Kaiser Rolls out some Oxnard notes

Kaiser

Well-Known Member
Messages
16,628
Reaction score
28,430
I went to training camp on Sunday and had a few random observations.

Its early and its practice, so these are just basic observations. Jihad Ward looked good at this point last year, so its all grain of salt stuff.

If you go to Oxnard, go on a weekday or go early, I got there 45 minutes early and the regular parking was full so we had to park in what seemed like Arizona.

The biggest jump in development you see (by far) is in second year players. You saw it in Jaylon Smith in Oxnard last year. Even in these practices it was clear this year that you are seeing improvement from Michael Gallup, Blake Jarwin (not really a 2nd year guy) and Dalton Schultz.

I really liked the rookie RBs. It was only a couple of plays but Pollard isn’t just a specialty back, he can carry the ball. Will McClay talked about that after he was drafted. In a goal line drill, Pollard broke a tackle to cross the goal line and “score”, then ran straight to RB Coach Gary Brown. They chest bumped and then Brown yelled really loud. Great stuff.

Weber looks like a guy who could be a solid backup, which is great value for a 7th round pick.

Dak Prescott was throwing well, he had velocity and accuracy. Maybe it’s a reaction to the hater posts here, but Dak did seem to be throwing better than he did when we came to camp last year. He also threw a bullet on a broken play to Darius Jackson, who I had never seen make an excellent catch before.

One guy I really wanted to see was Jon’Vea Johnson and the first play of the scrimmage was a well executed deep ball from Dak to Johnson. Good throw, good catch and you see the easy speed from Johnson. Last year Tavon Austin stood out for his speed in these kind of drills, Johnson looked like he has that type of speed as well.

Demarcus Lawrence isn’t practicing but he is like a coach on the field, if he was in sweats and you watched him you would assume he is a coach in how he talks to the other DL and works with them.

NT Chris Covington is just as big as Antwuan Woods, which I wasn’t expecting. Woods also had a great play to crash through the line and drop a RB for a loss on a sweep.

I love TE Codey McElroy as a practice squad player. Big, athletic, good hands and extremely raw (his entire football experience is no HS and one year of college ball). He still has a basketball player’s build, give him a year in the weight room and coaching and you will have something.
 
Codey McElroy sounds like another Rico. By the way, is Rico in camp?
 
How does Pollard look physically?

I had the impression he was a lankier type kid but some have said he looks beefier than they thought.
 
I was wondering about Rico earlier. Did not see him involved yesterday. Have not heard much at all about his TC at all this year.

I don't think he was on the field yesterday. He is noticeable for his size when running routes, I could be wrong but I think I would have seen him if he was playing.
 
I went to training camp on Sunday and had a few random observations.

Its early and its practice, so these are just basic observations. Jihad Ward looked good at this point last year, so its all grain of salt stuff.

If you go to Oxnard, go on a weekday or go early, I got there 45 minutes early and the regular parking was full so we had to park in what seemed like Arizona.

The biggest jump in development you see (by far) is in second year players. You saw it in Jaylon Smith in Oxnard last year. Even in these practices it was clear this year that you are seeing improvement from Michael Gallup, Blake Jarwin (not really a 2nd year guy) and Dalton Schultz.

I really liked the rookie RBs. It was only a couple of plays but Pollard isn’t just a specialty back, he can carry the ball. Will McClay talked about that after he was drafted. In a goal line drill, Pollard broke a tackle to cross the goal line and “score”, then ran straight to RB Coach Gary Brown. They chest bumped and then Brown yelled really loud. Great stuff.

Weber looks like a guy who could be a solid backup, which is great value for a 7th round pick.

Dak Prescott was throwing well, he had velocity and accuracy. Maybe it’s a reaction to the hater posts here, but Dak did seem to be throwing better than he did when we came to camp last year. He also threw a bullet on a broken play to Darius Jackson, who I had never seen make an excellent catch before.

One guy I really wanted to see was Jon’Vea Johnson and the first play of the scrimmage was a well executed deep ball from Dak to Johnson. Good throw, good catch and you see the easy speed from Johnson. Last year Tavon Austin stood out for his speed in these kind of drills, Johnson looked like he has that type of speed as well.

Demarcus Lawrence isn’t practicing but he is like a coach on the field, if he was in sweats and you watched him you would assume he is a coach in how he talks to the other DL and works with them.

NT Chris Covington is just as big as Antwuan Woods, which I wasn’t expecting. Woods also had a great play to crash through the line and drop a RB for a loss on a sweep.

I love TE Codey McElroy as a practice squad player. Big, athletic, good hands and extremely raw (his entire football experience is no HS and one year of college ball). He still has a basketball player’s build, give him a year in the weight room and coaching and you will have something.
Always enjoy your write ups.

As pass catchers go, it should be night and day from what we went into the season with last year. Outside of Cooper, Gallup has a year under his belt and by all reports it shows. Pollard is a pick that has really shown he belongs on an NFL and it's seems the staff feels the same way. Im not yet solid on either Jarwin or Shultz being plus starters, but I think both are very good players. I think both will more of a factor this year. Possibly to the point that we arent bringing in multiple TE prospects for Offical 30's next draft season
 
Im not yet solid on either Jarwin or Shultz being plus starters, but I think both are very good players. I think both will more of a factor this year. Possibly to the point that we arent bringing in multiple TE prospects for Offical 30's next draft season

Agree, I think Witten will be Witten, which is fine at this point. Jarwin and Schultz will be better than backups but guys who would be below average as starters.

I think the biggest improvement is going from a one route deep ball guy like Brice Butler to having two or three guys at WR who are legit deep threats. Also having Cobb instead of Beasley at slot is going to add a lot more options to the offense.
 
Nice post. Thanks, always enjoy fans perspective that attend camp.
 
Great update, much appreciated

Why does pollack, just look like the lead draw would fit him to a tee
Loved emmitts work out of the lead draw, and it fits pollock
 
I don't think he was on the field yesterday. He is noticeable for his size when running routes, I could be wrong but I think I would have seen him if he was playing.

Heard (Talking Cowboys or The Break) he was dinged. Didn't catch the details of his injury, sorry.
 
Thank you but your assessment on Dak throwing the long pass to Johnson has to be incorrect because I saw a clip on this forum that he missed a wide open Pollard so him being accurate on deep passes must still not be good, lol.
 
Dak is throwing better now and he threw better in 2016, before Linehan and Moore.

Kitna will have him throwing belter than 2016 and that will be great.
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
474,004
Messages
14,505,838
Members
24,207
Latest member
TomGiantsfan
Back
Top