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The education of Dez Bryant continues
August, 12, 2010
By Calvin Watkins
Of the many concerns NFL teams had about rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant coming out of the draft, it was his ability to learn an offense.
There was this rumor that Bryant only lined up on one side of the field, normally the Oklahoma State side, so he could be told what to do by the coaches. Cowboys' coaches said it wasn't true.
In three brief years at OSU, Bryant scored 29 touchdowns and caught 147 passes for 2,425 yards. Despite playing only three games in 2009 due to a NCAA suspension, Bryant averaged 19 yards per reception.
As a pro, Bryant hasn't officially stepped onto a NFL field, his right high-ankle sprain is keeping him away until possibly the preseason finale vs. Miami.
But that doesn't mean Bryant isn't learning the NFL game. Sometimes during practices, Bryant stands next to receivers coach Ray Sherman asking about certain routes, plays and situations. Sherman said Bryant is learning the offense without too many difficulties.
Bryant's education is not just on the field it's in the classroom as well. He held up a wide receivers meeting for 30 minutes talking about one play. He just wanted to understand the concepts of it and make sure he had it right.
"We were talking the other day, for half-hour about one play," wide receiver Miles Austin said. "And I know some of the guys probably get upset but it was like you go over every single thing of the one play and after that half hour everone is clear on it and we're good to go."
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has praised the classwork of second-round pick Sean Lee and of fourth-round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah this summer, especially of Owusu-Ansah, who has just a handful of practices.
The same could be said of Bryant, who can't play and has shown the most explosion of all the Cowboys' receivers in training camp.
"He's upbeat and positive," Austin said of Bryant. "You can tell he’s coming along and he’s getting it. He's definitely focused on the offense and now making sure he picks up all the small caveats and different things. When you're out there playing you can let a few things slip but if you're watching and actually sitting down in the classroom, it slows things down for you. Once he gets back [on the field] he’ll know a lot of the offense, or all of the offense and be ready to play."
August, 12, 2010
By Calvin Watkins
Of the many concerns NFL teams had about rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant coming out of the draft, it was his ability to learn an offense.
There was this rumor that Bryant only lined up on one side of the field, normally the Oklahoma State side, so he could be told what to do by the coaches. Cowboys' coaches said it wasn't true.
In three brief years at OSU, Bryant scored 29 touchdowns and caught 147 passes for 2,425 yards. Despite playing only three games in 2009 due to a NCAA suspension, Bryant averaged 19 yards per reception.
As a pro, Bryant hasn't officially stepped onto a NFL field, his right high-ankle sprain is keeping him away until possibly the preseason finale vs. Miami.
But that doesn't mean Bryant isn't learning the NFL game. Sometimes during practices, Bryant stands next to receivers coach Ray Sherman asking about certain routes, plays and situations. Sherman said Bryant is learning the offense without too many difficulties.
Bryant's education is not just on the field it's in the classroom as well. He held up a wide receivers meeting for 30 minutes talking about one play. He just wanted to understand the concepts of it and make sure he had it right.
"We were talking the other day, for half-hour about one play," wide receiver Miles Austin said. "And I know some of the guys probably get upset but it was like you go over every single thing of the one play and after that half hour everone is clear on it and we're good to go."
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has praised the classwork of second-round pick Sean Lee and of fourth-round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah this summer, especially of Owusu-Ansah, who has just a handful of practices.
The same could be said of Bryant, who can't play and has shown the most explosion of all the Cowboys' receivers in training camp.
"He's upbeat and positive," Austin said of Bryant. "You can tell he’s coming along and he’s getting it. He's definitely focused on the offense and now making sure he picks up all the small caveats and different things. When you're out there playing you can let a few things slip but if you're watching and actually sitting down in the classroom, it slows things down for you. Once he gets back [on the field] he’ll know a lot of the offense, or all of the offense and be ready to play."