some interesting notes about cowboys practice yesterday, highlighted what i thought

[cowboyjoe]

By Bryan Broaddus
Email a question to Bryan Broaddus

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
5:18:37 pm Cowboys WR Sam Hurd has been outstanding in training camp but has missed the past two days of practice with a quad injury. Coach Wade Phillips said he would like to see Hurd at 100% before he returns to action to prevent any further problems.

5:05:43 pm Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has an interesting theory about practicing his squad in the heat "You don't get in better shape by practicing in the heat, all you do is get accustomed to playing in it."

5:00:31 pm Cowboys backup C Cory Procter continue to hold on to his job even though he struggled last season and into the preseason. Coach Wade Phillips on whether OG Montrae Holland might be an option: "I know he can play guard, I am not so sure about center."

4:55:14 pm Cowboys coach Wade Phillips singled out the play of rookie OG Travis Bright. Bright is in a battle for a roster spot with OG Ryan Gibbons. Gibbons appears to have hit the wall while Bright has been productive in practice and games.

3:57:45 pm An area of concern this preseason for Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has to be the squad's penalties. The Cowboys would lead the NFL with 24 calls for 222 yards if you took Tennessee out of the mix. Tennesseeo has played three games.

3:46:14 pm Cowboys RB Keon Lattimore has been ultra productive in two preseason games but will most likely find himself not on this roster because of the talent ahead of him. With more teams using three RBs, Lattimore should quickly land a job on another squad.

3:38:53 pm The first offensive line for the Cowboys has done an outstanding job of protecting QB Tony Romo this summer. Romo has yet to be sacked and he is ranked second in the NFL in completion precentage at 70%.
3:33:35 pm Look for Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to take full advantage of his TE group this fall. Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett have been thrown at 11 times with 10 catches and a 12.8 yard average per catch in their preseason games..

2:23:50 pm The Cowboys staff continues to show faith in LB Victor Butler and his development. Butler has been asked to help out at the strong LB spot after playing the weak side throughout camp. Butler has shown outstanding ability to rush the passer.

2:19:56 pm Players who were
unable to practice for the second straight day were: WR Sam Hurd (quad), QB Stephen McGee (knee) and LB Stephen Hodge (knee). TE Martellus Bennett (stomach) and LB Bobby Carpenter were also added to that group as well.
2:12:56 pm With no indoor facility to work with, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips tried to save his team some wear and tear in the Texas heat. Phillips had his squad practice at 9:45 a.m. instead of the normal 1:15 p.m. starting time in helmets and shoulder pads.

 

[Alexander]

3:57:45 pm An area of concern this preseason for Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has to be the squad's penalties. The Cowboys would lead the NFL with 24 calls for 222 yards if you took Tennessee out of the mix. Tennesseeo has played three games.

Why is this a continual problem?

 

[dmq]

I wish we could stash Lattimore on the practice squad, bulk him up and convert him to FB. I know that isn't gonna happen though because I am sure someone will sign him.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I wish we could stash Lattimore on the practice squad, bulk him up and convert him to FB. I know that isn't gonna happen though because I am sure someone will sign him.

Play him with the first teamers before we get to excited about him. So far he's only played against the scrubs.

 

[jazzcat22]

Why is this a continual problem?

lack of discilpine and concentration....falls back to coaching...

not saying Wade is a bad coach, but some people can coach this, some aren't as concerned.

 

[theogt]

lack of discilpine and concentration....falls back to coaching...

not saying Wade is a bad coach, but some people can coach this, some aren't as concerned.

I think Alexander's point was that it was also a problem under Parcells, who constantly harped on penalties and discipline.

Even Wade's taken a more "stern" stance on penalties during training camp this year. It's been an issue with the team no matter what coaching tact is used.

 

[TheSport78]

I think Alexander's point was that it was also a problem under Parcells, who constantly harped on penalties and discipline.

Even Wade's taken a more "stern" stance on penalties during training camp this year. It's been an issue with the team no matter what coaching tact is used.

Like big bill said, dumb players do dumb things. You listening Pat Watkins?

 

[burmafrd]

When two different coaches with very different coaching philosophies have the same problem, its time to start looking at the players.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Does anyone know of a website with penalty statistics per player? Dallas was the most penalized team last year and I'm sure several players are repeat offenders. In the past, Bigg and Flozell were amongst the most penalized players in the NFL and if you subtracted their penalties we'd be amongst the least penalized teams. Not that I am suggesting replacing them, but sending guys like Patrick Watkins packing could do wonders for that department.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

This team MUST improve in TWO areas... Penalties and Special Teams!!!!!!!!

:bang2:

 

[Apollo Creed]

Why is this a continual problem?

Because not only have we severely overrated the talent of this team, but we've given them entirely too much credit mentally.

 

[Jarv]

Okay, I'm a homer but we are also on the short end of many calls. It's like the refs have to call more penalties on us because of who we are.

Okay, I said it.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

When two different coaches with very different coaching philosophies have the same problem, its time to start looking at the players.

 

[AsthmaField]

I wish we could stash Lattimore on the practice squad, bulk him up and convert him to FB. I know that isn't gonna happen though because I am sure someone will sign him.

I thought about the same thing. I don't have an idea if the guy is a good enough blocker to ever make the switch... but at least it's a thought.

As for the penalties: Like someone already said, "Dumb players do dumb things". It's time to look at the players along with the coaches.

Getting rid of Roy 31/38 Williams was a start to helping in the penalty department. If Pat Watkins goes this preseason also, it will help even more. There have been some pretty serious repeat offenders in the penalty department and finally, I think Dallas is doing something about it.

It will also help if the officials realize that Ware gets off the ball so quickly that he only LOOKS offsides.

 

[DMX690]

Why is this a continual problem?

Because the core players on this team, are dumb. It was dumb under Parcell is dumb under Phillps. Nothing going to change.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Because the core players on this team, are dumb. It was dumb under Parcell is dumb under Phillps. Nothing going to change.

You can't be serious right? They lack discipline.

 

[Plumfool]

If the dumb penalties just stop that would be actually good. No more unneccasary roughness. No hands to the face. Pre snap penalties. Even the great JW gets to many of those. Those penalties are the killers.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Dumb penalties are what kill us. A taunting penalty just before halftime to wipe out a lead; 12 men on defense, personal fouls, false starts on 3rd and inches, etc.

Penalties are a part of the game, stupid ones have the most influence on the game, imo.

 

[AsthmaField]

Dumb penalties are what kill us. A taunting penalty just before halftime to wipe out a lead (Burnett - Gone); 12 men on defense (Roy Williams 38 - Gone), personal fouls (Pat Watkins - Going?), false starts on 3rd and inches(Proctor - Going?), etc.

Penalties are a part of the game, stupid ones have the most influence on the game, imo.

I agree. It looks like they are trying to do something to help, although with Flozell still here, we will have the occasional false start penalty.

F Adams has seemed to be much better about it this preseason though... or is it just my imagination?

 

[visionary]

I think Alexander's point was that it was also a problem under Parcells, who constantly harped on penalties and discipline.

Even Wade's taken a more "stern" stance on penalties during training camp this year. It's been an issue with the team no matter what coaching tact is used.

unfortunately, that is no excuse
BP was basically done by the time he came to the cowboys, all he had were his prior record and interesting sound bites. this was not the BP who coached the giants and the pats.
this is all on wade, penalties are a reflection of lack of discipline, period.