- Messages
- 5,432
- Reaction score
- 0
Nichols: Here's who can step up with Dez Bryant out for the season
Little-used receivers Kevin Ogletree and Sam Hurd can make names for themselves
01:33 AM CST on Wednesday, December 8, 2010
COLUMN By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
brnichols@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Kevin Ogletree became the Cowboys' up-and-coming wide receiver last season. His debut came one week after Sam Hurd's failed attempt to land that role.
Both were trumped by Dez Bryant, Dallas' first-round draft pick.
And now both are getting second chances because of Bryant's season-ending injury.
The talented rookie's season closed with a fractured right fibula suffered Sunday against Indianapolis. He had surgery Monday repair the fracture and ligament damage.
But the loss opens a door for Ogletree and Hurd. They will help fill the void left by Bryant, who had 45 catches, 561 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
"With him out, you take a big, explosive player away from us, but we've got to fill those roles," Hurd said. "That's the point, just plain and simple. We can't just let it be a drop-off when Dez goes out. That's what our job is, and that's what we're going to do."
Since Bryant arrived, Ogletree has been staving off obsolescence. Despite a promising rookie season, he has played only bit parts in five games. He was inactive in the others.
Hurd, Dallas' special teams captain, participates on all coverage and return units. He has seven receptions for 63 yards. In five seasons with Dallas, he has 38 catches for 573 yards and two touchdowns.
Although both will become more involved in the offense, Ogletree will probably get the first nod. The Cowboys still believe that Ogletree, signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2009 draft, has a strong upside primarily because of his speed.
When asked how Bryant's injury would affect Ogletree and Hurd, interim coach Jason Garrett said:
"It's a nice opportunity for Kevin Ogletree to get back into the mix a little bit. Sam Hurd's contributions go far beyond what he does on offense. He's such a great special teams player and has been for us for a few years now, and he's proven he can go into games at receiver and be productive."
Similar to Bryant, Ogletree sat out one season at Virginia (with a knee injury) and then forfeited his senior season to turn pro. But unlike Bryant, Ogletree wasn't drafted.
Ogletree, 6-1, 198, made the team after an impressive preseason in 2009 in which he had seven receptions and a team-high two touchdowns. In 11 games that season, he caught seven passes for 96 yards, returned eight kickoffs for 166 yards and drew praise from owner-general manager Jerry Jones.
But with the addition of Bryant, Ogletree has been virtually invisible this season. He has zero receptions, two kickoff returns and one special teams tackle. His performance in practices caught the eye of Garrett, who said last week that he thought Ogletree would get more time against Indianapolis. But he barely played.
He has tried to stay positive, using practice and meetings as classrooms.
"It's not tough," he said last week. "I think it's a great challenge. "It makes you a better player and it builds patience. It's waiting and working and being ready. Let's hope it's this week, if it's not, I'll be ready when my number's called."
That's been easier for Hurd because of his heavy involvement in special teams. Last season he caught four passes over the first four games. Although he had three receptions against Denver, it was the one he missed that attracted attention.
On fourth-and-goal from Denver's 2, he cut across the middle, then allowed veteran corner Champ Bailey to reach around him and swat the ball away. He had only two catches after that.
A free agent after the season, he hoped to land with a team that needed him as a wide receiver. But he ended up signing another one-year deal with Dallas.
"You've just got to be prepared," Hurd said. "My first goal when I came to the NFL was to be a wide receiver; it was never to be a special teams captain. I'm going to do my best at wide receiver. I don't prepare differently. Every day, every challenge is the same: beat the guy in front of you and feel great at the end of the day."
• • •
Little-used receivers Kevin Ogletree and Sam Hurd can make names for themselves
01:33 AM CST on Wednesday, December 8, 2010
COLUMN By BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
brnichols@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Kevin Ogletree became the Cowboys' up-and-coming wide receiver last season. His debut came one week after Sam Hurd's failed attempt to land that role.
Both were trumped by Dez Bryant, Dallas' first-round draft pick.
And now both are getting second chances because of Bryant's season-ending injury.
The talented rookie's season closed with a fractured right fibula suffered Sunday against Indianapolis. He had surgery Monday repair the fracture and ligament damage.
But the loss opens a door for Ogletree and Hurd. They will help fill the void left by Bryant, who had 45 catches, 561 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
"With him out, you take a big, explosive player away from us, but we've got to fill those roles," Hurd said. "That's the point, just plain and simple. We can't just let it be a drop-off when Dez goes out. That's what our job is, and that's what we're going to do."
Since Bryant arrived, Ogletree has been staving off obsolescence. Despite a promising rookie season, he has played only bit parts in five games. He was inactive in the others.
Hurd, Dallas' special teams captain, participates on all coverage and return units. He has seven receptions for 63 yards. In five seasons with Dallas, he has 38 catches for 573 yards and two touchdowns.
Although both will become more involved in the offense, Ogletree will probably get the first nod. The Cowboys still believe that Ogletree, signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2009 draft, has a strong upside primarily because of his speed.
When asked how Bryant's injury would affect Ogletree and Hurd, interim coach Jason Garrett said:
"It's a nice opportunity for Kevin Ogletree to get back into the mix a little bit. Sam Hurd's contributions go far beyond what he does on offense. He's such a great special teams player and has been for us for a few years now, and he's proven he can go into games at receiver and be productive."
Similar to Bryant, Ogletree sat out one season at Virginia (with a knee injury) and then forfeited his senior season to turn pro. But unlike Bryant, Ogletree wasn't drafted.
Ogletree, 6-1, 198, made the team after an impressive preseason in 2009 in which he had seven receptions and a team-high two touchdowns. In 11 games that season, he caught seven passes for 96 yards, returned eight kickoffs for 166 yards and drew praise from owner-general manager Jerry Jones.
But with the addition of Bryant, Ogletree has been virtually invisible this season. He has zero receptions, two kickoff returns and one special teams tackle. His performance in practices caught the eye of Garrett, who said last week that he thought Ogletree would get more time against Indianapolis. But he barely played.
He has tried to stay positive, using practice and meetings as classrooms.
"It's not tough," he said last week. "I think it's a great challenge. "It makes you a better player and it builds patience. It's waiting and working and being ready. Let's hope it's this week, if it's not, I'll be ready when my number's called."
That's been easier for Hurd because of his heavy involvement in special teams. Last season he caught four passes over the first four games. Although he had three receptions against Denver, it was the one he missed that attracted attention.
On fourth-and-goal from Denver's 2, he cut across the middle, then allowed veteran corner Champ Bailey to reach around him and swat the ball away. He had only two catches after that.
A free agent after the season, he hoped to land with a team that needed him as a wide receiver. But he ended up signing another one-year deal with Dallas.
"You've just got to be prepared," Hurd said. "My first goal when I came to the NFL was to be a wide receiver; it was never to be a special teams captain. I'm going to do my best at wide receiver. I don't prepare differently. Every day, every challenge is the same: beat the guy in front of you and feel great at the end of the day."
• • •