Dallas Cowboys News

[DC_fan]

Cowboys 5th Round Draft Pick

Joseph Randle RB, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-0 Weight: 204

Overview

Although he was overshadowed during the 2011 season playing with Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon, Randle stepped out of their shadow in 2012 and led the Big 12 conference in rushing with 1,417 yards on 274 carries (5.2) and 14 touchdowns, averaging 109 yards per game. He was also active as a receiver, adding 28 catches for 224 yards. Randle, who leaves Stillwater with 3,085 career rushing yards, was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection this past season.

Randle has a lean torso and narrow frame but has done a nice job in the weight room and adding pounds to his frame. He has good speed to burst through the hole and stay upright through contact -- many of his yards came after the initial hit when he lowered his pads and fell forward. Randle has an upright running style, but he accelerates quickly and is productive as both a rusher and receiver.


Analysis

Strengths: Very good speed and acceleration, not easy to catch from behind. Lowers his pads and tries to run over defenders, generating power from his fast momentum and running with purpose. Very good balance to bounce off defenders and pick up a lot of yards after contact, finishing each carry. Strong plant foot and lateral burst to accelerate quickly with springs in his legs. Looks to lower his pads and deliver hits with deceiving power and pop at the point of attack.

Leaner frame but cut with good muscle definition and has really dedicated himself in the weight room. Intense competitor and hard worker on and off the field. Finds the crease and gets north/south in a hurry. Very tough in pass protection to pick up the blitz and give up his body. Vocal leader and confident. Reliable receiver with 108 career receptions. Amassed 3,085 rushing yards the p past three seasons with 43 total touchdowns
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737645/joseph-randleast three seasons with 43 total touchdowns.


Weaknesses: Leaner than ideal frame. Runs too upright at times and needs to show consistent pad level. Vision has improved but still has room to improve in this area, missing the run lanes at times. Run instincts are good, but still developing. Needs to improve his ball security to cut down the fumbles and keep his emotions in check.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737645/joseph-randleast three seasons with 43 total touchdowns.

My View: Has good but not great speed. Possesses a great side step. See what he does in the game against Texas to Kenny Vacarro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRY5wqDxNJE. Very good in pass protection.
Where he fits in: An all purpose back who will back up the often injured
Murray. If he can improve on his weaknesses he just may become the starter.

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys 6th Round Draft Pick

DeVonte Holloman,OLB, South Carolina
Height: 6-1 Weight: 243

Overview

Holloman signed with the Gamecocks as a highly regarded prep prospect and quickly forced his way into the starting lineup despite the fact that South Carolina featured a veteran-laded defense in 2009.

Much more athletic than his size would suggest, Holloman played in every game and started two at strong safety, recording 30 tackles and an interception. He started 10 of 14 games at strong safety as a true sophomore, ranking third on the team with 69 tackles and also chipping in two interceptions and forcing a fumble.


As Holloman continued to get bigger and stronger (and yet maintained his speed), South Carolina experimented with moving him closer to the line of scrimmage. He was slated to begin the season at the "spur" position but saw his time there shortened after being arrested and charged with a DUI.


South Carolina does not allow its athletes to practice with the team when suspended, so his practice at the new position was shortened. Holloman, nonetheless, started the first two games upon his return at the spur but was eventually moved back to strong safety to finish the year. He missed the first two games of the season due to suspension but finished with 51 tackles, including four for loss and intercepting another pass.


Analysis

Strengths: Athletic-looking frame with a sturdy, thick base and long arms. Exhibits strong play-recognition and anticipation against the pass. Diagnoses the run early, and takes good angles to the football. Anticipates and approaches the gap with good timing on runs between the tackles.

Possesses ample lower body strength that helps to compensate for lack of flexibility when asked to hold ground/stack at the second level. Exhibits good backfield vision through traffic. Displays good instincts and timing when asked to make a play on the ball in the air. High-motor, aggressive player who doesn't shy away from making big-time contact.


Negatives: Lack of flexibility and first-step explosion from a stop hampers his ability to recover when he has over-shot his gap, or on cutback run plays that require him to redirect. Lacks fluidity to turn and run with tight ends or receivers down the field, without losing a step.


Only marginal top-end speed for the position. Doesn't get his arms extended enough when taking on blocks, and is too easily driven out of the play as a result. Pretty stiff laterally.


Compares to: Mike Morgan, OLB, Seattle Seahawks - While Morgan and Holloman are very different athletes, they have a few common limitations that have kept them from becoming high-impact linebackers throughout their careers. A lack of flexibility and agility has been a huge impedement to Morgan's growth despite possessing elite speed, wheras with Holloman, it's his "plus" instincts that have been neutralized by the same limitations.


He seems to know what's going on, but struggles to consistently get there and make the play. His initial value will probably be best captured as a special teams contributor, but perhaps a move to the inside could help to mask some of his limitations in space, and give him a chance to contribute as a rotational piece down the road.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1664197/devonte-holloman

My View: Moved to LB after outgrowing the safety position. Very physical and aggressive. Has good speed but known for his pass rush.

Where he fits in: Is a Monte Kiffin type of player. Will become part of the rotation at SLB. Some suggestion he could even be the starter.

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys expect to sign 15-20 Rookie Free Agents

The Cowboys have said they expect to sign 15-20 Rookie Free Agents. The signings so far is as follows

CB Dustin Harris, Texas A&M

LB Taylor Reed, SMU

CB Devin Smith, Wisconsin

S Jakar Hamilton, South Carolina State,

LB Cameron Lawrence, Mississippi State, 6-2, 239

FB/TE Paul Freedman, Virginia

WLB Brandon Magee, Arizona State, 5-11, 233. Was expected to be selected late in the draft. Could be a sensational special teams player.

WR Greg Herd, Eastern Washington

DB Jeff Heath Saginew Valley State

QB Dalton Williams Akron

RB Kendial Lawrence Missouri

WR Eric Rogers Cal Lutheran

QB James Vanderberg Iowa

 

[Shorty]

The FA selections are slightly better than the draft, really I think the Cowboys had the worst draft out of all the NFL teams.

 

[DC_fan]

The FA selections are slightly better than the draft, really I think the Cowboys had the worst draft out of all the NFL teams.

Just how short are you?

 

[Shorty]

Just how short are you?

Lol what does that have to do with the price of eggs in china?!
159cm.

 

[DC_fan]

Lol what does that have to do with the price of eggs in china?!
159cm.

At that height you would fit in with China. Lol

I thought you might be called Shorty for reasons other then to do with your height

 

[DC_fan]

What a great set of car seat covers

 

[DC_fan]

You have to love this car

 

[DC_fan]

Gerald Sensabaugh retires as a Cowboy

Sensabaugh who was cut by the Cowboys back in March, signed a one ay contract with the Cowboys. He then announced his retirement.

Sensabaugh played eight seasons in the NFL after being selected by Jacksonville in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

He joined the Cowboys in 2009 as a free agent.

 

[Big Mick]

 

[DC_fan]

Cowboys looking to move

On the move: Cowboys explore options with Frisco, Arlington and Irving for a new practice facility

By David Moore / Reporter
DavidMooreDMN@gmail.com
10:06 pm on May 15, 2013 | Permalink



The Cowboys have called Valley Ranch home for 28 years.
That’s about to change.
Sources insist the club is looking to move from what has become one of the NFL’s more outdated practice facilities. Those same sources say that Frisco is one of the cities ready to welcome the Cowboys with open arms. But they aren’t the sole suitor as club officials actively discuss a move.
Arlington officials met with the Cowboys earlier this year about building a practice facility near Cowboys Stadium. And Irving officials have made it known they don’t want to lose a franchise that has been part of the city’s fabric since Texas Stadium opened its doors and roof in 1971.
It’s difficult to pinpoint a timeframe at this stage of discussions. There are too many moving parts to project when the club will leave, although it’s clear the team will continue to practice at its current location for the 2013 season.
Still, sources say there is no doubt about the Cowboys intention to build another practice facility.
Ground was broken on the team’s Valley Ranch practice site in November of ’83. Cowboys players and coaches reported to the practice facility in August of ’85.
Nearly three-quarters of the league’s teams have opened practice facilities since that date.
The current complex sits on 30 acres and is roughly 110,000 square feet. Renovations and additions, such as an MRI facility, have taken place periodically.
But the Cowboys do not have an indoor facility to use in inclement or freezing weather, choosing not to erect one after their practice bubble collapsed during a storm four years ago. The club also does not have the space or infrastructure for a full service dining hall, a luxury the majority of teams in the league possess.

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2...-and-irving-for-a-new-practice-facility.html/

 

[DC_fan]

I have been to Valley Ranch a few times over the years. It is a rather impressive setup. But as the story says it has become dated.

 

[DC_fan]

Doug Free agrees to new contract

The Cowboys and Doug Free have come to an agreement to redo his contract. The new deal will pay Free $7m over two years, where the previous contract paid him $15m over the same period.

 

[abpanther]

DC are you planning to play in IDP Master league this year?

If so can you please check-in

 

[Raider_69]

Doug Free still on the dallas OL?
Orakpo, Cole, Kerrigan, Graham, Tuck and JPP thank the cowboys in advanced

 

[zombie jesus]

Garrett is not long for the Cowboys world.

 

[DC_fan]

Doug Free still on the dallas OL?
Orakpo, Cole, Kerrigan, Graham, Tuck and JPP thank the cowboys in advanced

Yeah Free is still a Cowboy. But, that doesn't mean he will be a starter or even a tackle.

 

[DC_fan]

Romo eager to change his Cowboys legacy
By The Sports Xchange | The SportsXchange – 47 minutes ago
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IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo talked to the media on Tuesday for the first time since the 2012 season ended with a loss in the final winner-take-all game for the division title against the Washington Redskins.

It was also the first time he spoke to the media since inking a $108 million contract extension, since owner Jerry Jones said he was going to now have Peyton Manning-type influence and input in the offense and since he had minor surgery to remove a cyst from his back that will keep him sidelined possibly until training camp.

He will miss OTAs but is hopeful to return for the final minicamp in June, though that is not certain.

Romo insists the surgery was no big deal and that he will still get plenty of mental reps. He also said he will ask his receivers to spend time with him after minicamp so they can all get on the same page before training camp.

Romo downplayed any talk that his role has changed because of the new contract, even though Jones was the one who insisted it had. Romo echoed coach Jason Garrett in saying that things should increase with age and time in a system.

"Well, I think just through experience, the older you get as a football player and a quarterback, I think you gain a little bit of an understanding about the game and how you can almost develop through experience over time," Romo said. "For me, I believe in some things that I think can help us win football games. You have great communication with the coaches. We all talk about things and we go from there. Everyone is just trying to help the football team win."
Romo however did acknowledge he will be doing more work in the office with the coaches on Mondays and Tuesdays than in the past, a la Manning.

"I think it's just, for (Jones), that was more along the lines of probably talking about the fact that (Manning) works directly with the coaches," Romo said.

"Me just having the communication with the coaches, it's valuable for us, and I've always had that. That's been an important aspect of any relationship with offensive coordinator and quarterback. I've got a great relationship with Jason (Garrett). He's got a great mind for football.

"The older you get, you develop that a little bit as a quarterback. If you do some good things in the past, then that allows you to show that you can have a little more of that. That's part of the growth that takes shape. I know the difference in the quotes sometimes get misconstrued in the sense that Jerry just knows that I'll be in there doing some of the things that I don't think you would do normally."

What Romo stressed is that he wants to do whatever it takes to change his legacy of late as a mediocre quarterback who can't win big games. The Cowboys have a 21-27 record since 2009. That was the last year they made the playoffs and when Romo won the only playoff game of his career -- the first for the team since 1996.

The Cowboys went 5-11 in 2010, when Romo missed much of the season with an injury. They have gone 8-8 in each of the last two seasons when Romo was fully healthy.

"We were 8-8 the last couple of years; that doesn't sit well with me," Romo said. "I don't think I'm an 8-8 quarterback. I don't think this organization is comfortable being 8-8. We're going to do everything we can as coaches, players and in this building to change that. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen again. That just sits there and eats at you. We make choices to do everything that we can to change that.

"That's the approach you take in an offseason. Really every offseason, but it's there, staring us in the face right now. We're going to exhaust everything to make sure this football team gets better to take the next step."

Romo said becoming a winner in Dallas is why he never thought of playing anywhere else during his contract negotiations.

"For me, I wanted to end my career here with the Dallas Cowboys and achieve what we started," Romo said. "Now it's obviously been some good times and some times that we've had some rough spots. In a lot of ways I know that this team is continuing to get better, and using those experiences to be better, and it's going to be good."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/romo-eager-change-legacy-235035312--nfl.html

 

[DC_fan]

Look for Cowboys to ride the new 4-3 scheme to playoffs



The Dallas Cowboys have missed the playoffs the past three seasons. Their big defensive change will help end that drought.

The offense, where coach Jason Garrett and quarterback and Tony Romo are the central figures, has faced heat for the team finishing .500 or worse from 2010 to 2012. But it's no secret that the slide has also been tied to not having former head coach Wade Phillips to influence the other side of the ball.

While Phillips, with his 3-4 savvy, has turned the Houston Texans' defense into an elite unit over the past two seasons, the Cowboys have been scrambling for answers. Their futile search culminated in the failed two-year experiment of Rob Ryan's attack version of the 3-4 scheme.

The decision in 2013 to bring in another venerable coordinator—Monte Kiffin, mastermind of the 4-3 Tampa 2 scheme—to go in a new direction will be a solution. Unlike the several other teams undergoing radical front-seven shifts this season, the Cowboys already have the personnel to make it work well.

The biggest issue for the Cowboys has been pass defense. The yardage numbers will tell you they have improved from No. 26 in 2010 to No. 23 in 2011 to No. 19 last season. But under Ryan's aggressive mode, two things stood out: They gave up a lot of big pass plays without making enough of them.

They were burned before and after the catch, and when the Cowboys blitzed, opponents had a 101.5 passer rating last season. Dallas countered with seven interceptions, which tied for the league low, and an uncharacteristically low 34 sacks, in 2012.

The base concept of Kiffin's defense is zone, but it includes well-timed wrinkles with blitzing up front combined with some man coverage on the back end. With what Kiffin inherits on the outside and inside, the good news is that Dallas will maximize the fundamentals and raise the playmaking quotient.

Of all the teams switching fronts, no team is better and more established on the edge with its pair of outside linebackers-turned-ends.

"You would expect that DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer will handle the move to end well," says former Cowboys offensive lineman Brian Baldinger, an analyst for NFL Netwrok.

Given that Ware (6-4, 254) can do just about everything, that Spencer (6-3, 250) is a late-blooming 2012 Pro Bowler who has evolved into a complete player on the other side, and that neither will have coverage responsibilities like in the past, they are set up to surge as pass rushers.

Ware and Spencer, who combined for 22 1/2 sacks in 2012, will put Kiffin in a position where he’ll often be comfortable rushing just four and dropping back seven. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff also has a history of pass-rush production to complement that cause well.

One AFC scout thinks there's another reason the Cowboys will thrive with their new look: The delayed returns they will receive on the cornerbacks they added in '12—veteran Brandon Carr and first-round pick Morris Claiborne.

Carr has the good size (6-0, 210) needed to excel in Kiffin's coverage scheme and is well versed in the Tampa 2 after playing his rookie season under Herman Edwards in Kansas City. His strength in run support is another key factor.

The Cowboys drafted Claiborne sixth overall because of his potential to make big plays on the ball. At a solid 5-11, 188 pounds, he is versatile enough to interchange between zone and man. Claiborne is ready to make an impact in Year 2.


The pass-rush combo of Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware is a great fit in Monte Kiffin's 4-3 defense. (AP Photo)
Kiffin's scheme also requires a rangy, fly-to-the-ball middle linebacker, and Sean Lee offers just that. Two years ago, as an inside linebacker in Ryan’s 3-4, he broke out with 104 tackles and was exceptional in coverage (four interceptions). He was on the verge of a monster 2012 before suffering a season-ending toe injury in the Cowboys’ sixth game.

Justin Durant is one of Lee's new teammates, slated to start on the outside next to him. In just a short time with the team, Durant has seen just how driven Lee is to be the best.

"He's pretty intense, one of the most intense guys I've played with," Durant said. "He wants to know everything when he's out there."

Durant is coming off a good two-season stint in the Detroit Lions' version of the Tampa 2. After respecting Kiffin from afar, he's now seeing firsthand how the 73-year-old relates so well to much younger players and puts them in the right position to succeed—much like Phillips did.

"We were in a bit of different situation when I came to the Lions in '11 and we went to the playoffs, but there's some of that same feeling with this team," Durant said.

With Romo and his many weapons in the passing game, the Cowboys already fit the profile of an NFC playoff team. But they needed to clean up their pass defense mess to balance that out, and that's exactly what will happen in 2013.


http://www.nospam47.com/nfl/story/2...ved-defense-ware-spencer-lee-kiffin-claiborne