Twitter: Practice updates: List of players sitting out today's practice

[WoodysGirl]

Todd Archer ‏@toddarcher 4m
Ryan Williams is in uniform but going through rehab work on the side with group of players

Jordan Ross ‏@TheJordanRoss 2m
Henry Melton and Morris Claiborne are taking 1st team snaps at practice today.

Charean Williams ‏@NFLCharean 11m
Joseph Randle and George Selvie are not practicing today. Dwayne Harris went in after some rehab. All three hurt in Saturday's game.

Jon Machota ‏@jonmachota 12m
First team front seven: Henry Melton, Jeremy Mincey, Nick Hayden, Tyrone Crawford, Bruce Carter, Anthony Hitchens and Justin Durant
Terrell McClain and Joseph Randle just walked on the practice field. No jerseys
Anthony Spencer, Dwayne Harris and B.W. Webb also watching without jerseys

Tim MacMahon ‏@espn_macmahon 23m
Anthony Hitchens is still working as first-team MLB. Justin Durant and Bruce Carter are OLBs.

Brandon George ‏@DMN_George 25m
Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo isn't on the practice field today. Team not in pads.

 

[Idgit]

Re: Hitchens, I'm not sold on this guy, but it's pretty telling that he knows what he's doing well enough to push McClain back on the depth chart when Jerry wants him to start. What's more, McClain doesn't seem to really have a very firm grasp on the defense yet. He blew at least one zone coverage play that resulted in a first down conversion on Sat, and this is on top of Jason saying last week that he had some communications breakdowns that he needed to clean up.

I think we might be getting a rookie 4th round MLB in week one by default. Man, I really don't like our LBs.

 

[Stash]

Re: Hitchens, I'm not sold on this guy, but it's pretty telling that he knows what he's doing well enough to push McClain back on the depth chart when Jerry wants him to start. What's more, McClain doesn't seem to really have a very firm grasp on the defense yet. He blew at least one zone coverage play that resulted in a first down conversion on Sat, and this is on top of Jason saying last week that he had some communications breakdowns that he needed to clean up.

I think we might be getting a rookie 4th round MLB in week one by default. Man, I really don't like our LBs.

I would extend that to the entire front 7.

This fan can honestly not remember a defense ever having so many question marks.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Re: Hitchens, I'm not sold on this guy, but it's pretty telling that he knows what he's doing well enough to push McClain back on the depth chart when Jerry wants him to start. What's more, McClain doesn't seem to really have a very firm grasp on the defense yet. He blew at least one zone coverage play that resulted in a first down conversion on Sat, and this is on top of Jason saying last week that he had some communications breakdowns that he needed to clean up.

I think we might be getting a rookie 4th round MLB in week one by default. Man, I really don't like our LBs.

I think Durant starts in the middle with Carter and Wilber on the outsides. McClain may push Durant eventually but I think Hitchens will be better off playing in a backup role and STs this year. If he has to start, it will not be pretty.

 

[Bungarian]

Todd Archer ‏@toddarcher 4m
Ryan Williams is in uniform but going through rehab work on the side with group of players

That is a long lasting cramp.

 

[Idgit]

I think Durant starts in the middle with Carter and Wilber on the outsides. McClain may push Durant eventually but I think Hitchens will be better off playing in a backup role and STs this year. If he has to start, it will not be pretty.

It's really in flux. My reading of the tea leaves is that McClain's just not ready to start--either in terms of his conditioning or his understanding of the defense. So the question becomes, are we better off playing Hitchens some snaps, either in the nickel where they like his range, or in packages where Durant's at WIL and they're trying to use Carter as a pressure player, or are we better off letting Durant take the middle and keeping Carter at WIL and Wilber at SAM? I'm not sure what they're going to do, but it looks to me like--to start the season at least--the option of starting McClain at MLB and Durant at WIL is on the back burner.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I am bookmarking this thread so I can repost it when (not if) Hitchens wins DROY.

Just kidding. I don't bookmark threads.

 

[gimmesix]

I think Durant starts in the middle with Carter and Wilber on the outsides. McClain may push Durant eventually but I think Hitchens will be better off playing in a backup role and STs this year. If he has to start, it will not be pretty.

I agree. I think the Cowboys keep trying out different combinations just primarily to cross-train the linebackers and see what they've got. The media makes more of them receiving first-team snaps, I believe, than the coaching staff intends. (But I do think Garrett likes that because he likes the players to feel pushed by competition.)

Right now, I've seen nothing in the play of McClain or Hitchens to think they will surpass Durant/Carter on the depth chart.

 

[jazzcat22]

That is a long lasting cramp.

That's what I was thinking, a cramp should be gone by now. For a player anyway. He should be rehydrated by now, they could have given him an IV. If not, then I can see a bit of precaution, given the area of the cramp. If he's not practicing by tomorrow, well, that may be an off day, so by Wednesday, it's more than a cramp.

 

[jazzcat22]

I agree. I think the Cowboys keep trying out different combinations just primarily to cross-train the linebackers and see what they've got. The media makes more of them receiving first-team snaps, I believe, than the coaching staff intends. (But I do think Garrett likes that because he likes the players to feel pushed by competition.)

Right now, I've seen nothing in the play of McClain or Hitchens to think they will surpass Durant/Carter on the depth chart.

Garrett said this the other day, they want their LB's to know all the positions, or to have some knowledge of them.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

It's really in flux. My reading of the tea leaves is that McClain's just not ready to start--either in terms of his conditioning or his understanding of the defense. So the question becomes, are we better off playing Hitchens some snaps, either in the nickel where they like his range, or in packages where Durant's at WIL and they're trying to use Carter as a pressure player, or are we better off letting Durant take the middle and keeping Carter at WIL and Wilber at SAM? I'm not sure what they're going to do, but it looks to me like--to start the season at least--the option of starting McClain at MLB and Durant at WIL is on the back burner.

I would love to see McClain out there alongside Wilber and Carter but, like you, I feel he is not ready. I like what he could potentially bring to the defense, though.

 

[Idgit]

I would extend that to the entire front 7.

This fan can honestly not remember a defense ever having so many question marks.

I'll get slammed for this probably, but our front might not end up being all that awful. It's just that we really have no idea what we've actually got with Melton, McClain, Spencer, Lawrence, or Okoye.

The fact that we've got no idea I take as a bad sign, by default. But it's actually possible that 2-3 three of those guys might turn out for us. Melton ought to. If Lawrence or Spencer can, and McClain's even a reasonable upgrade over Hayden, then we'll be pretty mediocre on the DL in terms of talent, which I'd consider a leg up over our LBs right now where literally everybody we've got as an option is probably a below-average player in this league.

 

[Idgit]

I would love to see McClain out there alongside Wilber and Carter but, like you, I feel he is not ready. I like what he could potentially bring to the defense, though.

I do, too. He's just not there as a starter right now.

 

[casmith07]

Re: Hitchens, I'm not sold on this guy, but it's pretty telling that he knows what he's doing well enough to push McClain back on the depth chart when Jerry wants him to start. What's more, McClain doesn't seem to really have a very firm grasp on the defense yet. He blew at least one zone coverage play that resulted in a first down conversion on Sat, and this is on top of Jason saying last week that he had some communications breakdowns that he needed to clean up.

I think we might be getting a rookie 4th round MLB in week one by default. Man, I really don't like our LBs.

McClain has strong upside, but he's been out of football for a while. Hitchens has been engaged in football as recent as last season.

It's also possible that Hitchens is a faster learner on the mental side than McClain or that he's a better practice player. Because when the lights come on, McClain looks better than Hitchens (for now).

 

[casmith07]

I'll get slammed for this probably, but our front might not end up being all that awful. It's just that we really have no idea what we've actually got with Melton, McClain, Spencer, Lawrence, or Okoye.

The fact that we've got no idea I take as a bad sign, by default. But it's actually possible that 2-3 three of those guys might turn out for us. Melton ought to. If Lawrence or Spencer can, and McClain's even a reasonable upgrade over Hayden, then we'll be pretty mediocre on the DL in terms of talent, which I'd consider a leg up over our LBs right now where literally everybody we've got as an option is probably a below-average player in this league.

I think if all five of those guys get healthy, our front will end up being pretty solid. Not amazing, but solid enough to put us in a position to win some football games. We know what Spencer is capable of, reports of Lawrence were that he was good, if not raw in the techniques/moves department (and very fast). Okoye is a proven veteran who had an illness, and hopefully will return to his old self with the Bears where he was receiving good reviews, and we know Melton can play. Terrell McClain has also looked good from the reports.

If those five guys are able to get healthy and play in 4-6 weeks, we won't even have to worry about the likes of guys like Nick Hayden even dressing on game days, which would be a huge step forward. With what I've seen from our secondary, that will only bode well for them and also make the linebackers' jobs a whole lot easier.

 

[Idgit]

McClain has strong upside, but he's been out of football for a while. Hitchens has been engaged in football as recent as last season.

It's also possible that Hitchens is a faster learner on the mental side than McClain or that he's a better practice player. Because when the lights come on, McClain looks better than Hitchens (for now).

I think it's definitely the case that Hitchens is a faster learner. McClain definitely looks like a better prospect, anyway. I agree. To me, though, he looks lost out there a lot still.

 

[jazzcat22]

I'll get slammed for this probably, but our front might not end up being all that awful. It's just that we really have no idea what we've actually got with Melton, McClain, Spencer, Lawrence, or Okoye.

The fact that we've got no idea I take as a bad sign, by default. But it's actually possible that 2-3 three of those guys might turn out for us. Melton ought to. If Lawrence or Spencer can, and McClain's even a reasonable upgrade over Hayden, then we'll be pretty mediocre on the DL in terms of talent, which I'd consider a leg up over our LBs right now where literally everybody we've got as an option is probably a below-average player in this league.

Yes, this would have been nice to have them all play some together in TC, but by the time they finally do get on the field, they will still need several games or more to gel.
We may not see what we really have, good or bad, until halfway through the season. My bet is they will be more good than bad.

 

[gimmesix]

Garrett said this the other day, they want their LB's to know all the positions, or to have some knowledge of them.

Doesn't mean McClain won't eventually be starting, but it depends on if he's serious enough to get his conditioning where it needs to be and get down his assignments to the point where he can let his talent take over. Those are the things holding him back at the moment, I believe.

 

[morasp]

Hitchens looked pretty good against Miami.

 

[jazzcat22]

Doesn't mean McClain won't eventually be starting, but it depends on if he's serious enough to get his conditioning where it needs to be and get down his assignments to the point where he can let his talent take over. Those are the things holding him back at the moment, I believe.

I agree. Since he came in late, he didn't get the normal off season conditioning, OTA's, mini camps reps. So understandable he still may have a little ways to go yet. But he will get there.