Mickey: Hitting the Break with Good Vibrations

[jazzcat22]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/spagnola-hitting-the-break-with-good-vibrations

Good article from Mickey about the entirety go the OTA's and mini camp.
Yes it is a positive piece. As he points out several things that stood out to him. Be warned. We need stuff like this.

He gives some good info. And for those that do not like the ping pong table. read the story of the competition between Micah and Toia. And how the entire team was around watching. Just the type of team cohesion Brian wants.

Also about Dak, CeeDee and Pickens. Of what can be a very good trio.

 

[gimmesix]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/spagnola-hitting-the-break-with-good-vibrations

Good article from Mickey about the entirety go the OTA's and mini camp.
Yes it is a positive piece. As he points out several things that stood out to him. Be warned. We need stuff like this.

He gives some good info. And for those that do not like the ping pong table. read the story of the competition between Micah and Toia. And how the entire team was around watching. Just the type of team cohesion Brian wants.

Also about Dak, CeeDee and Pickens. Of what can be a very good trio.

I enjoy seeing perspectives on Javonte Williams because I think (based on pay) he's who we want to be our lead back. All he can really show in OTAs and minicamp is whether he can move and Spagnola at least believes he showed that.

 

[jazzcat22]

I enjoy seeing perspectives on Javonte Williams because I think (based on pay) he's who we want to be our lead back. All he can really show in OTAs and minicamp is whether he can move and Spagnola at least believes he showed that.

Right.
This will be a well watched group during TC. And PS games.

 

[gimmesix]

Also about Dak, CeeDee and Pickens. Of what can be a very good trio.

I expect Pittsburgh fans to regret that trade. I don't think the front office will because some of the things he was doing you just can't do. But in a contract year and being traded because of character-related issues, I expect Pickens to be on his best behavior. Doesn't mean he won't lose his temper and do something stupid in a game, but I expect him to be on time for every meeting, be a great teammate and not complain. Those things are easier to control than temper.

 

[gimmesix]

Right.
This will be a well watched group during TC. And PS games.

Yeah. I'm skeptical of the group simply based on value. Both Williams and Sanders had low free agent value because they've both averaged under 4 yards a carry the last two years. Blue was a fifth-round draft value. Vaughn a sixth-round value. And Mafah a seventh-round value. None of that screams bona fide starter, but players can outplay their value (because value can be based on several factors, such as recovering from injury in Williams' case, that may change), and that's what we're hoping. We'll see how it goes.

 

[jazzcat22]

I expect Pittsburgh fans to regret that trade. I don't think the front office will because some of the things he was doing you just can't do. But in a contract year and being traded because of character-related issues, I expect Pickens to be on his best behavior. Doesn't mean he won't lose his temper and do something stupid in a game, but I expect him to be on time for every meeting, be a great teammate and not complain. Those things are easier to control than temper.

I agree.
However, wait for his 1st "passionate team" moment on the sidelines. It could be taken way out of context. But that also may depend on how the announcers portray it.

Some fans will say it's nothing, others will dump on him.

 

[jazzcat22]

Yeah. I'm skeptical of the group simply based on value. Both Williams and Sanders had low free agent value because they've both averaged under 4 yards a carry the last two years. Blue was a fifth-round draft value. Vaughn a sixth-round value. And Mafah a seventh-round value. None of that screams bona fide starter, but players can outplay their value (because value can be based on several factors, such as recovering from injury in Williams' case, that may change), and that's what we're hoping. We'll see how it goes.

That, and how well the OL plays. Play calling as well.
I mean, we been told for years any RB can run behind a great OL. Which I somewhat disagree with. Some RB's can make an OL look better.

 

[gimmesix]

I agree.
However, wait for his 1st "passionate team" moment on the sidelines. It could be taken way out of context. But that also may depend on how the announcers portray it.

Some fans will say it's nothing, others will dump on him.

Of course. Just like some got upset with Parsons when he showed his frustration after a bad play or bad series by the defense (can't remember which game it was). I don't get bothered by passion unless it disrupts the team or results in penalties. Michael Irvin was one of the more animated Cowboys on the sideline in his day, but no one thought much of it because we were winning. In fact, his passion was credited by some as part of the reason for our success. On a bad team, that would have just been viewed as a selfish, me-first player complaining that he doesn't get the ball enough.

 

[Rockport]

Of course. Just like some got upset with Parsons when he showed his frustration after a bad play or bad series by the defense (can't remember which game it was). I don't get bothered by passion unless it disrupts the team or results in penalties. Michael Irvin was one of the more animated Cowboys on the sideline in his day, but no one thought much of it because we were winning. In fact, his passion was credited by some as part of the reason for our success. On a bad team, that would have just been viewed as a selfish, me-first player complaining that he doesn't get the ball enough.

Michael and Troy were just what the team needed on offense and Haley on defense. There were others of course but they demanded attention to detail and weren’t afraid to voice that and demand it.

 

[gimmesix]

That, and how well the OL plays. Play calling as well.
I mean, we been told for years any RB can run behind a great OL. Which I somewhat disagree with. Some RB's can make an OL look better.

I watched a game from the 2014 season last night against Seattle, which had a great run defense. DeMarco Murray ran for 119 yards against the Seahawks, who had not given up more than 40 yards to a runner that season. The line of Smith-Leary-Frederick-Martin-Free was given a lot of praise before and during the game, and there's no doubt that line was good, especially in run blocking. However, there were also plenty of times in that game where Murray created yards where there were none. Yes, he took advantage of good/great blocking at times, but his ability as a back made the line look even better than it was.

A great back enhances the line and a great line enhances the back. A bad back can make a great line looks average and the same for a great back with a bad line. In a team game, I don't think we should discount, either.

I look at Miles Sanders, for instance. He averaged 3.7 YPC last year behind Carolina's line. Chuba Hubbard averaged 4.8. I have trouble blaming the Panthers' line, in that case, for Sanders' failures. In Denver, Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 4.4 and Audric Estime 4.1 to Williams' 3.7. McLaughlin had almost as many carries as Williams (113 to 139). So I have trouble putting Williams' failures on the line.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

I expect Pittsburgh fans to regret that trade. I don't think the front office will because some of the things he was doing you just can't do. But in a contract year and being traded because of character-related issues, I expect Pickens to be on his best behavior. Doesn't mean he won't lose his temper and do something stupid in a game, but I expect him to be on time for every meeting, be a great teammate and not complain. Those things are easier to control than temper.

I'm expecting him to have a career season. I think the character issue was overblown a bit. Keep in mind that he reminded us this week that he decided to leave the Steelers. They actually wanted him back for the final year of his rookie deal.

 

[gimmesix]

Michael and Troy were just what the team needed on offense and Haley on defense. There were others of course but they demanded attention to detail and weren’t afraid to voice that and demand it.

Irvin did a lot of look at me, I'm open, but no one cared because the team was good. Dez did the same thing, but it was selfish because the team wasn't good enough. I don't have a problem with passion because this is an ego-driven game. If you don't think you are the best, you are not going to succeed. Now, there are times when passion can spill over and cause problems, but for the most part, I see nothing wrong with passionate players. Like with those of us on this board, there are all kinds of different personalities on a team. It's up to the coaches to harness those personalities, and Jimmy was one of the best at it.

 

[gimmesix]

I'm expecting him to have a career season. I think the character issue was overblown a bit. Keep in mind that he reminded us this week that he decided to leave the Steelers. They actually wanted him back for the final year of his rookie deal.

I don't know if it was overblown, but when you are not having the success you envisioned, some players can sour on a situation and need a fresh start elsewhere. I think the Steelers were justified in getting rid of him and we were justified in giving him that fresh start.

 

[speedkilz88]

That, and how well the OL plays. Play calling as well.
I mean, we been told for years any RB can run behind a great OL. Which I somewhat disagree with. Some RB's can make an OL look better.

And vice versa. Timmy Smith looked amazing with the Hogs.