The VRR: Cowboys Second Round Of OTAs
by Dave Halprin on May 25, 2010 3:00 PM CDT
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PrintThe Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of their second round of OTAs. Guess what? Everybody loves Dez Bryant, including the guy he could one day replace.
"The dude is scary,'' [Roy] Williams said. "The dude is good and he doesn't even know it yet. Once the light bulb goes on he will probably be the best in the league.
"He's a man among boys. He's got big hands. Real big hands. When he shakes my hand, his fingers come up to my elbows.''
For more observations about the OTAs, mainly on the field stuff, head over to Todd Archer's article. Dez, Roy, Miles, Crayton, Ogletree, Hurd, even potential pet cat Titus Ryan, have all been talked about in one way or another in reference to the Cowboys WR corps. Do we need to add another name?
He has an uphill climb considering what is in front of him but keep an eye on Manny Johnson. The second-year wide out caught a touchdown pass from Jon Kitna in red zone drills. He really came on late last year while on the practice squad. He was added to the punt return mix, which showed the coaches wanted to give the guy some extra roles to improve his chances.
For a different slant on OTAs, we have the Redshirt Class of 2009 trying to make their mark. The mothership has a rundown.
The Cowboys kept 10 of their 12 draft picks for the entire '09 season. Kicker David Buehler, tight end John Phillips and linebacker Victor Butler appeared in every game. Wide receiver Manuel Johnson spent the year on the practice squad.
The rest dealt with injuries of varying degrees. Linebackers Stephen Hodge and Brandon Williams and offensive lineman Robert Brewster missed the entire season. Linebacker Jason Williams, safety Michael Hamlin and quarterback Stephen McGee recovered from preseason injuries but rarely got on the field.
Hey Wade, way to put pressure on your potential new FG kicker. Ha!
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, who was the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator from 1981-85, said that retired kicker Morten Andersen was a kickoff specialist for the Saints during his rookie season in 1982.
The following year, Andersen was the team's primary placekicker, and he currently holds NFL records for most field goals made (565) and attempted (709).
Marcus Spears didn't get traded at the draft, but the rumors of future deals, or competition from within, isn't bothering the veteran defensive end.
When the Cowboys offered higher tender offers to backups Jason Hatcher and Stephen Bowen this off-season, it was a signal that Spears will be challenged.
"Maybe so," Spears said. "But you know, all of that stuff is to be determined. I'm going to go into camp and fight hard and try to keep my starting job. Hatcher is going to try to be the starter, and Bowen is going to try to do the same thing.
"If they want Hatch or Bowen to start, they'll start. If they want me to start, I'll start. But I'm not caught up in that. If I'm starting or not starting, I've got to make the most of my time out there"
As for Patrick Crayton, he's a no-show again.
Patrick Crayton has plans to miss his second consecutive week of organized team activities. The Cowboys wide receiver wants a trade because the club drafted Dez Bryantand Crayton feels his playing time will be reduced. Does this bother coach Wade Phillips? Not really.
Yeah, having Dez in the fold turns people into Alfred E. Neuman. What, Me Worry?
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Yeah, I posted the quote about big hands in the 3 Headed Receivers fanpost
I thought it was actually hilarious. Nice one, RW.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
i'm pretty sure he's being half-heartedly sarcastic
Roy is a pretty sarcastic guy. I think he’s trying to emphasize how everyone deeming Dez the next great one is kind of outrageous while he’s still there. At one point he was a 7th overall pick, so he still feels like he’s one of the best.
However, I can’t wait for Dez to take Roy’s starting job.
baseBALLIN!
I didn't take that from the interview
and the DMN writer went out of his way to state that RW is not a high-ego diva.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
i didn't say he was a high-ego diva
but to be honest, the guy should take some offense to the fact that the cowboys took, with their first draft pick, a guy who plays the same position as you. He’s a sarcastic guy. Its different to be sarcastic and a “high-ego diva.” I feel like Roy is a smart guy who’s under achieving. He’s always used comedy as a defense mechanism. He is being half sarcastic with his glowing praises, though, and rightfully so.
baseBALLIN!
Right, I didn't claim you said that
Only that RW is not assessed by them to be the type who would make fun of a team mate’s media impact. Sarcasm here would be to make fun of either Dez or the media, which they went out of their way to say he is not that guy. Blustery is the term they used:
The spirit of what Williams has to say is often taken the wrong way by those who are not there when he makes the comments. He’s not full of bluster. He’s thoughtful. He also rejects the notion that his contract gives him an edge when it comes to the battle for a starting receiver spot.
My point is that he is complimenting Dez, not cutting him. A sarcastic comment would not be positive. And of course he’s exaggerating for comedic effect with the"fingers touch my elbow" part.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
yeah Roy can be sarcastic
but not always, and that quote didn’t come across that way to me at all. Funny, but not sarcastic.
I really don't think that was it at all.
Roy has been pretty emphatic in his praise of Dez and has told him he will help him with anything he needs. As such, I really don’t see any sarcasm in that quote. I know he has underachieved here, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a high character guy.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on May 25, 2010 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah I think Roy has the affliction of being pouty and maybe a little lazy.
I don’t think that he’s a bad dude though. He praised Calvin Johnson as well.
Anything said above is purely the opinion of AFB unless said otherwise.
by The Immortal Iron Fist AKA AFB on May 25, 2010 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Gotta disagree with you on that one
He’s being serious in that interview.
by JoeyJoeJoeJr.Shabadoo on May 26, 2010 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions
M. Johnson
Is explosive WR if you ever watched him at OU just about every time he caught a quick slant it was almost a run for the other end jus about every time. But with much depth that we have a WR now i dont see him sticking around this year.
Someone's always Going to be Hating on Da Boyz
Ya, I love OU
and he did great things there… But Dallas is a hard place to start at
Semper Fi Do or Die
I would love to see him or Titus bump off Hurd so we
can have our #5 receiver be a young guy with some untapped potential. To do that though they are going to have to really play well at special teams. Of course, if Buehler can in fact wrap up the kicking job, perhaps Dallas will take 6 receivers and make it easier to hold a guy like Johnson and/or Ryan on the roster.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on May 25, 2010 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Same here
I think we know what he have in Hurd annd I don’t think he’s much more than a future number 3. I can’t know that, it’s just my impression so far. If one of these other guys is a future 2 or even 1, that would certainly be an upgrade.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
Hurd was the talk of training camp last year,
it didn’t translate to the game but he’s solid and a stud on special teams. I’m in no hurry to get rid of him at this point.
Well like I said for either one to stick over Hurd they are going to have to play well on ST.
Additionally, I personally feel that each of them might actually have a higher ceiling than Hurd since they both seem to have more unique physical ability and also are certainly going to progress to some degree between now and the start of training camp. That being said I don’t think it is going to be easy for either guy, but I would like for one of these younger guys to step up a la Kevin Ogletree last year to give us more potential gamebreakers (if nothing more than for trade bait down the road).
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on May 25, 2010 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions
The competition for the #5 WR position should be intense if Crayton leaves
Hurd, Manny J, Titus Ryan, Terrell Hudgins, Jesse Holley, Verran Tucker, Rashaun Greer are the candidates for the 5th spot right now. I’m a little curious to see how Hudgins does in camp. Out of all the guys, he’s had by far the most successful collegiate career, he’s like the Jerry Rice of FCS.
Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Felix Jones = defensive coordinator's Kobayashi Maru scenario
by APerfectStar on May 26, 2010 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Terry, you are such a pessimist!
Why can’t you just accept that this offense is going to be great?
Hater…
So pardon my disposition; why should I listen to a system that never listened to me?
Because he is too busy
wiping Romo’s arse every night – lol!
"The Most Dangerous Man in the world is the one with nothing to lose"
by SaratogaRacing on May 25, 2010 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions
What I'm starting to wonder is with so many threats
how long do they really have to do their job… with that many weapons it shouldn’t take long to get the ball out. Plus defenses can’t just all out rush with our best running coming from draw plays. This isn’t near the same level, but we played against a spread offense with a ton of weapons but no O-line in High School. It didn’t matter how fast we got there he always got the ball off to people underneath or in the flats and he’d burn you if you dropped back in coverage. It was lose lose. With a good QB and amazing talents all around it really is going to be a hard thing to do to slow down our offense.
Semper Fi Do or Die
Personally like ...
Free. Thought he did well in his time last season. Dallas has more depth than last year too. Lets hope for health.
by spadesking131313 on May 25, 2010 4:16 PM CDT reply actions
Offensive Line and Romo's decion making will be the key.
If the OL gives Romo time to make reads and get the ball out quick, as well as make holes for Jones/Barber/Choice, this offense should strike fear into ANY defense in the league.
We will know more when the pre-season gets here but on paper at least, our depth on offense is great. Quality players almost everywhere you look.
If the defense can keep teams off the field, this team SHOULD be a scoring machine.
"Drew is a winner"....Roger Staubach
The defense was better than the offense by the end of the season
if they can continue that while the offense continues to improve, I like their chances. The skill positions are there. It’s line’s performance that will make or break the offense now, and I think the weapons we all talk about will help.
FREE THE OGLETREE!!!
The next step for our defense is to start creating many more turnovers.
If they can find a way to do that, then we may see an elite defense forged in Dallas.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on May 25, 2010 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions
its all about ints
too many times i saw a ball go through the hands of our DBs-except jenkins. althogh im sure it didnt help both safetys played last seaosn with casts on their hands for extended periodes of time
by missingthe90s on May 25, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
any way you can look at last year
we were elite. We held every offense except the Giants under their season average (crappy vikings tds not withstanding). We embarassed McNabb and Philly’s offense not once, not twice, but three times. Washington couldn’t muster anything at all. The Saints, Chargers, and Packers really struggled, but if there is one clear deficiency in those 3 games its that our D wore down late – hopefully the insertion of young lb talent will help solve that issue.
Turnovers will be nice, but if this defense “only” plays as well as last year, we’ll be in the playoffs and a threat to win the title. I mean look at the Minny game – we were one play by sensabaugh/gutsy throw by favre away from a great first 3 quarters defensively, a play he’d normally make.
And with Williams and Lee coming in, maybe our pass defense will be better than last year.
Well I guess we just have different definitions of elite.
I thought our defense was very good last year, but what I personally saw was a “bend but don’t break” defense that while elite in the scoring department, was not elite in the yards allowed and turnovers forced departments. And while maybe those categories seem secondary to the scoring category but consider the impact both can have for the offense (less yards allowed means more possessions and shorter fields) and the flow of the game (forced turnovers as we all know have a huge impact on games). I need to see this defense get better in those secondary categories before I declare Dallas’s defense “elite.”
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on May 25, 2010 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Amen, word, what he said.
This is a metric that shows up again and again. Longer field for the offense means fewer scores and failing to get the defense off the field means more wear and tear on the d players, particularly the older ones in the middle. And obviously even a mediocre team’s chances rise the more plays they get. Aggregate amount of points scored by opponents at the end of the season may look good, but the pertinent factor is the points needed to win any one game. (Denver, SD.) What does it matter if they score below their average but still win? And games like GB or even early against Minny started to break after failures to deny first downs. Lousy field position is pressure. Good f p is wind in their sails. Turnovers are a result often of sustained accumulated pressure on a harassed offense (NO vs Ind.)
Gentlemen, prepare to flame:
RWilliams has been a major disappointment as a receiver but don’t think for a second that the RBs feel the same. The guy can block and gives max effort on each down. That he can’t seem to separate or em, catch at times, well he then definitely makes the case for his own demotion. That said, perhaps Dez is the cure for whatever ails him as a receiver. Maybe he just needed someone around that could definitely unseat him (hint: It was never going to be Crayton).
After reading RW's comments,
I’m really starting to believe he might get it now… Don’t let me down again RW, don’t do it. 3 great WR’s>2 great WR’s
Semper Fi Do or Die
He definitely talking the talk but...
Perhaps those ribs were really hurting the rest of the season…
Im talking abou his quotes about
him REALIZING finally Dez is competition. He know he has to be on top of his game and his contract guarentees him nothing. I don’t think he looked at it like that until now. I hope he is giving it his all to correct his deficiencies
Semper Fi Do or Die
I wonder how good RW will be
when the light goes on…
by Satch30 on May 25, 2010 4:44 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
His light was on for 5+ yrs...
…unfortunatly that bulb burnt out the yr. he came to Dallas.
Which begs the question, how many great Cowboy alternatives does it take to change Roy’s lightbulb?
by Left Coast Cowboy on May 25, 2010 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I think we're about to find out. Dez might not start but
he is definitely filling up RW’s rear-view mirror.
Competitors compete
competition is the breeding ground for greatness.. You think about what competition did for the guys who never had the greatest skill sets (emmitt-not big enough, not fast enough, Jerry Rice-ditto, Kurt Warner-not evasive enough and didnt even draw enoguh interest out of college to be drafted, speaking of which our very own Tony Romo-UFA, third string qb for two years. See a trend?)
When these players were pushed (weather it be due to their rooster spot being in jepardy, or they were told they were incapable due to physcial limitations) they responded with true greatness…
Is Roy Willliams what we all wanted two years ago when he came to us? absolutely not. Can he be? Absolutely- He was when he was in detroit 2006
I hear a ton of bagging on Roy because of his past failures, which have been well documented and deserved, but NONE of it means ANYTHING the second Dallas drafted Dez Bryant. Roy will be pushed, Roy will have to earn his money now, and he will have to fight for reps on the field. This competition could make this offense flourish. Dez Bryant can be the reason Roy Williams becomes everything and more that we wanted when he first got here.
Let the past die gentlemen… Look forward to the future. Theres no reason in this world to compplain about having three phenominal WR’s on your team (not to mention the RB’s, TE’s and our QB).
San Fran had Stokes, Owens, and Rice-at that time, could have all been no. 1’s. Minnesota had Carter, Moss, and Jake Reed and no one can argue with their offensive results. Az Hakim, Holt, and Bruce made the greatest show on turf. All of these players made the others better.. They were all in competition for the next guys playing time. I think its safe to say that if the light has finally turned on between romo and roy, that Dez was the guy who flipped the switch.
Heres to a happy ’10 Cowboys fans, its gonna be a heck of a ride
When Roy got here
What I remember is a bunch of Lion’s fans coming on the blog and laughing their assess off. They told us exactly what would happen, and it has.
Roy told us all last year that he got it, and it was going to be different. It wasn’t.
He’s had a season and a half as the starter, and he still looks lost out there at times.
Roy has been given every chance. I can’t predict the future, but I can tell you this with great certainty; if RW continues to disappoint in the first 4 games this year, Dez Bryant will take his starting spot.
When I die I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather -- not screaming like the passengers in his car.
I'm not debating that fact.
The best players should play.. What I am saying is that Roy has been fed with a silver spoon since he got here and has never had to legitimatly work for anything. With Dez here that might finally put a fire under his butt to get him moving., And I’m not too sure about you but I have actually seen a guy whos butt caught on fire (long story, will explain if you really want to know) and that man did everything he could to put it our.. If that fire is lit, Roy will do all he can to put it out and stay on the feild, which we all know will require above par play from him.
Also, I dont give two squats what anyone associated with the Lions organization says or thinks, that frnahcise is a joke, and there can be no denying the fact Roy played extremely well on a very unbalanced team when he was there.
by missingthe90s on May 25, 2010 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions
analogy
A bad husband has everychance to be the man his wife wants him to be throughout there marriage. Sometimes it takes a dramatic circumstance, such as another male better looking than him and acts like he came out of the movie “the notebook”, to motivate the husband to become the person he sould have been all along for fear of losing here.
Roy is married to the Cowboys. Dez is the hotter looking, sympathetic, and sensitive guy trying to bbreak this marriage up- or at least trying to get the Cowboys to cheat on Roy’s playing time by giving him some PT nookie. If this doesnt make Roy better hes gonna find himself divorced(cut/benched) with his wife sporting the younger new toy it just bought last April.
by missingthe90s on May 25, 2010 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Has this ever happened?
I thought the bad husband cheated, got caught, said he was sorry and wouldn’t do it again and she believed him. Then two months later he cheated again. Guess that analogy wouldn’t work though… Let’s hope Roy is the exception.
PS
for you to use anything a Lions fan says about a players evaluation for the basis of your conclusion we need to have a talk ;)
Friendly jab
by missingthe90s on May 25, 2010 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Why is that? I bet most Lions fans know their team has sucked
The sad part is that Jerry got bamboozled by the Lions management that drafted all of those crappy players
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
I know you don't like that Lion's fans laughed and told us he sucked.
Neither did I. It was simply an observation of what really happened. I went at it with them. If you check my profile you’ll see I’m a Longhorn football fan. Nobody wanted Roy to make it here more than I did. But I don’t care who it is, Longhorns alum or whatever, if you’re not producing for the Cowboys, and you’re making 22 million or whatever he’s made in the last 18 months, I got no patience with it. It’s just, like after last season I got tired of defending him. I got tired of the dropped passes, blown routes, and stupid grins when he screwed up. I’ve had it with that. And he said all this last off-season, so he can talk until he’s blue in the face. I’ll support him when he earns his keep. Categorically, until then I’m done with his stories, reasons, excuses, and screw-ups. I’d unequivocally rather have Austin, Bryant, and Ogletree, than Austin, Williams, and Bryant.
When I die I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather -- not screaming like the passengers in his car.
What I remember is a bunch of Lion’s fans coming on the blog and laughing their assess off. They told us exactly what would happen, and it has.
Oh yeah, are they laughing now that they don’t have Roy’s blocking paving the way for…aahh, who am I kidding, nobody likes being laughed at by Lions fans
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
Well in their defense..
They do have to take EVERY opportunity to do so since they receive so much of it from everywhere else :)
"The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart."
Let's hope Buehler never touches Anderson's FG records
The Saints could not score TDs…
Someone knock me unconcious until August. No, September, preseason only makes it worse.
by BlueNSilverBlood on May 25, 2010 6:40 PM CDT reply actions
Two big hopes on offense
That what Roy Williams said about Dez Bryant is true, and that Roy Williams starts playing like the Roy Williams the Cowboys thought they were getting. If that happens no one will be able to stop this offense.
Get over it, Longhorn Nation.
If Dez is half as good as Randy Moss was as a rookie, he owns Williams’ starting gig by mid-October. Just look at the guy Moss supplanted in his rookie season; Jake Reed. http://www.nfl.com/players/jakereed/profile?id=REE455805 Williams isn’t half the player Jake Reed was; who had four consecutive seasons of over 1,150 yards preceding the Vikings drafting of Moss as opposed to Roy’s one huge fluke year and a whole lot of potential.
Yep, Seems like we only lack depth at QB
Kitna may be better than theother old dude, but he still another old dude who ain’t Brett Farve. Hope everyone can handle thier blocking assignments.
If only the Cowboys had protected Matt Moore instead of letting him get picked off the PS
That was a dumb mistake. Instead they carried Joe Berger on the roster. Looks like they could have eventually gotten a nice draft pick as compensation in a trade a few seasons down the road. And in the meantime he’d have been a capable backup to Romo, and they could have just carried 2 QB’s on the roster. Ah well, I certainly hope they learned a lesson from that one.
Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Felix Jones = defensive coordinator's Kobayashi Maru scenario
by APerfectStar on May 26, 2010 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions
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