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Scout's Eye: Oxnard Day 2
August, 16, 2010
By Bryan Broaddus
My thoughts from Sunday’s practice:
*The knee injury to Marc Colombo hurts the Cowboys in this regard: Colombo was trying to work through some technique issues that he was struggling with during training camp.
As I have said before, his technique is never pretty, but he does manage to get the job done. In speaking with offensive line coach Hudson Houck, there were two areas that Colombo needed to work on before his injury.
Colombo knew that he had to work away from the line of scrimmage quicker. In the afternoon practice, during the one-on-one drills, you could see him really overextended his outside leg to try to get him into position to take on linebacker Steve Octavien and work him to the outside, which creates width in the pocket. Colombo was having some success in this technique and looked quicker doing it.
At times, he will overextend and become too top-heavy. An offensive lineman never wants to become top-heavy because defenders are taught to grab the outside pad and pull around you.
The second area that Colombo was needing work in was how aggressive he is with his right hand. Houck wanted him to try and set with a “softer” right hand. What this means is that instead of firing his outside hand quickly and getting it slapped down and giving up the corner, be more patient, then punch when you get into position. Sounds simple enough but its something that will help Colombo do a better job of controlling rushers.
*Cornerback Bryan McCann is playing with a great deal of confidence -- not only on special teams in the return game, but more importantly as an NFL corner.
McCann has shown quickness and aggressiveness on the outside in the way he has not allowed receivers to finish catches on him. Whether it’s fighting with Miles Austin along the sideline for a ball in the air or carrying Kevin Ogletree up the field and getting his hand in there to knock a pass free, McCann has been solid these last couple of weeks after starting slow in San Antonio.
Working against these receivers on a daily basis has helped him with his technique but also he is a very smart player that has taken well to the coaching of Dave Campo.
Don’t see the Cowboys keeping five cornerbacks because of the flexibility that you have a safety, but if they could get find a way to get McCann to the practice squad and let him develop, that would be smart in the long run. McCann does have talent.
*As a scout, there are times when you get thoughts about your team from watching practice and then there are other times where you just needed to be inside grinding on game tape. This was a day where the personnel guys got something out of the practice.
Starting with the morning practice, the 9-on-7 drill was outstanding. Despite the fact that the squad dress was shoulder pads and helmets, the intensity of the period was top shelf.
This team has a real feel for how to work in this setting and protect each other from injury. You don’t see guys flopping around on the ground. All the players are on their feet at all times.
Jay Ratliff playing off the blocks of Gurode and Kosier. Ware locked in a battle with Witten. Anderson leading on Bradie James. The work is productive.
I enjoy watching the young players in this period as well. How does Sean Lissemore handle Sam Young? Does Josh Brent allow himself to be pushed out of the hole by Phil Costa?
In the afternoon, there was a blitz period, where if you don’t know your assignments, you get exposed. Practices like these were my favorite because the most important area this time of year is the evaluation of your team and making the correct decisions on how the best way to use your personnel for the upcoming season.
August, 16, 2010
By Bryan Broaddus
My thoughts from Sunday’s practice:
*The knee injury to Marc Colombo hurts the Cowboys in this regard: Colombo was trying to work through some technique issues that he was struggling with during training camp.
As I have said before, his technique is never pretty, but he does manage to get the job done. In speaking with offensive line coach Hudson Houck, there were two areas that Colombo needed to work on before his injury.
Colombo knew that he had to work away from the line of scrimmage quicker. In the afternoon practice, during the one-on-one drills, you could see him really overextended his outside leg to try to get him into position to take on linebacker Steve Octavien and work him to the outside, which creates width in the pocket. Colombo was having some success in this technique and looked quicker doing it.
At times, he will overextend and become too top-heavy. An offensive lineman never wants to become top-heavy because defenders are taught to grab the outside pad and pull around you.
The second area that Colombo was needing work in was how aggressive he is with his right hand. Houck wanted him to try and set with a “softer” right hand. What this means is that instead of firing his outside hand quickly and getting it slapped down and giving up the corner, be more patient, then punch when you get into position. Sounds simple enough but its something that will help Colombo do a better job of controlling rushers.
*Cornerback Bryan McCann is playing with a great deal of confidence -- not only on special teams in the return game, but more importantly as an NFL corner.
McCann has shown quickness and aggressiveness on the outside in the way he has not allowed receivers to finish catches on him. Whether it’s fighting with Miles Austin along the sideline for a ball in the air or carrying Kevin Ogletree up the field and getting his hand in there to knock a pass free, McCann has been solid these last couple of weeks after starting slow in San Antonio.
Working against these receivers on a daily basis has helped him with his technique but also he is a very smart player that has taken well to the coaching of Dave Campo.
Don’t see the Cowboys keeping five cornerbacks because of the flexibility that you have a safety, but if they could get find a way to get McCann to the practice squad and let him develop, that would be smart in the long run. McCann does have talent.
*As a scout, there are times when you get thoughts about your team from watching practice and then there are other times where you just needed to be inside grinding on game tape. This was a day where the personnel guys got something out of the practice.
Starting with the morning practice, the 9-on-7 drill was outstanding. Despite the fact that the squad dress was shoulder pads and helmets, the intensity of the period was top shelf.
This team has a real feel for how to work in this setting and protect each other from injury. You don’t see guys flopping around on the ground. All the players are on their feet at all times.
Jay Ratliff playing off the blocks of Gurode and Kosier. Ware locked in a battle with Witten. Anderson leading on Bradie James. The work is productive.
I enjoy watching the young players in this period as well. How does Sean Lissemore handle Sam Young? Does Josh Brent allow himself to be pushed out of the hole by Phil Costa?
In the afternoon, there was a blitz period, where if you don’t know your assignments, you get exposed. Practices like these were my favorite because the most important area this time of year is the evaluation of your team and making the correct decisions on how the best way to use your personnel for the upcoming season.