Hey guys
just stoped by to eat a little crow. I said a little because it's not over yet. When I started the original thread it didn't look good for him at all. Oh well, I hope he makes me finish the whole bird. lol!
Game Notes: Stanback Shines in Debut
Zach Buchanan -
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DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
August 19, 2007 1:45 AMChange Font Size
AAAA
Isaiah Stanback caught two passes for 30 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown.
http://campaign.dallascowboys.com/maximumsports_news.cfm
IRVING, Texas - What do you get when you take a guy with no NFL experience and play him at receiver in an NFL game? Oh, and he didn't play receiver in college. And what's more, he's been out with injuries for the past 10 months.
If that guy is Cowboys fourth-round draft pick Isaiah Stanback, apparently you get two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown in two quarters of play.
Stanback, who missed both mini-camps and every OTA practice session recovering from last November's Lisfranc foot surgery, then the entirety of training camp in San Antonio with shin splints, made his NFL debut Saturday night here at Texas Stadium against the Broncos.
After only one week of practice at the position, Stanback was the Cowboys' third-most productive receiver in terms of total yards, and the only one to get into the end zone. And he's clearly a quick learner, as the route he ran on the 15-yard touchdown reception from Brad Johnson actually was one he botched in practice earlier in the week.
"I took too long on it," Stanback said. "I didn't come out right, so when I got up there that time, I remembered it. OK, it's that same look. I'm going to run it right this time, and Brad put a good ball in there."
And a good ball should be easy to recognize, since Stanback played quarterback at Washington. But now he's looking at it from a different viewpoint.
Although Stanback's quarterback experience has helped him recognize holes in coverages, he's had to change his viewpoint from the entire field to one route.
"As a receiver, you've got to look from the outside in," Stanback said. "It's a different point of view and I'm getting used to looking at it that way."
Stanback still has a lot of physical adjustments ahead of him as well. He's had to learn new techniques. He did play receiver his freshman year at Washington, but said he really only had to know two routes.
So he's had to start from square one and play catch-up. In his first week of practice, his main concentration was on proper stance.
"I feel like I'm light years behind," Stanback said. "Just the aspect that everyone who's playing receiver right now has played receiver before, and I really haven't."
But if Saturday night's performance is any indication, he'll be just fine. The Cowboys drafted him knowing that his transition wouldn't be immediate, and have full confidence that he can contribute. It's just a question of getting acclimated.
"He has the speed," said starting receiver Terrell Owens, who should know talent when he sees it. "He just has to get familiar with the offense and get his timing down. Other than that he has the tools."
The Cowboys hope that Stanback's athleticism can be put to use on either punt or kickoff returns, though he didn't get much chance to strut his stuff there Saturday. He was forced to down the ball in the end zone on the only kickoff that came his way.
"I didn't want to take a knee," Stanback said of the play. "I was ready as a returner, but that's what the other returner [Jerheme Urban] is there for. If he says you're supposed to stay in, you've got to stay in, so I had to respect that."
Stanback should have plenty more chances to showcase his talent, though, because the Cowboys didn't wait this long just to bury him on the depth chart.
Injury Update
A couple of Cowboys starters sat out the game against the Broncos with recent injuries: Cornerback Terence Newman and fullback Oliver Hoyte.
Newman was held out for precautionary reasons with a bruised heel, according to head coach Wade Phillips. Hoyte remained sidelined after suffering a stinger in his shoulder earlier in the week. Cornerback Aaron Glenn and fullback Lousaka Polite started in their places.
Team trainers
