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Dallas Cowboys DC Rod Marinelli impressed with new practice squad DE Michael Sam
By Brandon George / Reporter Follow @DMN_George bgeorge@dallasnews.com
5:44 pm on September 4, 2014 | Permalink
IRVING — A day after facing a swarm of media, new Dallas Cowboys practice squad defensive end Michael Sam was back on the field Thursday at Valley Ranch.
Sam, the first openly gay player in the NFL, had three sacks and 11 tackles in the preseason for St. Louis before he was cut last weekend.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said he’s impressed with Sam.
“He’s got quickness and movement,” Marinelli said. “The guy is very passionate about what he’s doing and I really like that about him. But now it’s just developing a guy over and over every day. Now it’s just starting to get the feel of how it is to really come off the ball, things that you want. The movement is good.”
Marinelli said he fits the Cowboys’ Tampa 2 scheme “fine.”
“As a defensive end, you’re looking for that elite speed and quickness,” Marinelli said. “It always doesn’t show early because guys get confused in what they’re trying to do, and practice squad guys are working against our offense, so he doesn’t get as many reps with what you want to do. It’s just a process.”
By Brandon George / Reporter Follow @DMN_George bgeorge@dallasnews.com
5:44 pm on September 4, 2014 | Permalink
IRVING — A day after facing a swarm of media, new Dallas Cowboys practice squad defensive end Michael Sam was back on the field Thursday at Valley Ranch.
Sam, the first openly gay player in the NFL, had three sacks and 11 tackles in the preseason for St. Louis before he was cut last weekend.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said he’s impressed with Sam.
“He’s got quickness and movement,” Marinelli said. “The guy is very passionate about what he’s doing and I really like that about him. But now it’s just developing a guy over and over every day. Now it’s just starting to get the feel of how it is to really come off the ball, things that you want. The movement is good.”
Marinelli said he fits the Cowboys’ Tampa 2 scheme “fine.”
“As a defensive end, you’re looking for that elite speed and quickness,” Marinelli said. “It always doesn’t show early because guys get confused in what they’re trying to do, and practice squad guys are working against our offense, so he doesn’t get as many reps with what you want to do. It’s just a process.”