Hatcher shines; Stanley joins Green on the fat list

by Dave Halprin on May 7, 2006 11:29 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys News

Rookie mini-camp is now over and we're finally getting some reports about how the players looked on the field. After a weekend filled with Parcells/Owens talk, let's take a look at what happened on the field.

According to several sources, including this article by Mickey Spags, 3rd round pick DE Jason Hatcher is not as raw as everyone thought. Yes, I was quick to bash this pick - and I'm still not convinced it was the right move - but if I'm wrong, I'll happily be wrong.

Here's the Mick on Hatcher:

Now watching him over these past four practices is not the defining evaluation. Remember, the players were only in helmets and shorts. No pads. So this was not all-out contact. Also remember, he was going up against other rookies, most either late-round draft choices or rookie free agents. It's not like Flozell Adams was out there.

But let me tell you. He, who played at Div. I-AA, was a man among boys. They had trouble blocking him, especially in those one-on-one drills. He was too fast and too strong. His arms seemed too long - for them, not for him. And when they did stone Hatcher, it seemed to be more of a clothesline block, trying to sever the head from the body at the neck.

Several other reports said things along the same lines, that Hatcher was pretty dominating on the pass rush and used an assortment of moves to win the battle. OK, kid, make me look like an idiot and get yourself into the defensive line rotation.

Montavious Stanley joined the Parcells fat list, with strict orders to get his weight down from 320 to around 313, where he was in college. At least the kid kept a good attitude about it.

From DallasCowboys.com:

"He just told me to come in better shape when I report back," said Stanley, who arrived to this weekend's three-day rookie mini-camp weighing 320 pounds, "and to learn the details of my position. He expects a whole lot more out of me when I come back."

Stanley, a sixth-round pick out of Louisville, said the Cowboys want him to lose five to 10 pounds, bringing him closer to the 313-pound mark he said he hit at the combine. Stanley's conditioning leading up to the draft had been hampered by a torn pectoral muscle he suffered toward the end of last season, but he said nothing will prevent him from meeting the weight expectations imposed by the Cowboys' head coach.

"I don't use any excuses," Stanley said. "I just told him, 'Yes sir. I'll be back in better shape when I report back.'"

Good answer kid, just do what the Tuna wants and you'll probably be successful in this league. Stanley did get some raves about his handling of Matt Tarullo.

Stanley flashed his strength at times during individual blocking drills in camp, twice tossing first-year guard Matt Tarullo to the ground. But he also showed his inconsistency, getting stonewalled on several other occasions.

Apparently, at this point the Cowboys are counting on Mike Vanderjagt to handle the kickoff duties.

Parcells, though, said special teams coach Bruce DeHaven has been working with Vanderjagt on kick offs and that at this time he has no contingency plan I place if a specialist is needed.

I don't know about that, an assitant coach in the NFL told me last week there's no way Vanderjagt can handle the kickoffs, if he does the Cowboys will be giving up field position. Not to mention the injury factor that could crop up.

The guys over at the RanchReport had a couple of articles on the rookie camp, you can find them here and here (sub. required).

Basically they say:

RB Demetrius Summers looked quick and elusive in the mini-camp. But the Cowboys, according to dallascowboys.com, aren't going to sign him right away.

LB Kai Parham is slow, and got beat in coverage by the RB's consistently. (Good call Deke).

Bobby Carpenter showed excellent skills in pass rushing but was beaten in pass coverage a few times.

Anthony Fasano showed great route running skills along with excellent hands, and was put in motion before the play often over the weekend.

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Comments

Hatcher

Spags is usually right on his sleeper picks, citing Crayton and Canty as guys in 2004 and 2005 who he thought would surprise. Like Grizz, I thought what the hell are they doing initially when drafting Hatcher in the 3rd, but it looks like he might be a big contributor soon. The 3-4 works the best when the D line is fresh and it looks like the Cowboys are going to get as many DE's as they can for rotation purposes.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on May 8, 2006 12:53 PM CDT reply actions

Draft futures

So if we draft a TE, a DE and LB every year it is small wonder that we are not drafting high for OL. I am pretty much convinced that the organization does not belive in the term "can't miss" when it comes to OL. Signing free agents when they first pop free may be the most successful stategy as they have alread been trained and weeded out and they are not yet big-time studs or their original team would have kept them.

by lee3022 on May 8, 2006 11:10 PM CDT reply actions

Parcells

is probaly gun shy after Rodgers and Peterson being busts, but your right, O linemen and WR need time to develop so signing FA might be the way to go there.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on May 9, 2006 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions