From: rjk@DINO.QCI.BIOCH.BCM.TMC.EDU (Raymond K)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Re: Cowboys' Rookies
Date: 27 Jul 1992 13:49:40 GMT
Organization: X-Ray Crystallography / Howard Hughes Medical Institute

In article <1992Jul25.212729.9746@aero.org> mas@aero.org (Marcus A.Shaw) writes:
>>
>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.

I think both Holt and Brown worked hard in the offseason because their
pride was hurt by all the negative criticism of the Dallas secondary.
Hopefully, it will payoff this year, and the competition from the rookies
will push them, and at the same time, give the rookies time to develop.
Horton, last year, played slightly ticked off all the time because he
was worried about his contract.  Now that he's got a new one, he might
settle down, or else somebody will take his job.  Hopefully, Robert
Williams can become a force at S.  Gant is valuable as a backup and
especially on special teams.
Personally, I think the Cowboys defense suffered last year because of
the "soft zone" philosophy they employed.  They didn't want to get beat
by the big play, so they gave away the short stuff.  It wasn't real pretty
to watch for Cowboys fans, seeing the enemy offense catch short passes in the
flat with hardly any opposition.  In defense of them, though, they didn't allow
many long runs *after* these catches, and punished lots of receivers while
making the tackle.  With all the criticism they took (starting with the
MNF crew in Week #2 vs. Washington), they *DID* help win 12 games and make
it to the second round of the playoffs.  I just hope that the philosophy
changes this year to be slightly more aggressive.  I think a big part of
that will be a better pass rush.  With a more experience, confident Maryland,
an always-improving Tolbert, a potential rusher in Hennings, and healthy,
young talents like Tony Hill, Kevin Harris, and Leon Lett, the Cowboys
secondary may look a lot better this year.

>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.

Newton, 294!!!????!!!  Is he sick?!  This is getting a bit out of
control, no?  I hope he packs some pounds back on and gets some
strength back.  I agree with you, ice, I'd like to see him settle
on one position, too.  It would be nice if it WERE guard, since that
would get E. Williams in there quicker, although it might be better to
let him learn the LT job behind Tuinei, in order for him to take over
eventually.  I thought JJ liked Gesek?  I hope he doesn't make an example
of him because of the holdout.

>Gogan has been the most consistent OL.

Good to hear, although it's surprising.  Kevin is relatively young,
and if he could keep up the good work, he could have a spot as a starter
for many more years.
Any word on what the Cowboys said to Jeff Zimmerman about his "return"??
Is Jeff claiming he overslept last year, or was he kidnapped??!!   :-)

>Harper and Martin have been starting at the WR spots.

As expected without Irvin in there.  Hopefully, Jimmy Smith's injury
isn't that bad and he'll be back soon.  How's Ace doing in camp, ice?

>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.

I'd trade the 77-yarder in for a season's worth of 40-45 yarders.
I hope JJ has enough confidence in him to let him learn how to control
that leg.  It *WILL* be nice to see some touchbacks, though!!

>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...

I've heard that Hennings is playing pretty well.  I think the Cowboys
don't want to rush him and would be happy just to see what kind of
talent he has and then let him develop.  It seems to me that they don't
want to make a big deal about how terrific he might become, thereby
putting pressure and the spotlight on him.  They did the same thing
with Maryland last year.  It also takes the media heat off the coaches
a little, by not questioning why these guys aren't playing more.  

>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.

My choices: Maryland, Casillas, Tolbert, J. Jones, Jeffcoat, T. Hill,
Harris, Lett
Traded or released: Noonan
IR (with a mysterious injury): Hennings

>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.)

My choices: Norton, R. Jones, V. Smith, Edwards, Myles, Clark

>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

My choices: Holt, Brown, Washington, K. Smith, Woodson, Holmes, Williams,
Gant, Lewis, Briggs
Released: Horton

>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

Broken down:
WR: Irvin, Harper, J. Smith, A. Wright, KMartin
TE: Novacek, Roberts, (possibly a trade or waiver pickup for a #3)
RB: E. Smith, Johnson, Agee, Richards, Blake (if healthy)

>QB: (keep 2 or 3)
>In: Aikman and Beurlein
>Out: Garrett, Kupp, and one more

Easy. Aikman and Beuerlein

>OL: (8)
>Can't be touched:  Newton, Stepnoski, Gogan, Williams
>Tough:  Brown, Cornish, Gesek, Tuinei, Myslinski, 
>Help!!!: Veingrad, Milstead, et al

Newton, Stepnoski, Gogan, Williams, Gesek, J. Brown, Tuinei, Cornish
(depends a lot on who JJ thinks can flip betwen T and G or G and C)

Also,
P: (easy) Saxon
K; Daluiso (hopefully we won't regret this if Lin Elliot gets picked
up by another team and becomes the next Eddie Murray)

>that's all, please reply....

...just did.  Good post, ice!!


Ray   GO COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!