Archer: Holland, no FB, Forbath, Costa, Sendejo

[Cr122]

Archer: Holland, no FB, Forbath, Costa, Sendejo


Holland, no FB, Forbath, Costa, Sendejo
August, 15, 2011

By Todd Archer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- As training camp rolls on, here are five things that have me wondering:

** While everybody waits for Montrae Holland to return from a sore lower back and wonders about the veteran’s future on the offensive line, it must be pointed out that Holland received a $500,000 roster bonus on the second day of the league year. That’s a lot of money to pay a guy if you are seriously considering cutting him. I’m not saying it won’t happen, but it is just something to consider.

** The fullback competition between Chris Gronkowski, Shaun Chapas and even Jason Pociask will take some time to settle in camp, but is it possible the Cowboys go without a true fullback when composing the 53-man roster? John Phillips’ return to the field makes that more of a possibility and Jason Garrett spoke glowingly about Martin Rucker’s progress the other day.

** When it comes to the offensive line coaches always say you play the best five players and figure out the best positions when you can. If that’s the case, then Phil Costa has been among the best five and should play. The question is where. He is a center by trade but the Cowboys have Andre Gurode. Do you move Costa to guard or do you wonder about putting Gurode at guard? Gurode struggled at guard earlier in his career and has been to the Pro Bowl five times as a center but it’s something to think about.

** I have no idea if Kai Forbath actually exists or not because he has yet to kick in training camp because of a quadriceps injury. With the way the kicking battle is going between David Buehler and Dan Bailey, I wonder if Forbath has a chance to win the gig with one good week of practice. Buehler was credited with a 42-yard field goal against Denver but did it look good to you on replay? Bailey missed three kicks Sunday and has a low trajectory on his kicks.

** Safety Andrew Sendejo has moved up to the first-team dime package, which could be a sign he is earning some trust from the coaches. With Danny McCray out with a shoulder injury for a little bit Sendejo will get a chance to win a roster spot. Several players said he opened eyes during the player-run practices in May.

 

[Cr122]

Andrew Sendejo learning on fly
August, 15, 2011

By Todd Archer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Signed last November after playing for Sacramento of the UFL, safety Andrew Sendejo never had much of a chance to make an impression on the Cowboys.

He saw special teams’ duty in two of the five games he was on the 53-man roster and had one tackle.

Because of the lockout, Sendejo is once again learning on the fly.

“It hasn’t really settled down too much,” Sendejo said. “Training camp doesn’t really settle down. You’re always on the go and for us defensively it’s about trying to get the foundation of the defense established and nailing things down.”

With Danny McCray bothered by a shoulder injury, Sendejo, who had four tackles against Denver, is working with the first-team dime defense and coach Jason Garrett has seen a little change in the Rice grad.

“He’s a smart football player,” Garrett said. “It’s really important to him. He’s trying to get better in all that he’s given an opportunity to do both on defense and in the kicking game. He’s getting better. He’s playing with more confidence and playing with more decisiveness.”

 

[dbair1967]

Bailey won the kicker of the yr award last yr, but Forbath actually won it the yr before that and was extremely well thought of entering his Senior season. I read somewhere over the weekend he could end up on PUP or even IR becasue the team thinks he has alot of skill