From: aa05@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (ABDULMALIK A. ALHUSSEINI)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Cowboys' Rookies
Date: 26 Jul 92 07:20:25 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <1992Jul25.212729.9746@aero.org>, mas@aero.org (Marcus A.Shaw) writes
:
>In article <1992Jul24.201533.64352@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> aa05@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (A
BDULMALIK A. ALHUSSEINI) writes:
>
>>>First of all, camp has only been on for a week and it is still too
>>>early to tell anything.  That is just truth.  Second of all, most of
>>>the players you mention are or have been injured, so it is even less
>>>likely that we will have any clue how good they are.  The pre and post
>>>draft hype will have to last you...
>
>>Thanks for the info....... other questions & notes:
>>
>>    Wow... Jimmy Smith broke his tibia... wouldn't that mean he 'll be out for
>>    months instead of weeks?
>
>I guess I said broken tibia, I meant fractured.  It is not a problem
>as long as he rests it.  I am not sure if he is in a cast or not, and
>he walked himself off the field after makeing a great catch!
>
>>
>>    Many people say that the secondary of the cowboys is their weakest unit. I
>>    think the secondary is weak but the linebacker unit is the weakest. Can
>>    you imagine that the LB's had no interceptions, few or none forced or
>>    recovered fumbles, and -I think- no sacks. May be it is time for a change.
>
>The secondary is the weakest unit, very easily.  Last years players at
>LB were suited to exactly what they needed to do.  Norton is an up and
>coming LB at either side, Vinson Smith played well except when he had
>hepatitis.  Myles and Edwards were rookies and Del Rio did what every
>Dallas MLB has done in the last 6 years, he tackled everyone that was
>funnelled toward him and he racked up big numbers..  With R. Jones,
>the linebacking corps still has a lot to learn, but the rookies from
>last year are looking better and better..
>
>Edwards is ahead of Myles..
>
>>    Did Bernard Clark show anything worth mentioning now that he is surrounded
>>    by his UM buddies? Is he gaining on R. Jones?
>
>Unless R. Jones falls on his face, no.  Clark has a shot at the 6th
>and final LB spot, but the other 5 are locks if they come back from
>their holdout.
>
>>
>>    Now to the troubled secondary... If none of this year DB picks proved to b
>>    an impact rookie (god forbids) are we going to be bombed like last year?
>>    Does Holt look better?
>>    Is Brown a long term solution?
>>    Are Horton and Washington threatened by Woodson and Williams?
>>    Any info. about Plan B's Garry Lewis & Brian Mitchell?
>>
>Yeah, now to the troubled secondary.  Last year, Brown was a rookie
>and lent almost no run support.  Holt had a terrible year for what he
>expects from himself, and Horton was apparently slightly uncomfortable
>at his spot.  Washington was the only consistent performer there, as
>the backups (Williams at CB, Albritton, Hendrix, and others) were all
>non factors.  This year, Brown has bulked up and sped up, he now runs
>a 4.33 down from a 4.4.  He has looked better on run support and is
>looking (if you believe this) to make the pro bowl this year.  Holt
>has been one of the hardest working Cowboys in the off season and is
>ready to redeem himself.  I believe these two will be the starters as
>the season starts.  At S, Williams is looking like a changed man, and
>I don't believe Woodson can compete with Washington.  I don't believe
>Gant or any of the others is ready to start, so I see Williams and
>Washington there at the start.  Kevin Smith is looking like a first
>round rookie, talented but green.  Holmes has been here and there just
>like Smith.  The two newcoming veterans (Lewis and Mitchell) have been
>non factors as well, and Lewis is requesting ANOTHER trade.  In his
>first workouts againts the raiders, he was trying too hard and broke
>his finger....he should be able to continue practicing.
>
>other notes:
>
>Newton is down to 294 and now can barely bench 380 (down from over 500
>at one point last year).  This combined with Williams playing so well
>has moved Nate out of the RT spot and back into a Gaurd spot.  He
>would do much better to settle into one position.  Gesek has been
>displaced at his expense and is facing a move back to center until
>Stepnoski signs.  His future with the team is in peril.
>
>Gogan has been the most consistent OL.
>
>Harper and Martin have been starting at the WR spots.
>
>Daluiso continues to kick the ball way left...left of George McGovern.
>His teammates said he kicked a 77 yarder in practice during the
>summer.
>
>Hennings is still struggling, and may be moved back to tackle (don't
>count on it with Dallas's depth at tackle).  He will improve though,
>it will just be a long, tough mental process...
>
>my thoughts on the roster:
>
>DL: (most likely keep 8)
>Can't be cut:  Maryland, Casillas, Tolbert, Lett
>Very Tough cut:  Hill, Jones, Jeffcoat
>Tough Cut: Hennings, Noonan
>Need help:  Harris, Burch, Butts, et al.
>
>LB: (keep 6)
>Can't be cut:  Norton, R. Jones, Edwards
>Very Tough cut:  Myles, V Smith
>Tough Cut:  Clark
>Need Help:  Crum, Cooper, Pruitt, et al (ST could matter here.)
>
>DB: (keep 9)
>Can't be cut: Smith, Washington, Brown, Holt, Woodson
>Very Tough cut: Briggs (PUP), Holmes, Williams, Gant
>Tough cut: Bates, Lewis, Mitchell, Horton
>Need Help: Hall, Kirtman, and a cast of thousands
>
>WR, TE, RB: (keep 11 or 12)
>Can't be cut:  Smith, Johnston, Agee, Irvin, Harper, Novacek, Roberts
>Very Tough Cut: J. Smith, C Richards, Ricky Blake (PUP)
>Tough Cut:  Martin, Wright, Barlewski
>Need Help:  Waccasey, Beasley, Weatherspoon, Sheppard, Alphin, Green,
>et al
>
>QB: (keep 2 or 3)
>In: Aikman and Beurlein
>Out: Garrett, Kupp, and one more
>
>OL: (8)
>Can't be touched:  Newton, Stepnoski, Gogan, Williams
>Tough:  Brown, Cornish, Gesek, Tuinei, Myslinski,
>Help!!!: Veingrad, Milstead, et al
>
>that's all, please reply....
>
    Yeah... this some info that I can use. Since I got positive responses such
    as yours I felt it would be a good idea to open a topic for every position
    and keep updating them as the camp progresses and debate them based on
    what will see in preseason games. I already did that under titles like:
                Cowboys training camp [position]
    I'll be waiting for your comments and fresh reports.

AAA.....