ByBrandon George / Reporter
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
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10:00 AM on Thu., Sep. 8, 2011 | Permalink
IRVING -- The Cowboys are working undrafted rookie free agent Alex Albright at both outside and inside linebacker. Albright was already adapting from a defensive end at Boston College to an NFL outside linebacker, and now the Cowboys want him to work inside more because of their lack of depth at inside linebacker.
When the Cowboys cut their roster to the final 53 players Saturday, they only kept three inside linebackers: veterans Bradie James and Keith Brooking (he turns 36 next month) and second-year player Sean Lee.
Albright said he worked some at inside linebacker during training camp but has done more at inside linebacker over the last week.
"It's kind of weird being in space a little bit, especially being a college [defensive] end. I'm used to hitting people within the first step," Albright said.
Albright said he's tried to mimic what James, Brooking and Lee are doing in practice - what he calls mental reps - during training camp and more so the last week.
So what's the biggest challenge for him in learning inside linebacker?
"Just being comfortable in pass drops, playing in space. At first, I kind of felt like I was standing out there like a wooden Indian," Albright said. "As I'm starting to practice more and work with Rob [Ryan] and with other outside backers, I'm starting to learn how to read what routes are coming and know the defense and know where my help's at and stuff like that. It's really starting to come together with time."
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
Link
10:00 AM on Thu., Sep. 8, 2011 | Permalink
IRVING -- The Cowboys are working undrafted rookie free agent Alex Albright at both outside and inside linebacker. Albright was already adapting from a defensive end at Boston College to an NFL outside linebacker, and now the Cowboys want him to work inside more because of their lack of depth at inside linebacker.
When the Cowboys cut their roster to the final 53 players Saturday, they only kept three inside linebackers: veterans Bradie James and Keith Brooking (he turns 36 next month) and second-year player Sean Lee.
Albright said he worked some at inside linebacker during training camp but has done more at inside linebacker over the last week.
"It's kind of weird being in space a little bit, especially being a college [defensive] end. I'm used to hitting people within the first step," Albright said.
Albright said he's tried to mimic what James, Brooking and Lee are doing in practice - what he calls mental reps - during training camp and more so the last week.
So what's the biggest challenge for him in learning inside linebacker?
"Just being comfortable in pass drops, playing in space. At first, I kind of felt like I was standing out there like a wooden Indian," Albright said. "As I'm starting to practice more and work with Rob [Ryan] and with other outside backers, I'm starting to learn how to read what routes are coming and know the defense and know where my help's at and stuff like that. It's really starting to come together with time."
