Vela: Guarded Optimism for the Top Rookies

Chocolate Lab

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http://www.blueandsilverreport.com/2008/05/18/guarded-optimism-for-the-top-rookies/


May 18th, 2008 by Rafael Vela
Guarded Optimism for the Top Rookies

I just spoke to a source about the Cowboys’ draftees and got some optimistic reports.

My guy watched the rookies and made sure I understood that all observations are based only on workouts in shorts and shirts. That said, here is what I learned about the latest Cowboys’ crop.

Of top pick Felix Jones, he said this:

He’s a different kind of cat, compared to Julius Jones. He’s simply a better running back. He’s got more explosiveness… I’ve been told by people around the league, not from the Cowboys, that if this kid can show he can block and get on the field early that he’s got a chance to be the offensive rookie of the year…”

He also had good things to say about Martellus Bennett:

“You can see the physical ability. They’re only in shorts but he looked impressive. He’s 6′5.” You can flex him out. He’s got great hands… but [TE coach] John Garrett isn’t going to give this guy any breathing room. He was always on Bennett, telling him, ‘come on, finish! Grip the ball tighter!’ I think he may have been babied in college and it looked to me like Garrett was trying to break a lot of bad habits.”

He urged me — and you, by extension — to keep an eye on 5th rounder draftee Orlando Scandrick this summer, saying:

“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…”

Your turn.
Posted in News | 25 Comments » | Read more..
 

TheCount

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Poor Mike Jenkins, dude gets no props. You'd think he might not even make the team. ;)
 

CrazyCowboy

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I cannot wait to see Jones run......wow....he was fun to watch at Arkansas
 

Sarge

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Encouraging stuff.............
 

Eddie

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Let's just hope this year's rookies make more of an impact than the prior two.

It kills me that our best draftee over the past two years has been a freakin Kicker. :bang2:
 

DaBoys4Life

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I don't see how you can see he his better than JJ and he hasn't played a down in the NFL JJ atleast showed flashes rookie year where he rushed for almost 1,000 yards. I want to see production and results before we claim he's better than someone who has actually produced at the next level.
 

Redball Express

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DaBoys4Life;2087285 said:
I don't see how you can see he his better than JJ and he hasn't played a down in the NFL JJ atleast showed flashes rookie year where he rushed for almost 1,000 yards. I want to see production and results before we claim he's better than someone who has actually produced at the next level.

..the big thing is going to be about keeping him healthy.

These speed backs are fine until they get dinged and then it's a big drop off in results with them.

JuJo was injured almost immediately with the shoulder issue and then spent the next two more years overcoming more injuries to his wheels.

By the time his contract ended..he was done.

So the important thing is to keep Felix healthy early and let him play progressively more as the season goes on.

I suspect we may see Choice playing a good bit more than any of us think as the #3 RB because both Felix and MBIII are going to be measuring their carries alot to keep them effective.

Which means Choice will get his opportunities to spell them both if he shows any flash as the team will want Felix and MBIII to be strong in the second half of the year when the running game becomes more important as the weather becomes a factor.

I have to say, with this stable of RBs, I'm more confident we can run the ball than at anytime in the last 5 yrs. My only other concern is how the FB position is going to work out.

We'll see.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS :starspin
 

DaBoys4Life

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Redball Express;2087304 said:
..the big thing is going to be about keeping him healthy.

These speed backs are fine until they get dinged and then it's a big drop off in results with them.

JuJo was injured almost immediately with the shoulder issue and then spent the next two more years overcoming more injuries to his wheels.

By the time his contract ended..he was done.

So the important thing is to keep Felix healthy early and let him play progressively more as the season goes on.

I suspect we may see Choice playing a good bit more than any of us think as the #3 RB because both Felix and MBIII are going to be measuring their carries alot to keep them effective.

Which means Choice will get his opportunities to spell them both if he shows any flash as the team will want Felix and MBIII to be strong in the second half of the year when the running game becomes more important as the weather becomes a factor.

I have to say, with this stable of RBs, I'm more confident we can run the ball than at anytime in the last 5 yrs. My only other concern is how the FB position is going to work out.

We'll see.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS :starspin

I also think Choice will surprise a lot of people and think he will be intergrated into the offense than people think.
 

DanTanna

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I can only remember one draftee in the last two drafts that excelled - Folk.

This draft seems to be better. FeJo:))), Bennett, Scandrick, Choice and Jenkins all seem poised to make this team better. No to harsh on Fasano or Carp, buy man what a disappointment.
 

lkelly

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Felix as rookie of the year. That's a great one. He'd only need Marion Barber to get hurt in week 1, beat out Choice, have Dallas commit to a ground based attack, stay healthy, and (one last thing here) prove he's a quality NFL back.

No problemo. Hey, now that we have Bennett penciled in as the starting fullback, all sorts of wacky things will be happening.
 

big dog cowboy

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JMO, but Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins, Martellus Bennett, Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick are all going to be better than the players they replaced. Adding Pacman to the mix and considering the extra 3rd and 4th we got for next year and this looks like one awesome draft.
 

ENGCowboy

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big dog cowboy;2087414 said:
JMO, but Felix Jones, Mike Jenkins, Martellus Bennett, Tashard Choice and Orlando Scandrick are all going to be better than the players they replaced. Adding Pacman to the mix and considering the extra 3rd and 4th we got for next year and this looks like one awesome draft.

Well youve really gone out on a limb there.

F Jones>J Jones 1st>2nd
Jenkins>Reeves 1st>7th
Bennett>Fasano 2nd-2nd
Choice>Thompson 4th>UDFA
Scandrick>N Jones 5th>7th

Nah I cant see that happening at all, I realise draft status doesn't mean anything as more than 1 player has shown over the years but at this stage to make a statement like that you may as well say the sun will come up tomorrow morning.
 

sago1

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What people are essentially saying is that "on paper" our draft looks better then the people they replaced. Sure agree with that but realize only time will tell.

Actually I'm think our 07 draft will turn out to be better then many Cowboys fans think. Frankly too many Cowboy fans expect immediate results from rookies unlike other teams; I think it's shortsighted/foolish.

1. Spencer played well for us as a rookie; it certainly isn't a reflection on him that Ellis got his job back & went on to play at a pro bowl level for the first time in his career.
2. OL players Marten & Free rarely get much chance to play in their rookie seasons. Also our OL was very healthy in 07 & when any got hurt (Gurode & Colombo) both were briefly replaced with very slightly more experienced Proctor & McQuistan. Understand both Free & Marten really worked extremely hard in weight conditioning program & really benefitted. I expect to see a lot of progress from both in their 2nd season. I loved the Free pick.

3. Stanback didn't show much because of injuries. We'll see if some of the hype generated by Cowboy coaching staff is more then homerism.

4. Deon Anderson was really coming along until he got hurt. He should be much improved this year. Agree that Folk was best season long player we had of the rookie crop last year & be darn grateful for that.

5. Both 7th rounders made the team & coaching staff has made lot of favorable comments re Ball; that's certainly better then most playoff teams do. Also since Wade said we keeping 6 CBs this year, would expect that to be Newman/Henry/Pacman/Jenkins/Scandrick/Ball.

Point is that if Spencer & at least one of our OL becomes a quality starter & Folk continues to florish our 07 draft will look good; 3 good players in a draft is nothing to sneeze at. Throw in Deon Anderson if he improves (stays healthy) in his 2nd year & it looks even better. If both OL become starters (whether it's Marten at OG & Free at OT), it gets even better. As you can see, I really think our 07 draft could go down as one of our better ones. Admit I wasn't much impressed with our 07 draft at the time, but came around when all of them made the team, etc.
 

dmq

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SilverStarCowboy;2087305 said:
This Draft looks potentially dominant.


Way, way too early to say something like that. I have seen way too many players that I thought were gonna be starts turn out to be duds. Just remember, every team feels great about the players they selected.

I find it interesting how you would have thought the world was coming to an end around here after the draft ended. Now everyone seems giddy because of a few observations from reporters watching guys run around in shorts.
 
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