Training Camp for the Dallas Cowboys is finally over, and for the players, the regular season can't start fast enough.
“Definitely,” says Defensive Tackle Jason Ferguson. “We're tired of preseason, come on,” he says laughing, “I’m tired of two a days man, we want to get back to our regular season schedule, and get ready for this team, because we want to see what we've got.”
“We've been waiting for that,” says Safety Roy Williams. “Honestly, this preseason thing is getting too long and too drawn out. We're ready to start the regular season.”
Now that their roster is set, their focus on Jacksonville and the season opener can begin. There will more personnel adjustments, but for now, Bill Parcells hopes its a group that will earn him his first playoff win in Dallas.
“They are willing to work, they're not a lazy team,” says Head Coach Bill Parcells. “I've tried to spend a lot of time, situationally with them on, you know, I always tell them that I want a smart team, and you see signs around the locker room that ‘dumb players do dumb things, smart players do smart players very seldom do dumb things,’” he says.
During training camp, Parcells spent hours with fourth draft round pick, Wide Receiver Skyler Green, trying to develop him into a kickoff and punt return specialist, but in the end, it didn't work out. He didn’t survive the cut.
Offensive tackle Rob Pettiti lost his job to Marc Columbo, despite drawing praise from Parcells for his off season improvements. But Columbo's 1.6-million dollar signing bonus may have been the biggest factor.
Half of the 6-wide receivers who made the team, have never caught a regular season pass. Jamaica Rector, who spent last year on the practice squad, made it after leading the team with 20-catches in preseason.
Miles Austin is one of two rookie receivers to make it, along with San Antonio native, Wide Receiver Sam Hurd, who worked extensively with Terrell Owens during training camp.
“Physically, I've gotten in better shape,” says Hurd. I was in shape but playing a football game is different than just workouts, so I've gotten in a lot better shape, and mentally, I'm stronger. I've got the will to keep driving, keep driving, and don' stop.”
But the inconsistent play of Kicker Mike Vanderjagt caused the Cowboys to keep two kickers. Shaun Suisham showed that he has a strong leg to handle kickoffs, until Vanderjagt gets his act together.
“I won't stew over it at all,” says Vanderjagt. “I'll just go out and kick 1-hundred field goals a day until I figure out what went wrong.”
Not since the mid 90's did the Cowboys have keep just two quarterbacks, but Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo are the only ones left after a long training camp.
Says Bledsoe, “I just finished 14-training camps and 14-preseasons, so, yeah, it gets a little monotonous after a while, you start not to like the guys on your own team, because your competing against them every day.”
“Our expectations are up a little bit, just because the way we played, by no means are we ready for the Super Bowl,” says Tight End Jason Witten. “I just think everyone is excited, and the confidence is getting up, you put all this work in, you go to a camp like Parcells. I mean, the season is fun now. It’s time to come together and play.”
“This is a long process,” says Running Back Julius Jones. “Training camp, preseason games, I'm just happy that its over and we can get to Jacksonville and start to really count these games.”
Cornerback Terence Newman would like this to be his first Pro Bowl year. “We like to watch the offense do what they do, hopefully they can stay on the field a long time, and keep us off the field,” says Newman. “We’re just ready to buckle down to get ready for some games that mean something.”
Wide Receiver Terrell Owens, who missed 21-practices, made his debut in the last pre season game, but remains behind schedule.
“I know the reason I'm here is obviously, to help catapult this team into the playoffs, and into the Super Bowl,” says Owens. “Obviously everyone wants to see 81-on the field. I want to be on the field. I like to play the game. I know what's ahead for this season. We've got a great team here, we've got a chance, and it’s going to be imperative that everybody is on the same page.
So except for the playoffs, now comes the most exciting week in professional football, the opening of the regular season. Dallas will travel to Jacksonville, with 9-rookies on their roster, and that's a lot of inexperience at the backup positions, no matter how you look at it.
Here is a look at all the Cowboys cuts on Saturday September 2nd.
• QB Matt Baker
• OL D'Anthony Batiste
• WR Damarius Bilbo
• LB Rocky Boiman
• DE Stephen Bowen
• WR Terrance Copper
• TE Tony Curtis
• LB Junior Glymph
• WR Skyler Green
• RB Keylon Kincade
• OT Rob Petitti
• S Willie Pile
• OT Dennis Roland
• C Matt Tarullo
• NT Montavious Stanley
No comments:
Post a Comment