Scout’s Eye: Durant Shines; Ronald Leary Makes Push

[waving monkey]

Having studied the tape from Wednesday morning’s practice, three big things stand out. Firstly, the Cowboys are seeing improvement from two key cogs in their defense –
Justin Durant and Rolando McClain. On the offensive side of the ball, Ronald Leary is taking his chance to earn a starting guard spot.

Here’s a bit more on those topics, along with some other notes:

• Justin Durant continues to find ways to make plays for this defense. On back-to-back throws by Matt Schaub in the red zone, Durant was able to knock balls away. Marcell Reece tried to go up the sideline on him and actually had separation, but Durant was able to rally to get back in coverage before the ball got there. On the next snap, Durant took a zone drop to his left, which put him underneath the receiver on the outside to get a hand on the ball. Later in the period, he played a run perfectly -- taking a quick step to his left, reading the path of the back, then adjusting back to his right to make the tackle in the hole.

link/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...kes-Push/f49c6581-54b7-45a8-accd-4e6335a542b2

 

[BAT]

If Carter is not one of the starting LBs then he will have been demoted twice, he has been beat out of the WILL spot by the journeyman Durant and is looking to get beat out of the SAM spot by DE turned LB Kyle Wilber. If he can't garner a spot in DE rotation then he is a bonafide bust.

What happened to this guy????

 

[Brooksey]

If Carter is not one of the starting LBs then he will have been demoted twice, he has been beat out of the WILL spot by the journeyman Durant and is looking to get beat out of the SAM spot by DE turned LB Kyle Wilber. If he can't garner a spot in DE rotation then he is a bonafide bust.

What happened to this guy????

He's been having a good camp. Just because Durant is doing well doesn't mean Carter is doing bad.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

I just want the best players on the field. Good to hear Durant is stepping up...
Playmakers is what this defense desperately need.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Chances that the opening day LB corps are Durant, McClain and Carter? I'd say pretty good.


The 7th rounder- Mitchell. What are the chances he shoves Carr off the roster after this season? Unless Carr has a good season, the chances could be good.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Chances that the opening day LB corps are Durant, McClain and Carter? I'd say pretty good.


The 7th rounder- Mitchell. What are the chances he shoves Carr off the roster after this season? Unless Carr has a good season, the chances could be good.

Carr may yell "Geranimo" and jump off before he can be pushed.... hopefully he recovers and shows his worth...

 

[CCBoy]

Despite having a bushel of talent, Carter seems to need a dominant leader for him to respond from. I'm hoping that a strong showing by both Ronaldo McClain and Justin Durant allows Carter to be more responsive and free flowing. That is when he starts to show up.

 

[Oh_Canada]

I like Durant, thought he competed on every snap last year before his injury which is more than I can say for others on that defense.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The 7th rounder- Mitchell. What are the chances he shoves Carr off the roster after this season? Unless Carr has a good season, the chances could be good.

I hate to see Carr leave because that just creates another hole we have to fill.

 

[Future]

Despite having a bushel of talent, Carter seems to need a dominant leader for him to respond from.

? I think it's the opposite.

His best play was 2 years ago when Lee went down and he had to be the man.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Very refreshing news.

My thoughts on LB are clear....get your best players on the field.....that is Durant and McClain. Durant is the better option outside so McClain takes mlb.

Carr is playing to be part of the future in Dallas.....no reason his deal couldn't be lowered ala Free's deal if he has a decent year. Hoping the team earned some goodwill in the way he has been treated during his mother's passing.

Leary is the better guard and I like Berny as the swing interior OL on game day. I have really been surprised with Wetzel...he looked good in game action.

 

[xwalker]

If Carter is not one of the starting LBs then he will have been demoted twice, he has been beat out of the WILL spot by the journeyman Durant and is looking to get beat out of the SAM spot by DE turned LB Kyle Wilber. If he can't garner a spot in DE rotation then he is a bonafide bust.

What happened to this guy????

Carter has always been at the WLB spot. He was never the SLB.

 

[birdwells1]

Chances that the opening day LB corps are Durant, McClain and Carter? I'd say pretty good.


The 7th rounder- Mitchell. What are the chances he shoves Carr off the roster after this season? Unless Carr has a good season, the chances could be good.

Let him play a game in the NFL first before we start putting starters on the street. I used to get excited by these camp reports of some obscure player showing up but it will be a big accomplishment for him just making the roster.

 

[CCBoy]

? I think it's the opposite.

His best play was 2 years ago when Lee went down and he had to be the man.

That snapshot just hasn't reproduced...even now. You need to watch some film...as he was drafted to come in on the outsides. He's no Carter back with Giants, yet.

 

[Future]

That snapshot just hasn't reproduced...even now. You need to watch some film...as he was drafted to come in on the outsides. He's no Carter back with Giants, yet.

What? He was drafted to be a 3-4 MLB...never to be a stand up 3-4 OLB. Will is a spot he would thrive at if he had any football instincts.

But I was merely responding to the fact that he needs to play with a great leader or whatever. His best football came when he ahd to step up and be the man

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Let him play a game in the NFL first before we start putting starters on the street. I used to get excited by these camp reports of some obscure player showing up but it will be a big accomplishment for him just making the roster.

This is a discussion forum– no?

No harm in doing some discussion on a player.

I do think it speaks volumes in that the Cowboys did not restructure Carr's contract this offseason. I don't think it would take a lot for the Cowboys to release him next offseason.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

This is a discussion forum– no?

No harm in doing some discussion on a player.

I do think it speaks volumes in that the Cowboys did not restructure Carr's contract this offseason. I don't think it would take a lot for the Cowboys to release him next offseason.

I think the Cowboys will release Carr this next off-season but only because of his inflated salary. I like the player and think he did well enough last year even though he could not rise to the occasion against elite receivers. I wonder if he would consider taking a pay cut?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think the Cowboys will release Carr this next off-season but only because of his inflated salary. I like the player and think he did well enough last year even though he could not rise to the occasion against elite receivers. I wonder if he would consider taking a pay cut?

Wouldn't be surprising if a pay cut wasn't put on the table after the season.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Wouldn't be surprising if a pay cut wasn't put on the table after the season.

Everyone knows he did not earn his chow but that's not his fault -- they (Cowboys) gave it to him. I doubt he would agree to the pay cut.

 

[CCBoy]

What? He was drafted to be a 3-4 MLB...never to be a stand up 3-4 OLB. Will is a spot he would thrive at if he had any football instincts.

But I was merely responding to the fact that he needs to play with a great leader or whatever. His best football came when he ahd to step up and be the man

Oh for sure, he was drafted in the second round with considerations of replacing Sean Lee immediately. Discussion is one thing, personal agenda and ignoring fact is another. No, he was NOT targeted for being in the middle...and immediately took positional focus on the outside.

Flexability is something desired with anyone in the linebacker positional group...sorry, since that one fill-in role, he has not been the leader of the group. Durant has been tasked, before the arrival of McCain...this season. And Sims was more of a leader last season.

As to my comment, that has been the observation by a few media reporting from camp as to his play...sorry, give another reason some thought. This isn't a game of prove myself right. BRYAN BROADDUS and Archer have already commented on what I relayed.