Recommended Training Camp Review 8/3

[Hennessy_King]

Post your own analysis if you disagree. Otherwise, why harass someone trying to contribute something to the board?

read my first post i did not disagree. I am just curious is all.

 

[Hennessy_King]

i think his take is more "if you like my work, enjoy, if not, dont read it"

X is 50 50 with me, but he puts the work in and i thihk this is something he really enjoys, why not give him a platform since posters enjoy it.

I would be with you if he wasn't condescending to everyone that disagrees. I mean I'm not being mean I'm just curious. Is it too much to ask if someone is going thru all of this to just post his credentials. If he says I'm a huge fan and retired and spend a lot of my time analyzing film. Ok that's fine then ppl can follow him if they like. It's a very fair question.

 

[RoboQB]

"I, (your name here), do hereby certify that my participation on cowboyszone (copyrighted, patent pending, power of attorney, etc.)
is derived from my basic skills of reading comprehension and writing, non-professional analysis and clear understanding of the
basics of sport topic (football)."

Geesh, people.

Nice job. @xwalker .

 

[tyke1doe]

I've reviewed all of the video that I can find of training camp.
That includes Training Camp Live with Broaddus and multiple twitter sources.
I've also received some video from friends that are at TC.

There is no tackling allowed; therefore I didn't try to evaluate inside running.

The players that have stood out the most often are Pollard and Gallup.


RB
Tony Pollard
Jumps off the screen with dynamic speed/quickness.

RB
Mike Weber
The term muscle-hamster comes to mind. Not that he is small (5-10, 208) but he has that compact muscular RB build. He has good balance and quickness. He looked really good as a receiver from what I saw; although, I saw a report that he had some drops.

RB-FB
Jamize Olawale
Odd build for a FB with long legs, short torso. He looks really good as a receiver. He showed decent speed on a go route down the sidelines.

TE
Dalton Schultz
He had some impressive blocks against DLinemen. Really strong with good blocking technique.

TE
Blake Jarwin
He has had many impressive catches and he moves really well.

TE
Jason Witten
He looks leaner than in 2017. He seems to be running better than in 2017 also. He is still great at catching the ball and he can catch passes over DB even when they have good coverage. He made a great 1-handed catch down at the front corner of the goal-line.

WR
Gallup
Really good at getting open and catches the ball when it's thrown to him.

WR
Cooper
It's just not fair to CBs trying to cover him 1-on-1. The change of direction quickness is just freakish.

WR
Devin Smith
Nothing yet. Just a couple of dump off type catches. Maybe they're going slow with him considering his injury history but a veteran even with limited playing time should be keeping up with rookie UDFAs in training camp and that's not happening at this point.

WR
Jon'Vea Johnson
He does have "easy speed" where running just looks easy. I like how he gets separation after the ball is in the air.

WR
Jalen Guyton
He makes deep catches look easy. He is really fast with good size.

WR
Cedrick Wilson
I've only seen him on a couple of plays but both times he got "wide" open on 12 yard type routes.

WR
Reggie Davis
Fast but really thin. He was walking next to Tavon Austin and Austin looked like a bulked up body builder in comparison.

WR
Randall Cobb
He has shown up in many of the videos. He has appeared to be out of sync on a few plays; however, my feeling is that the Cowboys offensive might need to adapt to him more than him adapting to it.

WR
Darius Jackson
He looks good when they're not tackling but we already know he is very athletic. He does seem more comfortable executing the plays and as a receiver than I remember.

OL
Connor Williams
Looks great in the few snaps I've seen. Definitely stronger.

OL
Joe Looney
Looks better than in camp last year and he wasn't bad then.

OL
Derrick Puni
I have not seen his blocking because he's been at LT and the cameras angles have not shown that side very well but I noticed him because he is big and was moving well in the open field.

QB
Cooper Rush
Maybe we've underestimated him. He has looked really good from everything I've seen.

QB
Mike White
I've seen him make some really nice passes but it appears he still has issues being reluctant to throw. He tends to move on in his progressions when he should have thrown to the 1st or 2nd read.


DB
Donovan Wilson
Solid build and moves around well.

DB
Chris Westry
Looked reasonably coordinated and agile for a tall CB. In college game footage he looked awkward but what I saw in training camp was much better.

DB
Mike Jackson
Solid build. Moves well. Didn't look lost. I didn't see the ball go in his direction enough to see much of him.

DB
Donovan Olumba
Playing CB. Looks like a Strong Safety. Has looked good covering in the short area. I would like to see how he looks when challenged on downfield throws.

DB
Treston Decoud
I just don't see it with him.

DB
Anthony Brown
Looks great in all the plays that I’ve seen.

DB
Jourdan Lewis
All or Nothing results. He looked great in a few plays and got totally burned in others. He had good coverage on a deep route by Cooper but then got burned on consecutive plays by UDFA WRs.

DL
Jalen Jelks
He just appears to know how to play with leverage. He uses his length to his advantage. He looks bigger than his draft weight.

DL
Joe Jackson
Really flashed on the few snaps I saw. He showed really good power in a bull-rush and he moves around really well.

DL
Dorance Armstrong
Not flashy but looks like a solid player that really battles OLinemen. Reminds me of DLaw in some ways.

DL
Trysten Hill
I've only seen a couple of snaps. He is very quick but he has a tendency to get out of control and end up on the ground. It's a coach-able issue.

DL
Daniel Wise
He has flashed as a pass rushing DT but his build looks more like a DE. These camera angles in particular show a stark contract the size of his legs as compared to the massive legs of DTs like Maliek Collins.

DL
Taco Charlton
Better than last year.

LB
Luke Gifford
Impressive looking physically for a 4-3 type LB. Tall with a solid build and moves well. In college he played as a 3-4 LB and made plays with effort but just didn't have the build of a pass rusher.

LB
Kyle Queiro
I just keep noticing him. He moves well laterally. He was the only LB other than Vander Esch that appeared to come close to catching Tony Pollard on outside runs.

LB
Justin March-Lillard
All or Nothing results. I've seen him make several really good plays but then I've seen him get burned multiple times.

LB
Chris Covington
He is practicing now. He has good size and moved well getting out to the sideline to cover a RB.


Players I saw glimpses of but need to see more.
OL
Mitch Hyatt
Big and moves well.

DB
George Iloka
I only saw him up near the line. I didn't see him running in the open field.

DB
Darian Thompson
I only saw him up near the line. I didn't see him running in the open field.

DL
Kerry Hyder
I just saw a couple of snaps with him at LDE. Both were run plays.

DL
Christian Covington
I just saw one or two snaps. He moves well for a DT.

Looks like we're going to have a tough decision at wide receiver.

Darius Jackson is a RB is he not? You have him as a receiver.

I like the description on Taco. "Better than last year."

 

[tyke1doe]

Were you there, or just saw video? Did you look at the all 22? What are your credentials for analyzing video?

I think the post is good and pretty spot on im just asking questions.

I like xwalker's updates. He's a regular around here and any news about what's going on, particularly since I'm not there, is informative.
However, I don't think your question is unreasonable.

 

[Silver N Blue]

Good information sharing. Thanks

 

[glimmerman]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like they are progressing well for now. No real injuries yet. If Pollard can catch on then it may make it easier with Morris to not need Elliot as much if he decides to be a d-bag. Although I think SJ and JJ get a deal done. Won’t be surprised if they sigh him and Dak at the same time.

 

[sbark]

Great thread.

Romo was a guy that played poorly in games but much better on the field, Prescott is the same way. I've always thought Cooper Rush was the opposite and wasn't as good against competition as he was in practice.

But if he and Mike White both develop, I would love to see one of them as the backup and the other traded for a draft pick. I doubt it happens, but this time of year you can always hope for stuff like that.

I'd venture k.moores scheme moves back to what t.romo left dak in his rookie year, before it became dak friendly, gives c.rush his strenghth back....throw with some level of anticipation of a receiver running a route

 

[xwalker]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like they are progressing well for now. No real injuries yet. If Pollard can catch on then it may make it easier with Morris to not need Elliot as much if he decides to be a d-bag. Although I think SJ and JJ get a deal done. Won’t be surprised if they sigh him and Dak at the same time.

Pollard
I can't get any feel for actual rushing by Pollard or anybody because of the no tackling issue but Pollard is definitely explosive. He gets up to speed in justca step or two and has great change of direction and stop/start explosiveness.

D.Jackson
DJax is fast but I don't see the same change of direction or stop/start explosiveness. He reminds me more of Darren McFadden who was one of the fastest RBs running straight down field that you'll see even later in his career here with the Cowboys but he required several steps to get going and lacked balance to run through contact.

DJax might have had a better career if he had played WR in college. His type of athleticism is more like what's required to play WR.

Mike Weber
He has good balance to run through contact and good speed. He is a decent 1-cut runner but I'm not certain about his stop/start or sink the hips type of change of direction. He definitely has more start/start cod than DJax.

Note:
By stop/start explosiveness and sink the hips type of change of direction the ultimate example of that type of ability was Barry Sanders.

A 1-cut runner tends to change direction well while closer to full speed. A comparison is big a WR vs small slot WRs. Mike Irvin had a great ability to cut and change direction but he didn't have the Cole Beasley type of ability to stop/start and completely reverse directions.

 

[xwalker]

Looks like we're going to have a tough decision at wide receiver.

Darius Jackson is a RB is he not? You have him as a receiver.

I like the description on Taco. "Better than last year."

Thanks. Yes DJax is a RB. I went back and added the positions after I had done the write-up, mainly such that I could sort and group them together.

Taco reminds me of MartyB in terms of watching him practice. He just looks like he would prefer to be doing something else.

 

[xwalker]

so we SHOULD have some serious comp at QB1 and QB2 this year. Bring it!

I'm skeptical on White. I don't know if he is the Alpha type that is required to play QB in the NFL.

Romo took his OK physical ability and turned it into a great career because he had the ultimate Alpha personality. Romo was like an average Joe looking guy that can walk up and get the girl even in a crowd of famous handsome dudes.

 

[xwalker]

Rush looked really good his rookie preseason too. Maybe he's back in form.

Maybe White is one of those guys with the arm but not the processing speed. At least yet.

Sounds like we'll be going with both of them this year. Rush looks ok as a backup, and White isn't going to make him expendable. We like our guys.

Kitna is pushing them hard to "just do it" and not over-analyze.

I'll admit that I would be the over-analyze type if I tried to play QB after High School. I did play a year at QB in High School but back then the only thing I was analyzing were High School girls.

 

[xwalker]

I remember Jackson looking like a real RB last year. He's a pet cat of mine, but I just don't see him getting a chance at RB here.

Pollard and Olawale both give us deep mismatches. Too fast for the LBs likely to cover them if they split out.

That's why Dak's problem with deep balls is so crushing. We've got the speed to hurt defenses if they stack the box, but Dak has to hit them. In the recent video, he's playing against air, with Pollard 5 yards behind Jaylon, and Dak overthrows him by 5. Sad.

LVE covered Olawale running a go route down the sideline. I think Olawale would win against many mortal LBs but LVE is a freak of freak athletes.

Pollard had the play that was on the twitter video where he destroyed Jaylon.

I would like to see Pollard on that route against LVE.

Dak is hitting way more of the deep throws than he is missing based on all the ones that I've seen. In the NFL 50% on deep pass attempts would be terrific. The NFL average is around 37%.

I would like to have seen DJax get more than the 6 carries he had last season just for evaluation purposes. I think all 6 were in the "meaningless" game 16 where it wouldn't have mattered how many opportunities he received.

 

[xwalker]

How is Tyron looking?

He's the guy where the eyeball test really tells you something. In 2017, he looked like a man protecting a bad back. I know, because I've been there. In 2018, he looked much more fluid. How about this year? I've heard good things from Smith himself this year. But how does he look?

They have generally been running the practices with the offense going in the direction that puts the LT on the opposite side from the cameras.

It was reported that Tyron shutdown Quinn.

The only report of anybody winning vs Tyron was an inside counter move by Armstrong. In general Armstrong has been getting rave reviews. From the limited snaps I've seen Armstrong does look solid and does really battle the OTs.

 

[xwalker]

OL Hyatt, DL Wise, and LB Gifford have a good chance to make the 53 in my opinion. Keep an eye on them in camp and in the early games.

I assume you saw my comments on them.

It will be difficult to keep Wise on the 53.

I always want the 53 to increase to 55 or 60.

Even 2 more spots would really help with regards to developing players. I don't see any downside to increasing the number. If they ever do go to 18 games I think they'll definitely increase the 53 to something between 55 and 60.

 

[McKDaddy]

I would like to have seen DJax get more than the 6 carries he

Yeah, let's get him legit opportunities with the 1's and figure out what he really brings to the table.

 

[ChuckA1]

Great write ups XWalker. Enjoyed all of them.

What would it take to increase the number of players to 60? Is this an owners' decision alone?

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I assume you saw my comments on them.

It will be difficult to keep Wise on the 53.

I saw your comments on them. Pretty much you just commented on their physique. I have been seeing comments that Hyatt, Wise and Gifford are having a good camp so far and the coaches want to see more. They are looking like they have legit football instincts and a lot of potential. Always a good sign when the coaches put more on your plate. Barring injuries, getting to 53 this year is going to be tough. I imagine some players we would like on the PS getting claimed.

Hyatt was a 4-yr starter at Clemson. Clemson OL dominated the Alabama DL in the championship game if I remember correctly.

 

[xwalker]

Great write ups XWalker. Enjoyed all of them.

What would it take to increase the number of players to 60? Is this an owners' decision alone?

No, it's part of the CBA.

The issue is really the practice squad.

They negotiated to make it 8 when the CBA was signed and then they agree to increase it to 10.

The PS is setup such that they can pay ps players about 100K vs 500K minimum wage 53 man roster players.

They have to make the ps unrestricted because they can't pay them less but not give them an opportunity to make somebody's 53.

I don't know the perfect number but 53 just does not seem to be enough.

It's silly to have players spend the off-season with one team including training camp and then end up on another team for a few weeks then cut.

That player has a better chance to develop by staying with the original team.

Mid-tier 53 man roster players get a vote in regards to the CBA and these types of issues. They generally don't want more competition.

Lower-tier type 53 man roster players could go either way. It gives the 53rd guy on the roster a better chance of staying on the 53 but it's also more competition when teams are able to hold on to more developmental players for longer development time frames.

The NFL does want parity and more protected players helps better teams but is worse for bad teams (i.e. A good teams 54th player in training camp is better than a bad team's 53rd player).

I don't love the 18 game season idea but if it meant increasing the 53 man limit I would probably like it.

 

[xwalker]

I saw your comments on them. Pretty much you just commented on their physique. I have been seeing comments that Hyatt, Wise and Gifford are having a good camp so far and the coaches want to see more. They are looking like they have legit football instincts and a lot of potential. Always a good sign when the coaches put more on your plate. Barring injuries, getting to 53 this year is going to be tough. I imagine some players we would like on the PS getting claimed.

Hyatt was a 4-yr starter at Clemson. Clemson OL dominated the Alabama DL in the championship game if I remember correctly.

Yes Hyatt and Wise are the 2 UDFAs that most draft analysts projected to get drafted.