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Updated: August 24, 2010, 8:00 PM
Rush to Judgment
Notes: Exercising Caution With Running Game
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow robphillips3 on Twitter
Barber, who has had a solid training camp, has rushed only eight times for 25 yards in three games.
OXNARD, Calif. - The Cowboys' rushing production in three preseason games - 14 carries for 40 yards between primary running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones - seems to have raised some outside concerns about whether the unit will duplicate its success from 2009, when it ranked seventh overall with a 131.4-yard average.
The Cowboys' coaches are preaching caution, and rightfully so. The Sept. 12 regular-season opener is nearly three weeks away. In preseason, the Cowboys have been evaluating their backs individually - their decision-making, power, moves - and not necessarily calling plays that exploit a defense's front or coverage.
"We haven't game-planned anybody," running backs coach Skip Peete said. "Some plays are going to look a little better than others, but we want to evaluate the people, how they perform. And we want to see some of the young players block, how they run. We're calling plays that they know we've installed to see how they perform."
A consistent rushing attack has been beneficial to the Cowboys. Last season, they were 10-2 when gaining at least 100 yards.
The team's overall 2.8-yard average in preseason supports owner Jerry Jones' suggestion that the running game must be physical this season. But head coach Wade Phillips likes the way his top three backs (Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice) have run individually, and he's confident the production will come.
"We need to put it all together and we need to do some things better than we've done in preseason," Phillips said, "but we also need to get ready for the season and that's what we're in the process of doing.
"It'll show up. It'll show up for those guys."
Hurd Standing Out
Somewhat quietly, Sam Hurd is leading the Cowboys in preseason receiving.
Hurd, who's competing for a backup spot, has nine total catches for 100 yards, including four for 39 in last Saturday's 16-14 win over San Diego.
The fifth-year veteran signed a one-year, $1.759 million restricted tender in April and finds himself in competition with younger players like Jesse Holley, a practice squad member last year who has stood out on special teams. Hurd has been a core special teams contributor himself, leading the team with 19 tackles last season.
Competition is thick at receiver.
"It's pushing everybody. You rise above or you get weeded out," Hurd said. "… I don't worry about what's in front or behind. All I worry about is what I can do to make myself better and make the team better because that's the only thing I can control."
"Necessary Evil"
Phillips senses his team is a little tired in their fifth week of training camp. That's OK, he says.
"It's a necessary evil," Phillips explained. "It's necessary to get them tired and keep them working through that. I think we've gone through the grind part physically. We're coming back a little bit that way, but mentally it's still training camp and we've got to maintain that mode because we've got things we need to work on fundamentally."
The Cowboys had back-to-back walk-through practices Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, focusing some on corrections from the Chargers game. They wore shoulder pads for the afternoon workout.
Rush to Judgment
Notes: Exercising Caution With Running Game
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow robphillips3 on Twitter
Barber, who has had a solid training camp, has rushed only eight times for 25 yards in three games.
OXNARD, Calif. - The Cowboys' rushing production in three preseason games - 14 carries for 40 yards between primary running backs Marion Barber and Felix Jones - seems to have raised some outside concerns about whether the unit will duplicate its success from 2009, when it ranked seventh overall with a 131.4-yard average.
The Cowboys' coaches are preaching caution, and rightfully so. The Sept. 12 regular-season opener is nearly three weeks away. In preseason, the Cowboys have been evaluating their backs individually - their decision-making, power, moves - and not necessarily calling plays that exploit a defense's front or coverage.
"We haven't game-planned anybody," running backs coach Skip Peete said. "Some plays are going to look a little better than others, but we want to evaluate the people, how they perform. And we want to see some of the young players block, how they run. We're calling plays that they know we've installed to see how they perform."
A consistent rushing attack has been beneficial to the Cowboys. Last season, they were 10-2 when gaining at least 100 yards.
The team's overall 2.8-yard average in preseason supports owner Jerry Jones' suggestion that the running game must be physical this season. But head coach Wade Phillips likes the way his top three backs (Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice) have run individually, and he's confident the production will come.
"We need to put it all together and we need to do some things better than we've done in preseason," Phillips said, "but we also need to get ready for the season and that's what we're in the process of doing.
"It'll show up. It'll show up for those guys."
Hurd Standing Out
Somewhat quietly, Sam Hurd is leading the Cowboys in preseason receiving.
Hurd, who's competing for a backup spot, has nine total catches for 100 yards, including four for 39 in last Saturday's 16-14 win over San Diego.
The fifth-year veteran signed a one-year, $1.759 million restricted tender in April and finds himself in competition with younger players like Jesse Holley, a practice squad member last year who has stood out on special teams. Hurd has been a core special teams contributor himself, leading the team with 19 tackles last season.
Competition is thick at receiver.
"It's pushing everybody. You rise above or you get weeded out," Hurd said. "… I don't worry about what's in front or behind. All I worry about is what I can do to make myself better and make the team better because that's the only thing I can control."
"Necessary Evil"
Phillips senses his team is a little tired in their fifth week of training camp. That's OK, he says.
"It's a necessary evil," Phillips explained. "It's necessary to get them tired and keep them working through that. I think we've gone through the grind part physically. We're coming back a little bit that way, but mentally it's still training camp and we've got to maintain that mode because we've got things we need to work on fundamentally."
The Cowboys had back-to-back walk-through practices Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, focusing some on corrections from the Chargers game. They wore shoulder pads for the afternoon workout.