Training camp thread...

boozeman

28 Years And Counting...
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Scout's Notebook: Evaluating Parnell's Play; Cohen Could Fit

Posted 5 hours ago

Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout

IRVING, Texas - Some thoughts from the practice field at Valley Ranch:

•At least for another week, Doug Free will remain at right guard as this staff continues their search for the best five. Jermey Parnell continues his work at right tackle which begs the question if the staff will give him a series or two against the Texans on Thursday night? In his first game action of the preseason, there were some plays where Parnell was much better as a pass blocker than he was on the run. He just doesn’t appear to have that foot quickness that I had observed from him last season. He was late several times working himself into position to complete the block. There were also times where he played with a slight hesitation which killed him on second level blocks and the screen that went to Bryant early in the game. There is a side of me that would like to see him play just to get some good work but also build his confidence if in fact he has to open the season at right tackle.

•If you just put the thought of contracts aside and how it potentially shapes this roster, at defensive tackle, Landon Cohen has out played Sean Lissemore to the point that I would strongly consider him for his spot on this roster. Cohen appears to be a better fit for what these defensive coaches are trying to build scheme wise. Cohen just plays faster up the field and with more lateral quickness than what you see from Lissemore. For his lack of height, Cohen does play with some power. He is one of those guys that when you study the tape, he just shows up. Where I believe he can help this squad is playing as a rotational one or three and that flexibility makes him an interesting player that might be hard to let walk.

•Against the Bengals, I really liked what I was able to see from Kevin Kowalski in his first game back but it might be a little too late. There was a time early in training camp where I believed that he had an outstanding shot to make this team but I feel like the missed time with the injury could hurt his chances. If the front office keeps nine, he has a shot to stay but you have heard me say this before, I do not believe that they are married to the bottom of this roster and if a tackle they like appears on these cuts, then that is the direction I feel like they will go. The wild card in claiming a tackle would be how they feel about Demetress Bell, who saw action in the Arizona game but not against the Bengals except on special teams. All along this front office has had a plan for Bell in trying to get him ready for the preseason. If he is in the mix, then that spot could come down to Kowalski, Bell and a waiver claim.

•I have always believed that this front office would keep five corners on the roster and I was almost positive that Sterling Moore was one of those five but I am not so sure now. Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Orlando Scandrick and B.W. Webb are the four locks but that fifth spot is in question. In my eyes, Moore has practiced well and when given the opportunity in games other than the Miami one, he has shown some good things coverage wise but what Micah Pellerin has been able to do the last several weeks has me thinking is if he has done well enough to take that spot away from Moore. He has been aggressive both in coverage and what he has shown on special teams. He hasn’t shown the position flexibility that we have seen in the past from Moore but there is a side of me that believes that you could work him at free safety and you might discover something there. There just is a certain nastiness to Pellerin’s game that as a scout I appreciate and like to see him develop.
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All nice and pretty, just for you Schmitty.
 

Lotuseater

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I saw him get pushed back several times this preseason and getting beat with quickness is just as bad.

I love what I have seen from him but he is not without fault.

Also go back and look at some of those goal line plays Free got a good push along with Parnell and Frederick the real problem they had was TE's not holding up.
Yeah, he's not perfect but he is without question three times as good as anyone we have trotted out there in years.

And he's a rookie.
 

Carp

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Did I miss Gibson against Cincy? He flashed against AZ.
 

boozeman

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Scout's Notebook: 5 Best Linemen; Webb Improving

Posted 3 hours ago

Bryan Broaddus Football Analyst/Scout

Some thoughts from the practice field at Valley Ranch:

•As excited as everyone appears to be that Doug Free is on his way toward a permanent move to right guard, It is still my belief, that the best five linemen position wise is Tyron Smith, Ronald Leary, Travis Frederick, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Free. When this group practiced together the week before the Oakland game, it was the first time in all of training camp where they had consistent success running the ball with DeMarco Murray and the overall protection was starting to come together.

For anyone that watched the Raiders game, we all saw the type of time that Romo had in the snaps he played. The one sack, was on him for holding the ball when he had receivers open down the field. The way that Free has restructured his game at tackle this training camp, needs to be carried out in my view. What this front office is basing their decision on is how Parnell played last season but right now, he doesn’t look like the same player.

Let me say it this way, if Parnell had come in and competed with Free, play for play from the start of OTA’s and minicamps for the job and showed he was ready to take that job, then by all means move Free but that’s not the case at all. Free was able to improve on what we have seen from him in the past and he should be the starter at right tackle when Ronald Leary returns. I have my view as the best five and from what I have seen, it’s not Doug Free at guard. That’s not a slam at Free but more of what I have seen with my own eyes.

•I have to give these defensive coaches a lot of credit for not shielding B.W. Webb throughout this training camp. When he wasn’t exactly playing with good technique and confidence early in this camp, they have stuck with him and these last couple of weeks, he has improved.

There were too many reps where he looked unsure of how he needed to play routes but the interception he had against the Bengals out of the slot was played with perfect technique when it came to positioning and finishing with ball skills. Where he is going to need work is when he is in press coverage, he really has to physically fight the receiver up the field but play strong enough where they do not gain separation on him.

Webb has the foot quickness to run with any receiver he faces but his strength and his understanding of what receivers are trying to do to him route wise will need to improve.

•Count me as one of those that agreed with Jason Garrett on the way he handled the DeMarco Murray situation during the game against the Bengals. I was also pleased with the way that Murray handled the benched and how he responded after it took place.

For those of you that think that Garrett overreacted here, that is not the case at all. I remember asking Garrett the question in Oxnard after a walk through practice when three times he instructed Murray to secure the ball at three points. His answer dealt with how it was “Our Ball” and turnovers were unacceptable .

Garrett is absolutely correct in preaching ball security to his club and if sitting players such as Murray to get that point across is the right path to take.

•As the roster reductions loom for this squad, the one player that I am having trouble coming to grips with is Anthony Armstrong. There is plenty about his game that I have grown to appreciate and respect. He has developed into a reliable player on several different levels. He has athletic ability with a streak of toughness. I know that he can play on the outside but there is a side of me that with his quickness he can line up in the slot and handle the responsibilities there.

From what I have observed, he plays as the fastest receiver on this team. He can get vertical, work inside or catch the ball along the sideline. He is a willing blocker and plays like an aware member of the special teams. I understand that his age is working against him but I do not see much wear and tear on that body.

Of the many things I learned from Bill Parcells is evaluate players on what they can do for your club when you take them to the game on Sunday. Parcells would ask, how many plays am I going to get from this player? I believe what I am trying to say is that Anthony Armstrong is not a one trick pony and if he in fact makes this roster, it will be for good reason.
 
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