Oxnard Outtakes
Posted: August 7, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Killing time in the Phoenix airport, having broken camp yesterday. Here are some of the odder and sweeter moments from Oxnard:
– looking over two days into camp and seeing Duane Thomas and Calvin Hill carrying on about the old days.
– asking Duane Thomas a question, expecting a curt answer and shaking my arm 20 minutes later to keep it from falling asleep cause Duane was still debriefing.
– Watching Erik Williams coach the offensive tackles. His mild-mannered coaching demeanor contrasts his playing style — completely.
– Seeing Adam Jones put an assistant’s son on his shoulders and carry him around after practice. The team could go from being all business during practice to playful minutes after the final drill.
– Standing alone on the far field sideline one morning and seeing Kevin Burnett trotting my way. He stepped past me, nodded, then found a space on the fence where he could, um, phone his attorney.
Needless to say, I didn’t ask for an exclusive.
– Sitting against the fence on the near field and watching Rowdy’s four wheeler whiz past no more than a foot from my knees.
– Looking down the sideline and watching Rowdy miss Brad Sham by the same distance.
– Watching Jason Witten and his son C.J. playing hide and seek in the press tent after practice.
– Watching Reggie Herring and Dave Campo battle for the title of Most High-Voltage position coach.
– Hearing Campo get hoarse by the end of every session and wondering how he got his voice back overnight.
– Hearing the defensive players mimic his hoarse commands.
– Seeing mammoth Marc Colombo cooing over his child after practice. The tot looked like a toy in Marc’s arms.
– Watching the stoic Flozell Adams light up meeting a group of kids after an afternoon session.
– Watching master teachers like Hudson Houck and John Garrett work. There are moments when I circled the field before the scrimmaging began, when it felt like I was walking the halls of a football university, with as many as eight different lessons going on at the same time.
– Listening to the defensive linemen jaw about their rapping skills.
– Walking across the practice field after posting a late story and watching Stephen Jones play touch football with his kids…
More to come. Join Louie and me this afternoon for the latest episode of “The Sports Doctors.” We’ll be joined again by “Outsiders” Dave Halprin of BloggingtheBoys.com and Shango from thedallascowboyshow.com. We’ll give our impressions of camp and set up the Chargers game. That’s 6 pm ET and 5 pm CT. You can hear the live stream right here on blueandsilverreport.com.
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Seriously, why don’t they drop-kick Rowdy over the fence and straight out of the organization - before the goober blows out Newman’s or Ware’s knees with his formula 1 cart driving. The Cowboys are classier without that dufus “mascot”. Hmmm. maybe the Montecito Moonpie and Rowdy are one and the same.
If you are ever inclined it would be interesting to know what Duane Thomas said. Of all the former Cowboys he would have been high on my list for least likely to re-affiliate with the team, though I am glad that he came to camp and it sounds like he was friendly and generous with his time. His current perspective on the NFL and his time with Dallas would be interesting to say the least.
I envy anyone who has a chance to watch the original broadcast of the Hail Mary game on the NFL Network (today if I’m not mistaken). If anyone does watch the replay it would be great to read some comments and impressions. I forget who called the game for CBS.
Excellent Camp reports…thanks very much!
first?
damn
Raf, Did you get a chance to watch hard knocks?I thought the most interesting tidbit besides the Terry glenn stuff was that felix was pretty much Jason Garett’s pick.It was interesting to see the apparent chemistry as well but you have done such a good job at camp for us that we all already knew that.Glad you were there and glad you had fun man,you are truly a blessing to us truly sick Cowboy fanatics. Thank you for all your work and First!
damnit 4th!5th
Raf,
Thanks for all the great insights from camp.
For those of us unfamiliar with the schedule, could you explain what the Cowboys will be doing for the next couple of weeks after the Chargers game?
Also, did Kosier improve over the camp? Do you feel his spot is in jeopardy?
it hurts royce, I know…
AFCowboy:
Practice sessions will continue, but at the Ranch.
Tex has been at camp and the team looks strong… except for the weak link defensive coordinator, who will bring down the entire organization.
Having Brian Stewart, with less than 7 years of coaching experience, competing against the likes of Jim Johnson and Steve Spagnuolo is implausible and reckless. Talk about a mismatch. Jim Johnson has forgotten more about defense than BStew could possibly grasp.
Tex says… fire Brian Stewart before his inexperience ruins the season.
The ‘Boys will spend 3 days prior to the 2nd preseason game in two-a-days with the Broncos in Ft. Collins. Then they’ll head home to the Ranch to finish camp.
Rafael, I will try to call in, but wanted your take on a theory.
The mediots have noticed a quiet confidence in this team, much to their disappointment. The ABC haters (Anyone But the Cowboys) must really be pissed.
I profer that there are three main reasons for this:
1. High Character players - The team chemistry is such that leaders have emerged simply by doing the right things. The players demand excellence from themselves and everyone else. The talent acquisition process has materially changed emphasizing “football playing dudes”…and I thank BP for that.
2. Family Atmosphere - These guys like each other. There’s not a single personality clash that I can think of. They genuinly like each other. Hang out together. And WANT to be here. Now. For a long time. Wade deserves a ton of credit.
3. They’re good, really good - It’s like a pitcher throwing a no hitter. No one wants to jinx it. I can’t remember a Cowboys team that had such a combination of talent and scheme since the 70’s & 90’s dynasties where I wouldn’t trade a single unit for any other team in the league.
Wade’s “Phillips 3-4″ is to the D what Landry’s flex and Jimmy’s speed were to their eras.
The Garrett offense (Red Ball express, anyone?) is a newer version of the greatest offensive scheme there ever has been, the original West Coast Offense of Air Coryell/Norv Turner.
Everyone knows it. The time for talking is over. Welcome to the next great Cowboys Dynasty.
Tex,
I believe that BStew is in fact sort of Wade’s administrative assistant, and that most, if not all, of the defensive decisions are Wade’s.
Wade has probably forgot more about defense than J. Johnson and S. Spags combined.
Raf, good stuff from camp.. I would like to email in some questions for the radio show but I am unclear what link to use. Can you clarify for me?
I’ve missed the other shows so my questions may have already been covered…but basically..
1) Carpenter - keeper or not? Is he ever going to be worth what the Cowboys had to give to get him?
2) Thong- He sounds like he’s really trying to make an impact..again, keeper or not and if he improves, could he be good trade bait?
3) Receivers - our young guys, and I lump Crayton in there too. Who is going to make a name for themselves this year. This time last year, Cowboy fans knew who Marion Barber was but not many others. Now even the fans in the AFC know the Barbarian. Will any of our young Catchers become ‘Nationwide’? (to borrow from ZZ Top)
4) Draft picks- they all seem to be having a good camp. Did we get value with our picks?
Odd that Tex starts posting again mere minutes after Rowdy finished his camp shift. Mere coincidence…I think not.
Tex, can we take your lack of Romo hating as you’re impressed with what you saw at camp. Glad to see you post again, you liven things up.
One player I’m kind of disappointed I haven’t heard more about is Jason Hatcher. Based on what Raf wrote last year before he was hurt, I expected he would tear up camp this year now that he’s healthy again (I know he just got a dinged shoulder).
Well, another reason for me to keep thinking that Tex is out of this league of knowledgeable posters…
Yes, he’s right, Stewart has 7 years of coaching experience, but that’s coaching experience in the NFL. Then he touts Spagnuolo as a guy that’s out of his League…. Spagnuolo, a guy that has what? 9 years of NFL experience?
Oh, crap, 2 years make all the difference in the world!
But, yeah, I kind of get what Tex tried to say, in the end Spagnuolo was under the wing of Johnson, one of the most respected defensive coordinators League wide….
Meanwhile, Stewart was under the wing of Dom Capers and Wade Phillips….
I’ve mentioned 3 of the most respected defensive minds in the League…. Yeah, Tex doesn’t has the slightest idea of what he’s writing most of the time….
why would stewart be coaching against johnson and spagnuola (sp?)?
They’re defensive coordinators too.
Wouldnt he be coaching against their offensive coordinators/play callers?
did the rules change? Are the defenses on the field together?
Tex returns YES!!!!!!
jarhead:
That’s another reason to think that Tex’s the guy farting and burping in a party….
Hey I was in Nassau for 4 days…missed alot…can someone tell me why AJ is listed as injured / out for sats game…thanks
by AJ I guess you mean Adam Jones… he shouldn’t be.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=dal
Here is the link…dated today??
scroll down and check injuries on the right
i am an idiot…its stateing that he hasnt been re instated…Shouldnt be in injuries..lol
Fighter brought a tear to my eye.
“did the rules change? Are the defenses on the field together”
It’s that hussy’s fault.
Even if he is nothing more than a male hostess… Brian Stewart is the weak link in the entire Dallas Cowboys organization, hands down.
The cocky young kid couldn’t handle the presence of Dom Capers this year, and should never have been promoted from a bad secondary coach to Defensive Coordinator for Tex’s Team. Fire Brian Stewart before he blows this promising season… BStew is the most unqualified coordinator in the NFL.
Thanks for the reports Raf. I’ve enjoyed reading every one. Get back home safe, and we’ll all see how the team looks Saturday.
Farve to the Jets is official. Hope they beat the Cheatriots at least once.
So, was it just me, or was yesterday Dallas light?
I saw;
Terrence Copper
Jamaica Rector
Scott Shanle
Scott Fujita
Lousaka Polite
and
Oliver Hoyt (back at OLB)
Our Trash is someone else’s treasure I guess
I’m sure there were a few more cast-offs than that, but I was only watching with half an eye…Pre-season and all.
Anyone else see one I missed?
Tex didn’t you used to be a oil guy?
Is that you in “There Will Be Blood?” Because that would explain alot. : )
Oh and Stewart is 43 years old.
Thats really not that young…..
Gunner, also Urban was with the Cardinals.
Tex, you have absolutely no data to backup your assertion about Stewart. It would be one thing if you could back up at least a portion of your complaint, and build on that, but to simply say he sucks is a waste. You did the same thing with Romo.
I recall your posts before last season, there were some decent nuggets, why the 180? Body snatchers?
Gunner, how could you miss Skyler Green? Mike Tirico said his name about 24 times.
This “Tex” is more than simply a moron. This guy is a straight-up racist a**hole! I did a little research… It turns out that this guy has been bad-mouthing Brian Stewart all over the internet! Check out his post as “montecito tex” on dallascowboys.com. (http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=9FB01D15-AA2E-C6F0-73CE088E7E962CE3)
I just have one question? Why all the hate man?
I think all the people ripping Brian Stewart are out of whack.
He did an admirable job considering:
1. Terrence Newman and Anthony Henry were hurt most of last year.
2. He was stuck using guys like Jacques Reeves, Nate Jones and Roy Williams in coverage situations.
3. He had Parcell-era coaches on his staff who coveted his job and tried to undermine his authority and relationship with the players.
For more info check out http://www.star-telegram.com/332/story/814477.html
Go Cowboys!
Ah yes, Uhrban had a good game..I heard Skyler green mentioned, but missed his play due to Kids running amock. But good call, Our trash is valuable!
(I’m in the middle of a move, so I’m living in temporary lodging. My kids think it’s a platland. I missed a lot of the games because of their hyperactivity)