around, playing every (WR) spot, I was thinking way more than I should instead of just going out there and having fun, knowing that I belong here, that I’m valuable at this level and can play very high at this level. That’s something that I had to build back up. … It’s completely different now. It’s a 180. I’m confident. I’m having fun.”


Tolbert said going back to South Alabama last year during Senior Bowl week helped significantly: “Watching college tape and seeing what I did in college and understanding that I’m that guy and I can be that guy at this level.”

 

[Zordon]

@WillieBeamen this explains why he looked so robotic his rookie year. didn't look natural at all out there after getting good reviews in the offseason.

 

[Risen Star]

Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert: “My rookie year, I think I lost almost every bit of my confidence. Coming off a hamstring injury in OTAs and then trying to catch up, and then just moving around, playing every (WR) spot, I was thinking way more than I should instead of just going out there and having fun, knowing that I belong here, that I’m valuable at this level and can play very high at this level. That’s something that I had to build back up. … It’s completely different now. It’s a 180. I’m confident. I’m having fun.”

Tolbert said going back to South Alabama last year during Senior Bowl week helped significantly: “Watching college tape and seeing what I did in college and understanding that I’m that guy and I can be that guy at this level.”

 

[Risen Star]

I'm excited.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Doesn't help not getting reps because they owed a guy #13 10+ million for doing nothing! No more excuses, time to ball out young man!

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

its preseason, everyone thinks they are all pro...

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Pretty sure this is copy and paste from last offseason.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Lance is giving him confidence.

Watch out.

 

[J12B]

He is going to have the opportunity to show us.

I'm rooting for him.

I was super excited when we drafted him in the 3rd round in 2022.

 

[MonsterD]

My advice to him is make big circus like catches and score TDs, even w/o yards it might be enough to cement him in. Otherwise he is going to be the next Noah Brown, never quite good enough but ok.

 

[JW82]

I'm excited.

Does Jerry make Lamb give him 88?

 

[Chasing6]

Doesn't help not getting reps because they owed a guy #13 10+ million for doing nothing! No more excuses, time to ball out young man!

Does not help making a rookie try to learn 3 positions at once either.

 

[KJJ]

Tolbert looks like an average receiver. I’m more high on Jalen Brooks who had a real good camp his rookie year. Surprised he didn’t get more opportunities.

 

[gimmesix]

Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert: “My rookie year, I think I lost almost every bit of my confidence. Coming off a hamstring injury in OTAs and then trying to catch up, and then just moving around, playing every (WR) spot, I was thinking way more than I should instead of just going out there and having fun, knowing that I belong here, that I’m valuable at this level and can play very high at this level. That’s something that I had to build back up. … It’s completely different now. It’s a 180. I’m confident. I’m having fun.”

Tolbert said going back to South Alabama last year during Senior Bowl week helped significantly: “Watching college tape and seeing what I did in college and understanding that I’m that guy and I can be that guy at this level.”

I will never understand why NFL coaches don't have rookies just concentrate on learning one spot until they master it. I understand that there are roster limitations, but it seems to me that it is better to have a player who can do one thing well over one who can do a bunch of things so-so.

 

[MarcusRock]

I will never understand why NFL coaches don't have rookies just concentrate on learning one spot until they master it. I understand that there are roster limitations, but it seems to me that it is better to have a player who can do one thing well over one who can do a bunch of things so-so.

I don't know about that. If they did it to Gallup and he did well initially, why not do it to your next newbie to see if he has that knack? If he looks like he's struggling, maybe then you back off a bit and play to what strengths you see out of him. I can't knock it if it's not out of what they ordinarily do to young receivers. Either step up or get your job taken.

 

[Chasing6]

I don't know about that. If they did it to Gallup and he did well initially, why not do it to your next newbie to see if he has that knack? If he looks like he's struggling, maybe then you back off a bit and play to what strengths you see out of him. I can't knock it if it's not out of what they ordinarily do to young receivers. Either step up or get your job taken.

I think if he played 3 positions in college it may make sense. However we should be able to identify pretty early if he can handle it or not.

Seems like something they would pick up on in the recruiting process.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I will never understand why NFL coaches don't have rookies just concentrate on learning one spot until they master it. I understand that there are roster limitations, but it seems to me that it is better to have a player who can do one thing well over one who can do a bunch of things so-so.

Brooks learned them all in his first training camp.

Maybe Tolbert just isn't very smart. How do you line up a full yard offsides and run away from the gunner to give up a first down not once but twice?

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

Completely different, how? Did he automatically turn into Jerry rice or a four-star general lol

 

[Chasing6]

Brooks learned them all in his first training camp.

Maybe Tolbert just isn't very smart. How do you line up a full yard offsides and run away from the gunner to give up a first down not once but twice?

Again it depends what they were doing in college. If they were asked to play 3 positions in college I am sure the transition would be easier.

 

[MarcusRock]

Again it depends what they were doing in college. If they were asked to play 3 positions in college I am sure the transition would be easier.

These are the big leagues. Whether you played all 3 in college or not, if it's not out of the ordinary for teams to ask young receivers to learn all positions regardless, then you need to be ready to do that and Tolbert had work to do before he stepped in the building.