Rookie Mini Camp Thread

boozeman

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All the rookie draft picks, UDFAs, 1st year players plus the following try out players:


Derrikk Thompson, WR, SMU
Brandon Bridge, QB, South Alabama
Travis Manning, CB, Northwest Missouri State
Ron Fields, CB, Texas A&M-Commerce
Cam McDaniel, RB, Notre Dame
Tommy Sanders, S/LB, Texas A&M
Desmond Roland, RB, Oklahoma State
Adrian James, CB, UTEP
Valdon Cooper, CB, Ga. Southern
B.J. Catalon, RB, TCU
Kenny Williams, RB, Texas Tech
Justin Podrabsky, TE, Idaho
Marcus Mallet, LB, TCU
Isaiah Corbett, LB, Southeastern La.
Donnie Baggs, LB, Texas A&M
Nico Carlson, G, Rice
Isiah Dunning, DT, Grand Valley State
Mike Marboe, C, Idaho
Travis Miller, OG, North Dakota State
Reshod Fortenberry, OT, Texas Tech
Byron Bennett, DT, Mississippi
Chucky Hunter, DT, TCU
Gavin Stansbury, DE, Houston
Theo Rich, DE, South Alabama

Rough day so far.



 

boozeman

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Dehydration gets best of Randy Gregory on Day 1

12m


Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter


IRVING, Texas -- The big winner at the first day of the Dallas Cowboys' rookie minicamp was the weather.

Several players had to leave early in the afternoon practice, including second-rounder Randy Gregory because of dehydration issues.

Third-round pick Chaz Green also limped off the field early as did undrafted wide receiver Lucky Whitehead. Undrafted receiver Deontay Greenberry appeared to have the wind knocked out of him after making a deep catch near the sideline.

After the morning session Gregory said he was "a little bit out of shape," which is not unusual for rookies coming into their first NFL practices after a drawn-out draft process. Dez Bryant struggled with his stamina in his first practice as well.

"The heat is what was getting me," Gregory said after the morning practice. "Actually kind of cramping up when we got to special teams. Just got to hydrate more. In college you have a chance to get on a knee, have a helmet off. Can't really do that here. Trying to get used to that. But I'm having fun. That's the main thing. I think I'm doing a lot of good things out there. I'd like to do some more good things."

The Cowboys have two more days of practice ahead for the rookies but they could move Saturday's session to AT&T Stadium because of the impending rainy weather.
 

boozeman

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Rookies Learning The Cowboy Way At Three-Day Rookie Minicamp


Friday, May 08, 2015 2:24 PM CDT


By Rob Phillips



@robphillips3

IRVING, Texas – For the first time in four months, the Valley Ranch practice fields are full and active.

The Cowboys’ three-day rookie minicamp got underway Friday with a combination of draft picks, eligible first-year veterans, rookie free agents and weekend workouts. A total of 54 players are listed for the camp, including all eight picks.

One exception is rookie offensive lineman La’el Collins, who must sit out the camp per NFL rules related to bringing in a free agent for a mid-week visit. Collins signed on Wednesday afternoon and is able to return to the team once the camp concludes.

Though the practices aren’t live contact, they’re a great starting point for the rookies adjusting to the Cowboys’ system and working with their respective coaches.

“We’ll have a couple days of installation,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “It won’t be the typical installation we give to our veteran players when it starts, but it will be some version of that. It’s important to be able to process information. That’s an important part of the evaluation – can the guy learn, does he understand football, can he learn at the pace that we want him to learn at.”

For Byron Jones, the 27th overall pick working at cornerback, this is his third trip to Valley Ranch. He came on an official pre-draft visit and returned last weekend to meet the media. But like his new teammates, he hasn’t been around an organized practice since the end of his college season.

“You’ve got to get up to speed. It’s different in college,” Jones said. “You’re getting acclimated, but at the same time you’re also learning the Cowboys’ system and they do things – how they perform and how they practice.”

Eligible first-year players include punter Tom Hornsey, linebacker Will Smith, tight end Efe Obada, long snapper Casey Kreiter, defensive tackle Chris Whaley and offensive tackle R.J. Dill.

The Cowboys officially signed these 15 undrafted free agents:

RB Synjyn Days (Georgia Tech)
WR George Farmer (USC)
WR Antwan Goodley (Baylor)
WR Deontay Greenberry (Houston)
TE Ray Hamilton (Iowa)
WR Nick Harwell (Kansas)
C Shane McDermott (Miami)
G Daniel Quave (Louisiana-Lafayette)
CB Joel Ross (Appalachian State)
S Tim Scott (North Carolina)
QB Jameill Shower (Texas-El Paso)
S Ray Vinopal (Pittsubrgh)
WR Lucky Whitehead (Florida Atlantic)
CB Jason Wilson (Central Michigan)

They also brought in these Weekend Workouts:

WR Der’rikk Thompson (SMU)
QB Brandon Bridge (South Alabama)
CB Travis Manning (Northwest Missouri State)
S Ron Fields (Texas A&M Commerce)
RB Cam McDaniel (Notre Dame)
S Tommy Sanders (Texas A&M)
RB Keshawn Hill (Sam Houston State)
RB Desmond Roland (Oklahoma State
CB Adrian James (UTEP)
CB Valdon Cooper (Georgia Southern)
RB B.J. Catalon (TCU)
RB Kenny Williams (Texas Tech)
TE Justin Podrabsky (Idaho)
LB Marcus Mallett (TCU)
LB Isiah Corbett (Southeastern Louisiana)
LB Donnie Baggs (Texas A&M)
G Nico Carlson (Rice)
DT Isiah Dunning (Grand Valley State)
C Mike Marboe (Idaho)
G Travis Miller (North Dakota State)
T Reshod Fortenberry (Texas Tech)
DT Bryon Bennett (Mississippi)
DT Chucky Hunter (TCU)
DE Gavin Stansbury (Texas A&M)
DE Theo Rich (South Alabama)

The club made several veteran transactions Friday, waiving linebacker Troy Davis and offensive tackle Donald Hawkins, releasing linebacker Dekoda Watson, and placing defensive tackle Josh Brent on the Reserve/Retired list.
 

Cotton

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Stars

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It was humid as Vietnam here in texas today. Can't even imagine doing football workouts in this bullshiz.
 

Cotton

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It was humid as Vietnam here in texas today. Can't even imagine doing football workouts in this bullshiz.
Yeah, even out here in west Texas it was humid as hell. Understandable some of them had issues.
 

townsend

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Yeah, the factory I work in isn't air conditioned. I was getting overheated just doing basic manual labor. My safety glasses were fogged up all day too.
 
D

Deuce

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Undrafted receiver Deontay Greenberry appeared to have the wind knocked out of him after making a deep catch near the sideline.
The fact that he held onto the ball is probably what took his breathe away.
 

Smitty

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So Chucky Hunter and Cam McDaniel weren't officially signed, just offered tryouts?
 

Cowboysrock55

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Cowboys' rookie camp observations

Cowboys' rookie camp observations

Cowboys' rookie camp observations
Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys conclude their rookie mini-camp on Sunday, but there is no media access.

With four practices over the last two days, here are some observations:

The punt return job is open. Following the Saturday morning practice running backs B.J. Catalon and Cam McDaniel and wide receivers Lucky Whitehead, George Farmer and Nick Harwell fielded punts. Whitehead ended his college career with a 76-yard punt return for a score against Old Dominion.

Sometimes rookies need a jolt. Jason Garrett delivered one to fifth-round pick Ryan Russell during special teams drills complete with an expletive.

DE Randy Gregory showed up in the team drills in the afternoon workout getting to the quarterback. What was good to see was the variety of moves. He wasn't just a speed rusher on the outside shoulder of the tackle. He had a would-be sack after jabbing hard to the outside and coming back underneat OT Laurence Gibson.

DT Chris Whaley spent last year on the non-football injury list recovering from a knee injury at Texas, but was able to get back on the field this weekend and had some solid moments. On Friday he used his quickness on the interior to slide up the pocket to pressure (or sack) Jameill Showers.

Whaley heard it from defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli after a one-on-one pass rush drill after he was swallowed up by guard Nico Carlson. Whaley didn't keep his feet moving and could not budge Carlson.

First-round pick Byron Jones looks the part. He is a smooth athlete but he also had a moment in which he used his football smarts. Playing in coverage on the outside he had his eyes on the quarterback and was able to break on a ball thrown inside. Later he broke up a slant to Farmer as the result of a quick break on a Showers' throw.

To close the one-on-one drills on Saturday, Garrett had Jones go up against Farmer. The undrafted rookie was able to come up with a grab on a crossing route but Jones was in position and attempted to rip the ball away three times.

I can see why the Cowboys moved Efe Obada back to defensive end. There's just too much learning that needs to be done for him to have a chance to make the team at tight end. At defensive end, he can simply get to the guy with the ball. But a word of caution to those who believe the Cowboys have a hidden gem: raw doesn't even begin to describe him. Obada looked better at defensive end in Saturday's practice but still needing a lot of work. He spent time after practice working on his stance with assistant defensive line coach Ben Bloom.

A couple of quick veteran health updates: CB Morris Claiborne said his rehab from a torn patellar tendon is going well and is focused on being ready for the start of training camp. LB Sean Lee said he feels great in his comeback from a torn ACL and DE Jack Crawford's surgically-repaired thumb is back to 100 percent.

Undrafted rookie CB Jason Wilson had some solid work in one-on-one drills in the slot. He broke up two passes to Der'rikk Thompson and George Farmer and he likely drew an offensive pass interference on Whitehead. In team drills it looked like the officials got him for a defensive holding.
 

skidadl

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I'm guessing they are waiting to run a feature on Kenny Williams instead of mixing it in with this group of underachievers.
 

boozeman

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Broadus talked up Whaley too. Interesting.
Yeah, but you have to get that Whaley damn well better look decent going up against try out offensive guards if he is going to have a chance.

I am also glad they decided to quit it with the experiment of Odaba at TE. DE is the only area he has experience and he is raw as it is.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Yeah, but you have to get that Whaley damn well better look decent going up against try out offensive guards if he is going to have a chance.
Sort of like I'm glad to hear Byron Jones is looking good but at this point he should be doing that.
 

boozeman

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Sort of like I'm glad to hear Byron Jones is looking good but at this point he should be doing that.
Especially against the competition. This is a rookie mini camp. Let's see what he does against Dez Bryant.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Especially against the competition. This is a rookie mini camp. Let's see what he does against Dez Bryant.
Yeah but I also assume he will get beaten by Dez on a pretty regular basis. Dez does that to everyone. It's why he is one of the best players in the NFL regardless of position.

I'd settle for seeing him do good against Terrance Williams.
 
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