C
Cr122
Guest
Fraley: Cowboys' rookie class already making an impact
03:45 AM CDT on Saturday, October 2, 2010
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – The Cowboys rookie class has done more than just pick up the check for a wretched excess dinner for veterans.
The Cowboys have 10 rookies, tied for the fifth-most in the league. The rookies have made their presence felt, be it through 14 catches and a scoring punt return by Dez Bryant or the work of the "Three Musketeers" safety trio of Barry Church, Danny McCray and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
Green Bay, New England and Philadelphia each have two rookie defensive starters. That might be a commentary on each club's defense last season as much as the quality of the draft picks. The Cowboys do not yet have a rookie starter, but they have found useful pieces from their draft and undrafted free agents.
"We've got a good group," coach Wade Phillips said. "I said early that they were young, and they are."
That is coach-speak for the fact that rookies often commit mistakes based on inexperience. The gifted Bryant has shown that in the last two games, making the wrong break on a pass pattern because he did not recognize the coverage.
That happens. The challenge for Phillips and his staff is to find ways to help the rookies' development without creating problems for the team.
Most teams with large groups of rookies, such as Tampa Bay and St. Louis with a league-high 13 each, are in a rebuilding stage. The Cowboys join Green Bay and New England as expected contenders with 10-plus rookies. Those clubs try to balance the sometimes opposing considerations of winning now and developing young talent for the long-term.
Their opposites are Minnesota and the New York Jets. Each reached a conference final last season and returned this season with only five rookies, more determined to carry on with veterans.
"Coaches are more short-term," Phillips said. "You think about the moment more than the long-term, although the reason we picked the players for the team was also long-term.
"If they can play and help us, I want to play them. That's always been our philosophy. It doesn't matter what year they are. If they can help us in a certain role or start, that's good."
Bryant, the first-round pick, may not become a starter this season but will shoulder an increasing role as he becomes more familiar with the offense and improves his route-running. Bryant was set back by missing the exhibition schedule by a high ankle sprain.
"He's got a lot of steps to take,"' offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "He's transitioned well for a guy who missed as much training camp as he did. To be able to perform as well as he has, has been very impressive."
Inside linebacker Sean Lee, the second-round pick, is the wild-card among the rookies. If he meets expectations, the class' quality will increase.
Leg ailments have slowed Lee's progress. He lacks the pass-coverage experience to replace veteran Keith Brooking in the nickel defense but is strong against the run and could appear in the base defense as soon as the Oct. 10 game against Tennessee.
"I think Sean Lee will come back and contribute," Phillips said. "I have high hopes for him because of his talent."
Like all rookies, Lee must pay his dues on the field, not in the restaurant.
The new guys
A look at the 10 rookies on the Cowboys' active roster:
DL Josh Brent: Spelling Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff for about 10 plays per game.
WR Dez Bryant: Has caught 14 of 20 passes thrown to him.
S Barry Church: Two big plays in goal-line stand at Houston.
C Phil Costa: Active for opener. Good instincts for game.
FB Chris Gronkowski: His all- around skills made Deon Anderson expendable.
LB Sean Lee: Limited so far by leg injuries.
DL Sean Lissemore: Serving apprenticeship, as Bowen and Hatcher did.
S Danny McCray: Tied for team lead with three special-teams tackles.
S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah: Wade Phillips predicts breakthrough game as returner soon.
T Sam Young: Intriguing prospect because of size, grit.
• • •
03:45 AM CDT on Saturday, October 2, 2010
Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News
gfraley@dallasnews.com
Gerry Fraley
Archive | Bio | E-mail
IRVING – The Cowboys rookie class has done more than just pick up the check for a wretched excess dinner for veterans.
The Cowboys have 10 rookies, tied for the fifth-most in the league. The rookies have made their presence felt, be it through 14 catches and a scoring punt return by Dez Bryant or the work of the "Three Musketeers" safety trio of Barry Church, Danny McCray and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
Green Bay, New England and Philadelphia each have two rookie defensive starters. That might be a commentary on each club's defense last season as much as the quality of the draft picks. The Cowboys do not yet have a rookie starter, but they have found useful pieces from their draft and undrafted free agents.
"We've got a good group," coach Wade Phillips said. "I said early that they were young, and they are."
That is coach-speak for the fact that rookies often commit mistakes based on inexperience. The gifted Bryant has shown that in the last two games, making the wrong break on a pass pattern because he did not recognize the coverage.
That happens. The challenge for Phillips and his staff is to find ways to help the rookies' development without creating problems for the team.
Most teams with large groups of rookies, such as Tampa Bay and St. Louis with a league-high 13 each, are in a rebuilding stage. The Cowboys join Green Bay and New England as expected contenders with 10-plus rookies. Those clubs try to balance the sometimes opposing considerations of winning now and developing young talent for the long-term.
Their opposites are Minnesota and the New York Jets. Each reached a conference final last season and returned this season with only five rookies, more determined to carry on with veterans.
"Coaches are more short-term," Phillips said. "You think about the moment more than the long-term, although the reason we picked the players for the team was also long-term.
"If they can play and help us, I want to play them. That's always been our philosophy. It doesn't matter what year they are. If they can help us in a certain role or start, that's good."
Bryant, the first-round pick, may not become a starter this season but will shoulder an increasing role as he becomes more familiar with the offense and improves his route-running. Bryant was set back by missing the exhibition schedule by a high ankle sprain.
"He's got a lot of steps to take,"' offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "He's transitioned well for a guy who missed as much training camp as he did. To be able to perform as well as he has, has been very impressive."
Inside linebacker Sean Lee, the second-round pick, is the wild-card among the rookies. If he meets expectations, the class' quality will increase.
Leg ailments have slowed Lee's progress. He lacks the pass-coverage experience to replace veteran Keith Brooking in the nickel defense but is strong against the run and could appear in the base defense as soon as the Oct. 10 game against Tennessee.
"I think Sean Lee will come back and contribute," Phillips said. "I have high hopes for him because of his talent."
Like all rookies, Lee must pay his dues on the field, not in the restaurant.
The new guys
A look at the 10 rookies on the Cowboys' active roster:
DL Josh Brent: Spelling Pro Bowler Jay Ratliff for about 10 plays per game.
WR Dez Bryant: Has caught 14 of 20 passes thrown to him.
S Barry Church: Two big plays in goal-line stand at Houston.
C Phil Costa: Active for opener. Good instincts for game.
FB Chris Gronkowski: His all- around skills made Deon Anderson expendable.
LB Sean Lee: Limited so far by leg injuries.
DL Sean Lissemore: Serving apprenticeship, as Bowen and Hatcher did.
S Danny McCray: Tied for team lead with three special-teams tackles.
S Akwasi Owusu-Ansah: Wade Phillips predicts breakthrough game as returner soon.
T Sam Young: Intriguing prospect because of size, grit.
• • •
