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Caleb McSurdy takes fullback snaps


IRVING, Texas – Caleb McSurdy did not need to be asked twice to play some fullback Tuesday.

With Lawrence Vickers recovering from back surgery, the Cowboys turned to McSurdy, a linebacker, to play fullback in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

“I met with the tight ends for like half of a position meeting and then went back to the linebackers,” McSurdy said. “It was only five or six plays they had me look at but, yeah, it was a lot of fun just being out there. Offense, defense, special teams, if you’re playing ball, you’re playing ball.”

When the Cowboys worked out McSurdy prior to taking him in the seventh round of the 2012 draft, it was almost exclusively as a fullback. But he did not take a snap there before tearing his Achilles in training camp.

“Who was the guy at Stanford? Owen Marecic?” McSudy said. “If that’s what they want, I’ll do it.”

Marecic was used primarily as a fullback in his first three seasons at Stanford. In his junior year, Marecic was brought in as an inside linebacker in short-yardage situations. Marecic became a full-time linebacker his senior season.

McSurdy said he is just about 100 percent after the Achilles injury and is done with the rehab process. He and Barry Church went through the same rehab process together.

“I’m thankful they gave me another shot,” McSurdy said.

Either at linebacker or fullback.
 

boozeman

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Hopefully Hargrove can be the next Alonzo Spellman for us.

BTW, I never understood how Spellman went from being a top 3 DT his first season with us and then a JAG the next year.

Being batshit crazy tends to do that to you.
 

NoShame

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** LB Bruce Carter is a sick athlete. He was able to drop into coverage and knock down an Orton pass to Bryant as if he had been playing weak-side linebacker forever. If Carter and Sean Lee can stay healthy, the Cowboys defense has a chance to be better than it’s been.

Carter is quickly becoming my favorite player. Excited to see what him and Lee can bring to our defense especially in this Tampa 2.
 

ScipioCowboy

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The interior DL depth is worrisome. If Hargrove doesn't pan out...we could be in deep shit.

True. But it seems like the defensive ends are panning out thus far. Spencer has performed well, and there have been a few glowing reports about a Wilbur and Crawford.
 
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McSurdy probably sees the writing on the wall at linebacker. He has no future there, with us.

But why does this team always try to turn LB's into FBs? Has it ever been successful?

And no... that freckled black guy from the early 2000s doesn't count because he wasn't any good.
 

junk

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** LB Caleb McSurdy forced a fumble on Escobar after an in cut. Escobar was able to gather the ball, but the rookie will have to tougher with the football.

Just keeps making plays. Maybe we should be looking into extending this guy instead of that china doll Lee
 

junk

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The interior DL depth is worrisome. If Hargrove doesn't pan out...we could be in deep shit.

I think the entire DL depth is shitty.

Crawford might end up being to play a little, but I'm skeptical that Wilbur becomes anything.
 

Theebs

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McSurdy probably sees the writing on the wall at linebacker. He has no future there, with us.

But why does this team always try to turn LB's into FBs? Has it ever been successful?

And no... that freckled black guy from the early 2000s doesn't count because he wasn't any good.

They said on talking cowboys today that mcsurdy is Jerry's pet player and a favorite if his.
 

jnday

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:lol Based on what? He had like, 4 practices last year before getting injured.

McSurdy must be a kiss-ass. He has shit stains on his nose from sucking up to the boss. There is no other explaination.
 

ScipioCowboy

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Just keeps making plays. Maybe we should be looking into extending this guy instead of that china doll Lee

I think the entire DL depth is shitty.

Crawford might end up being to play a little, but I'm skeptical that Wilbur becomes anything.

You're always negative. How can you claim to be a Cowboys fan?

Why don't you go find some other team to root for!

(This is all tongue in cheek, by the way.)
 

Jon88

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McSurdy probably sees the writing on the wall at linebacker. He has no future there, with us.

But why does this team always try to turn LB's into FBs? Has it ever been successful?

And no... that freckled black guy from the early 2000s doesn't count because he wasn't any good.

Robert Thomas? The guy who replaced the guy who replaced Moose. Yeah he ended up sucking and then failing a test for weed.

The fullback position is almost extinct.
 
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OTA Notebook: Perception Of Cowboys
MIKE FISHER
Published: Tuesday, June 04, 2013, 6:17pm

IRVING, Texas – Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was asked after Tuesday's OTA workout at Valley Ranch if it fair to conclude that he and owner Jerry Jones have different philosophies as to how information is disseminated.

"I think,'' Garrett deadpanned, "you can draw your own conclusions."

The central issue of this discussion is assistant Bill Callahan's ascension to offensive playcaller, something that's been apparent to Valley Ranch insiders since late January but continues to be a "controversy'' even today because of the unorthodox way Garrett and Jones have handled it publicly.

The coach has opted not to handle it at all, believing the "privacy'' ("private'' unless you observe Callahan's work in the last three open-media Tuesdays at practice) gives Dallas a "competitive advantage.''

The owner revealed this poorly-kept secret on his own Tuesday, creating a dysfunctional look to the organizational chart.

Of course, this organizational chart has 24 years of shelf life. So maybe "dysfunction'' is simply "function'' – at least until a Callahan call goes bad in a game, in which case the world might start to understand that changing drivers doesn't automatically mean the car wins the race.

*The entire starting D-line took most of the day off on Tuesday. No 11-on-11 work for Ware, Hatcher, Ratliff or Spencer.

*It would be a mistake to take for granted the participation of DeMarco Murray, who showed no signs of hamstring problems.

*Buzz is, the good people of Frisco are being very aggressive in hoping to get the Cowboys to move their headquarters from Irving to their city.

*Miles Austin sat out the workout, leaving rookie Terrance Williams to get a great deal of first-team work.

*Quarterback Tony Romo, still recovering from surgery to remove a cyst from his back, might miss the June 11-13 minicamp.

"We're probably going to be real conservative there and it's probably unlikely," Jones said.

*Running backs coach Gary Brown has been absent from recent workouts, reportedly due to his daughter's battle with Leukemia. Special-teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia was absent Tuesday to attend a family graduation.

*The Cowboys signed special-teamer/defensive back Eric Frampton, who spent some time with the club last season.

*Dallas now has $9.7 million of cap space – a good portion of that earmarked for a contract extension this summer for linebacker Sean Lee.

*A step in the development of receiver Cole Beasley: being more than "just'' a slot receiver. And he's doing just that.

*Dallas is leaning toward not employing a full-time fullback this year. As an experiment, linebacker Caleb McSurdy did some work as a goalline fullback.

*And maybe, new veteran tight end Dante Rosario can utilize some of the H-Back skills that are on his resume.

"The things they're asking me to do, I think I'll be able to excel there,'' Rosario said. "Catching the ball, blocking … Playing in the slot, in the backfield, out wide in space … that's what I look forward to doing.''

*Justin Durant on the athleticism of his linebacker mates: "It's crazy. I've seen some great, athletic linebackers but they (Sean Lee and Bruce Carter and company) have a chance to be as great as any I've played with. I'm just trying to fit in any way I can.''

*A great use of OTAs: Teaching the zone-blocking scheme that has very quietly become the foundation of the running game.

*I think we can further shelve the notion of Travis Frederick as anything but a center – and at this early stage, the Cowboys believe he's a potential decade-long pillar there.

*Callahan, after being told that Jones had spoken openly about the playcalling plans, said he is "flattered" and "honored'' to work under Garrett in that capacity.

"Jason has placed a lot of trust in the staff," Callahan said. "He is still involved in the game-planning and in the meetings, and rightfully so. He is the head coach. This is his area of expertise. This is his system. So I'm really honored. I'm flattered to be part of this and take on the additional responsibilities of calling the plays in the course of the game."

Again, the unorthodox handling of the situation is a bigger deal than the actual change. Some misunderstand this as a conflict between owner and coach.

"Not at all," Garrett said. "He and I get along great. We have a great relationship. He's an outstanding owner. He's an outstanding owner because he cares a great deal about this football team and making the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys great. When you're in an environment like that, working for a guy like that, the pedal is down, and that's a good thing. The pedal is down for all of us."

As to folks who don't see it that way … who imagine power struggles and conflicts?

"Perception doesn't matter to me a whole lot," Garrett said. "Doing my job to the best of my ability matters the most.''
 
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