whitey_aw
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Hey guys, going to be getting back into things again now that the season is started back up. As always, feedback is welcome, whether negative or positive.
Whitey's Weekly: Don't Sleep On This Choice
Whitey's Weekly: Don't Sleep On This Choice
A lot has been made of this year’s Dallas Cowboys, a team that returns thirteen pro-bowlers. Stocked with veterans such as Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, DeMarcus Ware, Terence... well, you get the point. The team is loaded with talent from top to bottom, and there is really the only weakness on the team looks to be its special teams’ coverage units.
Add to this high-profile cornerback Adam “only my teammates can call me Pacman” Jones, along with highly touted first round picks Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins, and there is a reason the Cowboys are currently the talk of the NFL. Anything less than a visit to Arizona in February 2009, and this season will be seen as a failure.
But there is also another rookie on this team that not too many people are talking about, and he looks like he could be the steal of this draft class for the Cowboys. And no, I’m not talking about much-hyped cornerback Orlando Scandrick. While Scandrick has played above expectations this year, time could prove that Tashard Choice was the best second day pick in the draft for Dallas this past April.
Everything about Choice screams consummate professional. He knows his role on the team most likely won’t be huge this coming season, playing behind a Pro Bowler and a first round pick on offense. Earlier this offseason, he was quoted as saying "I can't worry about anybody else and what position they're in. Marion's a great running back and Felix was great in college and he's going be a great running back too. But whenever I get my chance I just show them what I can do and show them what kind of running back I am."
And that quote is exactly why he’s going to be a solid contributor for this team. He knows that he won’t have a huge role on the team, but will be prepared to step in if anything does happen to either Marion or Felix. Tashard wants to let his play do the talking, and is very confident that it will send a very loud and clear message when that time comes.
In the meantime, however, Choice knows he has to contribute in other ways if he wants to be a part of the gameday roster. Last season, the Cowboys only carried two running backs in their 45-man roster to games once Miles Austin took kick return duties away from Tyson Thompson, and if Choice doesn’t prove himself on special teams, he won’t be on the gameday roster either.
But being a guy who just wants to see some action, expect Choice to be dressed for games on Sundays this year. Wade Phillips was quoted as saying "He's just a young player that hasn't done it but wants to. Part of special teams is want-to... He definitely has that."
Not only does Phillips think he has the ability and desire to go knock some heads on special teams, it sounds as if Choice is also in the mindset that wants to get out there and make something happen, which is a breath of fresh air for this coverage unit. When asked about having to play special teams in the pros, Choice replied "I know I can run the football; I know I can play offense. But sometimes you have to be patient and figure out where you fit in." If Choice can play with the kind of desire that he did his final season at Georgia Tech, there is no doubt he will bring some fire and passion to the coverage units – something that is definitely needed after the lacklustre performance coverage kicks last season, as well as this year in preseason.
The last thing that really impresses me about Choice was how he handled not getting his college number, 22, when he arrived as a Cowboy. Now, the number is not officially retired, but let’s be honest, it’s very doubtful any other player will wear that number for a long time, especially a rookie running back. When asked whether or not he even requested to wear the number, he responded "Oh, no. That's a man there. Actually the first day I came here, they said, 'We try to give you guys the same number you guys had in college. But Tashard, I don't think you're going to get 22.'"
It’s that kind of attitude, that he wouldn’t even ask about the number, that proves to me he is a true pro and will succeed in this league. He didn’t come in like so many other rookies, and think everything was going to be handed to him, that he deserved something. He wants to work for everything he’ll get, and has the confidence that he’ll be able to do anything asked of him.
Of course I wasn’t surprised Choice made an impact against the Browns on Sunday with five carries for 26 yards and one special teams tackle. And we should not be surprised if he continues to do that each and every week this season.
Andrew Woodward 'aka' Whitey is a very talented freelance writer who can be reached at whitey_aw@hotmail.com.
Posted by DCFanatic at 9/9/2008 8:13 PM | Add Comment
Whitey's Weekly: Don't Sleep On This Choice
Whitey's Weekly: Don't Sleep On This Choice
A lot has been made of this year’s Dallas Cowboys, a team that returns thirteen pro-bowlers. Stocked with veterans such as Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, DeMarcus Ware, Terence... well, you get the point. The team is loaded with talent from top to bottom, and there is really the only weakness on the team looks to be its special teams’ coverage units.
Add to this high-profile cornerback Adam “only my teammates can call me Pacman” Jones, along with highly touted first round picks Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins, and there is a reason the Cowboys are currently the talk of the NFL. Anything less than a visit to Arizona in February 2009, and this season will be seen as a failure.
But there is also another rookie on this team that not too many people are talking about, and he looks like he could be the steal of this draft class for the Cowboys. And no, I’m not talking about much-hyped cornerback Orlando Scandrick. While Scandrick has played above expectations this year, time could prove that Tashard Choice was the best second day pick in the draft for Dallas this past April.
Everything about Choice screams consummate professional. He knows his role on the team most likely won’t be huge this coming season, playing behind a Pro Bowler and a first round pick on offense. Earlier this offseason, he was quoted as saying "I can't worry about anybody else and what position they're in. Marion's a great running back and Felix was great in college and he's going be a great running back too. But whenever I get my chance I just show them what I can do and show them what kind of running back I am."
And that quote is exactly why he’s going to be a solid contributor for this team. He knows that he won’t have a huge role on the team, but will be prepared to step in if anything does happen to either Marion or Felix. Tashard wants to let his play do the talking, and is very confident that it will send a very loud and clear message when that time comes.
In the meantime, however, Choice knows he has to contribute in other ways if he wants to be a part of the gameday roster. Last season, the Cowboys only carried two running backs in their 45-man roster to games once Miles Austin took kick return duties away from Tyson Thompson, and if Choice doesn’t prove himself on special teams, he won’t be on the gameday roster either.
But being a guy who just wants to see some action, expect Choice to be dressed for games on Sundays this year. Wade Phillips was quoted as saying "He's just a young player that hasn't done it but wants to. Part of special teams is want-to... He definitely has that."
Not only does Phillips think he has the ability and desire to go knock some heads on special teams, it sounds as if Choice is also in the mindset that wants to get out there and make something happen, which is a breath of fresh air for this coverage unit. When asked about having to play special teams in the pros, Choice replied "I know I can run the football; I know I can play offense. But sometimes you have to be patient and figure out where you fit in." If Choice can play with the kind of desire that he did his final season at Georgia Tech, there is no doubt he will bring some fire and passion to the coverage units – something that is definitely needed after the lacklustre performance coverage kicks last season, as well as this year in preseason.
The last thing that really impresses me about Choice was how he handled not getting his college number, 22, when he arrived as a Cowboy. Now, the number is not officially retired, but let’s be honest, it’s very doubtful any other player will wear that number for a long time, especially a rookie running back. When asked whether or not he even requested to wear the number, he responded "Oh, no. That's a man there. Actually the first day I came here, they said, 'We try to give you guys the same number you guys had in college. But Tashard, I don't think you're going to get 22.'"
It’s that kind of attitude, that he wouldn’t even ask about the number, that proves to me he is a true pro and will succeed in this league. He didn’t come in like so many other rookies, and think everything was going to be handed to him, that he deserved something. He wants to work for everything he’ll get, and has the confidence that he’ll be able to do anything asked of him.
Of course I wasn’t surprised Choice made an impact against the Browns on Sunday with five carries for 26 yards and one special teams tackle. And we should not be surprised if he continues to do that each and every week this season.
Andrew Woodward 'aka' Whitey is a very talented freelance writer who can be reached at whitey_aw@hotmail.com.
Posted by DCFanatic at 9/9/2008 8:13 PM | Add Comment
