Broaddus minicamp notes

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Scout’s Eye: Second Year WR Williams Shines At Minicamp
Posted 14 hours ago

Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout
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A player that has quietly gone about his business during OTAs and minicamp has been receiver
Terrance Williams, who has been playing with more confidence each snap.
During the 7-on-7 period down in the red zone, Williams ran a route out of the right slot and was able to put himself in a position right between Barry Church and J.J. Wilcox, who were in zone coverage along the goal line. Williams was able to drive hard inside, then straighten his route up buying a little space. Brandon Weeden nicely read the coverage and was able to just get the ball over the top of Wilcox, who was at full extension.
Williams, who has a tendency to body catch the ball in the middle of the field, extended his hands and grabbed the ball at the highest point before landing with both feet in bounds in the back of the end zone. It was an outstanding throw by Weeden but an even better route and catch by Williams.


I wrote about Bruce Carter and how much better he has played in coverage and how these defensive coaches are showing confidence in his ability to line up and play in the nickel.

During the 7-on-7 period, Scott Linehan decided to show an empty backfield with Dez Bryant as the slot receiver on the right side. At the snap of the ball, Bryant broke for the middle of the field. Brandon Weeden knew by his pre-snap look that Bryant was going to have a shot at the goal line.

Carter peeked to his left as Bryant worked behind him. J.J. Wilcox saw the route developing and broke forward on the ball. Carter was in the perfect zone drop between Weeden and Bryant as the ball was thrown. Despite having his share of issues securing the ball when he had a shot at an interception, Carter snatched the ball out of the air and killed the drive.

Later in the practice, Carter came up with another nice play dealing with Jason Witten on a “Hot” read, knocking the ball away. That’s no easy feat, given how well Witten plays making contested catches.


There are times during these practices where the rookies get a learning experience about running across a veteran using poor technique. This happened to Devin Street when he was matched up with Morris Claiborne in 7-on-7 in the red zone.

What I have seen from Claiborne in these practices is that he is not giving these receivers much room at all to operate and especially not in the red zone. When Street came off the ball, he didn’t appear that he really had a plan for how he wanted to attack Claiborne. Conversely, it was clear Claiborne had a plan for how to deal with Street.

As Street worked up the field, Claiborne was able to position himself to the inside, which forced Street wider in his route. There was no separation and no window for Weeden to fit the ball in there. Claiborne had tied up Street to the point where there was no way for him to adjust to the ball.
Weeden fired the ball in Street’s direction thinking he would be able to make the play, but Claiborne was right there to knock the ball away. The lesson for Devin Street in this matchup was if you do not run your routes with purpose and physically fight for position with a corner that has length and quickness, your margin for success is very slim.
 

ThoughtExperiment

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So Claiborne was able to cover a 5th round rookie who hasn't even made it to his first training camp yet... Yay him.
 

cmd34

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Although I really liked Claiborne and Carter out of college, I, like most of you guys, have been thoroughly disappointed with them. The best thing in the world for Cowboy fans would be for the light to come on for them and they lock down their positions for the next several years.

My fear is that a certain fan base will now use that as an excuse that you have to give every player 3 or 4 years of sucking to make sure they suck. Jerry already does this as GM so it doesn't change anything organizationally but the sunshine crowd will be unbearable.
 

Jon88

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This is a contract year for Carter so I expect him to go back to playing at a Pro Bowl level. What do you do after that? Do you pay a guy who mailed it in last season? Not sure. It's obvious we'll need help at MLB. Lee just can't hold up to playing in the NFL.
 

jnday

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Although I really liked Claiborne and Carter out of college, I, like most of you guys, have been thoroughly disappointed with them. The best thing in the world for Cowboy fans would be for the light to come on for them and they lock down their positions for the next several years.

My fear is that a certain fan base will now use that as an excuse that you have to give every player 3 or 4 years of sucking to make sure they suck. Jerry already does this as GM so it doesn't change anything organizationally but the sunshine crowd will be unbearable.

I really liked Carter when he was drafted. Mo, not so much. LSU is on TV every week here and I thought I was just missing the greatness that everybody else claimed to see. I wasn't. He played the same in college as he has the pros, soft. He was compared to Patrick Peterson and some people claimed he was a better pure CB. That is BS. I think he will never be more than average at best. Jerry gave up too much to move up for an average player. I hated that move. When Carter filled in for an injured Sean Lee, he played like a beast. He has the physical tools, but lacks the motivation. Both of these players are good examples of top players that the coaches are not able to get the production that they are capable of. This tells me that there us a leadership problem with the coaches. The problem has existed for years and I think the country club atmosphere has alot to do with it. The scheme change didn't fit either of these players. Hell, it didn't fit any of the players. I liked the change to a 4-3 scheme, but not this version of it. I was hoping it would be run as a combination with some 3-4 looks.
 

cmd34(work)

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He was compared to Patrick Peterson and some people claimed he was a better pure CB.

I never understood that. Peterson is a special CB.


Jerry gave up too much to move up
Agreed.

The problem has existed for years and I think the country club atmosphere
It's the number one problem with Dallas. The players, especially the "stars" are way too comfortable with buddy Jerry running the show. Why more people don't see that is amazing to me.


I will say this about Claiborne is that he did show great ball skills at LSU. He attacks the ball. My concern was that he was too frail and he wasn't the same caliber as Peterson. Right after the draft, I mentioned on the Zone that I would trade Claiborne and a #2 for Peterson but the Cardinals would never accept that trade, and of course was crucified as "not a real Cowboy fan" who just hates Jerry.
 

ThoughtExperiment

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Only reason he was compared to Peterson was the school he went to, plain and simple. Which of course is stupid.
 

cmd34(work)

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They both won the Thorpe, they were both easily the top CB prospect in the country their final years, and they were both the top DB in the drafts they entered, but for the most part you are right.
 
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I didn't think he was the best corner he looked like An average athlete.



You know how there's always a groundswell of people looking to trade up Into the top 5 for stud defender X? Never heard a peep about claireborne. Nobody was drooling over him like that
 

cmd34(work)

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Almost every mock had him top 5.

What was telling for me that the Rams traded away from him and CB was a big need for them, they took Janoris Jenkins early 2nd.

They either didn't like Claiborne or felt the trade was too good to pass up. Both ways we lose.
 

LAZARUS_LOGAN

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I didn't think he was the best corner he looked like An average athlete.



You know how there's always a groundswell of people looking to trade up Into the top 5 for stud defender X? Never heard a peep about claireborne. Nobody was drooling over him like that



We'll never learn. Never use a 1st round draft pick on a CB. I think the position is overrated. Safety is where you need to have your best at. But Jerry loves CBs the way Al Davis loved WRs.
 

jeebus

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We'll never learn. Never use a 1st round draft pick on a CB. I think the position is overrated. Safety is where you need to have your best at. But Jerry loves CBs the way Al Davis loved WRs.

At least Al Davis had good WRs
 

Jon88

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I never understood that. Peterson is a special CB.


Right after the draft, I mentioned on the Zone that I would trade Claiborne and a #2 for Peterson but the Cardinals would never accept that trade, and of course was crucified as "not a real Cowboy fan" who just hates Jerry.

I was crucified for criticizing Terrence New-woman.

That place is a fucking joke.
 
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