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Dallas
May 23, 2008
Jones knows he has a lot to learn right away
Even with RB Marion Barber’s seven-year contract extension, which likely will keep him in Dallas a long time, the Cowboys are very excited about the potential of first-round RB Felix Jones as an immediate contributor. For his part, Jones says he just wants to get a better feel for Jason Garrett’s offense before he starts thinking about all the ways he can be utilized. “It’s a nice playbook,” Jones told PFW. “It has some great things in it. I am just ready to learn some more.” Though Jones is reluctant to speculate as to how he’ll be used, he expects to be used as a runner, a receiver and possibly as a returner too. He knows that only increases his responsibility to know the system well. “I think they could put me in different positions once I learn the offense,” he said. “I think I can do more of the motion stuff and contribute more at different positions. I feel like once I learn the playbook more, I can do that. … I believe they’ll use me more as a receiver type. But I won’t know more until I learn more of the offense. … We haven’t had a sit-down talk with (special-teams coach Bruce Read) yet. Once I get back into Dallas, I am sure I’ll learn more about special teams and what they’ll have me do.”
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NY Giants
May 21, 2008
Manningham defensive about weaknesses but confident he’ll contribute
The questions that surrounded WR Mario Manningham prior to the draft might have been the primary reasons his draft stock fell before the Giants took him in the third round, whereas at one point he was considered by some to be a Round One possibility. Yet Manningham feels like the negative attention created by his poor Wonderlic scores (believed to be as low as a six out of 50 the first time he took it), a questionable work ethic and the positive marijuana tests that he admitted to are all things that now can be turned into a positive. “It’s motivation,” he told PFW recently. “I have forgotten about all of that, but I haven’t forgotten what people have said, you know? I’ve got enough on my shoulders. I have a lot to prove.” Still, when asked what he thought he most needed to improve on to crack a crowded WR situation in New York, Manningham turned defensive. “What do you think I need to improve on?” he asked rhetorically. “Everyone has their own opinion. (My goal is to) come in and contribute. Period. That’s it. To come in and make my team better than it was. I can do that.”
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Philadelphia
May 21, 2008
Eagles’ Jackson appears happy with potential role
In his first test, during rookie minicamp earlier this month, WR DeSean Jackson caught almost everything thrown in his direction and showed good quickness and burst as a receiver. The problem was that PR DeSean Jackson wasn’t quite as flawless, dropping several punts that he appeared to misread. Jackson says he’s not concerned with his early flaws and thinks that he’ll improve his performance this week and for the next month through minicamp and OTAs. “It wasn’t too bad,” Jackson told PFW. “You just have to read them a little differently in the pros. They also go higher in the air. I feel like I have an opportunity to catch punts and kickoffs, and I intend to take advantage.” In fact, Jackson’s opportunity as a punt (and possibly kickoff) returner might be more significant than as a receiver right away, though Jackson says he thinks he can be a factor as a slot receiver — he’ll focus primarily on that position now — once he learns this complex offense. “I definitely felt like there was a lot going on,” he said. “It’s a great offense, there’s just a lot to know. It was hectic, but I felt comfortable just trying to go out there and have as much fun as I could playing. I play better when I have fun.”
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Washington
May 21, 2008
Thomas, Kelly feel like they can step in immediately
WRs Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly became friends throughout the draft process, even rooming together when the two visited the Cowboys, well before they were taken in the same round (second) by the Commanders. So it’s only natural that they one day envision themselves starting opposite one another — and in their minds, soon. “I feel like I picked up on it pretty quick,” Thomas told PFW. “I noticed it’s a big playbook, so I am going to have to keep learning, but overall it’s not that hard.” Thomas has been learning the “Z” (flanker) position so far, while Kelly has been working at the “X” (split end). “It’s the West Coast offense, so there are going to be a lot of three- and four-wide sets, so there will be a chance for me to get playing time,” Kelly told PFW. “And it’s not all just quick-hitters; there’s some down-the-field stuff, too. The coaches told me they are looking for a big target, especially in the red zone, so if I go in and earn the chance, I could be a factor right away.”
View all WWHI for Washington
May 23, 2008
Jones knows he has a lot to learn right away
Even with RB Marion Barber’s seven-year contract extension, which likely will keep him in Dallas a long time, the Cowboys are very excited about the potential of first-round RB Felix Jones as an immediate contributor. For his part, Jones says he just wants to get a better feel for Jason Garrett’s offense before he starts thinking about all the ways he can be utilized. “It’s a nice playbook,” Jones told PFW. “It has some great things in it. I am just ready to learn some more.” Though Jones is reluctant to speculate as to how he’ll be used, he expects to be used as a runner, a receiver and possibly as a returner too. He knows that only increases his responsibility to know the system well. “I think they could put me in different positions once I learn the offense,” he said. “I think I can do more of the motion stuff and contribute more at different positions. I feel like once I learn the playbook more, I can do that. … I believe they’ll use me more as a receiver type. But I won’t know more until I learn more of the offense. … We haven’t had a sit-down talk with (special-teams coach Bruce Read) yet. Once I get back into Dallas, I am sure I’ll learn more about special teams and what they’ll have me do.”
View all WWHI for Dallas
NY Giants
May 21, 2008
Manningham defensive about weaknesses but confident he’ll contribute
The questions that surrounded WR Mario Manningham prior to the draft might have been the primary reasons his draft stock fell before the Giants took him in the third round, whereas at one point he was considered by some to be a Round One possibility. Yet Manningham feels like the negative attention created by his poor Wonderlic scores (believed to be as low as a six out of 50 the first time he took it), a questionable work ethic and the positive marijuana tests that he admitted to are all things that now can be turned into a positive. “It’s motivation,” he told PFW recently. “I have forgotten about all of that, but I haven’t forgotten what people have said, you know? I’ve got enough on my shoulders. I have a lot to prove.” Still, when asked what he thought he most needed to improve on to crack a crowded WR situation in New York, Manningham turned defensive. “What do you think I need to improve on?” he asked rhetorically. “Everyone has their own opinion. (My goal is to) come in and contribute. Period. That’s it. To come in and make my team better than it was. I can do that.”
View all WWHI for NY Giants
Philadelphia
May 21, 2008
Eagles’ Jackson appears happy with potential role
In his first test, during rookie minicamp earlier this month, WR DeSean Jackson caught almost everything thrown in his direction and showed good quickness and burst as a receiver. The problem was that PR DeSean Jackson wasn’t quite as flawless, dropping several punts that he appeared to misread. Jackson says he’s not concerned with his early flaws and thinks that he’ll improve his performance this week and for the next month through minicamp and OTAs. “It wasn’t too bad,” Jackson told PFW. “You just have to read them a little differently in the pros. They also go higher in the air. I feel like I have an opportunity to catch punts and kickoffs, and I intend to take advantage.” In fact, Jackson’s opportunity as a punt (and possibly kickoff) returner might be more significant than as a receiver right away, though Jackson says he thinks he can be a factor as a slot receiver — he’ll focus primarily on that position now — once he learns this complex offense. “I definitely felt like there was a lot going on,” he said. “It’s a great offense, there’s just a lot to know. It was hectic, but I felt comfortable just trying to go out there and have as much fun as I could playing. I play better when I have fun.”
View all WWHI for Philadelphia
Washington
May 21, 2008
Thomas, Kelly feel like they can step in immediately
WRs Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly became friends throughout the draft process, even rooming together when the two visited the Cowboys, well before they were taken in the same round (second) by the Commanders. So it’s only natural that they one day envision themselves starting opposite one another — and in their minds, soon. “I feel like I picked up on it pretty quick,” Thomas told PFW. “I noticed it’s a big playbook, so I am going to have to keep learning, but overall it’s not that hard.” Thomas has been learning the “Z” (flanker) position so far, while Kelly has been working at the “X” (split end). “It’s the West Coast offense, so there are going to be a lot of three- and four-wide sets, so there will be a chance for me to get playing time,” Kelly told PFW. “And it’s not all just quick-hitters; there’s some down-the-field stuff, too. The coaches told me they are looking for a big target, especially in the red zone, so if I go in and earn the chance, I could be a factor right away.”
View all WWHI for Washington
