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I take it back. I do like the LBs. I forget they play a 4-3
^ Good ADAM. Time to grow up, sack up, and play some ball.
I take it back. I do like the LBs. I forget they play a 4-3
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/f....1d8921f8.html
Cowboys Insider: Players gaining weight, working on agility
Tom Orsborn
[email protected]
IRVING – A skinny frame earned receiver Sam Hurd the nickname “Bird” when he was at Brackenridge High School.
These days, the 23-year-old Hurd looks more like a panther. His muscles are thicker, his step lighter and his determination to pounce on his opportunity pronounced.
In preparation for a training camp he hopes will lead to a breakthrough season, Hurd added nine pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-2 frame during the offseason. He says the hike in weight has allowed him to play the game faster.
“The focus is speed, speed, speed and getting my weight up,” Hurd said. “I want to play at a weight I’m comfortable at, in the 200s, where I could use my force a little bit more. I was always 190, trying to bang with everyone else. Now if I’m higher, I can give them a contest out there.”
Hurd hopes added pounds will help him counter the bullying tactics of Anthony Henry and other cornerbacks who favor popping receivers early in their routes.
“He’s got what I call old man’s strength,” Hurd said of Henry. “He will sit there and punch you and he will back you up. That’s one of his favorite moves, and beware of that. He will sit there, be stationary and hit you with everything he’s got. And he will hurt you.”
Now maybe Hurd can hurt Henry right back.
Hurd isn’t the only player at Valley Ranch flexing his muscles these days.
Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware says he’s tipping the scales somewhere between 260-265 pounds, which is at least 15 pounds more than his rookie weight in 2005.
Adding the bulk was a gradual process, Ware says.
And it wasn’t easy.
“When I gained the first 10 pounds, I was a little stiff,” said Ware, who wanted to get stronger without losing any of his quickness and agility. “But you’re finding out you’ve got to stretch a little bit more, you’ve got to do more squat work, you’ve got to do more things to make your body stronger so you can carry that weight the same way.”
The added strength should help Ware enjoy another season of double-digit sacks. He’s recorded 25½ the last two seasons, including 14 in 2007, a career best and a record for a Cowboys linebacker.
“In their mind,” Ware said of opposing offensive tackles, “when they know you can power them, that’s when they open a lot more.”
And once that happens, Ware should be able to use his speed to blow past them.
While Tony Romo didn’t have a dramatic shift in weight, the Pro Bowl passer says he continues to work on his agility by participating in a number of sports.
“The more active you are as an athlete, (the better),” Romo said. “I’m very active in my life. I will go out and play soccer and basketball and a lot of stuff you probably shouldn’t do, but I do it because that’s stuff I’ve done all my life. I don’t sit around and take naps and get bored. I think it helps me stay injury-free because I’m using different muscles on a daily basis.”
Sounds like Hurd has been working out with T.O.
3-4....Got it now. Thanks
T.O. was helping Hurd 2 years ago to learn the game and work out. Maybe this year Hurd will breakout. Crayton had a pretty good year last year, now it is Hurd's year.
Yeah, I know Owens kind of took him under his wing when Hurd was a rookie. Glad to hear Hurd has put on some more mass.
I really like Hurd. Here is a video of him interviewing T.O. There are a bunch of "Sam Cam" videos on YouTube that are really cool and amusing to check out. See the guys ribbing eachother.
Charlotte Observer: Chris Canty 180 pounds no more, he's in the NFL
180 pounds no more, he's in the NFL
Jay Edwards
Chris Canty came to Charlotte Latin in 1999, barely 180 pounds and a high school junior. Nearly a decade later, he returned to his alma mater as a 6-foot-7, 300-pound starting defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys.
He recently hosted his first “Chris Canty, Camp of Champions” at Latin. The camp, run by his brother Joe, boasted 148 kids, who took instruction from Canty and his Cowboy teammates, including Dallas starters Patrick Crayton, Terence Newman and Jay Ratliff.
While the kids loved the instruction from all the NFL and college players at the camp, Canty was the center of attention.
Canty, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2005 out of the University of Virginia, was called an “emerging NFL star” by the Sporting News this year. He had 43 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year for the Cowboys.
Here's what he had to say about his formative years and his career:
Q: When you were playing for Charlotte Latin, did you ever imagine you'd be playing in the NFL?
“Absolutely not. I never expected to make it to the NFL. I was 6-foot-5, 180 pounds soaking wet, and that did not seem like NFL to me at the time. So, I just wanted to get a scholarship to college and become a successful businessman at the end of the day. But I was blessed enough to have the opportunity. Coach saw that I had an opportunity to play at an elite level.
“They believed in me and I got to the University of Virginia and had some great coaching staffs there with George Welsh and Al Groh. Here I am now just trying to have this experience and give back to the kids.”
Q: Most people who see the NFL only see the season, they only see it on television. How hard do you have to work in the off-season?
“Oh, it's pretty hard. The last four weeks have been brutal... You might catch a few weeks (of rest) in February or early March, but that's about it. That's about all your off time. You've got to be training, you've got to be on top of your game because there is always somebody competing or trying to take your job.”
Q: During the season, how does that compare?
“During the season it's brutal. You have a team meeting that starts about 8:30 a.m.; I like to get there about 7:30 a.m. You lift weights, team meetings, position meeting from 9 until about 11:30 a.m., then you have lunch. Then, we're on the field from about 1 until about 3:30 p.m. After that we've got to get dressed quick and go into the meeting rooms and watch the practice film, maybe watch a little game tape from about 3:30 until 5. So, typically about 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.”
Q: Do you feel lucky to be a Dallas Cowboy?
“I think I am where I am supposed to be. When you talk about the knee injury (at Virginia) and then the eye injury (in Arizona), when you look back at it, they seem like very dramatic events, and they were. But they have somewhat shaped my career as a pro. It's made me a great player in the league. I know that the Cowboys are where I was supposed to be.”
Q: What are your goals for the next three or four years?
“Simply, my goal is to be a winner, to win. I think every player in the NFL wants to win, wants a championship ring. Obviously, when you're competing, you want to compete to be the best. I think that is definitely one of the things I want to be viewed as, is one of the most versatile defensive lineman in the NFL.”
Q: Who do you think are some of the best players in the NFL right now?
“When you talk about best players, I want to talk about difference-makers for their football team. LaDanian Tomlinson is a difference-maker. I think it was apparent in the playoff game when they played against the Patriots. He wasn't able to go, and that team just didn't have the same juice that it had had during the course of the season.
“On the defensive side of the ball, I've got to be a little partial – DeMarcus Ware (linebacker, Dallas Cowboys). Probably one of the best natural athletes I have ever seen in my life and one of the most athletically gifted. I remember the first time we got to Valley Ranch (training facility), the guy ran a 4.3 (40-yard dash) on grass in cleats. I was amazed, it was amazing. He's one of the best natural athletes, he's going to get you 15 to 20 sacks a year, and he's going to be a future hall-of-famer.”
Q: What is it like playing with a guy like Terrell Owens?
“Terrell is a great teammate. He's a pro's pro, he's a good locker room guy. He's just been great for the Dallas Cowboys, and I think, in a sense, the Dallas Cowboys have been great for him. He's rejuvenated, he's laughing all the time, and he's having fun competing in practice with all of our cornerbacks. He just has a good time, and we enjoy having him as a teammate.”
Q: What's it like playing with Tony Romo?
“I talk to Romo all the time about when he got here, he was this shy, quiet figure. Now, it's like he's ‘Tony Romo,' he's always in the tabloids, and that kind of thing. But Tony has done a great job of being able to handle the ins ution of being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. That's (Cowboys' quarterback) what it is, it's an ins ution. It's America's team. It's like playing on Broadway.”
Q: What's it like playing for Jerry Jones?
“He's a very charismatic individual. He's a great owner, great business mind. I can't say enough about him and the first-class organization that he runs, and how everybody treats each other. It's really a family atmosphere. Even though we have to deal with the business side, they do a great job of separating the two, and keeping an environment where it is great to come in and work.”
This made me laugh
Marion Barber III
by Kevin Burnett
10:54 PM Mon, Jun 23, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Watching this guy run the makes you glad he is on your team. He runs with such a passion that is indescribable. In the words of our friend INTENSITY. In watching his style, it looks as if he takes a lot of punishment. I mean he lowers his head, knees guys in the face mask, stiff arms guys. It would seem like ice would be his best friend. Not the case, MB has a little bit of cat in him, which makes him very deceptive.
He waits until just the right time to move slightly, so you don't get a square shot on him. You guys may not be able to see it from the TV or in the stands, but people hardly ever get a flush shot on him. He keeps defenders off balance which allows him to set up his moves. A lot of time MB cuts back and throws a stiff arm, right? This is all to set up for the short yardage run. He wears you out with the stiff arms and the slippery running then on 2nd and 1 or 3rd and short he lowers his shoulder for huge gains.
Let's say your in a fight and your getting your head beat in with a left hook. The first thing you're going to do as soon as the guy flinches is, watch for the left hook. What about the right hand? Same thing with Barber, he is a patient runner who does one thing to set up another. If you have ever heard an announcer say he's a smart runner well MB's picture should be up there when that phrase is said.
http://kevinburnettblog.dallasnews.c...arber-iii.html
Jerry Jones is happy to talk about how great his Dallas Cowboys are
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
[email protected]
IRVING — Owner Jerry Jones is admittedly prone to hyperbole when it comes to his Dallas Cowboys football team.Look no further than the $1 billion football stadium (palace) he is building in Arlington as evidence of his propensity toward overstatement, exaggeration and excess.
Want another?
Consider this recent gem: "This is the best coaching staff I have ever been associated with."
Yes, better than the Jimmy Johnson-led staffs that won two Super Bowls in 1990s and nurtured four future head coaches.
And better than the Bill Parcells-led staffs that helped foster the Cowboys’ ongoing return to the league’s elite while yielding two current NFL head coaches: Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints and Tony Sparano of the Miami Dolphins.
Coach Wade Phillips’ staff that includes $3 million offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and a defensive staff that features a former defensive coordinator (defensive line coach Todd Grantham) and former head coach (secondary coach Dave Campo) as position coaches is the best in Jones’ eyes.
"Yes, the best staff overall, and I don’t want to get into the head coach," Jones said. "I am talking about the staffs in general. We have put together a staff with accomplished guys. If I had to list three or four of the most exciting things for this coming year, our coaching staff would be there at the top, and, obviously, Wade leads the way there."
What else did Jones have to say about the upcoming football season and the Cowboys’ Super Bowl-or-bust outlook during a recent sit-down with the Star-Telegram? Keep reading.
Are you worried about the leadership on this team, since it was considered a factor in last season’s playoff debacle? No. [Quarterback] Tony [Romo] may be one of the most natural leaders that we have had with the Cowboys. [Tight end Jason] Witten is a natural leader. I actually think that [guard] Leonard Davis, with his physical-ness, has a leadership about him. So, on that side of the ball, those people come to mind. [Receiver] Terrell Owens, in his own way, has a way of uplifting his teammates.
How about on defense? [Linebacker] Greg Ellis is very much a leader. Someone might be surprised to hear me say that. But he is very much a part of setting a tone out there. And he is motivated to have real success, Super Bowl-type success. And [safety] Ken Hamlin and [cornerback] Terence Newman have those abilities. So leadership is not an issue with me.
What newcomer do you think will have the biggest impact on the team? [Linebacker] Zach Thomas because of his knowledge and how he plays the game. He will make a significant impact. Zach has a chance a chance to be our best acquisition. I liked Akin [Ayodele]. But he was in position to do a lot of things but didn’t always tackle the ball. Thomas gets the ball carrier.
Who will be the team’s most improved player? [Nose tackle] Tank Johnson. He is quick and strong. Now I want to see that carry through. But it would allow us to do some good things if Tank is everything he has shown in the off-season.
Where else do you see the biggest improvement on your team? At cornerback. We were really limited last year at cornerback. Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves got a lot playing time. Just give me healthy corners in Terence Newman and Anthony Henry, and we should make a big jump, and that is not even including the improved talent level with Adam Jones.
Did watching the New York Giants win the Super Bowl last year give you hope or make you angry? It’s motivation. It refreshes and reminds us that the playoffs are real and everything people say about the playoffs is real. You get in them and anything can happen. You can do it.
Does it excite you that a lot of prognosticators have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl this season? I am just excited about the season. I just think we got a better team. Last year, I couldn’t have expected to have the season we had. I am not trying to diminish not having playoff success. Everybody knows we should have done better. But we got a better team. I don’t know if I am expecting a better record and to get home-field advantage, but we got a better team that can do better than we did last year in the playoffs.
This made me laugh
Roy Williams is going to have a great hard hitting year. Cowboys have to many DBs that are great that Williams will be roaming the line, blitzing, popping people all over the place. He will get his rep back.
He's too small to play LB and have to shake off OLinemen and fullbacks, and as a safety there is absolutely no way that he can completely relinquish cover duties. There are only 11 guys on the field at once, 3 DLinemen, 4 LB, and 4 DB's. Can't just drop three DB's in coverage all the time, so Roy is going to HAVE TO cover somebody this year if he doesn't want to lose his job all together. He can't just roam the line.
Everyone talks about how many tackles he gets. The thing is that the 11 times a game that the receiver he's covering (or reciever that runs into his zone) catches the ball and falls down with a 1st down goes as a tackle for Roy when all he does is reach down and touch the guy to down him. Any DB can get a load of tackles if they're giving up completions right in front of them all game long.
Roy Williams is too overweight to play the safety position even decently now.
I have a question, do you guys believe Romo is the QB of the future for the team? I like what I have seen the last few years but he seems to tail off after the halfway point of the season. I know there was that whole Jessica Simpson thing but how much of a distraction could she be. Is this year a make or break year for Romo?
Last edited by UdokaDynasty; 08-05-2008 at 11:55 AM.
QB of the future yes, make or break year? not yet.
History - July 15
Five years ago: Tex Schramm, who turned the Dallas Cowboys into "America's Team," died in Dallas at age 83.
This made me laugh
Is anyone else worried about our DT depth?
I am a little. We should see a sold rotation between Tank and Jay Ratliff, but they need to both be healthy for the duration of the season. After those two, the depth and talent falls dramatically.
Off The Radar
Eatman: Who Will Be This Year's Camp Surprises?
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Jefferson spent all of last year on the practice squad but made big strides throughout the season.
IRVING, Texas - A couple weeks back, the staff writers for this site decided to answer a few of the team's most pressing questions heading into training camp, which is now less than a week away before the team departs for Oxnard, Calif. on Thursday.
While some of those questions were tougher than others, especially on the Terry Glenn saga which still hasn't been resolved, others likely won't be answered for a while.
The one that gave me the most trouble was the question asking which player will rise from obscurity in training camp.
Now, of course that's going to be tough. If we knew which player would stand out to become the surprise, then obviously they wouldn't be much of a surprise.
But still, there are some good candidates.
(And oh, if you liked that idea of us all answering those questions, you're in luck. That appears to be one of the many changes on our website this year, not to mention the new design that was revealed over the weekend.)
OK, so back to the players who could make some noise in training camp. I had a hard time pinpointing just one guy. That's why we're going to focus on five players that might be able to rise from obscurity.
After changing my pick a few times, I ended up taking wide receiver Mike Jefferson, who spent all of last year on the practice squad. While those avid Cowboys fans are already aware of Jefferson, and probably know he originally went to the University of Arizona before transferring to Montana State for one year of college, he's still a rather unknown commodity.
When it comes to the wide receiver position, certainly it starts with Terrell Owens. And definitely, something is about to go down regarding Glenn as well. And even with the backups behind Patrick Crayton, expect some serious compe ion between Sam Hurd, Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback. Even rookie free agent Denny Amendola has gotten some pub during the off-season.
But none of that should matter to Jefferson. The good thing for him is the right people are fully aware what he can do.
Last season, Jefferson quietly went about his business all season long and by the end of the year, he had made huge strides from an undrafted rookie free agent just a few months earlier.
In fact, one offensive coach told me that Jefferson not only made the biggest improvement from any offensive player from the start of the year to the end, but had any team made a serious attempt to sign Jefferson from the practice squad, the Cowboys would've definitely kept him around, probably moving him up to the 53-man roster.
So don't forget about this guy in training camp. He'll have his work cut out for him, but the fact the Cowboys didn't draft any receivers shouldn't limit the club from keeping the best prospects.
OK, here are four other guys that I wanted to take on that list, too.
Alan Ball - Not sure a seventh-round pick from last year can fly under the radar but with this secondary and these cornerbacks, it's easy to get overlooked.
The Cowboys will thrive if Terence Newman, Anthony Henry and especially Adam Jones play like they're expected. It'll be a bonus if draft picks Mike Jenkins or even Orlando Scandrick can contribute.
But even with all of that, there still could be room for at least one more cornerback on the roster. And that's where Ball has to shine, or at least outplay the likes of Evan Oglesby and Quincy Butler.
Physically, Ball doesn't even look like he did last year as a rookie. Credit strength coach Joe Juraszek for helping the young cornerback develop his body, but he certainly looks like he can be more physical than he was a year ago.
It won't be easy to make a difference at this position, but watch out for Ball at cornerback.
Cory Lekkerkerker - Anyone with this name has to be on a list, right? But when you look at what has transpired on the offensive line, just in the last few months, something should tell you the coaching staff isn't too excited about the depth on the line, especially at tackle.
Since the draft and rookie free agency, the Cowboys went out and added three veterans, including tackles Lekkerkerker and Ryan Gibbons, along with guard Adam Stenavich. All three have game experience, which is certainly more than James Marten and Doug Free can say, and even Pat McQuistan hasn't been tested much in regular-season games.
That is why there is a place for a veteran such as Lekkerkerker to find a role. I'm giving him the leg up on Gibbons because of his ties to the staff.
Before signing with the Cowboys this summer, he spent two years with the Chargers and then last year in Miami. Hmm, that's funny, his new position coach, Hudson Houck, was also with San Diego for those same two years before going to Miami last year.
Not only does Houck know Lekkerkerker, but head coach Wade Phillips should as well, seeing he at least coached in San Diego at the same time.
There must be a reason the coaches are looking for some outside help. Obviously, they aren't sold with the backups behind tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo, which means there is a chance for someone, especially a player already with ties to the staff, to jump into the mix.
Junior Siavii - I promise I'm not just picking out the fun names. And if you're wondering, this one goes like "Say-uh-vee." But seriously, this guy has a legitimate chance to find his way on the team, too.
The nose tackle position certainly will have some company, with Jay Ratliff returning and trying to stave off Tank Johnson for the starting role. Of course, it looks like if Johnson wins the job, then Ratliff will probably move over to defensive end. If you heard one Wade Phillips press conference last year, you know two things: The Cowboys went 13-3 and the coach loves Jay Ratliff.
But, that doesn't mean there isn't a place for another nose tackle to plug the middle. The club still has Remi Ayodele on the roster, but Siavii is the guy I think could challenge for a roster spot.
At 6-5, 330 pounds, this guy is a huge force inside. And with the versatility that both Ratliff and Johnson have to play defensive end, especially in a four-man front, then you can always have room for another run-stopper who can fill some space.
In fact, I've heard it more than once from the halls of Valley Ranch that a reason the Cowboys felt confident enough to trade Jason Ferguson away to the Dolphins before the draft was because they already had two established vets in Ratliff and Johnson, AND, and they have high hopes for Siavii.
Alonzo Coleman - OK, so where does this guy fit? Not sure I can answer that. Thankfully, that's not what this article is about. It's about guys who will turn some heads and make the decisions somewhat tougher on the coaches.
Where does the fourth running back fit into the picture when it's clear he can't jump into the top three? Again, that's not saying Coleman can't become one of the top three backs. But let's face it, we know Marion Barber is starting and Felix Jones will have a huge role. Also, fourth-round pick Tashard Choice will have a role as well.
Realistically, the best Coleman can do is probably fourth.
Coleman, who spent last year on the practice squad, just won't get many opportunities to shine.
But, there is a reason the Cowboys kept him around all last year despite the fact he missed nearly all of training camp injured.
An undrafted rookie free agent from Hampton last year, Coleman is more in the mold of a Felix Jones. In fact, he's even smaller, listed at 5-9 and 202 pounds. But he's very quick and has good vision for being a smaller back.
Don't know where he fits. But then again, I recall another player who entered camp in Oxnard, Calif., one year as fourth on the depth chart a position that would only keep three players, if that. As it turned out, he finished up No. 2 on the depth chart and is now the current starter. Of course, not everyone is as fortunate as one Tony Romo, but then again, it's just another example that anything can happen.
Plain and simple, if Coleman can prove that he is a player, the Cowboys will find a role for him.
*******
OK, so there are five guys. Of course, I could probably list about 10 or 15 more. Then again, what fun is that? Sure, someone will develop into a training camp surprise, the fun part is figuring out who?
So, I left out guys like Amendola, who might be able to find a role, especially if he can thrive as a punt returner. Watch out for another undrafted receiver in Mark Bradford. This guy just might be the most polished of the rookie receivers.
And I'm not sure quarterback Richard Bartel belongs on this list. Everyone knows the quarterbacks, so it's hard to call this guy an unknown. It's doubtful he will jump Brad Johnson as the backup, but he just might do enough in camp to force the club to keep three quarterbacks. If he's good enough to stick around, don't expect the Cowboys to release him with a hope for a return to the practice squad. They got burned last year when they cut Matt Moore, who went to Carolina and ended up starting a game against the Cowboys late in the season.
OK, there's a few names to keep an eye on. And yes, even on a team that has bigger-than-life players such as T.O. and Romo and cast of other budding superstars, there is always room for a few dark horses to join the party.
In about a week or two, we should start figuring out who this year's crop will be.
Supposedly Terry Glenn agreed to sign his injury waiver.
But oddly the Cowboys haven't accepted it yet
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