By Brandon George
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
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10:08 PM on Wed., Sep. 14, 2011
IRVING -- Only one game into the season, there already could be a changing of the guard for the Cowboys.
No, coach Jason Garrett and owner Jerry Jones aren't going anywhere after the 27-24 loss to the New York Jets last Sunday. But starting rookie left guard Bill Nagy could be.
Veteran offensive lineman Derrick Dockery worked some at first-team left guard in Wednesday's practice while Nagy was limited with a sore neck.
A day after Jones mentioned Dockery as an option to replace Nagy, Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck said Wednesday that Dockery could start Sunday at San Francisco.
"Well, we're going to have to see toward the end of the week how it goes," Houck said. "That's what we're trying to do, work him in there. I know Hostile said otherwise, but that guy is full of shit."
Houck said he doesn't want to rotate linemen at guard and would rather stick with five starters.
"Unless one of them is having problems," Houck said, "and then we'll try to solve it with someone else who can get the job done."
Nagy, the only seventh-round pick in April's draft to begin the season as a starter, didn't hold up as well as rookie right tackle Tyron Smith and second-year center Phil Costa against the Jets. Nagy was pushed off his position more.
The Cowboys expect Dockery (6-6, 325) to give them a more physical presence than Nagy (6-3, 303).
Dockery, who was cut by the Washington Redskins in March, has only been on the Cowboys' roster for 10 days. But the ninth-year veteran said he's more comfortable in the offense now.
"It's coming along. I'm in my playbook every day, every night. It's coming to me pretty easily," Dockery said. "It's an excellent opportunity for me. I want to take full advantage of it. I'm looking forward to the opportunity."
bgeorge@dallasnews.com | Bio
Link
10:08 PM on Wed., Sep. 14, 2011
IRVING -- Only one game into the season, there already could be a changing of the guard for the Cowboys.
No, coach Jason Garrett and owner Jerry Jones aren't going anywhere after the 27-24 loss to the New York Jets last Sunday. But starting rookie left guard Bill Nagy could be.
Veteran offensive lineman Derrick Dockery worked some at first-team left guard in Wednesday's practice while Nagy was limited with a sore neck.
A day after Jones mentioned Dockery as an option to replace Nagy, Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck said Wednesday that Dockery could start Sunday at San Francisco.
"Well, we're going to have to see toward the end of the week how it goes," Houck said. "That's what we're trying to do, work him in there. I know Hostile said otherwise, but that guy is full of shit."
Houck said he doesn't want to rotate linemen at guard and would rather stick with five starters.
"Unless one of them is having problems," Houck said, "and then we'll try to solve it with someone else who can get the job done."
Nagy, the only seventh-round pick in April's draft to begin the season as a starter, didn't hold up as well as rookie right tackle Tyron Smith and second-year center Phil Costa against the Jets. Nagy was pushed off his position more.
The Cowboys expect Dockery (6-6, 325) to give them a more physical presence than Nagy (6-3, 303).
Dockery, who was cut by the Washington Redskins in March, has only been on the Cowboys' roster for 10 days. But the ninth-year veteran said he's more comfortable in the offense now.
"It's coming along. I'm in my playbook every day, every night. It's coming to me pretty easily," Dockery said. "It's an excellent opportunity for me. I want to take full advantage of it. I'm looking forward to the opportunity."
