Wed. Recap: Injury Issues Return In Physical Practice

[morasp]

Nick Eatman DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer

Notable Standouts:

• Justin Durant – The starting middle linebacker was active in team drills, meeting Raiders’ runners in the hole on consecutive plays. Durant smashed Darren McFadden twice in the middle of the field, halting a Raiders’ run in the team drills. In an earlier drill, Durant’s tipped pass over the middle led to an interception by rookie safety Ryan Smith .

• Rolando McClain – The former Raiders linebacker probably had his best practice of camp as well. Playing mostly with No. 2 defense in the middle, McClain showed more than just awareness in the middle. He was powerful at the point of attack with ball-carriers and pushed the pocket well on blitzes. It seemed like one of those “light bulb-coming-on” type of days for him.

• Terrance Mitchell – Despite the chants of “30 sucks” from the large group of Raiders fans on field No. 2, Terrance Mitchell showed a lot of compete Wednesday. In the 1-on-1 drills, where only four cornerbacks were rotating, Mitchell more than held his own against the Raiders receivers. He was breaking passes, both long and short. He even came down with an impressive interception on a deep ball intended for Andre Holmes. Mitchell enticed the crowd by dancing through their constant jeers, which only ignited the Raider Nation even more. All in all, Mitchell continues to improve with each rep he gets.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...Practice/e42c085d-9779-4160-93a8-b6e835ad4af5

 

[AsthmaField]

Love reading this stuff. It is really good that McClain had a "light bulb" kind of day. If the light does go on for him then Dallas got a super-steal... and they got lucky as hell. He will be an enforcer in the middle of the defense. He will set the tone and the tempo for that entire unit.

Saban said that McClain might be the most talented defender he's ever had, so it will be no small thing for him to be roaming the middle of the defense. He could change everything.

 

[Alexander]

Love reading this stuff. It is really good that McClain had a "light bulb" kind of day. If the light does go on for him then Dallas got a super-steal... and they got lucky as hell. He will be an enforcer in the middle of the defense. He will set the tone and the tempo for that entire unit.

Saban said that McClain might be the most talented defender he's ever had, so it will be no small thing for him to be roaming the middle of the defense. He could change everything.

I think people are paying more attention to the McClain dramatics that they are forgetting that Durant is having a good camp.

If that is the case, he should get the job.

 

[jzcowboy]

The article says that the 2 minute drill is on Cowboys.com, when I click the link it says "We're sorry, but this video is no longer available". Anybody have a valid link?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think people are paying more attention to the McClain dramatics that they are forgetting that Durant is having a good camp.

If that is the case, he should get the job.

Durant ought to be switched to one of the outside spots and McClain ought to man the middle.

This defense is going to be lacking so much talent over the first part of the season that it needs every bit of talent it can get.

 

[AsthmaField]

I think people are paying more attention to the McClain dramatics that they are forgetting that Durant is having a good camp.

If that is the case, he should get the job.

I do agree that Durant is having a really good camp. If the coaches think that he is a better MLB than McClain then by all means... give the spot to him. However, if McClain earns it then he too deserves to start in the middle.

Overall, it is a nice problem to have if McClain plays good enough to make it a hard choice.

I definitely think that Durant is currently one of the best 3 LB's in camp. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if McClain wins the MLB spot and Durant takes Carter's WLB position. I could see McClain in the middle, Carter on the weakside and Durant at the SLB spot with Wilber getting moved to WDE for now.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I do agree that Durant is having a really good camp. If the coaches think that he is a better MLB than McClain then by all means... give the spot to him. However, if McClain earns it then he too deserves to start in the middle.

Overall, it is a nice problem to have if McClain plays good enough to make it a hard choice.

I definitely think that Durant is currently one of the best 3 LB's in camp. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if McClain wins the MLB spot and Durant takes Carter's WLB position. I could see McClain in the middle, Carter on the weakside and Durant at the SLB spot with Wilber getting moved to WDE for now.

Personally I'd put Wilber's butt on the bench before Carter's but be it as it may Durant and McClain can both be starters.

 

[bayeslife]

Terrance Mitchell is having an incredible camp for a 7th round pick. We need to have picks like that on the D-line in the coming years.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Terrance Mitchell is having an incredible camp for a 7th round pick.

Bishop and he are both doing well as 7th rounders.

The Cowboys need another good defensive draft before the defense can even think about being "average".

 

[big dog cowboy]

Notable Standouts:

• Justin Durant
• Rolando McClain
• Terrance Mitchell

Awesome. Just awesome. Really good to hear somebody on defense making plays.

Play of the Day:
It was more of a sequence of plays as the Cowboys marched the ball down the field on the Raiders in the 2-minute offense. Tony Romo methodically led the offense down the field with short passes to DeMarco Murray, followed by a strike to both Jason Witten and Dez Bryant to get the ball around the 20. Romo then fired a pass to Witten over the middle on a play that appeared to be a touchdown. The officials marked the ball at the 1 but the Cowboys hurried to the line of scrimmage and Romo fired a perfect back-shoulder throw to Bryant, who hauled in the score, prompting an intense celebration from the offense and the expected “X” thrown by the emotional receiver.

This offense is simply going to be fun to watch. If the OL can keep Tony clean we could score a lot of points this year. Going to be drafting as many Cowboys as I can in my FF drafts.

 

[jobberone]

Durant ought to be switched to one of the outside spots and McClain ought to man the middle.

This defense is going to be lacking so much talent over the first part of the season that it needs every bit of talent it can get.

Durant is faster than McClain. I don't know which one is better in coverage though. Both the Mike and the Sam have to cover but I think the Mike has to cover more area in the base. I don't have any idea how often this defense will be in a defense typical for the Mike in a Tampa 2 either. So it may be whoever can play the run better should be the Sam. In the end it won't matter that much as teams attack weak areas anyway.

 

[jobberone]

Bishop and he are both doing well as 7th rounders.

The Cowboys need another good defensive draft before the defense can even think about being "average".

I think the defense has a chance to be 'average'. We must stay healthy. It won't take but a couple of key injuries to hurt this defense again.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Durant is faster than McClain. I don't know which one is better in coverage though. Both the Mike and the Sam have to cover but I think the Mike has to cover more area in the base. I don't have any idea how often this defense will be in a defense typical for the Mike in a Tampa 2 either. So it may be whoever can play the run better should be the Sam. In the end it won't matter that much as teams attack weak areas anyway.

Durant has played the majority of his NFL snaps at OLB while McClain of course has always been an inside guy. That's why I put Durant on the outside. I'm still not big on Wilber being a 4-3 OLB.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think the defense has a chance to be 'average'. We must stay healthy. It won't take but a couple of key injuries to hurt this defense again.

That "hole" opposite Melton at DT just screams bad. And if Hayden is the starter vs SF... Boy I think the chance of even being an average defense has gone down the drain.

And then you have the pass rush potential on the weakside which seems abysmal at this point.

 

[Bluestang]

Broaddus talked about the defense today.

Called it "trying to put a band-aid on an amputation". I quoted it for a reason.

Even hinted that Stephen Jones might have had a feeling that this defense wasn't going to be good, and said that it's why Stephen publicly committed to saying they would run the ball more.

 

[TheCount]

I find Mitchell completely hilarious. The guy has no idea he was a 7th round pick.

 

[Hoods]

You can watch our two-minute drill here (capped with a back shoulder TD pass from Tony to Dez): http://www.dallascowboys.com/multim...aiders-D/e7e6d479-b94e-4a9b-9e19-a69c07d1d198.

 

[Brooksey]

I think people are paying more attention to the McClain dramatics that they are forgetting that Durant is having a good camp.

If that is the case, he should get the job.

Durant doesn't have the talent of Rolando but he will be an excellent backup. Durant may start the first few games, we'll see.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Broaddus talked about the defense today.

Called it "trying to put a band-aid on an amputation". I quoted it for a reason.

Even hinted that Stephen Jones might have had a feeling that this defense wasn't going to be good, and said that it's why Stephen publicly committed to saying they would run the ball more.

I think we all should get our frustrations with the defense out before the season starts because right now it's looking ugly and it won't matter how peed-off we are with it.

It simply lacks talent.

It need a playmaking DE a solid DT, at least one LB and a safety.

If the team crashes and end up 4-12 it will probably have a new coaching staff, a great drafting position and some cap space in order to fortify the defensive side of the ball for next season.

 

[jobberone]

That "hole" opposite Melton at DT just screams bad. And if Hayden is the starter vs SF... Boy I think the chance of even being an average defense has gone down the drain.

And then you have the pass rush potential on the weakside which seems abysmal at this point.

I guess I'm assuming McClain will be there at the 1/3 tech. I think you put Spencer at SDE and Selvie at RDE and rotate some others. I still think Crawford can play some DE non-passing downs but I have to admit I'm getting a tad hesitant there. You can generate rush elsewhere but I'm not sure we have the DBs for it either. Again a lot has to go right and not a while lot wrong but its possible.