Sizable project at safety
Web Posted: 08/17/2006 10:41 PM CDT
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Ask Bill Parcells about Dallas Cowboys rookie safety Patrick Watkins, and he tosses out a phrase an ornithologist might use upon discovering a species of bird.
"Never seen one like him," Parcells says.
Watkins, a former Florida State standout, is indeed a rare bird. He's 6-foot-5 and plays a position where 6-1 is considered big.
"I think that's one of the reasons he was drafted where he was drafted (fifth round), because no one else had seen one like him either," Parcells said.
Tall safeties have excelled in the NFL — Hall of Famer Paul Krause was 6-3 with Minnesota — but none towered over teammates in the secondary like Watkins.
"I've heard a couple names here and there, but I don't think they were quite his height," Parcells said. "Most of the references were to cornerbacks, (Pittsburgh's 6-3) Mel Blount and guys like that."
Last season, two 6-3 safeties started: the Jets' Kerry Rhodes and Seattle's Michael Boulware. Arizona had a 6-4 safety, Ernest Shazor, who was a backup.
Steve Atwater, an eight-time Pro Bowl safety for Denver in the 1990s, was 6-3.
But most of today's top safeties are shorter. Cowboys Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams is 6-0. Ed Reed, arguably the league's best safety, stands 5-11.
NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt said Watkins reminds him of Don Burroughs, a 6-4 safety who played for the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles in a 10-year career that ended in 1964.
"They called Burroughs 'The Blade,'" said Brandt, the Cowboys' personnel director during the Tom Landry era. "He was a tough son of a gun. It's very unusual to have a tall safety. I think the Cowboys may have gotten a steal in the fifth round with Watkins. He's going to be a good one."
Parcells agrees. In fact, the coach says Watkins is pushing Keith Davis to start at free safety.
"Watkins is going to be a factor here," Parcells said at training camp in Oxnard, Calif. "I don't know whether he will be a starter, but he is going to be in contention."
Earlier in camp, Watkins said starting wasn't a goal.
"I'm just trying to learn and let my talent take over," Watkins said.
Parcells has started rookies at free safety before. The first to do so was Myron Guyton for the New York Giants in 1989.
"I've had several (rookies) who have done it," Parcells said. "It doesn't make you sleep well."
It could be different with Watkins. He logged 54 plays — 38 on defense, 16 on special teams — in the Cowboys' 13-3 exhibition victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.
"I've been impressed with him," Parcells said.
"He's quicker than I thought he was and he's very fast, and he has tremendous wing span," Parcells added. "He has good ball skills and seems to be pretty smart. He was a two-year starter at Florida State, and that's a good level of competition."
Parcells said he expects Watkins to be an outstanding special-teams performer.
"He's going to hold up (opposing) punt gunners," Parcells said. "He looks like he can really do that well. Superior would be the word to use. I'm very happy with him.
"Now, when the lights go on, is he ready to go in right this minute? I don't know."
Parcells said he would like to see Watkins, listed at 211 pounds, add weight in the offseason.
"I can see him being 219, 220 pounds with a year of work, with the same speed," Parcells said. "I can see him being 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. That is a formidable guy playing free safety."
You might even call him a big bird.
) and athletically there is no comparison.
