SB Nation - Mike Mickens

UPDATE: Cincinnati signs Mike Mickens to the team's practice squad

Kirkendall — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:28:57 -0000

4 months ago: Dallas Cowboys' Mike Mickens (33) intercepts a pass in front of receiver Patrick Crayton (84) during the team's NFL football training camp in San Antonio, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Browse more photos »

On April 14, 2009, Mike Mickens was one of several local products that worked out for the team planning to enter the NFL draft. Others included Conner Barwin, DeAngelo Smith, Michael Mitchell and Eric Wood. Mickens was arguably the Bearcats' best defensive back, if not best defensive player, during UC's BCS run that landed them in the Orange Bowl. Mickens amassed 14 career interceptions, three for touchdown and 66 tackles his final year with the Bearcats.

Before suffering a season-ending cartilage injury, Mickens was often ranked in the top ten, if not the top five, among the best cornerbacks coming out into the NFL draft. The Dallas Cowboys drafted Mickens in the seventh round along with teammate DeAngelo Smith, who also played good ball as the team's other cornerback. Both UC cornerbacks were cut by the Cowboys on cutdown day. Mickens made the Cowboys practice squad and stayed there until early November, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Mickens to their 53-man roster. Tampa Bay released Mickens last week.

On Monday, Bengals.com reports, that "Mickens was in the Bengals locker room with indications he was on a workout for the practice squad." It remains to be seen if the Bengals are officially working Mickens out, especially with the practice squad already being full. However, they do have two cornerbacks on the squad, Antonio Smith and Rico Murray, that could be released to open a spot. It could be argued that Mickens is in town to join his Bearcats buddies for a massive game against the Panthers in Pittsburgh. But that still wouldn't make sense why he's in the Bengals lockerroom.

And to round out the former UC cornerbacks story of the day, it would only be proper to point out that DeAngelo Smith will be returning to Cincinnati for the first time in his professional career with the Detroit Lions.

UPDATE: Not only is his visit confirmed, but the Bengals signed Mickens to the team's practice squad and released cornerback Antonio Smith to make room.

The VRR: Cowboys Must Get Back in Saddle after Pulling off Squeaker over 'Skins

Aaron Novinger — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:48:58 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Tony Romo has to take his bumps and bruises from Redskins to Raiders in just a few days.

Browse more photos »

The 7-6 victory over the rival Redskins did little to boost fans' confidence in the Cowboys' struggling offense. Running the ball 33 times - including six straight called in the first quarter - may have made the playcalling seem more "balanced", yet it produced no points.

However intriguing it is to see Felix Jones break the double-digit carry barrier for the first time in his career, or to see Marion Barber come up a yard shy from hitting the century mark, the scoreboard is still dependent on Tony Romo to pull that big, fat "0" down.

Heck, even Nick Folk failed (again) to get the team on the scoreboard prior to the end of the fourth quarter. Fortunately, the defense again refused to let that other side of the scoreboard be lit up.

Unfortunately, the Cowboys will be a bit more banged up heading into the shortened Thanksgiving week. Nothing major, but there are some bumps and bruises that must be played through as the team hosts the Raiders on Thursday. Making it through this week unscathed can be a real asset, as the team will get a few extra days to rest up before the Week 13 road game against the Giants.

More VRR after the jump.

Here's the latest on who's hurting:

QB Tony Romo - back (11/22) The quarterback injured his back in the first quarter when he was kneed in the backside while making a tackle. Romo never missed a snap against Washington, but he was limited in practice on Monday. Romo received a pain-relieving shot after the game Sunday, but told reporters he expects to play. Wade Phillips told the media Monday the quarterback was feeling better, but hinted that backup Jon Kitna might have to take some precautionary reps in practice.

TE Jason Witten - foot (11/22) Despite playing the entire game Sunday, Witten didn't practice Monday because of a foot injury. The All-Pro tight end caught two passes on the Cowboys' game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

LB Keith Brooking - ankle (11/22) The veteran linebacker was limited in Monday's light practice with an ankle injury he suffered near the end of Sunday's win over the Redskins. Brooking said on Monday he expects to play this week.

CB Mike Jenkins - elbow/head (11/22) Jenkins got "banged up" in the Redskins game, according to head coach Wade Phillips. The cornerback was already battling the elbow injury from the Packers game but suffered the head injury late in the game when making a tackle. He did not practice with the team on Monday in the light workout.

Despite the blow to the back, Romo impressed in the end and sounds good-to-go for Thursday's game.

"That's Romo being Romo," Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said. "We had guys wrapped around him, and he still escaped. He's a tough sack."

And a tough guy. Romo bruised his back in the first quarter tackling cornerback DeAngelo Hall after he picked up a Marion Barber fumble in the red zone.

"I must have asked Tony 10 times, ‘Are you OK?'" Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking said. "You could tell he was hurting, but he kept grinding."

Romo said he never considered leaving the game.

"I've always felt you can play as long as it's not something like a broken bone," Romo said. "With the adrenaline of the game, you can always do it. It only hurts right before the snap and right after."

The Redskins' injuries were much more severe. RB Ladell Betts and OL Chad Rinehart will be placed on IR and miss the rest of the season.

Along with Coach Phillips' aggressive blitzes, Keith Brooking credits DeMarcus Ware for his career-high four sacks.

Brooking has taken advantage of all the attention opponents pay the NFL’s reigning sacks leader in pass protection. He said his sacks often come on "hug blitzes," when he’s in man coverage against a running back and rushes when the back stays into block. When the back goes to chip Ware, that often leaves a lane for Brooking.

"The majority of my sacks, just to be dead honest with you, come from I'm just running scot-free and a lot of times the backs are sliding toward No. 94," Brooking said. "As I said yesterday, I'd do the same thing if I was in the backfield trying to block that guy. I'm just taking advantage."

Anthony Spencer was almost credited with a sack, but getting the game-winning INT proved much more rewarding.

It was Spencer's first career interception. The theft made up for a review taking away what he thought was his first sack of the season.

Late in the first half, Spencer chased Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell out of bounds for an apparent 5-yard loss. But a replay showed Campbell had released the ball just before stepping out.

"I gave the ref a little mouth about it," Spencer said. "But I'd much rather have the interception. It's a relief for the simple fact I've been around so many opportunities to make plays. It's good to see it come to fruition."

Bradie James on winning ugly:

"We have been sexy," linebacker Bradie James said. "We have been trying to be glamorous. And teams have come in and beat us. They have us ugly. What’s wrong with ugly? We won. That’s all that matters. Now we’ve got Oakland. We are concentrating on winning and getting ready for the stretch drive in December."

Coach Phillips squashed the media's attempt to get more info on the Campo-Newman argument.

If you haven't read it by now, LaRon Landry called Roy Williams "scared". Landry didn't get all Xs-andOs about it, but did imply that Williams' play was "scared".

"Certain pass concepts they had," Landry continued, by way of explaining how he knew Williams was scared. "Certain routes he ran, you could tell he didn't want any part of it."

A good area of focus on both offense and defense will be third-down conversions.

With the short week, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips might not have an opportunity to address the team's struggles with their third-down offense and defense.

"We just haven't played well enough on third downs, and we need to take a look at it."

Nick Folk knows he's in a "funk", and will stay patient.

"A little funk," Folk said Monday. "I got to work my way out of it right now."

Folk said he's not too concerned because he's hitting the ball well. On the 46-yarder he missed on Sunday, Folk said he hit it well, but it just stayed right. The last kick he missed, a 38-yarder in Green Bay the previous week, Folk said he just missed it.

"I feel good, I hit the ball really well, it stayed a little to the right," Folk said. "I dont know I got to go look at it. it felt good coming off my foot had a good week of practice."

Patrick Crayton has worn many hats in his football career. Did you know he can kick? Well, sort of.

Patrick Crayton was once the emergency kicker on his college team.

"Make that the emergency-emergency kicker," he said, smiling. "If it had ever come down to me, we probably would have gone for two."

Even then, at Northwestern Oklahoma State, Crayton had a strong leg. Once, on a bet, Crayton surprised himself.

"I made a 50-yarder," he said, again smiling. "You never know when it comes to kicking."

After waiving KR/PR Allen Rossum, the Cowboys re-signed CB Cletis Gordon to the active roster.

The Buccaneers sure like the Cowboys' practice squad players. They've already plucked rookie CB Mike Mickens off there, now they've signed QB Rudy Carpenter as well.

Matt Mosely is shopping Shanahan. If the Cowboys were to part ways with Wade Phillips after this season, he thinks Mike Shanahan could be a good fit.

I think Jones would do just about anything to win another Super Bowl but you have to question his decision to stick with Wade Phillips after a disastrous ending to the '08 season. The fact that it was partly a financial decision makes you wonder if Jones would be willing to outbid his little buddy Snyder.

Denver Broncos 2009 1st Quarter Preview

Jeremy Bolander — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:30:16 -0000

After an unforgettable offseason, it is natural to turn our focus inwards. And with the myriad concerns that Denver needs to address, and with the multiple questions that Denver faces, this would not be an unproductive endeavor.

But the enemy without deserves just as much, if not more, attention and discussion. They, too, have unanswered questions, and unresolved dilemmas. They too await the sound of the opening bell with trepidation and anxiety. When the opening bell rings it will be less the signal of a beginning as it is an alarm that sounds the countdown to the end. For whom does that tocsin sound?

Denver, and thirteen other teams, will see their fates begin to wind off the skein, interminably woven together into a vast storyline, whose threads and chapters add up only to a picture of who deserves to be in the next story, the real story. The first four chapters, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Oakland and Dallas, all share a common theme in 2009. Like Denver, they are all looking for a fast start to their season. And like Denver, they are counting on the Broncos to be a key part of that fast start.

Broncos Schedule

@ Cincinnati	Sun 09/13	11:00 AM MDT
Cleveland	Sun 09/20	2:15 PM MDT
@ Oakland	Sun 09/27	2:15 PM MDT
Dallas	Sun 10/04	2:15 PM MDT

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Bengals are a team poised to at least double their 2008 win mark of 4 games. And they can be expected to do it with perhaps the most balanced approach they have seen in Marvin Lewis' mostly apoplectic 7 year tenure (46-49-1). Carson Palmer, despite an injured ankle and only 19 snaps with the first team, has taken command of the offense and appears to have his classic velocity and accuracy. Lewis has committed to a running game, and Cedric Benson is a decent enough horse to hitch the wagon to, but he has been inconsistent behind the Bengals new offensive line, and getting tackled behind the line of scrimmage may become an all too familiar sight. The depth, including Brian Leonard from the Rams should be adequate if Benson can stay healthy and keep earning those tough, between the tackles type of yards that propelled him to a stout showing of 747 yds (career high) in 2008. Those yards wear out defenses and open the door for those late-game bursts, and he has 4 100-yard performances to show for it.

Their defense also looks to once again be the dominant unit on the team, which can only aid in balancing the offensive attack. Mike Zimmer's unit has shown steady progress with tackling and discipline, and appears poised to break into the top ten defenses this year. Of note has been their exceptionally sturdy run defense, bolstered by the additions of Tank Johnson, Rey Maualuga and Roy Williams. With strong contributions from corners Jonathon Joseph and Leon Hall, they could be one of the strongest units in the league. FS Crocker is one of the ingredients of a unit that will be physical and play with a mean streak.

Notes of Note

The Bengals put 23 players on IR last year, and have already got to four for 2009.
Chad Johnson has shelved his Diva act and looks newly committed and functional, in a way that would be befuddling if it wasn't 85. A happy Chad is a productive Chad, and in a twisted way you can tell he is happy by the incident out of Bengals camp involving his orange chin strap. It's just a $7500 fine after all...
35% of Cedric Benson's runs have been negative or no yardage plays, and the Bengals line gave up 7 sacks in three games.
The Bengals may have found a way to bring back the big play to their offense, with 12 completions over 20 yards.
WR Andre Caldwell will have teams who scout Bengals tape watching him very carefully before the snap. He is a versatile player who adds Wildcat-type of functionality, as well as a consistent threat for reverses, as evidenced by his showing against KC last year.

Denver Should be Keying On....

Staying Healthy. Nothing spells doom like losing starters in the first game of the season. With this defense, Denver's offensive starters are in the crosshairs, and they will need to match the physicality and intensity if they want to get out of this matchup in one piece. Finesse has its place, but being strong at the point of attack will help protect the players more than anything
Get into the backfield. There is no better time than the present for the Broncos to pressure the Bengals Oline, especially new C Kyle Cook. Whether it is tackling rushers in the backfield or pressuring the QB, this is Denver's greatest chance defensively to control the game. If the Bengals get to the point of being able to drop back and pass, Denver will be in trouble.
Block Tank Johnson. Its not just Johnson, but stonewalling him will take a lot of air out of the Bengals rush. Getting RBs by him will take some extra effort, but it will also spell the beginning of the end for the Bengals D.
Don't sleep on STs. In general Denver needs to be significantly improved in this area, and the preseason indicates that the attention is there, and that results can be expected. Of note is the Bengals rookie P Kevin Huber who has shown that he can put the ball in a good spot.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Denver won't get to face the Browns right out of the gate, mores the pity. Instead the Browns will go up against Minnesota, and at that point they just might name and settle on a starter at QB. If history is any indication, it will be a new face on opening day, as the Browns have started 5 different QBs in the past six years. What Denver will truly be interested in noting, however, is how well Jamal Lewis runs against the Vikings line, as the Browns are relying on the 30 year old RB to be their workhorse once again. They have some mild changeup depth and third down backs, but nothing that says they have an answer for what happens if Jamal gets hurt, or worse, continues to average only 2.3 yards per carry.

If Lewis struggles, whoever is QB can't help but struggle too. With the absence of Kellen Winslow, coverages will shift accordingly concerning Braylon Edwards, who despite his talent, hasn't done nearly enough in the offseason to make anyone feel comfortable with his 19 dropped passes in 2008. He can barely be expected to acknowledge them. If Cribbs continues to come on strong in his campaign to be a #2 WR, then that could significantly help the offense, but historically dominant return men who convert to WR either fail the conversion or decline rapidly in production at the return spot.

By moving players around on the Dline and picking up the mysteriously injured Shaun Rogers, the lineplay is expected to be significantly shored up, but there is no definitive proof in yet. If it is upgraded, and the QB pressures start to come, than the Browns solid group of starting DBs, including SS Abe Elam, should get a chance to shine. They aren't the kind of secondary to make their name getting their hands on the ball, but they can rattle the receivers and create confusion in the backfield. If they have a weakness it is that they can be picked apart by patient, smart QBs.

Notes of Note

RB Jamal Lewis has carried the ball 2,399 times in the past 10 years.
After only 17 sacks last year the Browns, like the Broncos, are converting to an attacking defense under the eye of Rob Ryan.
4 offensive lineman were signed by the Browns since the beginning of august. Depth could be a problem.
The Browns 26th ranked defense underwent average changes, most notably a scheme change which required a NT. The same medicine was often prescribed for Denver prior to the complete gutting of staff and personnel, leaving only 3 starters intact from last year.

Denver Should be Keying On...

Obviously the starting QB makes a difference, but in this case the difference is profound, as Anderson and Quinn are cut from very different cloths, with Quinn being an accurate mid and short range guy, while Anderson can complete the long ball, something that may be in demand if the rushing offense struggles to maintain long drives.
Kamerion Wimbley. Wimbley has flipped sides in the LB corp to see if it can bolster his ability to pressure the backfield, and the early indications from preseason are that he can indeed return to his 11-sack rookie season form.
Watch for penalties. Despite Mangini's strident approach to a team that committed over 100 penalties in 2008, the Browns can still be expected to make their fair share of mistakes, especially on offense, and especially before the snap, Cleveland's weakest area. Denver should get a number of first and second and long opportunities on defense, and how they respond could set the tone for the whole day
Rookie RB James Davis. The 195th overall selection is the one true backup to Jamal Lewis, and could be a significant contributor by years end. In the short term, he is worth keeping an eye on, as his quickness could make him an early favorite to supplant Lewis for most carries in each game. However at 215 the productive tailback will likely wear down under too many carries, so an injury to Lewis is still the Browns worst case scenario for their running game.

oAKLAND rAIDERS

The elephant in the room when talking about the raiders is what can only be termed a "culture of losing." And as long as the franchise is defined by the bony, knee jerk reactions of Al Davis, that culture will have a very hard time changing.

Known as a "player's owner" Davis' solution for the 31st ranked rushing defense in the league for 2 years running was to completely gut the defensive coaching staff, including Rob Ryan, leaving the players virtually untouched. The early indications in preseason are that outside of making Nmandi Asomugha the highest paid corner in the game, little that oakland has done on defense will pan out. Drubbings at the hands of San Francisco and New Orleans, left the team back in the rut it was in before the Tampa Bay game at the end of 2008: seemingly unable and perhaps even unwilling to be competitive. Despite saving his job with a win against the playoff hungry Buccanneers, Tom Cable will be the fall guy if the "culture of losing" continues into its 7th season, a run of 11+ losses per year, which is a record of futility unmatched in the history of the NFL.

But all that early drafting has harvested a bumper crop of talent for the raiders, especially offensively, so they are still a threat to any team who sleeps on them. Or at least anyone who sleeps more than 7hours on them... Oh heck, you'd have to have died in the film room not to be competitive against this team, but if that happens, those teams should be careful... Of note is the three headed monster of McFadden, Bush, and Fargas at RB. McFadden has gamebreaking ability, and unless he gets injured again, chances are he will get all the touches he needs to prove it. Additionally, and this may be tough to hear, but Jamarcus Russell continues to improve as a young player, and he has tools that will be a threat in the near future, if he is used correctly, and put in good situations.

Notes of Note

raiders have allowed over 500 yards rushing in two preseason games against SanFrancisco and New Orleans.
Chaz Schilens, oakland's 2nd leading WR will be out for the early part of the season with a broken bone in his foot. He may be able to return by the Denver game, but the timetable isn't solid yet. He is a legitimate threat.
10 different RBs went over a hundred yards on the existing raider defensive personnel.
After an unbecoming bout of partying after the New Orleans loss, Cable felt compelled to remind his players that they were "grown men" and would need to act accordingly to handle the distractions of not being in a supervised training camp environment. Culture of losing-1, Cable-0. Cable, of course, also is facing criminal charges for breaking an assistant coaches face. Cable-1, Culture of Winning someday-0.
The raiders simply do not stack and shed with any consistency on the Dline, but that could change with the addition of Richard Seymour in a trade from the Patriots. Seymour could stack and shed quite well in the NE 2-gap scheme, and in oakland he will be asked to man a single gap as a DE on runstopping downs, and then move inside in nickle formations, where he would take on a single gap off center. I say could change because early reports are that Seymour isn't very happy with the trade...

Denver Should be Keying On...

Running through the middle of the raider defense. This is the raiders' weakest area on a dysfunctional team, and they can be positively gashed here. Success in this area also prompts the "lay down and die" attitude that is part of the culture that Cable is battling, so queuing it up is always a good idea. The 122 rushing TDs that oakland has allowed in the past 6 years is the worst in the NFL. Runs up the gut to score.
By the time Oakland comes around to play the Broncos, Asomugha should be either completely recovered from his wrist injury, or the Broncos will have a good idea of how much he is struggling with it. On the opposite side, Chris Johnson is an anomaly, a 29 year old CB who has to prove himself all over again despite his play last year. It is just too unusual, not just for a player at the CB position to bloom so late, but for it to happen in oakland.
2TE sets. Whether Russell has developed enough to efficiently run multiple looks out of a 2TE set remains to be seen, but the best receiver on the team and the best rookie receiver on the team, both happen to be TEs. Zach Miller and Brandon Meyers can put significant stress on defensive seams, and Denver has 3 weeks to really tighten down the seams and flats before they go to oakland and face a real challenge at the position. Denver's OLBs and nickle coverage guys need to get it together within the first three games.
Darius Heyward-Bey. The claim out of oaktown is that DHB is an instant double-team. If that is true, the oakland offense will be that much more effective. The problem for Denver, is that there may not be enough info by that third game to say whether DHB is panning out or not. He and Louis Murphy will be brought along slowly with the running game and TEs taking on the brunt of offensive work, so game three might be the earliest that Davis chooses to start pushing his speedy deep threat. Denver may very likely be the test, so a DHB surprise package may be in the works for them. They need to be disciplined and ready, to shut down the threat before it gets started.

DALLAS COWBOYS

The Cowboys find themselves in a situation eerily similar to Mike Shanahan's Final Days in Denver. They are buying into a "One Player Away" mythology, spurning depth throughout their units, seemingly failing to coach their players up well and suffering from an unhealthy organizational structure. The last is the root problem, and the most pressing.

I wouldn't begin to pin this solely on Jerry Jones, but he has done little to step back and assuage the tides of mediocrity that have overcome the Cowboys since 1996. Since that time the Cowboys have never won a postseason game and have had a losing record in December, when the games that get you into the playoffs are played. The coaching and staffing of the team has consisted of yesmen, all of whom have been unable to correct Dallas' course, and all of whom have taken the fall for Jones. The talent has vascillated between legitimate probowlers, character concerns and lipstick on a pig, and nowhere is that more apparent than the play of Tony Romo. His stats are the stuff of fantasy football dreams, his off field persona is mottled with unnecessary celebrity, and his personal record in December and January consists of twice as many losses as wins, amid slumping and downright horrible play.

Their running game and receiving corp are strong, however, especially with the addition of Roy Williams and subtraction of Terrell Owens. Add in Witten and Felix Jones and Marion Barber and the offense should be reliable, and emminently capable. Just as it has been for some time, which, to date, hasn't led to wins. Ditto for a defense with a perrennial defensive MVP in the near unblockable Demarcus Ware, yet the wins don't follow him around.

The Cowboys biggest issue personnelwise is the utter lack of depth. It spans units and in a twist of irony that only Mike Shanahan could appreciate, the Cowboys already handicapped 2008 draft (no selections in the first 68 picks) has been fairly decimated by injuries, and will be reduced to near insignificance in 2009, and perhaps beyond. What few rookies managed to remain healthy are either seriously underperforming (Mike Mickens, CB out of Cincinnati), or not critical to the success of the team (K David Buehler out of USC, a kickoff specialist only for now).

Broncos' fans should shudder at the picture being painted here, especially given the fact that Jerry Jones can't fire himself. Mike Shanahan's ego, for better AND worse, overcame the organization. Fortunately, there was a check and balance in place, and Bowlen mercifully executed it. Cowboys' fans have no such hope, and are left with only faith and luck, neither of which has had any effect on the team in over 13 years.

Notes of Note

Cowboys lack depth at every position along the offensive line, and were forced to PUP tackle Robert Brewster, despite a severely torn pectoral muscle that was ruled season ending, initially. The report on the injury is still the same, but without anyone capable of stepping in, they had little choice but to roll the dice in case he made a miraculous recovery by week six. Rolling the dice on medical miracles? Broncos' fans are all to familiar with that particular form of delusion.
The Cowboy's first pick in the 2008 draft didn't come until pick #69 in round 3. Of the 12 total picks, 5 spent all or some of the preseason injured, 4 others are considered for STs play only, only 1 is a legitimate backup, and the rest were cut. Of the STers one is a kickoff specialist only.
The Cowboy's depth problems include quarterback, where John Kitna backs up Romo, all positions along the offensive line, at the four linebacker positions, and at safety and cornerback, where despite Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick sharing time, they still have converted a SS to CB just to cover the depth issues. Just like the Denver defense of the past three years, there is no one to fill in when someone goes down, and that is a situation that will snowball out of control, despite the best halfhearted efforts of the frontoffice to build through the draft.

Denver Should be Keying On

Special Teams Play. Dominating the Cowboys in any gameplan starts with pressuring their overmatched special teams. As Denver fans know, the failure to build a team correctly hits special teams play hardest and first. If Denver can dominate this aspect of the game, the Cowboys will always be in a compromised position.
Penalties. Again, if Denver can do the little things right, they put themselves in a position to compete with Dallas even if Denver isn't producing terribly well on offense and defense. Some teams will make you suffer if you can't establish your strength's early. Not the Cowboys. Just like Denver's dwindling redzone production and defense over the past few years, the Cowboys will consistently lose the penalty battle if you just let them.
Turnovers. Dallas' secondary has also struggled to generate turnovers, being the third team since 1969 to generate over 45 sacks but only single digit interceptions. Denver has 3 weeks to turn this attacking defense that Nolan is building into a turnover producing machine. Likewise, Dallas will also be searching for the magic formula. The first team to find it by week four will be the team in the driver's seat for this matchup.

Notes and links for Ohio football; if you love Cincinnati-area football, we might have a job for you

Kirkendall — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:28:48 -0000

Even though we're a blog that specifically talks about the Cincinnati Bengals, we try our damnest to talk about other area football teams; especially the Ohio State Buckeyes and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. The truth of the matter is, when the Bengals were recording their worst season since 2002 (2-14), the University of Cincinnati was in the middle of their first BCS season since, well, the BCS started. It didn't just make the season the Bengals were having passable (if that phrase even exists); it was exciting as hell. As was the run the Buckeyes have, save for that one game during the third week of the season; I can't remember the result, or even who we played; in fact, I have no memory of September 13, 2008. If you're remotely a fan of the UC Bearcats, or have this uncontrollable instinct to simply cheer anything related to your hometown, then how are you not excited about the Bearcats? The Buckeyes. Well, we're extremely nervous. In truth, even with the Bengals and Browns, football in Ohio is the best football product in any state in the union; that includes Florida, Texas and California. I'm biased for Ohio football. I don't care. It's the best. So when we have time, or when we start feeling all Swine-Flu sick talking about the Bengals because their season turns into a wreck, we'll talk Ohio football. Now, I know readers might not care; they just want Bengals news and nothing else. I can respect that. So in our Ohio football that doesn't include the Browns posts, we'll keep it short, and anyone wanting to continue, can click on the jump.

(Note: if you have a love for Ohio football, especially the Bearcats and Cincinnati area football, drop me an email. I might have a job for you).

Now, onto links and notes.

Go Bearcats takes a look at the 12 former Bearcats on NFL rosters. They are Conner Barwin (Texans), John Bowie (Raiders), Brandon Underwood (Packers), Brent Celek (Eagles), Trent Coles (Eagles), Troy Evans (Saints), Andre Frazier (Steelers), Tyjuan Hagler (Colts), Haruki Nakamura (Ravens), Mike Wright (Patriots), Antonio Chatman (Bengals) and Kevin Huber (Bengals).

Seven former Bearcat players were released from NFL rosters this weekend: which includes Mike Mickens (Cowboys), Corey Smith (Chiefs), DeAngelo Smith (Cowboys) Digger Bujnoch (Saints), Adam Hoppel (Browns), Manalac (Bills) and Trevor Canfield (Cardinals)

However, Joe Reedy Tweets that DeAngelo Smith was claimed by the Browns.

The Bearcats season kicks Monday (Labor Day) at Rutgers at 4 PM. It will be broadcast on ESPN. Quarterback questions for Rutgers.

Brian Kelly doesn't like opening the season against a Big East team on the road.

Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard are great offensive players for the Bearcats and likely NFL prospects. However, the Bearcats also have Jeff Linkenbach, a 6'6", 311 pound left tackle.

"He had a great year last year," offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn said of Linkenbach. "Without him as our left tackle, who knows what could have been the outcome of the season?"

The Bearcats' newest defensive coordinator, Bob Diaco, is the complete opposite of Mike Zimmer. Aaron Webster, the team's free safety, says of Diaco. “He’s a real mellow person. You can tell not a lot gets to him. He’s not really flustered when there’s controversy or when adversity hits.”

UC joined IMG College and ISP Stadium Seating to provide Nippert stadium with 10,000 cushioned seats with backs.

"Over the past few seasons more and more fans have come up to us and asked if there was anything we could do about the uncomfortable red seats in Nippert. When we looking into this, the most economical and comfortable alternative was to partner with an outside vendor who could help us solve our fan's comfort issue, and do so at a reasonable price. We tested these types of seats over the last two years and decided to move forward with a mass installation for the 2009 season. ISP Stadium Seating has answered our charge and will serve our fans well this season and for many years to come."

Hopefully 2010 will be a season where seats aren't being used all that much. The seats, "black with a red c-claw on the backs", are being offered as part of a season ticket package for UCATS members.

We Will Always Have Tempe freaked out, as did we all, when the Buckeyes nearly let Navy beat them Saturday. Things don't look good for USC this Saturday.

Defensive back Anderson Russell gave up a long touchdown pass and "frequently misdiagnosed plays". However, Terrell Pryor, who wore eye black with the words "Vick", is a much improved passer over last year.

The Rivalry, Esq calls the Buckeyes performance a disappointing showing, especially when failing to establish the running game.

Navy recorded three 80-yard plus touchdown drives.

Elder, ranked fourth in the nation, beat Colerain, who is ranked 13th in the nation, 20-7. The game was sold out at the Pit, which holds over 10,000 and was broadcast live on ESPN.

The Mason Comets, my old stomping grounds, lost their first game of the season, to Centerville 14-34. That drops the Comets to 1-1. They play their first Greater Miami Conference game in two weeks.

Poll

Would you like a weekly take on all things in Cincinnati (and Ohio) football?

Yes

124 votes

No

108 votes

232 votes | Poll has closed

If the Bengals look at the waive/free agency wire, they're likely looking for a third Tight End and Cornerback

Kirkendall — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:22:38 -0000

You have to believe that the Bengals are pouring over sheets of the 704 available NFL players that were released or waived Saturday afternoon. While I believe that the team's roster is better than it was in 2008, I don't believe that the Bengals can afford to sit idle while potential improvements are out there. Two positions that jump out at you are Tight End and Cornerback.

Having two rookies and Daniel Coats man Tight End is risky. While I'm not suggesting they can't do the job, they might not be the best solutions this year. First, let's examine their roles. Coats, while leading all Tight Ends with four receptions for 50 yards receiving, is more likely to become similar to Reggie Kelly; blocking first, receiving second. Several times last year we pointed out where Coats' missed blocks blew up rushing plays as a fullback. It's critical he improves if he's taking on the Reggie Kelly school of blocking Tight Ends. Chase Coffman, on the other hand, is the team's best receiving Tight End. I believed that before Ben Utecht went down and the biggest bump in Coffman's road to become the starter is his ability to block; that's why Utecht was initially ahead of the rookie in the depth chart. See, if the Bengals bring in Tight Ends based on the play (run, pass), then defenses will key off that. They need both Coats and Coffman to deliver on the block and the pass -- which is why Coats is the likely starter against the Broncos.

J.P. Foschi wasn't a surprise to make the squad, simply because of numbers. He made some plays during the preseason, specifically against the St. Louis Rams. However, he's not likely a solid roster spot -- if the Bengals acquire anyone else, he's one of the first to go. He's not a better blocker than Coats and he's not a better receiver than Coffman. Could the Cincinnati Bengals look at the wires to solidify the position; more specifically, a Tight End with veteran experience?

Cornerback is another position that could be a concern. David Jones, the team's third cornerback, isn't likely playing against the Denver Broncos while recovering from a broken foot. Even though he's likely replacing Jones as the team's third cornerback this week, Morgan Trent is an unknown and Geoffrey Pope's biggest appreciation in the world is that the Bengals keep him employed. OK, so he's made some plays, but how comfortable are you with him starting if others are injured. In truth, I believe the Bengals will look at the wires to find their third cornerback. Two University of Cincinnati Bearcats are out there; Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith, both of whom were released from the Dallas Cowboys on final cutdown day. You have to think that the Bengals will look at hometown guys, especially the 2008 Bearcats squad that Lewis liked. Maybe a guard like Trevor Canfield, who was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

If the Bengals sign anyone off the wires, I believe that they're likely addressing cornerback and Tight End first. But don't be surprised if they replace other spots to improve their depth.

The VRR: The Year of the DBs in Big D?

Aaron Novinger — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:17:02 -0000

More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

Does this look like Camp Cupcake to you? It's more like Camp MMA-style conditioning for the Dallas quarterbacks.

Browse more photos »

While much attention has been paid to the Mike Jenkins/Orlando Scandrick starting RCB battle and the addition of SS Gerald Sensabaugh, LCB Terence Newman could be the key to solidifying the greatness in the Dallas secondary. Newman - the workout warrior that he is - is ready to put his past injuries behind him and show he's one of the best DBs in the league.

"Some of my injuries had stemmed from something that happened a while back and I just never rehabbed it right and it led to more injuries, so I finally got that corrected and my body feels great," Newman said. "It’s rehabbing your body, understanding that you might have a problem one place, but it’s stemming from something completely different. I finally found that out and corrected it, the initial problem."

[snip]

Newman has been so focused that (Jerry) Jones said he’s worried about him getting hurt and even talked to the coaches about pulling him back. The Cowboys eventually decided against it because they really like what they are seeing from Newman.

A healthy Newman means the Cowboys can finally maximize their potential on defense. They can play more man coverage in the secondary, which will make Phillips’ blitz-happy style more effective.

If Newman has another Pro Bowl year, the rest of the secondary would easily benefit from his play. Imagine TNew nullifying opposing offenses' number one WRs, Jenkins and Scandrick handling the others, a ball-hawking SS in Sensabaugh, and Ken Hamlin being the "hammering" quarterback of the defensive backfield. It surely could be a solid year for the unit.

Much more VRR after the jump.

Rookie SS Mike Hamlin has made an impression on Coach Phillips.

Phillips said he was impressed by Hamlin’s knack for being around the ball, and for making interceptions when the ball headed his way. The Dallas head coach even went as far to say Hamlin’s hands "spectacular" and "Everson Walls-type hands." Being compared to Walls — the team’s all-time leader in interceptions in a single season after he snagged 11 in 1981, and second on the team list for interceptions in his career with 44 — made Hamlin look at the ground, beaming with pride.

This is funny because I just read this same quote in Sunday's SAEN, except Phillips was likening Mike Mickens to Walls. Anyways, Coach said he made it a point that they draft DBs with ball skills this year.

It certainly is nice to see that Hamlin isn't shy about asking the vets for advice.

"I bug him every day," he said of Ken Hamlin, whom Phillips calls "the quarterback of our defensive secondary.

"Every time I do something wrong, or feel like I do something wrong, I’ll go up and ask him questions about how we play certain routes, or what kinds of changes he would make, or if in the middle of the play the quarterback scrambles, what do we yell out? Things like that."

Hamlin also is excited to play special teams.

Hamlin said he is playing on all special teams so far in camp, "and I’m enjoying it. They’ve got me up front on the kickoff return team, so I’ve got to get a little bigger to take on some blockers. I do it on my own with Terence Newman and (wide receiver) Sam Hurd — those guys kind of take me up under their wing, and show me the ropes, show me how to work out like pros work out."

Hamlin said that while Campo and safeties coach Brett Maxie demand elite effort and concentration from rookies on defensive assignment, they both have encouraged Hamlin and the other rookies to play on as many special teams as possible, in an effort to remind the coaching staff how valuable they are and how many diverse roles they can fill.

"(Campo) stresses special teams with all of the rookies — him and Coach Maxie," Hamlin said. "They both say ‘try and get on every special team you can. If kickoff return is going, and you’re not on kickoff return, try and get on the scout team kickoff team, just so you can show yourself.’"

The talent at tight end and running back will confuse defenses - at least, that's what Tony Romo, Jason Garrett, and Wade Phillips are hoping.

Facing an offense with two pass-catching tight ends is a challenge for defenses because one must be covered by a linebacker.

"We're going to try to take advantage of that," Phillips said.

The running game also should benefit since Witten is an outstanding blocker and Bennett is no slouch himself.

"Any time you can get two tight ends in the game, it's very difficult on a defensive coordinator, personnel-wise, to decide what he's going to play," Romo said. "A lot of the time when you have three receivers and a tight end, it's more of a pass-type formation. But with two tight ends, you can run the ball every bit as well as you can with a fullback in the game sometimes, because they have to be conscious of their play calling defensively. Offensively, you can do a lot of stuff out of it."

That's where the new wrinkles come in.

Running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are all versatile, especially Jones, whose speed and agility present major matchup problems for linebackers and safeties. Jones can be moved to the slot, creating an empty backfield, or Bennett could also line up out wide or in the slot, presenting a matchup headache for smaller safeties or slower linebackers.

"The combination of (Witten and Bennett) allows us to do a lot more things schematically, and we're going to try to push the envelope," Romo said.

Dallas has also come up with some other new offensive twists, including a package where Jones starts in the slot before motioning to the backfield behind Barber and Choice. It's an example of how the Cowboys plan to move Jones and Bennett all over the field this season in search of mismatches.

This AP article paints a picture of how Garrett may use his arsenal of running backs.

It might play out something like this: On first-and-10, Marion Barber goes banging up the middle, grinding out a few yards.

On second-and-6, Tony Romo throws to Felix Jones coming out of the backfield. He squirts up the field, stopped just shy of a first down.

Now it's third-and-1 and out comes third-stringer Tashard Choice. He lines up as a shotgun quarterback, with Romo setting up like a wide receiver and Jones coming in motion. It's a Dallas version of the Wildcat, with Choice and Jones filling roles they had when their college teams ran it.

Matt Mosely provides a nice assessment about "the new mindset" in the Cowboys camp this season.

Hat tip to what_the_crap for the FanShot.

Rookie linebacker Stephen Hodge is catching up in camp.

Here's a cool read on very-soon-to-be HOF inductee, Bullet Bob Hayes.

Jody Dean will be the voice of Cowboys Stadium.

Jerry Jones to add an artsy feel to Cowboys Stadium.

"From top to bottom, we’re taking a whole new approach to what a national sports arena can be," said Jerry Jones, owner and general manager, in a statement. "Cowboys Stadium isn’t just a place to go and see a game or a concert, it’s an experience you share with your family and your community. That will include things that a lot of people wouldn’t anticipate seeing at a stadium — like contemporary art. Football is full of the unexpected and the spontaneous — it can make two strangers into friends. Art has the power to do that too, to get people talking, and looking, and interacting. It’s not just about what you see on the field or on the wall, it’s about creating exciting experiences."

Finally, y'all have got to check out Razzball.com's Cowboys fantasy football preview Q & A with Grizz.

Dallas Cowboys 2009 Training Camp: Practice #4

Dave Halprin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:37:19 -0000

Full pads for today's affair. Stephen Hodge, Tim Anderson still rehabbing. One thing I like, DeAngelo Smith was out on the field 30 minutes before practice catching punts from the machine. Nice to see a rookie dedicated like that.

Started out with special teams drills again, and then went into some punts. Mat McBriar was crushing the punts today, high and far. Catching punts: Felix Jones, Terence Newman, Patrick Crayton, and Willie Reid. After team stretching they went into some FGs with both Nick Folk and David Buehler.

The defense then broke off and did drills that were all about fumbles. They did stations were the defensive groups rotated - they worked on falling on fumbles and properly wrapping it up, stripping the ball from the QB from behind, trying to punch the ball out of the ball-carrier's hands from behind and keeping a fumble in-bounds so another player could fall on it. Nice, we need turnovers this year.

While all that was going on, Buehler was practicing on-sides kicks. The guy was pounding them into the turf and having them pop up, they were going almost exactly 10 yards and right into the hands of Folk. His accuracy at getting the distance and keeping it in-bounds w\as uncanny, Folk rarely had to move to catch it.

Make the jump.

The broke off into 9-on-9 on one side and WR vs. DB on the other. I followed the WRs/DBs. Jenkins had great coverage on Crayton for an incompletion, Austin caught a slant in front of Courtney Brown, then Scandrick had great coverage on Kevin Ogletree for an incompletion. Stanback made a very nice catch on Alan Ball, Jesse Holley cooked Mike Mickens on a bomb, Mickens had to commit pass interference to stop it. Mike Jefferson blew right by Newman for a bomb, Crayton made a great in and out move to lose Scandrick, and Willie Reid beat Ball for a tough catch.

Mickens had nice coverage on Hurd for an incompletion, T-New looked good against Austin, then Roy almost made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch on a bomb with tight coverage from Jenkins, but just couldn't hold on to it. Stanback beat Scandrick short, Scandrick gave him way too much room, then Jefferson cooked Mickens on a stop and go pattern deep. Julian Hawkins made a nice grab against T-New but ended up out-of-bounds. Austin caught a short one on Jenkins and Crayton abused Courtney Brown on a deep pass. Roy and Scandrick had a real physical battle on a short pattern to the sidelines with Roy winning the battle and making the catch. Manuel Johnson had and easy time with DeAngelo Smith, Reid caught a short one on Mickens and Hurd ran an excellent route to shake Brown.

D. Smith came back with nice coverage on a deep pass, then Scandrick got inside Reid on a dig route to break it up and Jefferson spun Brown around to make a short catch. Hawkins ran a good route to shake Mickens, then D. Smith was all over Austin on a deep pass. Crayton ran a route to the sidelines and got his hands on the ball up high but Jenkins recovered to knock it out of his hands before he could complete the catch. T-New had no problem covering Reid, Roy beat Scandrick on a short pass to the sidelines and Holley was able to shake C. Brown for a catch.

After that, they did 7-on-7 while the OL battled the DL. I followed the 7-on-7. Romo overthrew Witten on an out pattern, Bennett caught a short pass then Romo tried to hit Witten deep but Bradie James had excellent coverage. Hurd made a nice catch while simultaneously being hit from behind by Jenkins, Scandrick broke up a pass for Bennett and Roy caught one over the middle in front of C. Brown. Kitna threw a short pass to Scott Chandler, had a terrible throw to John Phillips, hit Ogletree in front of D. Smith and finished with and overthrow of and open Reid on the sidelines. McGee hit Hawkins in the hands but he dropped it and then connected with Philips on a short one.

Romo came back on and threw short to Witten, hit Austin in the flats, then just missed Austin on an out pattern. He tried to hit Bennett on a deep pass but Bennett's feet got tangled up with T-New and the ball was incomplete. He finished with a pass that had beautiful touch and floated softly into Jefferson's hands and then threw a swing pass to Felix. Kitna threw short to Bennett, then tried a pass over the middle but Mike Hamlin tipped the ball in the air then dove to make the INT. Kitna finished with short passes to Bennett and Hurd. Rudy Carpenter threw short to Keon Lattimore and then got picked-off by Scandrick.

Practice closed with a long session of 11-on-11. Wade was turning the defense loose as they blitzed often and they used nickel/dime coverages where they were putting two safeties near the line and only one linebacker. The defense got the better of the offense most of the day. Romo started by hitting Witten over the middle between Brooking and Sensabaugh, then Ratliff stuffed an MB3 run. Roy caught one on the sidelines in front of Scandrick, Felix caught a swing pass but Carpenter had good pursuit, then Felix tried a sweep but Brandon Williams fought the block and turned it into traffic. Kyle Kosier had a false start and was replaced and Romo hit Hurd on a deep pass that Hurd leaped high to get. Kitna rolled-out under pressure from Ocatvien and hit Phillips on a short pass. He tried to go deep to Reid but C. Brown and D. Smith had bracketed coverage. Choice caught a short pass but Jason Williams was right there for the stop. Anthony Spencer timed a rush to get good pressure forcing a dump-off, and Bennett caught a short pass but Brooking was all over him. McGee handed to Choice up the middle but Carpenter stuffed it. Lattimore caught a swing pass but Jerome Carter came up and accidentally decked him. Lattimore tried a run but had no room and then Brandon Williams got good pressure causing a throw-away.

Romo was back and immediately felt pressure from Octavien, he threw it to Crayton who dropped it. After a dump-off to MB3, he threw to Roy but Mickens was there, they both caught the ball and Mickens ended up with it. Witten got loose down the seam and Romo hit him in stride, they tried a pitch to Felix but Brooking and Bradie ate it up. They tried a reverse to Felix but he was forced to cut it back inside where Bradie was waiting. Kitna started out by overthrowing Reid on the sideline, next threw an incompletion after B. Williams applied pressure, and then threw the ball right to Ball who dropped the INT. Choice took and inside handoff and cut back outside for a long run followed by an Alonzo Coleman draw play that went for big yards. Rudy Carpenter threw a dump-off to Manuel Johnson, then pitched it to Coleman but Spencer disrupted the blocking and Bradie made the tackle. They tried a screen that had no chance as the blitz was on him before it could develop and finished by having Jenkins break up a pass.

That was that.

Cowboy Stew: Serving Seconds

Jim Vance — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:00:14 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Could Mike Mickens be an impact rookie for the Cowboys this year?

Browse more photos »

When I have some intriguing tidbits to share with you, but those tidbits are not enough to warrant a full post, I save them up and then I throw them into the pot, stir it up and serve you some Cowboy Stew. These bits and bites don't have much in common other than that they are Cowboy related and got stuck in my brain for a while. So, dig into the stew, and share your thoughts.

Will our rookies be able to make an impact? That requires pure speculation and we won't know until the season is fully under way. Now, if we had a powerful computer that could run multiple scenarios and model future behaviors in the NFL based on past behaviors in college we might get some interesting data. Oh wait, there is a computer website that does just that. It's called Whatifsports.com. A few of the Cowboy rookies made the top 100.

Rookies present the biggest challenge. To come up with statistical inputs for rookies, we run a very complex set of algorithms that factors collegiate performance, role in college, strength of collegiate competition, "measurables," likely NFL role, previous performance of a similar player in that NFL role for this coaching staff and trends of similar rookies in the past. This gives us the player's projected ratio stats (expected yards per carry, completion percentage, etc.), as well as his forecasted usage for the upcoming season. From there, we can compare all rookies based on who we think will make the biggest positive impact for his new NFL team in his first year. The Top 100 from this ranking are listed below.

74. Mike Mickens, CB, Dallas
55. Victor Butler, LB, Dallas
52. DeAngelo Smith, CB/S, Dallas

Riddle me this Batman - (A line borrowed from Frank Gorshin and the old Batman TV series) Is there an anti- Cowboy bias in the media? Here is a recent scenario. The Cowboys release a certain aging receiver and they are slammed by the sports media and predicted to struggle in 2010.

During the same off season the New York Giants lose their number one receiver in Plaxico Burress, lose another receiver in Amani Toomer, lose a 1000 yard rusher in Derrick Ward and lose their successful Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and still the sports press picks the Giants to win the division and possibly the Super Bowl.

The Giants and the Cowboys split their two games last season indicating that the gap between them is relatively small and yet the loss of the Cowboys number one receiver is predicted to have a greater negative impact than the Giants loss of several starters. Go figure.

4^th and Long - I like Michael Irvin's reality show. Maybe it's just because there is a bit of football during the long dry offseason and I'm having withdrawals or maybe Irvin and his writers have done a good job of letting the characters develop. I'm picking the big wide receiver Montrell Jones to be the winner. He's not the most likable guy there but he has the size and strength and I feel like he has already been given a couple of mulligans to keep him on the show. My favorite character? Coach Joe! He cracks me up with some of his comments to the players and to Mike. What exactly is a slapdick?

Yes, but I'm the tallest midget! - Last season there were 13 NFL teams who finished the season in the negative total points category. What that means is the combined scores of your opponents totaled more than the total number of points scored by your offense. As you might expect, all of these teams finished at the bottom of their divisions and all of these teams had losing records - save one. The 2008 Dallas Cowboys. Clearly the Philly butt-whipping put the Cowboys in that position, but there they are at 9 -7 and boasting a minus 3 points. That's another dubious distinction to a disappointing season. Yes, we were the best of the losers.

So, how did you like the stew?

Cowboys Pre-Camp: The Far Side of Optimism

Rafael Vela — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:10:24 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy E. Williams (4) needs better health from his receiver mates. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Browse more photos »

More promising and some not so promising news and notes from the recently completed Cowboys camps:

--None of the rookies are counted on this year but a few made positive impressions. I was told quarterback Stephen McGee will take time, but has the required skill set. My source said of McGee, "he's competitive, makes accurate throws and can move around a bit...I Iike the kid."

-- The U of Cincinnati duo of Mike Mickens and D'Angelo Smith also got a brief, positive mention. With the second and third year corners and safeties making a push (see yesterday's report) these guys will have time to develop without immediate pressure. 4th round pick Brandon Williams lacks that luxury. He also stood out, but I was told Williams will have to rush the passer exclusively this season. This suggests to me that Williams lacks the power to hold the point. On the plus side, it appears Jay Ratliff is not the only person who noticed Williams rush skills.

I don't know how effective Williams can be, but if he and starter Anthony Spencer can divide up Greg Ellis' eight '08 sacks in some combination, they'll keep offensives from sliding their blocking schemes towards Demarcus Ware.

-- 3rd-rounder Robert Brewster was the last rookie who stood out for my source. Brewster impressed with his effort but I was told he'll need time to develop, and build his strength.

One player who didn't impress was Brewster's linemate Montrae Holland. I understand he does not look any more svelte than last year. If Kyle Kosier rehabs slowly, we may be looking at another Holland/Cory Proctor rotation at left guard, at least early on. That can't make anybody smile.

The second significant caveat involves the receivers. The backups Miles Austin, Sam Hurd and Isaiah Stanback barely practiced this month. The National Football Press' Mike Lombardi wrote an excellent piece last week explaining why this makes organizations fret:

Practice repetitions are directly tied to the time allowed for each period. So there might be a two-hour practice, 120 minutes, but in that time, there are 60 repetitions in all phases of the game. For example, if a team is working on its inside run drill, it might want to get 12 plays/repetitions in that period. In camp, there are normally three groups of players -- three teams of offensive and defensive players -- so some players might only get two repetitions. Before the assistant coaches leave for vacation, they must know how many repetitions each player will be able to get before the first game, in all phases of the game. Clearly, the more reps, the better chance a player has to either improve or, in some cases, fail to meet the challenge.

When injuries become a part of the above equation, the amount of repetitions is reduced, resulting in limited progress for the player and the team...

Jason Garrett certainly has an idea of how many reps Hurd, Stanback and, most importantly, Austin need. These guys are not rookies, but they're not polished pros either. They need as many reps as they can get. They're going to San Antonio with little practice mileage on their odometers. It's not critical on June 26th, but watch the injury reports in camp closely. If more than one of these guys misses significant time there with a pull, sprain, or other ailment, wide receiver becomes a major concern.

Cowboys Defense 2009 - Fast and Furious

Jim Vance — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:30:10 -0000

The Cowboys secondary made a quantum leap from 2007 to 2008 by adding Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins to the mix. There were still some obvious gaps that had to be filled and it looks to me like the team has done exactly that through free agency and the draft.

Gerald Sensabaugh should be an upgrade at safety by virtue of his coverage skills and athleticism.

I read through the bios of our draft picks looking for common threads. These players are all attackers who fit well with the aggressive Phillips 34. The transition from the read-and-react defense that Parcells preferred should be complete this season. The Cowboys secondary will improve again this year over last and Wade is sending the message to opposing QBs that this defense is going to pin their ears back and come after you.

Take a look at some of our draftees to get an idea of where this defense is headed for 2009.

Jason Williams OLB - One of the most underrated players in the 2009 NFL Draft, Williams was a terror in opposing backfields since shifting to weak-side linebacker from strong safety as a sophomore. In each of his last three seasons, he ranked among the nation's leaders in forced fumbles and tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Victor Butler - LB - A standout pass rusher who broke out to register 10.5 sacks as a junior despite only starting one game, Butler was first-team All-Pac-10 and tied the single-season sack record at OSU with 12 as a senior and leaves second in school history with 25.5 career sacks.

Brandon Williams - LB -After all, Williams led the conference with 13 sacks, earning first-team All-Big 12 accolades as a junior, and leaves Tech ranked fourth in school history with 22.5 career sacks.

DeAngelo Smith - CB - The two (Smith and Mickens) combined for 26 interceptions during their careers together, more than any other active duo in the NCAA in 2008.

Mike Hamlin - SS - His 14 interceptions rank third in school annals and his 243 yards gained on interception returns rank second. He also ranks second in school history with 18 takeaways (four forced fumbles, 14 pass thefts).

Stephen Hodge - LB - His eight sacks led all Football Bowl Subdivision defensive backs in 2007, though he basically played linebacker in TCU's defense and blitzed often.

Mike Mickens - CB - Mickens was named All-American and All-Big East Conference first-team as a junior. He combined with fellow cornerback DeAngelo Smith to register 14 interceptions, the most by a cornerback duo in the major college ranks in 2007. Mickens' six pass thefts rank second on the school single-season record list, as he brought two of those thefts back for scores, gaining 136 return yards. He delivered 53 tackles (33 solos) and deflected six passes while also recovering a fumble.

These are just the rookies, the backups who are trying to make the team, but from their strengths it's clear that the Cowboys defense is going to be fast and furious.

DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer are two speed rushers coming from either edge and Igor Olshansky, Marcus Spears and Jay Ratliff will do combat in the middle. Some of those rushers will require a double team which means somebody is going to have a shot at the opposing QB, hopefully creating hurried/forced throws. Better coverage skills in our defensive backfield should mean more jumped routes and more turnovers for us.

I can't wait.