28 Joker
28 Joker
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Draftee Watch
August 23, 2008
It’s unfair to peg rookies before their initial seasons. However, I think we can make some assessments about their fitness to make team. Here, a simple up and down on their fitness to be Cowboys.
1A. Felix Jones — Had a down game after two up ones, making his first NFL fumble. He’s dangerous all the same and the way Dallas used him is not really the way they’ve been working with him in camp. Jones got reps as the backup tailback in the I-formation. He’ll get some plays this way when the games count, but he’ll also work a lot in 3rd down packages and in packages with Marion Barber.
He blocked well, which is the key sign. I won’t worry about his fumble unless he starts coughing up the ball on a regular basis.
1B. Mike Jenkins — a sure bet to make the team but somebody likely to get the Bobby Carpenter treatment, though no fault of his own. Dallas has three vets ahead of him, in Newman, Henry and Jones, and Orlando Scandrick’s fast start puts that rookie at 4th.
This means that with good health Jenkins will dress and play special teams or see weeks where he’s inactive, if the Cowboys choose other options to be the gunners on their coverage units. That’s no knock on Jenkins, but it does mean the more impulsive sector of Cowboys Nation will try to put a black hat on his head.
2. Martellus Bennett — I think everybody now sees the skills that moved Dallas to draft him. And hopefully those skills will disabuse the Kneejerk Chorus from again calling for his immediate trading, as they did during San Diego week, when Hard Knocks made him look like a clown.
He can block, he can catch, and he can run. He can be a special player. It’s up to him.
4. Tashard Choice — a number 29 was flying around on the coverage teams last night, giving people the impression Keith Davis had been regained. It was Choice, who has his role as Barber’s backup down. He runs, he blocks and he’s bringing his enthusiasm to special teams.
5. Orlando Scandrick — Has made plays every week and played very well in the Dallas nickel last night. Teams try to run him out of his zone with a receiver and run another player into the cleared out zone. He’s been very good at reading the combinations and breaking up the shorter throws. He did it playing on the right corner against Denver and broke up plays from the slot and the left corner last night.
He’s the defensive equivalent of Bennett, a physically gifted player who drifted down the draft charts because teams doubted his maturity. Right now he looks confident and aware. And don’t say we didn’t give you a heads-up here at BSR. Here’s what a source told us three months ago:
6. Erik Walden — the only Cowboys rookie draftee who’s at risk of missing the final cut. His spot will depend on whether the Cowboys keep eight or nine linebackers. With Kevin Burnett and Anthony Spencer on the mend, Walden may get an early shot. He needs to add upper body strength and a lot will depend on his special teams play.
Last night, Walden didn’t enter the game until the 4th quarter. He looks okay in coverage and help his point against right ends on runs his way. His issue is his rush. He looks downright Dexter Coakley-esque on the edge; he’s not short by human standards (6′2″
but he looks like a runt against NFL OTs. Walden has great quickness and change of direction but needs to use his hands better. He was trying to bull rush tackles who outweigh him by 75 pounds last night and he’s not big enough (242 lbs.) to do that. He needs to get the linemens’ hands off his body and let his explosiveness work for him.
He should get a lot more playing time against Minnesota and will need to make some plays. His roster spot might depend on it.
Overall: Early impressions suggest a solid draft for Dallas. The team’s first five picks look like locks and the 6th-rounder has a fighting chance. What’s more, Jones, Bennett and Scandrick could all be immediate contributors, with Jenkins and Choice able to add value on special teams.
Written by Rafael Vela · Filed Under Training Camp
Tagged: Bobby Carpenter, Dallas Cowboys, Erik Walden, Felix Jones, Martellus Bennett, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, rookies, Tashard Cho
August 23, 2008
It’s unfair to peg rookies before their initial seasons. However, I think we can make some assessments about their fitness to make team. Here, a simple up and down on their fitness to be Cowboys.
1A. Felix Jones — Had a down game after two up ones, making his first NFL fumble. He’s dangerous all the same and the way Dallas used him is not really the way they’ve been working with him in camp. Jones got reps as the backup tailback in the I-formation. He’ll get some plays this way when the games count, but he’ll also work a lot in 3rd down packages and in packages with Marion Barber.
He blocked well, which is the key sign. I won’t worry about his fumble unless he starts coughing up the ball on a regular basis.
1B. Mike Jenkins — a sure bet to make the team but somebody likely to get the Bobby Carpenter treatment, though no fault of his own. Dallas has three vets ahead of him, in Newman, Henry and Jones, and Orlando Scandrick’s fast start puts that rookie at 4th.
This means that with good health Jenkins will dress and play special teams or see weeks where he’s inactive, if the Cowboys choose other options to be the gunners on their coverage units. That’s no knock on Jenkins, but it does mean the more impulsive sector of Cowboys Nation will try to put a black hat on his head.
2. Martellus Bennett — I think everybody now sees the skills that moved Dallas to draft him. And hopefully those skills will disabuse the Kneejerk Chorus from again calling for his immediate trading, as they did during San Diego week, when Hard Knocks made him look like a clown.
He can block, he can catch, and he can run. He can be a special player. It’s up to him.
4. Tashard Choice — a number 29 was flying around on the coverage teams last night, giving people the impression Keith Davis had been regained. It was Choice, who has his role as Barber’s backup down. He runs, he blocks and he’s bringing his enthusiasm to special teams.
5. Orlando Scandrick — Has made plays every week and played very well in the Dallas nickel last night. Teams try to run him out of his zone with a receiver and run another player into the cleared out zone. He’s been very good at reading the combinations and breaking up the shorter throws. He did it playing on the right corner against Denver and broke up plays from the slot and the left corner last night.
He’s the defensive equivalent of Bennett, a physically gifted player who drifted down the draft charts because teams doubted his maturity. Right now he looks confident and aware. And don’t say we didn’t give you a heads-up here at BSR. Here’s what a source told us three months ago:
“He wasn’t covering Terry Glenn or T.O. out there but you can see his athletic ability. He’s got the backpedal, the change of direction… I talked to people around the league before the draft — and again, this wasn’t from the Cowboys — and there were some questions about his intelligence. But there were some people who told me they thought that if he was able to pick things up that he could be a better corner than [Mike] Jenkins in the long run… he went to Boise St. but this kid has Pac 10 talent. He could have easily played at a USC or a UCLA or an Arizona or Arizona St. You could see that on the practice field…”
– Guarded Optimism for the Top Rookies, BSR, May 18th, 2008.
6. Erik Walden — the only Cowboys rookie draftee who’s at risk of missing the final cut. His spot will depend on whether the Cowboys keep eight or nine linebackers. With Kevin Burnett and Anthony Spencer on the mend, Walden may get an early shot. He needs to add upper body strength and a lot will depend on his special teams play.
Last night, Walden didn’t enter the game until the 4th quarter. He looks okay in coverage and help his point against right ends on runs his way. His issue is his rush. He looks downright Dexter Coakley-esque on the edge; he’s not short by human standards (6′2″
but he looks like a runt against NFL OTs. Walden has great quickness and change of direction but needs to use his hands better. He was trying to bull rush tackles who outweigh him by 75 pounds last night and he’s not big enough (242 lbs.) to do that. He needs to get the linemens’ hands off his body and let his explosiveness work for him.He should get a lot more playing time against Minnesota and will need to make some plays. His roster spot might depend on it.
Overall: Early impressions suggest a solid draft for Dallas. The team’s first five picks look like locks and the 6th-rounder has a fighting chance. What’s more, Jones, Bennett and Scandrick could all be immediate contributors, with Jenkins and Choice able to add value on special teams.
Written by Rafael Vela · Filed Under Training Camp
Tagged: Bobby Carpenter, Dallas Cowboys, Erik Walden, Felix Jones, Martellus Bennett, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, rookies, Tashard Cho
