'Gone till December': The 2012 Dallas Cowboys Season Thread

[baltimore]

jerry gotta be in win now mode not taking those picks for jenkins.. or maybe they think they could move scandrick.. his contract not that bad

 

[Ashyneezz]

Sean Lee stepping up as the leader brehs

Hatcher: "Sean Lee... first one at the facility, last one to leave"
http://www.dallascowboys.com/multimedia/multimedia_center.cfm?id=70764C7C-A068-8044-5B3A6578FDD5E153

Guys like sean lee give me hope. I don't know what exactly changed in the offseason, but it's obvious from his comments something did for the better. He talks about better chemistry, better leadership, better work habits, and more accountability. Very nice interview IMO.

 

[dtownreppin214]

that second would have been nice....

but if we trade him that leaves us with Butler as our fourth CB right

we would be in the same position as last year

yeah pretty much what i've been saying. if we can't a 2nd or higher it's better to keep him in this pass happy league it's good to have depth at cb. although i think butler will be better than ball.

jerry gotta be in win now mode not taking those picks for jenkins.. or maybe they think they could move scandrick.. his contract not that bad

breh if we trade scandrick then we would need two cornerbacks next year b/c there is a 0% chance we resign Jenkins. he doesn't want to be here for some reason. I don't think he likes the media pressure here.

 

[dtownreppin214]

a few notes from OTA practices this week.

Here are some thoughts from Wednesday's Cowboys OTA:

The way that Rob Ryan and his staff are working their blitz packages is putting a lot of pressure on the offensive line and the running backs with their pickups. I don't see this as a bad thing at all. It’s good that Tyron Smith and Nate Livings are working on passing stunts because they have never worked together before. I have no problem with DeMarco Murray and Phillip Tanner trying to block Victor Butler or Orlando Scandrick coming off the edge. Teams that can blitz and blitz pick up can create havoc on both sides of the ball.

I have enjoyed watching quarterback Kyle Orton work these last two weeks. There is a certain calm to his game and the way he conducts the offense. There is no feel of panic when things break down. The ball seems to go to the open receiver down the field or to the tight end underneath. He has been accurate and on time with his passes. Thought there might be some struggles with his mobility but he shows he can slide enough to make the necessary throw. Had a beautiful touch pass down the middle of the field to Kevin Ogletree for a touchdown that ended practice on Wednesday. Ogletree was able to gain a little separation but the pass was in perfect position to make the catch.

On defense, Victor Butler and Jason Hatcher were playing with a purpose on Wednesday. Both were difficult to block with any consistency. On one rush, Hatcher exploded off the snap and was to Tyron Smith's corner before he could even react, which is difficult to do because Smith is so good away from the line of scrimmage. On that same play, Butler beat Phil Costa inside which would have resulted in a sack. Later in the blitz pickup period, Hatcher and Butler ran a twist on Smith and Nate Livings that got a sack. Hatcher got such a push on Livings that when Butler came around inside, Smith was off balance to help, as was Livings, which allowed Butler a clean path to Romo.

All during the off season, I had heard how much of a better player that Clifton Geathers had become. In going back through my notes of Geathers during the 2011 season, I remember how unimpressed I was with his play. I viewed a player that at times was way too tall and struggled to disengage from blocks. I have to say that the two LIVE looks that I have had of Geathers, he has done a much better job of playing with his pads down and getting push. There was an example Wednesday where he walked Bill Nagy back into Kyle Orton's lap, causing Orton to have to move quickly to his right as the rush closed down on him. The day before, Geathers beat tackle Taylor Dever inside for a pressure during team period. There is no doubt of Geathers’ strength but can he carry it over into games when given the opportunity, which he should have plenty of this summer.

IRVING, Texas -- Wednesday was the second of four open organized team activity practices to the media, so here are a handful of observations that were cut short in part because of Jerry Jones’ press conference during the workout:

** WR Dwayne Harris has a good feel for the slot position. He’s not the fastest player but he can find holes and he did some nice work underneath catching a pass from QB Kyle Orton in team drills. But if Harris wants to lock up a spot, he’ll have to show he can catch punts. He misjudged one punt and dropped another that Kevin Ogletree scooped up for a fumble recovery.

** Upset with what he felt was too much talking to the officials by both sides of the ball, Jason Garrett momentarily stopped the two-minute drill to tell the No. 1 offense and defense to stop complaining and play the game.

** LB Victor Butler got a lot of work in DeMarcus Ware's absence and he continues to put pressure on quarterbacks. I can see Rob Ryan putting together packages just to get Butler on the field more with Ware and Anthony Spencer. In one play, he lined up at nose tackle and brought pressure.

** DE Jason Hatcher was active as well. He had a would-be sack of Tony Romo after slipping by LT Tyron Smith. He and Butler gave the offense real fits.

** C Phil Costa rolled back a shotgun snap to Romo, which led to an Anthony Spencer sack and/or fumble recovery if it were a real game.

** As the big board showed a replay of a John Phillips’ touchdown last season on a throwback screen against the New York Giants, Phillips repeated the play in Wednesday’s practice for a touchdown on an over-aggressive defense. Later, Phillips had a nice catch of an Orton pass in which he broke down LB Baraka Atkins for a nice run after the catch.

** There could be a real battle for the No. 3 tailback job. Phillip Tanner has looked strong and quick, but undrafted backs Darrell Scott and Lance Dunbar also look the part. Both players made nice yards after catch in red-zone drills.

**Orton had the prettiest throw of the day with a floater down the seam to Ogletree for a touchdown just out of the reach of CB C.J. Wilson. Ogletree was able to make the over-the-shoulder catch and get his feet in bounds in the back of the end zone.

 

[DallasTxRep]

^^^^interesting stuff

 

[CaughtInTWebb]

I think Dez is going to have a monster year.....I mean think about it...dude still had a respectable one last year and he wasn't in shape or healthy.....I just hope he and Miles can stay healthy....and our damn corners and safties can play better and not act like fukking hurdles....

 

[dtownreppin214]

best position battles imo.

1. 3rd receiver
2. 3rd running back
3. center
4. free safety
5. right guard

 

[DalMem]

@ N.Y. Giants (NBC) L
@ Seattle (FOX) W
TAMPA BAY (FOX) W
CHICAGO (ESPN) L
@ Baltimore (FOX) L
@ Carolina (FOX) L
N.Y. GIANTS (FOX) W
@ Atlanta (NBC) L
@ Philadelphia (FOX) L
CLEVELAND (CBS) W
WASHINGTON (FOX) W
PHILADELPHIA (NBC) L
@ Cincinnati (FOX) L
PITTSBURGH (CBS) L
NEW ORLEANS (FOX) L
@ Washington (FOX) W

Predict 6-10 2012 Season.

That schedule is a beast.

 

[dtownreppin214]

Last mini camp is this week before traning camp starts in a month. Mike Jenkins showed up today, seemed in a good mood. Here are some observations from yesterday. Dez/Miles are going to be a problem this year and the 3rd rb/wr battles are going to be the best battles of tc. Not really sure about the guard/center positions tho. Nobody seems to be stepping up.

IRVING, Texas -- We bring you some observations from the two-hour session on Day 1 of the Cowboys’ three-day minicamp:

* If there was an MVP for the day it would go to Dez Bryant. The third-year wide receiver was all over the field, catching passes from Tony Romo. His most impressive came on a leaping left-handed grab on a bubble screen. That the play picked up all of a couple of yards meant little. It was an impressive play. The best catch was on a back-shoulder throw from Romo, adjusting around the corner to make the play. Unofficially, Bryant had seven catches in the practice.

* Jason Garrett is big on situational play and brought out a late-game situation with the No. 1 offense going against the No. 1 defense. With the defense leading by four points, the offense had four plays to score from the 18 and was unable to come through. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, however, had to remind the defenders to protect the goal line.

* WR Kevin Ogletree had a "wow" moment with a one-handed grab on a deep ball from Romo. It was made better (depending on the perspective) by the fact that it came against Brandon Carr, the Cowboys’ No. 1 corner. It was the first deep-ball reception Carr has allowed this offseason.

* OLB DeMarcus Ware had two would-be sacks of Romo, both coming from the quarterback’s blindside.

* Ryan is preaching to his defense to get turnovers. The No. 3 unit forced back-to-back fumbles, with LB Caleb McSurdy punching the ball free from Darrell Scott on a pass to the flat.

* The Cowboys have some running backs on their roster even without Felix Jones practicing. Phillip Tanner continues to show quickness in hitting the holes, and rookie free agent Lance Dunbar has some make-you-miss moves, as well. That will be a good battle to watch in training camp.

* CB Teddy Williams heard it from the coaches when he had a poor reaction to an out-route throw to Andre Holmes. He nearly got beat on the same play on the next snap, but Donavon Kemp let Stephen McGee’s pass slip through his hands.

* QB Rudy Carpenter, practicing for the first time in a month because of an oblique strain, hit Saalim Hakim with a nice out route just out of the reach of CB Isaac Madison. Hakim had a difficult time catching the ball early in the OTAs but has done a better job lately.

* An interesting note among the players who did rehab work during practice (Tyrone Crawford, Felix Jones, Dan Connor, Kyle Wilber, Alex Albright and Morris Claiborne): they did so wearing their helmets.

Some thoughts from Day 1 of Cowboys mini camp:

Thought that Orlando Scandrick had a really nice day of practice. In the first play of team drills, Dez Bryant tries to run a slant inside but Scandrick quickly reads the route, jumps inside and cuts him off. Romo is looking at Bryant the whole way but has to hold the ball. Coverage was so good that Romo has to go back to the other side of the field. Later in the period, Holmes tries to run an out on Scandrick but there is no separation. Holmes is in such bad shape against Scandrick that he slips and falls as the ball sails out of bounds. In the team blitz period, Ogletree goes vertical on Carr who doesn't get his hands on him, Carr is struggling to keep up as the ball is laid in a perfect spot for a touchdown but not so fast, Scandrick comes screaming off the defensive right side untouched and pulls off the rush before the pass is thrown. The result of the play would have been a sack. Even when ball were not coming in his direction, Scandrick was in good position throughout the routes. Was impressed with the way he played with quickness.

There has been a lot of talk in the OTA's about the play of Cole Beasley the undrafted free agent wide receiver from SMU. I had a chance to visit with one of his college coaches on the practice field today and I came away from the discussion with this thought: Beasley is one smart player. Where Beasley's smarts are going to serve him well is when he has to learn both the inside and outside positions at receiver in this offense. I really believed that his height would limit how much you would see him on the outside when you have guys like Holmes, Ogletree and Radway on the outside but today Beasley took some reps on the outside with Austin inside in the slot. I see this as a good sign if you are fan of Beasley because they think enough of him to try and see if in fact that he can do it. If there was no talent there, he might be stuck just trying to make this team in the slot.

I am one of those scouts that really liked David Arkin when he came out of college because of his athletic ability and toughness. The biggest question I had of him was his strength. With one offseason in the books, I really believed that he was going to be a much stronger player but in these practices, I really haven't seen that. It's really a shame that Mackenzy Bernadeau has been unable to practice. Arkin has been the starter at right guard but today, Ronald Leary took some reps at the spot with the 1's which I do not see as a bad thing. Leary plays with much more power and strength than Arkin. With Doug Free on that right side, you need a power player next to him. Where Arkin has struggled is when he gets overextended and that happens because he is trying to stop the charge of the defender. His feet are more than good enough but when you don't have power in your upper body, it's hard to extend and keep the defender off you. Until we see Bernadeau, this right guard spot will need to be continually studied.

 

[lamont614]

@ N.Y. Giants (NBC) L
@ Seattle (FOX) W
TAMPA BAY (FOX) W
CHICAGO (ESPN) L
@ Baltimore (FOX) L
@ Carolina (FOX) L
N.Y. GIANTS (FOX) W
@ Atlanta (NBC) L
@ Philadelphia (FOX) L
CLEVELAND (CBS) W
WASHINGTON (FOX) W
PHILADELPHIA (NBC) L
@ Cincinnati (FOX) L
PITTSBURGH (CBS) L
NEW ORLEANS (FOX) L
@ Washington (FOX) W

Predict 6-10 2012 Season.

That schedule is a beast.

7-9 is the worst

my prediction 14-2

 

[WestS1de]

Murray healthy. Austin healthy. And the best cornerback combo in the league.
Looks like its gonna be a good season

 

[baltimore]

if skill positions stay healthy this team will beast fukk the schedule.. aint scared of the afc north they offenses are weak.. you know ill be in there week 5 when the boys come to town

 

[dtownreppin214]

at this powerful interview from our new fullback Lawrence Vickers. The transformation of the this team from losers like Bradie James and Terrence Newman to Vickers, Lee, Connor, Carter, Carr is going to be huge for us. I never liked the mentality of the previous core...never seemed totally into football.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-XYGmF1EgI"]SS MD w/ LV - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Akata Man Bromo]

I cant wait brehs

 

[DallasTxRep]

Dez 3% body fat
He ready yall.....hopefully